Rabisarani Rabisarani

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  • 1772 Raja Ram Mohan Roy (22nd May, 1772 – 27th September, 1833) was a founder (with Dwarkanath Tagore and other Bengali Brahmins) of the Brahmo Samaj movement in 1828 which engendered the Brahmo Samaj, an influential Indian socio-religious reform movement. His influence was apparent in the fields of politics, public administration and education as well as religion. He is best known for his efforts to abolish the practice of sati, the Hindu funeral practice in which the widow was compelled to sacrifice herself on her husband’s funeral pyre. It was he who first introduced the word "Hinduism" into the English language in 1816. For his diverse contributions to society, Raja Ram Mohan Roy is regarded as one of the most important figures in the Bengal Renaissance. His efforts to protect Hinduism and Indian rights by participating in British government earned him the title "The Father of the Indian Renaissance"
  • 1774 Lalon Fakir (c. 1774–1890), was a Bengali Baul saint, mystic, songwriter, social reformer and thinker. In Bengali culture he has become an icon of religious tolerance whose songs inspired and influenced many poets and social and religious thinkers including Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Allen Ginsberg - though, as he "rejected all distinctions of caste and creed", he was both praised and criticized in his lifetime and after his death. His disciples mostly live in Bangladesh and West Bengal. He founded the institute known as Lalon Akhdah in Cheuriya, about 2 km. from Kushtia railway station. He is also regarded as the founder of the Baul music.
    The Baul are a group of mystic minstrels from Bengal which includes Indian State of West Bengal and the country of Bangladesh. Bauls constitute both a syncretic religious sect and a musical tradition. Bauls are a very heterogeneous group, with many sects, but their membership mainly consists of Vaishnava Hindus and Sufi Muslims. They can often be identified by their distinctive clothes and musical instruments. Not much is known of their origin. Baul music had a great influence on Rabindranath Tagore's poetry and on his music.
  • 1820 Birth of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
  • 1829 Law banning Sati practice in Bengal Presidency is passed by an appeal by Raja Ram Mohan Roy to Lord William Bentinck, Governor of Bengal.
  • 1836 Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa is born.
  • 1853 Postal service is started. First railway is established between Bombay and Thane.
  • 1855 The Santhal rebellion (sometimes referred to as the Sonthal rebellion), commonly known as Santal Hool was a native rebellion in present day Jharkhand, in eastern India against both the British colonial authority and upper caste zamindari system by the Santal people. It started on 30th June, 1855 and on 10th November, 1855 martial law was proclaimed which lasted until 3rd January, 1856 when martial law was suspended and the movement was brutally ended by troops loyal to the British Raj. The rebellion was led by the four Murmu Brothers - Seedo, Kanhu, Chand and Bhairav.
  • 23rd July, 1856 Bal Gangadhar Tilak is born.
  • 25th July, 1856 The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856, also Act XV, 1856, enacted on 25th July, 1856, legalized the remarriage of Hindu widows in all jurisdictions of India under East India Company rule. In order to protect both what it considered family honour and family property, upper-caste Hindu society had long disallowed the remarriage of widows, even child and adolescent ones, all of whom were expected to live a life of austerity and abnegation. The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856, enacted in response to the campaign of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, provided legal safeguards against loss of certain forms of inheritance for a remarrying Hindu widow, though, under the Act, the widow forsook any inheritance due her from her deceased husband. Especially targeted in the act were Hindu child widows whose husbands had died before consummation of marriage.
  • 10th May, 1857 The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the East India Company's army on 10th May, 1857, in the cantonment of the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to present-day Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, northern Madhya Pradesh, and the Delhi region.[3] The rebellion posed a considerable threat to East India Company power in that region,[4] and was contained only with the fall of Gwalior on 20th June, 1858.[3] The rebellion is also known as India's First War of Independence, the Great Rebellion, the Indian Rebellion, the Indian Mutiny, the Revolt of 1857, the Rebellion of 1857, the Uprising of 1857, the Sepoy Rebellion and the Sepoy Mutiny.
    Established first three University of Mumbai, University of Madras and University of Calcutta in India
  • 1st November, 1858 The system of governance was instituted in 1858, when the rule of the British East India Company was transferred to the Crown in the person of Queen Victoria (and who, in 1876, was proclaimed Empress of India), and lasted until 1947, when the British Indian Empire was partitioned into two sovereign dominion states, the Union of India (later the Republic of India) and the Dominion of Pakistan (later the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the eastern half of which, still later, became the People's Republic of Bangladesh). At the inception of the Raj in 1858, Lower Burma was already a part of British India; Upper Burma was added in 1886, and the resulting union, Burma, was administered as a province until 1937, when it became a separate British colony, gaining its own independence in 1948.
  • 7th November, 1858 Bipin Chandra Pal is born
  • 7th May, 1861 Rabindranath is born as the 14th child (8th son) of Maharshi Debendranath Tagore (44) and Sarada Devi (35) at 2:28 am at the ancestral house of Tagores' (now known as Maharshi Bhavan) at 6 Dwarkanath Tagore Lane, Jorasanko, Kolkata.
  • 1861 Young Rabi is placed under the care of Digambari or Digmi, the foster mother.
  • 1861 Rabi's (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) naming and Annaprasan (a ritual related to a child's first intake of rice) ceremony takes place.
  • 26th July, 1861 Debendranath's Tagore's second daughter Sukumari Devi's (born in 1850) marriage takes place. The Tattwabodhini Patrika records this as the first instance of marriage according to the Brahmo rituals.
  • 1862 Debendranath Tagore's sermons on Brahmo religion (1st Series) appear in book form.
  • 23rd March, 1862 Rabindranath's elder brother Satyendranath Tagore sails for England to take the Civil Service Examination.
  • 30th March, 1862 Debendranath Tagore visits the house of Bhuvan Mohan Sinha at Raypur village of Birbhum district.
    Later he acquires 20 bighas (6.6 acres) of land near Bolpur from the zamindar of Raipur named Pratapnarayan Sinha and others. This land is developed later into Santiniketan.
  • 31st March, 1863 Maharshi Debendranath Tagore buys 7 acres of land from the Sinhas of Raypur.
  • 1863 Rabindranath's younger brother Budhendranath is born.
  • 5th October, 1863 Rabindranath's elder brother Satyendranath Tagore occupies the 43rd position in the ICS Examination – The Indian Mirror reports.
  • 3rd June, 1864 Kalidas is appointed as the attendant of Somendranath (born 1859), Satyaprasad Ganguly (1859) and Rabindranath.
  • 1864 Sri Madhav Chandra Mukhopadhyay is appointed as private tutor (at home) of Rabindranath.
  • October, 1864 Rabindranath's elder brother Satyendranath Tagore returns to India as the first Indian member of the Indian Civil Service.
  • November, 1864 Rabindranath's elder brother Satyendranath Tagore joins the ICS – initial posting is in Bombay (now Mumbai). Wife Jnanadanandini accompanies him.
  • March, 1865 Rabindranath, Rabindranath's brother Somendranath Tagore and nephew Satyaprasad Ganguly are admitted to the Calcutta Training Academy.
  • April, 1865 Manik Das is appointed as the attendant.
  • September, 1865 Rabi (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) leaves Calcutta Training Academy.
  • November, 1865 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) enters Calcutta Government School / Normal School / Model School.
  • 1866 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) is promoted to higher class in Normal School.
  • 1866 Naderchand is appointed as the new attendant of Rabindranath, Rabindranath's nephew Satyaprasad Ganguly and elder brother Somendranath.
  • 1866 Nilkamal Ghoshal is appointed as the private tutor for Rabindranath, Rabindranath's nephew Satyaprasad and elder brother Somendranath.
  • 1866 A rift develops between Rabindranath's father Debendranath and Keshab Chandra Sen in Brahmo Samaj.
  • 1866 Keshab Chandra Sen forms a separate Brahmo Samaj – Bharatiya Brahmo Samaj.
  • November, 1866 Rabindranath's father Debendranath stays with the Adi Brahmo Samaj founded by Raja Rammohan Roy.
  • 5th January, 1867 Nabanataka, a drama written by Ramnarayan Tarkaratna, an eminent playwright (1822-1886) is staged at Jorasanko house.
  • 12th April, 1867 The first session of Hindu Mela also known as Chaitra Mela, sponsored by Ganendranath Tagore, is organized at the garden house of Raja Narasimha Bahadur. Sri Nabagopal Mitra, Rajnarayan Bose are among the organisers.
  • April, 1867 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) goes to the first session of Hindu Mela (organised at the garden house of Raja Narasimha Bahadur) with elders.
  • 1867 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) is promoted to class II at Normal School.
  • 18th September, 1867 Rabindranath's nephew Gaganendranath Tagore (brother of Abanindranath Tagore) is born.
  • 24th January, 1868 38th assembly of Brahmo Samaj takes place at Tagore House (Thakur Bari).
  • 1868 Rabindranath is promoted to Class III at Normal School.
  • 5th July, 1868 Rabindranath's elder brother Jyotirindranath Tagore marries Kadambari Devi (born 1859).
  • 1868 Rabi (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) makes his first attempt at versification.
  • 1868 Rabi (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) composes one of his first rhymes: singi mama katum / andiboser batum.
  • 23rd January, 1869 Celebration of the foundation day of Adi Brahmo Samaj.
  • 1869 Translation of Bernardin de Saint-Pierre's Paul et Virginie is serialised in the Bengali journal Abodh Bandhu. This impressed Rabi (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) immensely.
  • 1869 Rabi (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) continues at Normal School.
  • 1869 Aghornath Chattopadhyay is appointed as Rabi's (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) English teacher.
  • 1869 Shyamacharan Ghosh is appointed as Rabi's (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) physical trainer.
  • 1869 Rabi (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) receives training in music from Dhrupad and Khayal singer Vishnuchandra Chakraborty. He (along with his brothers) was also a vocalist at the Brahmo Samaj and used to teach rhymes to children like Rabi.
  • 23rd January, 1870 The 24th assembly of Adi Brahmo Samaj takes place. Rabindranath takes part in chanting prayers.
  • January, 1870 Rabi (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) is in Class V in Normal School.
  • 12th February, 1870 Fourth annual Hindu Mela is held at the garden house of Ashutosh Dev at Belgachia.
  • 6th November, 1870 Rabindranath's nephew Balendranath Tagore (Birendranath's son) is born.
  • 1870 School teaching is reinforced at home under private tutors. Sitanath Ghosh teaches science. Shyamacharan Ghosh teaches Rabi wrestling and gymnastics.
  • 11th February, 1871 Rabindranath visits the fifth annual Hindu Mela.
  • 1871 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) is in Class VI in Normal School.
  • 1871 A student of Campbell Hospital is appointed to teach Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) anatomy.
  • 7th August, 1871 Painter and writer Abanindranath Tagore is born. He was Rabindranath's nephew (cousin Gunendranath's son).
  • November, 1871 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) attends the 18th annual assembly of Brahma Samaj and sings there.
  • 24th January, 1872 Rabindranath participates in singing at the annual assembly of the Brahmo Samaj.
  • 11th February, 1872 Sixth annual Hindu Mela takes place. Rabindranath recites extempore verses at the Mela – reports the National Paper.
  • March, 1872 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) is admitted to the Bengal Academy. Rabi's nephew Satyaprasad and elder brother Somendranath join him.
  • 14th May, 1872 Due to an outbreak of Dengu in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Rabindranath is sent to Chatubabu's (Lalababu) garden–house at Panihati, where he stays for a month and a half. This is his first acquaintance with the countryside of Bengal.
  • 23rd January, 1873 34th annual assembly of Brahmo Samaj takes place. Rabindranath takes part in the morning and evening sessions.
  • 6th February, 1873 The Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony) of Rabindranath, his elder brother Somendranath and his nephew Satyaprasad is performed.
  • February, 1873 Rabindranath accompanies Debendranath on an extensive tour of North India.
  • 14th February, 1873 Rabindranath visits Santiniketan for the first time.
  • February, 1873 Rabi (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) composes a drama Prithviraj Parajaya (the manuscript is lost).
  • March, 1873 Rabi (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) stays for a month in Amritsar, and accompanies his father in his regular visits to the Golden Temple.
  • March, 1873 Rabindranath composes the first Brahmo sangit, Gaganer thale rabichandra dipak jwale (though there is a confusion that this song might have been composed by Jyotirindranath Tagore).
    This song is actually a taken from a bhajan by Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. The actual bhajan is Gagan me thale rabichandra dwipak bane.
  • April, 1873 Rabi (nickname of Rabindranath Tagore) accompanies his father on a tour of North India. He spends the next one month at Dalhousie in the Himalayas with Maharshi.
  • May, 1873 Rabi received regular lessons from his father in Sanskrit, English, and elements of Astronomy during the tour to North India from March to May 1873.
  • May, 1873 Rabi returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from North India tour with Kishorinath Chattopadhyay.
  • 1873 Rabi resumes classes at the Bengal Academy.
  • 1873 Jnanchandra Bhattacharya is appointed as the English teacher for Rabi.
  • 18th December, 1873 Compared to what he has learned from Debendranath during their North India tour, Rabindranath finds a big mismatch with the education provided at his school. He gets bored, starts skipping school, and eventually leaves Bengal Academy.
  • 29th December, 1873 Rabindranath's niece, Satyendranath Tagore's daughter, Indira Devi (Choudhurani) is born. She later marries Pramatha Chowdhury and also becomes VC of Visva Bharati.
  • December, 1873 Rabi composes the poem Bharat-Bhumi.
  • 1874 Rabindranath, his nephew Satyaprasad and his elder brother Somendranath are admitted to Metropolitan School.
  • 24th January, 1874 Rabindranath sings a song at the annual assembly of Brahmo Samaj – antaratara antaratama tumi je.
  • 11th February, 1874 Eighth annual Hindu Mela takes place and continues till 15th February.
  • 1874 Ramsarbaswa Bhattacharya is appointed as the Sanskrit-teacher. He helps study Kumarasambhava and Shakuntala.
  • 1874 Rabi translates Macbeth in verse.
  • 1874 Rabi also translates portions of Kumarasambhava (of Kalidasa) in verse.
  • November, 1874 Rabi's poem entitled Abhilasha appears anonymously in the Tattwabodhini Patrika (Agrahayana, 1281).
  • December, 1874 Rabi contributes his first article on astronomy Grahagan Jiber Abasbhumi (Planets are Habitat of Creatures) to Tattwabodhini Patrika (Pausha 1281).
  • 11th February, 1875 Rabindranath recites his poem Hindumelay Upahar at the ninth Hindu Mela.
  • 25th February, 1875 Rabindranath's poem Hindumelay Upahar, is published in the bilingual weekly Amritabazar Patrika. This is his first signed poem to be published.
  • 1875 Rabindranath, his nephew Satyaprasad and his elder brother Somendranath are admitted to the St. Xavier's School, Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 11th March, 1875 Rabindranath's mother Sarada Devi dies. Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) is only 13 years 10 months old.
  • 2nd May, 1875 Rabindranath recites his poem Prakritir Khed, before an association of intellectuals at Gunendranath Tagore's residence.
  • 1875 Rabindranath's poem Prakritir Khed is published in the Pratibimba - Baishakh 1282 issue, and then a different version in the Tattwabodhini Patrika - Ashadha issue.
  • 13th July, 1875 Rabindranath, Dwijendranath, and Jyotirindranath visit the Mulajod garden (owned by Jatindra Mohan Tagore of Pathuriaghata) near Shyamnagar (now in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal) rail station by the side of river Ganges.
  • 1875 Writer and Intellectual Rajnarayan Basu looks after Rabi's (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) studies.
  • 1875 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) starts writing in a notebook, later known as Malati-Punthi. This is the first notebook that stands the test of time.
  • 1875 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) reads Irish Melodies and Child Harolds Pilgrimage, and translates those in Malati Punthi.
  • October, 1875 Rabindranath's elder brother Dwijendranath Tagore publishes Swapnaprayan.
  • November, 1875 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) contributes serially to the journal Jnanankur O Pratibimba his first long narrative poem Banaphul running into eight cantos.
  • November, 1875 Rabi's (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) poem Pralap is published in the Agrahayan 1282 issue of Jnanankur O Pratibimba.
  • November, 1875 Rabindranath's elder brother Jyotirindranath's patriotic play Sarojini Ba Chitor Akromon Natak is published.
  • November, 1875 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) composes a couple of songs for the play Sarojini. One of the songs is jwal jwal chita dwigun dwigun.
  • 6th December, 1875 Rabindranath accompanies Maharshi Debendranath to Shilaidaha. This is his first visit to Shilaidaha.
  • 22nd December, 1875 Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from his first visit to Shilaidaha.
  • December, 1875 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) leaves St. Xavier's School at the end of the year. His name does not appear in the list of successful candidates.
  • 31st January, 1876 Rabindranath joins the annual College Reunion assembly (because of his past association with St. Xavier's School, a part of the college), and recites from Jyotirindranath Tagore's patriotic play Sarojini.
  • February, 1876 Jadunath Bhattacharya (also known as Jadu Bhatta, 1840-83) of the famous Bishnupur Gharana is appointed as the music teacher, though Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) shows no interest to learn from him.
  • 16th February, 1876 Rabindranath goes to Shilaidaha with his elder brother Jyotirindranath.
  • 20th March, 1876 Rabindranath returns from his Shilaidaha visit with his elder brother Jyotirindranath.
  • 20th April, 1876 Brajendranath De, Superintendent of Metropolitan Institution, is appointed as Rabindranath's private tutor.
  • 31st May, 1876 Rabindranath goes to Birahimpur (now in Bangladesh) with his elder brother Jyotirindranath and stays there for a month.
  • July, 1876 Kalidas Pal is appointed as the drawing teacher of Rabindranath.
  • July, 1876 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) falls sick and is under the treatment of Kaviraj Brajendrakumar Sen.
  • 1876 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) becomes a junior member of a short-lived secret society Sanjibani Sabha (its secret name was Hamchu Pamu Haph) established by Rajnarayan Basu and Jyotirindranath Tagore.
  • 18th February, 1877 Rabindranath goes to the 11th Hindu Mela, and recites a poem satirizing the Delhi Darbar held by Lord Lytton on 1st January to proclaim Queen Victoria the Empress of India.
  • 18th February, 1877 Rabindranath meets Nabinchandra Sen (poet and writer) and Akshaychandra Sarkar (poet, editor, literary critic).
  • April, 1877 A portion of the Gitikabya (ode) Phulabala gets published in theChaitra issue of Aryadarshan magazine. The rest of it is published a couple of years later in Bharati magazine. The entire volume was published in May 1884 in the anthology Shaishab Sangeet, and is currently found in part 1 of Achalita Sangraha of Rabindra Rachanabali.
  • 1877 Rabindranath makes his first stage appearance in the main role of Alikbabu in Jyotirindranath's play Emon Karma Karba Na Ar, performed at Jorasanko Thakur Bari (Tagore House).
  • 1877 Rabindranath's first literary criticism of books of Bengali poems titled Bhubanmohini Pratibha by Nabinchandra Mukhopadhyay, Abasar-Sarojini by Rajkrishna Roy, and Duhkhasangini by Harishchandra Niyogi appears in Jnanankur.
    A few poems under the title Pralap are published in Pratibimba.
  • July, 1877 Bharati, a new Bengali monthly magazine, is started under the editorship of Dwijendranath Tagore, Rabi's (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) eldest brother.
  • July, 1877 Rabindranath contributes three pieces in the first issue of Bharati –
    i) a criticism of Michael Madhusudan Dutta's epic Meghnadbadh Kavya,
    ii) first three chapters of his long story Bhikharini
    iii) A poem Bharati.
  • October, 1877 Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) accompanies Jyotirindranath and Kadambari to a garden-house (near Serampore) located on the bank of river Ganga.
  • 9th October, 1877 Rabindranath composes the poem Shaishab Sangit while returning from the Serampore garden house by boat.
  • 16th October, 1877 After his return to Jorasanko, Rabindranath starts composing his long poem Kabikahini.
  • October, 1877 Bhanusinha Thakurer Padavali is serialized in Bharati magazine.
  • October, 1877 Rabindranath's first novel Karuna (unfinished) gets published in the Aswin issue of Bharati magazine.
  • April, 1878 Rabindranath's essay Santwana gets published in the Chaitra issue of Bharati magazine.
  • 15th May, 1878 Rabindranath is sent to Ahmedabad to stay there and study English with his elder brother Satyendranath.
  • 15th May, 1878 Maharshi Debendranath constitutes Sadharan Brahmo Samaj.
  • August, 1878 Rabindranath proceeds to Bombay (now Mumbai) to stay as a guest of an anglicized family of a Marathi Physician Atmaram Dadoji Pandurang. Rabindranath is sent to Pandurang's house as per Satyendranath's wish so that before starting for England, young Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) will be accustomed with British culture and language.
  • August, 1878 Rabindranath, while staying at Dr.Atmaram Dadoji Pandurang's house in Bombay (now Mumbai), takes lessons in spoken English from Ana Turkhud, the daughter of Dr.Pandurang.
  • August, 1878 Rabindranath gives Ana the Bengali name 'Nalini'. She starts taking Bengali lessons from him.
  • 1878 For the first time Rabindranath sets some of his lyrics to music.
  • September, 1878 Rabindranath writes three essays for Bharati magazine - Biatrice, Dante O Tahar Kavya (published in the Bhadra issue of Bharati), Pitrarca O Lara (published in the Aswin issue of Bharati) and Goethe O Tnahar Pranayinigan (published in the Kartik issue of Bharati).
  • 20th September, 1878 Rabindranath sails for England with Satyendranath by S.S.Poona.
  • 10th October, 1878 Rabindranath arrives in London and proceeds to Brighton to stay at Jnanadanandini Devi's (wife of Satyendranath Tagore) residence Medina Villas.
  • October, 1878 Rabindranath meets and befriends Satyendranath-Jnanadanandini's children Surendranath and Indira.
  • October, 1878 Rabindranath is admitted to the Public School at Brighton, but he could not continue there for more than two months.
  • 1878 Rabindranath sings the song Premer Katha Ar Bolo Na at the residence of Dr. M.
  • January, 1879 Rabindranath leaves Brighton and proceeds to London.
  • January, 1879 Rabindranath is under the guardianship of barrister and philanthropist Sir Taraknath Palit, a childhood friend of Satyendranath.
  • January, 1879 Rabindranath initially lives in Brighton at the custody of Jyanadanandini Devi (wife of Satyendranath) and is admitted to a local public school. But after two months there, Sir Taraknath Palit finds that Rabindranath's progress is not good. So, he brings Rabindranath to London and keeps him alone in a house at Regent Park.
  • 1879 Rabindranath studies Latin with a teacher in London.
  • 1879 In London, Rabindranath shifts to the residence of Mr. Barker, a teacher and specialist in Latin and Greek languages. Rabindranath lives in his house and got tuition from him in various subjects, including Green's History of The English People. They have no child, and so Mrs. Barker liked young Rabindranath very much.
  • 1879 Rabindranath visits Tunbridge Wells in London.
  • 23rd May, 1879 During his stay in London, Rabindranath visits the House of Commons where he hears William Ewart Gladstone (four-time Prime Minister of Britain, as well as Britain's oldest PM when he resigned at 84) and John Bright (British Radical and Liberal statesman, great orator, and promoter of free trade policies) and a number of Irish members of the parliament speaking on various issues.
  • 12th June, 1879 During his stay in London, Rabindranath pays another visit to the House of Commons.
  • June, 1879 In London, Rabindranath visits the seaside town of Torquay with the family of his elder brother Satyendranath.
  • June, 1879 In London, Rabindranath composes the poem Magnatari, later published in the Ashad issue of Bharati as Bhagnatari and is included in Shaishab Sangit ) .
  • November, 1879 During his stay in London, Rabindranath is admitted to the University College London.
  • 1879 In London, Rabindranath studies English literature along with Lokendranath Palit, son of Sir Taraknath Palit, under Professor Henry Morley.
  • 1879 In London, Rabindranath stays as boarder with the Scott family and becomes friends with the two elder daughters.
  • 1879 During his stay in London, Rabindranath contributes a series of letters (Europe Pravasir Patra) to Bharati.
  • 1879 In London, Rabindranath starts writing his first verse-drama Bhagnahriday.
  • 25th January, 1880 Keshabchandra Sen constitutes Nababidhan Brahmo Samaj.
  • 1880 Rabindranath tries his hand at painting.
  • March, 1880 Rabindranath returns to India from England without completing any course.
  • 1880 Rabindranath acts in Manamayi, a lyrical play by Akshaychandra Chaudhury, Jyotirindranath scores the music.
  • 1880 Rabindranath contributes one song in Manamayi (a lyrical play by Akshaychandra Chaudhury) – Ay tabe sahachari.
  • 1880 In My Boyhood Days (Jibansmriti) Rabindranath writes about this period: "At this time the fountain of my song was unloosed. Jyotidada's hands would stray about the piano as he composed and rattles off tunes in various new styles, and he would keep me by his side as he did so. It was my work to fix the tunes which he composed so rapidly by setting words to them then and there."
  • October, 1880 Rabindranath starts composing Sandhyasangit.
  • October, 1880 Rabindranath contributes two articles in Bharati – Bangali Kabi Nay (Bhadra issue) and Bangali Kabi Nay Keno (Ashwin issue) in response to Kaliprasanna Ghosh's article titled Nirab Kabi in Bandhav patrika.
  • 1880 Swarnakumari Devi dedicates her book of poems titled Gatha to her brother Rabindranath.
  • 1880 Rabindranath contributes a song to Swarnakumari Devi's Kharga Parinay – Tare Deho Go Ani.
  • 1880 Rabindranath scores music for Biharilal Chakraborty's song.
    Biharilal Chakraborty (1835 – 1894) was one of the pioneers of the modern Gitikabya (ode) and an idol to Rabindranath Tagore in terms of poetry. Though he does not have any formal education, he had knowledge of Sanskrit, English, and Bengali literature. His major works include Swapnadarshan, Sangit-shatak, Bangasundari, Dhumketu etc. He also started some magazines namely Purnima, Sahitya-sankranti, Abodhbandhu etc.
    His son Sarath Chakraborty later married Rabindranath's eldest daughter Madhurilata.
  • 1880 Bharati magazine publishes a couple of writings of Rabindranath including Bhagnahriday (later published in book form).
  • 1880 An essay in the form of a letter titled Nihswartha Prem is published in Bharati magazine. It might have been written by Rabindranath.
  • 23rd January, 1881 Seven (7) songs, composed by Rabindranath, are sung at the fifty first anniversary of Brahmo Samaj:
    • Tumi ki go pita amader
    • Mahasinhasane basi shunicha he
    • Amra je shishu ati
    • Tomarei kariyachi jibaner dhruvatara
    • E ki e sundar shobha
    • Dibanishi kariya jatan
    • Kotha acho prabhu, esechi dinhin
  • 26th February, 1881 Rabindranath's first musical play Valmiki-Pratibha, is staged at the Jorasanko Thakur Bari (Tagore house) before a distinguished gathering. Rabindranath himself plays the title role.
  • 24th March, 1881 Keshabchandra Sen's Bharatbarshiya Brahmasamaj is renamed as Nababidhan.
  • 24th March, 1881 Printing of the 34-Sarga (section) romantic Gitikabya (ode) Bhagnahriday (Rabindranath's first verse-drama) starts. It mostly consists of songs.
  • 20th April, 1881 Rabindranath delivers his first public lecture titled Sangit O Bhav (Music and Feeling) at Calcutta Medical College under the auspices of Bethune Society with Rev. Krishnamohan Banerjee in the chair.
  • 22nd April, 1881 Rabindranath sails for England with his nephew Satyaprasad Ganguly.
  • April, 1881 Rabindranath changes his mind on the way and returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Madras (now Chennai).
  • April, 1881 Rabindranath proceeds to Mussoorie to meet Maharshi Debendranath, who was staying there at that time.
  • May, 1881 Rabindranath returns home at Jorasanko from Mussoorie where he went to meet his father Maharshi Debendranath, and goes to the garden house of Jyotirindranath and Kadambari Devi at Chandernagore (now in Hoogly district of West Bengal).
  • May, 1881 At the Garden house of Jyotirindranath and Kadambari Devi in Chandernagore, Rabindranath writes a series of essays later compiled in the book Vividha Prasanga (Miscellaneous Topics).
  • May, 1881 While staying at the Garden house of Jyotirindranath and Kadambari Devi in Chandernagore, Rabindranath begins his novel Bauthakuranir Hat.
  • 1881 On return to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from the Garden House of Jyotirindranath and Kadambari Devi at Chandernagore, Rabindranath begins writing his first set of poems, which bear a real individualistic note. These poems are published in the book Sandhya Sangit (Evening Songs).
  • 1881 Rabindranath's poems of Sandhya Sangit make a deep impression on Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay.
  • 1881 Rabindranath's four books are published in this year Valmiki-Pratibha, Bhagnahriday, Rudrachanda and Europe Pravasir Patra.
  • 24th March, 1882 Jyotirindranath publishes his play Swapnamoyee. Rabindranath contributes the following fifteen (15) songs to the play.
    • Bol golap morey bol
    • Ami swapane royechhi bhor
    • Andhar shakha ujol kari
    • Hridaya mor komal ati
    • Hasi keno nai o nayane
    • Kshama koro morey sakhi
    • Esho go esho banadevata
    • Deshe deshe bhrami taba
    • De lo sakhi de
    • Bujhechhi bujhechhi sakha
    • Bali go sajani
    • Dekhe ja, dekhe ja
    • Ay tabe sahachari
    • Ke jetechhis ay re hetha
    • Ananta sagar majhe
  • 24th March, 1882 At the reception of Rameshchandra Dutta's daughter Kamala Devi's wedding, Bankimchandra garlands Rabindranath in public and highly praises him as a rising literary genius for his Sandhya Sangeet.
  • July, 1882 Rabindranath's elder brother Jyotirindranath is instrumental in organising Saraswat Sanmelan, of which Rabindranath functions as a secretary. At Rajendralal Mitra's behest it takes up the task of developing Bengali terminology for Geography.
  • 1882 Rabindranath stays at Jyotirindranath's 10, Sudder Street residence.
  • 1882 Rabindranath's poetry blooms; he writes Nirjharer Swapnabhanga – an early master-piece celebrating the awakening of the creative spirit.
  • 1882 Rabindranath's niece Indira Devi also stays at 10, Sudder Street residence with Jyotirindranath and Rabindranath for some days.
  • 1882 While staying at Jyotirindranath's 10, Sudder Street residence, Rabindranath and Indira Devi study a number of books on science.
  • 1882 Virchandra Manikya, Maharaja of Tripura, sends Rabindranath his ardent felicitations through an emissary on his poetic achievement in his new book of verse — Bhagnahridaya.
  • 1882 Rabindranath's first trip to Darjeeling with Jyotirindranath in early autumn.
  • 16th December, 1882 Dwijendranath's grandson Dinendranath is born.
  • 23rd December, 1882 Rabindranath's second musical play Kaalmrigaya is staged; Rabindranath plays the role of the blind sage.
  • 11th January, 1883 Rabindranath publishes one of his earliest novels, Bouthakuranir Haat.
  • 23rd January, 1883 Fifty third annual festival of the Brahmo Samaj is held.
    Rabindranath contributes the following four (4) songs:
    • Dekh cheye dekh tora 23rd January, 1883
    • Ki korili moher chhalane23rd January, 1883
    • Bado asha kore 23rd January, 1883
    • Aaji shuvo diney 23rd January, 1883
  • January, 1883 Rabindranath writes his bosom friend Priyanath Sen that he is busy composing the songs mentioned above.
    Priyanath had thorough knowledge of languages like English, French, Italian other than Bengali. He was a critic of Rabindranath's literary works and also supported Tagore's writings where needed. His collection of prose is known as Priya Pushpanjali. He was a poet too.
  • January, 1883 Satyendranath puts up at their 14, South Circular Road residence from 8th January to 4th March. Rabindranath visits them everyday.
  • March, 1883 When Rabindranath used to visit Satyendranath at his 14, South Circular residence, at that time, in a letter written to Priyanath Sen at this time Rabindranath confides, -- "Now I am at 14, Circular Road".
  • March, 1883 Most probably around this time, Rabindranath along with some close friends, founds the Samalochani sabha as a platform for literary discourse.
  • 20th March, 1883 India Club, an assembly of the Calcutta (now Kolkata) elite, is born. Rabindranath attends the inauguration and sings a few songs.
  • 12th April, 1883 At the end of the Bengali year (1289), prayers are offered at the Adi Brahmo Samaj temple. The new year is celebrated on the next day. This is first time Rabindranath composes a song Barsha oi galo chole on such an occasion. In the very next day on 13th April, two of his songs are sung. The songs are as follows:
    • Barsha oi galo chole 12th April, 1883
    • Sakha tumi achho kotha
    • Prabhu elem kothay
  • 11th May, 1883 Rabindranath publishes a book of verse - Prabhatsangeet.
  • June, 1883 Preliminary preparations for Rabindranath's marriage get under way. Jyotirindranath, Rabindranath and his sisters-in-law go to Jessore looking for a suitable bride and after prolonged bride-hunting, select Bhabatarini Devi, daughter of Benimadhab Roychowdhury, an employee of the Tagore estate, as the bride.
  • 17th July, 1883 At a mammoth gathering at the grounds of Anathnath Dev's Bazar, the National Fund question is debated. In this connection Rabindranath writes an essay — National Fund.
  • 19th July, 1883 Students of Free Church College gather to celebrate Surendranath Banerjee's release from jail. Surendranath addresses the gathering. Rabindranath regales the audience with songs.
  • 7th September, 1883 Maharshi Debendranath, now in Mussouri, writes a letter to Rabindranath asking him to come there. Maharshi wants to discuss forthcoming marriage.
  • 17th September, 1883 Rabindranath leaves for Musouri to meet Debendranath, most probably accompanied by Indira Devi and Surendranath.
  • 4th October, 1883 After returning from Mussouri, meeting Debendranath, Rabindranath goes to Karowar (Karnataka) to meet Satyendranath Tagore.
  • October, 1883 During his stay at Karowar (to meet Satyendranath Tagore), Rabindranath writes a poetic drama - Prakritir Pratishodh.
  • 1883 On return from Karowar, meeting Satyendranath, Rabindranath stays at the Circular Road residence. He composes the poems later collected in Chhabi O Gaan and writes a variety of prose pieces, too.
  • 7th December, 1883 In a significant letter foreshadowing the role he'll later play as a zamindar, Debendranath writes to Rabindranath, "Now you prepare yourself to go and inspect the work and functions of the zamindari estate…….when I am satisfied with your alacrity and the maturity of your judgement, I will give you the responsibility of living and working in the muffosil."
  • 9th December, 1883 In an unostentatious and quiet ceremony, Rabindranath, now 23, marries Bhabatarini (later known as Mrinalini) – a bride ten years old.
  • December, 1883 Maharshi Debendranath pays what turns out to be his last visit to Santiniketan; then starts living in a rented house in Chunchura.
  • 1883 Rev. Lalbehari De's Folk Tales of Bengal gets published.
  • 4th January, 1884 Founder of Nababidhan Brahmo Samaj, Keshabchandra Sen dies. Death mourned in the Brahmo press.
  • 24th January, 1884 Maghotsav is celebrated on 11th Magh (Bengali month). Rabindranath composes nine songs for the occasion which are sung in the morning service.
    • Subhra asane birajo
    • Sansarete charidhar
    • Ki dibo tomay
    • Ke re oi dakichhe
    • Sakalere kachhe daki
    • Tomarei praner asha
    • Hatay loye deepa aganan
    • Animesh ankhi
    • Sakatore oi kandichhe
  • 18th February, 1884 Debendranath takes a keen interest in and provides generously for Rabindranath's wife Mrinalini's schooling. He writes to Rabindranath, "Send Chhoto bou to Loreto House for English Education. It's certainly a fine arrangement that she will be taught separately and not with the other girls of the class……". Unprecedentedly, a maid is appointed exclusively for Mrinalini.
  • February, 1884 Mrinalini - Rabindranath's wife also receives a monthly allowance of Twenty Five rupees.
  • February, 1884 Young Mrinalini - Rabindranath's spouse is in Gyanadanandini Devi's custody. This arrangement lasts till Rabindranath sets up his own house.
  • 23rd February, 1884 Rabindranath publishes his sixth book of verse, Chhabi O Gaan, contaning thirty poems.
  • 23rd February, 1884 Rabindranath narrates the satirical essay Akalkushmanda on the occasion of the annual festival of Savitri Library. There he also sings Vandemataram.
  • March, 1884 In the last week of March 1884, Rabindranath's niece Hiranmoyee (elder sister Swarnakumari's daughter) marries Phanibhusan Mukherjee. To celebrate the occasion Rabindranath writes and stages a musical play Vivaha Utsav. Of the 45 songs in the play he contributes as many as 28.
    • Nach Shyama taley taley March, 1884
    • Oi janalar kachhe basey achhe March, 1884
    • Saadh kore keno sakha March, 1884
    • Dhire dhire praney amar March, 1884
    • Tumi achho kon pada March, 1884
    • Rim jhim ghana ghana re March, 1884
    • Tare dekhate pariney keno pran March, 1884
    • Dekho oi ke esechhe March, 1884
    • Bhalo jadi baso sakhi March, 1884
    • O keno bhalobasha janate ashe March, 1884
    • Bhalobasile jadi sey March, 1884
    • Boney amon phool phutechhe March, 1884
    • Kenore chas phirey phirey March, 1884
    • Money roey galo moner katha March, 1884
    • Promodey dhalia dinu March, 1884
    • Bujhi bela bohey jay March, 1884
    • Katha kos ne lo Rai March, 1884
    • O keno churi korey chay March, 1884
    • Sakha sadhite sadhatey March, 1884
    • Eto phool ke photaley kanoney March, 1884
    • Amader sakhirey ke niye jabey March, 1884
    • Sakhi sey galo kothay March
    • Kotha chhili sajani lo March, 1884
    • O ki katha bolo sakhi chhi chhi March, 1884
    • Madhura milan March, 1884
    • Dekhe ja dekhe ja dekhe ja lo tora March, 1884
    • Ma ekbar danda heri chandranana March, 1884
    • Ma amar keno torey mlana nehari March, 1884
  • April, 1884 Rabindranath composes four (4) Brahmo songs for the occasion of Bengali new year 1291.
    • Rajani pohailo cholechhe jatridal
    • E ki sugandha hillolo bahilo
    • Aji enechhe tanhari ashirvad
    • Barisho dhara majhey
  • 19th April, 1884 Jyotirindranath's wife Kadambari devi, now 25, commits suicide. Rabindranath is heart-broken at this terrible catastrophe. Her death will soon draw from him certain elegiac poems to be included in the anthology Kadi o Komal.
  • May, 1884 Jyotirindranath starts a short-lived shipping business. The hull of an old ship is refitted by shipbuilders in Calcutta (now Kolkata) complete with an engine and a superstructure. Now the ferry Sarojini is launched on the Khulna-Barishal route for conveying passengers and goods. Members of the family, Rabindranath included, take a pleasure ride on Sarojini. The business, however, incurs huge losses and swiftly collapses after Sarojini collides with the Howrah Bridge and sinks. Rabindranath writes about it in Jibansmriti.
  • 1884 Rabindranath writes about Jyotirindranath's short-lived shipping business in Jibansmriti, "In an effort to introduce indigenous shipping he suddenly bought the bare hull of a ship and later the hull filled, not only with engine and cabins – but with debt and disaster, too". A satirical piece Sarojini Prayan is published in three instalments in the Shraban, Bhadra-Ashwin and Agrahayan issues of Bharati.
  • 5th June, 1884 Rabindranath's elder brother, Hemendranath Tagore, Maharshi Debendranath's third son, dies at the age of forty.
  • June, 1884 It is proposed to wind up the Bharati magazine. Later Dwijendranath resigns as editor, Swarnakumari Devi becomes editor and runs the magazine, laying greater stress on covering scientific subjects.
  • 1st July, 1884 Rabindranath publishes a remarkable volume of verse written in an archaic but attractive style – Bhanusingha Thakurer Padavali and dedicates it to Kadambari Devi's memory. One thousand copies of the first edition are printed.
  • July, 1884 Rabindranath contributes copies of Bhanusingha Thakurer Padavali to both Navajivan edited by Akshayachandra Sarkar and Prachar edited by Rakhalchandra Banerjee.
  • 26th August, 1884 Rabindranath narrates his essay – Hatey-Kalamey before an audience at Savitri Library.
  • 16th September, 1884 Debendranath makes Rabindranath secretary of the Adi Brahmo Samaj – a post he'll continue to hold for many years to come.
  • 16th September, 1884 Maharshi Debendranath makes Dwijendranath editor of the Tattwabodhini Patrika.
  • 1884 Around this time a cultural combat over theological and allied issues erupts between Tattwabodhini Patrika of the Adi Brahmo Samaj and Bankimchandra. Rabindranath emerges as a notable combatant on the Brahmo side.
  • 1884 Sanjivani is a Brahmo weekly and Bangabashi a neo-Hindu weekly. Rabindranath contributes a few articles and satirical pieces to the former.
  • 13th December, 1884 Lord Rippon is replaced by Lord Duffrin as Viceroy of India.
  • 20th December, 1884 Jogendranath Mitra is busy collecting the poet's songs for his first anthology of songs. The title Rabichhaya is suggested by Rabindranath.
  • 1884 In 1884 Rabindranath also publishes Nalini, a musical play.
  • 18th January, 1885 At a meeting assembled in the hall of City College, Mirzapur St. Calcutta (now Kolkata), Rabindranath reads his essay Rammohan Roy - his first considerable discourse on the subject.
  • 21st January, 1885 All the three Brahmo groups (Samaj) assemble for prayers at Maghotsav.
  • 1885 After his appointment as Secretary of Adi Brahmo Samaj, Rabindranath composes 32 Brahmo songs in four months.
  • April, 1885 From April 1885, Balak edited by Gyanadanandini Devi is published. Rabindranath is a major contributor, fills its pages with varied literary outpourings.
  • April, 1885 In the course of a year (1885-86) Rabindranath publishes in this monthly magazine poems, letters, articles, charades, Mukut (a novelette) and Rajarshi (a substantial novel).
  • April, 1885 Rabindranath publishes the prose Pushpanjali (dedicated to his departed Bouthakurani (sister-in-law) Kadambari Devi) in the Bharati magazine.
  • 1885 Rabindranath tours Hazaribagh accompanied by Indira Devi and Surendranath.
  • September, 1885 Rabindranath goes to Solapur in the Bombay province (now Maharastra), spends a month and a half with Satyendranath and returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) on 16th October.
  • 21st January, 1886 Brahmo Conclave of the three groups (samaj) is held. Five songs are sung for this occasion. Out of those five songs, two are composed by Rabindranath.
    • Ekbar tora ma boliya daak
    • Pitar duyare danraia
  • 23rd January, 1886 In the morning session of Maghotsav eleven songs are sung. Out of those eleven songs, nine are composed by Rabindranath.
    • Shantisamudra tumi
    • Nishi-din chahorey
    • Dakichho suni jaginu
    • Andhajane deho alo
    • Heri taba bimal
    • Ami deen ati deen
    • Sunechhe tomar naam
    • Peyechhi abhayapada
    • Mitila sab kshudha
  • 23rd January, 1886 In the evening session of Maghotsav, total sixteen songs are sung. Out of those sixteen songs, thirteen are composed by Rabindranath.
    • Shono tanr sudhavani
    • Dakichho ke tumi tapita janey
    • Eto anandadhwani
    • Ki gabo ami ki shunabo
    • Aji bahichhe basantapabana
    • Keno jage na jage na
    • Jader chahia tomarey
    • Taro taro Hari deeno jane
    • Tomar katha hetha
    • Tomar dekha pabo boley
    • Hai ke dibey aar santwana
    • Tomari madhura rupey
    • Taba prema sudharasey
  • 20th February, 1886 Rabindranath drastically revises the musical play Valmiki Pratibha written earlier. The new version is staged to raise funds for Adi Brahmo Samaj. Rabindranath of course plays Valmiki. He also writes eighteen new songs for the play.
    • Sahe na sahe na kandey
    • Oi megha karey bujhi gaganey
    • Mori o kahar bachha
    • Ki doshey bandhiley
    • Chhadba na bhai chhadba na bhai
    • Raja maharaja ke janey
    • Achhe tomar bidye-saddhi jana
    • Ah kaaj ki golmaley
    • Aho aspardha eki
    • Ai ma amar sathe
    • Kothai Jurate achhe
    • Keno raja dakis keno
    • Bolbo ki aar bolbo
    • Rakh rakh phel dhanu
    • Dekh dekh duto pakhi
    • Nami nami Bharati
    • Shyama, ebar chhere cholechhi Ma
    • Bani, veenapani karunamoyee
  • April, 1886 Balak magazine ceases publication in April,1886. It will later merge with the Bharati magazine and resume publication as Bharati o Balak.
  • 5th May, 1886 Rabindranath now eager to finish the unfinished novel Rajarshi. He writes to his friend Maharaja Virchandra Manikya of Tripura, asking for historical information.
  • 28th May, 1886 Rationalist and notable essayist Akshayakumar Dutta dies.
  • 31st May, 1886 In reply to Rabindranath's letter (asking Maharaja Virchandra Manikya's help to provide poet with the historical information about his unfinished novel Rajarshi), Maharaja Virchandra Manikya writes back to Rabindranath saying he'll make all possible efforts to fulfill his need for historical data for historical information Rajarshi.
  • May, 1886 The new magazine, Bharati o Balak, makes its debut.
  • June, 1886 Rabindranath travels to Bandra (in Bombay, now Mumbai) to be with ailing Maharshi Debendranath who is living there. There he writes poems like Hasi, Ratri, Samudra etc.
  • August, 1886 In Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharshi recovers from illness somewhat, and returns to Chunchura in Bengal probably around the middle of July.
    Rabindranath goes to Nasik to stay with Satyendranath for some time. He returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in August.
  • 14th August, 1886 Rabindranath's niece Pratibha (daughter of late Hemendranath) marries Asutosh Chowdhury, a barrister.
  • September, 1886 Asutosh Chowdhury assists Rabindranath in organising and editing the poems of Kadi o Komal, published on 17th November, 1886.
  • October, 1886 Rabindranath's friend Lokendranath Palit succeeds in the ICS examinations, returns to India, and is posted in Bengal.
  • 25th October, 1886 Rabindranath and Mrinalini Devi's first child (daughter), Madhurilata (Bela) is born.
  • 28th December, 1886 At the inaugural session of the second annual conference of the Indian National Congress held in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Rabindranath sings the stirring song - Amra milechhi aaj mayer dakey.
  • 1st January, 1887 As part of the Maghotsav programme, the Brahmo members of the Congress are felicitated by the Tagores at a gathering in the hall of the City College. Rabindranath is there too and again sings Amra milechhi aaj maer dakey.
  • 23rd January, 1887 Adi Brahmo Samaj obtains Maharshi Debendranath's permission and holds Maghotsav at the Jorasanko mansion. From then on the festival would be held there every year.
  • 23rd January, 1887 Rabindranath writes 26 songs for Maghotsav festival; 12 sung in the morning session, 14 in the evening:
    • Prabhate vimala anandey
    • Nikatey dekhiba tomarey
    • Sabe mili gao re
    • Anek diechho natha
    • Peyechhi sandhan taba
    • Nayana tomarey
    • Tomarey janiney hey
    • Vani taba nahi shuni
    • Debadhidev Mahadev
    • Bhoy hoy pachhe taba namey
    • Ebar bujhechhi sakha
    • Basey achhi hey
    • Satya mangala premamaya tumi
    • Swarupa tnar ke janey
    • Ananda roechhey jagi
    • Ki bhoy abhoy dhamey
    • Amra milechhi aaj mayer dakey
    • Tumi jagichha kay
    • Amay chhajanay miley
    • Toma lagi natha
    • Swami tumi eso aaj
    • Chahina sukhey thakitey
    • Chira dibasa naba madhuri
    • Amar ja achhey
    • Aaj bujhi ailo
    • Tumi bandhu, tumi natha
  • 29th January, 1887 More than 1000 Brahmo disciples from Calcutta (now Kolkata) come by steamer to Chunchura to pay their respects to Maharshi Debendranath. Rabindranath is in Chunchura too.
  • 4th February, 1887 At Maharshi Debendranath's Chunchura residence where he's now living, Rabindranath sings the song, Nayana tomare pai na dekhite, to his father and is awarded a cheque of five hundred rupees – a princely sum in those days – by Debendranath. The first literary award of his career comes his way.
  • February, 1887 Rabindranath publishes his third novel – Rajarshi.
