Rabisarani

Farewell held at Argentina University. A number of distinguished people attend. In reply to a question poet explains the central message of Post Office.

Leaves for Europe by the Italian liner Giulio Cesare with Elmhirst.

The doors of his cabin dismantled to let in the chair used by him at Miralrio. It was brought back to India and used by the poet till his death.

TOMAKE BHALO BASI VIJAYA.

Rabindranath writes a few poems on board.

• Milan9th January

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• Andhakar10th January

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• Pranganga16th January

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• Badal17th January

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Arrives in Barcelona.

Arrives in Genoa.

His son and daughter-in-law join him here.

Professor of Sanskrit, Rome University, meets the poet.

Rabindranath, Rathindranath, Elmhirst, Formichi and Dr. Zanussi-emissary of Gallaratti Scotti, Duke of Milan-lay their heads together, draw up a programme and send it to the Duke.

They arrive in Milan to a royal reception headed by Duke Scotti and Guido Cagnola, academics and other personalities.

Felicitation at the Duke's palace in the evening. The poet delivers a short speech.

Poet and the other guests, accompanied by the Duke, go to see a performance of Verdi's La Traviata by the orchestra of famous conductor Toscanini.

Rabindranath interacts with elite of Milan at a meeting in the hotel, Italian assistance for Santiniketan discussed.

Delivers an address on The Voice of Humanity at Circolo Filologico Milanese. Prof. Formichi translates the speech into Italian.

Four thousand children assembled at People's Theatre welcome him by singing songs. In his farewell speech he says he's overwhelmed and promises that he'l return soon.

Down with influenza, advised rest, engagements cancelled.

Writes a poem on Italy titled Italia, translates it into English for Formichi to render it into Italian. In this poem he takes leave of the great country for the time being and promises to return.

Doctors examine him again and urge him to return home for convalescence.

Rabindranath writes to Rolland, promises to return to Europe soon and see him.

Leave Milan, reach Venice; again a festive reception.

Slightly better, swirl of private meetings, unending stream of visitors.

In a letter to Victoria Ocampo, he talks of coming back to Italy in September and staying put till the middle of October so that she can come over, too.

Sails for India with family and Surendranath Kar. Elmhirst stays back.

Starts writing a diary on 7th October, 1924 and resumes it today.

Arrives at Bombay.

Arrives at Kolkata.

Poet is relieved and pleased to learn from Phanibhusan's letter (received in Bombay) that arrangements have been finalised for Ranu's marriage with Birendranath Mukherjee, son of industrialist Sir Rajendralal Mukherjee.

In a moving letter to Rolland expresses his misgivings about the readiness of his country to accept his message of world unity and mission of Visva-Bharati in the existing situation. Goes on to say that he pins his hopes on friends like Rolland.

Indeed he discovers upon arrival here that Santinikrtan is itself a microcosm of the country at large. Most of the teachers and workers are followers of Ganghiji, even Nandalal and Bidhusekhar are among them and Charkha-spinning is all the rage.

Writes to Victoria Ocampo that it is unlikely that he'll be able to leave for Europe before August,1925.

Jyotirindranath Tagore (Rabindranath's elder brother) dies in Ranchi. He was 76. Mourning in Santiniketan.

writes to the poet requesting him to contribute to his proposed Book of Marriage. The poet's contribution is translated into English by Surendranath Tagore.

Spring festival slated to be held in Amrakunja cancelled due to rain and storm. The following songs feature in the programme of the festival:

• Aaj ki tahar barata

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• Tomai cheye basey achhi

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• Nai jadi ba ele tumi

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• Phire phire daak dekhi re

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• Phagun hawai rangey rangey

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• Eki maya! Lookao kaya jirna

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• Mora bhangba, tapas, bhangba

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• Ohe sundara mori mori

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• Laha laha tule laha

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• Oki elo, oki elo na

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• Kusume kusume charan chinha

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• Je kebal paliye berai

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Even when the storm is raging, Rabindranath writes a new song Rudrabeshe kemon khela kalo megher bhrukuti.

Art Theatre Ltd. offers to buy the performance rights of this play. The poet agrees.

Poet in Kolkata. Discusses the prospects and future of Rabindrasangeet with Dwijendralal Roy's son and musicologist Dilipkumar Roy. The poet firmly holds his ground that he will never permit anyone to take liberties with or alter the melodic structure of his songs in any way. Thus begins the long-lived debate over music between the two.

