Rabisarani

The poet's back in Santiniketan. Muktadhara is completed, brings alive the antinomy inherent in the subjugation of nature by man with the indiscriminate use of machinery so heavily relied on by western civilisation.

Writes seven new songs for the play.

• Jaya Bhairab, jaya Sankara 22nd January, 1922

  ---

• Nama jantra, nama jantra 22nd January, 1922

  ---

• Ami marer sagar 22nd January, 1922

  ---

• Bhule jai theke theke 22nd January, 1922

  ---

• Tor shikal amay bikal 22nd January, 1922

  ---

• Shudhu ki tar bendhei tor 22nd January, 1922

  ---

• Phele rakhlei ki pade rabey 22nd January, 1922

  ---

Mary van Eeghen, his hostess in Holland and a musician herself arrives in Santiniketan and stays for a couple of months associating herself with the activities of the school.

300th birth anniversary of the great French dramatist Moliere(1622-1673) celebrated. The poet presides.

Rabindranath's elder brother Somendranath dies.

The Maharaja of Pithapuram arrives with his family and the noted veena player Sangameswar Shastri. Spends a few days here.

Elmhirst assumes charge of the Institute of Rural Reconstruction setup today.

Rabindranath goes to Kolkata.

Reads the play on two occasions, returns to Santiniketan.

Pulinbihari Das, the former revolutionary meets the poet. Always willing to assist them in peaceful reconstruction activities, Rabindranath promises to help him.

Poet takes classes, explains Mathew Arnold's essay and Keats's poems to the students.

Gandhiji subjects Visva-Bharati to adverse criticism in the Induprakash.

Elmhirst reads his important essay The Robbery of the Soil. His insights attract the attention of even Gandhians like Nepal Ch.Ray.

Pleased with the work being done at Surul the poet writes the poem Matir Daak and the song Phire chal matir taney.

Gandhiji is arrested by the British government. Vasanta Utsav and other cultural activities postponed at Santiniketan.

Poet in Kolkata, cancels proposed tour of Nepal in view of disturbed conditions.

Hands over the play, Muktadhara, to Ramananda Chatterjee for publication.

Poet goes to see the ailing Sukumar Roy.

Presides over the prize-distribution ceremony of Sangeet Sangha.

Awarded the Jagattarini Gold Medal by Calcutta University on the occasion of the annual Convocation.

In Shilaidaha with Andrews for rest and solitude.

Writes a few songs here:

• Purbachaler paney takai 24th March, 1922

  ---

• Asa-jawar pather dharey 25th March, 1922

  ---

• Kar jeno ei maner bedan 26th March, 1922

  ---

• Nidrahara rater e gaan 27th March, 1922

  ---

• Ek phaguner gaan se amar 28th March, 1922

  ---

Writes to Elmhirst admiring his efforts and says that he wishes he was young enough to join him.

Back in Kolkata.

Attends a session of Visva-Bharati Bandhusabha at Ramananda's place.

Back in Santiniketan.

Prayers held in the temple at Santiniketan on the first day of the Bengali new year. Rabindanath speaks on the occasion. His address printed under the title Navabarsha in the Santiniketan (May issue).

Stella Kramrish, who will later win international fame as art teacher and critic, arrives in Santiniketan and starts giving a series of lectures on art and sculpture of the world.

In a letter to Edward Thompson, he says – "I have come to the conclusion that translating a poem is doing it wrong, specially when the original belongs to a language which is wholly alien to the medium of its translation."

Writes -- Eso eso hey trishnar jal, to celebrate the sinking of a tube well.

Tagore writes song Jare Nije Tumi Janiechhile.

The poet is 62 today and after a long interval writes the poem – Ponchishe baisakh.

The Constitution of Visva-Bharati registered.

In response to an international appeal to Tagore in 19th May, for help for the starving people of Russia and the scholars in exile, the poet at once associates himself with the appeal and issues a statement which is printed in newspapers.

Rabindranath had earlier written to him requesting him to be a member of the governing committee of the University. Jadunath declines saying students of Visva-Bharati scorn ''exact knowledge."

Rabindranath thoroughly irked; writes to Prasantachandra Mahalanabish in anguish – "I cannot for the life of me understand what is there inside me which makes my friends hostile to me."

Death of Satyendranath Dutta, noted poet and Tagore disciple. He was 41.

After the vidyalaya reopens following summer vacation, Rabindranath speaks on the occasion of the centennial of the death of the famous English poet P.B.Shelley.

Rabindranath presides over the condolence meeting held at Rammohan Library. Writes a poem - Satyendranath Dutta.