  • March, 1887 Maharshi falls seriously ill at Chunchura, Rajnarayana Basu comes over from Deoghar to see him. He rallies somewhat and is taken back to Calcutta (now Kolkata) by a steamer sent by Maharaj Jatindramohan Tagore for the purpose.
  • May, 1887 Rabindranath's monthly allowance is increased, which relieves him of nagging financial worries.
    Rabindranath writes the poems (later collected and published in the Manashi anthology) with renewed zest.
  • May, 1887 Special prayer service is held in the morning of the first Sunday of every Bengali month. As secretary of the Adi Brahmo Samaj, Rabindranath presides over these services.
  • 7th May, 1887 This is the first time Rabindranath's birthday is celebrated in a big way in the family.
    Sarala Devi organises the celebrations.
  • 29th May, 1887 Two steamers, the Retriever and Sir John Lawrence sink in the Bay of Bengal. Moved by the disaster, Rabindranath writes the poem Sindhu Taranga.
  • 27th July, 1887 Rabindranath and Mrinalini Devi's daughter Madhurilata's (Bela) Annaprasana is celebrated at a sumptuous ceremony.
  • 4th September, 1887 Rabindranath reads his esaay, Hindu Bibaha, at a meeting presided over by Dr. Mahendralal Sarkar and held at the Science Association Hall.
  • September, 1887 Rabindranath engages in a literary battle with Chandranath Basu over the subject of child marriage.
  • 11th September, 1887 Rabindranath spends a month in Darjeeling with Mrinalini, daughter Bela, elder sister Swarnakumari and her two daughters, Hiranmoyee and Sarala.
  • September, 1887 Rabindranath stays at Castleton House in Darjeeling, reads from Tennyson and Browning to Mrinalini Devi, Swarnakumari Devi, Hiranmoyee, Sarala and Bela.
  • September, 1887 On behalf of the Sakhi Samiti, Sarala Ray, Principal of Bethune College, requests Rabindranath to write a play (Mayar Khela) consisting only of female characters.
    While staying in Darjeeling, Rabindranath starts writing Mayar Khela and composes songs for it.
  • September, 1887 Rabindranath teaches niece Sarala how to sing the songs of Mayar Khela.
  • October, 1887 Writes some of the poems later to be collected in his anthology Manashi.
  • 20th November, 1887 Chandranath Basu reads the essay Hindu Bibaha before an audience at the Oriental Seminary in an effort to rebut Rabindranath's views on the subject.
  • 18th December, 1887 Nitindranath, Hitendranth, Balendranath, Jyotsnanath and Surendranath Tagore are formally initiated into Brahmo Dharma.
  • 24th January, 1888 The annual Maghotsav festival is held as usual. Rabindranath composes 17 songs for the morning (8 songs) and evening (9 songs) prayers:
    • Tumi apani jagao morey
    • Nutan Prana dao, pranasakha
    • Jagrata viswa-kolahala majhey
    • Kamoney phiriya jao na
    • Sabey ananda karo
    • Hey mon tanre dekho
    • Aaji heri sansara amritayamaya
    • Tomari ichhha houk purna
    • Sranta keno ohe pantha
    • Purna ananda purna
    • Ashima akashe aganya kirana
    • Achho antarey chiradeen
    • Jagatey tumi raja
    • Jarajara praney natha
    • Jagitey habey re
    • Natha hey, premapathey
    • Hridaya vedana bahiya
  • January, 1888 An English painter, most probably J. Archer, paints a picture of Rabindranath with baby Bela on his lap from December 1887 to January 1888. He remarks to Mahimchandra Devbarman of Tripura that Rabindranath's face is Christ-like. When Rabindranath will tour Europe later in 1926, his graceful appearance will remind people of Christ.
  • February, 1888 Around the middle of February Rabindranath goes to Ghazipur (UP) with wife and daughter. He develops friendship with the poet Debendranath Sen (1858 – 1920), who had a MA in English and by profession was a lawyer in Allahabad High Court. Debendranath Sen is known to people for his creations like Phulbala, Urmila, Nirjharini etc.
  • February, 1888 Jyotirindranath and Indira Devi also arrive in Ghazipur.
  • February, 1888 Rabindranath writes quite a few poems, later collected in Manashi.
  • March, 1888 Maharshi executes a trust deed setting forth the aims and ideals of the Santiniketan Ashram. Dwipendranath Tagore (son of Dwijendranath Tagore), Ramanimohan Chatterjee and Priyanath Shastri are trustees. Allots property worth Rs. 18,000 to the Ashram to fund its activities.
  • May, 1888 Maharshi goes to Darjeeling, doesn't find the climate congenial, returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • May, 1888 Rabindranath takes the initiative to set up Brahmo Samiti to further consolidate the samaj and its activities.
  • May, 1888 The pond situated within the precincts of the Jorasanko house and fondly mentioned in the Jibansmriti has been filled up by this time.
  • May, 1888 Though Rabindranath is probably away from Calcutta (now Kolkata), his birthday is celebrated, mainly by cousin Satyaprasad.
  • 7th July, 1888 Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) bringing back Indira Devi and Surendranath from Ghazipur.
  • 10th August, 1888 Rabindranath goes back to Gazipur with Swarnakumari Devi and Sarala.
  • August, 1888 Songs fill the days in Ghazipur. Sarala considerably benefits from Rabindranath's style of singing. She will later write, "…… I was already familiar with melodies, but got to know their inner spirit in Ghazipur."
  • September, 1888 They are back in Calcutta (now Kolkata) around the middle of September.
  • 22nd September, 1888 In a letter written to them Rabindranath praises the musical instrument company Doarkin (still running) of Calcutta (now Kolkata) for the excellent harmoniums they make.
  • 19th October, 1888 The Santiniketan Ashram is established. A large group of Brahmo followers from Calcutta (now Kolkata) including Rabindranath arrives to attend the ceremony.
  • 3rd November, 1888 Parivarik Smritilipi or Family Memoirs inaugurated. Members of the family are free to write in it whatever they like. Rabindranath will write many short pieces in it.
  • 27th November, 1888 Rabindranath's son Rathindranath is born.
  • 22nd December, 1888 Rabindranath's musical play Mayar Khela is published.
  • 29th December, 1888 The play Mayar Khela is staged at Bethune College, Calcutta. All the roles are played by the women of the Tagore family, including Indira Devi. Rabindranath supervises the whole production.
  • 11th January, 1889 Delegates from Bengal who attended the 4th annual conference of Indian National Congress in Allahabad, including George Yule who was president of the conference, are felicitated at a dinner party hosted by the Tagores at the Jorasanko mansion. Rabindranath plays a prominent part in it.
  • January, 1889 J.Archer now does a portrait of Maharshi Debendranath in oil. Rabindranath is present at all the sittings.
  • 23rd January, 1889 Maghotsav is celebrated as usual at Jorasanko. This time, however, Rabindranath doesn't compose any song for the occasion.
  • 1889 Rabindranath's romantic and fondly nurtured plan for a long trek all the way to Peshawar (now in Pakistan) along Grand Trunk Road is shelved as his friends are not overly fond of it.
  • February, 1889 Rabindranath travels to Solapur (Maharastra) with daughter Madhurilata, and stays there with Satyendranath. During this sojourn he'll spend four months at Solapur, Pune, and Kirkee.
  • 18th April, 1889 While at Solapur, Rabindranath writes the poem Prakash Bedana.
  • April, 1889 The poet composes a song at Kirkee (now known as Khadki, near Pune in Maharastra) – Sukhe thako ar sukhi karo sabe as a gift for Biharilal Gupta's daughter Snehalata and Kumudnath Sen's marriage on 2nd May, 1889.
  • May, 1889 Rabindranath writes three poems in Kirkee (now known as Khadki, near Pune in Maharastra):
    • Maya 14th May, 1889
    • Barshar Dine 16th May, 1889
    • Megher Khela 20th May, 1889
  • 22nd May, 1889 Satyendranath publishes his Bombai Chitra, and dedicates it to Rabindranath.
  • June, 1889 While staying in Kirkee, Rabindranath goes and hears the famous intellectual Ramabai speak. Later he publishes a critical letter in the Bharati o Balak magazine.
  • June, 1889 Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Solapur-Pune-Kirkee visit.
  • 12th June, 1889 Delightfully surprised to see son Rathindranath. Writes to Indira Devi, "Seeing Khoka is a very novel experience."
  • 13th June, 1889 Rabindranath attends Brahmo Samaj function at Bhawanipur, Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 15th June, 1889 From now on Rabindranath is responsible for supervising the family accounts in Jorasanko.
  • July, 1889 Rabindranath writes an article named Nabyabanger Andolon in the June issue of Bharati O Balak, in which he claims that the national movement against British Government is not based on strong foundation. He said that rather than feeling proud of what we get free from the Government, we should build our character first. But Swarnakumari Devi opposes this view in July issue.
  • 31st July, 1889 Ramanimohan Chatterjee resigns as a trustee of Santiniketan Ashram.
  • 9th August, 1889 Rabindranath publishes his first five-act blank verse play Raja o Rani, modelled on Shakespeare.
    Rabindranath completes this play while in Solapur. 1000 copies printed.
  • 15th August, 1889 Rabindranath becomes a trustee of Santiniketan Ashram.
  • August, 1889 At Jorasanko, Rabindranath writes six poems later collected in the poetry collection Manashi.
    • Dhyan 10th August, 1889
    • Purvakale 17th August, 1889
    • Ananta Prem 17th August, 1889
    • Kshanik Milan 24th August, 1889
    • Atmasamarpana 26th August, 1889
    • Ashanka 29th August, 1889
  • 15th September, 1889 Son Rathindranath's Annaprasana (a ritual related to a child's first intake of rice) is performed.
  • 5th October, 1889 Rabindranath's first five-act blank verse play Raja O Rani is performed at the Park St. residence by members of the Tagore family including women. Caste includes Mrinalini Devi and Indira Devi. Rabindranath plays the king.
  • October, 1889 In a letter written to Rabindranath, Dwijendranath would soon say of the play Raja O Rani (staged at the Park St. residence), -- "Most pathetic concentrated essence of poetry…really worthy of immortality."
  • November, 1889 Maharshi Debendranath entrusts Rabindranath with the task of inspecting and managing the zamindari estates in East Bengal (now in Bangladesh).
  • November, 1889 Rabindranath arrives in Shilaidaha (now in Bangladesh) with Mrinalini Devi and the children. Nephew Balendranath (son of Birendranath) accompanies him. Rabindranath starts living in a boathouse on the river Padma.
  • November, 1889 In a letter written to Indira Devi, Rabindranath describes the vast, enchanting, riverine landscape, which will soon inaugurate one of the most densely creative phases in his long career as a creative writer.
  • December, 1889 Dwipendranath (son of Dwijendranath Tagore) attends the Congress annual session as a delegate of the British Indian Association.
  • December, 1889 Swanakumari Devi attends the Congress annual session as a visitor.
  • January, 1890 Around the middle of January Rabindranath is away in Sahajadpur (Pabna district in Bengal in British India, now in Bangladesh) supervising and managing the affairs of the estate.
  • 20th January, 1890 Rabindranath visits Sahajadpur High School and writes in the inspection book, "….I did not try to frighten the boys out of their wits by cursory examination…". The school declares a holiday in his honour.
  • 21st January, 1890 Rabindranath's novel Rajarshi is selected as a text at the Sahajadpur High School.
  • January, 1890 Rabindranath is unable to attend Maghotsav as he's away in East Bengal (now Bangladesh) for supervising and managing the zamindari estates.
  • January, 1890 The first letter written from Sahajadpur (Pabna district of now Bangladesh) gives a charming vignette of Rabindranath, the family man. He writes in a vein of delightful humour, "..No sooner did I start ranting than your letter arrived. Being easy-going does one no good these days. If I whine and implore, she at once grows furious but backs down completely as soon as I say a cutting thing or two.......There are moments when I become restless for Beli and Khoka so much."
  • 1890 Rabindranath writes the play, Bisarjan, using material from the novel Rajarshi during the sojourn in Sahajadpur to satisfy his nephews' demand for a play they can perform.
  • 13th April, 1890 Rabindranath writes two songs for the Bengali new year at Santiniketan.
    • Naba anandey jago 13th April, 1890
    • Oi pohailo timirarati 13th April, 1890
  • 26th April, 1890 Rabindranath recites the article Mantri Abhishek before an assembly in the Emerald Theatre, while Calcutta (now Kolkata) is witnessing widespread protest and agitation over Lord Cross' Indian Councils' Bill in the British parliament.
  • May, 1890 Rabindranath is now 29 and his birthday is celebrated by the family.
  • 12th May, 1890 In Jorasanko, Rabindranath writes Upahar and dedicates it to Mrinalini Devi. Upahar is later included in anthology Manasi.
  • 15th May, 1890 Rabindranath's drama Bisarjan and article Mantri Abhisekh are published.
  • 21st May, 1890 Rabindranath spends a few days in Santiniketan. Here he starts writing the early masterpiece Meghdoot from 21st May, 1890 and completes it on 22nd May, 1890.
  • 24th May, 1890 In Santiniketan, Rabindranath writes another poem Ahalyar Prati from 24th May to 25th May, 1890.
  • 7th June, 1890 Rabindranath sees a special performance of Raja O Rani at the Emerald Theatre.
  • 21st June, 1890 Rabindranath begins writing the play Chitrangada, in Shilaidaha and will complete it a year later in Cuttak (Orissa).
  • 7th August, 1890 Rabindranath leaves Calcutta (now Kolkata) for his second visit to England.
  • August, 1890 On the England trip, Rabindranath joins Satyendranath in Solapur (Maharastra).
  • August, 1890 Along with Satyendranath and Lokendranath Palit, Rabindranath boards the Shyam in Bombay (now Mumbai) which sails for England on 22nd August, 1890.
  • August, 1890 Rabindranath keeps a diary of the voyage to England, which will later blossom into the famous travelogue Europe Jatrir Diary.
  • 29th August, 1890 During his second Europe tour, in the first letter written to Mrinalini Devi, home sick Rabindranath writes, "….My mind was so restless to get back to you…Once I'm back after this trip, I'll stay put and won't budge."
  • 6th September, 1890 During the voyage to England, in the second letter written to Mrinalini Devi, Rabindranath describes the course their ship's taken and fondly wonders, "Don't you like to see it too, little one? You, too, are going to travel this way one day, do you know that? ...You will get to see things you never even dreamt of."
  • 9th September, 1890 On his second Europe tour, Rabindranath reaches Paris, goes and climbs the newly built Eiffel Tower.
  • 9th September, 1890 During the Europe tour, after visiting the Eiffel Tower, Rabindranath sends Mrinalini Devi a picture postcard of the tower and gives her the news.
  • 10th September, 1890 After arriving in England, Rabindranath fails to find Dr. Scott, his former host during the first visit 12 years ago, at his old place. They've meanwhile moved and gone to live elsewhere.
  • 12th September, 1890 In London, Rabindranath visits the National Gallery.
  • September, 1890 During the second visit to England, Rabindranath often goes to plays and operas like Gondolires at Savoy Theatre, Million of Money at Drury lane, The Bride of Lammermoore at Lyceum Theatre and perhaps Irving's Hamlet, too. An able actor and director himself, Rabindranath is remarkably impressed by the massive and opulent stage settings and machinery of British theatre, though later he will come to consider all this rather redundant.
  • September, 1890 On his second visit to England, Rabindranath delves deep in Western music in the evenings in the congenial company of their hostess, Miss Mull, who is herself an expert in music.
  • 27th September, 1890 During his stay in England, Rabindranath is invited by their Sindhi friend, Mr. Advani. They dine at the National Liberal Club in Paris.
  • 27th September, 1890 In Europe, Rabindranath and his Sindhi friend Mr. Advani also meet the Unitarian padre Charles Voysey at National Liberal Club in Paris.
  • 7th October, 1890 The germinal idea of the play Malini comes to Rabindranath in a dream one night during his stay in London.
  • October, 1890 In London, Rabindranath is intensely homesick, wants to return at once.
  • October, 1890 Being intensely homesick at London, as Rabindranath wants to return, Satyendranath is annoyed at this; he wants Rabindranath to stay.
  • 7th October, 1890 Being terribly homesick in London, adamant, Rabindranath books a berth on the steamer Thames bound to sail for India.
  • 8th October, 1890 As homesick Rabindranath decided to return to India from England, he writes plaintively in a letter to Indira Devi, "Is man a machine made of iron that he will exactly follow the rules set for him? …"
  • 9th October, 1890 Rabindranath embarks on the voyage from England to India.
  • 23rd October, 1890 During the voyage from England to India, Rabindranath writes the poem Sandhyae.
  • 25th October, 1890 On the return journey, from England to India, Rabindranath writes poem Sesh Upahar.
  • 26th October, 1890 On the return voyage from England to India, Rabindranath writes the poem Mouna Bhasa.
  • 1890 Throughout the year Rabindranath reads voraciously – Arnold, Browning, Ibsen, Alphonse Daudet as well as books like Alfred Wallace's Darwinism and Modern Thoughts & Modern Science.
  • 24th December, 1890 Rabindranath's poetry collection Manasi is published by Kalidas Chakraborty.
  • December, 1890 A special performance of the play Valmiki Pratibha at the Jorasnko mansion in honour of Lady Lansdowne and Lady Elliot who visit the Tagores at Satyendranath's invitation.
  • December, 1890 Elaborate stage settings and scenery devised for the Valmiki Pratibha play which is going to be performed at Jorasanko mansion. Roles are played by members of the Tagore family, including Abanindranath and Indira Devi.
  • December, 1890 Rabindranath himself plays the role of Valmiki in the Valmiki Pratibha play which is held at Jorasanko mansion.
  • December, 1890 Indian National Congress holds its sixth annual session at Trivoli Gardens in Ballygunge, Calcutta (now Kolkata), 26-28 December, 1890.
  • December, 1890 In the sixth annual session of Indian National Congress held at Calcutta (now Kolkata), Rabindranath plays a prominent part in making the arrangements and attends the Congress session.
  • 27th December, 1890 Foundation laying ceremony of the Brahmo Mandir at the Santiniketan Ashram. Dwijendranath conducts the prayers, Rabindranath sings songs.
  • 28th December, 1890 Theistic Conference of Brahmo delegates, who attended the Indian National Congress session, is held at Maharshi Debendranath's Park st. residence. Rabindranath sings three songs.
  • 1890 This year Indira Devi passes the F.A. exam as a private candidate. Sarala Devi graduates from Bethune College in the second class with English (Hons).
  • 9th January, 1891 As the secretary of the Adi Brahmo Samaj, Rabindranath writes to the census superintendent C. J. O'Donnel stating that, "The members of the Adi Brahmo Samaj are really Hindus."
  • 10th January, 1891 Members of the Indian National Congress reception committee and young students, who acted as volunteers at the sixth annual session of Indian National Congress invited to a garden party.
    At this party Rabindranath sings Gao Bharater Joy written by Satyendranath.
  • 12th January, 1891 Rabindranath's Bengali piece in the Parivarik Smritilipi Pustak, later published in the Sadhana.
    Parivarik Smritilipi Pustak is a family khata (note book), placed on a tall desk at Satyandranath's Bhawanipur home. Anyone could write anything in it. Currently it is preserved at Rabindra Bhavan, Visva Bharati. It contains many writings of Rabindranath giving a glimpse of his versatility. Kavya is a long article he wrote in the khata, and was later published in the Sadhana magazine after dropping the first and last parts of it.
  • 13th January, 1891 Rabindranath visits another estate at Patisar, Kaligram (now in Bangladesh). As usual he travels by boat.
  • January, 1891 During his visit to the zamindari estates at Patisar, Rabindranath writes to Mrinalini Devi, "I've arrived in Kaligram today. It took us three days." He is missing the children. "I saw Khoka in a dream last night - he was on my lap and I was caressing him."
  • January, 1891 During these tours of and spells of residence in the zamindari estates over the years in East Bengal, Rabindranath grows familiar with and acquires deep insights into the life of the poor rural masses who were his ryot or tenants.
  • 23rd January, 1891 Rabindranath's third child Renuka (daughter) is born.
  • 23rd January, 1891 During his visit to the zamindari estates at Patisar (in Bangladesh) Rabindranath goes to Sahajadpur by river, for a few days.
  • January, 1891 While visiting the zamindari estates at Patisar (now in Bangladesh), Rabindranath writes a letter to Indira Devi describing the journey to Sahajadpur from Patisar.
  • 4th February, 1891 Rabindranath develops a crippling pain in the shoulders.
  • 9th February, 1891 Rabindranath comes over to Shilaidaha.
  • 1891 In a number of letters written in this period to Indira Devi (later collected in the Chhinnapatra), Rabindranath sketches certain types destined to figure later in the short stories.
  • 14th March, 1891 At the 18th ordinary meeting of Chaitanya Library, Rabindranath reads the introductory part of Europe Jatrir Diary. Sir Gurudas Banerjee presides.
  • 15th March, 1891 Mayar Khela is performed at Satyendranath's Park St. residence on the occasion of a wedding in the family. Rabindranath acts in the performance. The other members of the family, including Jyotirindranath and Indira Devi play various parts.
  • 5th May, 1891 Rabindranath publishes Europe Jatrir Diary (part 1) and dedicates it to Lokendranath Palit.
  • 7th May, 1891 Rabindranath is at 31 now, birthday celebrated. Gifts include a hard-bound note book from Priyamvada Devi and the works of Herbert Spencer from Indira Devi and Surendranath.
  • May, 1891 Jagadishchandra Bose records Rabindranath's voice with a phonograph – the first effort of its kind.
  • 30th May, 1891 The weekly magazine Hitabadi, makes its debut with Rabindranath as the literary editor.
  • May, 1891 Rabindranath contributes the first Bengali short stories to the weekly Hitabadi starting from May, 1891.
    • Dena Paona May,1891
    • Postmaster May,1891
    • Ginni May,1891
    • Ramkanaier Nirbuddhita May,1891
    • Byabodhan May,1891
    • Taraprasanner Kirti May,1891
    • Khata May,1891
  • May, 1891 Rabindranath locks horns with well known educationist, writer and literary critic Chandranath Basu over the article Akal Vivaha published in the Hitabadi.
  • June, 1891 From Sahajadpur Rabindranath writes to Mrinalini Devi fondly making fun of her, "Well, I hunted up and down the houses of all milkmen in Sahajadpur for the finest ghee of skimmed milk and sent it home for you to eat, yet why is it that you didn't even mention it in your letter?....your sense of gratitude is gradually getting dulled..."
  • July, 1891 Rabindranath ends his association with the weekly Hitabadi.
  • July, 1891 Rabindranath is now writing to Indira Devi the letters which will be later collected in the Chinnapatra.
  • July, 1891 For reasons of economy, monthly allowances paid to the members of the family reduced. Rabindranath now gets Rs. 150 instead of the usual Rs. 200.
  • August, 1891 Rabindranath travels by steamer and boat to Orissa to inspect the zamindari estates.
  • 11th August, 1891 In a letter written to Indira Devi, Rabindranath describes the travails of the journey.
  • 13th September, 1891 At Pandua (Orissa) Rabindranath completes the verse drama Chitrangada – his last play written in blank verse.
  • 1st October, 1891 Rabindranath leaves Calcutta (now Kolkata) for Shilaidaha.
  • October, 1891 While staying at Shilaidaha, in his letters to Indira Devi, Rabindranath writes about the vast autumnal landscape and the moods it evokes.
  • 30th November, 1891 The Sadhana magazine published by the Tagores. As usual Rabindranath at the helm. After Bankimchandra's Bangadarshan, Sadhana is the greatest literary magazine of contemporary Bengal and remains a landmark.
    Rabindranath writes as many as 40 of the 92 pages of the inaugural issue of Sadhana. His contributions include the famous short story Khokababur Pratyabartan and the first of the 11 instalments of Europe Jatrir Diary.
  • 19th December, 1891 Rabindranath comes back to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Shilaidaha.
  • 21st December, 1891 Inauguration of the newly built Brahmo Mandir in Santiniketan. Hundreds of visitors and devotees descend on Santiniketan. Rabindranath leads the choir at prayers.
  • January, 1892 Poet is again away in Shilaidaha running the zamindari.
  • 4th January, 1892 A British engineer, his wife and children arrive from Pabna, Rabindranath robbed of his privacy.
  • 6th January, 1892 Guests (the British engineer who came with his family) depart, Rabindranath recovering from this sudden invasion of his privacy and peace, annoyed yet retaining his polite soft-spoken ways.
  • 6th January, 1892 Extremely annoyed by the arrival of unexpected guests (the British engineer and his family), Rabindranath writes to niece Indira devi, "I am afraid lest I end up upbraiding someone for the wrong reasons or no reason at all…."
  • January, 1892 Poet continues writing for the magazine Sadhana. Notable short story Dalia appears in it.
  • 24th January, 1892 Rabindranath is in Calcutta (now Kolkata) for Maghotsav 92, writes two Brahmo songs for the festival.
    • E moho abarana 24th January, 1892
    • Shunnya pran kande sada 24th January, 1892
  • 1892 Poet writes the celebrated poem Sonar Tari along with Bimbabati and Saisab Sandhya.
  • April, 1892 Poet is in Shilaidaha in early April.
  • April, 1892 Rabindranath reads books like The Elements of Politics, Problems of the Future.
  • May, 1892 Rabindranath takes Mrinalini and the children to Santiniketan, the other relatives are there already.
  • 30th May, 1892 Rabindranath writes the poem Hing Ting Chhot, refutes insinuations that it's intended to lampoon Chandranath Basu.
  • June, 1892 All the three poems are published in the Sadhana.
  • June, 1892 Another well known short story Kankal is published in the magazine Sadhana.
  • 1892 Poet spends June-July on looking after the zamindari estates in East Bengal.
  • 1892 Rabindranath writes the comedy Goray Galad.
  • 1st July, 1892 Rabindranath writes the poem Vaishnav Kabita.
  • 2nd July, 1892 Rabindranath writes the poem Dui Pakhi.
  • 7th July, 1892 Rabindranath writes the poem Gaanbhanga.
  • 20th July, 1892 Poet narrowly escapes drowning in the Gorai river, rescued by another boat. He writes to Mrinalini, "Today I escaped death just by the skin of my teeth… When we reached Gorai bridge, the mast of our boat got stuck to the bridge. It was a terrifying situation… I have had two or three such close shaves on this trip.."
  • August, 1892 The comedy play Goray Galad at Sangeet Samaj. Rabindranath supervises rehearsals, himself appears on the stage and sings the song -Jaar adrishte jeman jutuk before the performance commences.
  • August, 1892 Rabindranath goes to Shilaidaha.
  • September, 1892 Publishes a number of pieces in the magazine's Bhadra issue including Bangla Sabda o Chhanda.
  • 13th September, 1892 Rabindranath's drama Chritangada is published with illustrations by Abanindranath.
  • 1892 From Shilaidaha Rabindranath writes to dispel his wife's worries, "..Chhoto bou, please do not nurse any grievance in your mind, it can only cause harm. You will have to take on the world around you cheerfully, contentedly, yet with a firm resolve."
  • October, 1892 Rabindranath is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 29th October, 1892 Rabindranath writes one of his greatest poems Jete Nahi Diba which inaugurates a new variety of lyric poetry in Bengali literature and shows his rapid development and mastery of the new genre.
  • November, 1892 Sadhana magazine completes its first year with the publication of the Kartik issue.
  • November, 1892 Few pieces by Rabindranath are published in the Sadhana - Kartik issue, including the short story Jay Parajay.
  • November, 1892 Rabindranath goes to Rampur Boalia in East Bengal, then proceeds to the residence of the Maharaja of Natore, becomes their host with Loken Palit who is now magistrate and collector of Rajsahi district. Spends a week there. Pramatha Chowdhury also joins them.
  • 26th November, 1892 Poet delivers his celebrated essay, Sikshar Herfer at Rajsahi College before a distinguished audience representing The Rajsahi Association.
  • 26th November, 1892 In the essay Sikshar Herfer, poet's first major intervention in the discourse on education which foreshadows his later emergence as a radical pathfinder in this field, Rabindranath passionately reminds his audience of the indispensability of the mother tongue as the medium of education.
  • 26th November, 1892 Rabindranath ends the address on his essay, Sikshar Herfer at Rajsahi College with a note of gloomy warning, "… our thoughts, sensibilities and language on the one hand, and the life we lead on the other, have suffered dissociation – a disjuncture destroying all harmony between the two."
  • 12th December, 1892 Poet arrives in Pabna on a visit to the estates. Receives letter from Mrinalini who is in Solapur.
  • 18th December, 1892 Rabindranath writes the poem Manas Sundari in four days from 15th to 18th December.
  • 30th December, 1892 Rabindranath writes to Dr. Banerjee on Sikshar Herfer.
  • 28th December, 1892 8th Congress session in Allahabad from 28th to 30th December. Umeshchandra presides.
  • January, 1893 The Poush issue of the Sadhana magazine contains his famous short story Chhuti, Sikshar Herfer and his riposte to Chandranath Basu's risible orthodoxy - Kadai kada Kahan Kana.
  • 23rd January, 1893 63rd annual Brahma festival or Maghotsav held at Jorasanko mansion. Rabindranath composes 6 songs for the occasion.
    • Joy rajarajeswara 23rd January, 1893
    • Chira bandhu, chira nirbhara 23rd January, 1893
    • Eki labanye purna prana 23rd January, 1893
    • Anandadhwani jagao gagane 23rd January, 1893
    • Hridaya mandire, pranadhish 23rd January, 1893
    • Anandaloke mangolaloke 23rd January, 1893
  • February, 1893 The Introduction part of Panchabhuter Diary published in Sadhana - Magh issue.
  • February, 1893 Sadhana – Magh Issue contains the moving story – Shuva.
  • February, 1893 Rabindranath in Cuttak with Balendranath. Their host is Biharilal Gupta,ICS.
  • 9th February, 1893 Rabindranath is revolted by the arrogant racist remarks of Holward, principal of a local college.
  • 10th February, 1893 Poet makes the acquaintance of the famous Oriya poet Madhusudan Rao.
  • 11th February, 1893 In a delightful letter to Mrinalini, Rabindranath affectionately makes fun of his host.
  • 11th February, 1893 Poet leaves for Puri in the company of Balendranath, Biharilal Gupta and his family. The sea enchants him.
  • February, 1893 The germ of the poem Samudrer Prati germinating in poet's mind.
  • 15th February, 1893 Poet visits the sun temple at Konark in Puri.
  • 15th February, 1893 Poet visits Udayagiri, Khandagiri at Puri.
  • 26th February, 1893 Rabindranath joins prayers at the Brahmo Temple, Cuttak; bored by Oreya poet Madhusudan Rao's long and dreary lecture.
  • 10th March, 1893 Poet returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Puri by sea on board the steamer Oriya.
  • March, 1893 Poet's trip to Orissa produces a number of poems .
    • Durbodh 23rd March, 1893
    • Sukh 25th March, 1893
    • Jhulan 27th March, 1893
  • 23rd March, 1893 Poet goes to Rampur Boalia to spend a few days with Loken Palit.
  • 13th April, 1893 Poet comes back to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Rampur Boalia.
  • 2nd May, 1893 Rabindranath arrives in Shilaidaha on a routine visit.
  • 7th May, 1893 Rabindranath is now 32 years old.
  • 1893 Short stories Mahamaya and Dan Pratidan published in the Phalgun and Chaitra issues of Sadhana.
  • 25th June, 1893 Poet writes the poem Hridayajamuna.
  • 29th June, 1893 Poet writes the poem Barthya Jouban.
  • July, 1893 Poet writes touchingly, to wife Mrinalini, "Now, why don't you too join your children and start practising saa, re, gaa, maa with them so that when I get back home in the rainy season, the two of us – husband and wife – will discus music to our heart's content."
  • 10th July, 1893 In full flow now, poet writes two moving songs:
    • Bada vedanar mato 10th July, 1893
    • Hridayer e kul o kul 10th July, 1893
    Also writes three poems:
    • Pratakhyan 10th July, 1893
    • Bhara Bhadare 10th July, 1893
    • Lajja 11th July, 1893
  • 13th July, 1893 In a letter to Indira Devi, poet writes of the predicament which drives a versatile genius of his caliber, "My condition somewhat resembles that of a proud young dominatrix who is loath to lose any of her many lovers. I don't want to disappoint any of the muses."
  • 28th July, 1893 Rabindranath finishes writing the outstanding poem Puraskar of 662 lines.
  • July, 1893 Poet shows a keen interest in collecting folk tales and rhymes. Sarala Ray, Abanindranath, even Mrinalini share this interest. Mrinalini collects material for Abanindranath's Kshirer Putul.
  • 10th August, 1893 Rabindranath writes another innovative poem – Bidai Abhisap, published later in Sadhana.
  • August, 1893 Rabindranath spends the greater part of July and August inspecting the estates.
  • August, 1893 Animated by the varied experiences coming his way as a resident landlord and able to swiftly internalise all this and turn to account as a creative writer, Rabindranath keeps up a steady stream of poems, stories, songs and essays.
  • September, 1893 Poet reads the well known satirical essay Ingraj o Bharatbasi at the Chaitanya Library, Calcutta (now Kolkata) and Beadon Square Literary Club.
  • September, 1893 Bankimchandra presides over the meeting at Chaitanya Library, Calcutta (now Kolkata, where Rabindranath reads his satirical essay Ingraj o Bharatbasi. Bankimchandra praises the lecture.
  • September, 1893 Rabindranath visits Karmatar
  • 30th September, 1893 The delightful story Samapti published in the Puja issue of Sadhana.
  • 17th October, 1893 Leaves for England where he will study law.
  • 11th December, 1893 Poet writes the last poem of the forthcoming Anthology - Sonar Tari.
  • December, 1893 The essay Ingrajer Atanka – a critique of the British response to Bal Gangadhar Tilak's Gorakshani movement-published in the Poush issue of Sadhana.
  • December, 1893 Altogether 11 short stories of Rabindranath published in the magazine Sadhana in its 3rd year.
  • 21st December, 1893 Rabindranath attends Brahmotsav in Santiniketan, distributes clothing among the poor. Karl Eric Hammergren, a Swedish Brahmo, also attends the utsav (festival).
  • December, 1893 Annie Besant arrives in India.
  • December, 1893 Indian National Congress holds its ninth session in Lahore. Dadabhai Naoroji presides over this session.
  • 1893 This year Rabindranath's publications include the second edition of the poetry collection Manashi and the travelogue Europe Jatrir Diary (2nd part).
  • 2nd January, 1894 Rabindranath's poetry collection Sonar Tari is Published.
  • 12th January, 1894 Poet's fourth child – a daughter, Mira (Atasilata) is born.
  • 18th January, 1894 The poem Jyotsna Rate is the first poem he's writing after the publication of Sonar Tari.
  • 23rd January, 1894 Celebrated at the Jorasanko Mansion. Rabindranath composes six songs for this occasion:
    • E Bhavan punyaprabhabe 23rd January,1894
    • Hridayanandanabane 23rd January,1894
    • Ananda dhara bahichhe 23rd January,1894
    • He mahaprabala bali 23rd January,1894
    • Antare jagichho 23rd January,1894
    • Kamana kari ekante 23rd January,1894
  • 26th January, 1894 Poet writes Premer Abhishek, a long poem after Maghotsav; later included in the Chitra. First five-act blank verse play Raja o Rani modeled on Shakespeare in Solapur.
  • January, 1894 Rabindranath goes to Patisar via Atrai to manage estates.
  • January, 1894 While going to Patisar, Rabindranath reads Bankimchandra's novel Rajsingha on the way.
  • 20th February, 1894 Rabindranath writes the fine poem Sandhya while living in a boathouse in Patisar.
  • 26th February, 1894 Rabindranath's first anthology of short stories (16 stories) published. Later favourably reviewed in an English journal by young Jadunath Sarkar.
  • 6th March, 1894 Poet writes the famous poem, Ebar Phirao More, during sojourn in Rampur-boalia with Loken Palit. The new note of rebellious impatience, the call to break out of a placid life of ease and peace into strenuous struggle is the troubling impact of his deepening awareness of the sordid condition of his countrymen in colonial India and probably British brutalities perpetrated in South Africa (Zulu War).
  • March, 1894 Poet reads Amiel's Journal (mentions in a letter to Indira Devi, dated 21.03.1894).
  • March, 1894 Rabindranath spends the later half of March at Patisar.
  • March, 1894 Letters written around the period of time when he is staying at Patisar, vividly record Rabindranath's moods and remarkable insights into the life of the people.
  • 27th March, 1894 Rabindranath reviews Bankimchandra Chattapadhaya's novel Rajsingha in the Sadhana (Chaitra issue).
  • April, 1894 Poet returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Patisar in the middle of April.
  • 12th April, 1894 Rabindranath writes the dolorous poem Snehasmriti redolent of the late Kadambari Devi's memory and the following ones in a similar vein.
  • April, 1894 Poet writes
    • Navabarshe April, 1894
    • Dushamay 17th April, 1894
    • Mrittyur Pare 17th April, 1894
  • 20th April, 1894 Poet composes the moving song Ohe jibanaballava on the tenth anniversary of Kadambari's death.
  • 28th April, 1894 In Bankimchandra Chattapadhaya's memory, the condolence meeting organized by Chaitanya Library and Beadon Square Literary Club. Dr.Gurudas Banerjee presides.
  • April, 1894 In the condolence meeting of Bankimchandra Chattapadhaya (famous novelist), held at Chaitanya Library and Beadon Square Literary Club, Rabindranath reads a long address later printed in the Baishakh issue of Sadhana under the title Bankimchandra.
  • 15th May, 1894 A significant figure in renascent Bengal, Bhudeb Mukherjee passes away.
  • 19th May, 1894 Poet writes the poem Byaghat.
  • 24th May, 1894 Elder poet Biharilal Chakravarti dies at sixty.
  • May, 1894 Songs are now coming thick and fast and a wedding (wedding of Dwijendranath's son Sudhindranath with Charubala Devi on 25th May) in the family helps unlock poet's heart.
    • Bajila kahar bina 25th May, 1894
    • Bado bismaya lage heri 26th May, 1894
    • Sundara hridiranjana tumi 27th May, 1894
    • Kato katha tare chhilo balite 29th May, 1894
    • Ogo purabashi ami dware 30th May, 1894
    • Amare karo tomar bina 1st June, 1894
  • June, 1894 Rabindranath pays his tribute to late poet Biharilal Chakravarti in an essay titled Biharilal, published in the Ashad issue of Sadhana magazine.
  • 12th June, 1894 In the second edition of the play Raja o Rani is published now, Rabindranath drastically revises the play, and says so in a letter he writes to Pramatha Chowdhury, now in Oxford.
  • 17th June, 1894 Rabindranath is elected vice-President of Bangiya Sahitya Parishat. The other vice-President is poet Nabin Chandra Sen.
  • 21st June, 1894 Rabindranath pays another visit to Shilaidaha to manage affairs of estates. Writes to Pramathanath, "..I'll have to spend the rainy season in a boathouse. A number of books and a few copy books will go with me."
  • June, 1894 Poet's numerous letters written to Indira Devi around this time testify to the fact that lonely though he is, he is remarkably at one with nature. Letters 122, 123 for example.
  • 3rd July, 1894 Hammergren, the Swedish Brahma and teacher of French to Abanindranath and others, dies. He is cremated at Nimtolla burning ghat by the Brahmas according to his last wish.
  • July, 1894 When the Swedish Brahma, the teacher of French, Hammergren dies and is cremated at the Nimtolla burning ghat by the Brahmas according to his last wish, the orthodox Hindu press reacts virulently to this 'mlechha' act.
  • July, 1894 As the cremation of late Swedish Brahma and teacher of French Hammergren, is happened at Nimtolla burning ghat and the orthodox Hindu press reacts extremely to this act, Rabindranath's stinging reply Bideshiya Atithi ebang Deshiya Atithya printed in the Sravan issue of the Sadhana.
  • 18th July, 1894 Second edition of the anthology Kadi o Komol is published.
  • 29th July, 1894 Rabindranath attends the third quarterly meeting of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad.
  • 29th July, 1894 Committee formed to develop Bengali terminology of different kinds. Rabindranath on the committee.
  • July, 1894 Thel satirical political article Raja o Praja is published in the Sravan issue of Sadhana magazine. Poet writes, "Not only in India, but in England too, the idea is gradually gaining ground that Europe's policies are meant for Europe only. Indians are such a different race that civilised policies are not entirely fit for them." He is indeed thus developing a new variety of discourse in Bengali prose.
  • August, 1894 Poet spends the greater part of August at Shilaidaha.
  • August, 1894 Poet's letters written around this period to Indira speak lyrically of the different moods of the great river Padma in the rains.
  • August, 1894 Poet is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 26th August, 1894 Poet attends the third quarterly meeting of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad.
  • 26th August, 1894 Rabindranath attends quarterly meeting at Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, discussed about the introduction of Bengali at the high school and college levels. A circular letter containing the proposal to be circulated among the cognoscenti.
  • August, 1894 Rabindranath serves as a judge in an essay contest organised by Chaitanya library and Beadon Square literary Club. Other judges – Jyotirindranath and Haraprasad Sastri.
  • August, 1894 Rabindranath continues the line of political articles with the piece Apamaner Pratikar in the Sadhana (Bhadra issue).
  • 1st September, 1894 Rabindranath takes over as editor of the magazine Sadhana after Sudhindranath ceases to be editor.
  • September, 1894 Rabindranath meets elder poet Nabin Chandra sen, who is famed for his famous poem Palasir Yuddha, at his Ranaghat residence.
  • 4th September, 1894 Poet goes to Sahajadpur.
  • 10th September, 1894 Poet arrives in Patisar.
  • 20th September, 1894 Rabindranath goes to Dighpatia by boat to see his friend Rajkumar (resident of Dighpatia) and Saratkumar Roy.
  • 22nd September, 1894 On his way to Boalia, poet writes to Indira celebrating the golden sunlight of early autumn, "I am so intensely fond of light and sky! ...When he died, Goethe had said, More light! If I could express any wish of mine at the time (of my death), I would say: More light and more space!"
  • 1st October, 1894 Poet reads an essay on women's folk rhymes at the annual session of Chaitanya Library and Beadon Square Literary Club, held at Minerva Theatre.
  • October, 1894 The essay on women's folk rhymes read by poet at the annual session of Chaitanya Library and Beadon Square Literary Club held at Minarva Theatre, later published as Meyeli Chhada in Sadhana.
  • October, 1894 Rabindranath spends the rest of October at Santiniketan.
  • 5th October, 1894 Three collections of short stories, viz. Bichitra Galpa 1 & 2 and Kathachatushtay featuring 19 pieces, published.
  • October, 1894 Poet writes the poem Sadhana in Santiniketan.
  • October, 1894 Rabindranath writes another political article, critical of the British, Subicharer Adhikar.
  • October, 1894 Poet initiates steps to improve the management of Sadhana.
  • 20th October, 1894 Poet is made a trustee of the Bhawanipore Brahmasamaj.
  • October, 1894 Rabindranath renews his friendship and acquaintance with Manamohan, Aurobindo Ghosh's elder brother, famous teacher of English literature at Presidency College and well-known Indo-Anglian poet.
  • 4th November, 1894 Poet attends 6th monthly meeting at Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, presided over by Ramesh Chandra Dutta.
  • 30th November, 1894 Sadhana, the first issue of the fourth year of its existence, is published directly under the poet's editorship.
  • 30th November, 1894 As the magazine Sadhana is published directly under poet's editorship, in the first issue of it, as usual he remains the major contributor, with 6 of the 11 pieces to his credit including the short story Prayaschitta and Subicharer Adhikar.
  • 30th November, 1894 Rabindranath reviews Dwijendralal Roy's book of verse Aryagatha in the first issue of Sadhana, when it starts publishing directly under Rabindranath's editorship.
  • December, 1894 Rabindranath returns from Shilaidaha in the middle of December.
  • 21st December, 1894 Rabindranath goes to Santiniketan, takes part in the 4th annual Brahma festival.
  • December, 1894 The well-known short story – Vicharak is published in the Poush issue of Sadhana.
  • 12th January, 1895 Poet writes to his boyhood friend Akshaykumar asking him to come at Jorasanko.
  • 13th January, 1895 Rabindranath writes to his boyhood friend Akshaykumar Mitra (letter written on 12th January) asking him to come at Jorasanko, Akshaykumar turns up at Jorasanko on the very next day.
  • 14th January, 1895 On poet's request, his boyhood friend Akshaykumar Mitra comes at Jorasanko. In this context, poet writes to Indira, "It was difficult for me to even engage in polite conversation with him." He is exceedingly busy making preparations for Maghotsav.
  • January, 1895 Rabindranath sets up a small library in Santiniketan, buys books for it.
  • 20th January, 1895 Rabindranath attends the 8th monthly meeting of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad at Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 24th January, 1895 Maghotsav held at Maharshi Bhavan or Jorasanko Mansion.
  • 24th January, 1895 On Maghotsav, poet composes only one song – Nitya taba satya taba.
  • January, 1895 Poet starts correspondence with young writer Prabhatkumar Mukherjee, then living in UP.
  • January, 1895 The magazine Sadhana (Magh issue) contains as usual a number of pieces written by the poet.
  • January, 1895 The fascinating short story Nisithe written by Rabindranath, printed in Sadhana (Magh issue) is the butt of literary nit-picking by certain critics in other journals.
  • 30th January, 1895 Poet goes to Shilaidaha.
  • February, 1895 In numerous letters written to Indira, poet now reverts to childhood memories.
  • 23rd February, 1895 Poet writes the sad poem Puratan Bhritya, which remains a perennial favourite.
  • 23rd February, 1895 Rabindranath is busy writing new things for the next issue of Sadhana.
  • March, 1895 Rabindranath returns to Jorasanko, Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • March, 1895 It is notable for Rabindranath's article Hindu o Musalman which stresses the importance of maintaining communal amity and harmony.
  • March, 1895 The Chaitra issue of Sadhana also carries Rabindranath's review of Shibnath Sastri's novel Jugantar.
  • 6th April, 1895 Rabindranath's hilarious skit Khyatir Birambana performed at Emerald theatre under the title Docowri Dutt, directed by noted actor of the day, Ardhendusekhar Mustafi.
  • 7th April, 1895 Rabindranath attends the festive first annual meeting of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad held at Maharajkumar Vinaykrishna Bahadur's house.
  • April, 1895 The short story Manbhanjan written by Rabindranath appears in the Baisakh issue of Sadhana.
  • 7th May, 1895 Rabindranath turns 35.
  • 7th May, 1895 On his 35th birthday, Rabindranath is presented with a wonderful gift by Indira and Surendranath – an exercise book containing their favourite English poems copied by them.
  • 11th May, 1895 Rabindranath takes his ailing niece Abhigna Devi to Darjeeling for a change.
  • May, 1895 The short story Thakurda is printed in the Jaistha issue of Sadhana.
  • June, 1895 Poet is away in Patisar and Sahajadpur for the best part of May and June.
  • June, 1895 Sadhana (Ashad issue) contains the short story Pratihingsha and the immensely popular poem Dui Bigha Jami, written by Rabindranath.
  • 14th June, 1895 Rabindranath is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata) from his trip to Patisar-Sahajadpur.
  • June, 1895 A short biography of Rabindranath, published in the monthly magazine Sakha o Sathi in its Ashad issue.
  • 1st July, 1895 Poet writes the poem Shite o Basante in Sahajadpur.
  • 7th July, 1895 Bangiya Sahitya Parishad entrusts Rabindranath with the task of preparing an anthology of the Padavali (poems) of the great medieval poet Vidyapati. Due to various reasons, however, the project never so much as got off the ground.
  • 9th July, 1895 Rabindranath arrives in Shilaidaha.
  • July, 1895 Rabindranath is back in the city from Shilaidaha.
  • 28th July, 1895 On fifth anniversary of Vidyasagar's death, Rabindranath reads the biographical essay Vidyasagar Charit before an audience at the Emerald Theatre. It is a major essay and a trend-setter in its genre in Bengali literature.
  • July, 1895 In Sadhana (Sravana issue), Rabindranath contributes quite a few pieces as usual, but the highlight of the issue is, of course, the great short story Kshudita Passhan, probably written much earlier.
  • July, 1895 Another business venture of the Tagores launched – Tagore & Co formed. Rabindranath and his nephews - Surendranath and Balendranath are partners. Rabi (Rabindranath's childhood nickname) takes a loan with interest from Satyaprasad Ganguly.
