Join us at this week's meeting of the Philosophy Club virtually or in-person (Auerbach 320) this Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 1 p.m.—2 p.m. as club-follower Dr. Siddhartha Purkayastha presents on the import and selected works of Rabindranath Tagore (Thakur) (1861-1941), Bengali Indian poet, writer, philosopher, and recipient of the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature—the first non-European to receive the honor. Known as “the Bard of Bengal”, he was the youngest of thirteen surviving children. He gained worldwide popularity after translating many of his own works into English, which were all originally written in Bengali.
Also a playwright, essayist, painter, and composer, said to have written 2000 songs, including the National Anthems of India and Bengladesh, he drew attention by writing in colloquial language rather than the scholarly register, while his poetry was criticized by some as being “too philosophical”. Described as humanist, universalist, and internationalist, he supported independence while pushing back against nationalist movements.
His most acclaimed works are Gitanjali Song Offerings, (1910), a collection of spiritual love poems, and Ghore Baire The Home and the World, (1916) a psychological novel exploring the conflict between traditional domestic life and the modern world.
Notably, he was knighted by the British in 1915 but gave it back in 1919 to protest the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, which took place in response to a peaceful religious protest against a ban on public meetings.
About the presenter
With 37 years of food industry experience in ingredient innovation, scientific and regulatory affairs management, as well as new business development, Dr. Sidd Purkayastha started an advisory company to bring together experts from industry and academia to help small and medium sized companies from the product concept to market launch. His research interests are ingredient science, structure-function, and functional foods. Dr. Purkayastha earned his doctorate degree from the University of Massachusetts, MBA from the University of Illinois, and B. Tech from the I.I.T, Kharagpur (India).
In Sidd’s own words: As a dedicated Technical, Innovation, and Regulatory Executive in the Food and Beverage Industry, my humble aim is to promote health and wellness by advocating for the utilization of natural and plant-based food and dietary ingredients. Through my work, I strive to drive innovation and develop technical solutions that address both business and social challenges within the industry. I am committed to championing environmental justice, food justice, and equity, recognizing the pressing need to address disparities in access to quality food. By collaborating with esteemed scientists and business leaders in my network, I strive to contribute to positive change and foster a more equitable and just food system. Guided by an unwavering passion for sustainability and inclusivity, I endeavor to align business objectives with social responsibility, playing my part in realizing a fair and equitable food system.
Questions? Contact Brian Skelly at bskelly@hartford.edu or 413.273.2273.
An ongoing weekly tradition at the University since 2001, the University of Hartford Philosophy Club is a place where students, professors, and people from the community at large meet as peers. Sometimes presentations are given, followed by discussion. Other times, topics are hashed out by the whole group.
Presenters may be students, professors, or people from the community. Anyone can offer to present a topic. The mode of presentation may be as formal or informal as the presenter chooses.
Come live or join online! Invite friends. Suggest topics and activities. Take over the club! It belongs to you!