New Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS) Poet-philosopher Rabindranath Tagore made an appearance not once, but twice, at the Rajpath boulevard Wednesday – to the delight of leaders from West Bengal who were watching the floats roll by at the Republic Day Parade here.

Smiles broke out on the faces of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee as first a culture ministry tableau went past showcasing Tagore. Both the ministers hail from West Bengal and looked happy as the tableau with a huge sculpture of Tagore rumbled past to the famous song ‘Jodi tor dak shune’, penned by the Nobel laureate.

Minutes later came the railway ministry tableau, again with a giant statue of Tagore at its head. This time the song was ‘Oi mahamanobo ashe’!