  • 3rd August, 1895 The biographical essay on Pandit Iswarchandra Vidyasagar, Vidyasagar Charit written by Rabindranath, is deservedly and widely praised. Rabindranath writes to Indira, "It must be admitted that there is a pretty strong intoxication in public praise, but like all other intoxications, this intoxication of praise, too, produces a strong hangover and fatigue..."
  • 30th August, 1895 The story anthology Galpa-Dasak, poet's fifth book of short stories consisting of ten stories earlier printed in the Sadhana journal, published.
  • September, 1895 Correspondence between Rabindranath and Dwijendralal Roy suggests that their acquaintance has deepened.
  • September, 1895 Poet's son Rathindranath accompanies him on visit to East Bengal to manage zamindari estates.
  • 20th September, 1895 Songs come again and poet writes -
    • Jhara jhara barishe 20th September, 1895
    • Viswabinarabe viswajana mohichhe 20th September, 1895
    • Olo soi, olo soi 21st September, 1895
    • Madhura madhura dhwani baje 21st September, 1895
    • Bela galo tomar patha 24th September, 1895
    • Aha aji mor dware 25th September, 1895
    • Ke dilo abar aghath 28th September, 1895
    • Eso go nutan jivan 29th September, 1895
    • Pushpa bane pushpa nahi 30th September, 1895
    • Aha jagi pohalo bibhabari 1st October, 1895
    • Ohe anadi ashima sunil 2nd October, 1895
    • Tomar gopan kathati 4th October, 1895
    • Chitta pipasita re 9th October, 1895
    • Ami chini go chini tomare 11th October, 1895
    • Amra lakshmichharar dal 15th October, 1895
    • Ogo bhagyadevi pitamahi 17th October, 1895
  • October, 1895 Rabindranath goes to Shilaidaha with Mrinalini and Amala Das, the reputed Rabindrasangeet singer of later years and the sister of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. Rabindranath writes songs suitable for her voice –
    • Chirasakha, chhero na morey chhero na
    • Eki akulata bhubane 1st November,1895
  • October, 1895 Many years later Rabindranath's son Rathindranath will recall boyhood memories of this river journey to Shilaidaha: "In spite of my mother's fears, father started taking me with him on his frequent river journeys when I was little more than a boy of seven…My earliest recollection is that of a visit to Kusthia...The factory...its workshop with its huge hydraulic presses for bailing jute...Father looked into all the details of the business but it did not take him long to do it...Business finished he would immediately go back to his writing..."
  • October, 1895 Rabindranath writes the highly amusing fantasy Ichhapuran, published in the Sakha o Sathi.
  • October, 1895 Rathindranath also records in his memoirs that, during their stay at Shilaidaha, Dwijendralal Roy would often descend on them, when he was on leave and regale them with humorous songs.
  • 27th October, 1895 Rabindranath returns from Shilaidaha to Jorasanko with family.
  • October, 1895 The Bhadra, Ashwin and Kartik issues of Sadhana magazine are combined and published as the last issue.
  • October, 1895 Besides other writings, the last issue of Sadhana magazine contains the moving short story Atithi and Vidyasagar Charit written by Rabindranath.
  • November, 1895 Another rush of songs – poet writes 9 songs in a fortnight.
    • Eki akulata bhubane 1st November,1895
    • Tumi rabe nirabe 3rd November,1895
    • Se ashe dhire 6th November,1895
    • Ke uthe daki 7th November,1895
    • Ohe sundara mama grihe aji 8th November,1895
    • Tumi jeyo na ekhani 9th November,1895
    • Akul keshe ashe 10th November,1895
    • Hridayashashi hridigagane udila 14th November,1895
    • Ki ragini bajale 14th November,1895
  • 6th November, 1895 Sadhana magazine ceases publication according to an advertisement inserted in the Sanjivani magazine.
  • 22nd November, 1895 Rabindranath goes to Patisar by river.
  • 25th November, 1895 Poet is now reading Edward Dowden's New Studies in Literature.
  • 28th November, 1895 Poet writes to Indira from Patisar, "…wherever I happen to go, I find stone-hearted Calcutta (now Kolkata) stalking me and my muse hiding away in remoter solitude." The muses, however, come calling sooner than he imagines.
  • 1st December, 1895 Poet writes the poem Purnima.
  • 7th December, 1895 Rabindranath writes Avedan, while journeying by river to Shilaidaha.
  • 8th December, 1895 Rabindranath writes Urvashi – one of his greatest poems.
  • 9th December, 1895 Rabindranath writes Swarga hoite vidai – another fine poem of this period.
  • 15th December, 1895 Poet writes to Indira on 15th December. Incidentally this is the last letter of the series collected later in the celebrated Chhinnapatra.
  • December, 1895 Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Shilaidaha, probably by 17th December.
  • 21st December, 1895 Rabindranath attends the fifth annual Brahma festival in Santiniketan.
  • 28th December, 1895 11th annual session of the Congress held in Poona (now Pune), Surendranath Banerjee presides.
  • 14th January, 1896 Poet writes the poem Vijaini.
  • 24th January, 1896 66th festival held at Maharshi Bhavan or Jorasanko Mansion. Rabindranath contributes two songs.
    • Viswarajalaye viswabina bajichhe 24th January, 1896
    • Padaprante rakho sevake 24th January, 1896
  • 28th January, 1896 In a remarkable spell of intense creativity, Rabindranath writes Griha-satru.
  • 29th January, 1896 Rabindranath writes the sonnet Marichika.
  • 31st January, 1896 Poet's nephew Kshitindranath gets married.
  • 4th February, 1896 Poet's nephew Balendranath gets married.
  • 4th February, 1896 Rabindranath writes Utsav on the day of his nephew Balendranath's wedding.
  • 4th February, 1896 Poet dedicates the book of verse Nadi to his nephew Balendranath as a wedding gift.
  • 4th February, 1896 Nadi, the felicitous panoramic poem of 300 lines which Rabindranath dedicates to his nephew Balendranath on his wedding, is particularly suitable for children in terms of rhyme, rhythm and diction.
  • 6th February, 1896 Rabindranath writes another sonnet Prastarmurti.
  • 7th February, 1896 Poet writes a small piece Narir dan.
  • 11th February, 1896 Rabindranath writes the famous and much-discussed Jivan-devata, surely a locus classicus.
  • 12th February, 1896 Poet writes another innovative piece Rate o Prabhate.
  • 13th February, 1896 Another masterpiece from Rabindranath, and a locus classicus of a different kind – 1400 saal.
  • 15th February, 1896 Poet writes the poem Nirab Tantri.
  • 15th February, 1896 Poet writes the poem Durakanksha.
  • 18th February, 1896 Poet writes another sonnet Proura.
  • 22nd February, 1896 Prabhatkumar sends Rabindranath a manuscript titled Kahini, planned to be published for private circulation only.
  • 26th February, 1896 Rabindranath writes another sonnet Dhuli with a complex rhyme scheme.
  • March, 1896 A review probably written by Ramananda Chatterjee, lauding the poem Dhuli, appears in the march issue of Dasi journal.
  • March, 1896 Nadi - the felicitous panoramic poem of 300 lines, is but a part of a larger project, it is in the curriculum of a house-school set up primarily at Rabindranath's initiative to educate the children of the family. Rathi and Bela are among the students. It's a precursor – a very small precursor of course – of the shape of things to come.
  • 2nd March, 1896 Poet writes Sindhupare – the last poem in the Chitra anthology.
  • 11th March, 1896 Chitra, the book of poems, is published without delay on 11th March.
  • March, 1896 Rabindranath visits Shilaidaha in early March.
  • March, 1896 Contemporary correspondence between Dwijendralal Roy and Sureshchandra Samajpati, and Rabindranath shows that in the beginning both Dwijendralal and Sureshchandra who later turned into harsh critics were admiring friends.
  • 1896 Obviously making the most of a great creative phase which shows no signs of waning yet, he writes an astonishing number of poems in Chaitra (March-April) (later collected in Chaitali) in the highly stimulating environs of East Bengal -- the wonderful crucible from which much of what's enduring in Rabindranath's oeuvre sprang.
    • Prabhat 23rd March, 1896
    • Utswarga 25th March, 1896
    • Geetahin 25th March, 1896
    • Swapna 26th March, 1896
    • Ashar Sima 26th March, 1896
    • Devatar Vidai 26th March, 1896
    • Punyer Hisab 26th March, 1896
    • Bairagya 26th March, 1896
    • Palligrame 28th March, 1896
    • Samanya lok 29th March, 1896
    • Durlav Janma 30th March, 1896
    • Kheya 30th March, 1896
    • Karma 30th March, 1896
    • Bane o Rajye 31st March, 1896
    • Sabhyatar Prati 31st March, 1896
    • Bana 31st March, 1896
    • Tapavana 31st March, 1896
    • Ritusamhar 1st April, 1896
    • Meghdoot 2nd April, 1896
    • Didi 2nd April, 1896
    • Parichaya 2nd April, 1896
    • Ananta Pathe 2nd April, 1896
    • Kshanamilan 3rd April, 1896
    • Prem 3rd April, 1896
    • Puntu 4th April, 1896
    • Sangi 4th April, 1896
    • Sati 5th April, 1896
    • Snehadrishya 5th April, 1896
    • Karuna 5th April, 1896
    • Padma 6th April, 1896
    • Snehagrash 6th April, 1896
    • Bangamata 7th April, 1896
    • Dui Upama 7th April, 1896
    • Abhiman 7th April, 1896
    • Parabesh 7th April, 1896
    • Samapti 8th April, 1896
    • Dharatal 8th April, 1896
    • Tattwa o Saundarjya 8th April, 1896
    • Tattwagyanhin 8th April, 1896
    • Manashi 9th April, 1896
    • Nari 9th April, 1896
    • Priya 9th April, 1896
    • Dhyan 9th April, 1896
    • Mauna 10th April, 1896
    • Asamaya 10th April, 1896
    • Gaan 10th April, 1896
    • Barshasesh 11th April, 1896
    • Shesh Katha 11th April, 1896
    • Abhaya 11th April, 1896
  • April, 1896 Most probably poet is still in Sahajadpur, writing the poems later collected in the Chaitali.
  • 13th April, 1896 Rabindranath writes three poems:
    • Anabrishti 13th April, 1896
    • Agnyata Viswa 13th April, 1896
    • Bhayer Durasha 13th April, 1896
  • April, 1896 Back in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in the middle of April.
  • May, 1896 Prabhatkumar Mukherjee writes a long review of Chitra in the Dasi (May issue).
  • 15th May, 1896 Maharshi's Debendranath Tagore's 80th birthday celebrated by the members of all the Brahma societies and their families at the Park St. residence.
  • 13th June, 1896 Prabhatkumar Mukherjee comes to Calcutta (now Kolkata), meets the poet at Jorasanko, discusses literary matters.
  • 22nd June, 1896 Poet, along with Satyaprasad, Balendranath and Surendranath attends the annual meeting of the Bhawanipore Brahmasamaj.
  • 22nd June, 1896 Partners of Tagore & Co – Rabindranath, Surendranath and Balendranath borrow four thousand rupees from Satyaprasad at 9% interest. It will be repaid only after Balendranath's death. They will borrow another six thousand rupees from him on 1st August.
  • 4th July, 1896 Poet writes the sonnet Bhakter Prati to satisfy Prabhatkumar's demand.
  • 15th July, 1896 Another surge of writing comes on with the poet writing the sonnet Prachin Bharat and Hridayadharma.
  • 21st July, 1896 On his way to Shilaidaha, poet writes Nadijatra.
  • July, 1896 Rabindranath writes three more poems while at Shilaidaha.
    • Mrityumadhuri July, 1896
    • Smriti July, 1896
    • Bilaya July, 1896
    Death is the principal theme of these poems, and naturally, because according to the poet, his niece Abhi's death drew the poem Mrityumadhuri from him.
  • 22nd July, 1896 Poet arrives in Sahajadpur and at once plunges in estate supervision.
  • July, 1896 The muses continue visiting Rabindranath – he writes 18 poems of varied nature between 24th — 29th July.
    • Pratham Chumban 24th July, 1896
    • Sesh Chumban 24th July, 1896
    • Jatri 25th July, 1896
    • Trina 25th July, 1896
    • Swartha 25th July, 1896
    • Preyashi 25th July, 1896
    • Santimantra 25th July, 1896
    • Kalidaser Prati 25th July, 1896
    • Kabya 25th July, 1896
    • Oiswarya 28th July, 1896
    • Prarthana 28th July, 1896
    • Ichhamati Nadi 28th July, 1896
    • Susrusha 28th July, 1896
    • Asish Grahan 28th July, 1896
    • Bidai 28th July, 1896
    • Kumarsambhav Gan 29th July, 1896
    • Manaslok 29th July, 1896
  • July, 1896 By the end of July 1896 poet is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 8th August, 1896 Debendranath confers Power of Attorney entirely on Rabindranath.
  • 8th August, 1896 Rabindranath granted an additional allowance of Rs 200/- for managing both family and estate affairs.
  • September, 1896 Shibdhan Vidyarnab is engaged as a teacher of the family school. Later Rabindranath will take him to his school in Santiniketan.
  • September, 1896 Besides jute and sugarcane, the Tagore & Co tries to diversify into leather trade, buys up raw hides worth Rs 2700/-.
  • September, 1896 Though Rabindranath is now in overall charge of everything, he remains fully accountable to Maharshi who retains the ultimate authority and on the second and third days of every month he'd go to Maharshi's Park St. residence, submit a complete account of the expenses incurred in the preceding month and obtain his advice and approval.
  • September, 1896 The notable vocalist Radhikaprasad Goswami (1863-1924), an exponent of the Vishnupur school of classical music, is appointed as the singer and music teacher of the Adi Brahmasamaj at this time. It is a salaried job.
  • 27th September, 1896 On the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of Rammohan's death, Rabindranath composes Ke jai Amritadhamajatri. At a large meeting held at City College, Mirzapur St. to observe the death anniversary, Rabindranath reads an essay on Rammohan. Hirendranath Dutta and others also speak.
  • September, 1896 The essay that Rabindranath read on the occasion of Raja Rammohan's 63rd death anniversary at a large meeting held at City College, Mirzapur St., is later printed under the title Rammohan Ray in the Oct-Nov issue of Bharati.
  • 30th September, 1896 Kavya Granthavali or collected poetical works of Rabindranath published by Satyaprasad Gangopadhaya. It contains all his books of poems, songs and plays printed so far. The new things added are Chaitali and Malini. Rabindranath derives the story.
  • 8th October, 1896 Poet goes to Darjeeling with Rathindranath and Dinendranath.
  • October, 1896 While Rabindranath goes to Karshiang along with Rathindranath and Dinendranath, most probably Maharaja Virchandra Manikya of Tripura then ailing there, requests his close friend Rabindranath to accompany him in Karsiang. Rabindranath spends almost a month in Karsiang.
  • October, 1896 During his stay at Karsiang (to accompany Maharaja of Tripura), poet pays a flying visit to Darjeeling to see Maharani Sunitidevi of Koochbihar.
  • October, 1896 Madhurilata – poet’s eldest daughter writes a letter to him. This letter is significant because in this letter and in another letter written by Madhurilata, Mrinalini writes a few lines to the poet. These are the only surviving specimens of her letters written to Rabindranath. Her lines in this letter read, "I have received your pictures. Yours has come out very well. Indeed, of all your pictures, this is the best. Khoka's picture hasn't come as well as yours, it is whitish."
  • December, 1896 Maharaja of Tripura Virchandra Manikya dies in December.
  • 11th December, 1896 Poet returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Karsiang.
  • 12th December, 1896 Rabindranath and Mrinalini's last child Samindranath is born.
  • 28th December, 1896 12th annual Congress session held in Calcuta (now Kolkata) at Beadon Square. At the inaugural function, Rabindranath sings the first two lines of Bankimchandra's Vande Mataram to his own tune. Rabindranath composes a special song for this occasion -- the well known Oi Bhubanamanamohini. Their enthusiasm for Congress sessions is no secret. Besides Rabindranath, Jyotirindranath, Gaganendranath, Abanindranath, Balendranath, Surendranath and others attend the session.
  • 30th December, 1896 Theistic Conference is held at the prayer hall of the Sadharan Brahmasamaj. Justice Ranade presides.
  • 31st December, 1896 As 12th annual Congress session held in Calcutta (now Kolkata) at Beadon Square, Congress delegates feted at a dinner at the India Club.
  • 1st January, 1897 The session of Social Congress held at Beadon Square in Calcutta (now Kolkata), the same venue where the 12th annual Congress session also held. Social Congress is presided over by Narendranath Sen.
  • 23rd January, 1897 Maghotsav celebrated at Maharshi Bhavan. Ten songs written by Rabindranath sung on the occasion.
    • Sundara Bahe Ananda Mandanil 23rd January, 1897
    • Shital Taba Pada Chhaya 23rd January, 1897
    • Aji Kon Dhan Hote Bishwe Amare 23rd January, 1897
    • Ar Kata Dure Achhe Se Ananda Dham 23rd January, 1897
    • Aji Mama Man Chahe Jiban Bandhure 23rd January, 1897
    • Harashe Jago Aji 23rd January, 1897
    • E Ki Karuna Karunamay 23rd January, 1897
    • Amar Satya Mithya Sakali Bhulaye Dao 23rd January, 1897
    • Aji Raj Asane Tomare Basaiba 23rd January, 1897
    • Ke Jay Amrita-Dham-Jatri 23rd January, 1897
  • 5th February, 1897 The Dramatic Club set up earlier on by Abanindranath and others folds up, and now replaced by Khamkheali Club initiated by Rabindranath and Gaganendranath. Among the invitees are Atulprasad Sen and Chittaranjan Das. Rabindranath reads a story written by him later published under the title Durasha.
  • 7th February, 1897 Rabindranath takes the Maharani of Koochbihar on a visit to Santiniketan.
  • February, 1897 Novelist Prabhatkumar Mukhopadhyay is in Calcutta (now Kolkata) for a few days, meets Rabindranath at Jorasanko. Rabindranath takes him along to see Maharshi at his Park St. residence.
  • February, 1897 Rabindranath in Patisar and later Sahajadpur.
  • 28th February, 1897 Swami Vivekananda is already given a civic reception at Sobhabazar Rajbari on behalf of the people of Calcutta (now Kolkata), after he returns from his first tour of America.
  • 4th March, 1897 Swami Vivekananda delivers an address on Vedanta at a meeting held at the Star Theatre, Calcutta (now Kolkata). The meeting is presided over by Narendranath Sen, editor of the Indian Mirror.
  • March, 1897 Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Sahajadpur.
  • March, 1897 Rabindranath reads one of his famous comedy Baikunther Khata at a session of the Khamkheali Sabha.
  • 5th April, 1897 The comedy Baikunther Khata - written by Rabindranath, is published.
  • April, 1897 At this time, poet begins writing the poems that are later collected in the poetry book Kalpana.
  • 27th April, 1897 Rabindranath writes the first draft of his poem Duhsamay.
  • 29th April, 1897 Poet writes Varshamangal celebrating the arrival of rains and renewal of life -- surely the greatest lyric poem of its kind in the language.
  • 1st May, 1897 Poet writes the poem Chaitrarajani.
  • 5th May, 1897 Poet writes the poem Chaurapanchasika.
  • May, 1897 Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das's sister and a major artiste of Rabindrasangeet (See under 1895). Rathindranath records in his memoirs, "…Between spells of writing he (Rabindranath) would be in the mood foe songs; then he would have Amaladidi brought over from Kolkata…. Then the songs would come, father and Amaladidi would by turn sing song after song. The vast expanse of water stretched away to the horizon. The melodies of the songs would ripple across the sheet of water and drifting merge with regions far away..."
  • May, 1897 The Khamkheali Sabha, though short-lived, flourished briefly at this time. Rathindranath recalls, "…It had no rules whatever and consisted of... mutual friends and acquaintances. It owed its existence to the enthusiasm of father and Baludada…mainly consisted of writers, poets, musicians...each month a member took his turn to invite the other members to his house where the Sabha was held...lavish arrangements were made to provide refreshments...main agenda was reading poetry or short stories, singing songs to the accompaniment of instruments and performing short plays."
  • May, 1897 The comedy Baikunther Khatha performed at a session of the Khamkheali Sabha hosted by Gaganendranath at his house.
  • May, 1897 Rabindranath himself plays the role of Kedar in the comedy Baikunther Khata performed at Khamkheali Sabha hosted by Gaganendranath at his house.
  • May, 1897 Famous thespian and playwright Girish Chandra Ghosh highly praises the performance of Baikunther Khata performed at the Khamkheali Sabha hosted at Gaganendranath's house.
  • 16th May, 1897 Maharshi Debendranath Tagore's 81st birthday celebrated at the Park St. residence.
  • 16th May, 1897 Rabindranath attends Maharshi Debendranath Tagore's 81st birthday celebration at the Park St. residence.
  • May, 1897 Poet is in Santiniketan with Dwipendranath, prolific as ever, writes eight poems in as many days, some of these deservedly praised as masterpieces.
    • Bhrastalagna 20th May, 1897
    • Marjana 21st May, 1897
    • Swapna 22nd May, 1897
    • Dhara Pada 23rd May, 1897
    • Madan Bhasmer Purbe 24th May, 1897
    • Madan Bhasmer Par 25th May, 1897
    • Spardha 26th May, 1897
    • Piyasi 27th May, 1897
  • 7th June, 1897 Poet writes the poem Pasarini.
  • June, 1897 Bengal Provincial Conference held this year at Natore in Rajsahi, at the initiative of the Maharaja of Natore, from 10th to 12th June. Satyendranath Tagore presides over the conference on 10th June. Upcoming song is sung by Tagore. Rabindranath insists that conference be conducted in Bengali instead of English, supported by others. Congress top brass annoyed. Compromise worked out; Rabindranath translates into Bengali speeches delivered in English. Famous orator Lalmohan Ghosh speaks in Bengali, Rabindranath likes it.
  • 12th June, 1897 An earthquake hits Bengal, causing widespread damage. Jorasanko mansion is also slightly damaged.
  • 12th June, 1897 Poet's wife Mrinalini Devi suffers head injury.
  • 14th June, 1897 As Mrinalini Devi suffers a head injury, Rabindranath hastens back to Calcutta(now Kolkata).
  • 22nd June, 1897 Rabindranath and others from Jorasanko attend the annual function of the Bhawanipore Brahmasamaj.
  • 11th July, 1897 Perhaps in a session of Khamkheali Sabha, Rabindranath reads a poem Lokeshwari originally composed by Abanindranath Tagore as Debipratima.
  • 19th July, 1897 The friendship between Rabindranath and Ramendrasundar deepens and Rabindranath invites Ramendrasundar Trivedi, a regular contributor to the Sadhana to Khamkheali Sabha.
  • 19th July, 1897 Rabindranath writes the poem Jagadish Chandra Basu celebrating the breakthrough achieved by his dear friend in science.
  • July, 1897 Atulprasad Sen, then a rising barrister and new member of Khamkheali Sabha, hosts a session at his house.
  • July, 1897 Rabindranath spends the months of Shravan and Bhadra in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 24th July, 1897 Younger brother of well known scholar Hirendranath Dutta is Rabindranath's favourite; Hirendranath Dutta's company Classic Theatre starts performing Raja o Rani at Emerald Theatre.
  • 8th August, 1897 Maharshi allots a plot of land within the precincts of the Jorasanko establishment for Rabindranath to build his own house, later known as Lalbari.
  • September, 1897 Writes a few songs after a long lull.
    • Bhaktahridibikash Pranabimohan
    • Pantha ekhono keno
    • Ananda ushakale mangala rabi
    • Bahe nirantara ananta anandadhara
    • Keno dhore rakha, o je
    • Britha geyechhi bahu gaan 12th September, 1897
    • Keno bajao kankana
  • 11th September, 1897 Special performance staged for Rabindranath and Maharaja of Natore.
  • September, 1897 Journeying by boat again to Shilaidaha, thence to Sahajadpur. The familiar and congenial riverbed landscape starts shaping into songs the lyrical impulse, words and tunes already germinating in his imagination.
  • September, 1897 Composes quite a few songs from 21st to 28th September.
    • Heria shyamal ghana 21st September, 1897
    • Ebar chalinu tabe 22nd September, 1897
    • Keno jamini na jete 22nd September, 1897
    • Kiser tare ashru 22nd September, 1897
    • Ami kebali swapana 23rd September, 1897
    • Bhalobeshe sakhi nibhrite 23rd September, 1897
    • Tumi sandhyar meghamala 24th September, 1897
    • Jadi barana karo tabe 24th September, 1897
    • Ami chahite eshechi sudhu 25th September, 1897
    • Sakhi, pratidina hai 25th September, 1897
    • Bidhi dagara ankhi 25th September, 1897
    • Bandhu michhe rag koro na 25th September, 1897
    • Ogo Kangal amare kangal 27th September, 1897
    • E ki satya sakali satya 28th September, 1897
  • September, 1897 A partnership commercial enterprise set up by Ambikacharan Ukil. Rabindranath associates himself with it financially and in other ways too, to help develop indigenous business and industry to which he'll attach increasing importance in the years ahead.
  • September, 1897 Rabindranath tries to prepare the ground for an exhibition of indigenous products, doesn't succeed.
  • 14th September, 1897 Bal Gangadhar Tilak is sentenced to penal imprisonment for 18 months. Appeal to Privy Council turned down. Rabindranath vigorously takes part in raising funds for Tilak's defence in all stages of the legal battle. He appeals to Privy Council.
  • 18th October, 1897 The poet goes to Orissa by river to inspect the estates there.
  • October, 1897 The poets journey to Orissa also yields a considerable harvest of poems.
  • 21st October, 1897 Rabindranath writes the poem Shrestha Bhiksha based on Buddhist legends.
  • 22nd October, 1897 Rabindranath writes the poem Pratinidhi based on Marathi legends.
  • 25th October, 1897 The poet writes Patita, a poem based on a tale from the Ramayana.
  • 29th October, 1897 The poet writes the famous poem Devatar Gras based on a local lore.
  • November, 1897 The poet is back in Kolkata in early November.
  • 5th November, 1897 Rabindranath writes the verse drama Sati drawing on a Marathi legends.
  • 6th November, 1897 Rabindranath writes the poem Mastak Vikroi which is again based on Buddhist legends.
  • October, 1897 Mrinalini, Rabindranath's wife is already in Santiniketan with the children.
  • 10th November, 1897 Rabindranath joins his wife Mrinalini and children at Santiniketan.
  • November, 1897 Rabindranath's Santiniketan trip produces a crop of poems, in which his lyric genius transforms ancient or medieval material from a modern point of view.
  • 21st November, 1897 The poet writes the poem Narakbas.
  • 13th December, 1897 Writes the quaintly amusing poem Lakshmir Pariksha.
  • December, 1897 Writes Bhasa o Chhanda.
  • December, 1897 Writes the celebrated dramatic poem Gandharir Abedan.
  • 21st December, 1897 The poet is In Santiniketan again for the annual Brahma festival.
  • 21st December, 1897 Moved in the Central Legislative Assembly by Chalmers. It will elicit widespread protests in the months ahead.
  • 28th December, 1897 13th annual session held in Amaravati from 28th to 30th December. Sankar Nayar presides over this session.
  • 7th January, 1898 Rabindranath's nephew Balendranath takes the initiative to set up a Brahmavidyalaya in Santiniketan; construction of the school building begins.
  • 7th January, 1898 Maharshi Debendranath Tagore donates Rs 5000/- for setup of the school Brahmavidyalaya at Santiniketan.
  • 23rd January, 1898 Maghotsav or 68th annual function of the Brahmasamaj celebrated. Songs composed by Rabindranath sung on the occasion.
    • Nitya Satye Chintan Karo 23rd January, 1898
    • Ke Basile Aji Hridayasane 23rd January, 1898
    • Uthi Chalo Sudin Ailo 23rd January, 1898
    • Laho Laho Tuli Laho He Bhumitala Hote 23rd January, 1898
  • 27th January, 1898 Bharat Sangeet Samaj is founded at Jyoitirindranath's initiative; Rabindranath becomes a member of the Samaj.
  • 28th January, 1898 Margaret Noble (later chiefly known as Sister Nivedita) arrives in Kolkata.
  • 1898 Rabindranath, Hirendranath Dutta, Subodh Chandra Mullick etc. send funds collected in Kolkata to Bombay for Tilak's defense.
  • 12th February, 1898 The poet reads the poem Gandharir Abedan at a meeting held at the Calcutta University Institute and presided over by Dr. Gurudas Banerjee. A section of the press sees in the poem a veiled criticism of the draconian attitude of the British government as reflected in the Sedition Bill (Nindare koribo dhangso kanthorudha kori). Government decides to pass the Sedition Bill in the Central legislative Assembly on 18th February.
  • 17th February, 1898 A protest meeting against Sedition Bill is convened in the Town Hall to protest the decision and appeal to the Viceroy to reconsider the decision.
  • 17th February, 1898 Rabindranath reads the article Kanttharodh at the meeting held at Town hall (in protest against Sedition Bill) in which he states prophetically, among other things, "If it is not expressed verbally, anguish accumulates in the mind."
  • 27th February, 1898 The annaprasana ceremony of the youngest child of Mrinalini and Rabindranath performed.
  • 11th March, 1898 At the ceremonial inaugural meeting of the Ramakrishna Mission held at Star Theatre, Swami Vivekananda introduces Margaret Noble (later Nivedita) to the people of Kolkata. Later Rabindranath and Nivedita will get to know each other.
  • 18th March, 1898 Maharaja Radhakishoredev Manikya of Tripura dines at Jorasanko; an old relationship is renewed by Rabindranath.
  • 19th March, 1898 Satishchandra Mukherjee dies. He was the husband of Varnakumari, poet's elder sister.
  • 20th March, 1898 Rabindranath and Balendranath go to see Ramendrasundar Trivedi at his Bowbazar residence.
  • 25th March, 1898 Jagadish Chandra Bose delivers an address on Electro-Magnetic Radiation illustrated by experiments at University Institute. Rabindranath and Prafulla Chandra Roy are in the audience.
  • 25th March, 1898 Vivekananda initiates Margaret Noble into Brahmhacharya and from now on she is known as Bhagini (sister) Nivedita.
  • March, 1898 Rabindranath buys a house in Puri. Unfortunately, however it will be sold off in 1905.
  • 17th April, 1898 A literary session held at the Brahmasamaj Hall. It is a hilarious affair with noted performers Ardhendu Sekhar Mustafi and Akshoy Kumar Majumdar reciting two comic pieces (Nutan Abatar and Bini Paiser Bhoj) written by Rabindranath.
  • 22nd April, 1898 Rabindranath's son Rathindranath's Upanayana performed in Santiniketan in a big way.
  • April, 1898 Rabindranath hastens back to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • April, 1898 Rabindranath becomes editor of Bharati from April, 1898. After Sadhana, another opportunity now comes in his way to air his social and political views in public through this magazine. The April issue of Bharati contains five piecess by him including Durasha (short story), Dushamay (poem) and Kanttharodh (article). In this issue he also reviews Dineshchandra Sen's Bangabhasa o Sahitya in an article widely admired as path-breaking in its survey of Bengali literature. Dineshchandra Sen (1866-1939), eminent scholar of Bengali language & literature, gladly acknowledges the inspiration he owes to Rabindranath.
  • April, 1898 In the 'Alochana' section of the Bharati, Rabindranath praises the historian Akshayakumar Maitra for his essay on Sirajudaulla and comments, "The conditions that prevailed in the past are determined not only by events, but also by how people perceived them." This indicates his later approach to historiography.
  • 2nd May, 1898 Rabindranath writes to Ramendrasundar asking him to contribute to the magazine Bharati.
  • May, 1898 Rabindranath pays a brief visit to Shilaidaha.
  • 30th May, 1898 Bangiya Pradeshik Sanmelan held in Dacca this year from 30th May to 1st June. Rabindranath attends and speaks in Bengali which does not go unnoticed. Pramatha Chowdhury also attends the conference.
  • 2nd June, 1898 Back in Shilaidaha Rabindranath writes to Mrinalini. The letter amply shows his anxious concern and deep affection, "Please don't be cross with me because I'm giving you a high-flown lecture full of grand words…I wish to see an intense and strong bond of affection, respect and easy cooperation grow between you and me so that the lucid peace and happiness of it transcends everything else...This is what hovers before my eyes as a temptation these days..." and promises to bring them over to Santiniketan.
  • June, 1898 In the 'Prasanga katha' section of the Jaistha (May-June) issue of the magazine, he is critical of the attitudes of the British Government in a way which contrasts rather sharply with the mealy-mouthed approach of the leadership.
  • 20th June, 1898 Writes Matar Awbhan.
  • June, 1898 Rabindranath borrows Rs. 500/- from Loken Palit to fund the construction of his house in Jorasanko. He's already invested in Tagore & co.
  • 6th July, 1898 Rabindranath celebrates Punnyaha in Shilaidaha.
  • July, 1898 The Ashad (June-July) issue contains Rabindranath's short story Detective and the great poem Varshamangal. In this issue also praises Ganpat Kashinath Mahatre's sculpture. Dwijendralal Roy's poem Nawadwip is favourably reviewed too.
  • 13th July, 1898 From Shilaidaha, Rabindranath writes to Shibnath Sastri (1847-1919) asking him to contribute to Bharati.
  • 3rd August, 1898 The poet goes to Shilaidaha with family. Starts living in the new Kuthibari.
  • August, 1898 Rabindranath sets up a school at home to educate the children.
  • August, 1898 After setting up the school at home, Rabindranath engages an Englishman Mr. Lawrence to teach the children English.
  • August, 1898 Rabindranath engages Shibdhan Vidyarnab to teach the children Sanskrit in the newly setup school at home. He himself teaches them Bengali.
  • August, 1898 Friends now often visit Rabindranath at Shilaidaha – such as Akshayachandra, Lokendranath, Biharilal Gupta, Dwijendralal Roy, Jagadish Chandra Bose etc.
  • 13th August, 1898 Thanks to Rabindranath's enthusiasm, Lawrence's birthday celebrated; children and local boys sumptuously feted.
  • 12th September, 1898 Bhadra issue (August-September) of the magazine Bharati carries the short story Adhyapak and the caustic article Mukherji versus Banerji in which he ridicules the servility of the zamindars anxious to please the British.
  • October, 1898 Aswin issue (Sept-Oct) of the magazine Bharati carries a number of pieces by Rabindranath such as Coat ba Chapkan and Aparpaksher katha.
  • October, 1898 In the article Coat ba Chapkan published in the magazine Bharati, Rabindranath lays stress on the syncretic nature of Indian culture which blends both Hindu and Muslim elements and requires both of them in the making of the Indian nation. He will further develop this approach in the years ahead.
  • October, 1898 The Aswin (Sept-Oct) issue of the magazine Bharati also includes the story Rajtika by Rabindranath.
  • October, 1898 In the article Aparpaksher katha, published in the Aswin issue (Sept-Oct) of the magazine Bharati, Rabindranath takes to task the supine political leaders.
  • October, 1898 The Kartik issue (Oct-Nov) of the magazine Bharati includes the satirical article Ultra-conservative written by Rabindranath, which again pours ridicule and scorn on the landlords or zamindars who dominate organizations like The British Indian Association.
  • 25th October, 1898 Rabindranath's eldest daughter Madhurilata's 13th birthday celebrated.
  • 11th November, 1898 Maharshi Debendranath, finally leaves the rented house on Park Street and comes to spend his last years in the ancestral Jorasanko Mansion.
  • 28th November, 1898 Rabindranath's son, Rathindranath's 11th birthday celebrated.
  • 12th December, 1898 Agrahayan (Nov-Dec) issue of the magazine Bharati carries a number of pieces by Rabindranath.
  • 12th December, 1898 Agrahayan (Nov-Dec) issue of the magazine Bharati carries the well-known story Mani-hara by Rabindranath.
  • 12th December, 1898 The poet admires Dwijendralal's book Ashade in a review.
  • 14th December, 1898 Rabindranath comes to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Shilaidaha with family for a flying visit.
  • 21st December, 1898 Attends the 8th annual Brahma function at Santiniketan. Akshayakumar Maitra accompanies him on this trip. Rabindranath delivers an address (Nirakar Upashana) in the evening session.
  • 22nd December, 1898 The poet is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata) the next day.
  • 28th December, 1898 14th annual conference held in Madras (now Chennai). Anandamohan Bose presides.
  • 3rd January, 1899 New viceroy Lord Curzon arrives in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 14th January, 1899 Maharaja of Natore invited by the Tagores, Jagadindranath Roy dines at Jorasanko.
  • 17th January, 1899 Maharaja of Tripura Radhakishore Manikya comes to dinner at Jorasanko.
  • 24th January, 1899 Maghotsav celebrated at Maharshibhavan and Adi Brahmasamaj temple. In the morning session songs composed by Rabindanath are sung.
    • Vimala anande jago 24th January, 1899
    • Pipasa haay nahi mitilo 24th January, 1899
    • Tumi kachhe nai bole 24th January, 1899
    • Nayana tomare paayna dekhite - Aakhar jukto 24th January, 1899
    • Din phuralo hey sansari 24th January, 1899
    • Madhuro roope birajo hey 24th January, 1899
    • Chira sakha, chhero na morey 24th January, 1899
    • Majhe Majhe taba dekha 24th January, 1899
    • Hridaya basana purna 24th January, 1899
    • Ohey jibana ballabha 24th January, 1899
  • 28th January, 1899 Maharaja of Natore, Jagadindranath Roy pays a second visit and dines at Jorasanko.
  • January, 1899 Rabindranath visits Maharaja Radhakishore Manikya a couple of times (8th and 27th January) at Maharaja's Calcutta (now Kolkata) residence.
  • January, 1899 Oitihasik Chitra edited by Akshayakumar, published with Rabi's introduction.
  • January, 1899 In the Poush (Dec-Jan) issue of the magazine Pradip, Rabindranath writes a significant article Mandirabhimukhe surveying the contemporary state of fine arts in the country. Earlier in the Bharati (Ashad issue) in 1898 he praised Ganpat Kashinath Mahatre's sculpture.
  • 28th January, 1899 The Brahmasanmelan held at Jorasanko in Maharshi's presence. Rabindranath sings - Base achhi hey kabe.
  • 28th January, 1899 Rabindranath goes to a tea party on the invitation of sister Nivedita. Rabindranath and Vivekananda meet in the tea party. Rabindranath sings – Bela galo tomar patha cheye to Nivedita's delight.
  • 2nd February, 1899 Rabindranath leaves for Kusthia to inspect the estates there, most probably with family. Elaborate arrangements made for the journey.
  • February, 1899 Tenants of the Tagore estates at Kaligram suffer extensive damage to their crops due to natural causes around this time.
  • February, 1899 While the tenants of the Tagore estates at Kaligram suffer extensive damage to their crops due to natural causes around this time, Rabindranath writes to the estate manager Saileshchandra to be flexible in his approach and treat the tenants leniently in collecting dues from them at this critical moment. This at once highlights his eminently humane and rational approach to the problems of his tenants which will often come to the fore in the years ahead.
  • February, 1899 The tenants of the Tagore estates at Kaligram suffer extensive damage to their crops due to natural causes and Rabindranath writes to the estate manager Saileshchandra to treat them flexibly and leniently. In one of these letters he also mentions his efforts to manufacture silk locally and engage the local boys in this enterprise.
  • February, 1899 In a letter written to Jagadish Chandra months later he will describe his earnest and active efforts to start sericulture in Shilaidaha.
  • 13th February, 1899 Reads an article on 'Kali-worship' before a distinguished audience at Albert hall.
  • 14th February, 1899 Sister Nivedita meets Maharshi Debendranath Tagore at Jorasanko.
  • 19th February, 1899 Vivekananda and Nivedita meet Maharshi Debendranath Tagore again in Jorasanko.
  • 28th February, 1899 Indira Devi marries Pramatha Chowdhuri. Rabindranath and family at Jorasanko to attend the wedding. Nivedita is invited to the wedding and comes to Jorasanko on 26th, 28th February and 2nd March.
  • 12th March, 1899 Rabindranath's letter to Basanta Kumar Gupta written around this period reveal that the Company has suffered huge losses in its Barishal operations due to the incompetence and perhaps dishonesty of one Nishikanta who's in charge of Barishal. The poet is in somewhat straitened circumstances. In the same context he has written another letter to Basanta Kumar Gupta on 17th May.
  • 24th March, 1899 Leaves Calcutta (now Kolkata) for his first visit to Tripura.
  • 27th March, 1899 The poet feted at a gala event during Dol-purnima in Tripura.
  • 13th April, 1899 Rabindranath spends the Bengali New Year’s Day (13th April) in Shilaidaha.
  • April, 1899 Rabindranath resigns as editor of the magazine Bharati.
  • April, 1899 Rabindranath's niece Sarala Devi becomes the new editor of the magazine Bharati.
  • April, 1899 His relations with this magazine are strained.
  • April, 1899 Requested by the Maharaja of Tripura, Rabindranath tries to find a doctor and a teacher for service in Tripura.
  • 7th May, 1899 The poet turns 39 today and writes the much discussed poem Ashesh.
  • May, 1899 Over exertion on his part to achieve the union of Adi Brahmasamaj and Aryasamaj and anxiety over the crippling losses suffered by Tagore & Co. severely affects Balendranath's (Rabindranath's nephew) health who is already suffering from tuberculosis.
  • May, 1899 The heavy loss suffered by the Tagore & Co. effects Balendranath's (Rabindranath's nephew) health severely. Rabindranath too, has more than his fair share of financial worries due to the same reasons.
  • May, 1899 Rabindranath brings Rathindranath back to Calcutta (now Kolkata) who is ill. He also wants to look after the ailing Balendranath.
  • 16th May, 1899 Maharshi Debendranath Tagore's 83rd birthday celebrated. Nivedita goes to see him and offers pranam.
  • May, 1899 Priyanath Sen, the close friend of the poet, now tries to secure a loan of Rs 40,000/- for Rabindranath.
  • 26th May, 1899 Rabindranath writes to Jagadish Chandra that he is carrying a number of mythological themes for poems in his head, but they are not ripe enough as yet and he is going to have to wait a little longer.
  • 1899 The writer Prabhatkumar Mukhopadhaya is now writing fine stories and gratefully acknowledges his debt to Rabindranath.
  • July, 1899 Rabindranath instrumental in organising and collecting funds for the noted poet Hemchandra Bandopadhyay, who has gone blind in old age and shifted to Benaras because he finds Calcutta (now Kolkata) too expensive to live in.
  • 29th July, 1899 As Rabindranath takes initiative to organise and collect funds for the noted poet Hemchandra Bandopadhaya, Hemchandra writes to Rabindranath to express his gratitude.
  • 1899 Rabindranath actively promotes growing potato on his estate in a big way with the advice, seeds and machinery provided by Dwijendralal; Dwijendralal himself comes over to supervise the experiment but the efforts do not succeed.
  • 1899 He is now engaged in writing Chokher Bali – the first major novel of his career.
  • August, 1899 Rabindranath spends more than a month in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Maharshi Debendranath Tagore's Last Will and Testament is being finalised.
  • 19th August, 1899 Balendranath passes away.
  • 19th August, 1899 As a result of Balendranath's death, Rabindranath, now the sole partner is alone responsible for all the liabilities of the company.
  • 25th August, 1899 At last Rabindranath is able to secure a hefty loan of Rs 40,000/- at 7% interest to pay the debts incurred by the company (Tagore & Co.). He will pay this loan by borrowing a similar amount of money from Sir Taraknath Palit which will be cleared only with the prize money of the Nobel award years later.
  • 28th August, 1899 In the letter to Mrinalini, perhaps in an unguarded moment Rabindranath criticises his bereaved sister-in-law Balendra's mother Prafullamoyee, thus, "Nabouthan has lost her only son and her only bonding with the world. Yet the way she involves herself in monetary transactions, buying and selling day and night both confounds and disgusts everybody...” It's perfectly natural for Prafullamoyee to act the way she does considering that her only son is dead and she is saddled with the responsibility of looking after not only herself, but also her widowed daughter-in-law and mentally ill husband Birendranath. In his Will Debendranath leaves nothing for his unfortunate son Birendranath save a paltry monthly allowance of Rs 100/- per head which the family receives after Maharshi's death from short-sighted trustees including Rabindranath.
  • 8th September, 1899 Maharshi Debendranath Tagore signs his last Will and Testament.
  • 8th September, 1899 Rabindranath is one of the three executors of Debendranath Tagore's last Will and Testament, the others being Dwipendranath and Surendranath.
  • 19th September, 1899 Rabindranath returns to Shilaidaha after a long stay in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 18th October, 1899 Jyotirindranath Tagore publishes his Bengali translation of Kalidas's Abhigyanam Sakuntalam.
  • October, 1899 In a fine creative spurt he now writes several poems based on the legends in Dr. Rajendralal Mitra's The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal.
    • Pujarini 4th October, 1899
    • Abhisar 5th October, 1899
    • Parisodh 9th October, 1899
    • Bisarjan 10th October, 1899
    • Samanya Kshati 11th October, 1899
    • Mulyaprapti 12th October, 1899
    • Nagarlakshmi 13th October, 1899
    • Apaman-bar based on Bhaktamal 14th October, 1899
    • Swamilabh 15th October, 1899
    • Sparshamani 15th October, 1899
  • 1899 Over the next two months writes poems of a dramatic nature based on memorable historical events drawn from James Todd's The Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan and Cunningham's History of The Sikhs. These poems are collected in the anthology Katha.
    • Mani 17th October, 1899
    • Prarthanatita Daan 18th October, 1899
    • Rajvichar 20th October, 1899
    • Shesh Shiksha 22nd October, 1899
    • Nakal Gad 23rd October, 1899
    • Hori Khela 25th October, 1899
    • Vidroha 27th October, 1899
    • Panraksha November, 1899
    • Bandi vir 15th November, 1899
    • Vicharak 19th November, 1899
  • November, 1899 The anthology Kanika consisting of 110 short, epigrammatic poems, published.
  • 3rd December, 1899 Rabindranath comes to Calcutta (now Kolkata) to act as a member of the jury of a case being heard in the High Court. He probably returns to Shilaidaha on 8th December.
  • 21st December, 1899 The poet in Santiniketan to attend the annual Brahma festival.
  • 21st December, 1899 Satyendranath declares open the Brahmavidyalaya planned by the late Balendranath.
  • 21st December, 1899 Kangalicharan Sen is engaged as the singer of the Adi Brahmasamaj. In the days ahead he will play a very useful role in transcribing the notations of Rabindranath's songs.
  • 22nd December, 1899 Rabindranath back in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 23rd December, 1899 This musical play written by Jyotirindranath performed by the members of the Bharat Sangeet Samaj. The poet contributes quite a few songs to the play.
    • Eso eso Vasanta e kanane 23rd December, 1899
    • E ki akulata bhubane 23rd December, 1899
    • Kotha chhili sajani lo 23rd December, 1899
    • Sei to Vasanta phire elo 23rd December, 1899
    • Bane eman phool phutechhe 23rd December, 1899
    • Oki katha bala sakhi 23rd December, 1899
    • Ha sakhi, o adare 23rd December, 1899
    • Sakha, sadhite sadhate 23rd December, 1899
    • De lo sakhi de 23rd December, 1899
    • Eto phool ke photale 23rd December, 1899
    • Dekho, oi ke esechhe 23rd December, 1899
    • Se aase dhire 23rd December, 1899
    • Aha jagi pohalo 23rd December, 1899
    • tumi jeyo na ekhani 23rd December, 1899
    • Hridayer mani, adarini mor 23rd December, 1899
    • Sundara hridiranjana tumi 23rd December, 1899
    • Madhura milan 23rd December, 1899
    • Aaj ankhi judalo 23rd December, 1899
  • 12th January, 1900 Rabindranath is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata) with family.
  • 14th January, 1900 The anthology Katha is published which consists of 24 poems including Devatar Gras and Visarjan.
  • January, 1900 Rabindranath, presumably spends the greater part of his time, composing songs for the Maghotsav.
  • 24th January, 1900 70th Maghotsav festival held. 23 songs of the poet are sung at the festival.
    • Mahaviswe mahakashe mahakala
    • Tomari namey nayana melinu
    • Aaji shuva shubhra pratey
    • Raksha karo hey
    • Sada thako anande
    • Jani hey jabe prabhat
    • (Aaji) Pranami tomare chaliba nath
    • Diner vichar karo
    • Tomari gehe palichha snehe
    • Hridi mandira dware baje
    • Aaji e Bharata lajjita hey
    • Tomari sevak karohe
    • Sukhahin nishidin paradhin
    • Din jay rey din jay
    • Prabhu khelechhi anek khela
    • Ke janita tumi dakibe
    • Bani taba dhai ananta gaganey
    • Kamaney rakhibi tora
    • Bhuvan haitey bhuvanbasi
    • Bhoy hote taba abhoy majhe
    • Ichhha jabe hobe
    • Premanande rakha purna amare
    • Ami sansare mana diechhinu
  • 26th January, 1900 On the occasion of 70th Maghotsav, a host of Brahma disciples visit Maharshi Debendranath Tagore.
