Rabisarani Rabisarani

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Condemns Russian Invasion

10th January, 1940
Requested by Pramatha Chowdhury, writes an article Finland condemning Russian invasion (printed in Alaka, Magh , 1346). He will return to this theme months later in the poem Apaghath which he'll write in Kalimpong.
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Visit from Chinese scholar

17th January, 1940
Chinese Buddhist scholar Tai-shu comes to Santiniketan on a good-will mission. Receiving him in the Amrakunja, Rabindranath says in his welcome address -- "The ancient friendship between China and India might be revived by contact in the realms of spirit and culture."
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Maghotsav

25th January, 1940
The address Purner Sadhana read on the occasion of Maghotsav.
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Writing

January, 1940
Writes quite a few poems and songs in January, 1940.
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Writes poems & songs

January, 1940
Writes Sanai,Roopkathai, Ahwan, Poorna, Dewa-newa, SeshBela, Seshdristi, Anabristi, Adhara, Notun Rang, Byathita, Janalai, Kshanik, Dwidha, Adhojaga, Rattire keno holo marji, Biplab, Roop-biroop, Karnadhar.
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Publication of Complete Works

2nd February, 1940
Pulinbihari Sen is playing a key role in the publication of the complete works. Often visits Santiniketan. Poet also consults Sajanikanta in this connection.
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Sriniketan anniversary

6th February, 1940
The Sriniketan anniversary celebrated. Ajijul Haq - education minister of Bengal Government presides. Rabindranath delivers the address Palliseva.
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Visit from Gandhiji

17th February, 1940
Gandhiji and Kasturba Gandhi pay their last visit during the poet's lifetime.
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Rabindranath bonds with Gandhiji

18th February, 1940
In course of the formal welcome extended to them, Rabindranath says he's offering him -- "these few words to let you know that we accept you as our own, as one belonging to all humanity.' In reply Gandhi says -- "…I am no stranger here. I feel as if I have come to my home..."
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Chandalika performed

18th February, 1940
Chandalika performed in the evening in honour of the guests.
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Letter to Gandhiji

19th February, 1940
On the last day of the visit Rabindranath gives him a letter entreating him -- "to accept this institution under your protection giving it an assurance of permanence…" Thirteen years later the government of independent India will make Visva-Bhrati a central university.
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Poet is in Siuri

21st February, 1940
District magistrate of Birbhum - Vinodbihari Sarkar persuades the aging poet to travel to Siuri and inaugurate the Annual Industrial Exhibition there. Thousands of people come to the exhibition to see and hear the poet speak.
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Poet is in Bankura

March, 1940
The Poet is in Bankura (1st - 3rd March) Inaugurates Bankura Exhibition and lays the foundation of a maternity and child-welfare centre.
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Addresses students

3rd March, 1940
The Poet addresses medical students in Bankura.
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Writes a poem

March, 1940
Writes the poem Doorer Gaan.
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Poet is tired

8th March, 1940
In a letter to Amiya chakrabarty, Rabindranath admits -- "The trouble with me is that my body is tired, more tired is my mind because it remains motionless."
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Centenary of Dwijendranath Tagore's birth anniversary

13th March, 1940
Centenary of Dwijendranath Tagore's birth anniversary celebrated. Poet speaks on the occasion.
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Letter from H.W. Nevinson

March, 1940
H.W. Nevinson,President, National council for Civil Liberties-writes to the poet requesting him to be the Vice-President of the organisation.
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Poet accepts the offer

31st March, 1940
Poet writes back to Nevinson accepting the office.
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Writes poems

March, 1940
In March writes the poems Aspasta, Jababdihi, Asa-jawa, Jyotirbaspa.
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C.F. Andrews passes away

5th April, 1940
C.F. Andrews dies in a Kolkata nursing home.
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Rabindranath remembers Andrews

5th April, 1940
The same day in Santiniketan, in course of the memorial prayer service Rabindranath describes his friend's career as a splendid embodiment of Christian ideals -- "In no man have I seen such triumph of Christianity…His sacrifice, his complete surrender of self, will ever remain treasured in our hearts."
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Writes a Song

10th April, 1940
Writes the song Prem esechhilo nishsabda chraney.
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Bengali new year's day and Rabindranath's Birthday

14th April, 1940
Bengali new year's day and Rabindrnath's birthday celebrated. The poet speaks on the occasion. Congratulations from Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek.
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Kolkata

17th April, 1940
The poet arrives in Kolkata.
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Inaugurates Trust Building

19th April, 1940
Poet inaugurates Trust Building of Calcutta Builders Stores Ltd.
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Visits Surendranath

