Rabisarani

Rabindranath in Kolkata; Prasantachandra Mahalanabis puts him up at his Alipur quarters.

Prof. Bogdanov recites and lectures on Persian poetry.

Elmhirst speaks on Rural Reconstruction; the poet presides over the meeting held at Rammohan Library. According to the speaker, three things mainly plague rural India -- malaria, monkeys and mutual mistrust.

Rabindranath's elder brother Satyendranath Tagore passes away.

Visitors from China call on the poet at Jorasanko, invite him to visit China in October-November. This rekindles his old desire to go to China.

Lord Lytton (1876-1947) is the third governor of Bengal to visit Santiniketan and Sriniketan. The followers of Gandhiji among the senior teachers at Santiniketan boycott the visit. But the poet is not in favour of futile confrontation. Thus village reconstruction at Surul continues to receive government assistance.

Poet delivers first part of an address on art at Kalabhawan at a special session of Visva-Bharati Sammilani.

Prof. K.Jaiswal of Patna speaks on Indology and stresses the need to combine the teaching of Tibetan and Chinese with the teaching of Sanskrit and Pali. The poet in his concluding remarks mentions how these languages are taught at Santiniketan.

Delivers the second part of the address on art (first part given on 19th January). Abanindranath who is present also speaks.

Rabindranath prays at the temple in the morning (Prayer printed in Santiniketan,Phalgun issue).

Prof. Benoit reads a paper on Romain Rolland. Rabindranath, Abanindranath, A. Karpeles, Pearson also speak.

On this full moon night the residents of the ashram gather in the Amrakunja after dinner in a meeting of Ashram Sammilani. The students - both girls and boys - sing a number of songs with the theme of spring. Rabindranath sings – Amar praner parey choley – and another Hindi song.

Rabindranath and Abanindranath visit Kalabhawan.

Abanindranath returns to Kolkata.

Reads the piece Galpa from Lipika at Kalabhawan in a series of readings spread over several days.

Winternitz speaks on the memorial festival of the Jain savant Vijoy Dharmasur which was held in Gwalior and which he attended. Rabindranath presides.

Rabindranath chooses to reside temporarily in the tree house so elegantly built by Kashihara, the japanese craftsman of carpentry, into the branches of three banyan trees and writes the musical play Vasanta. It contains the following songs.

• Gaanguli mor

  ---

• Tor gopan praney ekla manush 27th January,1923

  ---

• O amar chander alo 1st February,1923

  ---

• Khelaghar bandhte legechhi 1st February,1923

  ---

• Nisitharater pran 2nd February,1923

  ---

• Ke debe chand tomay dola 3rd February,1923

  ---

• Bhangla hasir bandh 3rd February,1923

  ---

• Dhire dhire dhire bao 4th February,1923

  ---

• Phal phalabar asha ami5th February,1923

  ---

• Baki ami rakhbo na5th February,1923

  ---

• Tumi bhabo gopan rabey 5th February,1923

  ---

• E bela dak porechhe konkhane 6th February,1923

  ---

• Aaj dakhin batasey 6th February,1923

  ---

• Sukno pata ke je chharay oi durey 10th February,1923

  ---

• Biday jakhan chaibe tumi 10th February,1923

  ---

• Sab dibi ke 10th February,1923

  ---

• Sahasa dalpala tor utala je 10th February,1923

  ---

• Jadi tarey nai chini 10th February,1923

  ---

• Ebar bidai belar soor11th February,1923

  ---

• Aaj khela bhangar khela 11th February,1923

  ---

• Bhoy karba na re 11th February,1923

  ---

• Na jeyo na jeyo na ko 12th February,1923

  ---

• Ore pathik ore premik 12th February,1923

  ---

• Ekhan amar samay holo 12th February,1923

  ---

• Tomar bas kotha jey 17th February,1923

  ---

• Dakhin hawa jago jago 17th February,1923

  ---

• Aaji marmardhwani keno jagilo rey19th February,1923

  ---

Rabindranath in Kolkata; reads the new play at a meeting of Visva-bharati Sammilani held at Rammohan Library.

Poet dedicates Vasanta to Kaji Nazrul Islam who is in jail.