  • 26th January, 1900 On the occasion of 70th Maghotsav, Rabindranath sings – Tomari namey nayana melinu and leads the choir.
  • 4th February, 1900 Rabindranath attends the Saraswat sammelan of the Samaj on the day of Saraswati puja.
  • February, 1900 Rabindranath is delighted to see young artist Jaminiprakash Ganguly's oil painting Sudraker Rajsabha. He writes the famous review article "Kadambari Chitra", published in the Magh issue of the magazine Pradip. Pradip is the first Bengali magazine where painting in halftone block and in tricolor is published.
  • February, 1900 The poet borrows Rs. 4000/- from Lokendranath to complete the construction of his house.
  • 19th February, 1900 Rabindranath attends a special general meeting of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad.
  • 26th February, 1900 The poet writes this famous poem Karna-Kunti Sambad after a long lull.
  • 5th March, 1900 Borrows Rs. 1000/- from Lokendranath.
  • 7th March, 1900 Publishes the next book of poems – Kahini and dedicates it to Radhakishore Dev Manikya, maharaja of Tripura.
  • 10th March, 1900 Jagadish Chandra goes to Shilaidaha on a short visit and after his return to Kolkata writes a letter copiously praising the hospitality extended to him by Mrinalini and their serene, quiet yet active life far from the tumult of the city.
  • March, 1900 Nudged by Sarala Devi – editor of Bharati, Rabindranath starts writing this play.
  • March, 1900 The Chaitra issue carries two poems by Rabindranath -- Chaitrarajani and Vasanta.
  • March, 1900 Writes the poem Baisakh which is printed in the Baisakh (April-May) issue of Bharati.
  • April, 1900 Shoots off at least nine letters to the printer in April, urging him to speed up printing though the anthology will ultimately see the light of day much later.
  • 1900 In his efforts to raise much needed funds for Jagadish Chandra's proposed laboratory and forthcoming journey to England, Rabindranath persuades Radhakishore Manikya – maharaja of Tripura to help and the latter agrees to help generously.
  • 5th May, 1900 The anthology Kalpana is published that contains 50 poems and songs.
  • 15th May, 1900 Writes Sambaran in Shilaidaha.
  • 20th May, 1900 Rabindranath arrives at Calcutta (now Kolkata), attends the first monthly meeting of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad in the new year presided over by Satyendranath.
  • 21st May, 1900 Leaves for Darjeeling.
  • 21st May, 1900 Rabindranath writes Sthai-asthai on train when he is on his way to Darjeeling.
  • 22nd May, 1900 Writes Kshanek Dekha in Darjeeling.
  • 29th May, 1900 Having spent 10 days in the hills in the company of Jagadish Chandra, Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 30th May, 1900 Attends a session of Bharat Sangeet Samaj.
  • 1st June, 1900 Arrives in Shilaidaha. Writes the poem Dui Bon.
  • 2nd June, 1900 Writes Ashad.
  • 2nd June, 1900 Writes Navabarsha.
  • 3rd June, 1900 Writes Viraha and Akale.
  • 8th June, 1900 Writes Bilambita.
  • 9th June, 1900 Writes Chirayamana.
  • 9th June, 1900 Writes Meghamukta.
  • 10th June, 1900 Writes Kalyani.
  • 13th June, 1900 Writes Sukhdukha.
  • 13th June, 1900 Writes Bhartsana.
  • 14th June, 1900 Writes Khela.
  • 15th June, 1900 Writes Durdin.
  • 15th June, 1900 Writes Avinay.
  • 16th June, 1900 Writes Kritartha.
  • 17th June, 1900 Writes Antaratama.
  • 18th June, 1900 Writes Krishnakali.
  • 19th June, 1900 Writes Karmaphal.
  • 20th June, 1900 Writes Kabi.
  • 24th June, 1900 Writes Abirbhav.
  • 26th July, 1900 The anthology Kshanika is published, dedicated to Lokendranath Palit. Also gifts copies of the book to Sureshchandra Samajpati, Nagendranath Gupta, Dineshchandra Sen and Chandranath Basu.
  • 26th July, 1900 The poet starts looking for a suitable bridegroom for his eldest daughter Madhurilata (Bela) who's hardly fourteen years of age at this time.
  • 26th July, 1900 As Rabindranath starts looking for a suitable bridegroom for his eldest daughter Madhurilata, his friend Priyanath Sen suggests that Saratkumar, third son of the well-known poet Biharilal Chakrabarty is a very suitable boy. Rabindranath agrees. They'll get married next year.
  • 26th July, 1900 Most probably Rabindranath makes the acquaintance of Brahmabandhav Upadhaya around this time.
  • 4th August, 1900 Writes the poem Deen Dan.
  • August, 1900 Rabindranath goes to Khulna to see Lokendranath who's the district magistrate there.
  • 1st September, 1900 Praises Rabindranath as a poet of the tallest stature in an editorial under the title 'The World-Poet of Bengal' in the weekly Sophia edited by him.
  • 10th September, 1900 Jagadish Chandra Bose writes Rabindranath from England, giving glad tidings of his historic success at The International Congress of Physicists held in Paris.
  • 17th September, 1900 Galpaguchha, the collection of Rabindranath's short stories (1st volume) published. Contains 32 stories.
  • September, 1900 Tries to learn French using a French grammar, then gives up the effort.
  • October, 1900 Reads Leo Tolstoy's What is Art.
  • 31st October, 1900 Rabindranath goes to Allahabad to bring his nephew Balendranath's widow Sahana back to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • November, 1900 In England, Nivedita translates Kabuliwala, Chhuti and Dan Pratidan into English at Jagadish Chandra's request. In the chequered history of the translation of Tagore literature into other languages, particularly English, Nivedita is the first translator of Rabindranath's short stories.
  • 3rd November, 1900 The poet returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) with Sahana.
  • November, 1900 Rabindranath writes the important article Muslim Chhatrader Bangla Siksha in the Kartik issue of the magazine Bharati which gives a glimpse of his eminently liberal approach to the issue.
  • 18th November, 1900 Rabindranath is in Calcutta (now Kolkata), visits the Bharat Sangeet Samaj which is carrying on rehearsals for performing his famous play Visarjan in December.
  • 17th December, 1900 It's a wonderful letter and reads, "Do I have no right to the state of your mind in the evenings? Am I only for the day? Do you think my eyes too veer away from your mind the moment the sun sets?.."
  • 17th December, 1900 The poems later collected in the Naibedya are now coming thick and fast. In the same letter he adds,"…Just managed to scribble two Naibedya poems in the bathroom."
  • 22nd December, 1900 Rabindranath is in Santiniketan, attends the annual Brahma festival or Poush Utsav, reads the essay Brahmamantra.
  • 27th December, 1900 Bharat Sangeet Samaj performs the play Visarjan in honour of the Maharaja of Tripura.
  • 27th December, 1900 Bharat Sangeet Samaj performs the play Visarjan in honour of the Maharaja of Tripura. Rabindranath himself plays Raghupati.
  • 31st December, 1900 Rabindranath spends the last days of the parting year in Shilaidaha. Most probably writes here the poem Naibedya which begins, "The sun of the century sinks today behind blood-dimmed clouds."
  • January, 1901 Rabindranath leaves his family at Shilaidaha and returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 17th January, 1901 Rabindranath visits the residence of Jagadindranath Ray, the king of Nator.
  • 19th January, 1901 Rabindranath spends time in Sangit Samaj at the rehearsal for the Maghotsav.
  • 23rd January, 1901 Rabindranath attends the Maghotsav ceremony, the 71st assembly of the Brahma Samaj. The following six songs were composed by Rabindranath and were sung on this occasion
    • Hridayshashi hridigagane
    • Pratidin taba gatha gaba ami sumadhur
    • Tomari ragini jibankunje
    • Mahanande herogo sabe
    • He sakha mama hridaye raho
    • Pratidin ami he jibanswami
  • 23rd January, 1901 Rabindranath reads an article (Samrajeswari) in the evening session of the Maghotsav ceremony in condolence of Queen Victoria's death. The essay is published in the Phalgun issue of the Tattwabodhini Patrika and in the Phalgun issue of the Bharati patrika. An English translation titled 'Prayers for the Late Queen-Empress at the Adi Brahmo Samaj' of the said article is also published in the Jyaishtha issue of the Tattwabodhini Patrika. This is, perhaps, the first ever translation of any of Tagore's writings. Tattwabodhini Patrika records, "The Evening service was commenced with the following Exhortation by Baboo Rabindra Nath Tagore, which contains fervent expression of grief at the Queen Empress' death and deals with the spiritual lessons we may derive therefrom."
  • 25th January, 1901 Rabindranath returns to Shilaidaha.
  • 15th February, 1901 Jagadindranath Ray, the king of Nator, comes to Shilaidaha as a guest and stays with the poet and his family for about a fortnight.
  • 27th February, 1901 Attending to the guests keeps the poet busy. Rabindranath writes in a letter to Priyanath Sen: “For the last few days I have been extremely busy in extending hospitality to my guests. There is no respite from dawn to the late night, so is the case with my wife.”
  • 11th March, 1901 Jyotirindranath's Bengali translations of Mricchakatika of Shudraka and Mudrarakshasa of Vishakhadatta are sent to Rabindranath.
  • 14th April, 1901 Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 23rd April, 1901 The poet goes again to Shilaidaha.
  • May, 1901 Bangadarshan, the monthly journal started by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, is revived under the editorship of Rabindranath. The first issue comes out in May 1901.
  • May, 1901 Rabindranath comes into contact with Brahmabandhab Upadhyay, a Roman Catholic Vedantic by faith, through their common association with Bangadarshan.
  • 6th May, 1901 Rabindranath goes to visit Darjeeling on an invitation from Radhakishor Manikya, the king of Tripura.
  • 18th May, 1901 The poet returns to Shilaidaha.
  • 27th May, 1901 The poet comes back to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in order to take care of the preparations of his elder daughter Madhurilata's (alias Bela) marriage.
  • 30th May, 1901 Rabindranath establishes his own set up within the same premise of Jorasanko. The house-warming ceremony takes place under the priesthood of Hemchandra Vidyaratna.
  • 15th June, 1901 The marriage of Rabindranath's elder daughter Madhurilata with Saratchandra Chakraborty, the eldest son of poet Biharilal Chakraborty, is solemnized.
  • 23rd June, 1901 Naibedya, a book of poems, gets published. Maharshi Debendranath bears the expenses of publication. The book is also dedicated to Maharshi.
  • 25th June, 1901 The poet goes to Shilaidaha with Rathindranath.
  • 15th July, 1901 The poet goes to Muzaffarpore to get his eldest daughter settled at her in-laws house.
  • July, 1901 Gets a felicitation from the Bengali residents of Muzaffarpore.
  • 22nd July, 1901 Goes to Santiniketan and explores the possibilities of setting up of a school at Santiniketan.
  • 9th August, 1901 Marriage of the second daughter Renuka with Dr. Satyendranath Bhattacharya takes place.
  • 13th September, 1901 Nitindranath Tagore, Rabindranath's nephew dies. Rabindranath takes Nitindranath's family to Santiniketan.
  • 16th September, 1901 English translation of 'Subha' by Jyotindramohan Bagchi is published in the New India.
  • 30th September, 1901 Rabindranath goes to Shilaidaha to look after financial matters.
  • 7th October, 1901 The poet returns to Santiniketan via Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Shilaidaha.
  • 1901 The poet becomes instrumental in securing financial support for Jagadish Chandra Bose from the Maharaja of Tripura to enable Prof. Bose to complete his work in England.
  • 4th November, 1901 Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) with Prince Brajendrakishor, who stays at Josanko till 11th November and in between visits Santiniketan with the Poet.
  • 22nd December, 1901 Rabindranath establishes a school, Brahmacharyashram, at Santiniketan on 7th Pausa with the consent of Maharshi. The school was built following the model of the ancient schools of India. The school started with five students (Rathindranath Tagore, Gaurgobinda Gupta, Premkumar Gupta, Ashokkumar Gupta & Sudhirchandra Nan)) and the first group of teachers comprising of Brahmabandhab Upadhyay, Laurence (an Englishman), Rewachand (a Sindhi Christian), Jagadananda Roy and Sivadhan Vidyarnava.
  • 23rd December, 1901 The poet returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 29th December, 1901 Rabindranath sings at the 17th Annual session of National Congress.
  • 1st January, 1902 The Poet goes to Santiniketan in order to engage himself into various activities of the School.
  • 20th January, 1902 Rabindranath comes back to Calcutta (now Kolkata) for the preparation of Maghotsav. His six songs are sung for this purpose.
    • Morey daki laye jao
    • Balo dao morey balo dao
    • Saphal kara he prabhu
    • Ami ki bole koriba
    • Dako morey aji
    • Ami jene shune tabu
  • 27th January, 1902 The poet goes to Shilaidaha for the purpose of supervising his estate.
  • 30th January, 1902 Comes back to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 31st January, 1902 Goes to Santiniketan.
  • 9th February, 1902 The poet goes to Ballygunj to meet Radhakishor Manikya, the prince of Tripura.
  • 13th February, 1902 Mohitchandra Sen comes to Santiniketan for conducting examination of the students of the Brahmacharyashram. Later on, Mohitchandra Sen engaged himself in the service of the school and editing of Tagore's books of poems which will be named Kabya Grantha.
  • April, 1902 A reminder for repaying the debt of Rs. 40,000/- to Mitichand Nakhtar comes to the poet. This money was borrowed by the poet in August 1899 for the Tagore & Company. Poet seeks help from Priyanath Sen for repaying the debt.
  • April, 1902 Rabindranath gets introduced to Kakuzo Okakura, a Japanese scholar who is a propounder of 'Asia is One' slogan, through Sisiter Nivedita.
  • 14th April, 1902 Rabindranath reads his essay 'Nababarsha' (New Year) during the prayer of Bengali New Year.
  • June, 1902 Three of the first batch of teachers including Brahmabandhab Upadhyay do not rejoin after the summer vacation in June. Manoranjan Bandyopadhyay joins the school as Headmaster.
  • 4th July, 1902 Hori, a young Japanese, joins the school to study Sanskrit.
  • July, 1902 Imposition of tuition fees for the students - the practice of free studentship comes to an end.
  • August, 1902 The poet's wife Mrinalini gets attacked by an unknown disease and is shifted to Calcutta (now Kolkata) for treatment.
  • 12th October, 1902 Felicitation of Jagadish Chandra Bose under the leadership of the Poet.
  • 13th November, 1902 Poet comes back to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in order to look after his ailing wife.
  • 13th November, 1902 Formulates in a letter to Kunjalal Ghosh, a teacher of the school and the son-in-law of Shibnath Shastri, the aims and ideals of the school.
  • 23rd November, 1902 Mrinalini Devi dies at the age of 29 after ailing for three months.
  • November, 1902 Poet's daughter Renuka is also seriously ill. She is diagnosed with Tuberculosis.
  • November, 1902 The poet composes Smaran (In Memoriam), a series of moving poems to enshrine his wife's memories.
  • 5th December, 1902 Rabindranath writes a letter to Manoranjan Bandyopadhyay regarding the racial discrimination of the brahmins and the non-brahmins. Manoranjan seeks to know whether the brahmin students as gesture of reverence are going to touch the feet of the non-brahmin teachers or not. The poet reverts saying whatever is against the Hindu social norms will not be indulged in their school. At the same time the poet asks whether non-brahmin students should bow in reverence to the non-brahmin teachers.
  • 8th December, 1902 The poet returns to Santiniketan with two minor sons and two daughters (one married). The responsibility of the family is entrusted on aunt Rajlakshmi Devi.
  • 22nd December, 1902 Barhmatsav takes place in the usual manner. Jagadish Chandra Bose and Hemchandra Mullick visit Santiniketan. The poet delivers a speech titled Dharmer Saral Adarsha (The Simple Principles of Religion).
  • January, 1903 The poet becomes instrumental in ruling out the indiscipline acts prevalent in the school campus.
  • January, 1903 Establishment of a committee comprising of Manoranjan Bandyopadhyay, Jagadananda Roy and Subodhchandra Majumder for proper management of the School.
  • 12th January, 1903 Narendranath Bahttacharya leaves the school. The poet's son-in-law Satyendranath becomes the principal of the school.
  • 16th January, 1903 The poet comes to Calcutta (now Kolkata) for Maghotsav.
  • 24th January, 1903 Dr. D N Roy, a homoeopath, treats Rabindranath's daughter Renuka.
  • 25th January, 1903 The poet contributes 23 Brahma Sangit for the occasion. Most of the songs reflect his psychological condition after his wife's death.
    • Pantha ekhono keno alasito anga
    • swapan jadi bhangile rajani
    • monomohono gahana jamini sheshe
    • ache duhkha ache mrityu
    • duhkha rate he nath
    • ananda tumi swami
    • sansar jabe man kere lay
    • jadi e amaro hridaya duyaro
    • tomar pataka jare dao
    • ghate bose achi anmona
    • sansare tumi rakhile more
    • alpa loiya thaki tai
    • shanti karo barishana nirabadhare
    • e bharate rakho nitya prabhu
    • duyare dao more rakhiya
    • mandire mama ke asile
    • bajao tumi kabi
    • sunya hatey phiri he nath pathe pathe
    • Nibira ghana andhare jwaliche dhrubatara
    • amare karo jibana dan
    • tomaro asime prana mana laye
    • gabhira rajani namila hridaye
    • shanta ha re mama chitta nirakul
  • 2nd February, 1903 The poet attends and sings in the programme arranged by Bharat Sangit Samaj. The programme is graced by the King to Coochbehar.
  • February, 1903 Rabindranath's novel - Nastanir is staged at Santiniketan.
  • 17th February, 1903 The poet gets introduced to Satishchandra Roy through Ajit Kumar Chakraborty.
  • February, 1903 Satishchandra Roy joins the school. The poet comments later that Satishchandra is an icon symbolizing the principles of the Ashram.
  • 17th February, 1903 Mohitchandra Sen donates Rs. 1000/- for the school.
  • February, 1903 Manoranjan Bandyopadhyay leaves the Ashram in the plea of illness right before the entrance exam of Rathindranath.
  • 12th March, 1903 Rabindranath's daughter Renuka's illness aggravates.
  • 12th March, 1903 The poet along with his ailing daughter Renuka goes to Hazaribag for a change.
  • 8th April, 1903 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • 1903 Rabindranath's novel Naukadubi is being serialised in Bangadarshan.
  • 4th May, 1903 Goes to Almorah with his ailing daughter Renuka.
  • May, 1903 Rathindranath passes the entrance examination with first division.
  • May, 1903 When Rabindranath was in Almorah with his ailing daughter Renuka, Mohitchandra Sen visits him to discuss about the publication of a compilation of his poems.
  • 3rd June, 1903 Visiting Rabindranath, and discussing with him about the publication of a compilation of his poems, Mohitchandra Sen leaves Almorah.
  • 11th June, 1903 The poet leaves Almorah entrusting brother-in-law Nagendranath with the responsibilities of his daughter Renuka.
  • 11th June, 1903 Subodhchandra Majumder leaves the job in the Ashram.
  • 24th June, 1903 The poet goes to Almorah again because of Renuka's deteriorating health condition.
  • July, 1903 Bidding farewell to Kunjalal Ghosh and Nagendranarayan Roy joins as the headmaster. Bipinbihari Gupta and Gopalchandra Kabikusum join the school.
  • 17th July, 1903 Mohitchandra Sen gives a suggestion to publish a compilation of Rabindranath's poems for children. He proposes the name Shishu or Shaishab though later the name Shishu is finalized.
  • 26th July, 1903 Mohitchandra writes to Rabindranath about receiving five poems for the anthology Shishu. He also mentions his affection regarding these poems.
    • Khela
    • Khoka
    • Nirlipta
    • Shaishab Chaturi (Later poet gives the name Chaturi)
    • Keno Madhur
  • 29th July, 1903 Rabindranath sends three more poems for the anthology Shishu to Mohitchandra.
    • Ghumchora
    • Apajash
    • Bichaar
  • 31st July, 1903 Rabindranath sends total six poems for the anthology Shishu to Mohitchandra and writes to him to give a suitable name for each poem.
    • Chhutir Dine
    • Rajar Bari
    • Majhi
    • Samabyathi
    • Prashna
    • Masterbabu
  • 6th August, 1903 In a letter to Rabindranath, Mohitchandra writes he has got total 19 poems for the anthology Shishu. The rest of the poems are:
    • Bichitra Sadh
    • Matribatsal
    • Lukochuri
    • Noukajatra
    • Bigya
  • 8th August, 1903 Now the total count of poems is 22 for the anthology Shishu, as poet mentions to Mohitchandra after sending him the following poems
    • Khokar Rajya
    • Bhitare O Bahire
    • Byakul
  • 10th August, 1903 Sushila Sen, wife of Mohitchandra Sen, complains that all the poems in Shishu are about a boy child. Why not a girl child comes into poet's mind? In response to that poet writes the person who creates those poems was a boy forty years earlier, unfortunately not a girl.
  • 13th August, 1903 In a letter to Mohitchandra, poet tells him to let the poet know when to stop the flow. Along with this letter send four more poems for Shishu.
    • Baigyanik
    • Jyotishshastra
    • Samalochok
    • Chhotobaro
  • 15th August, 1903 Rabindranath sends three more poems for Shishu to Mohitchandra
    • Banabaas
    • Beerpurush
    • Dukhhahari
  • 16th August, 1903 Rabindranath sends the poem Bidai and writes to Mohitchandra this is the last poem. But he himself cannot stop writing poems for children. In the very next day he writes Janmakatha.
  • 23rd August, 1903 Before leaving Almorah poet sends the poem Jagat Parabarer Tire to Mohitchandra and writes to him that this should be the last poem for Shishu. Poet also recommends this poem to be the first one in the collection of poems for Shishu.
  • 24th August, 1903 Rabindranath starts returning from Almorah to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 29th August, 1903 The poet returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) with Renuka. Later he writes about the journey to his daughter-in-law, Pratima Devi.
  • 1st September, 1903 Mira Devi comes Ballygunge to Jorasanko to visit her elder sister Renuka whose health condition is continuously deteriorating. Mira Devi is shocked to see her sister and writes about this experience.
  • 5th September, 1903 Rathindranath and Shamindranath come from Santiniketan and pay their last visit to Renuka who is now in her death bed.
  • 14th September, 1903 Rabindranath's daughter Renuka dies.
  • December, 1903 Ajitkumar Chakraborty joins the school.
  • 3rd December, 1903 The first proposal for the partition of Bengal is published in the Calcutta Gazette .
  • December, 1903 Kabyagrantha Part One-Section One published on 10th December, Kabyagrantha Part One-Section Two published in December, 1903, Kabyagrantha Part Two-Section One published on 10th December, Kabyagrantha Part Two-Section Two published on 10th December, kabyagrantha Part Three published during 1903, Kabyagrantha Part Four published in 20th December, Kabyagrantha Part Five, Six, Seven, Eight published during 1903, Kabyagrantha Part Nine-Section One & Section Two published on 12th December, Kabyagrantha Part Nine-Section Three published on 20th December.
  • 22nd December, 1903 The poet addresses the congregation at the anniversary of 7th Paush outlining his philosophy of death.
  • 25th January, 1904 The poet comes to Calcutta (now Kolkata) to attend the morning prayers of Adi Brahma Samaj.
  • 25th January, 1904 The poet reads his article Manushyatva (Humanity).
  • 1st February, 1904 Satishchandra Ray, a poet and young professor at Santiniketan, passes away. Rabindranath was very fond of this young man and used to depend a lot on him.
  • 25th January, 1904 The evening prayers are held in Maharshi Bhavan.
  • 26th January, 1904 In a special discussion session in City College, the poet reads out his essay Dharmaprachar (Preaching of Religion). This creates displeasure among many conservative Brahmas.
  • 23rd April, 1904 The poet goes to the house of Madhurilata at Muzaffarpore.
  • 3rd May, 1904 Rabindranath visits Kedarnath & Badrinath with Sister Nibedita and her followers.
  • 5th May, 1904 Marriage of Satyaprasad's daughter Shanta takes place in Kashi in the presence of the poet.
  • 7th May, 1904 The first volume of the English primer Ingreji Sopan gets published.
  • 16th May, 1904 The 88th birthday of Maharshi Debendranath Tagore is celebrated with grandeur, the poet dedicates the essay Maharshir Janmotsav in reverence to Maharshi. This is his first speech regarding Maharshi.
  • 27th May, 1904 The poet reads out his article Bhashar Ingit at Bangiya Sahitya Parishad.
  • 22nd July, 1904 Reads his article Shwadesh Samaj at Minerva Theatre.
  • 9th October, 1904 Rabindranath visits Bodhgaya along with Jagadishchandra Bose, Jadunath Sarkar and Sister Nibedita.
  • 22nd December, 1904 Rabindranath reads his article Utsaver Din on the 7th Paush.
  • December, 1904 In order to raise money for the school, Rabindranath sells the rights of publishing a limited edition of his works to Hitabadi Publishing House for a paltry sum of Rs. 2000/- only.
  • December, 1904 Writes the book Bangabhashar Lekhak (Writers in Bengali), his first autobiographical article interpreting his life as a poet.
  • 2nd January, 1905 Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Shilaidaha.
  • 2nd January, 1905 Jagadish Chandra, his wife Abala Bose and Sister Nivedita who were Rabindranath's guests at Shilaidaha also return to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 5th January, 1905 Sister Nivedita has mixed feelings towards the poet enmeshed in psychological complexities which are reflected in her letter to Mrs. Bull.
  • January, 1905 Maharaja (the king) of Tripura, Radhakishoredev Manikya, a close friend of Rabindranath, arrives Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 7th January, 1905 Radhakishoredev Manikya, Maharaja (the king) of Tripura goes to Santiniketan with the poet; it's his second visit to the place.
  • 11th January, 1905 Sir Henry Cotton well known for his opposition to the partition of Bengal felicitated at an evening dinner party in the city. Many of the poet's friends attend the party.
  • 11th January, 1905 Raja o Rani (a poem from the book of poems Sishu Bholanath. It is a famous work of Tagore for the children) is performed at Minerva Theater.
  • 14th January, 1905 Brahmasangeet Swaralipi (Part 1) prepared by Kangalicharan Sen is published with the Tagores' financial help.
  • 14th January, 1905 Kangalicharan Sen dedicates the book Brahmasangeet Swaralipi (Part 1) to Jyotirindranath.
  • 19th January, 1905 Poet's father Maharshi Debendranath passes away after a prolonged illness. He was 88.
  • 24th January, 1905 75th Maghotsav (the main annual festival of Brahma Samaj which is held on 11th Magha according to the Bengali calendar) is held in a mournful atmosphere after Maharshi's death.
  • 24th January, 1905 Rabindranath addresses the audience in the 75th Maghotsav festival, which is later printed in the Bharati, Phalgun issue, (Bharati is a Bengali monthly magazine founded by poet's eldest brother Dwijendranath) titled as -- Maharshir Lokantar Gaman.
  • 24th January, 1905 Tagore's eight songs are sung in the morning and evening sessions during the 75th Maghotsav festival
    • Saktirupa hero tanr
    • (Amar) mon tumi nath
    • Garaba mama harechha prabhu 6th June, 1904
    • Nisithasayane bhebe rakhi mone 1902
    • Sakala garba door kari diba
    • Je keha morey diyechho sukh 7th June, 1904
    • Danrao amar ankhiro agey 3rd June, 1904
    • Aji jata tara tabo akashe 5th June, 1904
  • 29th January, 1905 Poet's father, Maharshi Debendranath Tagore's obsequies or sraddha is performed.
  • 29th January, 1905 On sraddha (obsequies) ceremony of his departed father Debendranath, poet prays for his father, later which was published in Charitrapuja, a collection of essays written by the poet offering a tribute to great men.
  • 1905 The Magha (Jan-Feb) issue of Noukadubi, a famous novel of Rabindranath is published in Bangadarshan (a monthly Bengali magazine founded by Bankimchandra Chattopadhaya in 1872, later which was revived by Rabindranath in 1901). This novel is being published in serial format.
  • 1905 Dineshchandra Sen, like others who need assistance receives Rs 50/- from Rabindranath. Assistance disbursed as directed by the late Maharshi in his will.
  • 4th February, 1905 A special meeting of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad held to mourn Maharshi Debendranath Tagore's death.
  • 5th February, 1905 Rabindranath and Jagadishchandra attend Swami Vivekananda's birthday celebration at Belur Math.
  • 18th February, 1905 Rabindranath arrives in Santiniketan.
  • 24th February, 1905 Bidhusekhar Shastri arrives from Benaras to work as Sanskrit teacher at Santiniketan school and a life long association with the poet begins.
  • February, 1905 Kusumato San, a Japanese carpenter is engaged to teach carpentry to the students at Santiniketan around this time.
  • 3rd March, 1905 A memorial meeting held at Town Hall in honour of poet's father late Maharshi Debendranath Tagore. Gopalkrishna Gokhale attends the meeting.
  • 5th March, 1905 Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, a literary society established on 1893, invites the poet to articulate the anger and agony felt in his inimitable way.
  • 11th March, 1905 Rabindranath thus reads his famous essay Safalatar Sadupaya at a meeting held at the National Assemblies Institution.
  • 19th March, 1905 At a special meeting of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad's executive committee, it discusses poet's proposals for its development and expansion. Poet present at the meeting.
  • 20th March, 1905 Attends a hilarious, fun-filled session of the Pournamashi Sabha formed by Dwijendralal Roy at his Sookea St. residence.
  • 30th March, 1905 Acting on Rabindranath's proposals, Bangiya Sahitya Parishad convenes a meeting of students to present to them Rabindranath's programme of constructive, patriotic service and rural reconstruction.
  • 30th March, 1905 In this long and famous address to the students, Rabindranath who is steadily emerging as a major educationists and thinker of original vision of his time, tells a massive gathering of students assembled at the Classic Theatre in words unrivaled for eloquence and intensity, "...I know for certain that the fine incisive chords in your hearts, luminous like fibers made of the morning rays of the sun and easily capable of being struck by melodies of noble desires have not yet started rusting due to lack of use....when the country is humiliated, your heart glows like a pent-up fire erupting at last...your concern for the country, your anxiety to eradicate poverty and ignominy...invade your mind when you happen to be awake at night or enjoying your quiet leisure during the day..."
  • 1st April, 1905 Goes to Santiniketan.
  • 4th April, 1905 Rabindranath is invited to be vice-president of the literary society Bangiya Sahitya Parishad. He will continue to hold this office till 1909-10.
  • 11th April, 1905 To meet the mounting expenses of the school, poet decides to sell off his house and adjoining plot of land at Puri, writes to Satyaprasad to this effect.
  • 14th April, 1905 In April 1905 a monthly magazine named Bhandar is established by Dr. Kedarnath Dasgupta, a scolar and a strong supporter of Indian Independence Movement. On request of Dr. Dasgupta, Rabindranath becomes the editor of the Bhandar magazine. The purpose of this magazine is to spread the idealism of 'Swadeshi Movement' among people.
  • April, 1905 In this short yet critical article published in the Bharati (Baisakh issue) Rabindranath tears into the western ideology of imperialism.
  • 6th May, 1905 In his reply to Dwijendralal's letter Rabindranath, while displaying remarkable restraint, effectively delivers a broadside. His ties with Dwijendralal Roy are finally and irrevocably snapped.
  • 19th May, 1905 In this article published in the Bhandar (Jaistha issue) the poet suggests that the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science founded by Dr. Mahendralal Sarkar (1876) should seek the help of scientists and writers like Jagadishchandra, Prafullachandra and Jogeshchandra Roy to develop dedicated students and popularise science topics through the mother tongue.
  • June, 1905 Very close relationship with the royal family of Tripura.
  • June, 1905 Maharaja Radhakishoredev Manikya of Tripura is beset with trouble, expels his brother from Tripura for the latter's intransigence.
  • 14th June, 1905 Rabindranath writes a long letter to Radhakishore giving him useful advice on many issues.
  • June, 1905 Most probably Rabindranath travels to Tripura by June end.
  • 18th June, 1905 In this Ashad issue the last instalment of the serialised novel Noukadubi is printed.
  • 18th June, 1905 It also contains the immensely popular poem (later turned into a song) Shesh Kheya.
  • 1905 Maharaja (the king) of Tripura, Radhakishore Manikya invites Rabindranath to presides over the Tripura Sahitya Sammelan (literary meet at Tripura) which will be held at Agartala.'
  • 1905 The poet presides over Tripura Sahitya Sammelan (literary meet at Tripura) held at Agartala.
  • 1st July, 1905 Rabindranath reads essay Deshiya Rajya related to the current social and political situation of India in the inauguration of Tripura Sahitya Sammelan (literary meet).
  • 3rd July, 1905 Poet leaves Agartala after the completion of Tripura Sahitya Sammelan (literary meet).
  • 5th July, 1905 Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (Kolkata) from Tripura after the completion of Tripura Sahitya Sammelan.
  • 9th July, 1905 Bhandar magazine Ashad (3rd month of Bengali calendar) edition appears for public, rich with Poet's contributions. He writes three poems in Japanese rhythm praising their achievements in nation-building (in future it will be included in Chanda).
  • 15th July, 1905 Attends the second monthly meeting of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad.
  • 23rd July, 1905 Writes Muktipash.
  • 25th July, 1905 A contemporary newspaper The Telegraph reported, "Before the proceedings of the meeting were commenced, the patriotic song composed on this occasion by babu Rabindranath Tagore was sung in a chorus…..The first song was again sung after the address of the President."
  • 29th July, 1905 In Santiniketan now, he writes seven poems
    • Subhakshan 29th July, 1905
    • Tyag 29th July, 1905
    • Prabhate 29th July, 1905
    • Balika Badhu 31st July, 1905
    • Kheya 31st July, 1905
    • Anabashyak 10th August, 1905
    • Anahata 11th August, 1905
  • July, 1905 Writes Dukhhamurti. With these poems the Kheya cycle gets under way. The spiritual note permeates the poems of this phase more substantially than before and consequently the experiential elements are more inextricably blended in the texture of the verse.
  • July, 1905 Writes Ghater Path.
  • 12th August, 1905 Returns to Kolkata where the anti-partition (Swadeshi) movement is gathering momentum.
  • 13th August, 1905 Writes two poems:
    • Agaman 13th August, 1905
    • Agaman 14th August, 1905
  • August, 1905 Writes this important article most probably at Hiranmoyee's request.
  • 25th August, 1905 Reads this article at a meeting held in the Town Hall as part of a series of lectures organised by the weekly New India edited by Bipinchandra Pal.
  • 25th August, 1905 Poet Urges judicious use of the boycott weapon in a constructive spirit and above all, almost prophetically, Hindu-Muslim unity and harmony; the two keynotes which will invariably characterize his approach to the whole issue of anti-colonial movement in the months and years ahead. Bipinchandra and Rabindranath hold similar views on these issues. Bipinchandra writes a number of articles in the Bangadarshan taking a stance similar to the poet's during this period.
  • 25th August, 1905 Rabindranath also urges the founding of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad branches in all the districts.
  • 25th August, 1905 In recorded history this song is perhaps the first sung at this meeting. Amar Sonar Bangla was in all probability already composed during the poet's last visit to Santiniketan.
  • 25th August, 1905 Rabindranath sets his most famous song to the popular folk baul tune used in a folk song sung to him Gagan Harkara, a postal peon in Shilaidaha.
  • 3rd September, 1905 Later in the evening, "...more than four thousand persons including college and school students, bare-footed and holding flags in hand came in procession singing a national song composed by babu Rabindranath Tagore…"
  • 11th September, 1905 Writes the poem Daan in Giridih.
  • 12th September, 1905 Writes Ghate.
  • September, 1905 Though he's away from Kolkata - the swadeshi nerve-centre of the gathering storm, the ripples reach him too. He is powerfully moved, becomes the master minstrel of the upsurge increasingly convulsing Bengal and produces a number of patriotic songs, almost each a masterpiece, in a month of tremendous creative artistry not very often seen even in his career, notable alike for its length and continuous development.
    • O amar desher mati
    • Ma ki tui porer dware
    • Ebar tor mora gungey
    • Je tomai chhade chhaduk
    • Jadi tor daak shune keu
    • Je torey pagal boley
    • Tor apan jane chhadbe torey
    • Sarthaka janama amar janmechhi ei deshe
    • Ami bhoy karba na, bhoy karba na
    • Ore tora neiba katha bolli
    • Chhi chhi chokher jaley
    • Book bendhe tui danra dekhi
    • Nishidin bharsa rakhis
    • Jonaki ki sukhe oi
    • Amra pathe pathe jabo
    • Aaji Bangladesher hridaya hote
    • Apni abash holi
    • Jadi tor bhabna thakey
    • Amader jatra holo suru 7th Octobar, 1905
    • Bidhir bandhan katbe tumi 8th Octobar, 1905
    • Oder bandhan jotoi sakta hobe 9th Octobar, 1905
    • Aaj sabai jutey ashuk chhutey 11th Octobar, 1905
    • Orey bhai mithya bhebo na 11th Octobar, 1905
    • Ghare mukh malin dekhe
  • 27th September, 1905 Back in Kolkata; presides over a meeting attended by Ramendrasundar Trivedi, Suresh Samajpati, Srishchandra Sarbadhikari, Amritalal Basu, Manaranjan Guhathakurta, Nagendranath Ghosh, Surendranath Tagore etc.
  • 27th September, 1905 The meeting at Calcutta (now Kolkata) endorses Rabindranath's proposal that, "..if partition of Bengal were carried out on the 16th of October next the people of entire Bengal..should celebrate the day as an occasion of their union…by exchange of yellow thread between the people of eastern and western Bengal on that day...". This is the first recorded instance of Rakhi-bandhan being urged as a symbolic measure of protest against partition.
  • September, 1905 Rabindranath writes his universally known song Banglar mati Banglar jal (Soil of Bengal, Water of Bengal) to protest against 'Partition of Bengal' movement, the song is due to be sung on Rakhi bandhan occasion.
  • September, 1905 Poet writes the song Bhubaneswara hey.
  • 27th September, 1905 Swadesh, a collection of patriotic songs and poems of Tagore is published.
  • 29th September, 1905 Poet returns to Giridih from Calcutta (now Kolkata) after the meeting that held regarding the plan of Rakhi bandhan occasion in protest of 'Partition of Bengal'.
  • 30th September, 1905 Published, consists of twenty songs very recently composed.
  • 4th October, 1905 From Giridih Rabindranath goes to Deoghar to attend Sarala Devi's (daughter of poet's elder sister Swarnakumari Devi) wedding.
  • 4th October, 1905 Sarala Devi, daughter of poet's elder sister Swarnakumari Devi, marries Rambhaja Dutta Chowdhury, a Punjabi brahmin.
  • 6th October, 1905 Rabindranath returns from Deoghar.
  • 7th October, 1905 A letter written to Brajendrakishore Devbarma at this time reflects his patriotic mood - "I request you to discard British goods and use indigenous things instead as far as possible, and you had better be prepared to endure ridicule for this…"
  • 8th October, 1905 Returns to Kolkata to attend historic 'Bijoya Sammilani'.
  • October, 1905 The poet's songs are sung everywhere, his wonderfully written speeches strike chords in the hearts of people. So the poet's in demand.
  • 9th October, 1905 A vast assembly of about 5000 people including the elite and eminence grise of Calcutta (now Kolkata) celebrates Bijoya Sammilani in an unprecedented display of new-found ardor unity and resolve which the poet powerfully articulates in his patriotic songs sung on the occasion.
  • 9th October, 1905 As a vast assembly of about 5000 people celebrates the historic Bijoya Sammilani, at Calcutta (now Kolkata), the newspaper The Bengalee reported, "Babu Rabindranath Tagore himself treated the gentlemen present to some of his well known songs."
  • 9th October, 1905 The poet also reads his article Bijoya-sammilan on the occasion of historic Bijoya-sammilani celebrated at Calcutta and significantly reaches out to the Muslims too, on the occasion of what's basically a Hindu social ritual displaying, once more, rare foresight.
  • 13th October, 1905 The Bengalee (13th October) reports, "…Babu Rabindranath Tagore has composed a beautiful song in connection with the 'Rakhi Bandhan ceremony' which is to be held on the 16th October. This and the special hymn (Banglar Mati Banglar Jal) composed for the occasion, printed on nice country-made cards and also the 'Rakhi Threads' are now being sold at the Bhandar office no 7, Cornwallis Street, Calcutta (now Kolkata)."
  • October, 1905 Rabindranath sends these cards (which were made for invitation of Rakhi-bandhan ceremony) to Jagadishchandra, Jadunath Sarkar and Aswinikumar Dutta of Bariswal.
  • 16th October, 1905 Movement against Partition of Bengal assumes the form of a symbolic purifying bath in the Ganga and tying rakhi round the wrist of whoever comes your way as a gesture of unity.
  • 16th October, 1905 At a massive rally of about fifty thousand people, the foundation stone laid for Federation Hall on Upper Circular Road (now Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road).
  • 16th October, 1905 The event of laying foundation stone for Federation Hall is presided by renowned lawyer, senior leader of the Indian National Congress, and one of the founders of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj - Anandamohan Basu. He is very ill at that time. Hence a 'proclamation' signed by him and read by Surendranath Banerjee pledges to "do everything in our power to counteract the evil effects of the dismemberment of our Province and to maintain the integrity of our race." Rabindranath reads the Bengali version of the proclamation.
  • 16th October, 1905 After the foundation stone is laid for Federation Hall, a mammoth crowd walks along Upper Circular Road all the way to Pasupatinath Basu's mansion at Bagbazar in a vast procession which includes the poet and sings his songs as it goes.
  • 16th October, 1905 At the next meeting of the day held at Basu mansion, Bagbazar, a Jatiya Bhandar or national fund is set up. Rs 30,000/- collected. Poet contributes one hundred rupees.
  • October, 1905 In this first phase of the Swadeshi Movement (a movement for national independence in India boycotting foreign goods and encouraging the use of domestic products) the poet attends five meetings, reads speeches at two and the Bengali version of a proclamation at one of these meetings.
  • 24th October, 1905 At a protest meeting presided over by barrister Abdul Rasul the Carlyle Circular (the Circular contains provisions for punishing school and college students for taking part in political activities and depriving schools of government aid) is denounced and the resolve to establish a national university declared, thus in effect endorsing, however belatedly Rabindranath's agenda of creating an education system free of government control and based on Indian values.
  • 26th October, 1905 The poet addresses a chiefly Muslim audience at a meeting held near Mullick Bazar Tram depot at Calcutta (now Kolkata). The meeting is presided over by Abdul Rasul. Manoranjan Guhathakurta, Bipinchandra Pal etc. also speak.
  • 27th October, 1905 A meeting of over one thousand college students of Calcutta (now Kolkata) colleges held at Charuchandra Mullick's pataldanga residence. Rabindranath presides. Bhupendranath Basu, Bipinchandra Pal, Satishchandra Mukherjee etc. also attend.
  • 27th October, 1905 The meeting held at Calcutta (now Kolkata) rejects Carlyle Circular, Rabindranath upholds students' right to protest and stresses the need for alternative arrangements of education.
  • 29th October, 1905 An appeal is made to all sisters in Bengal urging them to donate to the National Fund.
  • 29th October, 1905 Rabindranath is a signatory to and perhaps also the author of the appeal.
  • 2nd November, 1905 At another meeting of students held in the evening at Field & Academy building, the same questions crop up. Poet presides. He says the time has arrived for setting up a national university. Hirendranath Dutta also speaks.
  • 4th November, 1905 Anti-circular Society formed at a massive students' rally held in Goldighi. Society appeals to students to give up official educational institutions and join the proposed national university.
  • 5th November, 1905 At a meeting organised by the Dawn Society, Satishchandra Mukherjee - founder of the society, Hirendranath Dutta and Rabindranath address almost two thousand students. Some students also speak.
  • 5th November, 1905 Poet reiterates that if the students are really keen to break with education provided by the government, the leaders then must take necessary steps to set up a national university but initial efforts are unlikely to fulfill all expectations. It is seen that when the movement brings the education question to the fore, he enthusiastically displays his readiness to associate himself with whatever efforts are being made in this direction.
  • 6th November, 1905 Rabindranath leaves for Tripura.
  • 12th November, 1905 At another protest meeting held in Kolkata and presided over by Bipinchandra Pal, Nivedita, Aswinikumar Banerjee, Brahmabandhab Upadhaya, Ashutosh Chowdhury speak and assure students that the leaders are trying to set up a national university.
  • 16th November, 1905 At a historic meeting held at the Park St. office of The Bengal land Holders' Association the cream of Calcutta (now Kolkata) society assembles. Rabindranath is present at the meeting.
  • 16th November, 1905 Meeting resolves to constitute a National Council of Education to impart literary, scientific and technical education to the youth of Bengal.
  • 16th November, 1905 Provisional Committee formed to pave the way for the proposed Council; poet on the committee.
  • 17th November, 1905 Students assemble at Pantir Math to receive the good news. Surendranath presides, Rabindranath also speaks.
  • 26th November, 1905 A dramatised version of the novel performed in the evening at Classic Theatre. Performance directed by well known actor of the day -- Amarendranath Dutta who plays Mahendra.
  • 2nd December, 1905 At its second meeting held at Indian Association hall, the Committee finalises the draft plan of a national university and prepares its report. Rabindranath attends meeting.
  • December, 1905 He's away in Santiniketan and spends a month there, exposing himself to the peace and solitude of the place.
  • 11th December, 1905 In a letter written to Manoranjan Bandopadhyay about this time he says, "…You can never tell when the crowd will call (me) again and I will have to say goodbye to the solitude…"
  • 12th December, 1905 Kedarnath Dasgupta's booklet Sikshar Andolan carrying a long introduction by the poet published.
  • 12th December, 1905 Somewhat disenchanted by the posturing of the leaders, poet writes to Ramendrasundar, "What's the use of dragging me into all this? It will only hurt my head if I go on dashing my head when the country is not in fact ready yet." Years later poet will tell Sajanikanta Das that he didn't see another noble-hearted man like Ramendrasundar.
  • December, 1905 Poet is now busy revamping his school at Santiniketan after a considerable absence and unable to take a break.
  • 22nd December, 1905 The annual festival (popularly known as Poush utsav) held as usual at Santiniketan.
  • 22nd December, 1905 Rabindranath's address delivered at the evening prayers later printed in the Bangadarshan (Magh issue) under the title Utsav.
  • 23rd December, 1905 Poet made an honorary member of Chaitanya Library at its general meeting along with E.B. Havell and others.
  • 29th December, 1905 Prince of Wales visits Calcutta (now Kolkata) with wife in the last lap of their India tour.
  • 30th December, 1905 Rabindranath writes Abarita, inaugurating another phase of the Kheya cycle.
  • December, 1905 Indian Art Society established as a result of the initiative taken by Nivedita, John Woodroff, Havell, Kumaraswamy and of course Abanindranath and Gaganendranath.
  • December, 1905 This Bengali daily founded and edited by the redoubtable, fiery exponent of a free India – Brahmabandhab Upadhaya makes its mark and impresses the students and youths with its incendiary editorials and news items.
  • 4th January, 1906 Writes Leela
  • 13th January, 1906 Writes Godhulilagna.
  • 19th January, 1906 The first anniversary of Maharshi Debendranath Tagore's death observed. The poet is in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 23rd January, 1906 Rabindranath reads the article Rajbhakti before an audience at the Field and Academy Club.
  • 24th January, 1906 67th Maghotsav festival celebrated. The poet speaks on the occasion.
  • 24th January, 1906 Brahmasangeet-Swaralipi (2nd part) containing 50 songs (35 by Rabindranath) compiled by Kangalicharan Sen and dedicated to the poet published.
  • 31st January, 1906 Goes to Shilaidaha.
  • February, 1906 While in Shilaidaha he writes a few pieces
    • Ami keman kariya janabo
    • Bichhed
    • Aaj booker asan chinre
    • Setuku tor anek achhe
    • (Bhaar) Tumi jato bhaar diyechho se bhaar
    • Tika
  • 9th February, 1906 Returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) though the political temperature of the city isn't to his liking.
