Rabisarani

A day before his arrest, Gandhiji writes to Rabindranath from Bombay--"…as I try to steal a wink of sleep I think of you. I want you to give your best to the sacrificial fire that is being lighted."

Within a week of his return to India from the Round Table Confrence in London, Gandhiji is arrested and will be detained in Yeraveda Jail, Pune till 26th September.

Felicitation of the poet by Indian Society of Oriental Arts planned as a finale of the birth anniversary celebrations (Rabindra-Jayanti Utsav) and scheduled for 4th January, cancelled.

Rabindranath voices his ringing protest in a cable sent to British prime minister Macdonald -- "The sensational policy of indiscriminate repression being followed by Indian Government starting with imprisonment of Mahatmaji is most unfortunate in causing permanent alienation of our people from yours making it extremely difficult for us to cooperate with your representatives."

Also sends a message of protest to the press and its bengali gist is printed in the Anandabazar Patrika.

The felicitation which could not be held elsewhere the day before is held today at Jorasanko. For these artistes Rabindranath writes a song -- Tomader daan yasher dalai.

Poet arrives at Khardaha. Here he writes the poem Besur based on a painting by his nephew Gaganendranath Tagore.

Tagore writes the poem Har based on a painting by Surendranath Kar who is an artist and architect and a companion of Tagore in many of his overseas visits. Surendranath Kar is well known for combining the Indian architectural style with western and eastern styles of architecture.

Poet writes the poem Kalo Ghora based on a painting by Gaganendranath Tagore and the poem Maranmata (included in the anthology Bithika).

Poet writes the poem Pasarini based on a painting by Nandalal Bose.

Tagore writes the poem Aprakash (included in the anthology Bithika).

Tagore writes the poems Marichika based on a painting by Gaganendranath Tagore and Ratrirupini (included in the anthology Bithika)

Tagore writes poem Shyamla based on one of his own paintings.

Tagore writes a letter to the political prisoners of Hijli jail in response to their letter.

Tagore writes the poem Aarshi based on a painting by Surendranath Kar.

Tagore writes poem Pushpachaini based on a painting by eminent artist Kshitindranath Majumdar and Bhiru based on a painting by nephew Gaganendranath Tagore.

Tagore writes poem Dware based on a painting by Surendranath Kar and poem Pushpa based on one of his own paintings.

Tagore goes to Jorasanko to attend the Maghotsav.

Tagore writes poem Jatra based on a painting by artist Ramendranath Chakraborty, a key player in establishing printmaking as an immensely innovative medium in modern Indian art, and Kumar based on a painting by Gaganendranath Tagore.

His message for 26th January declared as the Independence day by the Congress is cleared for publication in the press only after it's been heavily censored by the government.

Tagore writes the poem Dwidha based on a painting by Gaganendranath Tagore.

Tagore writes poems Budhu based on a painting by Gaganendranath Tagore and Godhuli based on a painting by Nandalal Bose (later included in Bithika).

The famous poem Prasna written around this time expresses his agony and indignation at the draconian measures adopted by the government to crush the Gandhian Civil Disobedience Movement and intense revolutionary activities, particularly in Bengal.

He wants to select the poems himself for the proposed anthology of his poems Sanchaita which will remain for decades the ultimate anthology of Tagore poems. Preparations which have been going on since the end of 1931 now gather momentum.

Spends a fortnight (16th January - 2nd February) at Khardaha near Kolkata on the banks of the Ganga. Stays in a leased house. Writes here a number of the poems (as described in the earlier events) later collected in the anthologies Bithika and Parishesh and above all Bichitrita which is dedicated to Nandalal Bose. Sajanikanta Das who will henceforth be a devoted disciple of the poet comes to see him here and brings him a letter from Hemantabala Devi.

Stands out as a landmark of its own kind; some of the poems included in it are intended to illustrate some of his own paintings as well as some by leading artists of the Bengal School.

Poet send a copy of Sanchaita, which has just been published, to Hemantabala Devi who is the daughter of zamindar Brajendrakishore Roychoudhury of Mymensingh. From 1931 Hemantabala Devi starts writing letters to Tagore whose literary value is appreciated by Tagore himself. She also writes in popular magazines like Mahilamahal, Ghare-Baire etc. Some of her well-known books are Smritikatha, Hemantabelay etc.

Poet leaves Khardaha and moves towards Santiniketan.

