Manoshi Barua
Nov'2022-Present
Manoshi joined the Tagoreans in late seventies and served as the Chairperson previously from 2011- 2016. During her previous tenure as the Chairperson, she led the organisation with utmost dedication and led the group through many of its highly successful endeavours. The group had celebrated its Golden Jubilee in the UK and India through many well-acclaimed productions over a period of two years in 2015-2016 under her Chairmanship. She had always remained an active member since joining the group and took a leading role in organising many of its landmark events as a member initially and later in various capacities in the organisation. During the past few years, she had been working very closely with the Artistic Director in conceptualising and staging several pathbreaking productions for the organisation.
Manisha Smith
Nov'2018-Oct'2022
Manisha joined the Tagoreans in 1968 and, over the years, has participated in various tours across Europe and India
performing various dance dramas and promoting Tagore’s philosophy across
the world. She was a talented dancer and singer and had participated in many of the Tagoreans’ path-breaking productions.
Since the early days of the organisation, she had been actively involved in organising various events by providing steady
and solid support to the Executive Committee. She has previously served in the Committee as Vice-Chairperson and also as
the Treasurer, helping the organisation with her attention to detail and meticulous approach.
Gairika Gupta
2016-Feb'2018
Previously: 1994-2003
A founder member of the organisation, Gairika is the current Chairperson of the group. She had acted as Chairperson previously for almost nine and half years and had served as the Artistic Director for a significant period. It was a great accomplishment for Mrs Gairika Gupta to revive the artistic acumens of the organisation during this period. During her tenure, the Tagoreans staged many successful programmes. The most notable were two highly successful shows of an award winning play from Kolkata, Tiktiki and the organisation’s first ever programme on Kolkata stage which felicitated renowned Tagore singers and actor/orators, and also collaborated with singers, dancers and musicians from Kolkata.
Manoshi Barua
2011-2016
Manoshi joined the Tagoreans in late seventies and took over Chairperson’s role in 2011. During her five year tenure as the Chairperson she led the organisation with utmost dedication and led the group through many of its highly successful endeavours. The group had celebrated its Golden Jubilee in the UK and India through many acclaimed productions over a period of two years in 2015-2016 under her Chairmanship. She had always remained an active member since joining the group and took a leading role in organising many of its landmark events as a member initially and later as the joint General Secretary. She played a vital role in achieving the organisation's aim of expanding its reach among the younger generations.
Sujit Bhattacharjee
2003-2011
Sujit Joined the Tagoreans in 1993 and took over Chairperson’s role in 2003.
He played an important and active role from the time of joining the group in
re-establishing the organisation which went through a difficult and quiescent
time since the untimely death of its founder Tapan Gupta. Sujit led the
organisation through many of its notable activities which included successful
concerts, plays, felicitating writers, prestigious seminars including one to
celebrate the 60th year of India’s independence. He also spearheaded many collaborative
initiatives with other London organisations, including participating at the prestigious Dartington Tagore Festival in May' 2011. His notable contribution to the organisation
was to achieve its charitable status.
Gairika Gupta
1994 - 2003
A founder member of the organisation,
Gairika acted as Chairperson for almost nine and
half years with utmost dedication. It was a significant
accomplishment for Mrs Gairika Gupta to revive
the artistic acumens of the organisation.
During her tenure, the Tagoreans staged
many successful programmes. The most notable
were two highly successful shows of an award winning play
from Kolkata, Tiktiki and the organisation’s first
ever programme on Kolkata stage which felicitated
renowned Tagore singers and actor/orators, and
also collaborated with singers, dancers and musicians from Kolkata.
Nirmal Roy
1993
The Tagoreans were met with an unexpected blow with the sudden death of its founder Tapan Gupta in January 1991. The organisation’s activities were put on hold for a couple of years until Councillor Nirmal Roy took over the Chairperson’s role for a brief period in 1993. He helped the group bring a troupe from Paris led by the renowned singer Sharmila Roy Pommet.
Tapan Gupta
1990 - 1991
During his second term Tapan Gupta endeavoured to clean up the mausoleum of Prince Dwarkanath Taogre which lay hidden in overgrown bushes in a London cemetery. At his initiative, the Tagoreans organised for the first time in many years, a memorial event at the mausoleum marking his death anniversary. Mr Gupta passed away in January 1991.
Devi Prasad
1989
Devi Prasad was a renowned sculptor who had qualified from Santiniketan. He took the responsibility of leading the group during its celebration of the Nehru festival celebrating the centenary of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minster of India. The celebrations hosted lectures, international commemorative conference and musical concerts at prestigious venues such as the Commonwealth Institute, Royal Festival Hall and Harrow School. Many celebrities had participated in the festival.
Hallam Tennyson
1986 - 1988
Hallam, the great grandson of poet Lord Tennyson was a writer and broadcaster. He led the group during two of its notable celebrations ie the Tagore Festival to celebrate Rabindranath Tagore’s 125th birth anniversary in 1986 and the Voices of Bengal in 1988. Over 150 artists and scholars from around the world participated in the Tagore Festival and Hallam said during the festival, "Tagore represents one of the great summits of human achievements and the Tagoreans can help touch him across the gap of time, language and geography."
Tapan Gupta
1972 - 1985
Tapan Gupta founded the Tagoreans along with some friends and Tagore lovers in London in 1965 and made the organisation first of its kind in the UK to promote Tagore’s philosophy and his multifaceted creative genius. He promoted the group’s activities in England and across Europe and organised many pioneering events. Under his leadership the group conveyed the passion and joy of Tagore’s creativity, philosophy and humanitarianism through many highly acclaimed musical concerts, dance dramas, poetry recitals, seminars and exhibitions. He also promoted the wealth of Bengali cultural traditions through many of the organisation’s activities. He was instrumental in organising yearly poetry and musical recitals in a Hampstead house Tagore resided in 1913.