09/16/2026
“ভরা থাক্ স্মৃতিসুধায় বিদায়ের পাত্রখানি
মিলনের উৎসবে তায় ফিরায়ে দিয়ো আনি
বিষাদের অশ্রুজলে নীরবের মর্মতলে
গোপনে উঠুক ফলে হৃদয়ের নূতন বাণী॥”
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Mandakranta Bose, our beloved Mandakranta di. Dr. Mandakranta Bose was an eminent scholar, Sanskritist, and Professor Emerita at the University of British Columbia. Besides her lifetime work on translating and contextualizing ancient Sanskritic performance traditions, she has written extensively on Tagore's dance legacy (Rabindranritya) and his radical vision for gender equality and universal humanism through the arts. Dr. Bose was also one of the very few women artist who had experience of learning dance directly from the women of Thakurbari at Jorashanko.
In April 2011, The University of British Columbia (UBC) celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. Mandakranta di played a crucial role in guiding a group of UBC student musicians and dancers to organize the “Golden Voice of Tagore”, an event that beautifully united local community artists and students, along with many other events that year. Her defining characteristic was her genuine eagerness to collaborate with generations younger than her. Whenever the community approached her with a new idea, she always enthusiastically said yes.
VTS gratefully honors the memory of Dr. Bose, celebrating not only her invaluable contributions as a board member but also her enduring devotion to the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore. For many years, Dr. Bose was a quiet, guiding presence at our every program and festival. Watching with observant eyes, she generously shared her deep knowledge of Tagore’s vision, offering warm praise and constructive feedback to all. She brought her signature charm to the festival by beautifully leading its poetry section. She also graced our last event in Spring with her warm presence. We will miss you Mandakranta di!
We convey our sincere condolences to Dr. Bose’s family. May her soul rest in peace. 🙏
