Rabisarani

Alexandra David-Neel, French explorer and writer who will later win international fame for her path-breaking work on Tibet has arrived in India. From her book L'Inde où j'ai vecu it is found that she goes to Jorasanko, gets to know the poet and Santiniketan and starts living there.

Leaves Calcutta (now Kolkata) for Patisar.

Spends some busy days at Patisar supervising estates.

In spite of supervising the estates at Patisar, Rabindranath manages to write the essays Pitar Bodh and Dharmer Nabajug.

The poet is in Calcutta (now Kolkata) to celebrate the Maghotsav. Reads Pitar Bodh in the morning session of prayers at the Adi Brahmasamaj Griha.

In the celebration of Maghotsav, Rabindranath reads Dharmer Nabayug in the evening at Maharshibhawan.

In the Maghotsav (started on 25th January), the next day, Rabindranath reads the article - Dharmer Adhikar at the Sadharan Brahmosamaj Mandir.

During the celebration of Maghotsav, Rabindranath reads the article - Dharmer Adhikar at the Sadharan Brahmosamaj Mandir, sheds light on the later deterioration of the once large-hearted and noble Hindu dharma.

The Bengalee newspaper blows the lid off a secret circular issued by Mr. Sharp – DPI which inter-alia states that the poet's school "…is a place altogether unsuitable for the education of the sons of Government servants…"

As The Bengalee newspaper reveals the news of a secret circular issued by Mr. Sharp which states that the poet's school is not a suitable place for the education of the sons of Government servants…", as a result - the Bengali bhadralok government servants are thus compelled to withdraw their sons from the school.

Poet addresses the assembly in the evening prayer session of the Samaj at its 82nd annual festival.

The long-awaited felicitation of the poet at last held by Bangiya Sahitya Parishat at Town Hall with great flourish.

In the felicitation ceremony conducted for Rabindranath, he is presented with an ivory scroll with the citation inscribed on it.

A students' wing established at the poet's suggestion under the aegis of the Parishat, felicitates the poet at a ceremony held at the Parishat Bhavan.

Rabindranath now felicitated by the felicitation committee of the Parishat. Student members of the University Institute perform Baikunther Khata on this occasion.

In the felicitation ceremony organized for the poet, he reads a long essay called Abhibhasan, later printed in the Phalgun issue of the Bharati.

In the felicitation ceremony organized for Rabindranath, he reads the long essay - Abhibhasan. It is a memorable statement of intent and he says without any equivocation that he has never pandered to popular taste and presented in his writings only what he considered worthy of presentation in literature.

Most probably around this time he meets the German philosopher and musicologist Count Hermann Keyserling at a musical soiree one evening in Gaganendranath's house. Count later writes in his memoirs -- "…Rabindranath, the poet, impressed me like a guest from a higher, more spiritual world. Never perhaps have I seen so much spiritualised substance of soul condensed into one man…"

Most probably around this time yet another distinguished visitor arrives from Europe -- Prince Wilhelm of Sweden, a painter and writer. He calls on the poet and will mention this visit in his travelogue published in 1913.

Rabindranath arrives at Santiniketan to spend a few days with the students. The purpose of the visit is to make arrangements for the smooth running of the school while he will be away. Jagadananda Ray is the Principal and elected chief of the teachers; so he remains in overall charge.

The poet is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata) on his way to Shilaidaha.

The play Baikunther Khata is performed by admirers and friends at Gaganendranath's residence before his departure for England.

Arrives in Shilaidaha for rest and solitude.

The poet arrives at Shilaidaha for taking rest, yet spends the time to write Adi Brahmasamajer Bedi.

More importantly, one of his seminal essays on the subject history is --Bharatvarshe Itihaser Dhara. In this essay he attempts to delineate the varied development of religious thoughts in ancient India through the arrival of various branches of the Aryans and their struggle with the Dravidians and the so-called non-Aryans. In his own words, it's a companion piece to the earlier essay--Dharmer Adhikar.

M.H. Phelps has already come and gone.

The poet writes to Jagadananda Ray – "Mr. Phelps has spent a few days here and left – he likes the place very much – he said – This is an ideal place to live in."

