Rabisarani

Sahana Devi - noted singer of Rabindrasangeet - is suffering from tuberculosis. Rabindranath invites her to come to Santiniketan for cure and rest and assures her that she'll be well looked after.

Writes to Mamata Dasgupta that Natir Puja will be performed. The play is in rehearsal and Nandalal's daughter Gouri Basu will play Sreemati.

Arrives in Kolkata with his troupe from Santiniketan. Maghotsav will be held the next day, but he hasn't sent out invitations to anyone and writes to Rani Mahalanabis that he is not ready to regard himself as a Brahma if being a Brahma means following a particular religion.

Natir Puja is performed at Jorasanko mansion.

Two more performances on 29th and 31st January. Gouri Basu's masterly performance as Sreemati universally acclaimed. Rabindranath excels as usual as the old monk Upali even at sixty six. But individual brilliance apart, this ground-breaking performance goes down as a watershed in the cultural history of Bengal because this is the first public performance in which girls hailing from distinguished middle class bhadralok families enact dancing roles,thus assaulting the old social stereotype of women actors as persons of low repute and virtually ostrasized from genteel middle class hierarchies. Initially the announcement of this performance by the girls raises some eyebrows. To stop that, Tagore creates the character Upali and presents himself at the stage. Secondly the cultural revolution initiated by the poet now widens the cultural horizons by presenting dance as a great art form and raising it to a new level of respectability and acceptability in Bengal.

Growing public anger and indignation at the tyrannical high-handedness of the government in imprisoning thousands of young men without trial. Rabindranath once more articulates public indignation in his own inimitable way when he sends an open letter to the daily Forward condemning "the primitive form of despotism which permitted detention without trial under Bengal Ordinances."

In Santiniketan; presides over the anniversary festival of Sriniketan, stresses self-reliance and the necessity of a holistic approach to rural reconstruction.

Inaugurates a new symbolism in his latest songs and poems through the cosmic Nataraja image, rich in rhythmic varieties and dramatic overtones.

A song-and-dance medley gets written perhaps inspired by Bharatnatyam dance and Nataraja iconography of South India.

Saratchandra meets the poet and urges him to protest against the government's decision to ban his allegedly seditious novel - Pather Dabi.

Rabindranath writes to him declining to protest, maintaining that writers may write inciting, provocative things, but it is not a healthy attitude if at the same time they expect that the British government will not come down heavily on them. He adds, "Travelling around the world I have seen that there is not another government which is so tolerant and forgiving as the British government. To proscribe your book and say nothing to you almost amounts to forgiving you. To rely on this forgiveness and flay the government randomly is a travesty of courage." Saratchandra is deeply hurt.

Writes that his sense of responsibility has grown from a combination of the senses of beauty and self-dignity.

Discusses the goals and aims of literature with Sajanikanta. According to the poet literature is eternal. However, the modernists do not hold with such views.

enacted in Santiniketan.

Leaves for Bharatpur at the invitation of the young prince Kishen Singh to preside over the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan with his future biographer Prabhatkumar Mukhopadhyaya. Braves the summer heat of Rajasthan even at this age because he needs funds for Visva-Bharati.

Delivers his address at the Sahitya Sammelan in English.

Visits Agra.

Visits Jaipur.

In Ahmedabad; Ambalal Sarabhai puts him up at his residence from 6th to 9th April.

Felicitated by Gujrati Sahitya Sabha.

Edward Thompson's recent book Rabindranath Tagore,Poet and Dramatist comes to his notice here and he reads it.

Writes to Prasantachandra from Ahemedabad - "I've read Thompson's book … It is superficial and incorrect to a great extent."

He writes to Rothenstein too in this vein and later demolishes the book in a review written under a pseudonym in the Prabashi (Sravan issue).

Returns to Santiniketan.

Takes part in these ceremonies. Writs the poem Varshasesh on the last day of the expiring year and speaks at the prayers held in the morning of the first day of the Bengali New Year.

Goes to Chandernagore, lays the foundation stone of the temple of the Prabartak Sangha at the invitation of he Sangha founder Motilal Roy.