  • 16th February, 1906 Patriotic songs sung by the poet first recorded on Pathephone by Hemendramohan Basu of Kuntaleen fame.
  • February, 1906 The poet is in Calcutta (now Kolkata) as Rathindanath prepares to sail for USA for higher studies.
  • 25th February, 1906 Rabindranath addresses the students of The Dawn Society. He praises Satishchandra Mukhopadhyay, who's a saintly figure, thinks ahead of his time and initiated efforts on his own to spread education years ago.
  • 1906 Rabindranath is anxious to find a suitable groom for Meera who is now 12 years old in spite of his known opposition to child marriage.
  • March, 1906 Rathindranath and Santoshchandra Majumdar embark on their voyage to USA via Japan. Grand felicitation offered in Santiniketan before journey.
  • 20th March, 1906 In a brief, busy spell writes a few poems during his stay in (now Kolkata) and Santiniketan during the period 20th March to 28th March.
    • Nirudyam 20th March,1906
    • Kripon 22th March,1906
    • Kooar Dhare 23th March,1906
    • Jagaran 24th March,1906
    • Phool Photano 25th March,1906
    • Nid o Akash 26th March,1906
    • Haar 26th March,1906
    • Vidai 28th March, 1906
    • Pather Sesh 28th March, 1906
  • 25th March, 1906 The Chaitra issue of Bangadarshan magazine, publishes the poet's Bengali translation of Sarojini Naidu's English poem Palanquin Bearers.
  • 28th March, 1906 With the poem Pather Sesh ends another cycle of the anthology Kheya; it seamlessly blends the notes of mysticism and romantic lyricism in these poems.
  • 2nd April, 1906 The poet arrives in Agartala.
  • April, 1906 Rabindranath discusses with the Maharaja about internal issues and problems of Tripura.
  • 12th April, 1906 Travels to Barishal by boat to attend the Sahityasammilani (a literary conference) to be held after the Bangiya Pradeshik Sammelan, as president of the literary conference.
  • 15th April, 1906 Rabindranath arrives in Barishal to attend the literary conference to be held after the Bangiya Pradeshik Sammelan and stays in a houseboat.
  • 15th April, 1906 British high-handedness and tyranny. Vande Mataram banned.
  • 16th April, 1906 Sahityasammilani (literary conference) abandoned. The poet leaves for Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 17th April, 1906 Once in Calcutta (now Kolkata), he immediately leaves for Bolpur; for the poet wishes to "go to Bolpur and immerse himself in inertia".
  • 20th April, 1906 Rabindranath goes to Bolpur to have a breather. His muse takes advantage of this breather and the result is six poems in four days showing how his external and inner lives usually follow different orbits. The current unrest doesn't trouble the texture of the verse in these poems.
    • Samudre 20th April,1906
    • Baisakhe 22th April,1906
    • Dinsesh 21st April,1906
    • Pathik 21st April,1906
    • Bandi 22nd April,1906
    • Samapti 23rd April,1906
  • April, 1906 As Rabindranath goes to Bolpur to take a breather, a letter written to Dineshchandra Sen at this time reflects the same mood - "Please don't talk of work any more, I'm on holiday now….Therefore I've slipped away now."
  • April, 1906 Rabindranath is in Bolpur for taking a rest, but he can not slip away after all, the Barisal outrage calls forth massive protest everywhere in Bengal.
  • 26th April, 1906 The poet returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Bolpur and at a massive meeting organised at Pasupatinath Bose's Bagbagar mansion, he reads the address Deshanayak articulating the wounded sentiments of his countrymen.
  • 26th April, 1906 In the address Deshanayak, given at a massive meeting at Pasupatinath Bose's Bagbagar mansion, Rabindranath also urges his people to accept Surendranath Banerjee as their supremo at this juncture. But later Surendranath will let his people down.
  • 30th April, 1906 Rabindranath spends just a couple of days in Calcutta (now Kolkata), writes the poem Pratiksha.
  • 8th May, 1906 On his 46th birthday the poet is in Bolpur.
  • 10th May, 1906 Writes Dighi
  • 12th May, 1906 Writes Kokil.
  • May, 1906 Rabindranath ceases to be the editor of the magazine, but his association with Bangadarshan will continue.
  • 17th May, 1906 Maharshi Debendranath Tagore's birthday is celebrated in a grand manner at Jorasanko.
  • 20th May, 1906 The poet is back to Bolpur.
  • 29th May, 1906 Returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 29th May, 1906 Nationalism and Internationalism now start inter-blending in his thoughts and the process can be seen at work even in letters written around this time. For example, the letter written to Saileshchandra - "I am not in favour of belligerent and xenophobic national sentiment, I support definite natural rights and harmonious national sentiment. The speciality of each nation is the heritage of all human beings....but I do not consider foreign-phobia to be good or salutary."
  • May, 1906 Though Rabindranath wants to escape the madding din and bustle of Calcutta (now Kolkata), he is prolific as ever here too, and poems continue to come.
    • Gaan Sona 26th May,1906
    • Jagaran 28th May,1906
  • 1st June, 1906 Writes Jhad.
  • 5th June, 1906 The Shivaji Utsav is celebrated with flourish in the presence of the Marathi leaders - Tilak, Khaparde and Munje.
  • 5th June, 1906 The poet does not attend the Shivaji Utsav as the idol of the goddess Bhavani is worshiped at the celebration.
  • 6th June, 1906 Rabindranath reads the significant essay Sikshasamasya before an audience at the YMCA Overtoon hall.
  • 6th June, 1906 The essay Sikshasamasya written by Rabindranath is significant because it states what he is currently trying to accomplish at his Bramhacharyasrama at Santiniketan and foreshadows the later development of his vision. "Therefore, if an ideal school is to be set up, a place has to be found for it away from populous conglomerates in the solitude of wide open fields, trees and the wide open skies above, where the teachers will be engaged in quiet study and teaching and the students will be able to develop amidst these pursuits."
  • 9th June, 1906 Mohitchandra Sen, the editor of Kabya Grantha dies in the prime of life. The poet loses a valuable associate and friend. His tribute article titled 'Mohitchandra Sen' later published in the magazine Bangadarshan.
  • June, 1906 Mohitchandra Sen's widow Sushila Devi is employed in the ashram-school.
  • June, 1906 The book Ingraji Sopan (3 parts combined) written by Rabindranath is published.
  • June, 1906 In June and early July the poet writes eight poems
    • Prachchhanna 16th June,1906
    • Anuman 18th June,1906
    • Varshaprabhat 21st June,1906
    • Sab-peyechhir Desh 23rd June,1906
    • Varshasandhya 23rd June,1906
    • Haradhan 24th June,1906
    • Chanchalya 27th June,1906
    • Utsarga 2nd July,1906
    • Prarthana 4th July,1906
    • Sarthak Nairashya 3rd July,1906
  • 1906 He writes a few songs in the Bengali year 1313.
    • Amar matha nata korey dao
    • Ami bahu basanaay pranpaney chai
    • Kata ajanare janaile tumi
    • Bipadey morey raksha karo
  • July, 1906 The poet is suffering from piles. In early July he is in Calcutta (now Kolkata) to receive medical treatment.
  • July, 1906 Now transferred to Gaya, he grows more hostile to the poet.
  • July, 1906 Also transferred to Gaya, he too, grows increasingly hostile.
  • 25th July, 1906 Bengal Technical Institute, a separate institution set up at 92, Upper Circular Road.
  • 1906 The formidable duo Dwijendralal Roy and Lokendranath Palit harshly criticise what in their opinion is the weakness of Rabindranath's writings.
  • 1906 During the period of D.L Roy and Lokendranath Palit's criticism towards Rabindranath's writings, D.L. Roy is particularly severe on what Rabindranath terms the prurience, lewdness of his writings.
  • 1906 During the period of D.L Roy and Lokendranath Palit's criticism towards Rabindranath's writings, Loken's hostility particularly hurts Rabindranath, but on the whole the poet chooses to ignore this misconceived criticism in silence.
  • 1906 As D.L.Roy and Lokendranath Palit constantly criticise Rabindranath's writings, poet asks his friends and admirers not to be provoked into counterattacking, either.
  • 1906 The Ashad (June-July) issue of Bhandar carries this short but not insignificant article in which the education systems of Ireland and India both British colonies are discussed and indigenous education is stressed.
  • 1906 He asserts, "We can never agree to perpetuating sycophancy and servility through the schools. Hence, the time has come when we must somehow take the education system in our own hands."
  • 1906 To give a thrust to technological education, Taraknath Palit, Dr. Nilratan Sarkar,etc. decide to set up a technology institute. Rabindranath consulted.
  • 6th August, 1906 Vandematarama patriotic daily newspaper launched. Aurobindo Ghosh, Bipin Pal and others associated with it. Soon it will make history by galvanising widespread anger and resentment against British rule into a revolutionary nationalist movement - the first of its kind seen in India.
  • 10th August, 1906 This anthology long in the making, published. Rabindranath dedicates it to Jagadishchandra.
  • 14th August, 1906 Jatiya Siksha Parishad or The National Council of Education is inaugurated at a historic meeting held in the Town Hall and presided over by Rashbihari Ghosh.
  • 14th August, 1906 At this meeting Rabindranath reads the essay Jatiya Vidyalaya. In ringing words that have stood the test of time he articulates the noble enthusiastic optimism buoying up Bengal at this time--"…but today we must feel the pride and celebrate. I am saying to the students; let pride fill your whole heart as you enter the institution of learning of your country. try to feel that a successful image of the power of the Bengali nation has summoned you before her throne; the more you truly obey her, the more she will acquire prowess and that prowess will make all of us brave....Its prestige lies not in such things as massive buildings, big plots of land...but in the respect you feel for it, you devotion and the fact that the Bengalis are yielding to it. The will of the bengalis brought into being and this devotion will protect it--this is precisely what constitutes its prestige which makes us proud."
  • 15th August, 1906 Aurobindo Ghosh (later known as Sri Aurobindo) elected the first principal. Fifty years later it will grow into Jadavpur University.
  • 2nd September, 1906 Formerly serialised in the Bangadarshan, this novel is now published.
  • September, 1906 Lakshmir Pariksha is performed by a female cast during a swadeshi mela (from 14th to 18th September, 1906) organised by Mahila Shilpa Samity.
  • 16th October, 1906 The first aniversary of Rakhi-Bandhan and swadeshi agitation launched in 1905 comes and goes. The poet is silent.
  • 17th October, 1906 Somewhat disenchanted with the course of events, he states in a letter written from Bolpur to Sucharu Devi (daughter of Keshab Chandra Sen) at this time,"… I have been sitting quietly out here by the field and looking after my school and I've disengaged myself from all other responsibilities…"
  • October, 1906 Bhupendranath away in Burdwan, ill and bed-ridden. His school badly needs competent teachers. Poet worried on this score.
  • 13th November, 1906 In one of his several letters written to daughter Meera in English (intended to induce her to acquire a command of spoken and written English) he talks about the school - "Some of my boys are down with fever, they brought this from home and our trouble with them won't be over till the cold season sets in right earnest. Altogether we are very busy with the reopening of the school."
  • 7th December, 1906 Poet reads this article at a special meeting of the Alochana Samity held at Overtoon Hall and presided over by Hirendranath Dutta.
  • 7th December, 1906 The intellectual elite of the city present at the meeting and Bipinchandra, Brahmabandhab, etc. take part in the discussion that follows.
  • 22nd December, 1906 16th annual Brahma festival (Poush utsav) held in Santiniketan.
  • 22nd December, 1906 Poet's addresses delivered at the morning and evening prayers later published as Anandarup and Santang Shivamadwaitam .
  • December, 1906 22nd annual session of the Congress Party held in Kolkata from 26th to 28th December, 1906. Dadabhai Nauroji presides.
  • January, 1907 The dance drama Kalmrigaya is performed by a female cast on 9th and 12th January at Calcutta (now Kolkata) in aid of Mahila Shilpa Samity founded by Hironmoyee Devi.
  • 19th January, 1907 Poet reads this article at a literary gathering organised by a cultural body of the same name.
  • 20th January, 1907 A meeting is organised to observe the 2nd death anniversary of Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, Rabindranath reads the article Mahapurush.
  • 25th January, 1907 77th annual Brahma festival celebrated at Jorasanko with the usual flourish. Four new songs composed by the poet are sung at the utsav.
    • Amar matha nata korey dao 25th January, 1907
    • Nibida antaratara vasanta elo 25th January, 1907
    • Naba naba pallaba raji 25th January, 1907
    • Morey barey barey phiraley 25th January, 1907
  • 27th January, 1907 Rabindranath reads this essay as the first lecture of a course of lectures he's requested to deliver at the National Council of Education (Jatiya Sikshaparishad). The audience includes Gurudas Banerjee, Ramendrasundar Trivedi, Hirendranath Dutta, Devaprasad Sarbadhikari etc.
  • January, 1907 Brahmacharyashram at Bolpur has more students now, needs bigger accommodation. The poet is planning a new school building.
  • 5th February, 1907 Rabindranath spends a few days in Giridih and returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) probably on 5th February.
  • 6th February, 1907 Rabindranath delivers his second lecture — Viswasahitya (Comparative literature, based on Goethe's Welt Literature) at Jatiya Sikshaparishad .
  • 17th February, 1907 Ritu-utsav or the cycle of seasonal festivals initiated by the poet's youngest son Samindranath at the Brahmacharyasram on the day of Sri Panchami.
  • 1907 The poet spends almost a month and a half in Santiniketan.
  • 16th March, 1907 Rabindranath's letter written to Meera, gives a glimpse of an expanding school -- "...These days our school can hardly support so many students -- fifty-five new boys have arrived -- we have many teachers, too…the first floor rooms are ready -- 23 boys are staying there…perhaps many more boys will come soon."
  • 16th March, 1907 Jagadishchandra's nephew Aurobindamohan is among the students who have taken the Entrance Examination and are preparing to go to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 18th March, 1907 Jagadishchandra sends the poet a cheque of three hundred rupees as a grateful gift and sincerely expresses their gratefulness in a letter dated 18th March.
  • March, 1907 Chaaritrapuja, collection of biographical essays published.
  • 12th April, 1907 Rabindranath delivers his third address -- Saundarya o Sahitya of the four-lecture series at Jatiya Sikshaparishad.
  • 18th April, 1907 Rabindranath writes to Manoranjan Banerjee, "I am getting increasingly involved in school work. The number of students has increased -- so have responsibilities. A number of rooms are being built in a hurry. A second story has been built on the laboratory… I am having many more rooms built for a variety of purposes. Masons are all over the place..."
  • 21st April, 1907 Due to large scale incidence of small pox at school, the poet declares a 45-day summer vacation.
  • 21st April, 1907 Writes Suprabhat for the inaugural issue of a magazine of the same name.
  • 2nd May, 1907 Rabindranath is busy writing the fourth lecture under this title, says so in a letter written to Ramendrasundar Trivedi.
  • 4th May, 1907 The poet is elected as the vice-president of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad for the Bengali year 1314.
  • 8th May, 1907 The poet is now 47.
  • May, 1907 First part of collected prose works called Bichitra Prabandha is published.
  • 6th June, 1907 Rabindranath's daughter Meera is married to Nagendranath Gangopadhay, who hails from a conservative Brahma family of Barishal in Santiniketan. Nagendranath is 17 years and 7 months old, Meera 13 years and 6 months.
  • 11th June, 1907 After his daughter Meera is married to Nagendranath Gangopadhaya, Rabidranath brings Meera to her in-laws' house at Barishal.
  • 17th June, 1907 From his daughter Meera's in-laws' house at Barishal, Rabindranath goes to Chattagram in response to an invitation extended to him by the cultural and patriotic elite of the port city.
  • 17th June, 1907 Rabindranath reaches Chattagram, the railway station is decorated, he is taken to the host's house in a flower-bedecked carriage and a massive crowd is at hand to greet him.
  • 18th June, 1907 In Chattagram, at a civic reception organised in his honour, Rabindranath addresses an audience consisting of Hindus and Muslims.
  • 18th June, 1907 In Chattagram, Rabindranath addresses an audience at a civic reception organised in his honour, without mincing words he states that neither the moderates, nor the centrists or extremists are doing real work for the country because they have not taken the trouble to involve the common masses of the people in their endeavours which is the need of the hour.
  • 28th June, 1907 Rabindranath's son-in-law Nagendranath (Meera's husband) leaves for USA for higher studies.
  • 2nd July, 1907 Rabindranath delivers the fourth and last lecture of the series (Sahityasristi) at Jatiya Siksha Parishad.
  • 13th July, 1907 Prachin Sahitya or 2nd part of the collected prose works of Rabindranath published.
  • 17th July, 1907 The poet writes to Srishchandra Majumdar inter alia, "…I've begun writing a story for the Prabashi." This is how Gora – his longest and perhaps most ambitious novel start shaping up.
  • 26th July, 1907 Lokasahitya or 3rd part of the collected works of prose of Rabindranath published.
  • 1907 The essay Byadhi o Pratikar, written by Rabindranath, published in the Sravan (July-August) issue of the Prabashi. A powerful plea for Hindu-Muslim harmony and a critique of short-sighted swadeshi policies.
  • 17th August, 1907 Prior to going abroad for a couple of years, Jagadishchandra comes to Bolpur with wife to spend a day or two with the poet.
  • 19th August, 1907 Rabindranath arrives in Calcutta (now Kolkata) along with Jagadishchandra and his wife.
  • 24th August, 1907 The poet writes the famous poem Namaskar -- his tribute to Aurobinda.
  • September, 1907 The famous poem Namaskar written by Rabindranath is printed in the Vandemataram and the Bangadarshan.
  • 6th September, 1907 In Santiniketan, the poet writes a valuable introduction to Thakurmar Jhuli, a unique collection of Bengali fairy tales collected by Dakshinaranjan Mitramajumdar (published October, 1907)
  • 8th September, 1907 Rabindranath brings his ailing daughter Meera to Calcutta (now Kolkata) for medical treatment.
  • September, 1907 Rabindranath's famous novel Gora is serialised in the Prabashi; 1st instalment published.
  • 27th September, 1907 74th anniversary of Raja Rammohan Roy's death observed at a large meeting held in the hall of City College.
  • 27th September, 1907 At a large meeting held in the City College, observed on the occasion of 74th death anniversary of Raja Rammohan Roy, Satyendranath Tagore presides, Rabindranath speaks, recalls Rammohan's achievements which he asserts, can guide us even now.
  • 27th September, 1907 On the occasion of 74th death anniversary of Raja Rammohan Roy, a meeting held at the City College. In that meeting, along with Satyendranath and Rabindranath, Nagendranath Chatterjee also speaks.
  • 5th October, 1907 Rabindranath is worried about his daughter Meera's illness; he returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) after spending a few days in Santiniketan.
  • 10th October, 1907 Adhunik Sahitya or the 5th part of the collected prose works of Rabindranath, is published.
  • 16th October, 1907 Samindranath, son of Rabindranath is now 11 years old and sent to Mungher by the poet to spend the Puja vacation there.
  • 18th October, 1907 In a letter written to Meera from Santiniketan Rabindranath tells her that the novel (Gora) is making headway.
  • 21st October, 1907 Rabindranath comes back to Calcutta (now Kolkata) for the treatment of piles.
  • 27th October, 1907 Brahmabandhab Upadhay, recently arrested on charges of spreading sedition and undergoing trial, dies of hernia in a city hospital.
  • 29th October, 1907 In a letter written to son-in-law Nagendranath, who is studying agriculture in USA, Rabindranath mournfully talks about Brahmabandhab Upadhay's death.
  • 29th October, 1907 In a Rabindranath's letter written to his son-in-law Nagendranath, there are lines which reveal his views of a zamindar's responsibilities and commitments towards his poor peasant tenants -- "…Please remember a zamindar's money is peasants' money and that it is these peasants who bear the expenses of your education though they themselves live in conditions of starvation or semi-starvation, the responsibility of fully repaying this debt owed to them rests on you, this will be your foremost duty more than the prosperity of your own family."
  • November, 1907 Rabindranath presides over the Bangiya Pradeshik Sahitya Sammilan(Literary Conference of Bengal) held in Baharampur, Mursidabad.
  • November, 1907 Returning from the Bangiya Pradeshik Sahitya Sammilan held at Baharampur, Murshidabad, the poet stays back at Calcutta (now Kolkata) on 5th December, for treatment of piles.
  • 17th November, 1907 Samindranath (the poet's son) is suffering from cholera and the poet rushes to Mungher with a doctor.
  • 24th November, 1907 Samindranath (Rabindranath's son) receives the best medical care available, seems to recover a little but dies. Rabindranath, though grieving, keeps his grief to himself.
  • 5th December, 1907 After his son Samindranath's death, Rabindranath writes to Kadambini Devi who's already written him, conveying her condolences, "God has given me pain but he has not deserted me either; he has robbed (me), he will also restore. I will not grieve, do not grieve for me." And he leaves for Shilaidaha on the 6th.
  • 6th December, 1907 After his son Samindranath's death, the poet goes to Shilaidaha with his servant Bipin. His daughters also join him there and he settles down in the salubrious environs of the Padma river for a long sojourn of nearly four and a half months interrupted only by a couple of quick trips to Calcutta (now Kolkata) and Pabna.
  • 10th December, 1907 Hasya-Koutuk or 6th part of the collected prose works of Rabindranath published.
  • 13th December, 1907 Very soon, however, the grief for his son's death will merge into song and Rabindranath will be able to write - Antara momo vikashita kara antaratara hey.
  • 13th December, 1907 Though the Brahmacharyasrama in Santiniketan is being run by Bhupendranath Sanyal in his absence, Rabindranath keeps up a steady stream of letters; writing a letter almost everyday, in which he offers advice, instructions and plans of action.
  • 19th December, 1907 Saratkumar Roy is appointed as a teacher in the school in Santiniketan. He will play an important role in its development.
  • 26th December, 1907 At the 23rd annual session of the National Congress, moderates try to make their candidate Rashbehari Ghosh, president of the session. Surendranath Banerjee supports the proposal while the extremists led by Aurobindo Ghosh and Tilak object; proceedings postponed.
  • 27th December, 1907 At the 23rd annual session of National Congress, there is a disagreement between the members while selecting the president of the National Congress. Even worse pandemonium mars the next day's proceedings. Tilak challenges Ghosh's election as president, violence erupts and session ends in chaos.
  • 27th December, 1907 After the conflict arises between the members of the National Congress selecting the president of the National Congress at the 23rd annual session, consequently Congress goes into hibernation for the time being.
  • 28th December, 1907 Byanga-Koutuk or 7th part of the collected prose works of Rabindranath, published.
  • 1907 The poet encourages cooperative movement, buys shares of The Hidusthan Cooperative Insurance Society Limited set up by his friends and relatives.
  • 4th January, 1908 Disenchanted poet writes the article Yagnabhanga on the Surat fiasco, for the Prabashi (printed in its Magh issue).
  • 8th January, 1908 A fiasco happens selecting the president of the National Congress at the 23rd annual session at Surat. In a letter Rabindranath writes to Jagadish Chandra at this time, his reaction is sharper and more uninhibited -- "…there are now not two, but three sides in the land -- extremists, centrists and Musalmans -- while the fourth side stands at the window in a palace of the government-sniggering... nobody else is needed to demolish us -- neither Kitchener nor Morley -- we will be able to do it on our own. Chanting "vande mataram" we will be able to make each other bite the dust."
  • 14th January, 1908 Quiet, intensive rural reconstruction at both individual and collective levels free from all internecine feuds and squabbles is Rabindranath's chosen agenda and he states it repeatedly in private and public utterances, for example, in the second Dawn Society lecture. Or, in this letter he writes to Ajit Chakrabarty -- " …I wish to establish real swaraj in village after village -- precisely a miniature of what should take place all over the country -- a very difficult task yet inescapable…"
  • 14th January, 1908 Rabindranath has already entrusted Bhupeshchandra Roy with the responsibility of collection of relevant data and rural service in Shilaidaha.
  • 25th January, 1908 The poet on a flying visit to Calcutta (now Kolkata) to attend the 78th annual Brahma festival. Delivers an address in the morning session. This address is later printed under the title Dukkha in the Bangadarshan (Phalgun issue).
  • 25th January, 1908 Fifteen of the twenty one songs sung at the 78th annual Brahma festival are composed by the poet.
    • Aaj booker basan chinre phele 7th February, 1906
    • Ami keman kariya janabo 5th February, 1906
    • Antara mama vikashita kara 13th December, 1907
    • Veena bajao hey mama antarey
    • Sansare kono bhoy nahi
    • Mama anganey swami anande hasey
    • Bipadey morey raksha karo
    • Charana-dhwani shuni taba natha
    • Vipula taranga re
    • Aaji mama jibaney namichhe
    • Prachanda-garjaney asila eki durdina
    • Dukher beshe esechha boley 23rd July, 1905
    • Ami bahu basanaay pranpaney chai
    • Jara kachhe achhey tara
    • Amala Kamala sahajey jaler koley
  • February, 1908 Bengal's Provincial Conference held in Pabna with more than usual flourish on a big scale from 11th to 13th February.
  • February, 1908 More than 5000 delegates including a fair number of women attend in the Bengal's Provincial Conference, held at Pabna.
  • 11th February, 1908 In the Bengal's Provincial Conference, held at Pabna, Rabindranath is acceptable as president to both the moderates and the extremists as he has offended neither.
  • 11th February, 1908 In the Bengal's Provincial Conference, held at Pabna, Surendranath Bandopadhyay proposes the poet's name as the president, Aurobindo Ghosh seconds the proposal. Thus the poet presides and delivers the presidential address in Bengali -- a notable departure from current practice.
  • 11th February, 1908 In the Bengal's Provincial Conference, held at Pabna, in his address the poet returns with renewed intensity to his familiar themes of rural reconstruction at both the macro and micro levels, imperative necessity of mass participation and the no less imperative necessity of Hindu-Muslim fraternity.
  • 13th February, 1908 The Bengal's Provincial Conference held at Pabna, ends amidst unprecedented enthusiasm and promise of follow-up action. Rift in Swadeshi ranks apparently averted, at least for the time being. Poet gives a lectures at Jatiya Shiksha Parishad.
  • 13th February, 1908 As the Bengal's Provincial Conference (held at Pabna) ends, the leaders and the president given a grand send-off.
  • 13th February, 1908 Kshitimohan Sen, noted scholar and expert on Vedanta and medieval Bhakti cults and literature and wedded to liberal values. Currently education secretary in the native state of Champa. He's a genuine find brought to the poet's notice by Kalimohan Ghosh -- himself a remarkable personality. The poet writes to Kshitimohan twice (on 13th and 24th February) and invites him to come and join him in developing the Santiniketan School. It is a powerful appeal and Kshitimohan accepts it with the assurance of a monthly remuneration of Rs. 100 and a yearly increment of Rs. 10 from Tagore, though he won't be able to come over till July, 1908. Rabindranath writes another letter at 2nd March to Kshitimohan Sen welcoming him to Santiniketan School.
  • 17th February, 1908 Even the poet himself is impressed by the apparent success of the Bengal's Provincial Conference (held at Pabna), hopes it will usher in a new phase of meaningful activities (letter to Nagendranath dated 17th February).
  • 17th February, 1908 The poet is increasingly keen to set up a technical department in Santiniketan School. The establishment of Bengal Technical Institute in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1906 heightens this keenness. The Buddhist monk Anagarik Dharmapal, Maharaja of Tripura and Jagadish Chandra (now abroad) evince willingness to help. Poet explains this in a letter to his son-in-law Nagendranath. But the project is deferred most probably due to lack of suitable teachers.
  • 26th February, 1908 8th volume of collected prose works of Rabindranath published.
  • 1908 Rabindranath reads Aghor Prakash -- the autobiography of Prakashchandra and Aghorkamini Roy (parent of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy). Profoundly moved.
  • 8th March, 1908 Rabindranath writes to the poet Priyambada Devi, asks her to read the book - the autobiography of Prakashchandra and Aghorkamini Roy (the parent of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy).
  • 24th March, 1908 Kalimohan Ghosh, who is a former revolutionary, has already come under the poet's spell and dedicated to rural reconstruction of Rabindranath's vision for the rest of his life. Poet pins high hopes on Kalimohan, entrusts to him the task of rural reconstruction in his estates (letter to Ajitkumar Chakraborty, dated 24th March.)
  • 11th April, 1908 After four months spent in Shilaidaha, the poet is back in Santiniketan and keen to resume school work.
  • 15th April, 1908 The poet is down with influenza, anxious too about Meera's frail state of health.
  • 16th April, 1908 9th volume of collected prose works of Rabindranath published.
  • 21st April, 1908 The poet leaves Santiniketan even before the commencement of the summer vacation and stays put in Calcutta (now Kolkata) for a couple of months chiefly because of Meera's illness.
  • April, 1908 The magazine Bharati resumes publication from April, 1908.
  • April, 1908 After the magazine Bharati resumes its publication, Swarnakumari Devi is again the editor of the magazine.
  • April, 1908 Rabindranath's most ambitious and arguably the greatest novel continues to be serialised in the Prabashi (Baisakh issue).
  • 28th April, 1908 Nagendranath (the poet's son-in-law studying in the USA) writes a short account of the life and martyrdom of the young Russian revolutionary -- Vera Segonova. However, it is drastically edited by Rabindranath for publication in the Prabashi (Baisakh issue). The poet's comments sent to the editor as well as his letter to Nagendranath (dt 28th April.) reveal his profound opposition to and critique of revolutionary violence and terrorism.
  • 28th April, 1908 Rabindranath's son-in-law Nagendranath (studying in the USA) writes a short biography about the young Russian revolutionary -- Vera Segonova. When it is about to be published in the magazine Prabashi (Baisakh issue), Rabindranath drastically edited it. In a letter written to Nagendranath, he writes, "Out here rumors are rife that groups of Indians in the USA are secretly shipping weapons to India for an uprising. This write-up of yours might create the impression that you too belong to those groups. The government could have concluded from this article of yours that the underlying purpose of the activities undertaken by us in the villages was to spread revolutionary propaganda by copying Russian methods. Therefore I have had to express my views on the subject."
  • 1908 To Ramananda Chattrejee, editor, Prabashi, he writes, "if someone in our country gets the idea in their head to copy for the greater part the methods which have brought on revolution in Russia, I do not consider it to be good and salutary… we will have to devote all our energy to strengthening our bondings through mutual service and constant application of common good sense -- it is harmful to waste that energy by inciting opposition to others."
  • 1908 Most probably, Rabindranath is somewhat aware of the efforts increasingly made by revolutionary terrorists (attacks on Fraser, Allen etc.) through Surendranath and Gaganendranath who are at this time helping the rebels with arms and money at considerable personal risk. It has the effect of stiffening his antipathy and opposition to violent methods of all kinds including boycott.
  • 4th May, 1908 The poet conducts the evening prayers in a new temple founded by Sashipada Banerjee on Cornwallis Street.
  • 10th May, 1908 14th annual meeting of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad held. Rabindranath is one of the three vice-presidents elected.
  • 25th May, 1908 Rabindranath's reaction to and intervention in the polemic then raging in the political discourse of Bengal comes in the shape of the famous essay -- Path o Patheya. He reads the essay as his address at a meeting held by Chaitanya Library at Minerva Theatre and presided over by Hirendranath Dutta.
  • 25th May, 1908 Although Rabindranath is not unmindful of the heroic sacrifice of the revolutionaries, he pulls no punches in condemning violence and murder and unveils for them an alternative path of patient, tenacious, constructive service and meaningful cohesive action aimed at wining the hearts of all people.
  • 25th May, 1908 Rabindranath welcomes the youths of the nation as "…descend in the midst of all the races, all the people of the country, enmesh the land by all means with a vast network of multi-faceted welfare programmes, expand your field of action everywhere so liberally and so widely that both the high and low of the land, Hindus Muslims and Christians - all of them can assemble there and unite heart with heart, endeavour with endeavour...win we must - not by dementedly dashing our heads upon the obstacles; (but) by slowly overcoming them with unflinching perseverance..."
  • 1908 In a series of articles, the revolutionary mouthpiece challenges the poet's views and it is not alone in doing so. Polemic continues.
  • 1908 As Rabindranath condemns the revolutionary act involving violence and murder, the revolutionary mouthpiece challenges the poet's views in a series of articles, published in the Vande Mataram weekly magazine. Rabindranath responds to this criticism in two articles - Samasya and Sadupaya in which he reiterates the fundamentals of his vision - unity in diversity, communal, racial harmony and mutual tolerance and acceptance.
  • 1908 In response to the criticism of revolutionary mouthpiece who criticise his views towards revolutionary act involving violence and murder, Rabindranath bluntly poses the question in the article Samasya - "…Freedom, whose freedom? If the Bengalees become free in India, the Nayars of the Deccan will not consider themselves free and if the Jatt-s of western India gain freedom, the Assamis of the east will not pride themselves on the fact that they have gained the same results. In Bengal itself there is no evidence yet to show that the Muslims are ready to throw in their lot with the Hindus. Then who will become free....” This is published in the July issues of Prabashi, Bangadarshan.
  • 1908 Like his response to the revolutionary mouthpiece in his article Samasya, Rabindranath follows this up in his another article Sadupaya (published in the Sravan issues of Prabashi, Bharati) a month later with prophetic observations on the need to maintain and promote inter-provincial and Hindu-Muslim harmony - "The Biharis are the neighbours of the Bengalees and the latter have been interacting with the Biharis for a long time but every Bengalee resident in Bihar knows that there is no amity between Bengalees and Biharis. Educated Oriyas are keen to project themselves as completely distinct from Bengalees and the same applies to Assamis too..." He continues--"…In these circumstances if the Bengal of the Bengalees is also so divided that Muslim-Bangla and Hindu-Bangla are hived off from each other, no other province in India will be so dismembered as Bangladesh." Even today these words, penned more than a century ago, continue to ring with acute appositeness.
  • 1908 Not only the revolutionaries and their ideologues, but personalities like Abala Basu, Nivedita, etc. have different views than the poet, and the poet is aware of the differences which however do not affect the stance he has taken.
  • 1908 After his return to Calcutta (now Kolkata), Rabindranath delivers an oral address every Wednesday at the Adi Brahmasamaj Temple.
  • 1908 In a deliberate effort to promote indigenous business and industry, Rabindranath associates himself with such ventures as Hindustan Cooperative Insurance Society and Mohini Mills Ltd.
  • 1908 Rabindranath, pursuing his vision of rural reconstruction on his zamindari estates, plans to divide Birahimpur and Kaligram parganas into 5 mandali-s each, for the welfare of the tenants.
  • 23rd June, 1908 Returns to Santiniketan with daughters after a long spell in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • June, 1908 Kshitimohan Sen joins the Brahmacharyasram around the middle of June and very soon becomes the principal of the institution in view of his erudition and universal acceptability.
  • June, 1908 Being the principal of the Brahmacharyasram at Santiniketan, Kshitimohan Sen forgoes a major part of his salary in view of the straitened circumstances through which the school is passing. In the days ahead he will draw the poet's attention to the Bhakti literature and philosophy of saints like Kabir, Rajjab, Dadu, etc. And it will have an important bearing on the poet's writings.
  • 30th June, 1908 10th volume of the collected prose works of Rabindranath is published.
  • 25th July, 1908 11th volume of the collected prose works of Rabindranath is published.
  • 30th July, 1908 Rabindranath arrives in Patisar. The purpose of his visit is to divide Kaligram into a few mandali-s to facilitate rural reconstruction as he has already done in Birahimpur.
  • 12th August, 1908 12th volume of the collected prose works of Rabindranath is published.
  • 12th August, 1908 Back to Calcutta (now Kolkata) for a week, Rabindranath reads the article Purva o Paschim (East and West) before an audience of students in the Sadharan Brahmasamaj Temple.
  • 12th August, 1908 The article Purva o Paschim signals the beginning of a new direction in the poet's thoughts which leads increasingly to an innovative world view of the synthesis of the best of East and West and lays stress on the syncretic nature of India's living civilisation, its ability to interiorise diverse elements.
  • August, 1908 Bhupendranath Sanyal leaves Santiniketan owing to his deteriorating health.
  • 23rd August, 1908 Rabindranath writes Saradotsava (Autumnal festival) in a single day (18 hours at a stretch) to celebrate the arrival of Sarat (autumn) and inaugurate the cycle of seasonal festivals as a cultural activity in Santiniketan. It's an intensely lyrical play, breaks new ground with regard to form and genre and contains great songs which distil the peculiar serene rapture lighting up the fluid landscape of rural Bengal at this time of the year in all its moods.
    • Amra bendhechhi kashero guchha 19th August, 1908
    • Amala dhabala paley legechhe 19th August, 1908
    • Amar nayana bhulano ele 23rd August, 1908
    • Megher koley rod hesechhe 23rd August, 1908
    • Aaj dhaner khetey roudra 23rd August, 1908
    • Ananderi sagar hotey 23rd August, 1908
    • Tomar sonar thalay 23rd August, 1908
    • Naba kundadhabaladal 23rd August, 1908
  • 7th September, 1908 13th volume of the collected prose works of Rabindranath is published.
  • 10th September, 1908 Combined edition of Katha O Kahini containing 31 poems published.
  • 20th September, 1908 5th collection of Rabindranath's songs is published.
  • 20th September, 1908 The play Saradotsava written by Rabindranath is published.
  • 24th September, 1908 The play Saradotsava written by Rabindranath is performed in Santiniketan, cast consists of teachers and students, Rabindranath himself sings certain songs in the play.
  • 4th November, 1908 The poet is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata) after spending a month in Shilaidaha.
  • 12th November, 1908 Rabindranath arrives in Santiniketan.
  • 17th November, 1908 14th volume of the collected prose works of Rabindranath is published.
  • 21st November, 1908 He is busy, the school claims most of his time. Writes to Manoranjan Bandopadhyay -- "A new session has begun in the school. It keeps me very busy. I am also taking classes…it is devouring all my leisure."
  • December, 1908 Series of lectures rich in mystic undertones delivered at dawn almost everyday to select inmates of the ashram in the temple at Santiniketan from December, 1908 to April, 1909.
  • 4th December, 1908 Case of Hiralal Sen (who is a teacher of Senhati Jatiya Vidyalaya) starts, which is related to the writing of the allegedly seditious Hunkar -- a booklet of patriotic songs dedicated to Rabindranath.
  • 4th December, 1908 Rabindranath is summoned as a witness and goes to Khulna. In his deposition he says it's not at all unnatural for a freedom-loving young man to write exciting songs or poems. Since he is not a lawyer, he doesn't know anything about the degree of excitability which renders writing a song or poem punishable under the law of the land.
  • 6th December, 1908 The poet arrives in Calcutta (now Kolkata), inaugurates the new building on Upper Circular Road (now Acharya Prafulla Chandra Sarani) in which the Parishad will henceforth be located.
  • 6th December, 1908 Rabindranath and Rajanikanta -- an old acquaintance and a poet and writer of songs of considerable stature, meet together at the inauguration ceremony of the new building of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad. Rajanikanta sings a couple of songs.
  • 7th December, 1908 The day after they met at the inauguration ceremony of the new building of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, Rajanikanta Sen goes to see the poet at his Jorasanko residence along with Dineshchandra Sen.
  • 8th December, 1908 In connection with the writing of the allegedly seditious Hunkar -- a booklet of patriotic songs dedicated to Rabindranath, Hiralal Sen is sentenced to 18 months' rigorous imprisonment. After his release from jail, Hiralal will be employed by the poet first in the Bolpur school and later in the zamidari estate.
  • 22nd December, 1908 18th annual festival held in Santiniketan. Rabindranath delivers two lectures on the occasion.
  • 31st December, 1908 The play Mukut is published.
  • 4th January, 1909 Tagore writes his first English letter to M. H. Phelps. This letter conveys the idea of his famous poem Bharat Tirtha.
  • 10th January, 1909 The poet presides over the monthly meeting of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad. Ernest Binfield Havell, the famous art administrator, art critique and author is felicitated for his contribution to the art of Bengal.
  • 19th January, 1909 The fourth death anniversary of Maharshi Debendranath Tagore is observed. The poet delivers a lecture titled 'Mrityur Prakash'
  • 20th January, 1909 A booklet titled Brahmasangit containing 13 brahmasangit of Tagore is published on 20th January. Bengali Library Catalogue records: A collection of devotional songs sung at the 79th anniversary of the Adi Brahma Samaj.
  • 24th January, 1909 Poet remains present at the Maghotsav celebration. Reads an article titled 'Dui Iccha' in the morning session at Adi Brahma Samaj. The evening session takes place at the Maharshi Bhavan. 'Naba Yuger Utsav' was title of his lecture at this session.
  • 24th January, 1909 In the morning session of Maghotsav the following four brahmasangit of the poet are sung
    • Janani, tomar karun charankhani
    • Preme prane gane gandhe aloke pulake
    • Taba amal parasarasa
    • Tumi naba naba rupe eso prane
  • 24th January, 1909 The following nine brahmasangit are sung in the evening session of Maghotsav
    • Aji e ananda-sandhya
    • Baje baje ramya bina
    • Sabar majhare tomare swikar kariba he
    • Aji nahi nahi nidra ankhipate
    • Kotha hate baje prem bedanare 8th June,1904
    • Kata ajanare janaile tumi
    • Kon subhakhane udibe nayane
    • Ekmane tor ektarate 7th February,1906
    • Tumi jata bhar diyecha se bhar
  • 24th January, 1909 The first part of the book Santiniketan is published.
  • 29th January, 1909 The poet goes to Shilaidaha.
  • 2nd February, 1909 The fifteenth part of his collection of prose titled Shabdatattwa is published by Charuchandra Bandyopadhyay of Indian Publishing House, Calcutta and Indian Press, Allahabad.
  • 2nd February, 1909 The fifth death anniversary of Satishchandra Roy is observed at Santiniketan ashram.
  • 3rd February, 1909 The poet returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Shilaidaha.
  • 12th February, 1909 The poet goes to Santiniketan.
  • March, 1909 Lord Satyendraprasanna Sinha is elected as a member of the cabinet of Viceroy.
  • April, 1909 Saratkumar Chakraborty, the son-in-law of Rabindranath, returns from England as a Barrister and starts his career as a practicing lawyer at Calcutta Highcourt.
  • 9th May, 1909 Rabindranath goes to Kalka with his daughter Mira for a change. On his way, halts at Allahabad, stays as a guest of Nagendranath Gupta, delivers lecture at Anglo Bengali School.
  • 19th May, 1909 The poet leaves Kalka.
  • 8th June, 1909 The poet returns to Santiniketan.
  • 15th June, 1909 The 8th volume of Santiniketan (written by Rabindranath) is published.
  • 12th July, 1909 Foundation of the Girls' school at Santiniketan.
  • July, 1909 The poet goes to Shilaidaha with the purpose of completing Gora.
  • 13th July, 1909 During his stay at Shilaidaha Rabindranath composed two songs Aji jharer rate tomar abhisar and Asaar sandhya ghanie elo.
  • July, 1909 A number of problems at Santiniketan school makes the poet anxious. Girls' school comes to an end.
  • July, 1909 Rabindranath meets Jagadishchandra Bose, Charuchandra Bandyopadhyay and Ajitkumar Chakraborty, his friends, at Shilaidaha.
  • July, 1909 Rabindranath completes his novel Gora.
  • 15th August, 1909 Rabindranath reaches Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Shilaidaha.
  • 18th August, 1909 Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy (1877-1947), famous Ceylonese Tamil philosopher, metaphysician and art critique delivers a lecture on national education at the National College at 166 Bowbazar Street. Rabindranath presides over this lecture session.
  • 26th August, 1909 The poet composes 18 songs between 26th August and 3rd September
    • Jani jani kon adi kal hote 26th August,1909
    • Tumi kemon kore gan karo he guni 26th August,1909
    • Amon aral diye lukiye gele cholbe na 27th August,1909
    • Jadi tomar dekha na pai prabhu 28th August,1909
    • Heri aharaha tomari biraha 28th August,1909
    • Ar nai re bela namla chhaya 29th August,1909
    • Aj bari jhare jhara jhara 30th August,1909
    • Prabhu toma lagi ankhi jage 30th August,1909
    • Dhane jane achi jaraye hay 31st August,1909
    • Ei to tomar prem, ogo 1st September,1909
    • Ami hethay thaki sudhu gaite tomar gan 1st September,1909
    • Dao he amar bhoy bhenge dao 1st September,1909
    • Abar era ghiriche mor man 1st September,1909
    • Amar milan lagi tumi 1st September,1909
    • Eso he eso, sajal ghana 2nd September,1909
    • Parbi naki jog dite ei chhande re 3rd September,1909
    • Nishar swapan chhutla re, ei chhutla re 3rd September,1909
    • Sharate aj kon atithi 3rd September,1909
  • 5th September, 1909 Rathindranath returns to India after 3 years of study in the US.
  • 17th September, 1909 Rabindranath composes a song on the way to Surul--Ja hariye jay ta agle base raiba kata ar.
  • 18th September, 1909 Rabindranath goes to Bangiya Sahitya Parishat to listen to Ramendrasundar Trivedi's lecture.
  • 20th September, 1909 The poet gives a discourse at the Devalaya of Brahma Samaj on "What we should aim at?"
  • 26th September, 1909 The poet presides over a students' meeting at Bangiya Sahitya Parishad and gives a talk.
  • 27th September, 1909 The poet presides over the 76th death anniversary of Rammohan Ray at City College. Delivers a lecture on the place of Rammohan in Indian culture.
  • 28th September, 1909 Chayanika, a compilation of Rabindranath's poems and songs, gets published with 7 illustrations by Nandalal Bose.
  • 28th September, 1909 Rabindranath presides over a lecture session of Ustad Enayet Khan at University Institute Hall and sings Tumi keman kore gan karo he guni, composed on 26th August. Rabindranath speaks at length about the philosophy of music.
  • 2nd October, 1909 Rabindranath goes to Santiniketan with nephew Surendranath Tagore and Saratkumar Chakraborty, son-in-law.
  • 5th October, 1909 The poet composes a song -- Ei malin bastra charte habe.
  • 8th October, 1909 The poet returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 10th October, 1909 To Shilaidaha with Rathindranath.
  • 11th October, 1909 Composes a song--Gaye amar pulak lage.
  • 13th October, 1909 Rabindranath composes the song -- Prabhu aji tomar dakshin hasta and sends it to Ajitkumar Chakraborty for the ensuing Rakhibandhan utsav.
  • 15th October, 1909 Dramatised version of Bou Thakuranir Hat written by Rabindranath is published as Prayaschitta.
  • 16th October, 1909 On the day of Rakhibandhan Rabindranath composes--Jagate anandajajne amar nimantran.
  • 16th October, 1909 Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Shilaidaha in the evening.
  • 18th October, 1909 Due to financial constraints, Jnanendranarayan Roy - a teacher of the school, is released from his responsibilities.
  • 23rd October, 1909 Goes to Santiniketan.
  • 5th November, 1909 Again comes back to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Santiniketan.
  • 13th November, 1909 Rabindranath starts for Patisar via Shilaidaha with Rathindranath. This trip is planned to introduce Rathindranath with the Tagore estates of Rajshahi district, now in Bangladesh.
  • 28th November, 1909 Returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) from Patisar via Goyalanda.
  • 30th November, 1909 Rabindranath attends Jagadish Chandra Bose's 50th birth anniversary at his residence at Parshibagan.
  • 1st December, 1909 Delivers a lecture in Bengali in the Overtoun Hall. The title of the lecture is Tapoban, later published in the Poush issue of Prabasi.
  • 1st December, 1909 Modern Review publishes the English translation of Tagore's story Samasyapuran with the title The Riddle Solved by Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyay.
  • 6th December, 1909 Composes a song--Aloy alokmay kore he.
  • 8th December, 1909 Being requested by Kshitimohan Sen, Rabindranath starts translation of Vedic hymns into Bengali. The first translation of the Vedic hymn Pita nohsi as Tumi amader pita. This would be the opening song of the next year's (1910) Maghotsav. Translates 10 more hymns into Bengali.
  • 22nd December, 1909 19th annual festival held in Santiniketan. Rabindranath delivers two lectures on the occasion--Utsav and Bhakta.
  • December, 1909 The drama Bisarjan is staged as part of the Pausha utsav. Rabindranath trains actors and designs costumes.
  • 25th December, 1909 Rabindranath composes two songs on 25th & 27th December.
