Rabisarani

Poet's association with Rev. E.J. Thompson is growing. Writes to him from Patisar -- "I have just come from Bolpur and am going to take a boat-trip to have a little rest which I need very badly." Thompson is keen to translate poet's short stories into English and though at first Rabindranath hesitates; he will ultimately come to depend on Thompson to some extent in this matter.

Andrews & Pearson land at Durban, South Africa. Pearson will be able to complete work, return to India and join poet's vidyalaya - his cherished mission, by March end. But due to various reasons Andrews won't be able to come till the middle of July.

Gitanjali – translated into German by Marie Luise Gothein published in Germany.

84th annual Brahmatsav(Maghotsav) held at Adi Brahmasamaj temple. In the morning prayers Rabindranath sings -- Bhorer bela kakhan eshey. Eight songs are sung on the occasion.

• Gabo tomar surey24th January,1914

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• Bajao amare bajao 24th January,1914

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• Jani go din jabey 24th January,1914

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• Tomay amay milan hobe boley 24th January,1914

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• Amar mukher katha tomar 24th January,1914

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• Praney khusir toofan utthechhe 24th January,1914

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• Amader jatra holo suru 24th January,1914

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The evening session of 84th Maghotsav held at Maharshibhavan, poet reads the lecture Chhoto o Bada.

Asitkumar Haldar (later a renowned painter) joins vidyalaya as teacher of painting, most probably in the beginning of 1914.

Herman Jacobi, professor of Bonn University, who also received an honorary degree from Calcutta University, comes with Kalidas Nag to pay him a visit.

Invited by the Sadharan Brahmasamaj, the poet delivers a lecture at their temple later printed under the title - Ekti Mantra.

Governor of Bengal, Carmichael hands over the medal and diploma brought from Sweden to the poet at a ceremony held at Governor's House, Calcutta.

Prize money amounts to Rs. 116,269/-. Rs. 48000/- deposited in Patisar Krishi Bank; Rs. 75000/- deposited in Kaligram Krishi Bank. The interest accruing from these amounts will be utilised in developing the vidyalaya.

Arrives in Santiniketan.

The novel is being translated into the other major Indian languages.

Travels to Shilaidaha.

7th annual session of Uttarbanga Sahitya Sammelan held in Pabna on 23rd Feb, 1914. Poet can't decline to go. Huge felicitation at Sammelan.

Back in Shilaidaha, Poet writes to Thompson--"… I am allowed to come back to my retreat where I am hiding at present."

A great season of songs sets in. Over the next four months he'll write 56 songs/poems. 8 pieces are written here in four days.

• Sabhai tomar thaki sabar shasoney 24th February,1914

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• Jadi jantem amar kisher byatha24th February,1914

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• Besur bajey rey 26th February,1914

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• Tumi jano ogo 26th February,1914

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• Sakal dabi chharbi jakhan 27th February,1914

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• Rajpuritey bajay banshi27th February,1914

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• Mithya ami ki sandhaney 27th February,1914

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• Amar bhanga pather ranga dhulai 27th February,1914

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Poet is now in Calcutta where he writes Amar byatha jakhan aney amai.

Again retreats to Santiniketan. Writes seven songs in 13 days.

• Kar hatey ei mala tomar2nd March,1914

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• Eto alo jwaliechho ei gaganey 4th March,1914

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• Jey ratey mor dooarguli7th March,1914

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• Shravaner dharar moto parook jhorey9th March,1914

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• Tomar kachhey shanti chabo na 10th March,1914

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• Danriye achho tumi amar 12th March,1914

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• Amai bhultey ditey naiko tomar bhoy 13th March,1914

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In a letter written to Andrews Rabindranath mentions his sore need of solitude for augmenting "my inner resources." The songs being written now unlock and sing into being this inner wealth.

Pens more songs

• Jani nai go sadhan tomar15th March,1914

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• Oder kathay dhandha lagey 16th March,1914

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• Ei asha jawar kheyar kooley 17th March,1914

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• Jeevan amar cholchhey jeman 19th March,1914

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• Hawa lagey ganer paley 20th March,1914

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• Amarey di tomar hatey 21st March,1914

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• Aro chai je, aro chai go 22nd March,1914

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Till his departure for Calcutta on April 8, he writes:-

• Amar bani amar praney 23rd March,1914

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• Tumi je cheye achho akash 24th March,1914

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• Tomar pujar chhaley tomay 25th March,1914

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• Hey antarer dhan 29th March,1914

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• Tumi je esechho mor bhabaney 30th January,1914

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• Apnake ei jana amar 31st March,1914

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• Balo to ei barer mato 5th April,1914

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• Aaj jyotsnaratey sabai gechhe 5th April,1914