At a meeting with young college students held at Rammohan Library the poet talks of forming an association through which Visva-Bharati will be able to connect with the students of Kolkata.

Visva-Bharati sammilani is inaugurated at Rammohan Library by the poet who reads and explains Muktadhara. Members attend. The object of the function is to raise money for the cash-strapped visva-bharati.

Poet in Santiniketan, presides over the 1st meeting of the Visva-Bharati Samsad.

L.K.Elmhirst reads The Robbery of the Soil at Rammohan Lbrary under the aegis of Visva-bharati Sammilani. Rabindranath also speaks.

Kshitimohan Sen delivers a lecture on Kabir and reads from his verse at Rammohan Library under the aegis of Visva-bharati Sammilani. The poet presides.

Poet speaks on the occasion of the annual anniversary of Vidyasagar's death at a meeting at Brahmasamaj Mandir.

Varshamangal is performed by the choir of students in Santiniketan on a full moon night after its success in Kolkata. The poet himself sings Aaj akasher maner katha and recites three poems – Jhulan, Varshamangal and Nirupama.

The poet reads Bharatvarshe Itihasher Dhara before an audience of students and teachers of the vidyalaya.

The Levis finally say goodbye to Santiniketan, leave for Kolkata after a touching farewell ceremony. The poet also goes with them.

Varshamangal is performed at Rammohan Library Hall, Kolkata for members only. The Levis are present, Rabindranath takes part in the performance. A sixteen page booklet named Varshamangal is published for this occasion containing the following 18 songs. Main object is to raise funds for cash-strapped Visva-Bharati.

• Daruna agnibaney 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Eso eso hey trishnar jal 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Oi je jharer megher koley 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Hridoy amar oi bujhi tor 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Kakhan badal chhonwa legey 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Aaj nabin megher sur 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Aaj akasher maner katha 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Ei sakal belar badal 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Poob sagarer paar hotey kon 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Aaji varsha rater seshey 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Sravanmegher adhek dooar 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Bahujuger opar hotey 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Badal-baul bajai re ektara 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Eki gabhir bani elo 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Amar hridoy aaji jay je bhesey 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Bhor holo jei 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Brishtisesher hawa kisher 8th August, 1922

  ---

• Badal dhara holo sara 8th August, 1922

  ---

Varshamangal is performed for the general public next day at the same venue. Rabindranath again takes part.

Lipika is published.

Visva-Bharati Sammilani arranges a farewell party for the Levis. The poet attends.

Varshamangal is again performed at the Alfred Theatre to satisfy great public demand.

Poet is felicitated at Presidency College, speaks on the occasion.

Takes part in the weekly prayers at santiniketan temple. Address given on this occasion later printed in Santiniketan (Bhadra-Aswin issue).

Poet in Kolkata, speaks at a function organised by Visva-Bharati Sammilani to observe the centennial of Shelley's death.

Busy conducting rehearsals of Sarodotsav.

Returns. Speaks at the weekly prayers.

In Kolkata. Inaugurates Jatiya Mahamela at Sraddhananda Park. Sishu Bholanath anthology is also published today.

Sarodotsav is staged at the Alfred Theatre to raise funds for Visva-Bharati. Rabindranath plays emperor Vidyaditya.

Again performed at Madan Theatre.

Leaves for Poona accompanied by Elmhirst and Gourgopal Ghosh.

Sylvain Levi and the poet meet the renowned scholar R.G. Bhandarkar. Here the poet is the guest of Ratanji Dadabhai Tata.

Held in Bhandarkar Institute in his honour in the evening. Visits Deccan College in the morning. Andrews joins him in Poona.

Speaks at a conference on education at New Poona College.

Lectures on Indian Renaissance at Kirloskar Theatre, comes down heavily on the current education system.

Reaches Bangalore, most probably stays at the Summer palace.

Gretchen Green, American social worker desirous of working in India who joined Rabindranath at Poona is travelling with him.

Poet delivers a lecture at Mysore University.

In Madras, he's a guest of well known lawyer T.N. Ramaswamy.

Meets J.H. cousins and Annie Besant at the former's residence.

Reads A Vision of India's History at the big Gokhale Hall.

Visits the local Rabindranath Club, is greeted by the elite of the city.

Speaks on Ideals in Education at Gokhale Hall.

Felicitated at the local Variety Hall, reads A Vision of India's History.

Reads An Eastern University at Variety Hall, Coimbatore.

Visits various educational institutions from 5th to 8th October, avoids public speaking for badly needed rest.

Returns to Madras, calls on Cousins and Besant, discusses the proposed university magazine.

