This was announced today by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Science City auditorium, where he inaugurated the new campus of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies and laid the foundation stone for the second phase of Science City.

“Last week, I agreed with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to oversee the joint celebrations of the event in a befitting manner. We will work to see how to rekindle international interest in the works of one of the world’s greatest poets,” Singh said, adding the Centre would provide all assistance to Visva Bharati for its upgrade and help it publish a comprehensive edition of Tagore’s paintings and his literary works. “I am told there is a possibility of displaying, for the first time, since the 1930s, exhibitions of the gems from Tagore’s art works in Paris and other important cities,” the PM said.

Singh also announced a series of measures to benefit various cultural institutions in the city. “The government is working hard to revive the cultural scene of Bengal. Kolkata has been a major centre for enquiry and research in modern India. The Asiatic Society has just completed its 225th year. The ministry of culture has made a special allocation of funds of almost Rs 90 crore in the current financial year to modernise four of our premier cultural institutes located in Kolkata, namely the Asiatic Society, Indian Museum, Victoria Memorial and the National Library,” the PM said.

The Centre had also earmarked Rs 100 crore for the celebrations to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanada, he said. Singh said he was concerned about the reports of unrest in Visva Bharati when some Congress leaders raised the matter when they met him.