Back in Santiniketan.

Anniversary of Sriniketan celebrated.

On the occasion of the Anniversary of Sriniketan delivers address Desher Kaaj in which he asserts that no programme of national reconstruction can succeed without the human element assuming the most important role in it.

The first exhibition of his paintings to be held in India, opens at Government Art School, Kolkata. Poet visits it and is Mukul Dey's guest in Kolkata.

Flies aboard a Dutch aircraft for half an hour to see if he can fly to Teheran for the proposed visit to Persia (now Iran). In this connection he'll write the poem Pakshimanab on 9th March, 1932.

In his response to the felicitations from the political prisoners lodged in Hijli Jail, Rabindranath sends the message--"May the freedom which nothing can curb enter your hearts unhindered."

Death centenary of Goethe celebrated worldwide and at Santiniketan as well.

Representatives of the Friends Society - a British organisation of Quaker Christians, come to Santiniketan and meet the poet. A considerable section of the British people wants peace in India, but they now understand that the British government is bent on pursuing strong-arm methods. The poet tells them -- "We in India are ready for a fundamental change in our affairs which will bring harmony and understanding into our relationships with those who have inevitably been brought near to us. We are waiting for gesture of goodwill from both sides."

Against this political backdrop, Rabindranath writes few poems around this time.

• Chhandamadhuri24th March,1932

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• Mani and Agradut25th March,1932

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• Santa27th March,1932

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• Pranam30th March,1932

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Poet in Kolkata. Chandicharan Saha of Hindustan Musical Products records songs sung and poems recited by Rabidranath.

Poet interviewed by the representative of the Liberty at his Kharda residence.

Leaves by air for Persia at the invitation of Reza Shah Pehlavi - king of Persia.

He's accompanied by Pratima Devi and Amiya Chakrabarty. Kedar Chatterji has gone ahead as advance party.

Poet flies to Jask,Persia via Illahabad, Jodhpur and Karachi.

Poet arrives in Bushire, warmly received. Governor of the province hosts a public banquet in his honour.

Goes to Shiraz. Stays for a week (16th - 22nd April) there, the land of Hafiz and Sa'di - great Persian poets. Accorded a triumphant reception. Goes to pay tribute at their graves.

Leaves for Isphan. On the way stops at Persepolis and Herzfeld shows him relics of ancient Iranian art and architecture.

Arrives in Ispahan.

Felicitated by the Municipality, Military, Education Department of the Government and Chamber of Commerce.

Poet is in Teheran.

Received amidst great jubilation, greeted as "the greatest star shining in the eastern sky" by the press.

Meets King Reza Shah Pehlavi, presents him with a poem written for him.

Poet holds conversation with educationists of Teheran who agree with his internationalist views.

Civic reception accorded by the citizens of Teheran.

His 72nd birthday celebrated like the reception given the previous day, both by the authorities and the people with a degree of veneration and grandeur rarely seen on such occasions.

Overwhelmed by the magnificent old-world hospitality and honour he has received, Rabindranath pays touching tribute to the host country when he delivers the farewell speech.

Leaves Teheran for Iraq. He has already received an invitation from King Feisal of Iraq.

The Times publishes a Message from RNT which is given to some members of the Society of Friends' who lately visit India.

Arrives in Baghdad, received by a jubilant crowd at the railway station.

Meets King Feisal, admires his unassuming, modest ways.

Invited to visit a Bedouin community in an oasis. Spends a day there.

Witnesses performance of war dance.

Flies back to Kolkata.

Stays at the leased house in kharda which has meanwhile been renovated.

Back in Santiniketan.

His only grandson Nitindranath is critically ill in Germany. Sends his mother Meera Devi to Germany with Dhirendramohan Sen. At his request Andrews also joins them there.

Poet's grandson Nitindranath Tagore's imminent death seems to have cast its shadow on some of the poems which Tagore writes in June and July.

• Dhabaman24th June,1932

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• Mrittunjoy1st July,1932

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• Jatri2nd July,1932

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Felicitated by Calcutta University and presented with an address at a special academic reception. Vice-chancellor Hassan Surawardi presides.

Writes the poem Durbhagini.

Poet's grandson Nitindranath Tagore dies of tuberculosis in Germany.

Poet writes the poem Mata.

Draft of prime minister Ramsay Macdonald's Communal Award Bill made public; proposes to divide Hindus into two categories -- varna Hindu and scheduled Hindu. Country wide protests.