Performed at Madan Theatre. Rabindranath, Abanindranath, Samarendranath, Dinendranath, Gaganendranath, Elmhirst, etc. take part.

Second performance at University Institute Hall.

Rani Maitra, daughter of Heramba Chandra Maitra, marries Prasantachandra Mahalanabis. The poet blesses the couple and presents them with the manuscript of Vasanta.

Leaves for Benaras with Kshitimohan Sen.

In Benaras, his host is Ranu's father, professor Phanibhusan Adhikari.

Addresses a meeting of the students of Benaras Hindu University. Welcome address by Pandit Madanmohan Malaviya.

Presides over the first session of Uttar Bharatiya Bangasahitya Sammelan and speaks here.

Also speaks here the next day.

In Lucknow, enjoys Atulprasad Sen's hospitality.

Delivers a lecture at Lucknow University. He is basically travelling across India on a lecture tour to raise money for Visva-Bharati.

Arrives in Bombay with Kshitimohan.

Writes 3 songs on the way.

• Amar e path tomar9th March,1923

  ---

• Kon pub hawate dei dola 10th March,1923

  ---

• Tomar sesher gaaner resh niye kaney 10th March,1923

  ---

Arrives at Ahmedabad.

Delivers a lecture at a Gujrat Sahitya Sabha meeting. Says he has set up a guest-house for the homeless travellers of the world which is called Visva-Bharati.

Writes a few songs around this time.

• Tomai gaan shonabo13th March,1923

  ---

• Bhebechhilem asbey phirey 13th March,1923

  ---

• Ebar dukkha amar 15th March,1923

  ---

• Hater dhula soi na je aar 16th March,1923

  ---

• Jedin sakal mukul gelo jharey 18th March,1923

  ---

Arrives at Karachi.

Given a civic reception at Burns Garden.

Felicitated by the Bengali residents of Karachi.

Felicitated by Karachi Municipality at a massive reception.

Felicitated at the local press club by journalists.

Gives a lecture on A Vision of Indian History at Pearl Opera House.

Speaks at a meeting of women held at Theosophical Society Hall.

Reaches Hyderabad in Sind.

Speaks on Folk Religion of India.

Back in Karachi.

Goes to Porbandar from Karachi by sea.

Anujan Achan lectures on The Buddhist University of Taxila.

Czech guest – lecturer, Prof. V. Lesney speaks on Sanskrit and Slavonic Languages at Santiniketan.

Visits Limdi, Dhrangadhra and returns to Ahmedabad.

Pearson finds the warm climate uncomfortable, leaves Santiniketan for the time being.

Returns to Santiniketan.

The following songs are written around this time.

• Bhalobasi bhalobasi8th April,1923

  ---

• Jakhan bhanglo milanmela8th April,1923

  ---

• Doordeshi sei rakhal chhele10th April,1923

  ---

The Bengali new year celebrated as usual at the ashram.

Poet presides over the second session of Visva-Bharati Samsad. Important issues decided.

Prof. Bogdanov recites and lectures on Persian poetry and discusses Sufism with Rabindranath.

Czech guest – lecturer V. Lesney is given a farewell. Returns to Europe.

Andree Karpeles also leaves Santiniketan to return to France. Rabindranath writes the song – Bhara thak, bhara thak - on this occasion.

Mercury rises alarmingly. Poet goes to salubrious Shillong with Ranu, Rathindranath, Nandita, Nandini and Gretchen Green.

The first issue of The Visva-Bharati Quaterly, edited by the poet, published.

Some members of the elite of Kolkata flock to Shillong during the poet's long sojourn in the hill resort. Rabindranath finds their company stimulating and buoyed up by a new spurt of creativity completes the first draft of what's arguably his greatest play – Raktakarabi. He'll go on penning as many as 11 drafts before the final shape of the play crystallises in its present form.

Kaji Nazrul Islam (1899-1976) who is fast emerging as a major Bengali poet and composer and is already known as the rebel poet, goes on fast in protest in Hoogly Jail. Poet sends cable asking him to relent because "our literature claims you." Nazrul withdraws fast.

Back in Kolkata.

Speaks at the 14th session of Bangiya Sahiya-Sammelan held at Naihati, praising Bankim's monumental achievements.