Sails for Sri Lanka, his first visit there with Andrews.

Reaches Sri Lanka. His host is Dr.W.A.De Silva.

Visits the local teachers' training college, speaks about the vision underlying his university and reads from The Gardener.

Rathindranath joins him in Sri Lanka.

In letters written around this time he often compares himself to a mendicant wandering from one country to another with a begging bowl collecting money for the university.

Speaks at the local Y. M. C. A. about the ideals enshrined in Visva-Bharati. Chief Justice Sir Anton Bertram presides.

Delivers a lecture on Growth of my Life's Work before a massive audience.

Felicitated by members of the India Club at Storm Lodge.

Visits Mahindra College at Galle in the morning. Delivers a lecture at the invitation of Galle Association.

Visits the students' hostels of Mahindra College. Drives back to Colombo in the afternoon.

Presides over the prize distribution ceremony of Ananda College.

At Campbell Park and Trinity College at 20th and 23rd October.

Goes to Newara Eliya for a week's rest.

Patrick Geddes has meanwhile arrived in Santiniketan with his son Arthur, spends a couple of days there. Rabindranath is glad to know that Arthur will stay in Sriniketan to help implement different projects of rural uplift.

Leaves Sri Lanka, arrives at Trivandrum.

Civic reception at Jubilee Hall, poet speaks of Visva-Bharati.

Learns from Elmhirst's letter that he has proposed to Dorothy Straight.

On his way to Quillon halts at Varkkallai to meet Swami Sri Narayana Guru in his ashram – the famous guru of the Thiya community and crusader against untouchability.

Meets the industrialist P.R.Ramanujam who gives him a gift of 200 volumes on the chemical sciences and complete equipment for setting up a chemical laboratory at Santiniketan.

Arrives to a rousing reception, speaks on the problems of civilisation at the Electric Theatre, receives donation of Rs 1200/-.

Arrives in the evening, taken to the Royal Guest House where he receives an address and some donation for Visva-Bharati from the local people. Speaks on the vision and mission of Visva-Bharati.

Felicitated at Sri Narayanaguru's Adwaitashram. In the afternoon inaugurates a new hostel of Union Christian College. Mango saplings planted by Rabindranath and Andrews at the college.

Felicitated at the local Gujrati School, receives a donation of Rs. 750/-. Visits Subba Raja Memorial Girls' School, speaks on True Love, leaves for Madras.

Meets Cousins.

Speaks on Visva-Bharati and what it stands for at United Women's College.

Reaches Bombay, stays at Sir Jahangir Petit's residence.

Felicitated by the Pathare Prabhu Social Samaj, accepts donation for university.

Speaks on Ethics of Zoroastrianism at a meeting organised by several Parsi organisations. Soon a Zoroastrian Trust Fund will be set up at Santiniketan with their financial help.

Back in Bombay (now Mumbai). Moriz Winternitz (1863-1937) – Indologist and professor of Prague University who is the second guest-lecturer at Santiniketan after Sylvain Levi, has already arrived in India and joins him here.

Speaks at a meeting of the Bombay (now Mumbai) Ladies' Branch of National Indian Association.

Poet addresses the elite of the city in the garden of the house of Ambalal Sarabhai who is his host here.

Visits Sabarmati Ashram with Andrews, speaks to the inmates about the role of Gandhiji who is now in jail.

Reaches here with Winternitz. Meets Ranu and her father.

Back in Santiniketan.

Rabindranath prays in the temple (prayer printed in Santiniketan, Poush issue). Four songs are sung.

• Swapan jadi bhangiley 22nd December, 1922

  ---

• Prathama alor charanadhwani 22nd December, 1922

  ---

• Jaya hok jaya hok 22nd December, 1922

  ---

• Bhengechha dooar esechha 22nd December, 1922

  ---

Presides over and speaks at a meeting of the former students of Santiniketan.

Annual meeting of Visva-Bharati Parishad. Poet presides. Elmhirst is now the Director of School of Agriculture.

Rabindranath prays in the temple.

In a letter to Ranu's father Phanibhusan, the poet writes that the Hebrew scholar Schlomith Flaum, Russian professor L. Bogdanov and mark Collins-expert in linguistics, have joined the university.

Romain Rolland already wrote to him informing him of Weltbiblothek (World Library) -- an international publishing enterprise set up by Emil Roniger -- a Swedish publisher. The poet writes back giving permission for the German and French translations of Gora and the publication of Letters from Abroad.

38th annual session of the party held at Gaya from 26th December, 1922 to 1st January, 1923, Chittaranjan Das presides. Beginning of the emergence of Pro-changer and No-changer groups.