MOSCOW, RUSSIA, May 09, 2001: The Indian community and Russians alike gathered around a massive monument of noble laureate Rabindranath Tagore, the largest in Europe, here to celebrate the 140th birthday of one of India’s greatest literateurs of the 20th century. “Rabindranath Tagore is not only the best read and most revered Indian literary figure in Russia, he is among the most widely read foreign poet in this country,” said Professor Alexander Danilchuk, who has authored a number of books on the life, philosophy and works of Tagore (1861-1721). The state-run TV channel “Kultura” screened a documentary on Tagore to honor the great poet on his birth anniversary Tuesday. Tagore’s humanistic philosophy was compared to that of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. When Russian Prime Minister Putin, addressed the Indian Parliament, he said, “Tolstoy and Tagore have made immense contributions to enriching the spiritual friendship between our two peoples.”
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