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• Oder sathey melao 6th April,1914

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• sakal-sanjhe dhay je ora7th April,1914

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• Tumi je surer agun 7th April,1914

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• Amay bandhbe jadi kajer dorey 7th April,1914

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• Keno chokher jaley 7th April,1914

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• Amar hiyar majhe lookiye chhiley 8th April,1914

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The seventh annual session of Bangiya Sahitya Sammilan held at Town hall in Calcutta. Governor Lord Carmichael inaugurates the proceedings by speaking in Bengali. Dwijendranath Tagore presides. Poet sings three songs:

• Praney gaan nai

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• Keno tomra amay dako

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• Sediney apad amar jabey ketey

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The tumbledown buildings at Surul thoroughly repaired and made fit for Rathindranath and Pratima to move in and live here. Tap water and electricity provided. House-warming ceremony performed in the poet's presence on the first day of the new Bengali year.

Writes four more songs:

• Tomar ananda oi elo dwarey16th April,1914

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• Tar anta nai go 18th April,1914

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• Tumi amar anginatey phutiye rakho 19th April,1914

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• Amar je sab ditey hobey 20th April,1914

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Poet writes the short story Haldar-Gosthi, after a considerable time for the inaugural Baisakh (April-May) issue of the proposed new literary journal Sabooj Patra which will be edited by Pramatha Chowdhury and will exert a considerable influence on Bengali literature and culture.

Nandalal Basu, who is a disciple of Abanindranath and himself a celebrated painter, visits the Vidyalaya at the poet's invitation accompanied by Surendranath Kar. Received with great enthusiasm and presented a benedictory poem by the poet. Thus begins an intense association which will finally draw him to Santiniketan.

As usual the play Achalayatan is performed before the commencement of the summer vacation.

Writes the poem for the proposed Sabuj Patra.

Rabindranath is now as much a world citizen as an Indian. His travels in the west and intensive interactions with the intellectual elite in the UK & USA served to widen and intensify his world-view which was already considerably developed. There will be increasing efforts in his writings to bring the broad humanity of the west into the mental world of the Bengali. Even as early as in the immediate aftermath of the Swadeshi Movement, he had urged the transformation of nationalism into internationalism and now he will implore his people to ponder national problems in a global perspective, an approach which most of the politicians and intellectuals in the country will consider an anathema.

Poet's 54th birth anniversary is quietly celebrated.

Inaugural issue of the journal Sabuj Patra is out. It contains no advertisements.

Rathindranath has bought a bungalow with a garden at Ramgarh near Nainital. Poet leaves for Ramgarh and invites Andrews to come and join him there for holidays and "...waste them utterly, until laziness proves to be a burden to us."

From Ramgarh writes to Andrews--"…My life is full. It is no longer broken and fragmentary."

writes a song of serene joy:

• Ei labhinu sanga taba

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Yet the picturesque landscape, its peace, sunshine and solitude fail to stem the agony and mental pain that suddenly engulfs him at a moment when Andrews will later write - "he was feeling a sense of physical exhilaration in the supreme beauty of the Himalayas..."

As in the past, he seeks to defeat pessimism and regain vital faith through the creative act. Continues to write songs, poems and prose.

• Charana dharitey dio go 17th May,1914

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• Gaan geye key janay apan 18th May,1914

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• Ere bhikhari sajaey ki ranga 19th May,1914

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Writes a long poem Sarbaneshe for Sabuj Patra (Sravan issue).

Writes another poem for the journal Sabuj Patra for its Jaistha issue -- Amra chali samukhpaney.

Write three songs

• Sandhya holo go-O ma20th May,1914

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• Akashe dui hatey prem bilay 21st May,1914

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• Ei to tomar alok-dhenu 24th May,1914

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Writes poem Tomar sankha dhulai pade for Sabuj Patra (Ashad issue).

Verse anthology published. Dedicated to Andrews.

Andrews arrives at Ramgarh near Nainital.

Pens two more songs

• Aaj phool futeche mor ashone 1st June,1914

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• Aamar praaner majhe jemon kore 8th June,1914

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Besides Andrews, there is Atulprasad who has come over from Lucknow. So poet is in great company. Rathindranath also arrives with a few students and teachers after a Himalayan trek.

Writes the short story Haimanti during the Ramgarh sojourn.

After Ramgarh, Lucknow, because Atulprasad's invitation can't be turned down. Accompanied by Andrews, poet enjoys Atulprasad's hospitality in Lucknow for a few days, most probably speaks at a meeting of the local Bengalee Youngmen's Association and returns to Calcutta on 14th June.

Writes the last song to be included in the anthology Geetimalya – Mor sandhyai tumi sundara.

Leaves for and arrives in Santiniketan.