19th April, 1940
Poet visits his ailing nephew Surendranath.
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Interview to the media

19th April, 1940
The Poet gives an interview to the media on the political situation prevailing in the country, particularly Bengal. Soon it will spark off a controversy as anti-Subhas groups will fasten on it. It will cease somewhat only when Rabindranath will issue another statement to the press in early July after his return from Kalimpong.
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Mungpoo

21st April, 1940
Arrives in Mungpoo where his hostess is Maitreyi Devi.
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Surendranath Tagore passes away

3rd May, 1940
Surendranath Tagore passes away in Kolkata.
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Birthday

7th May, 1940
Local folks celebrate his birthday.
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Kalimpong

8th May, 1940
Shifts to Kalimpong.
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Kalimohan Ghosh dies

May, 1940
Kalimohan Ghosh dies in Santiniketan.
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Poet receives the news

12th May, 1940
Rabindranath receives the news.
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Letter to the President of United States of America

15th June, 1940
Obviously pinning high hopes on the USA as a defender of democratic and spiritual values so brutally threatened by the world war in progress, particularly after the collapse of France, Rabindranath writes a letter to F.D. Roosevelt which states prophetically -- "All our individual problems of politics today have merged into one supreme world politics, which, I believe, is seeking the help of the United states of America as the last refuge of the spiritual man, and these few lines of mine merely convey my hope, even if unnecessary, that she will not fail her mission to stand against the universal disaster that appears so imminent."
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Kolkata

29th June, 1940
The Poet is back in Kolkata.
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Inaugurates Gitali

29th June, 1940
Inaugurates Gitali -- an institution dedicated to music.
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Writes poems in Mungpoo and Kalimpong

1940
Writes the poems Sesh Abhisar, Proiti, Janmadin (3 poems under the same title), Abhisap, Nabajataker kanda in Mungpoo and Kalimpong.
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Visits Bani Bhavan

2nd July, 1940
Poet visits Bani Bhavan, a training centre for widows run by Narisiksha Samity founded by Lady Abala Bose and speaks to the women of the centre.
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Subhaschandra meets the poet

2nd July, 1940
Subhaschandra comes to see the poet. It's their last meeting.
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Telephone exchange

24th July, 1940
Poet inaugurates the new telephone exchange at Bolpur.
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Dhirendramohan Sen leaves Santiniketan

1st August, 1940
Dhirendramohan Sen leaves Santiniketan to take up a high-profile job in Delhi.
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Oxford University confers D. Litt(honoris causa)

7th August, 1940
Oxford University confers on him D. Litt (honoris causa) at a special convocation held in Santiniketan by its special representatives -- Sir Maurice Gwyer, Chief Justice of India, Sir S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Henderson of Calcutta High Court.
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Sapmochan performed

7th August, 1940
Sapmochan performed in the evening in honour of the guests.
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The Times writes about the convocation

8th August, 1940
The Times writes, "This is believed to be the first time that a special convocation held outside Oxford."
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Tulsidas Ramayana explaned

10th August, 1940
At a memorial meeting held to commemorate Tulsidas, the Poet explains the enduring significance of the Tulsidas Ramayana.
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Varshamangal and Vriksharopan celebrated

3rd September, 1940
Varshamangal and Vriksharopan celebrated in Santiniketan.
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Completes short story Laboratory

3rd September, 1940
Completes the long short story Laboratory which shows his undiminished ability to experiment and innovate in all the departments of fiction -- theme, form, character and certainly not the least -- language.
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Kolkata

17th September, 1940
The Poet is in the city for a quick medical check-up.
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Kalimpong

19th September, 1940
Leaves for Kalimpong.
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Poet is ill

25th September, 1940
The Poet is severely ill in Kalimpong.
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Back in Kolkata

29th September, 1940
Brought back to Kolkata. Prompt medical care enables him to overcome the crisis. Remains bed-ridden for almost two months.
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Santiniketan

18th November, 1940
Back in Santiniketan. Prolonged convalescence.
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Chinese Goodwill mission

9th December, 1940
A Chinese Goodwill mission headed by Tai Chi-Tao comes to see the poet.
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Poush Utsav

22nd December, 1940
Incapacitated by illness, the Poet is unable to take part in the seventh Poush festivities. A lecture dictated by him and taken down by Amiya Ckakrabarty (Arogya) is read to the congregation.
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Writes a poem

24th December, 1940
Writes Prachhanna Pashu on the eve of Christmas.
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Books published

1940
Nabajatak, Sanai, Chitralipi1, Rogsajyay, Complete Works volumes 3, 4, & 5 published.
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