    • Oi asanataler matir pare lutiye raba 25th December, 1909
    • Rupsagare dub diyechi 27th December, 1909
  • 27th December, 1909 Writes two poems
    • Akashtale uthlo phute
    • Hethay tini kol petechen
  • 1st January, 1910 Rabindranath comes to to Calcutta (now Kolkata) to arrange for Rathindranath's marriage. Rathindranath's marriage is fixed with Pratima Devi, daughter of Binayini Devi and Sheshendrabhushan Chattopadhyay. Pratima Devi was first married to Nilanath, son of poet's friend Niradnath Mukhopadhyay. But Nilanath died in an accident.
  • 1st January, 1910 Writes 2 songs
    • Nibhrita praner devata 1st January, 1910
    • Kon alote praner pradip 1st January, 1910
  • 8th January, 1910 Rabindranath presides over the 27th death anniversary of Keshabchandra Sen at Scottish Church College Hall. Binayendranath Sen, Shibnath Shastri, Sitanath Tattwabhushan and Herambachandra Maitra are also present.
  • 9th January, 1910 The first ever commercial show of the drama Goray Galad written by Rabindranath, takes place at the Kohinoor Theatre. The second show takes place on 16th January.
  • 16th January, 1910 The first edition of Gitalipi (Notations of songs), Volume 1 is published by Rana Gopal Chakravarti. Surendranath Bandyopadhyay, the famous singer and musicologist, prepares the notations.
  • 16th January, 1910 A 7-page booklet titled Brahmasangit is published. This would be distributed for free in the Maghotsav scheduled on 24th January.
  • 19th January, 1910 5th death anniversary of Maharshi Debendranath is observed at Jorasanko. Binayendranath Sen is invited as a speaker. Two songs (nibhrita praner devata and kon alote praner pradip) composed on 1st January are sung on the occasion.
  • 24th January, 1910 Maghotsav is celebrated. The poet reads his article Chiranabinata in the morning session. The lecture in the evening session is later published in the Phalgun issue of Prabasi with the title Bishwabodh.
  • 24th January, 1910 In the morning session following 8 songs of Rabindranath are sung
    • Tumi amader pita 8th December, 1909
    • Timir duyar kholo 14th April, 1909
    • Aloy alokmay kare he 6th December, 1909
    • Nishar swapan chhutla re, ei chhutla re 3rd September, 1909
    • Abar era ghiriche mor man 1st September, 1909
    • Ei to tomar prem, ogo 1st September, 1909
    • Jay taba bichitra ananda 1st September, 1909
    • Prabhate aj kon atithi (previously written as Sharate aaj kon atithi) 3rd September, 1909
  • 24th January, 1910 In the evening session following 13 songs of Rabindranath are sung
    • Kar milan chao birahi
    • Danrao man ananta brahmanda majhe
    • Jagat jure udar sure
    • Jani jani kon adi kal hote 1st January, 1910
    • Nayan bhasila jale
    • Jadi tomar dekha na pai prabhu 28th August, 1909
    • Amar milan lagi tumi 1st September, 1909
    • Jaga Jagare Jaga sangit
    • Jage nath jochhona rate
    • Maharaj, eki saje ele
    • Ja hariye jay ta agle base
    • Rupsagare dub diyechi 27th December, 1909
    • Oi asanataler matir pare lutiye raba 25th December, 1909
  • 25th January, 1910 9th volume of Santiniketan is published.
  • 27th January, 1910 Rathindranath and Pratima Devi's marriage takes place. Rabindranath dedicates his novel Gora, newly published in book form (previously serialised in Prabasi from August, 1907 to February, 1910), to Rathindranath as a token of blessings in his marriage. This is the first widow marriage in Tagore family.
  • 29th January, 1910 10th volume of Santiniketan is published.
  • 1st February, 1910 Gora -- the famous novel written by Rabindranath, is published in book form in two volumes (previously serialised in Prabasi from August, 1907 to February, 1910).
  • 8th February, 1910 Rabindranath goes to Santiniketan with newly married Rathindranath and Pratima Devi. To welcome the newly married couple to Santiniketan, students of the school stage Malini.
  • 13th February, 1910 The poet attends the third annual convention of Bangiya Sahitya Sammilan at Bhagalpur in spite of his unwillingness due to physical ailment.
  • 15th February, 1910 After attending the third annual convention of Bangiya Sahitya Sammilan at Bhagalpur, the poet returns to Santiniketan.
  • 26th February, 1910 Sourindramohan Mukhopadhyay's comedy Dashachakra based on Rabindranath's short story Muktir Upay is staged at Star Theatre.
  • 5th March, 1910 The new edition (fourth print) of the novel Bou-thakuranir Hat written by Rabindranath, is published by Indian Publishing House.
  • 6th March, 1910 Goes to Krishnakumar Mitra's (editor of Sanjivani) house to see him on his release from Agra jail.
  • 8th March, 1910 Rabindranath sets forth to Shilaidaha with Rathindranath.
  • 19th March, 1910 Rabindranath returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) with Rathindranath from Shilaidaha.
  • 25th March, 1910 Meets Jadunath Sarkar at Santiniketan on his return from Calcutta (now Kolkata). Jadunath gives a talk for the students of Santiniketan school.
  • April, 1910 Rabindranath composes five songs at the close of the Bengali year 1316
    • Aji basanta jagrata dware 9th April, 1910
    • Taba sinhasaner asan hote 10th April, 1910
    • Tumi ebar amay laho he nath, laho 11th April January, 1910
    • Jiban jakhan shukaye jay 11th April, 1910
    • Ebar nirab kare dao he tomar 13th April, 1910
  • 17th April, 1910 Composes the song Bishwa jakhan nidramagan.
  • 23rd April, 1910 The poetic drama Malini written by Rabindranath is staged for the second time before the summer vacation.
  • 25th April, 1910 Composes the song Se je pashe ese basechila.
  • 8th May, 1910 Rabindranath's 50th birthday celebrated at Santiniketan. Prasantachandra Mahalanabis (1893-1972) is present.
  • 13th May, 1910 Ajitkumar and Labanyalekha's marriage solemnised as per Brahma rituals in presence of Rabindranath. Due to opposition from various quarters, this marriage could not take place at Santiniketan.
  • 17th May, 1910 Composed the song Tora shunis ni ki shunis ni tar payer dhwani.
  • 18th May, 1910 Starts for Tindhariya in Darjiling district with Rathindranath, Pratima Devi and Mira Devi. Son-in-law Nagendranath and Hemalata Devi also join them -- reports Prabhatkumar Mukhopadhyay. Returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) on 5th June.
  • May, 1910 During his stay at Tindhariya he writes following 12 poems and songs
    • Menechi, har menechi 21st May, 1910
    • Ekti ekti kore tomar 22nd May, 1910
    • Kabe ami bahir halem 23rd May, 1910
    • Tomar prem je baite pari 24th May, 1910
    • Sundar, tumi esechile aj prate 31st May, 1910
    • Amar khela jakhan chhilo tomar sane 31st May, 1910
    • Oi re tari dila khule 1st June, 1910
    • Chitta amar harala aj 1st June, 1910
    • Ogo mauna, na jadi kao 1st June, 1910
    • Jatabar alo jwalate chai 4th June, 1910
    • Saba hate rakhba tomay 4th June, 1910
    • Bojre tomar baje banshi 4th June, 1910
  • June, 1910 While in Calcutta (now Kolkata) Rabindranath composes 5 songs and poems
    • Daya diye habe go mor 7th June, 1910
    • Sabha jakhan bhangbe takhan 7th June, 1910
    • Chirajanamer bedana 9th June, 1910
    • Tumi jakhan gan gahite bala 10th June, 1910
    • Dhay jeno mor sakal bhalobasa 11th June, 1910
  • 11th June, 1910 Returns to Santiniketan and composes 4 more poems in the following three days
    • Tara diner belay esechila 12th June, 1910
    • Tara tomar name bater majhe 12th June, 1910
    • Ei jyotsnarate jage amar pran 12th June, 1910
    • Katha chila ek-tarite kebal tumi ami 13th June, 1910
  • 16th August, 1910 The poet goes to Shilaidaha.
  • 8th September, 1910 Ajitkumar Chakraborty gets a scholarship in Manchester. Sails for London from Colombo.
  • 27th September, 1910 The poet gives a talk at City College, Mirzapur, arranged in remembrance of Rammohan Roy.
  • 13th October, 1910 Goes to Shilaidaha with Jnanendranath Chattopadhyay, Hiralal Sen and Arunchandra Sen. Rathindranath and Pratima Devi are already at Shilaidaha. Spends six weeks at Shilaidaha.
  • 22nd December, 1910 Paush Utsav is celebrated with grandeur. Shri Prakashchandra Roy, father of Dr. Bidhanchandra Roy, is the chief guest. Poet reads his article Jagaran in the morning session and Samanjasya in the evening session.
  • 25th December, 1910 Celebration of Khristotsav (Christmas) for the first time.
  • 1st January, 1911 Rabindranath is in Shilaidaha. Miss. Burdett – who has been appointed as Pratima Devi's teacher – also joins them there.
  • 1st January, 1911 After Mrs. Burdett has been appointed as Pratima Devi's teacher, Rabindranath writes to Arunchandra Sen that teacher and her students are getting on very well together.
  • 18th January, 1911 Arrives in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 20th January, 1911 The anniversary of Debendranath's death observed at Jorasanko. On this occasion Rabindranath again gives a public reading of Samanjasya -- the essay he read a few days ago at the Santiniketan Ashram.
  • 24th January, 1911 12th volume of the collected lectures of Rabindranath published.
  • 25th January, 1911 81st annual Brahma festival celebrated with usual flourish.
  • 25th January, 1911 The poet reads the articles Karmayoga and Atmabodh in the morning and evening sessions respectively.
  • 25th January, 1911 On 81st annual Brahma festival, eight of his songs are sung in the morning session.
    • Praner pran jagichhe tomari
    • Ghor dukhe jaginu
    • Daya diye habey go mor 24th January,1884
    • Jagate ananda yagney amar
    • Viswasathe jogey jethay
    • Jibaney jata puja 24th January,1884
    • Jadi amay tumi banchao
    • Uriye dhwaja abhrabhedi rathey
  • 25th January, 1911 On 81st annual Brhama festival, another thirteen Rabindra songs are sung in the evening session
    • Prathama adi taba sakti
    • Hey nikhilabharadharana viswabidhata
    • Dakey bar bar dakey
    • Jago nirmala netrey ratrir
    • Jatobar alo jwalatey chai
    • Timira bibhabari katey kamoney 24th January,1884
    • Hey mor devata
    • Prabhu amar, priya amar,
    • Seemar majhe aseem tumi
    • Tai tomar ananda amar
    • Devata jene durey roi
    • Jethai tomar loot hotechhe
    • Prabhu, aaji tomar dakshina hat
  • 26th January, 1911 In an interesting and significant sequel to the Maghotsav this year, responding to an invitation extended by it, the next day Rabindranath reads the essay Brahmasamajer Sarthakata at the temple of the Sadharan Brahmasamaj.
  • 26th January, 1911 On the 81st annual Brahma festival, responding to an invitation extended by it, the next day, when Rabindranath reads the essay Brahmasamajer Sarthakata at the temple of Sadharan Brahmasamaj, a mammoth crowd turns up to hear the poet speak in the evening. Even the streets outside are clogged with people.
  • 26th January, 1911 A mammoth crowd turn up to hear the poet’s speech on his essay ‘Brahmasamajer Sarthakata’ on the 81st annual Brahma festival, which testifies to his growing popularity among Brahma and Hindu youth and in the essay he emphasizes synthesis of different views and freedom from dogma, the need to reach out to the wider world.
  • 28th January, 1911 In a letter written to Amal Hom, then a Brahma youth, he deprecates Brahma communal orthodoxy. All this adds up to an effort on his part to forge stronger bonds of cooperation and harmony between the three branches of Brahma religion.
  • January, 1911 William Rothenstein, a British artist and patron of the recently founded India Society (London), who is now visiting India, meets Rabindranath at the Jorasanko residence of Gaganendranath and Abanindranath. It is impossible to overestimate the significance of this meeting for the poet's career in the years ahead, particularly in the west.
  • January, 1911 The British artist and patron of the recently founded India Society (London), William Rothenstein now visiting India, makes the poet's acquaintance and at once feels a powerful attraction to find out more about him – "I was attracted, each time I went to Jorasanko, by their uncle, a strikingly handsome figure, dressed in a white dhoti and chadur, who sat silently listening as we talked. I felt an immediate attraction, and asked whether I might draw him, for I discerned an inner charm as well as great physical beauty, which I tried to set down with my pencil."
  • 3rd February, 1911 Poet's younger son-in-law Nagendranath Gangopadhaya, B.Sc. (Illinois), comes back from America as an agricultural expert.
  • February, 1911 The poet was waiting for Nagendranath's return and soon sends him to Shilaidaha to assist Rathindranath in agricultural work.
  • 5th February, 1911 Writes to the poet from California, USA offering financial help for the school.
  • 5th February, 1911 Though the next meeting between Rabindranath and Rothenstein will take place in England in 1912, Rothenstein isn't entirely unaware of Rabindranath's achievements. Abanindranath asks him to visit Santiniketan.
  • 17th February, 1911 A.K. Kumaraswami writes to Rothenstein - "It is peculiarly attractive to know Rabindranath in his own world."
  • 21st February, 1911 William Rothenstein may have read English translations of the poet's poems and short stories published in the Modern Review. For there's a hint of it in the letter he writes the poet before his departure for England--"…I shall be grateful for any translations of poems or stories which may appear at any time."
  • 1911 Able translators are now increasingly translating into English the poet's poems and stories. Ajitkumar Chakrabarty translates some of his poems into English. Towards the end of the year Pramathalal Sen writes the poet asking him to send these to him in England so that he can approach British journals and request them to publish the translations with the help of Rothenstein and Fox Strangways, who have by now become ardent Tagore enthusiasts.
  • 1911 Prof. Satyendranath Roy and Principal Lalit Mohan Chatterjee and Pramathalal himself try their hands at translating Rabindranath into English. A.K. Kumaraswami's translations will appear in his book Art and Swadeshi (1912).
  • 1911 Modern Review continues to publish English Translations of Tagore stories, essays and poems by various hands including Nivedita's The Cabuliwallah almost in each issue.
  • 1911 All the efforts of translating Rabindranath's literature into English by various hands, however small and scattered, go some way towards familiarising non-Bengalee readers both at home and abroad with the poet's works prior to his dramatic emergence on the international literary scene towards the end of 1912.
  • 1911 The poet has often been giving vent to his growing sprititual ideal of the synthesis and harmony of the orient and the occident in such major poems as Matri Abhishek and other writings. The founding of the India Society in Britain, Rothenstein's visit, Viceroy Hardinge's more lenient policies and similar developments perhaps exercise a mellowing effect on his anti-British stance. He's not inclined to lend his support to opposition to the government merely for the sake of opposition.
  • 14th March, 1911 On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the poet talks about the significance of Vaishnavism in an address delivered in Santiniketan.
  • 19th March, 1911 The play Raja written by Rabindranath, performed by the teachers and students of the ashram. Rabindranath plays the role of Thakurda. Guests including Ramananda Chatterjee and his daughter arrive from Kolkata to witness the performance. According to the glowing account written by Ramananda's daughter Shanta Devi --"…His hospitality, his decorum, his filial affection, the splendid melodiousness of his voice, his graceful appearance, his physical stamina, his graciousness -- everything seemed to be boundless."
  • 30th March, 1911 Most probably meets Ashutosh Mukherjee, vice-chancellor, Calcutta University on 30th March 1911, to explore the possibilities of setting up a college in Santiniketan. However, paucity of funds deters him.
  • April, 1911 Satyendranath Tagore having laid down the office, the poet becomes editor of the Brahma organ Tattwabodhini Patrika from the Baisakh issue .
  • April, 1911 The poet introduces a new section in the journal called Ashram Sambad, designed to regularly supply news of the Brahmacharyashram.
  • 11th April, 1911 Alarmed by their nephew Aurobindomohan's excessive emotional attachment to the ashram and devotion to Rabindranath's personality, Abala Basu writes that henceforth they will make Aurobindomohan always stay with them.
  • 13th April, 1911 Being worried by their nephew Aurobindomohan's excessive emotional attachment to the Santiniketan ashram and Rabindranath, Abala Basu writes to Rabindranath that henceforth they will make Aurobindomohan always stay with them. The poet's reply inter alia contains a memorable statement of what the Santiniketan Ashram means to him --"…this school is the arena of the sadhana of my life, my Lord is here, my salvation is here, it is no mere school…"
  • April, 1911 Prayers are held in the temple in Santiniketan on the last day of the expiring Bengali Year (1317) (13th April, 1911) as well as the first day of the New Year (1318) (14th April, 1911).
  • April, 1911 A public appeal is made to the people inviting support and financial help in the shape of donations to celebrate Rabindranath's 50th birthday. The signatories include Hirendranath Dutta, Prafullachandra Roy, Ramendrasundar Trivedi, Manindrachandra Nandi and Jagadishchandra Basu -- all members of the preparatory committee.
  • April, 1911 The preparatory committee which is made to organise the celebration of Rabindranath's 50 the birthday, also writes to the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad requesting it to organise the celebration.
  • April, 1911 The story Muktir Upaya written by Rabindranath, is turned into a comedy by Saurindramohan Mukherjee called Dasachakra and performed several times in 1911-- on 16th and 23rd April, for example.
  • April, 1911 Summer vacation puts off till 8th May to celebrate poet's birthday.
  • 20th April, 1911 While Rabindranath won't stand in the way of the teachers and students of the ashram celebrating his birthday, he wants to distance himself from the celebrations being organised by his admirers in Kolkata. Writes to this effect to Jadunath Sarkar.
  • 6th May, 1911 Guests from Calcutta (now Kolkata) start arriving to celebrate Rabindranath's 50th birthday.
  • 6th May, 1911 For the celebration of Rabindranath's 50th birthday, ashram students take part in sports.
  • 7th May, 1911 On the occasion of Rabindranath's 50th birthday, Ajitkumar Chakrabarty reads his essay Rabindranath in the morning as a kind of prelude to the celebration proper.
  • 7th May, 1911 During the celebration of Rabindranath's 50th birthday, the play Raja written by Rabindranath, performed again in the evening at Natyaghar by a cast of students and teachers.
  • 7th May, 1911 During the celebration of Rabindranath's 50th birthday, the play Raja is performed. As usual, Rabindranath plays Thakurdada.
  • 8th May, 1911 Rabindranath's 50th birthday is celebrated in the Amrakunja in the morning.
  • 9th May, 1911 Summer vacation commences. Poet leads students' prayers in the temple in the morning.
  • May, 1911 Completes writing Jibansmriti.
  • May, 1911 Ramananda eager to serialise it in Prabasi . Rabindranath agrees. It will appear in serial installments in the Prabashi from its Bhadra issue onward.
  • 16th June, 1911 Starts writing the play Achalayatan.
  • June, 1911 The play Achalayatan gets completed on 29th June and like its predecessors in this genre, it is rich in magnificent songs which often transcend the immediate dramatic context and achieve the kind of universality so characteristic of imaginative art of the highest order.
    • Tumi daak diechho
    • Durey kothai durey durey
    • E path gechhe kon khaney go
    • Amra tarei jani tarei jani
    • Amra chash kori anandey
    • Kathtin loha kathtin ghumey
    • Sob kajey hath lagai mora
    • Gharete bhramar elo
    • Amra kato dal go kato dal
    • Ei ekla moder hajar manush
    • Ja hobar ta hobey
    • Ami karey daki go
    • Bujhi elo, bujhi elo, orey pran
    • Aaj jeman korey gaichhe akash
    • Harey re re re re
    • Bajerey bajey re
    • Orey orey orey amar mon
    • Ei moumachhider gharchhara ke korechhe re
    • O akuler kool, o agatir gati
    • Sakala janam bharey
    • Utal dhara badal jharey
    • Alo, amar alo, ogo
    • Jini sakal kajer kaji
    • Kabe tumi ashbe boley
    • Ami je sab nitey chai, sab nitey dhai re
    • Aar nahey, aar noi
  • 20th June, 1911 Writes to Charuchandra expressing satisfaction with the progress he's making.
  • 29th June, 1911 Writes again to say he has finished the play Achalayatan.
  • 2nd July, 1911 Back in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Rabindranath gives a public reading of the new play Achalayatan to a selected audience at Prasantachandra Mahalanabish's residence.
  • 3rd July, 1911 The poet is back in Santiniketan.
  • July, 1911 The poet stays in Santiniketan till mid-August.
  • 14th July, 1911 At last writes to Charuchandra from Santiniketan that finally he's made the play Achalayatan to his liking after extensive revision, expansion and condensation.
  • July, 1911 For this latest play Achalayatan he again draws on his favourite source -- Rajendralal Mitra's The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal.
  • July, 1911 In the play Achalayatan, as is his wont, however, he adapts only certain external elements of the 'Story of Panchaka' such as the names Panchaka and Mahapanchaka.a.
  • July, 1911 The play Achalayatan is a powerful imaginative critique of all kinds of degrading soul-destroying coercive ritualism and indeed ideological totalitarianism. It is in harmony with his essays like Samanjasya, Karmayoga, Brahmasamajer Sarthakata and poems like Naivedya 52.
  • July, 1911 The play Achalayatan is printed in the Ashwin issue of the Prabasi and dedicated to Jadunath Sarkar.
  • July, 1911 An admirer of the poet - Jadunath Sarkar, the noted historian is associated with the poet and his work in many ways, he regularly translates into English his stories and essays for non-Bengali readers, stands up for him when a controversy arises and offers very useful help and advice in all matters pertaining to the school at Santiniketan. Again, as is his wont, six years later poet will transform Achalayatan into another play called Guru.
  • July, 1911 Like its predecessors, the play Achalayatan does not escape misconceived criticism.
  • July, 1911 The poet thoroughly revises the manuscript of his writing - Jibansmriti based on his childhood memories.
  • July, 1911 Life is less hectic now, more leisurely what with some school work, occasional writing and a bit of correspondence.
  • July, 1911 Writes the essay Romeo Bahudevabader Parinati.
  • July, 1911 In the essay - Romeo Bahudevabader Parinati, Rabindranath uses the Roman analogy to analyse the current religious scene in the country.
  • July, 1911 In the essay - Romeo Bahudevabader Parinati, Rabindranath writes -- "In present-day India an almost similar relationship exists between Brahmadharma and resurgent Hinduism. That is what brought Keshabchandra and Ramakrishna Paramhansa into mutual contact and brought about a harmony between Vijaykrishna Goswami's views in the last years of his life and those of Hindu society. That Vivekananda was a keen Brahma once did not prove to be a major impediment to the later alteration of his views." This and other similar utterances strewn elsewhere in his writings show that he is in fact engaged in a quest of the fundamental inner unity underlying the varied religious doctrines of both India and the world at large.
  • 13th August, 1911 The poet is back in town to deliver a lecture at the Bhadrotsav organised by the Sadharan Brahmasamaj.
  • 19th August, 1911 Soudamini Devi, mother of Gaganendranath and Abanindranath passes away.
  • 21st August, 1911 Reads the essay Dharmer Artha in the Sadharan Brahmasamaj temple.
  • 21st August, 1911 As the poet reads the essay Dharmer Artha in the Sadharan Brahmasamaj temple, as usual he draws a huge crowd.
  • 23rd August, 1911 Poet is back in Santiniketan; intends to stay for the time being.
  • September, 1911 Modern Review, in its September issue carries a metrical English translation, 'My Father's House', by Maud MacCarthy L.of G of poet's song Tomari gehe palichha snehe. This Irish translator is experienced in and familiar with Indian music. Extracts of the translation is like:
    • In Thy house (Little Child)
    • Dearest, I am growing;
    • Life of mine,
    • Gift of Thine -
    • Holy and All – knowing!
  • 2nd September, 1911 Finishes the story Rashmanir Chhele in a day, to be printed in the Ashwin issue of the magazine Bharati.
  • 3rd September, 1911 Writes a letter to Manilal Gangopadhyay about publishing of Rashmanir Chhele in Bharati.
  • 6th September, 1911 Rabindranath is contemplating a long tour abroad, either in the Far East or Europe later that year to recover physical health and mental vigour.
  • 10th September, 1911 Brajendranath Seal returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) after a couple of months spent in England where he, along with Pramathalal Sen, successfully aroused in Rothenstein, Fox Strangways, etc. a keen enthusiasm for Rabindranath's writings.
  • September, 1911 Yet retains enough imaginative prowess to quickly produce the universally acclaimed play Dakghar in a matter of days.
  • September, 1911 Writes to Manilal Gangopadhaya -- "I've written a small play…It is called 'Dakghar'." Among his major plays, Dakghar is perhaps the only one which will retain its original shape without attracting any revision in later years. Later in 20th December, 1915, Tagore explains Dakghar in deep to the ashramites.
  • 23rd September, 1911 The play Sarodotsav is performed a couple of days before the Puja vacation commences in the ashram vidyalaya.
  • 23rd September, 1911 Guests from Calcutta (now Kolkata) including Jadunath Sarkar, Satyendranath Dutta, Ramananda Chatterjee who were invited almost a month ago, watch the performance of the play Sarodotsav.
  • 23rd September, 1911 Rabindranath plays the Sannyasi (in the play Sarodotsav) while the other roles are performed by the teachers and students of the vidyalaya.
  • 23rd September, 1911 The poet reads the latest play Dakghar before the selected Calcutta (now Kolkata) audience, who came to watch the performance of the play Sarodotsav.
  • 25th September, 1911 The poet returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata) and will stay here about a month to make preparations for the journey to England.
  • 27th September, 1911 Gourhari Sen calls on the poet at the Jorasanko residence and discusses with him the Primary Education Bill brought by Gokhale.
  • 2nd October, 1911 Pramathalal Sen writes to Rabindranath, requesting him to send him the English translations of his poems and songs.
  • October, 1911 The poet's tour plans for England are shelved for the time being.
  • 19th October, 1911 The reason for the poet's tour plans are shelved for the time being is revealed in a letter he writes to Brajendrakishore Devvarma. The Bangiya Sahitya Parishat which is planning a grand felicitation for him, presses him hard to postpone his departure till November end. So he will not be able to go before February/March 1912.
  • October, 1911 Gokhale's Primary Education Bill and Pandit Madanmohan Malavya's proposed Benaras Hindu University as well as the proposed Aligarh Muslim University generate controversy, debate and sectarian passions. He deeply ponders the issues at stake, is aware that his views might provoke hostility and decides to speak loud and clear.
  • October, 1911 The poet's deep thinking on various educational issues like – Gokhale's Primary Education Bill and Pandit Madanmohan Malavya's proposed Benaras Hindu University as well as the proposed Aligarh Muslim University generate controversy, is expressed in his famous essay – Hindu-Viswavidyalaya.
  • 29th October, 1911 The essay - Hindu-Viswavidyalaya written by Rabindranath, is read at a special meeting of the Chaitanya library held at Rippon College. Its message can be summed up in his own words -- "Only when those who are individually different come up and stand mutually side by side, do their excesses evaporate and their truth is properly revealed....If the world is accommodated in the Hindu or Musalman University and their individual difference is accommodated too, no possibility of danger will arise. And in this way the real worth of individual difference will be determined."
  • 1st November, 1911 He gets away to Shilaidaha and writes to Priyambada Devi -- "…the pure form of the self will be glimpsed in the midst of solitary nature -- this is exactly what I hope...”
  • November, 1911 Though a bitter-sweet relationship existed between Nivedita and Rabindranath, he is acutely aware of the tremendous role played by her in contemporary India and urged by Jagadish Chandra, writes a great commemorative essay titled Nivedita.
  • November, 1911 In the essay Nivedita which remains a landmark in our literature, Rabindranath bestows the supreme epithet of Lokmata on her and achieves a dispassionate appraisal of the great soul. It is printed in the Nov-Dec issue of the Prabashi.
  • November, 1911 Writes the short story Panraksha.
  • November, 1911 Around this time Rabindranath also sets in motion the process of publishing his letters. Later Ramendrasundar Trivedi will be entrusted with the responsibility of editing the letters. The anthology of letters will be published as Chhinnapatra in July, 1912.
  • 19th November, 1911 Rabindranath writes letter to Lalitkumar Bandopadhyay regarding Lalitkumar's criticism on the play Achalayatan.
  • 20th November, 1911 Atti Galpa (eight stories) – a collection of 8 Tagore stories particularly suitable for school-going-boys is published.
  • 23rd November, 1911 The Poet manages to ruffle many dovecotes of conservatism and dogmatic orthodoxy. In this connection poet writes to Amal Home -- "The message of Achalayatan is to liberate our customs, our habits, our reason from the vast prison we've erected around ourselves in the name of dharma, society and rituals..."
  • 26th November, 1911 Myron H. Phelps, an American lawyer and India enthusiast camping in Hardwar, writes to the poet expressing his keenness to visit east India soon.
  • 5th December, 1911 Meera Devi's son and the poet's grandson Neetindranath is born.
  • 8th December, 1911 Rabindranath is in town to look after the newly born son of Meera Devi and Rabindranath's grandson -- Neetindranath.
  • 9th December, 1911 Rabindranath writes back to Mr. Phelps elaborating on his views of east-west synthesis and the ways to achieve it.
  • 18th December, 1911 Now that Rabindranath is contemplating a long journey abroad, he decides to write his will. But it is not registered. In its concluding part he adds that he has repeatedly urged his son, Rathindra, to devote the income derived from the zamindari estates to the welfare of the tenants. Naturally it is in harmony with his philosophy.
  • December, 1911 26th annual session of the National Congress held in Calcutta (now Kolkata) from 26th to 28th December, 1911. Pandit Bishan Narayan Dhar presides.
  • 27th December, 1911 The second day's proceedings commence with the singing of Jana Gano Mano Adhinayaka – a patriotic song composed by the poet for the occasion.
  • December, 1911 26th All India Theistic Conference held at City College, Mirzapur Street, Calcutta (now Kolkata) from 26th to 29th December, 1911.
  • 28th December, 1911 Rabindranath reads the essay Dharmasiksha at the 26th annual conference of National Congress held at Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 28th December, 1911 Sarojini Naidu also addresses at the 26th annual conference of National Congress, makes the poet's acquaintance on this occasion.
  • 2nd January, 1912 Alexandra David-Neel, French explorer and writer who will later win international fame for her path-breaking work on Tibet has arrived in India. From her book L'Inde où j'ai vecu it is found that she goes to Jorasanko, gets to know the poet and Santiniketan and starts living there.
  • 12th January, 1912 Leaves Calcutta (now Kolkata) for Patisar.
  • January, 1912 Spends some busy days at Patisar supervising estates.
  • January, 1912 In spite of supervising the estates at Patisar, Rabindranath manages to write the essays Pitar Bodh and Dharmer Nabajug.
  • 25th January, 1912 The poet is in Calcutta (now Kolkata) to celebrate the Maghotsav. Reads Pitar Bodh in the morning session of prayers at the Adi Brahmasamaj Griha.
  • 25th January, 1912 In the celebration of Maghotsav, Rabindranath reads Dharmer Nabayug in the evening at Maharshibhawan.
  • 26th January, 1912 In the Maghotsav (started on 25th January), the next day, Rabindranath reads the article - Dharmer Adhikar at the Sadharan Brahmosamaj Mandir.
  • 26th January, 1912 During the celebration of Maghotsav, Rabindranath reads the article - Dharmer Adhikar at the Sadharan Brahmosamaj Mandir, sheds light on the later deterioration of the once large-hearted and noble Hindu dharma.
  • 26th January, 1912 The Bengalee newspaper blows the lid off a secret circular issued by Mr. Sharp – DPI which inter-alia states that the poet's school "…is a place altogether unsuitable for the education of the sons of Government servants…"
  • 26th January, 1912 As The Bengalee newspaper reveals the news of a secret circular issued by Mr. Sharp which states that the poet's school is not a suitable place for the education of the sons of Government servants…", as a result - the Bengali bhadralok government servants are thus compelled to withdraw their sons from the school.
  • 27th January, 1912 Poet addresses the assembly in the evening prayer session of the Samaj at its 82nd annual festival.
  • 28th January, 1912 The long-awaited felicitation of the poet at last held by Bangiya Sahitya Parishat at Town Hall with great flourish.
  • 28th January, 1912 In the felicitation ceremony conducted for Rabindranath, he is presented with an ivory scroll with the citation inscribed on it.
  • 2nd February, 1912 A students' wing established at the poet's suggestion under the aegis of the Parishat, felicitates the poet at a ceremony held at the Parishat Bhavan.
  • 3rd February, 1912 Rabindranath now felicitated by the felicitation committee of the Parishat. Student members of the University Institute perform Baikunther Khata on this occasion.
  • 3rd February, 1912 In the felicitation ceremony organized for the poet, he reads a long essay called Abhibhasan, later printed in the Phalgun issue of the Bharati.
  • 3rd February, 1912 In the felicitation ceremony organized for Rabindranath, he reads the long essay - Abhibhasan. It is a memorable statement of intent and he says without any equivocation that he has never pandered to popular taste and presented in his writings only what he considered worthy of presentation in literature.
  • February, 1912 Most probably around this time he meets the German philosopher and musicologist Count Hermann Keyserling at a musical soiree one evening in Gaganendranath's house. Count later writes in his memoirs -- "…Rabindranath, the poet, impressed me like a guest from a higher, more spiritual world. Never perhaps have I seen so much spiritualised substance of soul condensed into one man…"
  • February, 1912 Most probably around this time yet another distinguished visitor arrives from Europe -- Prince Wilhelm of Sweden, a painter and writer. He calls on the poet and will mention this visit in his travelogue published in 1913.
  • 7th February, 1912 Rabindranath arrives at Santiniketan to spend a few days with the students. The purpose of the visit is to make arrangements for the smooth running of the school while he will be away. Jagadananda Ray is the Principal and elected chief of the teachers; so he remains in overall charge.
  • 16th February, 1912 The poet is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata) on his way to Shilaidaha.
  • 16th February, 1912 The play Baikunther Khata is performed by admirers and friends at Gaganendranath's residence before his departure for England.
  • 19th February, 1912 Arrives in Shilaidaha for rest and solitude.
  • February, 1912 The poet arrives at Shilaidaha for taking rest, yet spends the time to write Adi Brahmasamajer Bedi.
  • February, 1912 More importantly, one of his seminal essays on the subject history is --Bharatvarshe Itihaser Dhara. In this essay he attempts to delineate the varied development of religious thoughts in ancient India through the arrival of various branches of the Aryans and their struggle with the Dravidians and the so-called non-Aryans. In his own words, it's a companion piece to the earlier essay--Dharmer Adhikar.
  • February, 1912 M.H. Phelps has already come and gone.
  • 1st March, 1912 The poet writes to Jagadananda Ray – "Mr. Phelps has spent a few days here and left – he likes the place very much – he said – This is an ideal place to live in."
  • 11th March, 1912 Shilaidaha still enchants him as before, but a growing longing to go and see the world at large increasingly fills him. In this conflicted frame of mind (wonderfully unveiled in a letter to Priyamvada Devi dated 8th March, 1912) he leaves for Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 14th March, 1912 Pramathalal Sen writes to Rothenstein in England mentioning the translations of Rabindranath's poems and informing him of poet's itinerary and requesting him to help them on the way if help is needed.
  • 15th March, 1912 Rabindranath reads the essay Atmaparichaya before an audience of students at the hall of the Sadharan Brahmasamaj.
  • 16th March, 1912 Holds a special session at Overtoun Hall, Ashutosh Chowdhury presides and the poet gives a public reading of Bharatvarshe Itihaser Dhara.
  • 17th March, 1912 Bhowanipur Brahma Sammilan Samaj invites him and the poet conducts "Divine Service" in its temple in the morning.
  • 19th March, 1912 The much contemplated European tour scheduled to commence on 19th March cancelled due to poet's sudden illness.
  • March, 1912 Alexandra David-Neel gives the poet letters of introduction written in French (one in 16th March and three in 17th March, 1912) to leading journalists and intellectuals in Paris, the Swedish orientalist Esaias Tegner being one of them. Rabindranath will most probably look him up in Paris on the way to London in June. In one of these letters she writes about the poet -- "He is not one of those men who need recommendation."
  • 22nd March, 1912 The musical drama Valmiki Pratibha is performed at Ashutosh Chowdhury's Ballygunge residence; the poet himself is present among the audience.
  • 24th March, 1912 Leaves for Shilaidaha with Rathindranath and daughter-in-law Pratima.
  • 25th March, 1912 Writes to Kadambini Dutta – "…I've escaped to the solitude of Shilaidaha…"
  • 1912 With the muses coming to visit him, however, he recovers enough energy to pen as many as 17 poems/songs in a fortnight.
    • Bhagye ami path haralem 29th March, 1912
    • Ami hal chhadley tabey 30th March, 1912
    • Amar ei path chawatei ananda 30th March, 1912
    • Kolahal to baran holo 31st March, 1912
    • Naamhara ei nadir pade 1st April, 1912
    • Ke go tumi videshi 2nd April, 1912
    • Ogo pathik diner seshey 3rd April, 1912
    • Ei dooarti khola 4th April, 1912
    • Ei je era anginatey 5th April, 1912
    • Anekkaler jatra amar 6th April, 1912
    • Ami amai korbo bado 7th April, 1912
    • Ebar bhasiey dite hobe amar 8th April, 1912
    • Jedin phutlo kamal kichhui jani nai 8th April, 1912
    • Ekhono ghor bhangena tor je 9th April, 1912
    • Jhade jai ude jai go 10th April, 1912
    • Tumi ektu kebol bastey dio kachhe 11th April, 1912
    • Ebar tora amar jabar belatey 12th April, 1912
  • April, 1912 He's simultaneously busy translating his poems and songs into English. The manuscript containing these translations will be gifted by him to Rothenstein in England a few months later. Later still it will be preserved in Houghton Library, Harvard University. Rothenstein will add his comment to it -- "Original manuscript which the poet brought me from India on his initial visit to us at Oak Hill Park." In a letter written to Indira Devi a year later(6th May, 1913) he'll explain -- "I felt a kind of urge to activate again in my mind through the medium of another language the tumult of delight which inspiration had awakened in my mind once upon a time on an earlier occasion. A little exercise book gradually filled up." It is perhaps significant that he doesn't mention anything about these translations in the letters he writes at this time probably because of diffidence.
  • 8th April, 1912 He is not entirely well and says so in the letters he now writes. Also says that he wants to go to England for a medical check-up too.
  • 8th April, 1912 Preparations are being made for the trip to England which he wants to make in May.
  • 10th April, 1912 Writes the article Rogir Navavarsha.
  • 12th April, 1912 Keen to be in Santiniketan to celebrate the Bengali New Year, he leaves for Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 13th April, 1912 Passing through Calcutta (now Kolkata) the poet arrives in Santiniketan.
  • 14th April, 1912 Conducts the morning prayers in the temple and addresses the audience of students and teachers on the first day of the new Bengali year.
  • 23rd April, 1912 The play Raja o Rani performed by the teachers and students of the ashram. Rabindranath plays no part in it. Guests including Ramananda Chatterjee and his son and daughter arrive from Kolkata to witness the performance.
  • 26th April, 1912 Summer vacation in the ashram school commences.
  • April, 1912 This spell in Santiniketan produces six new songs. Poet translates into English no-s 1, 2, 3 and 5 of these songs. The Gitanjali will begin with no 3.
    • Ke go antaratara se 19th April, 1912
    • Amare tumi asesh korechho 20th April, 1912
    • Har-mana har parabo 20th April, 1912
    • Emni kore ghuribo 22th April, 1912
    • Peyechhi chhuti bidai deho 22th April, 1912
    • Aajike ei sakalbelatey 26th April, 1912
  • 26th April, 1912 The poet is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 3rd May, 1912 Returns to Shilaidaha after a brief stay in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 8th May, 1912 Quietly spends his 52nd birthday with family.
  • 14th May, 1912 In a letter to Pramathalal Sen (now in Calcutta) he writes -- "Rabi Dutta's translations of my poems are not at all up to the mark. And hence not in the least fit to be shown to anyone. Surely I can't even expect that my poems can be properly translated into English -- let alone metrical translation. Even so they may be tolerably rendered in fairly plain prose. If possible, I will have a go at it when I get to England." Though Pramathalal's interest in this enterprise of translation is well known, it's surely significant that the poet says nothing about his own efforts in this letter. Even during this last visit to Shilaidaha he's been busy translating into English songs from Gitanjali, and various other books. But it's impossible to be precise because there are no dates in the manuscript.
  • 24th May, 1912 Rabindranath leaves Calcutta (now Kolkata) for Bombay (now Mumbai).
  • 24th May, 1912 On his way to Bombay (now Mumbai), Rabindranath is accompanied by Rathindranath, Pratima devi and Somendranath Devbarman.
  • 25th May, 1912 As Rabindranath leaves Calcutta(now Kolkata) for Bombay (now Mumbai), The Bengalee reports on 25th May -- "Members of the Tagore family, his friends and devotees, his Bolpur students and ex-students, with many of the teaching staff saw him off at the station."
  • 26th May, 1912 The poet accompanied by Rathindranath, Pratima devi and Somendranath Devbarman reaches at Bombay (now Mumbai).
  • 27th May, 1912 Though he's scheduled to embark in a matter of hours, he squeezes out time to churn out a short article on the city titled Bombay.
  • 27th May, 1912 The poet is in Bombay (now Mumbai) along with his family members. Here the poet bemoans the lack of outdoor activities by women in Calcutta (now Kolkata) compared to Bombay and praises their ample and visible presence in the latter city.
  • 27th May, 1912 The poet along with his family members sails for England in the ship named City of Glasgow from Bombay (now Mumbai).
  • May, 1912 During the first lap of the voyage from Bombay to Port Said poet writes six articles. One of his favourite subjects in prose is a comparative analysis of European and Indian ways of living and these pieces also reflect this abiding interest in diverse ways.
    • Jalasthal 29th May, 1912
    • Samudrapadi 30th May, 1912
    • Jatra 3rd June, 1912
    • Anandarupa 4th June, 1912
    • Dui Ichha 5th June, 1912
    • Antarbahir 7th June, 1912
  • 1912 He continues to translate poems and songs into English during the long voyage to England. He's carrying two pocketbooks which one after another will be filled with translations during and after the voyage. He occasionally reads the translations to his companions after lunch or dinner.
  • 3rd June, 1912 During his voyage to England, on the Red Sea he writes -- Prana bhoriey trisha horiye.
  • 8th June, 1912 On his voyage to England, the ship reaches Port Said.
  • June, 1912 During the rest of the voyage to England he will write only one article -- Khela o Kaaj.
  • 14th June, 1912 On his voyage to England, the ship reaches Paris.
  • June, 1912 Most probably meets Swedish orientalist Esaias Tegner (reference Alexandra David Neele) who knows Bengali. Tegner will later play an important role in the award of the Nobel Prize for literature to Rabindranath.
  • 16th June, 1912 Arrives in London and puts up in Bloomsbury Hotel. When Tagore is coming to Bloomsbury Hotel with others, the manuscript of Tagore's English translation, which is under Rathindranath's captivity, is lost in the tube rail. It is found in the next day from the lost property office of tube rail.
  • June, 1912 After reaching London the poet along with his travelling companions puts up in the Bloomsbury hotel. But he does not like the hotel, telephones Rothenstein.
  • June, 1912 At London, Rabindranath does not like the Bloomsbury hotel and telephones Rothenstiein. Rothenstein comes to see him at the hotel and they shift to a private boarding house in Hampstead. Later they will move to a rented house. Rothenstein is meanwhile given the notebook containing translations which he reads at once. He says -- "Here was poetry of a new order which seemed to me on a level with that of the great mystics." Rothenstein sends typescripts of the translations to Yeats, Cecil Bradley and Stopford Brooks for their opinions.
  • 19th June, 1912 W.W.Pearson has already spent a few years in Calcutta (now Kolkata) teaching botany at LMS College, Bhawanipore, knows Bengali and is familiar with the poet's work and his background. He is now back in London and makes the poet's acquaintance at the party which has gathered at his residence in the evening.
  • 19th June, 1912 At London, as Rabindranath comes to W.W.Pearson's residence, Pearson receives Rabindranath in the doorway, offers pranaam and says that the poet is the guru for whom they've been waiting so long.
  • 19th June, 1912 In London, Rabindranath attends a party held at W.W.Pearson's residence. They're all there -- Dr.P.C.Ray, Mr.& Mrs.Arnold, Mr.& Mrs.Rothenstein, Cranmer Byng, Mr.Cheshire, Devaprasad Sarbadhikari, Sukumar Ray and Pearson himself.
  • 19th June, 1912 Rabindranath attends a party held at W.W.Pearson's residence in London. Among other attendants at the party, Sukumar Ray reads an essay on Bengali literature and highlights Rabindranath's stellar role in its development as well as a few translations of his poems done by him.
  • 19th June, 1912 It's a small but remarkable beginning and thus Rabindranath's chequered career in the west is launched.
  • June, 1912 Writes two poems/songs
    • Taba rabikar asey kar baraia 23rd June, 1912
    • Sundara batey taba angadakhani 25th June, 1912
  • 27th June, 1912 The poet renders the two poems - Taba rabikar asey kar baraia and Sundara batey taba angadakhani into English and sends the translations to Rothenstein.
  • June, 1912 In London, Rabindranath takes lunch with H.W.Massingham, editor of The Nation, an influential newspaper. The poet is now no stranger to the paper because it has already published Ajitkumar Chakrabarty's English translation of Sab-Peyechhir Desh.
  • June, 1912 Meanwhile Cecil Bradley and Stopford Brooks have written to Rothenstein amply confirming him in his opinion that Rabindranath has produced very great poetry indeed.
  • 27th June, 1912 Even greater confirmation comes Rabindranath's way, when the greatest living poet writing in English, Yeats comes to Rothenstein's house at the latter's invitation, meets Rabindranath and reads aloud a few of Rabindranath's translations. The last vestiges of Rabindranath's diffidence are removed by Yeats's ecstatic reaction which will be soon famously expressed in his celebrated introduction.
  • 1912 Now begins an intensely interactive phase – brief but eventful between two very great poets about which Rabindranath will nostalgically write much later to Rothenstein – "…then came those delightful days when I worked with Yeats."
  • 7th July, 1912 Rothenstein hosts a larger poetry reading session in his house attended by the elite of the London literati and presided over by Yeats.
  • 7th July, 1912 Yeats again reads quite a few of Rabindranath's translations in what C. F. Andrews describes as a "musical, ecstatic voice" and the listeners are immensely, profoundly moved. Rathindranath will later recall the spell thus cast in his memoirs. He'll also mention "the flood of appreciative letters that poured in the next day."
  • 7th July, 1912 The India Society's preparations to felicitate the poet got under way even before his arrival in London.
  • 7th July, 1912 In London, A.H.Fox Strangways, Rothenstein, etc. take the initiative to felicitate the poet.
  • 7th July, 1912 On the initiative to felicitate the poet in London, a flyer printed and sent to distinguished personalities by the Indian Society is signed by Rothenstein, Fox Strangways, W.W.Hornell, Mrs. Shuldham Shaw, etc.
  • 8th July, 1912 May Sinclair sends a letter to Tagore about her experience after listening the recitation of English Gitanjali by Yeats on 7th July, 1912.
  • 10th July, 1912 On an initiative to felicitate the poet in London, a flyer is printed by the Indian Society and sent to distinguished personalities. It says the Society is giving a dinner party in honour of the "most distinguished Indian poet" at the Trocadero on 10th July at 7:30.
  • 10th July, 1912 Rabindranath is feted at the dinner organised by the Indian Society. Yeats presides. Rabindranath replies to the felicitations in a speech "at once brief and singularly effective."
  • 10th July, 1912 At the dinner party organised by the Indian Society in honour of Rabindranath, many distinguished personalities such as - May Sinclair, H.G.Wells and Maud Gonne are among those present.
  • 10th July, 1912 At the dinner party organised in honour of Rabindranath, Yeats reads three translations two of which are printed in The Times three days later.
  • July, 1912 The poet goes to Cambridge, spends a few days there and meets Bertrand Russell. He also runs into Pearson at Cambridge.
  • 15th July, 1912 Back in London.
  • 15th July, 1912 The poet translates three poems – all on death, into English, on the same day as he returns London from Cambridge.
  • 16th July, 1912 The three poems that the poet translates returning from Cambridge to London, sends one of them to Rothenstein who has lost his mother with a touching note.
  • July, 1912 Prabashi completes the serialization of the memoirs in its June-July issue.
  • 25th July, 1912 Jibansmriti is published as a book with twenty three illustrations by Gaganendranath and one by Jyotirindranath.
  • 28th July, 1912 After Jibansmriti is published, a couple of days later, Chhinnapatra also published.