Shilaidaha still enchants him as before, but a growing longing to go and see the world at large increasingly fills him. In this conflicted frame of mind (wonderfully unveiled in a letter to Priyamvada Devi dated 8th March, 1912) he leaves for Calcutta (now Kolkata).

Pramathalal Sen writes to Rothenstein in England mentioning the translations of Rabindranath's poems and informing him of poet's itinerary and requesting him to help them on the way if help is needed.

Rabindranath reads the essay Atmaparichaya before an audience of students at the hall of the Sadharan Brahmasamaj.

Holds a special session at Overtoun Hall, Ashutosh Chowdhury presides and the poet gives a public reading of Bharatvarshe Itihaser Dhara.

Bhowanipur Brahma Sammilan Samaj invites him and the poet conducts "Divine Service" in its temple in the morning.

The much contemplated European tour scheduled to commence on 19th March cancelled due to poet's sudden illness.

Alexandra David-Neel gives the poet letters of introduction written in French (one in 16th March and three in 17th March, 1912) to leading journalists and intellectuals in Paris, the Swedish orientalist Esaias Tegner being one of them. Rabindranath will most probably look him up in Paris on the way to London in June. In one of these letters she writes about the poet -- "He is not one of those men who need recommendation."

The musical drama Valmiki Pratibha is performed at Ashutosh Chowdhury's Ballygunge residence; the poet himself is present among the audience.

Leaves for Shilaidaha with Rathindranath and daughter-in-law Pratima.

Writes to Kadambini Dutta – "…I've escaped to the solitude of Shilaidaha…"

With the muses coming to visit him, however, he recovers enough energy to pen as many as 17 poems/songs in a fortnight.

• Bhagye ami path haralem 29th March, 1912

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• Ami hal chhadley tabey 30th March, 1912

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• Amar ei path chawatei ananda 30th March, 1912

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• Kolahal to baran holo 31st March, 1912

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• Naamhara ei nadir pade 1st April, 1912

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• Ke go tumi videshi 2nd April, 1912

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• Ogo pathik diner seshey 3rd April, 1912

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• Ei dooarti khola 4th April, 1912

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• Ei je era anginatey 5th April, 1912

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• Anekkaler jatra amar 6th April, 1912

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• Ami amai korbo bado 7th April, 1912

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• Ebar bhasiey dite hobe amar 8th April, 1912

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• Jedin phutlo kamal kichhui jani nai 8th April, 1912

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• Ekhono ghor bhangena tor je 9th April, 1912

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• Jhade jai ude jai go 10th April, 1912

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• Tumi ektu kebol bastey dio kachhe 11th April, 1912

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• Ebar tora amar jabar belatey 12th April, 1912

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He's simultaneously busy translating his poems and songs into English. The manuscript containing these translations will be gifted by him to Rothenstein in England a few months later. Later still it will be preserved in Houghton Library, Harvard University. Rothenstein will add his comment to it -- "Original manuscript which the poet brought me from India on his initial visit to us at Oak Hill Park." In a letter written to Indira Devi a year later(6th May, 1913) he'll explain -- "I felt a kind of urge to activate again in my mind through the medium of another language the tumult of delight which inspiration had awakened in my mind once upon a time on an earlier occasion. A little exercise book gradually filled up." It is perhaps significant that he doesn't mention anything about these translations in the letters he writes at this time probably because of diffidence.

He is not entirely well and says so in the letters he now writes. Also says that he wants to go to England for a medical check-up too.

Preparations are being made for the trip to England which he wants to make in May.

Writes the article Rogir Navavarsha.

Keen to be in Santiniketan to celebrate the Bengali New Year, he leaves for Calcutta (now Kolkata).

Passing through Calcutta (now Kolkata) the poet arrives in Santiniketan.

Conducts the morning prayers in the temple and addresses the audience of students and teachers on the first day of the new Bengali year.

The play Raja o Rani performed by the teachers and students of the ashram. Rabindranath plays no part in it. Guests including Ramananda Chatterjee and his son and daughter arrive from Kolkata to witness the performance.

Summer vacation in the ashram school commences.

This spell in Santiniketan produces six new songs. Poet translates into English no-s 1, 2, 3 and 5 of these songs. The Gitanjali will begin with no 3.