Dorothy Whitney Straight, who has till now funded the development of Sriniketan and will continue to do so, marries Elmhirst.

The Konark House is renovated and a musical programme called Sundar is performed here in the evening on the last day of the Bengali year.

On the last day of the Bengali year Rabindranath prays in the temple in the evening and gives a short address.

(New year) celebrated in the ashram. Rabindranath prays in the temple in the morning and delivers a sermon which is printed under the title Nabavarsha in Santiniketan(Baisakh issue).

Kalidas Nag marries Shanta Devi, Ramananda Chatterji's daughter. Poet unable to attend.

To facilitate teaching, research and other academic activities Visva-Bharati now consists of three parts, namely, Pathabhaban, Sikshabhaban and Vidyabhaban. The first is the school, the second provides college education while the third institution concentrates on research.

Founded by Santoshchandra Majumdar at Sriniketan chiefly for poor students.

His 65th birthday celebrated with flourish at Santiniketan with Kolkata literati descending on Santiniketan in strength for the purpose. Gandhiji sends a cable congratulating the poet who most probably writes the song -- Marubijoyer ketan udao for this occasion.

Before her marriage her father Phanibhusan Adhikari brings Ranu to Santiniketan (as the poet wished in a letter written to her) and spends a few days here. Then they proceed to Kolkata. The marriage takes pace in Kolkata on June 28,1925. Rabindranath attends the wedding.

Now touring Bengal to propagate the programme of Charkha and Khadi, Gandhiji visits Santiniketan to hold a dialogue with the poet who has serious reservations about the Gandhian programme.

Meets poet's elder brother Dwijendranath a devoted Gandhian and then holds along meeting with Rabindranath. Only Andrews is present at the meeting. Obviously their differences persist.

Visits the Surul centre of agricultural activities and expresses satisfaction. Meets the poet again and a long dialogue takes place.

Frederick Bohn Fisher, Bishop of the Methodist Church, Kolkata is in Santiniketan with his wife and meets both Rabindranath and Gandhiji.

Gandhiji interacts with the boys and girls of the ashram in the afternoon.

Leaves for Darjeeling to see the ailing Chittaranjan there.

Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das (1870-1925) dies in Darjeeling at the age of 55.

Rabindranath arrives in Kolkata, meets Chittaranjan's bereaved family. A few days later writes the celebrated four-line poem in aid of a memorial fund for the conversion of the departed leader's palatial residence into a hospital (Chittaranjan Sebasadan) Enechhile sathe kore Mrityuhin pran. Marane tahai tumi Kore gele daan.

Complyiing with Gandhiji's request to put his views in black and white, Rabindranath writes Charka (Sabuj Patra- Bhadra issue). It at once results in an intense political polemic. The English translation The Cult of the Charka (by Surendranath Tagore) is published in The Modern Review (September,1925). Swarajsadhan, His next essay in which he again attacks the Gandhian programme and the philosophy behind it, intensifies the polemic when it appears in print (Sabuj Patra- Ashwin issue).

Several songs are written in this period (from May to July).

• Oi akash pare sudhai bhare 16th June

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• Achho akash pane tuley matha

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• Tar hathe chhilo hashir

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• Maraner mukhey rekhey durey

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• Abelai jadi esechho

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• Dwarey keno diley nada

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• Gaan amar jai bhesey jai

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• Ogo ashader purnima aaji

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• Jetey dao gelo jara

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• Gahan ratey sravan dhara

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• Kotha je udhao holo

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• Jani jani holo jabar aeojan

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• Sakhi andhare ekela gharey

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With more and more offers for making plays and films of Rabindranath's stories and novels coming their way,Visva-Bharati enters into quite a few agreements towards this end.

Dramatised version of the novel Prajaptir Nirbandha is performed at The Star Theatre. Highly innovative and powerful production. Effusive praise in press reviews.

Rabindranath performed at Santiniketan.

Second performance; Rabindranath present.

Arrives in Kolkata, ready to leave for Europe.

Cancelled because Dr.Nilratan Sircar says he is not fit to travel and advises complete rest.

Sends cable to Romain Rolland in Switzerland saying that he's compelled to cancel the tour because of the frail state of his health.

Rolland is bitterly disappointed because he had already made extensive arrangements for the poet's visit to Europe including a few days' rest at a Swiss sanatorium near his residence. Gives highly restrained expression to his feelings in a letter written to the poet.

