Like previous years, a three-day Rabindra festival marking 153rd birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore would commence in Shahzadpur Rabindra Kacharibari of Sirajganj from today. Shahzadpur gets a festive look marking the festival while the denizens still demand that the government set up the much talked about Rabindra University in Shahzadpur on Tagore's birth anniversary.
Dr. Gawher Rizvi, International Affairs adviser to the Prime Minister, will inaugurate the event.
Tagore's grandfather Prince Dwarkanath bought the estate in Shahzadpur from Zamindar Rani Bhabani of Natore in 1840, long before the poet's birth. When Tagore came of age, he was given the responsibility of maintaining the estate. Subsequently Tagore visited Shahzadpur several times till his last visit in 1901.
 Today the Shahzadpur Kacharibari museum bears enduring memories of the poet. Despite the disappearance of many items over the course of time, there are 332 archaeological relics in the museum, including 184 valuable paintings and 148 memorabilia, largely furniture and the poet's belongings that reveal his rich aesthetic sensibilities.
Tagore had a strong social conscience. He took strong steps to establish communal harmony and uplift the underprivileged in Shahzadpur, Md. Nasim Uddin Malitha an educationist and Tagore researcher told The Daily Star.  
There are also 20 rare and precious paintings of Tagore in the museum. The museum houses around 3,000 priceless books and could be a good research base for students.
“The poet's literary talent flowered amidst the natural beauty of the area. He wrote nearly 50 poems and a few short stories in Shahzadpur,” Md. Mujibur Rahman custodian of Shahzadpur Kacharibari said.
Tagore wrote part of his plays such as “Bishorjon”, “Sonar Tori”, “Chitra”, “Chaitali”, “Golapguchchho”, “Chhinnapatra”, “Panchabhooter Diary” and “Meyeli Chhara” in Shahzadpur. Tagore also wrote 38 letters from here, added Rahman.
Shahzadpur Upazila Nirbahi officer Shamim Ahmed said the University Grants Commission (UGC) team visited three spots of the upazila around the Kuthibari last year to assess the viability of a proposed Rabindra university. They visited Potazia, Perkola and Routara of the upazila in this connection.
The proposed Rabindra University needs Ministry approval so that it can begin its academic session at the earliest, the UNO said.
Meanwhile, Shahzadpur press club organised a demonstration and formed a human chain to demand the establishment of the Rabindra University in the upcoming academic session.