Geetimalya is published by Indian Publishing House, Calcutta.

Without taking the trouble of informing the poet, Macmillan, London, hastily publishes The king of the Dark Chamber in an effort to cash in on the phenomenal popularity of Tagore translations among the English speaking readers. The original translation by Kshitish Chandra Sen needed extensive revision; this is what is used in the book and worse, the title says -- "TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH/BY THE AUTHOR". Rabindranath is naturally riled and says so in letters written to Rothenstein and others.

Writes Streer Patra which remains a landmark for several reasons. It's his first story written in the chalet (colloquial Bengali) language and he uses the epistolary method. And even after a century the theme remains equally subversive of our phallocentric society.

Poet's correspondence with J.D. Anderson, Prof. of Bengali, Cambridge University, on the rhythm of Bengali poetry continues and long extracts from the poet's replies are printed in Bengali journals.

Rabindranath is anguished, horrified by the unfolding catastrophy and prays for peace and harmony in the Santiniketan temple. This moving piece is later printed under the title -- Ma ma hingsi.

Poet comes to Calcutta with Andrews to celebrate Ramendrasundar Trivedi’s 50th birthday, presents him with a citation written by himself at a function held at the Sahitya Parishad Bhavan.

Writes Padi inspired by the war now raging in Europe.

In the weeks that follow, he writes many songs in Calcutta and then in Santiniketan.

• Ami hridayete path ketechhi23rd August,1914

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• Alo je jay rey dekha 23rd August,1914

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• O nithur aro ki baan 24th August,1914

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• Sukhe amay rakhbe keno 24th August,1914

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• Balo, amar sane tomar 24th August,1914

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• Ogo amar praner thakur 25th August,1914

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• Aghath korey niley jiney 25th August,1914

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• Ghum keno nei 26th August,1914

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• Ami jey aar soitey pari ney26th August,1914

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• Path cheye jey kete galo 26th August,1914

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• Abar sravan hoey ele phirey 27th August,1914

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• Amar sakal raser dhara 27th August,1914

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• Ei sarata-alor kamalabaney 28th August,1914

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• Tomar mohana rupey 28th August,1914

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• Jakhan tumi bandchhiley taar 28th August,1914

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• Aguner parasmani 28th August,1914

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• Hridoy amar prakash 30th August,1914

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• Ek hatey taar kripan achhey 31st August,1914

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• Path diey ke jay go choley1st September,1914

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• Ei jey kalo matir basa 2nd September,1914

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• Je thakey thak na dwarey 3rd September,1914

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• Tomar khola hawa lagiey 3rd September,1914

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• Shudhu tomar bani noy go 4th September,1914

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• Sarat tomar arun alor anjali 5th September,1914

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• O amar mon jakhan jagli na 7th September,1914

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• Mor maraney tomar hobey joy 8th September,1914

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• Ebar amay dakley9th September,1914

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• Nai ki rey teer, nai ki rey tor tari10th September,1914

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• Nai ba dako roibo 12th September,1914

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• Na banchabey amay jadi 12th September,1914

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• Jete jete ekla pathey 12th September,1914

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• Mala hotey khosey pada 13th September,1914

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• Kon barata pathaley mor paraney 14th September,1914

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• Jetey jetey chay na jetey 14th September,1914

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• Sei to ami chai14th September,1914

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• Sesh nahi jey 14th September,1914

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• Na rey toder phirtey debo na14th September,1914

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• Monke hothay basiey rakhis ne 15th September,1914

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• Etotuku andhar jadi 16th September,1914

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• Kancha dhaner khetey jeman 17th September,1914

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In a letter written to Pramatha Chowdhury he praises Belgium's heroic resistance against overwhelming odds. This is how the poem Paper Marjana is written.

In a letter written to Mrs. Seymoore, poet denounces the imperialist war raging in Europe in the strongest language he's used so far -- "In Europe the War-Fiend is abroad…fed in secret with the life-blood of alien races, has snapped its chain at last, springing at the throat of its own master..."

Though a war is raging, Gitanjali has already been translated in the major European languages. Translation will receive new impetus in the changed situation after the war.

Songs are now written which will be later included in Geetali

• Dukkha jadi na pabey to18th September,1914

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• Na rey, na rey, hobey na 18th September,1914

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• Tomar ei madhuri chhapiey akash 18th September,1914

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• Na go, ei jey dhula amar na 19th September,1914

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• Ei kathati dharey rakhis 19th September,1914

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• Lakshmi jakhan ashbey19th September,1914

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• Oi amal hatey rajani pratey 24th September,1914

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• Mor hridoyer gopana bijana gharey 25th September,1914

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• Khusi ha tui apan money 25th September,1914

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• Sahaj hobi sahaj hobi 26th September,1914

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• Orey bhiru, tomar hatey nai 26th September,1914

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• Chokhe dekhis, praney kana 28th September,1914

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• Agnibeena bajao tumi 30th September,1914

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• Alo je aaj gaan korey mor praney go 1st October,1914

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• Amar bojha etoi kari bhari 2nd October,1914

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Given this tremendous abundance, it is no wonder that these songs and poems, too, present a subtle chronicle of a struggle, of a crisis endured, pain suffered and transcended. Nine poems/songs are written in 3rd October.

