“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”

Here comes the birthday of great poet Rabindranath Tagore who single handedly gave a stronghold of Bengali language in the world literature.

The Bangalees are celebrating his birth anniversary with his literary works and thoughts more and more pertinent for a consequential life and livelihood of a nation passing through light and shade.

In fact, Rabindranath is the lighthouse of Bangalees; and the person is highly respected across the world years after years.

Slovenia, a country of Central Europe, has joined the Rabi celebration on the occasion of his 154th birth anniversary.

Rabindranath in 1926 visited Yugoslavia from which Slovenia became independent after its break-up in 1991.

Tagore’s works had evoked an unprecedented response amongst Slovenes.

The multifarious ceremonies in honor of Rabindranath are taking place in Slovenia on May 7-12.

The Slovenian ministry of Education, Science and Sport and the International Centre for Public Enterprise in Ljubljana organized a concert, 'Timeless Tagore', in the Nobel laureate's honor on May 7.

An exhibition of Tagore's art works are also on display at the ministry.

The mayor of Maribor on May 9 will lead a memorial ceremony at Tagore's bust donated by India in the second largest city of Slovenia. 

An exhibition of Rabindranath’s paintings will also take place at Maribor's municipal art gallery.

The Ethnology Museum in Ljubljana will hold a special screening of Satyajit Ray's film "Ghare Baire", translated into Slovene, as part of their ongoing exposition "Doors" -- paying tribute to both Tagore and Ray, who was also born and passed away in May.

The University of Maribor will honor the great poet with a special public lecture, 'Rabindranath Tagore: Questions of Freedom and Independence', to be delivered by Ana Jelnikar.

Slovenian literary journal Sodobnost also published new Slovene translations by Dusanka Zabukovec of some Tagore songs from "Gitobitan".

Nationalist Slovene poet Srecko Kosovel was inspired to give the title "Golden Boat" to his first manuscript of poetry, in honor of Rabindranath, for whom he also wrote a poem "In Green India".

Over 20 of Rabindranath’s works have been translated so far into Slovene, many by Alojs Gradnik, who dedicated himself lifelong to the task.

New translations of Tagore and books about him are frequently published in Slovenia.

BDST: 1014 HRS, MAY 8, 2014