Rabisarani

Members of the New Education Fellowship spend a couple of days in Santiniketan in the 1st week of January.

Lord Lothian, statesman and diplomat, comes to Santiniketan to see the poet. Received at the station by Andrews.

Nehru urges the country to observe China day as a mark of solidarity with the beleaguered country. Rabindranath has already donated Rs. 500/- to the China Fund on 7th January.

Nehru's mother Swaruprani Devi passes away. Poet mourns her death.

In the poet's absence Andrews lays the foundation of Hindi Bhavana for which funds are provided by Halbasia Trust.

Urged by The Statesman, Calcutta writes the article Gandhi The Man.

Though the government freed the bulk of the prisoners last year, the task isn't completed yet; Rabindranath, Gandhiji and Ramananda Chatterji exert themselves to secure the release of the rest.

Governor of Bengal – Lord Brabourne visits Santiniketan with his wife.

Around this time completes the first draft of the dance-drama Chandalika. Now rehearsals begin for the inevitable performance and more changes will be made by the poet as the rehearsals proceed.

He is also busy editing this anthology of Bengali verse. Published months later, it will be finally withdrawn for lack of popular demand, but the introduction contributed by the poet is indeed valuable.

He's simultaneously busy preparing the new two-volume edition of Geetabitan which will eventually see the light of day after his death.

Of late he has often been asked to give his opinion on the new Act. In this connection writes an open letter to The Manchester Guardian which shows he has no illusions of hope as far as the Act is concerned. It states "It was made by politicians and bureaucrats embodies all their narrow caution and miserly mistrust"

Hyderabad bestows on him the degree of D. Litt. (Honoris causa) in absentia.

Europe inexorably slides towards another Armageddon as Hitler annexes Austria.

The new dance-drama performed in Santiniketan on the occasion of Dol-Purnima.

The troupe leaves for Kolkata.

Performed in Kolkata at Chhaya Theatre. The new Congress president Subhaschandra Bose witnesses the performance.

Second performance; Rabindranath present.

Meets the Mahatma who's in Kolkata negotiating with the government the release of the remaining prisoners.

Conducts prayers on new year's day in the temple. The poet's birthday celebrated in the Amrakunja.

Goes to Kalimpong, puts up at Gouripur Lodge as the guest of Brajendrakishore Roychowdhury, zamindar of Gouripur.

Recites the great poem Janmadin on his birthday which is broadcast by radio.

Starts writing Banglabhasa Parichay in Kalimpong.

Goes to Mangpu with Anilkumar Chanda, Sudhakanta Roychowdhury. Here his hostess is Maitreyi Devi, daughter of Prof. Surendranath Dasgupta.

Finishes writing Banglabhasa Parichay in Mangpu.

Writes a poem which he sends as his tribute to Bangiya Sahitya Parishat organising the centenary of Bankimchandra's birth anniversary.

Leaves for Kolkata.

Arrives. Saddened by the untimely death in Lahore of Maulana Ziauddin, lecturer in the Islamic Department of Visva-Bharati.

Harivishnu Kamath visits Santiniketan; pleased to see the Sriniketan enterprise in rural reconstruction.

In Kolkata to receive medical treatment for an eye ailment.

Returns to Santiniketan.

In the declining years of his life is drawn into what will be considered years later the very stuff of history and once more vindicate his stature as a world poet who can arraign both European and Asian powers for xenophobic, predatory nationalism. His letter written to Chiang-Kai-Shek earlier on expressing solidarity with China and condemning Japanese aggression is widely published abroad, rouses Japanese ire and noted Japanese poet Yone Noguchi sends a rejoinder to the poet (23rd July) defending Japanese militarism and glorifyng Japan as the saviour of Asia against European colonialism and its scheme of Asian "Co-prosperity Sphere".

Rabindranath in his reply (1st September) calls Japan's bluff and accuses Japan of "building your conception of Asia which would be raised on a tower of skulls." Noguchi replies in the same vein. Concluding his reply to this, Noguchi's second letter, the poet prophetically states -- "Wishing your people whom I love, not success, but remorse."(29th October).

Poems written in Kalimpong and Mangpu are to be found in the anthologies--Senjuti, Nabajatak, Sanai.

Plants a sapling of the Bodhi-tree of Gaya in its premises.

Gaganendranath Tagore, eminent painter and writer, dies in Kolkata.

Meanwhile Congress president Subhaschandra Bose assures Chinese representatives of Congress's resolve to send a medical mission to China.

Rashbihari Bose, who now resides in Japan comes in on Noguchi's side and flays Rabindranath for his stance.

Varshamangal, Vriksharopan, Halakarshan celebrated in Santiniketan in 3rd and 4th September. On this occasion poet delivers the address Aranyadevata.

Prof. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan visits Santiniketan. Received by the poet.

Radhakrishnan delivers lecture.

Dramatises the short story Muktir Upay.

Rabindranath pays moving tribute -- "To this great soul in a beggar's garb, it is our united privilege to offer felicitations on his birthday."

The poem Prayaschitta, written on 4th October, reflects the gloom and violence of a world drifting towards another world war.

Poet writes to Prof. Lesney in Prague -- "My words have no power to stay the onslaught of the maniacs, nor the power to arrest the desertion of those who erstwhile pretended to be the saviours of humanity...I feel so humiliated...so helpless..."

Dr. Meghnad Saha visits Santiniketan and delivers an address which is attended by the poet.

Rabindranath sends his message to the organisers of the birth centenary of Keshabchandra.

Kamal Ataturk the builder of modern Turkey, dies. Vidyalaya closed as a mark of respect. Rabindranath speaks praising Kamal's achievements.

A permanent emporium of Sriniketan, Shilpabhavan is inaugurated in Kolkata by Subhaschandra Bose.

Lord Zetland opens an exhibition of the poet's paintings at Calmann Gallery, London.

Inaugurates Havell Hall at Kala-Bhavana, Santiniketan in memory of E.B. Havell (1861-1934), recalls his contribution to the modern revival of Indian art.

The Marchioness of Linlithgow, wife of the Viceroy and their daughter Lady Anne Hope come to call on the poet at Santiniketan.

The Poet delivers an address before an assembly of devotees.

Elmhirst is back in Santiniketan after long years.

Andrews has also come, but leaves for Allahabad the very next day. He'll come back on 13th January, 1939.

Writes Malyatattwa