• Tomar dooar kholar dhwani 3rd October,1914

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• Premer praney saibey kemon korey 3rd October,1914

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• Klanti amar kshama karo 3rd October,1914

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• Amar aar hobey na deri 3rd October,1914

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• Oi je sandhya khulia phelilo taar 3rd October,1914

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• Dukkha e noi, sukh nahe go 3rd October,1914

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• Eder pane takai ami 3rd October,1914

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• Ei ami ekmoney3rd October,1914

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• Megh bolechhe "jabo jabo' 4th October,1914

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• Kandari go, jadi ebar4th October,1914

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• Phool to amar4th October,1914

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• Tomar bhuban marmey amar 4th October,1914

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• Tomar kachhey e bar magi 4th October,1914

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• Apan hotey bahir hoey 4th October,1914

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• Ei abaran kshoy habey go 5th October,1914

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• Ogo amar hridoybashi 5th October,1914

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• Pushpa diey maro jarey6th October,1914

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• Amar surer sadhan6th October,1914

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• Kool theke more gaaner6th October,1914

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• Gharer thekey enechhilem6th October,1914

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• Sandhya holo, ekla achhi boley6th October,1914

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• Viswajoda phand petechha6th October,1914

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• Tomay srishti karba ami 7th October,1914

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• Sara jeevan dilo alo7th October,1914

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• Bajieychhiley beena tomar 10th October,1914

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• Abar jadi ichha karo 10th October,1914

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• Achenakey bhoy ki amar orey10th October,1914

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• Je dilo jhamp bhabasagar-majhkhaney 10th October,1914

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• Sandhyatara je phool dilo 10th October,1914

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• E din aaji kon gharey go11th October,1914

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• Tomar kachhe chainey ami 11th October,1914

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• Ekhaney to bandha pather 11th October,1914

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• Ja debe ta debe 11th October,1914

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Accompanied by Asitkumar, Nagendranath, Hemlata Devi and Meera Devi, the poet visits Gaya, Allahabad, Agra and Delhi.

At Gaya, the poet and his companion's host is the well-known novelist Prabhatkumar Mukherjee.

Writes two songs:

• Pather sathi nami barambar12th October,1914

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• Sukher majhey tomay dekhechhi 12th October,1914

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In Allahabad he enjoys Shanta's hospitality. Shanta is the daughter of his nephew – Satyaprasad.

Geetali is published by Indian Publishing House. Rabindranath pens the poem Utsarga.

In Allahabad the poet addresses three meetings of students, their teachers and admirers.

He is also received by the elite of the town-members of the Indian Club in Allahabad.

Writes the famous poem -- Tumi ki keboli chhabi which will be included in the next book of verse - balaka [A portion of it is converted into song afterwards].

Also visits Delhi and Agra. While in Delhi, visits St. Stephen's College and addresses the students. In Agra he is welcomed and received by the Bengali residents of Agra at the local Agra Bengali Library.

Rabindranath writes the poem Shahjahan.

Returns to Santiniketan from Delhi and Agra in early November as the vidyalaya reopens after the Puja vacation.

The new novel Jyathamashay is already being serialised in the Sabuj Patra [After this three stories- Sachish, Damini, Sribilas are published. Later all these four stories are published combinedly as Chaturanga]

After their return to India, Andrews is instrumental in bringing the students and teachers of Gandhiji's Phoenix Asram (in South Africa) to the Santiniketan School so that they can stay there for the time being.

Poet is rather critical of the educational methods practised by Gandhiji's Phoenix Asram; says so in a letter written to Andrews.

Again visits Ramgarh, Agra, Jaipur, Allahabad and Delhi.

Returns to Santiniketan.

24th annual festival of Santiniketan celebrated. Poet delivers four addresses in the morning and evening sessions. Speaks of the war and eternal hope.

On the celebration of 24th annual festival at Santiniketan, the poet's address delivered in the asram temple on this day is later printed in Sabuj Patra (Poush issue) as Khristadharma.

Amader Santiniketan is translated into -- "Oh, the Santiniketan, the darling of our hearts".

Writes one Poem and one song:

• Tumi debe, tumi morey debe28th December,1914

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• Bedanai bhorey giechhe peyala28th December,1914

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