  • 30th July, 1912 Dalia - one of his more dramatic short stories is dramatised by George Calderon as The Maharani of Arakan which is performed at Royal Albert hall and the cast includes Sybil Thorndike.
  • July, 1912 Rev. C. F. Andrews now invites him to come and stay with a friend of his, a padre and his family in a village called Butterton in the heart of "beautiful, unspoilt English country miles away from any town or railway station.."
  • 2nd August, 1912 Achalayatan also serialised in the Prabashi, now published as a book.
  • August, 1912 Andrews and Rabindranath already knew a lot about each other though they happen to meet only now and their acquaintance swiftly matures into a profound life-long friendship of mutual affection and devotion.
  • 2nd August, 1912 The poet and his family accompanied by Andrews go to Butterton.
  • August, 1912 The poet is under the weather, compelled to leave Butterton for more salubrious environs.
  • August, 1912 As the poet and his family compelled to leave Butterton due to harsh climate, for more salubrious environs, Rothenstein arranges for them to stay in an affluent farmer's house, Oakridge Lynch in Stroud, Gloucester Shire.
  • August, 1912 Poet is again busy translating into English those poems which will appear in the anthology of translations called The Crescent Moon (pub.1913).
  • 16th August, 1912 Busy with translations for The Crescent Moon, he writes to Ajitkumar instructing him to convey his request to Gaganendranath Tagore, Abanindranath Tagore and Nandalal Basu to produce illustrations suitable for the proposed anthology.
  • 16th August, 1912 Takes time off translation to dash off the article Sikshabidhi.
  • 19th August, 1912 Writes Lakshya o Siksha.
  • 21st August, 1912 Writes to Ajitkumar again informing him that he's already finished translating Chitrangada under the title Chitra.
  • 21st August, 1912 The letter to Ajitkumar also reveals that Dakghar & Malini have been translated too.
  • 25th August, 1912 The poet and his family are back in London.
  • 1912 Jyotirindranath's fine sketches having been mentioned in conversations, Rothenstein expresses a desire to see them. Complying with the poet's request Jyotirindranath sends three albums of his sketches to Rabindranath in England.
  • September, 1912 The poet's activities and engagements in London notwithstanding, thoughts of the school at Santiniketan are always at the back of his mind. Thus he writes to Ajitkumar Chakrabarty -- "…Perhaps our school does not get enough practice in music these days; that is not right, please take steps to keep it up....Music is surely as much a principal element in making life beautiful as the wonderful external landscape at Santiniketan which all unknown, unobtrusively moulds the minds of the boys."
  • September, 1912 The poet writes the articles on Yeats and Stopford Brooks.
  • 7th September, 1912 In London, Rabindranath moves to new lodgings on Cromwell Road.
  • 7th September, 1912 Yeats does not want anything in his introduction "crossed out by Tagore's modesty."
  • 8th September, 1912 Rabindranath though is embarrassed to read it, writes -- "…no doubt it's a very precious ornament for me, but a hyperbolic ornament in a manner of speaking."
  • 9th September, 1912 W.W.Pearson is again in India, visits Santiniketan.
  • 14th September, 1912 Delighted to see his achievement Rothenstein writes to Jyotirindranath Tagore (elder brother of Rabindranath), "I know of few drawings which show at the same time so much sensitiveness of line and sincerity in characterisation." 25 of these drawings will be printed in an album with an introduction by Rothenstein in 1914.
  • September, 1912 The English Gitanjali is now being printed with Yeats's introduction by India Society.
  • 24th September, 1912 Ezra Pound (1885-1972) who is now Yeats's secretary and who will later emerge as one of the trio of great modernist poets in English poetry (Yeats, Eliot, Pound) enthusiastically writes about Rabidranath to Harriet Monroe -- editor of the well known journal Poetry published from Chicago. Pound mentioned in the letter, “Also I'll try to get some of the poems of the very great Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore. They are going to be the sensation of the winner. … They are translated by the author into very beautiful English prose, with mastery of cadence.” Six Tagore poems translated into English with Pound's fulsome article on Rabindranath will be published in the Poetry in its December-1912 issue.
  • 2nd October, 1912 In London, May Sinclair invites him to dinner at her Sesame Club which takes place on October2, 1912. Here Rabindranath meets among others Shaw, Wells, Galsworthy, Masefield, Ernest Rhys, Fox-Strangways, Sturge Moore and Robert Bridges.
  • 10th October, 1912 Rathindranath and his wife Pratima Devi sail for Illinois, USA. Rathindranath is going to his alma mater Illinois University for further studies.
  • October, 1912 The poet intends to join Rathindranath and Pratima Devi to their journey to Illinois, USA. But he is held back in England by the delayed publication of Gitanjali.
  • 11th October, 1912 In England, Rev. C.F.Andrews comes to see the poet and in course of a long chat with him Rabindranath talks about his life and work.
  • 14th October, 1912 French poet Alexi St Leger Leger (pseudonym St-John Perse -1887-1975), later Nobel Laureate at 1960, writes a letter to the poet with Fox-Strangways' letter of introduction. In this letter Alexi writes “At the end of a solitary stay in this town, when it was for me a very deep and secret joy, I meet by chance, in a newspaper, with two poems quoted by the English poet Yeats, I have made this wish, I know your poet's work in our times and having read it on proofs one evening, I may serve it in great admiration in my country.”
  • 16th October, 1912 With a view to expanding his rural reconstruction activities and setting up a farm-cum-laboratory for Rathindranath at Santiniketan where he can work fruitfully, Rabindranath purchases Surul Kuthi from Narendraprasanna Sinha, zamindar of Raipur who is also in England at that time. Later Sriniketan – the poet's innovative rural industrial project will be located here.
  • 17th October, 1912 The French poet Alexi St Leger Leger meets Rabindranath and secures his permission for translating his poems into French. Alexi will later inspire Andre Gide (1869-1951) to translate Gitanjali into French in his two letters to Gide in July, 1913.
  • 19th October, 1912 Sails for New York accompanied by Dr. Dwijendranath Maitra.
  • 27th October, 1912 Lands in New York.
  • 1st November, 1912 Reaches Urbana in Illinois, joins son and dauhter-in-law. The Daily Illinois had already announced his forthcoming visit in its edition of 1st October, 1912.
  • 1st November, 1912 The English Gitanjali, which is a collection of songs taken from Bengali Gitanjali and various other books, is published by India Society in London.
  • 6th November, 1912 As the English Gitanjali is published by India Society in London, Rothenstein is simply elated and writes the poet that he'll open a dialogue with Macmillan as soon as the first reviews appear.
  • 7th November, 1912 As if on cue, the first and most important review of the English Gitanjali appears in The Times Literary Supplement.
  • 7th November, 1912 As the review of the English Gitanjali is published in The Times Literary Supplement, Rothenstein gives the poet the news in a letter written on the same day and says almost prophetically--"It is a great delight to us to feel that what we felt at once is shared by others & that you have once and for all gained the ear of the West for your literature. I wonder whether Bengal will realize what your simple visit has done for its history."
  • 10th November, 1912 Meanwhile in Urbana, Rabindranath, in spite of reluctance to engage in public speaking in Englsh or attend functions and ceremonies, yields and at the entreaties of the local Unitarian padre A.R.Vail he gives a lecture on "World Realisation" at the local Unity Club.
  • 14th November, 1912 Regarding the publication of English translated Gitanjali, Rothenstein writes again that he's corresponding with Macmillan and has already sent them the book and the manuscript.
  • 16th November, 1912 Ananda Biday, a parody play written by Dwijendralal Roy is published by Gurudas Chattopadhyay of Bengal Medical Library. This play reflects Roy's jealousy to Tagore.
  • 17th November, 1912 The response of the audience for Rabindranath's first lecture on "World Realisation" at the local Unity Club in Urbana, Illinois is encouraging and he gives a second lecture on "Self-Realisation" at the same place.
  • 24th November, 1912 The two successful and effective lectures (delivered at the local Unity Club in Urbana, Illinois) gives Rabindranath useful practice in writing English prose and public speaking and he delivers the third lecture on "Realisation of Brahma" at the Unity Club.
  • 1st December, 1912 Rabindranath delivers his forth lecture on "The Problem of Evil" at Urbana, Illinois. The same lecture will be delivered on two occasions in Chicago also.
  • 9th December, 1912 The Poetry magazine in Chicago, publishes 6 translations and Pound's article on Rabindranath in its December issue. Rathindranath writes to Harriet Monroe, editor, requesting her to send him a few copies in Urbana.
  • 10th December, 1912 Chas. W. Wendte, secretory of The National Federation of Religious Liberals based in Boston writes to him inviting him to speak at their big conference to be held in Rochester on 28th-30th January, 1913. Poet is hesitantly accepts the invitation. But soon writes to them stating his inability to go.
  • 12th December, 1912 Having learnt from Rathindranath's letter that the poet is staying in near-by Urbana, H. Monroe writes Rabindranath inviting him to come over to Chicago and assuring him of a warm welcome and sends along 12 copies.
  • 21st December, 1912 H.Monroe writes again to the poet fervently renewing the invitation to come over to Chicago.
  • 22nd December, 1912 With four companions poet conducts prayers in his room to observe the ceremony of 7th Poush.
  • 22nd December, 1912 Rathindranath and Pratima go to Chicago prior to his proposed visit.
  • 25th December, 1912 Poet's reply to Monroe is rather ambivalent. While he doesn't decline the invitation, he says he's rather afraid of big towns and their swirl of engagements.
  • 1st January, 1913 The secretary of National Federation of Religious Liberals, Boston - Chas. W. Wendte invites Rabindranath to speak at their big conference to be held in Rochester on 28th-30th January, 1913. Rabindranath writes to them stating his inability to go. Chas. W. Wendte writes back to Rabindranath imploring him to reconsider his decision and renew the invitation.
  • January, 1913 The poet is through with the translation of his play Sarodotsav.
  • 3rd January, 1913 In a letter written to Dineshchandra Sen, he explains his technique of translation--"…when it is not possible to transfer to English the music of the language and cadence of Bengali, its inner beauty comes through if only the sentiment, the feeling is translated into very simple English. This job is easily done by me..." He had already started translating his poems, songs and plays into English on a large scale while staying in England and continues translating more of his writings in the USA. Quite few of the poems later printed in various anthologies were translated in England. More of these are now translated in Urbana and later in Chicago. These translated prose-poems will later appear in anthologies such as The Gardener, The Crescent Moon, Fruit-Gathering, Lover's Gift and Crossing.
  • 8th January, 1913 Writes Ke nibi go kiney amai – the only poem/song he will write during the American sojourn.
  • 15th January, 1913 Agrees to publish an inexpensive edition of the Gitanjali and Fox Strangways sends the agreement to Rabindranath in the USA for his signature. Later in the year, the book will make publishing history and pave the way for the poet's worldwide reputation following the award of the Nobel prize for literature.
  • 19th January, 1913 Leaves Urbana for Chicago. In Chicago he stays at the palatial residence of Harriet Moody, widow of the American poet W. V. Moody, who is a gracious and wonderful hostess. Later he'll write Ajit k. Chakrabarty, "…There is a natural large-heartedness in her hospitality. An abundant motherly sentiment issues from her heart and flows along in diverse currents…As I've found a friend in London, so have I found a mother here – this highest expression of a woman is very gladdening to me. It is precisely this expression which I have tried to articulate in Anandamoyee in Gora."
  • 22nd January, 1913 The poet reads the play Post Office before an audience at the painter Henderson's residence.
  • 23rd January, 1913 Delivers an address on Ideals of the Ancient Civilization of India at Chicago University.
  • 24th January, 1913 Reads a few poems/songs at Harriet Monroe's place.
  • 26th January, 1913 Poet speaks at the Abraham Lincoln Centre on The Problem of Evil.
  • 28th January, 1913 Writes to Swarnakumari Devi expressing his inability to assist her in publishing English translations of her writings in the west.
  • 29th January, 1913 Goes to Rochester.
  • 30th January, 1913 Reads the lecture Race Conflict at the Congress meeting of the Religious Liberals.
  • January, 1913 Makes the acquaintance of the German philosopher and Nobel laureate Rudolph Christopher Eucken, with whom he has already entered into correspondence.
  • 31st January, 1913 Mrs. Harriet Moody, the widow of American poet W.V.Moody, Rabindranath stayed at whose residence after coming to Chicago, expresses a similar sentiment when she writes to the poet -- "I cannot tell you what you have done for me."
  • 31st January, 1913 Arrives in Boston.
  • 3rd February, 1913 In Boston, meets his old acquaintance Count Okakura who is now Curator, Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
  • February, 1913 Meets Ajit k.Chakrabarty's friend and his admirer -- R.F. Rattray in Boston, America.
  • February, 1913 In Boston, the poet persuades R.F.Rattray to improve the English of his essays and lectures.
  • February, 1913 When Rabindranath is at Boston in America, he persuades R.F.Rattray to improve the English of his essays and lectures. Moved by his simplicity and humility Rattray writes -- "…I had the curious experience of going over the work of a great writer of English and correcting it as if it were a schoolboy's exercise." James Houghton Woods, Professor of Indian Philosophy at Harvard University, organises these lectures.
  • 13th February, 1913 The poet lectures on The Problem of Evil in the Emerson hall, Harvard before an enthusiastic audience. It will be printed in the July issue of The Hibbert Journal.
  • 17th February, 1913 Delivers the second lecture on Man's Relation to the Universe.
  • 18th February, 1913 Speaks at the Philosophical Club.
  • 19th February, 1913 Reads the third lecture on Realization of Brahma.
  • 19th February, 1913 Also speaks at the Andover Divinity Club. Rattray will later write – "When Tagore was at Harvard, Professor and Mrs. Woods invited a number of guests to their house to meet him; one was T.S.Eliot, who was a fellow-student of mine."
  • February, 1913 A number of Bengali students, formerly of the Jatiya Siksha Parishad, Calcutta, who are now studying at Harvard, avidly meet him. Rabindranath has a high opinion of them and says so in a letter written to Jagadananda Ray.
  • 21st February, 1913 Poet is back in Chicago with his family.
  • February, 1913 After returning to Chicago, Rabindranath stays at Mrs. Harriet Moody's house.
  • February, 1913 Harriet Monroe now gets to know the poet better. Monroe will later recall these evenings spent at Mrs. Moody's house in the poet's company -- "We used to spend evenings around Mrs. Moody's fire listening to the chanting of poems in Bengali, or the recitation of their English equivalents and feeling as if we were seated at the feet of some ancient wise man of the East..."
  • February, 1913 Busies himself with typing his father's translations.
  • February, 1913 Mrs. Moody gets her secretary to type more copies of the translations. The poet will again enjoy her magnificent hospitality during his second visit to the USA in 1916.
  • 28th February, 1913 Rabindranath now longs for Santiniketan and his school. He says so in a letter written to Rothenstein.
  • 3rd March, 1913 Rabindranath and his family members are back in Urbana.
  • 13th March, 1913 Poet writes to Ajitkumar – "After my arrival in Urbana I'm spending my days by writing prose lectures in the morning and translating my poems the rest of the day. The subject of my prose essay is The Problem of Self. "In translating his poems/songs, far from doing so randomly, the poet deliberately chooses a wide variety of poems which show the ample range of his themes. The same approach is evident in the selection of the plays and essays translated.
  • 16th March, 1913 Meets the English poet Alfred Noyes at a dinner party.
  • 18th March, 1913 Rabindranath gives a reading of Chritangada; The poet Alfred Noyes present at the reading.
  • 18th March, 1913 Count Okakura writes to the poet – "I am leaving Boston tomorrow and go straight through Seattle and Japan." His death occurs in September 13, in Japan.
  • 19th March, 1913 Reads an essay at the local Cosmopolitan Club before his departure.
  • 20th March, 1913 The poet is back in Chicago.
  • 31st March, 1913 Delivers lecture on The Relation of the Universe and the Individual at Wisconsin University in the evening.
  • 31st March, 1913 The poet and his travelling companions go to see an exhibition of Post-Impressionist paintings in Madison after the lecture.
  • March, 1913 In Chicago the poet gives readings of his plays Post Office, Chitra, The King of the Dark Chamber, and Malini.
  • 6th April, 1913 Rabindranath and his travelling companions leave Chicago for Boston.
  • 7th April, 1913 Rabindranath and his travelling companions arrive in New York in the last lap of their USA tour.
  • 7th April, 1913 Rabindranath reads the essay The Problem of Self at Harvard University.
  • 9th April, 1913 Reads the essay The Realisation of Beauty at Harvard University.
  • 12th April, 1913 From New York, Rabindranath and his companions sail for England on the Olympic.
  • 19th April, 1913 Rabindranath with his travelling companions arrive in London.
  • 25th April, 1913 Yeats writes him a letter saying they are anxious to perform the Post Office in Dublin in the middle of May.
  • 1st May, 1913 Rabindranath and his companions again take up residence at the familiar boarding house at Alfred Place in London.
  • 4th May, 1913 Poetry reading session at the poet Ernest Rhys's residence. Rabindranath reads a few of the Gitanjali pieces at Mrs. Rhys's request. Also sings "Se je ashe, ashe, ashe". Later the poet will dedicate the Sadhana to Ernest Rhys.
  • 7th May, 1913 Kalimohan Ghosh, who is now in London will later write, "May 7 -- (The poet) reads The King of the Dark Chamber at 8.30 in the evening at Lady Flower's house on Gilbert Street. It's a private drawing room. Not many have been invited. It's a small group among whom I know Mr. and Mrs.Rhys, Mr. and Mrs.Mead and Lady Law."
  • 7th May, 1913 The poet is 53 years old now, writes to Ajitkumar – "…perhaps I've started treading the path of a new development, perhaps yet another veil will disappear …" He'll prove right before the year is out. Over long years he's been slowly, steadily transcending the boundaries of family, sectarian religion, race and country – he will become a world citizen with the award of the Nobel Prize.
  • 9th May, 1913 Reads the yet unpublished Chitra at Northbrook Society Hall before a distinguished audience. The reading is organised by The Indian Art, Dramatic and Friendly Society.
  • 11th May, 1913 The poet visits the celebrated mathematician Mrs. Boole, accompanied by Swami Vivekananda's disciple Miss J. Macleod.
  • 17th May, 1913 Rabindranath's famous play The Post Office which the poet Yeats thinks is a masterpiece, is performed at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and the production attracts media attention.
  • 17th May, 1913 During Rabindranath's visit to England, Dwijendralal Roy dies. Tagore later sends a letter to Roy's son, Dilipkumar Roy mentioning that he respects Dwijendralal till the end.
  • 18th May, 1913 When Rabindranath is in England, an association of Indian students studying at Cambridge named as Indian Mejlis brings him over to Cambridge and the poet reads a lecture at a gathering of the Mejlis. The lecture is organised at the initiative of Mejlis members like Prasantachandra Mahalanabis, Aurobindamohan Basu, etc.
  • 18th May, 1913 As the association of Indian students named as Indian Mejlis brings Rabindranath over to Cambridge to deliver a lecture at a gathering of the Indian Mejlis, Rabindranath taking advantage of this opportunity, meets Prof.J.D. Anderson.
  • 19th May, 1913 Poet is back in town.
  • 19th May, 1913 Rabindranath speaks on The Relation of the Universe and the Individual before a considerable audience at Caxton Hall in the evening – the first of a series of lectures organised by Quest Society.
  • 19th May, 1913 The audience for Rabindranath's speech on The Relation of the Universe and the Individual organised by Quest Society includes May Sinclair, Sturge Moore, Ernest Rhys.
  • 22nd May, 1913 While Rabindranath meets Prof.J.D. Anderson at the gathering of Indian Mejlis, Anderson writes him a grateful letter thanking him for calling on him.
  • 23rd May, 1913 Invited by Dr. Carpenter, Rabindranath goes to Oxford and gives an address on Realisation of Love at Manchester College before a "brilliant and awe-inspired crowd of professors, dons and undergraduates."
  • 23rd May, 1913 Robert Bridges with his son and Herbert Fisher are in the audience for Rabindrnath's speech on Realisation of Love at Manchester College.
  • 23rd May, 1913 Shahid Suhrawardy of the Oxford Majliss of Indian students writes that the poet is given a "large reception" by the Majliss the same day in the evening the poet delivers the speech on Realisation of Love at Manchester College.
  • 24th May, 1913 Rabindranath meets Georgina Maxmuller over lunch the next day after he delivers the speech on Realisation of Love at Manchester College.
  • 24th May, 1913 Rabindranath returns to London.
  • 26th May, 1913 Delivers the second lecture of the series organised by Quest Society – Soul Consciousness at Caxton hall.
  • 2nd June, 1913 Delivers the third lecture of the series organised by Quest Society on The Problem of Evil.
  • 3rd June, 1913 Invited by Sturge Moore, Rabindranath arrives at his place, reads Chitra and discusses the translations with him.
  • 9th June, 1913 Delivers the fourth lecture of the series organised by the Quest Society, on The Problem of Self.
  • 9th June, 1913 Mother of William – a devotee of the poet, meets the poet.
  • 10th June, 1913 Reads The King of the Dark Chamber before a distinguished and large audience at Rothenstein's house.
  • 14th June, 1913 The poet is felicitated at a fine reception, given by Indians residing in Britain at Criterian Restaurant.
  • 14th June, 1913 At the reception for the poet's felicitation ceremony organized at Criterian Restaurant by Indians residing in Britain, more than 300 people gather at the restaurant and the crowd includes Gokhale, Sir Sankaran Nayar, M.A. Jinnah, Sarojini Naidu, etc.
  • 14th June, 1913 Rabindranath is garlanded by Mrs. Naidu at the reception for his felicitation ceremony organized at Criterian Restaurant by Indians residing in Britain.
  • 14th June, 1913 Poet regales the audience with a song at the reception for his felicitation ceremony organized at Criterian Restaurant by Indians residing in Britain.
  • 17th June, 1913 The poet is again felicitated at the Lyceum Club in London.
  • 17th June, 1913 Delivers the fifth lecture on Realisation in Love at Caxton Hall in London.
  • 19th June, 1913 Speaks at a meeting of the Indian Women's Education Association held at Sir Krishnagovinda Gupta's residence in London.
  • 19th June, 1913 Apart from Rabindranath, Sarojini Naidu also speaks at the meeting of the Indian Women's Education Association held at Sir Krishnagovinda Gupta's residence in London.
  • 19th June, 1913 Delivers the sixth and last lecture of the Quest series on The Realisation of Brahma at Kensington Town hall.
  • 21st June, 1913 Delivers another lecture on Realisation in Action at Brahmasamaj, Nottinghill Gate.
  • 22nd June, 1913 From Norway Andrea Butenschon writes to the poet offering to translate the Gitanjali into Swedish. The translation will be out before the announcement of the Nobel award in 1913.
  • 29th June, 1913 In London, Rabindranath is admitted to Dutches Nursing Home. Undergoes surgery for removal of piles. Released towards the end of July.
  • July, 1913 In London, even when confined to the nursing home due to the surgery for removal of his piles, Rabindranath writes quite a few short poems.
    • Eka ek sunyamatra4th July,1913
    • Bechhe laba sab4th July,1913
    • Sab-cheye bhakti jar4th July,1913
    • Darpane jahare dekhi4th July,1913
    • Apani apna cheye6th July,1913
    • Agun jwalita jabey7th July,1913
    • Hey priya, dukkher beshe7th July,1913
  • 10th July, 1913 At the behest of Yeats and Lady Gregory, Abbey Theatre Company stages poet's Post Office and Synge's The well of the Saints at Court Theatre, London.
  • 10th July, 1913 Lilian Jagoe is brilliant as Amal in Rabindranath's play Post Office staged by Abbey Theatre Company at Court Theatre in London.
  • 10th July, 1913 Poet's English friends go to watch the play Post Office staged at Court Theatre in London, Sturge Moore among them.
  • 12th July, 1913 The poet's friend Sturge Moore watched the play Post Office and writes to the poet -- "I watched your lovely little play towards the end through tears." London press favourably reviews the performance.
  • July, 1913 After the surgery for removal of his piles and released from the nursing home the poet is naturally eager to speed up the publication of his forthcoming books and begins to rely more on Sturge Moore as Yeats seems to have lost something of his early exuberant enthusiasm.
  • July, 1913 In London, the translations of Chitra, The Gardener, The Crescent Moon are brushed up with Sturge Moore's assistance.
  • 1913 The noted Dutch poet Dr. Frederik Van Eeden writes to Rabindranath two ardent letters praising his poetry and seeking his permission to translate Gitanjali into Dutch.
  • 9th August, 1913 In reply to the Dutch poet Dr. Frederik Van Eeden's letter, Rabindranath writes him a very moving letter where he says inter alia -- "Very often I think and feel that I am like a flute -- the flute that cannot talk but when the breath is upon it, can sing…" Soon a life-long friendship grows between them. They will meet in Holland during poet's continental tour. His Dutch translation of the Gitanjali will appear on the same day that the Nobel award is announced -- 13th November, 1913. Andre Gide's French translation of the Gitanjali with its famous introduction will appear in early 1914.
  • 17th August, 1913 Rabindranath is now thoroughly tired of the whole business of "literary craftsmanship, this weighing of words and expressions" as he puts it in a letter written to Rothenstein and longs for his school in Bolpur in India.
  • 24th August, 1913 He writes three songs in a day.
    • Tomari naam bolbo 24th August, 1913
    • Asim dhan to achhey tomar 24th August, 1913
    • E manihar amai nahi sajey 24th August, 1913
  • 25th August, 1913 Writes two more songs the next day.
    • Bhorer bela kakhan eshey 25th August, 1913
    • Praney kshusir toofan 25th August, 1913
  • 26th August, 1913 At a farewell dinner given to Rabindranath by his English friends prior to his departure for India Yeats speaks very movingly, Rothenstein presides.
  • 27th August, 1913 Writes yet another song -- the last one penned in England --Jeeban jakhan chhilo phuler moto.
  • 1913 Sturge Moore is now convinced of Rabindranath's supremacy as a world poet, sends his – as it turns out – decisive recommendation to the Nobel Committee – "As a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature of the United Kingdom, I have the honour to propose the name of Rabindra Nath Tagore as a person qualified in my opinion, to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature."
  • 2nd September, 1913 Rothenstein and Yeats arrange a small dinner in his honour on the night before he sails for India.
  • 2nd September, 1913 Rothenstein recalls amusingly that after dinner each guest is asked to sing his national anthem. No one manages to sing their anthem from beginning to end--not even Rabindranath, nor Yeats.
  • 3rd September, 1913 A touching scene unfolds on a platform of Euston Station where poet arrives to take a train to Liverpool with numerous Indian students turning up to bid farewell and offer pranaam. His English friends also bid him farewell.
  • 4th September, 1913 Boards the City of Lahore and sails for India. He is accompanied by Kalimohan Ghosh. Sukumar Ray comes on board at Naples.
  • September, 1913 A few couplets apart, writes three songs aboard.
    • Bhelar moto bukey tani 15th September, 1913
    • Jani go din jabey 18th September, 1913
    • Noi e madhur khela 19th September, 1913
  • 27th September, 1913 Lands in Bombay (now Mumbai), is greeted by admirers.
  • 29th September, 1913 At Howrah railway station he's received and garlanded by a huge "Bande mataram" chanting crowd which includes leading city intellectuals also.
  • 29th September, 1913 Leaves for Santiniketan the same day.
  • 30th September, 1913 The students of the Brahmacharyasram welcome him back home with a performance of the Valmiki Pratibha.
  • 30th September, 1913 Who has also arrived meets the poet for the first time.
  • 12th October, 1913 Savouring again the bracing solitude of Santiniketan he writes to Somendrachandra Devbarma in USA -- "I have received a great deal of honour and felicitations both at home and abroad, but nothing is comparable to the baptism that takes pace here every day in this clear light of the open sky."
  • October, 1913 Writes five songs in October in Santiniketan.
    • Jadi prem diley na praney 14th October, 1913
    • Nitya tomar je phool photey 15th October, 1913
    • Amar je asey kachhey 18th October, 1913
    • Amar mukher katha tomar 19th October, 1913
    • Kebol thakis sarey sarey 22th October, 1913
  • 8th October, 1913 The Gardener, his second English book of translated poems is published by Macmillan, & Co., London.
  • October, 1913 The Gardener is dedicated to Yeats and though the range and variety of themes here is more varied than that of Gitanjali, it is received less enthusiastically in the west. Rabindranath takes it in his stride (as evident in letter to Rothenstein written 7th November).
  • 28th October, 1913 Led by its illustrious VC Ashutosh Mukherjee, the syndicate of the Calcutta University at a special session recommends the conferment of D. Lit. honoris causa on Rabindranath barely a fortnight before the announcement of the Nobel award.
  • 14th November, 1913 Rabindranath is awarded the Nobel Prize for literature (1913). The evening newspaper The Empire, Calcutta, breaks the news as GREAT HONOUR FOR/TAGORE./NOBEL PRIZE CONFERRED./” LARGEST CONTRIBUTION TO/THE COMMON GOOD.”/ (REUTER'S SERVICE.)/LONDON, THURSDAY.
  • 14th November, 1913 After Rabindranath wins the Nobel Prize for literature, there is great jubilation in Calcutta and Santiniketan. The poet is snowed under with telegrams and felicitations.
  • 15th November, 1913 As Rabindranath is awarded the Nobel Prize for literature, the senate of the Calcutta University accepts the syndicate recommendation to confer honorary D. Lit on the poet.
  • 23rd November, 1913 When Rabindranath wins the Nobel Prize for literature, more than five hundred admirers and devotees of the poet go down to Santiniketan in a special train to felicitate and honour him. Jagadishchandra Bose presides, Hirendanath Dutta reads the message. Rabindranath says in reply --"I lack the ability to fully accept the honour which you have come to offer me today in the name of the entire country..."The guests leave in anger and dismay declining the ample refreshments arranged for them.
  • November, 1913 The Crescent Moon and Sadhana: The Realisation of Life published by Macmillan & Co., London. The latter is dedicated to Ernest Rhys.
  • 1913 Writes three songs during his brief stay in Santiniketan.
    • Lukiye asho andhar ratey 30th November, 1913
    • Amar kantha tanre dakey 1st December, 1913
    • Amar sakal kanta dhanya korey 1st December, 1913
  • 5th December, 1913 Sail for South Africa to take part in the Satyagraha movement being led by M.K. Gandhi there against racist discrimination. Rabindranath goes down to the steamer to see them off. Poet leaves Calcutta for Shilaidaha.
  • 10th December, 1913 Member of the Royal Commission on the Public Services in India (and later prime minister of Britain) -- J.R. Mackdonald -- visits the Santiniketan vidyalaya.
  • 10th December, 1913 The British ambassador to Sweden, Mr. Clive receives the Prize on behalf of the poet and sends it to Lord Carmichael, Governor of Bengal for presentation to Rabindranath.
  • December, 1913 Surendranath translates the first four chapters of Chokher Bali (printed in Modern Review -- Jan, 1914).
  • 13th December, 1913 The poet returns to Calcutta to be present at the wedding of Sukumar Ray and Suprabha Devi.
  • 20th December, 1913 Goes to Santiniketan for three days.
  • 22nd December, 1913 Writes the song – Gabo tomar soorey dao se beenayantra.
  • 22nd December, 1913 7th Poush is celebrated at the ashram with more than usual fervour because the poet is attending after a year's interval.
  • 26th December, 1913 The poet will receive the degree at a special convocation held at Governor's House, Calcutta from the chancellor and viceroy Lord Hardinge who will say -- "…I can only hope that the retiring disposition of our Bengal poet will forgive us for thus dragging him into publicity once more and recognise with due resignation that he must endure the penalties of greatness."
  • December, 1913 Writes three songs in two days.
    • Prabhu tomar beena jemni bajey 29th December, 1913
    • Tomai amai milan hobe boley 30th December, 1913
    • Jeevan shrotey ddheuer parey 30th December, 1913
  • 1st January, 1914 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.
  • 1st January, 1914 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.
  • January, 1914 Gitanjali – translated into German by Marie Luise Gothein published in Germany.
  • 24th January, 1914 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
    • Bajao amare bajao 24th January,1914
    • Jani go din jabey 24th January,1914
    • Tomay amay milan hobe boley 24th January,1914
    • Amar mukher katha tomar 24th January,1914
    • Praney khusir toofan utthechhe 24th January,1914
    • Amader jatra holo suru 24th January,1914
  • 24th January, 1914 The evening session of 84th Maghotsav held at Maharshibhavan, poet reads the lecture Chhoto o Bada.
  • January, 1914 Asitkumar Haldar (later a renowned painter) joins vidyalaya as teacher of painting, most probably in the beginning of 1914.
  • 29th January, 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.
  • 28th January, 1914 Invited by the Sadharan Brahmasamaj, the poet delivers a lecture at their temple later printed under the title - Ekti Mantra.
  • 29th January, 1914 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.
  • 1914 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.
  • 2nd February, 1914 Arrives in Santiniketan.
  • February, 1914 The novel is being translated into the other major Indian languages.
  • 17th February, 1914 Travels to Shilaidaha.
  • 23rd February, 1914 7th annual session of Uttarbanga Sahitya Sammelan held in Pabna on 23rd Feb, 1914. Poet can't decline to go. Huge felicitation at Sammelan.
  • 24th February, 1914 Back in Shilaidaha, Poet writes to Thompson--"… I am allowed to come back to my retreat where I am hiding at present."
  • February, 1914 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
    • Jadi jantem amar kisher byatha24th February,1914
    • Besur bajey rey 26th February,1914
    • Tumi jano ogo 26th February,1914
    • Sakal dabi chharbi jakhan 27th February,1914
    • Rajpuritey bajay banshi27th February,1914
    • Mithya ami ki sandhaney 27th February,1914
    • Amar bhanga pather ranga dhulai 27th February,1914
  • 28th February, 1914 Poet is now in Calcutta where he writes Amar byatha jakhan aney amai.
  • 1st March, 1914 Again retreats to Santiniketan. Writes seven songs in 13 days.
    • Kar hatey ei mala tomar2nd March,1914
    • Eto alo jwaliechho ei gaganey 4th March,1914
    • Jey ratey mor dooarguli7th March,1914
    • Shravaner dharar moto parook jhorey9th March,1914
    • Tomar kachhey shanti chabo na 10th March,1914
    • Danriye achho tumi amar 12th March,1914
    • Amai bhultey ditey naiko tomar bhoy 13th March,1914
  • 5th March, 1914 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.
  • March, 1914 Pens more songs
    • Jani nai go sadhan tomar15th March,1914
    • Oder kathay dhandha lagey 16th March,1914
    • Ei asha jawar kheyar kooley 17th March,1914
    • Jeevan amar cholchhey jeman 19th March,1914
    • Hawa lagey ganer paley 20th March,1914
    • Amarey di tomar hatey 21st March,1914
    • Aro chai je, aro chai go 22nd March,1914
  • March, 1914 Till his departure for Calcutta on April 8, he writes:-
    • Amar bani amar praney 23rd March,1914
    • Tumi je cheye achho akash 24th March,1914
    • Tomar pujar chhaley tomay 25th March,1914
    • Hey antarer dhan 29th March,1914
    • Tumi je esechho mor bhabaney 30th January,1914
    • Apnake ei jana amar 31st March,1914
    • Balo to ei barer mato 5th April,1914
    • Aaj jyotsnaratey sabai gechhe 5th April,1914
    • Oder sathey melao 6th April,1914
    • sakal-sanjhe dhay je ora7th April,1914
    • Tumi je surer agun 7th April,1914
    • Amay bandhbe jadi kajer dorey 7th April,1914
    • Keno chokher jaley 7th April,1914
    • Amar hiyar majhe lookiye chhiley 8th April,1914
  • 10th April, 1914 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
    • Keno tomra amay dako
    • Sediney apad amar jabey ketey
  • 15th April, 1914 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.
  • April, 1914 Writes four more songs:
    • Tomar ananda oi elo dwarey16th April,1914
    • Tar anta nai go 18th April,1914
    • Tumi amar anginatey phutiye rakho 19th April,1914
    • Amar je sab ditey hobey 20th April,1914
  • April, 1914 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.
  • 24th April, 1914 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.
  • 26th April, 1914 As usual the play Achalayatan is performed before the commencement of the summer vacation.
  • 1914 Writes the poem for the proposed Sabuj Patra.
  • 1914 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.
  • 8th May, 1914 Poet's 54th birth anniversary is quietly celebrated.
  • 8th May, 1914 Inaugural issue of the journal Sabuj Patra is out. It contains no advertisements.
  • 10th May, 1914 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."
  • 14th May, 1914 From Ramgarh writes to Andrews--"…My life is full. It is no longer broken and fragmentary."
  • 14th May, 1914 writes a song of serene joy:
    • Ei labhinu sanga taba
  • May, 1914 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..."
  • May, 1914 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
    • Gaan geye key janay apan 18th May,1914
    • Ere bhikhari sajaey ki ranga 19th May,1914
  • 19th May, 1914 Writes a long poem Sarbaneshe for Sabuj Patra (Sravan issue).
  • 20th May, 1914 Writes another poem for the journal Sabuj Patra for its Jaistha issue -- Amra chali samukhpaney.
  • May, 1914 Write three songs
    • Sandhya holo go-O ma20th May,1914
    • Akashe dui hatey prem bilay 21st May,1914
    • Ei to tomar alok-dhenu 24th May,1914
  • 26th May, 1914 Writes poem Tomar sankha dhulai pade for Sabuj Patra (Ashad issue).
  • 28th May, 1914 Verse anthology published. Dedicated to Andrews.
  • 1st June, 1914 Andrews arrives at Ramgarh near Nainital.
  • June, 1914 Pens two more songs
    • Aaj phool futeche mor ashone 1st June,1914
    • Aamar praaner majhe jemon kore 8th June,1914
  • June, 1914 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.
  • June, 1914 Writes the short story Haimanti during the Ramgarh sojourn.
  • June, 1914 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.
  • 17th June, 1914 Writes the last song to be included in the anthology Geetimalya – Mor sandhyai tumi sundara.
  • 19th June, 1914 Leaves for and arrives in Santiniketan.
  • 2nd July, 1914 Geetimalya is published by Indian Publishing House, Calcutta.
  • 8th July, 1914 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.
  • July, 1914 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.
  • 1914 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.
  • 5th August, 1914 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.
  • 22nd August, 1914 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.
  • 22nd August, 1914 Writes Padi inspired by the war now raging in Europe.
  • August, 1914 In the weeks that follow, he writes many songs in Calcutta and then in Santiniketan.
    • Ami hridayete path ketechhi23rd August,1914
    • Alo je jay rey dekha 23rd August,1914
    • O nithur aro ki baan 24th August,1914
    • Sukhe amay rakhbe keno 24th August,1914
    • Balo, amar sane tomar 24th August,1914
    • Ogo amar praner thakur 25th August,1914
    • Aghath korey niley jiney 25th August,1914
    • Ghum keno nei 26th August,1914
    • Ami jey aar soitey pari ney26th August,1914
    • Path cheye jey kete galo 26th August,1914
    • Abar sravan hoey ele phirey 27th August,1914
    • Amar sakal raser dhara 27th August,1914
    • Ei sarata-alor kamalabaney 28th August,1914
    • Tomar mohana rupey 28th August,1914
    • Jakhan tumi bandchhiley taar 28th August,1914
    • Aguner parasmani 28th August,1914
    • Hridoy amar prakash 30th August,1914
    • Ek hatey taar kripan achhey 31st August,1914
    • Path diey ke jay go choley1st September,1914
    • Ei jey kalo matir basa 2nd September,1914
    • Je thakey thak na dwarey 3rd September,1914
    • Tomar khola hawa lagiey 3rd September,1914
    • Shudhu tomar bani noy go 4th September,1914
    • Sarat tomar arun alor anjali 5th September,1914
    • O amar mon jakhan jagli na 7th September,1914
    • Mor maraney tomar hobey joy 8th September,1914
    • Ebar amay dakley9th September,1914
    • Nai ki rey teer, nai ki rey tor tari10th September,1914
    • Nai ba dako roibo 12th September,1914
    • Na banchabey amay jadi 12th September,1914
    • Jete jete ekla pathey 12th September,1914
    • Mala hotey khosey pada 13th September,1914
    • Kon barata pathaley mor paraney 14th September,1914
    • Jetey jetey chay na jetey 14th September,1914
    • Sei to ami chai14th September,1914
    • Sesh nahi jey 14th September,1914
    • Na rey toder phirtey debo na14th September,1914
    • Monke hothay basiey rakhis ne 15th September,1914
    • Etotuku andhar jadi 16th September,1914
    • Kancha dhaner khetey jeman 17th September,1914
  • 5th September, 1914 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.
  • 9th September, 1914 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..."
  • 1914 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.
  • 1914 Songs are now written which will be later included in Geetali
    • Dukkha jadi na pabey to18th September,1914
    • Na rey, na rey, hobey na 18th September,1914
    • Tomar ei madhuri chhapiey akash 18th September,1914
    • Na go, ei jey dhula amar na 19th September,1914
    • Ei kathati dharey rakhis 19th September,1914
    • Lakshmi jakhan ashbey19th September,1914
    • Oi amal hatey rajani pratey 24th September,1914
    • Mor hridoyer gopana bijana gharey 25th September,1914
    • Khusi ha tui apan money 25th September,1914
    • Sahaj hobi sahaj hobi 26th September,1914
    • Orey bhiru, tomar hatey nai 26th September,1914
    • Chokhe dekhis, praney kana 28th September,1914
    • Agnibeena bajao tumi 30th September,1914
    • Alo je aaj gaan korey mor praney go 1st October,1914
    • Amar bojha etoi kari bhari 2nd October,1914
  • October, 1914 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
    • Premer praney saibey kemon korey 3rd October,1914
    • Klanti amar kshama karo 3rd October,1914
    • Amar aar hobey na deri 3rd October,1914
    • Oi je sandhya khulia phelilo taar 3rd October,1914
    • Dukkha e noi, sukh nahe go 3rd October,1914
    • Eder pane takai ami 3rd October,1914
    • Ei ami ekmoney3rd October,1914
    • Megh bolechhe "jabo jabo' 4th October,1914
    • Kandari go, jadi ebar4th October,1914
    • Phool to amar4th October,1914
    • Tomar bhuban marmey amar 4th October,1914
    • Tomar kachhey e bar magi 4th October,1914
    • Apan hotey bahir hoey 4th October,1914
    • Ei abaran kshoy habey go 5th October,1914
    • Ogo amar hridoybashi 5th October,1914
    • Pushpa diey maro jarey6th October,1914
    • Amar surer sadhan6th October,1914
    • Kool theke more gaaner6th October,1914
    • Gharer thekey enechhilem6th October,1914
    • Sandhya holo, ekla achhi boley6th October,1914
    • Viswajoda phand petechha6th October,1914
    • Tomay srishti karba ami 7th October,1914
    • Sara jeevan dilo alo7th October,1914
    • Bajieychhiley beena tomar 10th October,1914
    • Abar jadi ichha karo 10th October,1914
    • Achenakey bhoy ki amar orey10th October,1914
    • Je dilo jhamp bhabasagar-majhkhaney 10th October,1914
    • Sandhyatara je phool dilo 10th October,1914
    • E din aaji kon gharey go11th October,1914
    • Tomar kachhe chainey ami 11th October,1914
    • Ekhaney to bandha pather 11th October,1914
    • Ja debe ta debe 11th October,1914
  • October, 1914 Accompanied by Asitkumar, Nagendranath, Hemlata Devi and Meera Devi, the poet visits Gaya, Allahabad, Agra and Delhi.
  • October, 1914 At Gaya, the poet and his companion's host is the well-known novelist Prabhatkumar Mukherjee.
  • 12th October, 1914 Writes two songs:
    • Pather sathi nami barambar12th October,1914
    • Sukher majhey tomay dekhechhi 12th October,1914
  • October, 1914 In Allahabad he enjoys Shanta's hospitality. Shanta is the daughter of his nephew – Satyaprasad.
  • October, 1914 Geetali is published by Indian Publishing House. Rabindranath pens the poem Utsarga.
  • October, 1914 In Allahabad the poet addresses three meetings of students, their teachers and admirers.
  • October, 1914 He is also received by the elite of the town-members of the Indian Club in Allahabad.
  • 20th October, 1914 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].
  • 30th October, 1914 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.
  • 31st October, 1914 Rabindranath writes the poem Shahjahan.
  • November, 1914 Returns to Santiniketan from Delhi and Agra in early November as the vidyalaya reopens after the Puja vacation.
  • November, 1914 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]
  • November, 1914 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.
  • 15th November, 1914 Poet is rather critical of the educational methods practised by Gandhiji's Phoenix Asram; says so in a letter written to Andrews.
  • 1st December, 1914 Again visits Ramgarh, Agra, Jaipur, Allahabad and Delhi.
  • 20th December, 1914 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • 22nd December, 1914 24th annual festival of Santiniketan celebrated. Poet delivers four addresses in the morning and evening sessions. Speaks of the war and eternal hope.
  • 25th December, 1914 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.
  • 26th December, 1914 Amader Santiniketan is translated into -- "Oh, the Santiniketan, the darling of our hearts".
  • 28th December, 1914 Writes one Poem and one song:
    • Tumi debe, tumi morey debe28th December,1914
    • Bedanai bhorey giechhe peyala28th December,1914
  • 1st January, 1915 Rabindranath writes to Ramendrasundar about his ensuing voyage. He has been planning a tour from the end of the previous year.
  • 3rd January, 1915 Rabindranath gives a talk, titled Atmasampad, at Ashram Mandir for the students of the Ashram school.
  • January, 1915 Rabindranath writes a number of poems while at Surul.
    • Kata laksha barasher tapasyar phale10th January,1915
    • Bishwer bipul basturashi 11th January,1915
    • Mor gan era sab shaibaler dal 11th January,1915
    • He bhuvan/ami jatakshan12th January,1915
    • Jatakshan sthir haye thaki13th January,1915
    • Ami je besechi bhalo ei jagatere13th January,1915
    • Ananda-gan uthuk tabe baji (later he sets tune to this poem)13th January,1915
  • 13th January, 1915 The poet returns to Calcutta from Santiniketan.
  • 15th January, 1915 Kalidas Nag meets Rabindranath at Jorasanko. A detailed discussion on Maurice Maeterlinck's mysticism takes place.
  • 20th January, 1915 Debendranath's 11th death anniversary is observed at Jorasanko.
  • 22nd January, 1915 Writes the poem Ore toder twar sahe na ar (later published in the Baishakh issue of Prabasi).
  • 25th January, 1915 Presides over the 85th Maghotsav ceremony.
  • 1st February, 1915 Rabindranath goes to Shilaidaha for a change. In a letter (29th January) to C.F. Andrews he writes -- 'I feel that I am on the brink of a breakdown. I must take a flight to the solitude of the Padma leaving Rathi and Bowma to make arrangements for our departure.'
  • February, 1915 During his 12-day stay at Shilaidaha, Rabindranath writes 12 poems.
    • Jakhan amay hate dhare2nd February,1915
    • Kon kshane/srijaner samudramanthane 3rd February,1915
    • Swarga kothay janis ki ta bhai 3rd February,1915
    • Je-basanta ekdin karechila kata kolahal3rd February,1915
    • Ebare phalguner dine sindhutirer kunjabithikay5th February,1915
    • Amar kache raja amar raila ajana 5th February,1915
    • Pakhire diyecho gan 7th February,1915
    • Jedin tumi apni chile eka8th February,1915
    • Ei dehatir bhela niye diyechi santar go 9th February,1915
    • Nitya tomar payer kache10th February,1915
    • Aj ei diner sheshe10th February,1915
    • Jani amar payer shabda ratre dine shunte tumi pao10th February,1915
  • 13th February, 1915 Rabindranath delivers a remarkable address titled Karmayajna (later published in the Phalgun issue of Sabuj Patra) at the inauguration of Bangiya Hitasadhanmandali (Bengal Social Service League founded by Dr. D. N. Maitra). In this lecture he sends out a call to the youth to take up the social service in a spirit of sacrifice.
  • 17th February, 1915 On his return from South Africa via London Mahatma Gandhi with his wife Kasturba visits Santiniketan to meet Phoenix Party (a group of 20 students and teachers of Phoenix Settlement that was started by Gandhi in Natal, South Africa). The poet could not meet Gandhi as he is in Calcutta.
  • 19th February, 1915 Gopal Krishna Gokhale dies.
  • 22nd February, 1915 Rabindranath goes to Santiniketan.
  • 24th February, 1915 Rabindranath starts staying at Surul Kuthi and starts writing Phalguni and completes on 04.03.1915. Writes 16 songs for Phalguni.