Felicitated by the Sangha. Visits Krishnavamini Balika Vidyalaya. Tea party at the residence of the French administrator with the elite of Chandernagore.

Spends the summer in Shillong as the guest of Ambalal Sarabhai who's also holidaying there. He's accompanied by Dinendranath, Jehangir Bakil and Prabhatkumar and occasionally visited by Suruchi Devi, maharani of Mayurbhanj.

Taking full advantage of the freedom from public engagements Rabindranath launches into a new novel, later published in the new magazine Vichitra under the title Tinpurush (later changed to Yogayog). Prima facie, the poet's object is to earn some money by writing the novel. Indeed, he says so in a letter written to Indira Devi around this time. Also writes a few poems in Shillong.

Very keen to visit Java-Bali-Sumatra. Writes to Ramananda Chatterjee that he's requested G.D. Birla for financial help. Even if the help isn't available, he will go and study the Hindu civilisation of those countries.

Returns. Preparations for the tour get under way.

Philanthropist G.D.Birla and Narayandas Bajoria donate Rs. 10,000/- and Rs. 1000/- respectively.

Establishes The Greater India Society after his return from China. Rabindranath is the first President of the Society.

Writes the poem Mukti(1).

Writes the poem Mukti(2).

International Cooperative festival held in Kolkata. The poet presides, gives a lecture on Bharatvarshe Samabayer Bisistata.

Felicitates him in anticipation of the success of the tour. Rabindranath says in reply, "These felicitation which you have offered me prior to my departure for Jabadwipa will mentally fortify me".

Leaves for Madras by train en route to Singapore accompanied by Surendranath Kar, Dhirendranath Devbarman and Prof. Sunitikumar Chatterjee--representative of Calcutta University. Arnold Bake and Aryanayakam have gone ahead as advance party to prepare for the poet's visit.

Sails for Singapore on the French boat Amboise.

Arrives.

Aryanayakam joins him here. For three days he's the guest of the Malay governor Sir Hugh Clifford. Then enjoys the hospitality of Mohammad Ali Namaji.

felicitated by the elie of the Chinese community at Garden Club.

Delivers an address on Unity of Man at Victoria Theatre.

Lectures to Chinese teachers and students on the ancient links between India and China at Palace Gay Theatre.

Meets a distinguished group of people led by Mohammad Ali Namaji who want to set up an organisation under the name International fellowship.

Speaks at Indian Association before a record crowd of common Indians of Singapore Sikhs, Pathans, Punjabis, Tamils, Gujratis, Hindus and Muslims. Rabindranath speaks in English, Sunitikumar translates the speech into Hindi.

Gives a lecture on his experience at Santiniketan as an educationist at Victoria Theatre. All kinds of students present; Colonial Secretary E.C.M. Woolfe presides.

A Chinese educationist, meets the poet.

Arrives. Entertained at the government house. Dinner given in his honour.

visits Mooar.

Delivers two lectures in Malacca.

Arrives at Kuala Lumpur.

Civic reception organised by municipality at Town Hall, presented with a silver casket containing the address.

Lectures at a theatre hall; reads poems at a variety show in the evening.

Visits Seremban, delivers lecture, returns to Kuala Lumpur in the evening.

Speaks at the Confucian School of the Chinese and also at Kajang.

Visits Ipo, then goes to Tai-ping and lectures on Human Destiny.

Speaks on Nationalismat Empire Theatre.

Mixed reactions to the poet's visit noticed. Malaya Tribune -- mouthpiece of British colonial interests, attacks the poet for his critique of imperialism.

The primary goal of the tour, namely securing funds for Santiniketan, has been more or less achieved. The poet's now headed for Bali and Java.

Reaches Belawan in Sumatra from Penang.

A number of Dutch, Sindhi and Tamil admirers of the poet led by Arnold Bake meet him in Belawan.

Takes ship bound for Java-sails on Plancius.

Reaches Singapore on the way to Java, meets old friends on board.

Writes the poems Notun Srota, Viday Sambal .