Anthology Purabi is published.

Lord Satyendraprasanna Sinha visits santiniketan Sriniketan and very pleased with what he sees, promises a donation of Rs. 10000/-.

Rabindranath writes to Satyendraprasanna thanks him gratefully for the large donation.

Poet signs the new trust deed. Rathindranath and Surendranath made trustees. This deed provides for Meera Devi, Nadita and Pratima Devi.

Rabindranath writes almost apologetically to Rolland admitting that the Gandhian movement has caused him more anguish than he can bear and that a retreat to Europe is in these circumstances his only chance of recovering from the state of weariness which has engulfed him.

The poet invited to the Convocation of Bombay University held on 18th August. Vice-Chancellor Sir C.H. Sitalvad extends the invitation. Rabindranath declines on grounds of frail health and states in his letter, -- "…as it is the nature of truth to respond to truth we only prove an inertness of our own culture when in a fit of foolish pride we reject the best that Europe offers to us today and thus help to prolog for ourselves the dark period of dominance of all that is worst in Western character."

Varshamangal previously performed in Santiniketan is amplified and dramatised by the poet and performed at Vichitragriha, Jorasanko as Seshvarshan. It blends elements of pantomime, opera, symbolic presentation and declamation into a homogeneous whole.

24 songs are sung in Seshvarshan.

• Gaan amar jai bhesey jai

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• Kotha je udhao holo

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• Olo sephali

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• Jhare jharajhara jhara bhadara badara

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• Tomar naam janiney

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• Aaj sravaner purnimatey

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• Je chhayarey dharba boley

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• Amar raat pohalo

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• Asrubhara bedana dikey dikey

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• Bandhu raho raho sathey

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• Hey kshaniker atithi

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• Shyamal shovan Sravan tumi

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• Eso nipabane chhayabithitaley

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• Dharanir gaganer milaner chhandey

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• Pathik megher dal jotey oi

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• Dekho shuktara ankhi meli chai

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• Eso Sarater amal mahima

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• Ebar abagunthana kholo

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• Kar banshi nishibhorey bajilo

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• Bajramanik diye gantha

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• Poob hawate dei dola

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• Oi asey oi ati

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• Ogo Sephali baner moner kamana

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Special performance in honour of Lord and Lady Lytton and the King and Queen of Beljium.

Famous American social worker and exponent of birth control Dr. Margaret Sanger had already written to him asking for his opinion on the issue, particularly in view of Gandhiji's obscurantist opposition. Rabindranath writes "I am of opinion that Birth Control movement is a great movement not only because it will save women from enforced and undesirable maternity, but because it will help the cause of peace by lessening the number of surplus population of a country scrambling for food and space outside its own rightful limits."

Poet contributes an article to a volume being brought out in honour of Rolland on his 60th birth anniversary.

Comes to the city for medical treatment of an aiment of the ear.

Grihaprabesh is published.

Italian Indologist (already aquainted with poet during Italian trip) arrives in Santiniketan as guest-lecturer in response to the poet's earlier invitation with a collection of Italian books and a letter from Italian prime minister Mussolini in which he promises to send Prof. Tucci to Santiniketan as a teacher of Italian with another sizable consignment of Italian classics and album of paintings.

Poet sends a cable to Mussolini expressing gratitude for his gift and offer of collaboration.

Lord and Lady Lytton visit Santiniketan and see the poet.

Rabindranath highly admires Rajsekhar Basu's Gaddalika surely a landmark in Bengali literature and gives vent to this praise in a letter he writes to Acharya Prafullachandra Roy, Basu's employer.

Pays another visit to Santiniketan, hands over half the donation promised and promises to pay the other half soon.

Subhaschandra, now in Mandalay jail, writes a letter in English on arts and related subjects to his friend Dilipkumar Roy who sends the letter to Rabindranath. The poet writes back to Dilip praising Subhas's letter yet disagreeing with him in his vews.

The first conference of Indian Philosophical Congress held in Kolkata at the initiative of Calcutta University. Rabindranath delivers an address on The Philosophy of our People.

The poet sees the third performance of the play at the Star Theatre staged by Art Theatre.

Rabindranath prays in the temple at Santiniketan, delivers a sermon.

Visva-Bharati Parishad held in Amra-kunj. Poet presides.

Sun Yat-sen dies.