Rabindranath Tagore was dark in comparison to other family members: MoS Subhas Sarkar

Minister of State (Education) Dr Subhas Sarkar sparked controversy on Wednesday by saying that Rabindranath Tagore's “complexion was dark compared to others in the Tagore family and that's why his mother did not take him in his lap.”

“Tagore was dark compared to other members of his family. That is why his mother and others refused to take him in their lap. Tagore who won Nobel and was acclaimed in the world was not taken in lap by his mother and others in the family,” Dr Sarkar said in a programme in Viswa Bharati University.

This is not the first time when Sarkar has given a controversial statement. Sarkar had earlier said that “Rabindranath Tagore was born in Birbhum”, and “Educational Reformist Vidyasagar wrote ‘Sahajpath”.


Educationist Pabitra Sarkar claimed that “this is an outright racist comment.” “Rabindranath Tagore was never dark-complexioned,” Sarkar said.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of States (MoS) Dr Subhash Sarkar slammed the state government for opening entertainment parks and cinema halls but not discussing opening of schools. He said the Centre has already asked the state government to conduct surveys and follow its guidelines and reopen the schools.