Writes the poem Srivijayalakshmi aboard.

Arrives in Jakarta. Stays at Hotel des Indes.

Reception and dinner in his honour at the residence of the British consul Mr.Crossby who delivers a wonderful speech welcoming the poet.

Crossby introduces the poet to the Governor General of Netherlands India.

Indians of Batavia(Jakarta) come to see the poet; poet talks about Santiniketan, local Sindhi businesmen promise to help.

On the way to Bali writes the poem Nutan Kaal and the article Sahitye nabatwa on board.

At Bangli the poet witnesses performances of the dance of Bali and Java a memorable event.

In Bali for a fortnight. Travels through the island with honours and receptions galore, keenly notes the vital influence of Indian culture in the vibrant living traditions of the island and the Balinese school of dance-drama. Visits Giyanga, Badoeng, Moendoeck..

Here discusses Catherine Mayo's book Mother India with Sunitikumar and sends a letter to The Manchester Guardian criticising it. Later J.T.Sanderland will use this letter as the introduction to his book Unhappy India.

Returns to Java, arrives at Sourabaya. Local Indians crowd the pier to greet him.

spends three days here, delivers a lecture on Art at the local Kunstkring.

Here he inaugurates a street named after him (Tagore street). Stays as a guest of the Mankunagoro, see enchanting performances of local drama and court-dance and interacts with local Javanese and Dutch intellectuals. Receives telegram from Siam inviting him to visit the country.

Sees the ruins of ancient temples at Peramban protected as monuments by the Dutch government from 18th to 20th September.

goes to see the legendary Borobudur temples.

writes the poem Borobudur.

Spends a couple of days here. In a delightful letter written to Pratima Devi describes the place, "there was once a lake in the hollow where Bandung sits now. Later, at some time or the other, the surrounding hillsides crashed down in a landslide and the lake water drained away. I'm really feeling very comfortable here in the quiet house in this beautiful, secludd place after all the recent hectic travels."

Returns to Jakarta (Batavia).

Sails for Penang via Singapore.

Writes the poem Bali aboard.

Writes the song Sakaruna benu bajaye ke jai aboard.

Arrives en route to Bangkok.

Arrives to a rousing welcome by Indians, Siamese, Chinese and Europeans who put them up at Phya Thai Palace Hotel.

Meeting with education secretary, prince Dhani. Also meets the chief priest of Rajpotibar temple.

Goes to see the renowned art collection housed in the palace of prince Damnog Rajanubhab.

Delivers the address India's Role in the World. Writes the poem Siam.

Visits Vajrayudh Vidyalaya. Delivers address on Child Education at Chudalankaran University.

Meets the King and Queen of Thailand.

Delvers two lectures Chinese Birth and Asia's continental Culture.

Lectures on Ideals of National Education at the local museum before a massive audience.

Leaves Bangkok.

Writes six poems

• Siam(2)17th October,1927

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• Chirantan18th October,1927

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• Abujh Monon (board Aba-maru in this date)20st October,1927

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• Mohana24th October,1927

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• Durdiney26th October,1927

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• Nutan Srota27th October,1927

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Arrives in Kolkata.

A debate centred on what should be the ideal of modern literature which was simmering now comes to a head. The varied exponents of modernism are represented by new literary magazines like Kallol, Sanghati, Uttara, Kalikalam, Pragati, Lekha etc. with Kallol and Kalikalam leading the field. They lament the lack of modernism in Tagore literature and champion what they call new values of freedom and frankness for all they are worth. Rabindranath is seen as the bulwark of conservatism and remains the butt of criticism. On the other hand Sanibarer Chitti is pitted against them.

Adapted from Nataraj Riturangashala is performed in Kolkata. Basudeva Menon, formerly of Kalabhaban, plays Nataraj. The performance and staging combine Indian and Javanese styles.

A certain journal (of the Swaraj Party) asks him for an article but turns it down because of its implicit critique of Swarajist programme. It is later printed in the Prabashi(Magh,1334).

Held in Santiniketan. Rabindranath takes part.