• Ke go antaratara se 19th April, 1912

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• Amare tumi asesh korechho 20th April, 1912

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• Har-mana har parabo 20th April, 1912

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• Emni kore ghuribo 22th April, 1912

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• Peyechhi chhuti bidai deho 22th April, 1912

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• Aajike ei sakalbelatey 26th April, 1912

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The poet is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata).

Returns to Shilaidaha after a brief stay in Calcutta (now Kolkata).

Quietly spends his 52nd birthday with family.

In a letter to Pramathalal Sen (now in Calcutta) he writes -- "Rabi Dutta's translations of my poems are not at all up to the mark. And hence not in the least fit to be shown to anyone. Surely I can't even expect that my poems can be properly translated into English -- let alone metrical translation. Even so they may be tolerably rendered in fairly plain prose. If possible, I will have a go at it when I get to England." Though Pramathalal's interest in this enterprise of translation is well known, it's surely significant that the poet says nothing about his own efforts in this letter. Even during this last visit to Shilaidaha he's been busy translating into English songs from Gitanjali, and various other books. But it's impossible to be precise because there are no dates in the manuscript.

Rabindranath leaves Calcutta (now Kolkata) for Bombay (now Mumbai).

On his way to Bombay (now Mumbai), Rabindranath is accompanied by Rathindranath, Pratima devi and Somendranath Devbarman.

As Rabindranath leaves Calcutta(now Kolkata) for Bombay (now Mumbai), The Bengalee reports on 25th May -- "Members of the Tagore family, his friends and devotees, his Bolpur students and ex-students, with many of the teaching staff saw him off at the station."

The poet accompanied by Rathindranath, Pratima devi and Somendranath Devbarman reaches at Bombay (now Mumbai).

Though he's scheduled to embark in a matter of hours, he squeezes out time to churn out a short article on the city titled Bombay.

The poet is in Bombay (now Mumbai) along with his family members. Here the poet bemoans the lack of outdoor activities by women in Calcutta (now Kolkata) compared to Bombay and praises their ample and visible presence in the latter city.

The poet along with his family members sails for England in the ship named City of Glasgow from Bombay (now Mumbai).

During the first lap of the voyage from Bombay to Port Said poet writes six articles. One of his favourite subjects in prose is a comparative analysis of European and Indian ways of living and these pieces also reflect this abiding interest in diverse ways.

• Jalasthal 29th May, 1912

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• Samudrapadi 30th May, 1912

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• Jatra 3rd June, 1912

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• Anandarupa 4th June, 1912

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• Dui Ichha 5th June, 1912

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• Antarbahir 7th June, 1912

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He continues to translate poems and songs into English during the long voyage to England. He's carrying two pocketbooks which one after another will be filled with translations during and after the voyage. He occasionally reads the translations to his companions after lunch or dinner.

During his voyage to England, on the Red Sea he writes -- Prana bhoriey trisha horiye.

On his voyage to England, the ship reaches Port Said.

During the rest of the voyage to England he will write only one article -- Khela o Kaaj.

On his voyage to England, the ship reaches Paris.

Most probably meets Swedish orientalist Esaias Tegner (reference Alexandra David Neele) who knows Bengali. Tegner will later play an important role in the award of the Nobel Prize for literature to Rabindranath.

Arrives in London and puts up in Bloomsbury Hotel. When Tagore is coming to Bloomsbury Hotel with others, the manuscript of Tagore's English translation, which is under Rathindranath's captivity, is lost in the tube rail. It is found in the next day from the lost property office of tube rail.

After reaching London the poet along with his travelling companions puts up in the Bloomsbury hotel. But he does not like the hotel, telephones Rothenstein.

At London, Rabindranath does not like the Bloomsbury hotel and telephones Rothenstiein. Rothenstein comes to see him at the hotel and they shift to a private boarding house in Hampstead. Later they will move to a rented house. Rothenstein is meanwhile given the notebook containing translations which he reads at once. He says -- "Here was poetry of a new order which seemed to me on a level with that of the great mystics." Rothenstein sends typescripts of the translations to Yeats, Cecil Bradley and Stopford Brooks for their opinions.

