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PM recalls Tagore's stay at Istanbul

By Harish Khare

The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee (left), with Turkey's Health Minister, Recep Akdag, during a function to name a street after Rabindranath Tagore in Ankara on Thursday. — AP

ISTANBUL SEPT. 18. The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, arrived here this afternoon in a town regarded as the commercial capital of Turkey.

The focus of his just about 24-hour stay in Istanbul would be on developing commercial ties between the two countries.

The Prime Minister drove from the Kemal Ataturk International Airport straight to the Tarabya Palace to pay a courtesy visit on the republic's President, Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

Mr. Sezer is believed to have agreed with Mr. Vajpayee's views on terrorism and Palestine.

He also expressed his admiration for Mr. Vajpayee's peace initiative towards Pakistan.

Earlier, before leaving Ankara, the Prime Minister participated in a function to name a street after Rabindranath Tagore — hereafter it will be called "Rabindranath Tagore Avenue". It was attended by a number of Turkish scholars.

Mr. Vajpayee recalled that about 80 years ago when Tagore was on his way to Europe, his ship docked at Istanbul for two days.

An appropriately impressed Tagore wrote to President Kemal Ataturk for books on Turkish literature and culture for the library he had set up at Viswa Bharati back home.

According to Mr. Vajpayee, the Turkish leader sent 41 books, and then he added that "as Chancellor of the Viswa Bharati University, I can confirm to you that these books remain the prized possessions of the University".

Later in the evening, Mr. Vajpayee interacted with the Indian community and visited a Confederation of Indian Industries-sponsored "Made in India" exhibition.

He also attended a dinner in his honour by the Governor of Istanbul, Muammer Guler.

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