In his indignant reaction to the draft bill the poet says in a statement published in the Allahabad daily The Leader -- "Things have come to such a state that I hate even to complain, knowing…hopelessness of our situation. We cannot expect fair dealings from a power which for its self-interest, would perpetuate differences amongst our people regardless of the ultimate consequences which cannot be good for itself..."

In a further reaction published in the press two days later he sums up the choice facing the country at this juncture -- "My advice to my countrymen is that they should ignore this award and focus all their forces for the united consideration of these new measures...The solution of the communal problem is in our own hands and we should take advantage of the new feeling of resentment...against irrational communal and class differences, and thus remove one of the greatest obstacles in the path of our national self expression."

To overcome acute financial stringency accepts the Invitation of Calcutta University, takes the University Chair of Bengali as Ramtanu Lahiri Professor for two years and also agrees to deliver the Kamala Lecture. The poet will receive an honorarium of Rs. 5000/-.

Introduces experimental free verse of an innovative kind in the poems now being written and later collected in the anthology Punascha (dedicated to Nitindranath).

Revises an earlier play Rathajatra into a new play Rather rashi and rewrites earlier Shiber Bhiksha into Kabir Diksha ; combines both into a new book Kaler Jatra and dedicates it to Saratchandra on his birth anniversary.

In his prison cell in Pune, Gandhiji begins a 'fast unto death' protesting the Communal Award Bill and demanding its abrogation on 20th September. In a telegram sent on 19th September, Rabindranath declares -- "It is worth sacrificing your precious life for the sake of India's unity and her social integrity."

Mahatma replies -- "Very early this morning I wrote seeking your blessing if you could approve action, and behold I have it in abundance in your message just received. Thank you."

Residents observe protest fast in Santiniketan, special prayers are offered in the temple and Rabindranath seeks explaining the significance of the fast.

Through a statement given to Associated Press, poet issues an impassioned appeal to the country to abolish all kinds of caste and social prejudices and ostracisms prevailing among Hindus.

Anxious and perturbed, Rabindranath decides to go to Pune and leaves with Surendranath Kar and Amiya Chakrabarty. Prof. Tucker has preceded him.

Poona Pact has meanwhile been hammered out with Dr. Ambedkar. The poet arrives. British government also accepts the Pact. Gandhiji breaks his fast as Rabindranath sings-Jibana jakhan shookaye jai.

Always breaking new ground and never content to repeat himself, Rabindanath now writes a new novelette - Dui Bon.

In Pune, speaks on Gandhiji's birthday.

Back in Santiniketan.

Enthusiasm for social reforms having caught on, a Samaskar Samity headed by Sudhirchandra Kar is set up to fight untouchability and other evil practices.

Tagore spends the greater part of Puja vacation in Khardaha from 24th October, 1932.

Poet writes to the Maharaja of Kochin requesting him to fight untouchability in his state.

Writes the first piece of the cycle of poems later published under the title Sesh Saptak.

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya received by the poet and felicitated during his visit to Santiniketan.

In Kolkata; as Ramtanu Lahiri Professor, delivers the incisive address Viswavidyalayer Rupa at Calcutta Universiy and says in conclusion -- "…today it is my responsibility to receive Calcutta University at the portal of the shrine of Bangabani Binapani. Bearing this in mind I congratulate the university. I wish this - when the time comes for the dust-laden night lamp to be blown out, singing the matutinal Bhairabi melody, may the really indigenous university hail the breaking dawn of a new sunrise in the mind's sky of Bengal and propel the genius of Bengal along the path of ever new creations to the sphere of imperishable achievements."

In Kolkata, presides over celebrations on Ray's seventieth birthday. Dedicates to him the brochure Mahatmaji and Depressed Humanity.

In Kolkata; speaks at the sraddha ceremony of Suniti Devi, the late queen mother of Koochbehar.

Inaugurates Bengal Stores, the first departmental store of its kind set up by the Birlas in Kolkata.

Poush Utsav observed in Santiniketan. Rabindranath, now back in Santiniketan, delivers a sermon.

Goes to see Sir Daniel Hamilton's model agricultural colony at Gosaba via Kolkata. Spends a couple of days there.

In Kolkata; goes to see Kesoram Cotton Mills, a Birla enterprise, at their request.

This term - coined by Rahamat Ali - passes into political parlance.