W.W.Pearson has already spent a few years in Calcutta (now Kolkata) teaching botany at LMS College, Bhawanipore, knows Bengali and is familiar with the poet's work and his background. He is now back in London and makes the poet's acquaintance at the party which has gathered at his residence in the evening.

At London, as Rabindranath comes to W.W.Pearson's residence, Pearson receives Rabindranath in the doorway, offers pranaam and says that the poet is the guru for whom they've been waiting so long.

In London, Rabindranath attends a party held at W.W.Pearson's residence. They're all there -- Dr.P.C.Ray, Mr.& Mrs.Arnold, Mr.& Mrs.Rothenstein, Cranmer Byng, Mr.Cheshire, Devaprasad Sarbadhikari, Sukumar Ray and Pearson himself.

Rabindranath attends a party held at W.W.Pearson's residence in London. Among other attendants at the party, Sukumar Ray reads an essay on Bengali literature and highlights Rabindranath's stellar role in its development as well as a few translations of his poems done by him.

It's a small but remarkable beginning and thus Rabindranath's chequered career in the west is launched.

Writes two poems/songs

• Taba rabikar asey kar baraia 23rd June, 1912

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• Sundara batey taba angadakhani 25th June, 1912

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The poet renders the two poems - Taba rabikar asey kar baraia and Sundara batey taba angadakhani into English and sends the translations to Rothenstein.

In London, Rabindranath takes lunch with H.W.Massingham, editor of The Nation, an influential newspaper. The poet is now no stranger to the paper because it has already published Ajitkumar Chakrabarty's English translation of Sab-Peyechhir Desh.

Meanwhile Cecil Bradley and Stopford Brooks have written to Rothenstein amply confirming him in his opinion that Rabindranath has produced very great poetry indeed.

Even greater confirmation comes Rabindranath's way, when the greatest living poet writing in English, Yeats comes to Rothenstein's house at the latter's invitation, meets Rabindranath and reads aloud a few of Rabindranath's translations. The last vestiges of Rabindranath's diffidence are removed by Yeats's ecstatic reaction which will be soon famously expressed in his celebrated introduction.

Now begins an intensely interactive phase – brief but eventful between two very great poets about which Rabindranath will nostalgically write much later to Rothenstein – "…then came those delightful days when I worked with Yeats."

Rothenstein hosts a larger poetry reading session in his house attended by the elite of the London literati and presided over by Yeats.

Yeats again reads quite a few of Rabindranath's translations in what C. F. Andrews describes as a "musical, ecstatic voice" and the listeners are immensely, profoundly moved. Rathindranath will later recall the spell thus cast in his memoirs. He'll also mention "the flood of appreciative letters that poured in the next day."

The India Society's preparations to felicitate the poet got under way even before his arrival in London.

In London, A.H.Fox Strangways, Rothenstein, etc. take the initiative to felicitate the poet.

On the initiative to felicitate the poet in London, a flyer printed and sent to distinguished personalities by the Indian Society is signed by Rothenstein, Fox Strangways, W.W.Hornell, Mrs. Shuldham Shaw, etc.

May Sinclair sends a letter to Tagore about her experience after listening the recitation of English Gitanjali by Yeats on 7th July, 1912.

On an initiative to felicitate the poet in London, a flyer is printed by the Indian Society and sent to distinguished personalities. It says the Society is giving a dinner party in honour of the "most distinguished Indian poet" at the Trocadero on 10th July at 7:30.

Rabindranath is feted at the dinner organised by the Indian Society. Yeats presides. Rabindranath replies to the felicitations in a speech "at once brief and singularly effective."

At the dinner party organised by the Indian Society in honour of Rabindranath, many distinguished personalities such as - May Sinclair, H.G.Wells and Maud Gonne are among those present.

At the dinner party organised in honour of Rabindranath, Yeats reads three translations two of which are printed in The Times three days later.

The poet goes to Cambridge, spends a few days there and meets Bertrand Russell. He also runs into Pearson at Cambridge.

Back in London.

The poet translates three poems – all on death, into English, on the same day as he returns London from Cambridge.

The three poems that the poet translates returning from Cambridge to London, sends one of them to Rothenstein who has lost his mother with a touching note.

Prabashi completes the serialization of the memoirs in its June-July issue.

Jibansmriti is published as a book with twenty three illustrations by Gaganendranath and one by Jyotirindranath.