Bipinchandra Pal speaks on Bankim's writings at the second conference of Kalighat Sahitya-Sammilani. Poet presides.

Returns to Santiniketan.

The rains arrive and the poet returns to his songs.

• Akashtaley daley daley9th July,1923

  ---

• Pathik megher dal 10th July,1923

  ---

• Dharani, doorey cheye keno 11th July,1923

  ---

• Ashad kotha hotey aaj

  ---

• Chhaya ghanaichhe baney baney

  ---

• Kadamberi kanan gheri

  ---

• Ei sravan-bela badal-jhara

  ---

Preparations to stage the play in aid of Visva-Bharati get under way. Performance postponed owing to the poet's illness.

In an interview to journalist Mrinalkanti Basu, Rabindranath speaks on the programme of the newly formed Swaraj Party and Hindu-Muslim amity on the basis of economic programmes. The interview is published in the weekly Bijoli and creates quite a ripple. Poet later reiterates these views in the article The way to Unity in the Visva-Bharati Quarterly.

First performance at Empire Theatre. Even at age 62 Rabindranath gives a virtuoso performance as Jai Singha.

Second performance at Empire Theatre; Ranu plays Aparna.

Third performance at Empire Theatre; Ranu plays Aparna.

Poet speaks at Visva-Bharati Sammilani on prevention of malaria through cooperatives.

Fourth performance at Empire Theatre following great popular demand. Ranu plays Aparna.

Fifth performance of Visanjan.

Poet back in Santiniketan with Ranu.

Presides over the fourth meeting of the Visva-Bharati Samsad.

Rave reviews in the press for Visarjan.

Busy translating the play into English with the help of Prof. Benoit. Keen to stage it, too.

Writes to Ramananda Chatterjee that he wants him to print the play in the Falgun or Chaitra issue of the Prabashi.

Farewell to Prof. Winternitz at Santiniketan. Rabindranath reads the farewell address. He very much likes the professor's lecture Indian Literature as a World Literature.

Pearson falls off a rushing train, dies in Italy. The ashram hospital in Santiniketan, which he had built up almost single-handedly, will be named after him. Rabindranath will pay moving homage to his memory on 25th December.

Reads the essay Samasya at Alfred Theatre before an audience of Visva-Bharati Sammilani.

Noted businessman Jugalkishore Birla meets the poet at Prasantachandra's Alipore residence, promises to fund the poet's proposed visit to China and donates Rs. 3000/- for Santiniketan Vidyalaya.

Reads Raktakarabi (till now called Nandini ) at a meeting of the Atmiyasabha at Jorasanko.

Back in Santiniketan after spending 3 weeks at Alipore, Kolkata.

Reads Raktakarabi to the residents of the ashram. Continues revising the play.

Devastating earthquake in Japan. The poet sets up a relief fund at Santiniketan for quake-hit Japan. A notice to this effect appears in the Prabashi (kartick issue).

Probably writes the major poem Tapabhanga and the symbolic play Rathajatra around this time.

Departs for an extensive fund-raising tour, chiefly of the princely native states Gujrat, in late October/early November accompanied by Gourgopal Ghosh.

Arrives at Dhranggadhra.

Raja of Dhrangadhra promises to donate Rs. 25000/-, pays first installment of Rs. 500/-.

Arrives at Morvi.

Raja of Morvi donates Rs. 10000/-.

L.K. Elmhirst arrives from England and joins the poet in Rajkot.

Continues to revise Raktakarabi.

In Limdi.

Ruler of Limdi promises to donate Rs. 15000/-.

Arrives at Porbandar.

Arrives Jamnagar.

Arrives Bhabnagar.

Delivers lecture on Message of the Forest at Samaldas College.

Comes to Benaras via Bombay and Baroda.

Delivers an address on Visva-Bharati at Benaras Hindu University; M. Malaviya presides.

Back in Santiniketan. Donation worth Rs. 1,35,000/- collected.

Writes the song-- Amar sesh raginir... (used in earlier draft of Raktakarabi).

Delivers a prayer address in the temple.

Memorial meeting in memory of the deceased friends of the ashram. Rabindranath speaks on Pearson.