After Jibansmriti is published, a couple of days later, Chhinnapatra also published.

Dalia - one of his more dramatic short stories is dramatised by George Calderon as The Maharani of Arakan which is performed at Royal Albert hall and the cast includes Sybil Thorndike.

Rev. C. F. Andrews now invites him to come and stay with a friend of his, a padre and his family in a village called Butterton in the heart of "beautiful, unspoilt English country miles away from any town or railway station.."

Achalayatan also serialised in the Prabashi, now published as a book.

Andrews and Rabindranath already knew a lot about each other though they happen to meet only now and their acquaintance swiftly matures into a profound life-long friendship of mutual affection and devotion.

The poet and his family accompanied by Andrews go to Butterton.

The poet is under the weather, compelled to leave Butterton for more salubrious environs.

As the poet and his family compelled to leave Butterton due to harsh climate, for more salubrious environs, Rothenstein arranges for them to stay in an affluent farmer's house, Oakridge Lynch in Stroud, Gloucester Shire.

Poet is again busy translating into English those poems which will appear in the anthology of translations called The Crescent Moon (pub.1913).

Busy with translations for The Crescent Moon, he writes to Ajitkumar instructing him to convey his request to Gaganendranath Tagore, Abanindranath Tagore and Nandalal Basu to produce illustrations suitable for the proposed anthology.

Takes time off translation to dash off the article Sikshabidhi.

Writes Lakshya o Siksha.

Writes to Ajitkumar again informing him that he's already finished translating Chitrangada under the title Chitra.

The letter to Ajitkumar also reveals that Dakghar & Malini have been translated too.

The poet and his family are back in London.

Jyotirindranath's fine sketches having been mentioned in conversations, Rothenstein expresses a desire to see them. Complying with the poet's request Jyotirindranath sends three albums of his sketches to Rabindranath in England.

The poet's activities and engagements in London notwithstanding, thoughts of the school at Santiniketan are always at the back of his mind. Thus he writes to Ajitkumar Chakrabarty -- "…Perhaps our school does not get enough practice in music these days; that is not right, please take steps to keep it up....Music is surely as much a principal element in making life beautiful as the wonderful external landscape at Santiniketan which all unknown, unobtrusively moulds the minds of the boys."

The poet writes the articles on Yeats and Stopford Brooks.

In London, Rabindranath moves to new lodgings on Cromwell Road.

Yeats does not want anything in his introduction "crossed out by Tagore's modesty."

Rabindranath though is embarrassed to read it, writes -- "…no doubt it's a very precious ornament for me, but a hyperbolic ornament in a manner of speaking."

W.W.Pearson is again in India, visits Santiniketan.

Delighted to see his achievement Rothenstein writes to Jyotirindranath Tagore (elder brother of Rabindranath), "I know of few drawings which show at the same time so much sensitiveness of line and sincerity in characterisation." 25 of these drawings will be printed in an album with an introduction by Rothenstein in 1914.

The English Gitanjali is now being printed with Yeats's introduction by India Society.

Ezra Pound (1885-1972) who is now Yeats's secretary and who will later emerge as one of the trio of great modernist poets in English poetry (Yeats, Eliot, Pound) enthusiastically writes about Rabidranath to Harriet Monroe -- editor of the well known journal Poetry published from Chicago. Pound mentioned in the letter, “Also I'll try to get some of the poems of the very great Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore. They are going to be the sensation of the winner. … They are translated by the author into very beautiful English prose, with mastery of cadence.” Six Tagore poems translated into English with Pound's fulsome article on Rabindranath will be published in the Poetry in its December-1912 issue.

In London, May Sinclair invites him to dinner at her Sesame Club which takes place on October2, 1912. Here Rabindranath meets among others Shaw, Wells, Galsworthy, Masefield, Ernest Rhys, Fox-Strangways, Sturge Moore and Robert Bridges.

Rathindranath and his wife Pratima Devi sail for Illinois, USA. Rathindranath is going to his alma mater Illinois University for further studies.

The poet intends to join Rathindranath and Pratima Devi to their journey to Illinois, USA. But he is held back in England by the delayed publication of Gitanjali.

In England, Rev. C.F.Andrews comes to see the poet and in course of a long chat with him Rabindranath talks about his life and work.

French poet Alexi St Leger Leger (pseudonym St-John Perse -1887-1975), later Nobel Laureate at 1960, writes a letter to the poet with Fox-Strangways' letter of introduction. In this letter Alexi writes “At the end of a solitary stay in this town, when it was for me a very deep and secret joy, I meet by chance, in a newspaper, with two poems quoted by the English poet Yeats, I have made this wish, I know your poet's work in our times and having read it on proofs one evening, I may serve it in great admiration in my country.”

With a view to expanding his rural reconstruction activities and setting up a farm-cum-laboratory for Rathindranath at Santiniketan where he can work fruitfully, Rabindranath purchases Surul Kuthi from Narendraprasanna Sinha, zamindar of Raipur who is also in England at that time. Later Sriniketan – the poet's innovative rural industrial project will be located here.

The French poet Alexi St Leger Leger meets Rabindranath and secures his permission for translating his poems into French. Alexi will later inspire Andre Gide (1869-1951) to translate Gitanjali into French in his two letters to Gide in July, 1913.

Sails for New York accompanied by Dr. Dwijendranath Maitra.

Lands in New York.

Reaches Urbana in Illinois, joins son and dauhter-in-law. The Daily Illinois had already announced his forthcoming visit in its edition of 1st October, 1912.

The English Gitanjali, which is a collection of songs taken from Bengali Gitanjali and various other books, is published by India Society in London.

As the English Gitanjali is published by India Society in London, Rothenstein is simply elated and writes the poet that he'll open a dialogue with Macmillan as soon as the first reviews appear.

As if on cue, the first and most important review of the English Gitanjali appears in The Times Literary Supplement.

As the review of the English Gitanjali is published in The Times Literary Supplement, Rothenstein gives the poet the news in a letter written on the same day and says almost prophetically--"It is a great delight to us to feel that what we felt at once is shared by others & that you have once and for all gained the ear of the West for your literature. I wonder whether Bengal will realize what your simple visit has done for its history."

Meanwhile in Urbana, Rabindranath, in spite of reluctance to engage in public speaking in Englsh or attend functions and ceremonies, yields and at the entreaties of the local Unitarian padre A.R.Vail he gives a lecture on "World Realisation" at the local Unity Club.

Regarding the publication of English translated Gitanjali, Rothenstein writes again that he's corresponding with Macmillan and has already sent them the book and the manuscript.

Ananda Biday, a parody play written by Dwijendralal Roy is published by Gurudas Chattopadhyay of Bengal Medical Library. This play reflects Roy's jealousy to Tagore.

The response of the audience for Rabindranath's first lecture on "World Realisation" at the local Unity Club in Urbana, Illinois is encouraging and he gives a second lecture on "Self-Realisation" at the same place.

The two successful and effective lectures (delivered at the local Unity Club in Urbana, Illinois) gives Rabindranath useful practice in writing English prose and public speaking and he delivers the third lecture on "Realisation of Brahma" at the Unity Club.

Rabindranath delivers his forth lecture on "The Problem of Evil" at Urbana, Illinois. The same lecture will be delivered on two occasions in Chicago also.

The Poetry magazine in Chicago, publishes 6 translations and Pound's article on Rabindranath in its December issue. Rathindranath writes to Harriet Monroe, editor, requesting her to send him a few copies in Urbana.

Chas. W. Wendte, secretory of The National Federation of Religious Liberals based in Boston writes to him inviting him to speak at their big conference to be held in Rochester on 28th-30th January, 1913. Poet is hesitantly accepts the invitation. But soon writes to them stating his inability to go.

Having learnt from Rathindranath's letter that the poet is staying in near-by Urbana, H. Monroe writes Rabindranath inviting him to come over to Chicago and assuring him of a warm welcome and sends along 12 copies.

H.Monroe writes again to the poet fervently renewing the invitation to come over to Chicago.

With four companions poet conducts prayers in his room to observe the ceremony of 7th Poush.

Rathindranath and Pratima go to Chicago prior to his proposed visit.

Poet's reply to Monroe is rather ambivalent. While he doesn't decline the invitation, he says he's rather afraid of big towns and their swirl of engagements.