    • Ogo dakhin haoya24th February,1915
    • Chhar go tora chhar go 24th February,1915
    • Amra nutan praner char 25th February,1915
    • Or bhab dekhe je pay hasi 25th February,1915
    • Ei kathatai chilem bhule 25th February,1915
    • Amra khunji khelar sathi 25th February,1915
    • Ebar to joubaner kache 25th February,1915
    • Ay re tabe mat re sabe anande 25th February,1915
    • Biday niye giyechilem 25th February,1915
    • Akash amay bhorlo aloy25th February,1915
    • Ar nai je deri nai je deri 26th February,1915
    • Atodin je basechilem 27th February,1915
    • Tomay notun kore pabo bole 4th March,1915
    • Chokher aloy dekhechilem5th March,1915
    • Ogo nadi apan bege 7th March,1915
    • Choli go, choli go, jai go chole7th March,1915
  • 6th March, 1915 Gandhiji comes to Santiniketan again. Tagore and Gandhi meet for the first time.
  • 7th March, 1915 Poet comes to Calcutta to attend the meeting of Hitasadhamandali.
  • 10th March, 1915 A self-help experiment is started at Gandhi's instance at Santiniketan ashram. The day is still observed as Gandhi Day.
  • 11th March, 1915 Rabindranath returns to Santiniketan and Gandhi leaves for Rangoon.
  • 20th March, 1915 Lord Carmichael, Governor of Bengal, comes to Santiniketan. Arrangements are made to welcome him.
  • 28th March, 1915 Poet comes to Calcutta to attend Bangiya Hitasadhanmandali's meeting. Delivers a lecture titled Pallir Unnati.
  • April, 1915 Starts writing the novel Ghare-Baire, first installment published in the Baishakh issue of Sabuj Patra.
  • 25th April, 1915 Phalguni is staged at Santiniketan.
  • 7th May, 1915 Raja o Rani is staged at Star Theatre.
  • 8th May, 1915 Poet's birthday is celebrated at Jorasanko.
  • 14th May, 1915 On 09.05.1915 C.F. Andrews has a bad attack of Asiatic Cholera. Poet goes to Santiniketan to nurse and treat him according to the Homoeopathic system of medicine.
  • 3rd June, 1915 Poet receives the honour of Knighthood on the birthday of King George V.
  • 27th September, 1915 Poet delivers a lecture on Rammohan Roy in Calcutta.
  • 9th November, 1915 Poet goes to Shilaidaha. Pens Jhorer Kheya.
  • 28th November, 1915 Writes the poem Sarbadeher byakulata ki balite chay bani.
  • 29th November, 1915 Writes another poem Jedin udile tumi, bishwakabi, dur sindhupare. This poem is written about William Shakespeare on his 300th death anniversary.
  • 10th December, 1915 While at Shilaidaha poet writes an essay,Shikshar Bahan , which he reads at Rammohan Library.
  • 11th December, 1915 Delivers a lecture at Brahma Balika Vidyalay Hostel in Calcutta.
  • 23rd December, 1915 Presides over the 25th annual festival at Santiniketan.
  • 29th December, 1915 Comes to Calcutta from Santiniketan.
  • 30th December, 1915 Meets Lord Carmichael at Government House.
  • 31st December, 1915 Writes to Rothenstein and Macmillan regarding translation of some of his short stories.
  • 5th January, 1916 Severe famine in Bankura. Sadharan Brahmasamaj, Bangiya Hitasadhan Mandali and other voluntary organizations engaged in extensive relief work. Relief funds are being raised. Poet suggests that his play Phalguni be performed and the proceeds be donated towards relief. Abanindranath, Gaganendranath, etc. all come to perform. From Santiniketan poet writes to Thomson saying he is “up to my neck in the rehearsals..."
  • January, 1916 Writes a suitable introductory scene or curtain raiser for the play – Bairagya sadhan - which has no female characters. He also writes Bengali and English programmes to arouse public interest.
  • 15th January, 1916 Irish poet, art critic and educationist James H. Cousins who is a friend of Yeats and Annie Besant comes to see the poet at Jorasanko. They've already exchanged correspondence. A long association between the two gets under way.
  • 25th January, 1916 The 86th annual festival Maghotsav observed. Morning session held at Brahmasamaj mandir as usual. Evening session held at Jorasanko. Poet speaks at both the sessions and refers to the European conflict raging. A choir of students from the Vidyalaya sings the songs.
    • Mana jago mangala lokey
    • Mor prabhater ei pratham
    • Rahi rahi ananda taranga
    • Nishidin more paraney
    • Charana dharity deo go amare
    • Aaj aloker ei jharna dharai
    • Ei to tomar alok-dhenu
    • Agnibeena bajao tumi
    • Aghat korey niley jiney
    • Andhakarer utsa hotey
    • Megh bolechhe 'jabo jabo'
    • Orey bhiru, tomar hatey nai
    • Sara jeevan dilo alo
  • 29th January, 1916 The play Bairagya Sadhyan & Phalguni are performed at Jorasanko mansion on a meticulously crafted stage. Poet performs in both the prelude and the play proper. The cast consists of Abanindranath, Gaganendranath, Rathindranath, Dinendranath, Pearson, Asit Kumar Halder, Ajitkumar Chrakrabarty,etc. The production, with its highly innovative stage settings and scenery, marks a watershed in the history of Bengali theatre.
  • 31st January, 1916 Performance of Bairagya Sadhyan & Phalguni repeated.
  • 3rd February, 1916 Poet goes to Shilaidaha for rest.
  • February, 1916 Three young artists -- Nandalal Bose, Surendranath kar and Mukul Dey descend on Shilaidaha and sit at feet for days on end, receiving lessons in what Nandalal calls "practical nature-study" and a unique glimpse of life into which they are initiated by him. Nandalal produces a number of sketches during this visit.
  • February, 1916 Writes the last installment of the novel Ghare–baire and three poems.
    • Eikshane/more hridayer19th February,1916
    • Tomarey ki bar bar 20th February,1916
    • Je katha bolitey chai 20th February,1916
  • 21st February, 1916 Goes to Patisar by boat with Pearson to make arrangements for the proper management of the Patisar Hitoishi Fund and ensure that young men, who've come here - inspired by him for rural service, get on well with the local people.
  • 28th February, 1916 For him "It has been a delightful experience to be living on the boat with him and to see him with his tenants who love him so deeply—". Pearson's translation of the poet's Sesher Ratri is printed in the Modern Review under the title Mashi.
  • February, 1916 Dinendranath leaves Santiniketan. This saddens the poet.
  • February, 1916 Phalguni is published by Indian Press, Allahabad and dedicated to Dinendranath.
  • 1916 Writes the essay Chhatrasasantantra (printed in Sabuj Patra). Its English translation-Indian Students and Western Teachers -is printed in the Modern Review (April, 1916). In this carefully calibrated reaction to the infamous Oaten affair at Presidency College, Calcutta, involving Subhas Chandra Bose poet criticises racist colonial arrogance on the part of the English teachers and stands up for the students.
  • 17th March, 1916 Writes -- Jouban rey, tui ki rabi.
  • 4th April, 1916 The new viceroy Chelmsford arrives in Bombay.
  • 4th April, 1916 The former viceroy Hardinge leaves India.
  • April, 1916 In early April (mid & late Chaitra) the songs keep coming in a steady flow and seem to write themselves out with effortless ease. And all of them seem to enact a journey of some kind.
    • Ami pathbhola ek pathik3rd April,1916
    • Tumi kon pathe je eley 3rd April,1916
    • Jakhan padbe na mor payer chinha 4th April,1916
    • Ei to bhalo legechhilo 8th April,1916
    • Taritey paa dii ni 8th April,1916
    • Tomar holo suru 9th April,1916
    • Ganer surer asanakhani 10th April,1916
    • Amarey bandhbi tora 10th April,1916
    • Oi sagarer dheuey dheuey 11th April,1916
    • Na hoy tomar ja hoechhey11th April,1916
    • Orey amar hridoy amar 12th April,1916
    • Emni korei jai jadi din jak na 13th April,1916
  • April, 1916 Rabindranath again yields to wanderlust. Another reason why he's keen to go abroad is the acute need of funds for developing the school -- a task in which he increasingly invests all his energy. He has been invited to give a series of lectures in the USA too. Plans to go to USA via the Pacific and Japan. Writes to Rathindranath, instructing him to make arrangements as soon as possible. Andrews will go with him.
  • 22nd April, 1916 Writes -- Puratan batsarer jirna klanta ratri, which completes the next anthology - Balaka.
  • 28th April, 1916 Tilak sets up his Home Rule League. Annie Besant will also set up her Home Rule League in September, 1916.
  • 3rd May, 1916 The poet sails for Japan from Calcutta on the Japanese boat Tosa – Maru accompanied by Andrews, Pearson and the young Mukul Dey.
  • 7th May, 1916 On his foreign tour, Rabindranath lands at Rangoon (now Yangon) in Burma (now Myanmar).
  • 8th May, 1916 Another birthday comes round, he is fifty six years old.
  • 8th May, 1916 At Rangoon in Burma, the poet is welcomed at a gorgeous reception organised by the resident Bengalis and Burmese intellectuals. Two addresses in Bengali and English are read and presented to him in silver caskets.
  • 12th May, 1916 Rabindranath writes to Pratima Devi from Rangoon, "…Come to think of it, now I feel it would have been much better if, instead of wandering about elsewhere, I could have spent 3/4 months in a local Buddhist monastery…"
  • 15th May, 1916 Poet arrives Singapore.
  • 16th May, 1916 Poet leaves Singapore.
  • 21st May, 1916 Pearson writes Rathindranath that on the way to Hong Kong, poet has done "two very fine translations" Raja o Rani and Viswarjan.
  • 24th May, 1916 During the foreign tour, in Hong Kong the poet receives telegrams and letters from Japan congratulating him. The boat is instructed by Japanese authorities to sail straight to Japan because the Japanese are very keen to receive the poet. Leaves Hong Kong.
  • May, 1916 During the last lap of the voyage poet translates the play Malini into English; also writes an address to be delivered in Japan.
  • May, 1916 The account of this visit to Japan, Japanjatri is also proceeding slowly.
  • 29th May, 1916 At last the storm-tossed voyage ends as they land in Kobe, Japan.
  • 29th May, 1916 As the poet's voyage lands at Kobe, Japan, as usual they are mobbed by reporters and photographers. The poet is received by some Indian residents in Japan whose telegrams inviting him to Japan was received by him in Hong Kong. He's also received by his Japanese friends--artists Yokoyama Taikan, Katsuda Shokin, Sano Jinnosuke (former teacher at the Vidyalaya) and the well-known traveller Kawaguchi Ekkai.
  • 29th May, 1916 On his Japan tour, Rabindranath is the guest of a Gujarati merchant – Mr. Morarji.
  • 31st May, 1916 On his visit to Japan, Rabindranath is felicitated at the local Oriental Club by the Indians residing in Kobe and Osaka.
  • 31st May, 1916 When Rabindranath is felicitated at the local Oriental Club by the Indians residing at Kobe in Japan, an address is read welcoming the poet and presented to him in a "very handsome carved ivory casket."
  • 31st May, 1916 After Rabindranath is felicitated at the local Oriental Club at Kobe in Japan, later in the day he meets the ladies of the Saturday Morning Club and reads from the translations.
  • 1st June, 1916 In Japan, Rabindranath visits Osaka and delivers his first considerable lecture of this tour -- India and Japan at Tennoji Hall at the invitation of the Osaka Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
  • 1st June, 1916 While delivering his first considerable lecture of the Japan tour -- India and Japan at Tennoji Hall, Rabindranath says he has noticed "The whirlwind of modern civilization" as elsewhere in the world but is unable to find the true Japan he is looking for.
  • June, 1916 In the first lecture -- India and Japan given at Tennoji Hall, Osaka in Japan, Rabindranath’s statement about Japan – that he has noticed "The whirlwind of modern civilization" as elsewhere in the world but is unable to find the true Japan he is looking for, is well received by the audience but the Tokyo Asahi, the most important Japanese newspaper, is rather dismissive in its report.
  • 3rd June, 1916 In his Japan tour, two Japanese ladies come and show him several ways of arranging flowers. Poet is all praise for their skills.
  • 4th June, 1916 In Japan, the poet is invited to a tea party by Mr. Muraiyama -- owner of the Asahi newspaper. Poet highly appreciates the modesty, sophistication, decorum and the restrained yet graceful behaviour of women he encounters in the aristocratic household.
  • 5th June, 1916 While visiting Japan, almost at every station the Japanese and Indians gather to greet Rabindranath with flowers; more than twenty thousand people gather at Tokyo railway station to greet the poet.
  • 5th June, 1916 In Japan, Rabindranath and his travelling companions are taken to Taikan's house where the poet is graciously received by Mrs. Taikan and Okakura's widow. Pearson writes that they have "reached the heart of Japan after having experienced the modernised and Westrnised Japan." Poet gives vent to similar feelings.
  • 10th June, 1916 Accompanied by Andrews and Pearson, Rabindranath meets Count Okuma Shigenobu, Prime minister of Japan. The noted Buddhist scholar Anesaki Masaharu acts as the interpreter.
  • 10th June, 1916 Rabindranath and his companions are shown around the Waseda University.
  • 10th June, 1916 Poet visits the school of art Nippon Bijitsu-In founded by the late Okakura and now run by Taikan.
  • 10th June, 1916 Poet speaks on "Ideals of Art" before the teachers and students of the school of art Nippon Bijitsu-In. Then the exhibition of pictures is formally opened.
  • 10th June, 1916 Later in the evening at the best restaurant of Tokyo the poet is entertained with a classical performance of Japanese dance.” it seems as if it (dance) is the music of physical movement…Japanese dance is absolutely total dance. There is not the slightest bit of nakedness in its costumes..."
  • 11th June, 1916 The next day poet delivers his address The Message of India to Japan at Tokyo Imperial University before an audience of fifteen hundred strong with a sizable presence of Indians, Americans and Englishmen. Present amongst the audience was Mirra Richard, later known as Sree Maa or The Mother.
  • 11th June, 1916 Rabindranath characterises western civilisation as “Political Civilisation" which "is scientific, not human…it enshrines gigantic idols of greed in its temples…there is a moral law in this world which has its applications both to individuals and organised bodies of men. You cannot go on violating these laws in the name of your nation, yet enjoy their advantage as individuals..."he warns Japan to steer clear of its pitfalls and cling to her spiritual values. Romain Rolland will soon hail this address as a sign post which points to a bend in human history.
  • 13th June, 1916 Buddhists felicitate the poet in an entirely Japanese style in the presence of the Tokyo elite in Kaneiji Buddhist temple at Uyeno Park.
  • 14th June, 1916 Visits Tokyo Normal School.
  • 15th June, 1916 Leaves Tokyo and retreats to more peaceful Yokohama where he spends the next two months at the invitation of Hara Tomitaro, a wealthy silk merchant. Poet speaks in glowing terms of his host Tomitaro. In Tomitaro's house he sees high class paintings by Taikan and Koanjan Shimomura. He is fascinated and writes about them in his letters to Rathindranath and Abanindranath.
  • 1916 Perhaps as a reaction to what is seen as the poet's pacifism by at least a section of the Japanese elite, enthusiasm for Tagore rather rapidly ebbs away, leaving him an eminent but rather isolated figure in the aftermath of the Tokyo university lecture.
  • 1916 He seeks refuge in his verse, writes The Song of the Defeated, Thanksgiving -- original English poems and translates many of the Kanika poems into English.
  • 2nd July, 1916 Japan Women's University invites him to dinner.
  • 2nd July, 1916 The same day he speaks in the afternoon to students of private colleges at Keio University on The Spirit of Japan. In this lecture he praises Japan's progress in many fields but comes down more sternly than before on Japan's imitation of the west. Criticism of his views in the press is increasingly bitter. Japan has benefited enormously at the expense of China cynically making the most of its position as a partner of the allies in the Pacific, grabbed German possessions in the Far East and is eying further gains. Predatory nationalism and militarism is ascendant in Japan and no wonder there are few takers for the poet's views.
  • 12th July, 1916 Visits the Zen Sojiji monastery near Yokohama.
  • 1916 Since his visit to the USA has been put off till September, he utilises the breather thus gained writing lectures for the forthcoming lecture tour.
  • August, 1916 Spends 3/4 days with graduates and teachers of Tokyo Women's university on Karuizawa hill at their invitation. Pearson and Andrews are with him. Pearson will later write--"These women students with their deep devotion had listened to the message of their Bengali guest, and had served him with their love and reverence."
  • August, 1916 Rabindranath and his travel partners spend a few days at the sea-side residence of Okakura's widow and son at their invitation in Idzura.
  • 8th August, 1916 Rabindranath with his companions come back to Yokohama after meeting with Okakura's widow and son.
  • 22nd August, 1916 Poet makes the acquaintance of painter Kampo Arai at Hara Tomitaro's house. Engages him to copy paintings in Tomitaro's collection and invites him to visit India and stay at Jorasanko. Writes to Rathindranath asking him to make arrangements for his stay when he arrives 2/3 months later.
  • 1916 Meanwhle arrangements have been completed by his American agent J.B.Pond in the USA for a fast-paced lecture tour which will take him across the USA and back again to the Pacific coast.
  • 3rd September, 1916 Leaves Japan, sails from Yokohama. Andrews returns to India. Poet's accompanied by Pearson and Mukul.
  • 18th September, 1916 Arrives in Seattle, USA.
  • September, 1916 During his first visit (1912-13) to USA he was but a stranger here with few friends and acquaintances in an essentially alien country. Three years later he is an honoured and internationally known, though exotic literary figure whose voice commands attention and respect. There's another crucial difference, though. The main purpose of this lecture tour is to raise badly needed funds for the development and expansion of the Santiniketan Vidyalaya. Poet is always, often painfully aware of this and this awareness is reflected in his letters to relatives and friends.
  • September, 1916 The lectures he'll deliver in USA won't be fundamentally different from the ones he recently delivered in Japan, will differentiate narrow, soul-destroying nationalism from international humanism -- his solution for the evils of a war-torn world as sharply as before and offer a trenchant critique of western “Political Civilisation." The reactions will be more widespread, somewhat more sensational for several reasons. In the first place, this is an English-speaking country; secondly, as his tour will progress, the country's entry in the War will be more and more imminent and this will cast its shadow on everything; thirdly the Gadar Party of expatriate, anti-British Indians will maintain a hostile stance towards him.
  • 25th September, 1916 Reads the address - The Cult of Nationalism before a large gathering at the Sunset Club in USA. Gives another reading at Macaulay's Theatre in the evening.
  • 26th September, 1916 Delivers the lecture The Cult of Nationalism at a meeting organised by the Drama League of America at Lincoln High School. This address will be later published in the anthology Nationalism (1917) under the title Nationalism in West. It is a seminal essay and strikes the keynote of all his utterances on the subject powerfully, even vehemently drawing both criticism and praise.
  • 26th September, 1916 Hungry Stone & other Stories published by Macmillan, London.
  • 2nd October, 1916 Reads The Cult of nationalism at St. Francis Hotel.
  • 3rd October, 1916 Lectures local Japanese at Scottish Rite Hall. Lectures are well received, there's some criticism too.
  • 4th October, 1916 Poet's feted at a dinner given by Bohemian Club in his honour.
  • 5th October, 1916 Gives readings from new translations at Columbia Theatre.
  • 6th October, 1916 Reads The Cult of Nationalism at Little Theatre, Montecito.
  • 9th October, 1916 Delivers The Cult at Cumnock School of Expression.
  • 10th October, 1916 Reads The Cult before an audience of two thousand strong.
  • 11th October, 1916 Poet writes to Rathindranath. The letter is significant because it explains why he’s exerting himself so manfully and contains an early statement of the mission which will before long crystallise in the vision of Viswabharati. It also lays stress on universal humanism as opposed to predatory nationalism.
  • 11th October, 1916 Delivers The Cult address at Isis Theatre.
  • 12th October, 1916 Poet returns to LA; gives public reading of poems and stories which is a huge success.
  • 14th October, 1916 Reads The Cult before an enthusiastic crowd at Salt Lake City, USA.
  • 16th October, 1916 Reads The Cult at Denver.
  • 17th October, 1916 Reads The Cult at Boulder.
  • 18th October, 1916 Reads The Cult at Colorado Springs.
  • 20th October, 1916 Arrives to the warm welcome of Mrs. Moody and other friends at Chicago.
  • 22nd October, 1916 Mrs. Seymour comes over from Urbana to see him at Chicago.
  • 24th October, 1916 Delivers The Cult lecture at Orchestra Hall.
  • 26th October, 1916 Reads The Cult address at Iowa State University.
  • 26th October, 1916 Priyanath Sen passes away at Calcutta.
  • 27th October, 1916 American edition of Hungry Stone & other Stories published by Macmillan, New York.
  • 30th October, 1916 Delivers The World of Personality address at Claypool Hotel in Indianapolis.
  • 1916 Hungry Stone & other Stories gains great popularity in USA. Reprinted in November and December.
  • 1916 Soaring demand is directly fuelled by growing interest in visit to the USA.
  • 4th November, 1916 Here he reads The Cult at Milwaukee in USA.
  • 4th November, 1916 A memorable meeting takes place when the poet is in his visit to the USA; Maria Montessori comes to see him. They will meet again years later in India.
  • 6th November, 1916 Delivers The Cult address at Kentucky, Louisville. It's received with divided feelings.
  • 8th November, 1916 Delivers The Cult lecture at Tennessee, Nashville.
  • 10th November, 1916 Reads The Cult to a large audience of the cream of the city Michigan, Detroit. Press reaction is generally favourable.
  • 12th November, 1916 Rabindranath meets Henry Ford on his USA tour.
  • 14th November, 1916 Delivers The World of Personality address at Twentieth Century Club. There are mixed reactions ranging from mockery to sincere praise.
  • 15th November, 1916 The anthology Stray Birds of translated poems is published by Macmillan, New York.
  • 18th November, 1916 Arrives in New York. Stays at E.W. Paterson's house. Accommodation arranged by Mrs. Moody. Newspapers pay considerable attention to him, print interviews in which poet speaks candidly expressing his views on a range of subjects with the same boldness which characterises his choice of The Cult of Nationalism for public reading in spite of sharp reactions provoked by it.
  • 19th November, 1916 G.P. Brett of Macmillan Co., New York, who has a great respect for him, comes to see the poet.
  • 21st November, 1916 Delivers The Cult address at a meeting at Carnegie hall organised by Society of Ethical Culture in USA.
  • 21st November, 1916 The audience is one of the largest ever addressed by the poet in the USA, numbers more than 3000 and the majority are women.
  • 22nd November, 1916 Reads The World of Personality lecture at Hudson Theatre in USA.
  • 24th November, 1916 Gives readings from his writings at Hudson Theatre in USA.
  • 25th November, 1916 Reads his poems at Ogontz School for Girls, later meets the press at Philadelphia in USA.
  • 28th November, 1916 Delivers The Cult lecture at New Jersey, Paterson in USA.
  • 29th November, 1916 Back in Philadelphia he reads The Cult at the Academy of Music Hall.
  • 2nd December, 1916 Decides to cut short the lecture tour in USA and announces the decision.
  • 11th December, 1916 Reads What is Art? at Twentieth Century Club at Buffalo, USA.
  • 12th December, 1916 In his last appearance at New York, reads from his published and unpublished writings.
  • 14th December, 1916 Delivers The Cult address at Ohio, Columbus in USA.
  • 16th December, 1916 Reads The Cult lecture at Gray's Armory, Cleveland in USA.
  • 19th December, 1916 Gives a reading from his writings at Orchestra Hall, Chicago in USA.
  • December, 1916 At last comes to Urbana to meet friends of the Tagore Circle, spends altogether nine days, from 22nd to 31st December, 1916 here and gives seven readings from his writings.
  • 8th January, 1917 Delivers lecture on nationalism and reads from writings at Nebraska, Lincoln in USA.
  • 8th January, 1917 Citizens of Lincoln in USA, present a printing machine to the students of Bolpur Vidyalaya. Later it will be set up in Santiniketan Press to print a number of books by the poet.
  • 9th January, 1917 Reads The Cult of nationalism at Lowa, Des Monies in USA.
  • 10th January, 1917 Lectures on nationalism and gives readings at Nebraska, Omaha in USA.
  • 11th January, 1917 Delivers a lecture here at Kansas City, USA.
  • 17th January, 1917 Accompanied by Pearson, Mukul and Bankimchandra Roy, poet sails for Japan from San Fransisco.
  • January, 1917 Reaches Honolulu.
  • 9th February, 1917 Leaves Honolulu perhaps on 1st February and arrives at Japan.
  • February, 1917 During this brief stay at Japan poet meets Paul and Mirra Richard (Mirra will later become a disciple of Sri Aurobindo and will be known as Srima).
  • February, 1917 Rabindranath's companion Pearson decides to stay back in Japan. They will see each other again only in 1921.
  • 1917 On his return to India, poet breaks the journey at Rangoon.
  • 5th March, 1917 Governor of Bengal, Lord Carmichael is given a farewell by the Tagores at Vichitra Club, Jorasanko.
  • 13th March, 1917 Arrives at Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 14th March, 1917 On the occasion of his homecoming, a small crowd of relatives and friends and admirers gather at Vichitra club; songs are sung.
  • March, 1917 Poet pleased to see Vichitra studio. Given the poet's patronage, Vichitra will soon become the meeting ground of artists, writers and people of similar affinities and host weekly meetings. Kampo Arai will give lessons in the Japanese style of painting here.
  • 16th March, 1917 Rabindranath is back in Santiniketan.
  • 13th April, 1917 Ramananda, Prasantachandra, etc. arrive with their families. Poet conducts prayers in the temple on the last day of the Bengali year.
  • 20th April, 1917 Back in Calcutta (now Kolkata) to consult doctors for an ailment of the ear.
  • 21st April, 1917 Chittaranjan Das, once a Rabindra-disciple and now a Rabindra-critic assails the poet for allegedly upholding internationalism at the expense of what he sees as legitimate Bengali nationalism in his presidential address at the Bangiya Pradeshik Sammelan. Soon Prabashi and Bharati will join issue with him.
  • 23rd April, 1917 Teachers of the Brahma Balika Vidyalaya felicitate the poet at their school.
  • 24th April, 1917 Poet attends a meeting of Brahma Yubak Samiti at Mary Carpentar Hall.
  • 27th April, 1917 The one-act play Chitra written by Rabindranath is performed at St. James Theatre, London.
  • 30th April, 1917 Poet back in Santiniketan.
  • 3rd May, 1917 The first performance of the original Bengali play Dakghar takes place at Mary Carpentar Hall. The actors are the youngsters of the Sadharan Brahmasamaj.
  • 7th May, 1917 Sukumar Ray is in Santiniketan. Performs his farce Sabdakalpadrum with his group.
  • 8th May, 1917 Poet's 57th birthday celebrated in Santiniketan.
  • 8th May, 1917 Rabindranath's drama Achalayatan is performed in the evening by the students and teachers. Rabindranath plays the role of the Acharya.
  • 10th May, 1917 Poet is in Calcutta (now Kolkata); trip to Darjeeling arranged but later cancelled.
  • 17th May, 1917 Poet returns to Santiniketan.
  • 18th May, 1917 After a considerable interval he pens a long poem called Sesh Gaan which was initially placed in Palataka anthology. Later it is renamed as Purabi and will be included in the anthology of the same name.
  • May, 1917 Pays an old debt of Rs 30000/- with interest (originally borrowed from Sir Taraknath Palit who later transferred it to Calcutta University which had received his endowments). The money was borrowed for the erstwhile Tagore & Co.
  • 24th May, 1917 Poet goes to Tindharia for rest.
  • 18th June, 1917 Returns to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 27th June, 1917 Confers with Brajendranath Seal, Jadunath Sarkar, Kalidas Nag, etc. at Vichitra Club.
  • 1917 Rabindranath stays back in Calcutta to look after his daughter Madhurilata who's ailing.
  • 1917 Poet intends to prepare and publish books in Bengali on different subjects on the lines of the Home University Library in English (Viswavidyasangraha). Much later poet will introduce Loksiksha Granthamala to achieve this goal.
  • 4th July, 1917 Poet felicitated at Monda Club founded by Sukumar Ray. Reads his new short story Poila Nambar written in colloquial Bengali to match the style of Sabuj Patra for which it's intended.
  • 13th July, 1917 Poet's daughter Madhurilata is seriously ill. Poet's back in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 17th July, 1917 Poet felicitated at a reception organised by the younger members of the Sadharan Brahmasamaj at Rammohan Library. Brajendranath Seal reads a paper. Sukumar Ray also speaks of the poet's achievements.
  • 20th July, 1917 The Poet is in Shilaidaha to celebrate Punnyaha.
  • 25th July, 1917 The Poet is back in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 1917 Writes the famous chorus -- Desh desh nandita kari.
  • 4th August, 1917 Reads the well-known essay - Kartar Ichhai Karma protesting against government policies at a meeting held in Rammohan Library where -- Desh desh nandita kari is sung.
  • 10th August, 1917 Reads the essay - Kartar Ichhai Karma again before a massive audience at Alfred Theatre on Harrison Road (now Mahatma Gandhi Road).
  • 19th August, 1917 Writes to young Ranu Adhikari (later Lady Ranu Mukherjee) who though very young has already read many of his writings. He will write her a number a letters over the years which carve out a niche of their own in our literature.
  • August, 1917 Writes four new songs.
    • Kampichhe dehalata August, 1917
    • Byakul bakuler phule August, 1917
    • Je kandane hiya kandichhe August, 1917
    • Dooar mor pathapashe August, 1917
  • 1917 Young Amiya Chakrabarty has also started corresponding with the poet around this time.
  • 1917 Bitter feuds in Bengal Congress over who will be the president of the annual session to be held in Kolkata in December. Poet reluctantly involved in it. Crisis is resolved when Mrs. Besant is accepted as president.
  • 5th September, 1917 Reads the essay -- Sangeeter Mukti - at a weekly meeting of the Vichitra Club.
  • 7th September, 1917 Reads the essay - Sangeeter Mukti again before an audience at Rammohan Library.
  • September, 1917 Poet more than slightly ill, consults Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. Thus begins an association which will end only in his death.
  • 15th September, 1917 A meeting held at Sadharan Brahmasamaj temple in memory of Rajnarayan Basu. Poet presides.
  • 21st September, 1917 Meetings and programmes take place regularly at Vichitra club. At a session of western music, Rabindanath surprises and regales all present by singing Bengali, Hindustani, English and German songs.
  • 26th September, 1917 Rabindranath's comedy play - Baikunther Khatha is performed for an exclusively female audience.
  • 28th September, 1917 Rabindranath's comedy play - Baikunther Khatha is performed for an exclusively male audience.
  • 28th September, 1917 During the performance of the comedy drama – Baikunther Khata, Kalidas Nag brings along Ramesh Chandra Majumdar to be acquainted with the poet.
  • 3rd October, 1917 Poet reads an essay Amar Dharma before a gathering at Vichitra Club. It rebuts views expressed earlier in an article printed in the Narayana journal edited by Chittaranjan which is as a rule critical of everything the poet writes.
  • 10th October, 1917 Dakghar is performed at Vichitra Club, for a female audience. Stage settings and scenery again create a landmark. Rabindranath, Abanindranath, Gaganendranath, Rathindranath, etc. perform.
  • 11th October, 1917 The comedy drama - Baikunther Khatha is performed again for a male audience. Performance repeated on 15th & 16th October.
  • 21st October, 1917 Poet writes a fine introduction for Sister Nivedita's book The Web of indian Life.
  • 14th November, 1917 Writes the celebrated essay Chhoto o Bado and first reads it in a gathering at Vichitra Club. The immediate provocation is Hindu-Muslim riots in Bihar over cow-slaughter.
  • 16th November, 1917 Gives a public reading of Chhoto O Bado at Rammohan Library. Chhoto o Bado is translated into English as The Small and The Great by Surendranath Tagore and printed in the Modern Review (17th December).
  • 18th November, 1917 M. Saddler meets the poet at Jorasanko with a letter of introduction from Rothenstein.
  • 21st November, 1917 M.Sadler meets the poet again, expresses his desire to hear songs.
  • 23rd November, 1917 An elaborate musical soiree held at Jorasanko; M. Sadler, Balfour, Sir John Woodroff are present.
  • November, 1917 Rabindranath goes almost every day to see his ailing daughter Madhurilata.
  • 30th November, 1917 First foundation anniversary of Basu-Vigyanmandir set up by Jagadish Chandra Bose the year before. Nandalal, Surenranath kar and other artists decorate the mandir. Poet composes for the occasion -- Matrimandira punya angana.
  • 7th December, 1917 Hurries back to Kolkata from Santiniketan to arrange another musical soiree for Lady Chelmsford, Montague and others.
  • 10th December, 1917 The soiree is held at Vichitra Club. The guests are pleased.
  • 10th December, 1917 Government announces the formation of the Rowlatt Committee.
  • 22nd December, 1917 27th annual festival (Poush Utsav) held. Poet takes part and sings a song. The choir of Asram boys is led by Dinendranath.
  • 23rd December, 1917 Lakshmir Pariksha is performed in the evening by female artists who are congratulated by the poet.
  • 25th December, 1917 Back in Kolkata.
  • 26th December, 1917 32nd annual session held at Wellington Square(now Subodh Mullick Square), Kolkata, with great flourish. During inauguration Gandhi, Rabindranath, Mrs. Besant, Tilak are on the dais.
  • 26th December, 1917 Poet reads India's Prayer. The day's proceedings end with the song – Deshe deshe nandita kari.
  • 31st December, 1917 Dakghar is performed at Vichitra in honour for the Congress leaders; Gandhi, Besant, Malaviya, Tilak and others watch the performance in which the poet acts.
  • 1st January, 1918 Writes -- Ami jakhan tar duarey.
  • 3rd January, 1918 Poet presides over a rather small gathering of students at the YMCA Hostel.
  • 4th January, 1918 The second and last performance of the play, Dakghar takes place at Vichitra.
  • 4th January, 1918 There are changes in the cast; poet plays three roles.
  • 6th January, 1918 He returns to Santiniketan.
  • 15th January, 1918 He's ill, returns to Kolkata.
  • 16th January, 1918 In spite of his illness, poet reads a story at the Vichitra club, most probably Tota Kahini.
  • 22nd January, 1918 Back in Santiniketan.
  • 24th January, 1918 In a letter to Gandhiji poet agrees that Hindi is the "only possible National language for interprovincial intercourse in India. But…I think we cannot enforce it for a long time to come."
  • January, 1918 Writes four English poems and six songs between 1st January to 31st January, 1918.
    • There sounded a voice in India's forest
    • The time is loud today and crowded
    • Don your white robe, my brothers
    • Don your white robe, my brothers
    • Let me lay my heart at the feet of those
    • Jagarane jay bibhabari
    • Ore sabdhani pathik, barek
    • Ohe sundara mori mori
    • Alokey kusuma na dio
    • Akash hotey akash pathey
    • se kon boner harin chhila
  • 15th February, 1918 Students and teachers of Vidyalaya have a picnic at Sriniketan; the poet is a picnicker too.
  • 15th February, 1918 Writes -- Aaji bijana ghare.
  • 15th February, 1918 Another copious season of songs written between 8th February to 15th February, 1918.
    • Kannahasir doldolano
    • Amar patrakhana
    • Tumi ekla ghare bosey bosey
    • Kon sudur hotey
    • Ay ay re pagal
    • Anek pawar majhe majhe
    • Sabar sathe chaltechhilo
    • Amar sakal dukher pradip
    • Keno re ei dooartuku
    • Takhan tara driptabeger vijoyrathe
    • Ami pathbhola ek pathik
    • Tumi kon pathe je eley
    • Eso eso basanta dharataley
    • Asrunadir sudur parey
  • 18th February, 1918 Madhurilata is critically ill, poet back in Kolkata.
  • 11th March, 1918 Andrews is in Santiniketan, gives a lecture on the condition of the Indians in Fiji.
  • 20th March, 1918 Writes and reads a long essay - Chhanda on Bengali rhythm (printed in Sabuj Patra - Chaitra issue) at a Vichitra session.
  • 28th March, 1918 Saratchandra Chatterjee (1876-1938) who is now emerging as a major novelist in Bengali literature next only to Rabindranath, reads his story – Bilasi at another Vichitra session.
  • 1918 Invitation to visit Australia arrives around this time. Poet willing to go. But the visit does not take place.
  • 6th April, 1918 Writes a long letter to Montagu, India Secretary, giving his views on the problems facing India.
  • 10th April, 1918 Montagu replies in letter dated 10th April, 1918.
  • 15th April, 1918 Students of the vidyalaya led by Narbhup kill a tiger. Narbhup is wounded and sent to Kolkata for medical treatment.
  • 18th April, 1918 Reminiscences – the English translation of Jeevansmriti by Surendranath Tagore published by Macmillan, New York. But the publication of his Nationalism by Macmillan, New York will be delayed till September, 1918.
  • 24th April, 1918 Poet is present at a Vichitra session.
  • 1918 Poet's been displaying a keenness for sometime to go abroad, to the USA if possible (because 1st World War is raging in full fury and the USA is already at war).
  • 1918 Also borrows Rs 50,000/- from Parsi friend Bomanji to meet the expenses of the proposed trip, but soon returns the money as the trip's canceled.
  • 1918 The reasons are complicated. He is implicated in the San Fransisco Hindu-German Conspiracy case in the USA. A spate of correspondence ensues between the indignant poet and the US and British authorities. Rabindranath even sends a cable to President Wilson "claiming from you and your country protection against such lying calumny." He also writes to viceroy Chelmsford and the japanese Prime Minister Count Okuma in this connection. They express sympathy in their response. But the case drags on in USA. Rabindranath drops his plans perhaps out of disgust.
  • 8th May, 1918 Poet writes to Radhakrishnan, professor of Philosophy at Presidency College, Madras (now Chennai) in connection with his forthcoming book - The Philosophy of Rabindranath being published by Macmillan.
  • 8th May, 1918 Poet is now 58 years old and his birthday is celebrated in style devotees and friends and admirers in Kolkata.
  • 16th May, 1918 Madhurilata, eldest daughter of Rabindranath, dies of tuberculosis in Kolkata after a long illness.
  • 30th May, 1918 Totakahini -- his withering satire on the prevailing education system is translated into English by him and The Parrot's Training with drawnings by Abanindranath cover design by Nandalal is published at his own cost. It is dedicated to Patrick Geddes.
  • 1918 Impulsive large-hearted rebel par excellence is arrested in Peking (now Beijing) for espousing the cause of India's freedom, brought to England and interned at his Manchester home till the end of the war.
  • 1918 In his daughter's memory poet introduces Madhurilata Britti in the Vidyalaya.
  • 1918 Young Ranu fills the void created by Bela's death in the poet's mind to some extent. He writes her a number of letters which bring her news of the Vidyalaya as well as delightful witticisms.
  • 1918 Writes this important English essay on the proposed Montagu-Chelmsford reforms and current national and international situations. Published in Modern Review (July,18).
  • 15th June, 1918 At Santiniketan. Ranu has come with her father. Sukumar Ray has come along to help set up the American printing machine and start Santiniketan Press. Kalidas Nag, Ajitkumar Chakrabarty, Charuchandra Banerjee, Nirmalkumar Sidhanta have also come.
  • 18th July, 1918 Gujrati students, who have been brought to the Vidyalaya by their parents are admitted to the school.
  • 1918 Poet is busy in the school taking a number of classes everyday and will be here till the commencement of the Puja vacation.
  • 1918 Poet writes a long illuminating introduction to an anthology of English poems written by Bengali poets edited and published by Theodor Douglas Dunn.
  • 1918 Gurusaday Dutta (1882-1941, later of Bratachari fame) and his wife Sarojnalini visit the ashram and the vidyalaya. Andrews' friend Susilkumar Rudra, principal of St. Stephen's College, Delhi also pays a visit.
  • 1918 The women and girls of the ashram too, receive their share of his care and affection. Poet reads his translations and Shelley's poems to them in the evening.
  • 12th August, 1918 The Consul general of Peru visits Santiniketan.
  • 1918 Writes this bengali essay for the Bhandar magazine (Sravan issue) revived by Tarakchandra Roy, deputy magistrate of Birbhum.
  • September, 1918 Bhumilakshmi published from Siuri. It carries an article Bhumi Lakshmi written by the poet.
  • 22nd September, 1918 Vice-chancellor Asutosh Mukherjee is slowly and steadily introducing post graduate courses in Bengali and the other major Indian languages in Calcutta University. Dr.I.J.Tarapourwala of the University asks him to give his on this and the poet writes a long letter in reply. It is later printed in the Modern Review (November issue).
  • 4th October, 1918 Puja vacation begins in the Vidyalaya.
  • 9th October, 1918 Rabindranath comes to Kolkata with his family.
  • 12th October, 1918 Leaves Kolkata for Pithapuram and Madras (now Chennai).
  • October, 1918 He is delighted to hear the Veena recitals by the veena player S. Shastri. Requests his host, the Maharaja of Pithapuram to send the artiste to Santiniketan for a few days. The Maharaja keeps his promise.
  • 19th October, 1918 Returns to Kolkata.
  • 25th October, 1918 Meera Devi and her son critically ill in Hyderabad. At poet's initiative Dr. Naidu and Dr. Lancaster provide necessary treatment and care to them and they recover.
  • 1918 Poet always keen to set up a Technical Department in a big way. Their Parsi friend Bomanji donates Rs 5000/- towards this end and promises to donate a similar sum every year. American windmills purchased and installed in Santiniketan. Electricity provided to all the hostels. A bus is also purchased to provide transport.
  • 11th November, 1918 World War 1 ends, Germany and the central powers collapse.
  • 1918 Poet continues to write delightful letters to Ranu.
  • 1918 In a fine flow, writes several songs in Santiniketan in late Nov-early Dec, 1918.
    • Akaraney akaley mor
    • Akash jude suninu
    • Dinguli mor sonar khanchay
    • Se je bahir holo
    • Tomay kichhu debo boley
    • Ami achhi tomar sabhar dooar
    • Ani tomay jato
    • Tomari jharnatalar
    • Gaaner bhitar diye
    • Tomar dwarey keno asi
    • Je ami oi bhese choley
    • Jara katha diye
    • Jeevan maraner simana
    • Nami nami charaney
    • Ami tarei khunje berai
    • Phagun hawai rangey rangey
    • Sur bhuley je ghurey berai
  • 22nd December, 1918 28th annual festival (Poush Utav) held in the ashram. Rabindranath sings a song during the morning prayers. Among those present are Jaladhar Sen and Saratchandra Chatterjee.
  • 23rd December, 1918 29th annual meeting of Brahmacharyasrama held, presided over by the poet. Foundation laid for Visva-Bharati in the presence of distinguished men and women from a number of countries who, as representatives of their countries sprinkle earth on the foundation. In a short but historic address Rabindranath asserts, "A festival of lights is now on in the worldwide human family--the festival of lighting lamps of knowledge. Only when each nation lights up its lamp in a big way, this festival will be concluded with all participating...the real arena of education is to be found where learning and knowledge are being developed. The main task of a university is the development of knowledge, imparting it is a secondary task...It cannot be done by imitating foreign universities...I have suggested that such an ideal educational institution be given the name of 'Visva-Bharati.'"
  • 28th December, 1918 Poet writes to Radhakrishnan that he has received his copy of his The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore and highly praises the book in his letter.
  • 29th December, 1918 Ajitkumar Chakrabarty dies of influenza in Kolkata.
  • December, 1918 33rd annual session held in Delhi. Madanmohan Malaviya presides.
  • 2nd January, 1919 Sukeshi Devi, wife of the poet's nephew Kritindranath, dies of influenza in Santiniketan.
  • 4th January, 1919 Poet writes to Amal Home, mourning Ajitkumar's death.
  • 6th January, 1919 There have been numerous invitations from different personalities and institutions in South India since his recent visit there. So accompanied by son-in-law Nagendranath and painter Surendranath Kar poet embarks on an extensive tour.
  • 6th January, 1919 Prof. Radhakrishnan, Vice-chancellor of Mysore University has already written to him assuring him - "…and the visit may be arranged in such a manner as to suit your own convenience and inclination."
  • 11th January, 1919 Poet reaches Bangalore (now Bengaluru) via Madras (now Chennai), crowds of admirers getting him at almost each station.
  • 12th January, 1919 Fine Arts exhibition inaugurated.
  • 12th January, 1919 Felicitated at a grand reception organised by Bangalore Amateur Dramatic Association, presented a fine silver casket containing the address.
  • 12th January, 1919 Poet reads The Message of the Forest.
  • 13th January, 1919 At the same venue he reads The Centre of Indian Culture in which he for the first time expounds the ideal underpinning Viswa-Bharati.
  • 14th January, 1919 Organised by students of different colleges and schools. In merry humour Rabindranath addresses them - "There are men who are old, old not in the tenth century after Christ or tenth century before Christ, but in the 20th I mean; and some who are 57 like myself, but in reality not older than 27."
  • 19th January, 1919 Speaks on Education in General at Rangacharlu Memorial Hall, Mysore.
  • 20th January, 1919 Felicitated by students of Maharaja College and other institutions. They also donate Rs. 500/- for the Santiniketan vidyalaya.
  • 20th January, 1919 Visits Maharani College in the evening and reads The Trial.
  • 1919 Mysore University fails to please or impress the poet who writes - "There is absolutely nothing of our own in it, it's an imitation-every inch of it."
  • 1919 Rabindranath at the hill resort.
  • 5th February, 1919 Given a civic reception in Coimbatore.
  • 7th February, 1919 Arrives in Palakkad to a great ovation.
  • 7th February, 1919 Civic reception at Pentland Gardens in the evening. A sandalwood casket inlaid with ivory containing the address presented to the poet.
  • 7th February, 1919 Citizens donate Rs. 1008/- for Santiniketan vidyalaya.
  • 8th February, 1919 Felicitated by students of Palakkad at Banol Mission Hall.
  • 8th February, 1919 Arrives in Salem at night.
  • 9th February, 1919 In conversation with the local elite, talks about litrature and politics informally. In his opinion the repressive Rowlatt Bill is no law at all. Reads the English translation of Gandharir Avedan.
  • 9th February, 1919 Big civic reception at the local Electric Theatre in the afternoon. Poet reads The Centre of Indian Culture. Later at another function he reads an English translation of Karnakuntisamvad.
  • 10th February, 1919 Arrives at Trichi Fort station to a rousing reception.
  • 10th February, 1919 Civic reception at Laviey Hall in the evening. In his reply poet reads The Message of the Forest.
  • 11th February, 1919 Arrives here the next day.
  • 11th February, 1919 Welcomed at the local college. Reads The Spirituality in the Popular Religion of India.
  • 12th February, 1919 In Tanjore. Visits Union Club and Havlock Library; reads The message of the Forest at a local theatre. Sees a performance of Sakuntala staged by Sudarshan Sabha.
  • 13th February, 1919 Back in Trichinapalli he reads The Centre of Indian Culture before the women members of the Hindu Religious Union and witnesses the performance of a play staged in aid of Santiniketan. Leaves for Madurai at night.
  • 14th February, 1919 Reads The Message of the Forest before a mammoth audience at the local American Missionary College.
  • 14th February, 1919 Down with influenza.
  • February, 1919 Takes a week's rest.
  • 21st February, 1919 Reads his second lecture The Spirit of Popular Religion at the assembly hall of American College.
  • 22nd February, 1919 Visits Union Club. In the evening he delivers his last lecture on Education in India. Proceeds from the lecture donated to Santiniketan.
  • 23rd February, 1919 Leaves for Madanapalli.
  • 23rd February, 1919 His friend J.A. Cousins, principal of Woods College, welcomes him and he stays at the college.
  • 28th February, 1919 Having learnt from Cousins that the students are organising a relief fund in aid of the disaster-hit people of the adjacent regions, he offers "to deliver a special lecture in Madanapalle, in aid of the relief fund." He also hands over a bank order he's just received from Japan.
  • 28th February, 1919 It is most probably at this meeting that he sings Janaganamana and translates into English under the title The Morning Song of India.
  • 2nd March, 1919 Arrives in Bangalore.
  • March, 1919 Postpones the Madras visit (now Chennai) for the time being chiefly because the conservative Brahmins of the city are very vocal in their criticism of his advocacy of V.J.Patel's Bill on inter-caste marriage in his letter recently printed in the Modern Review.
  • 4th March, 1919 Writes a long letter to The New India setting out his views.
  • 8th March, 1919 Reads The Spirit of Popular Religion in India at the local Mythic Society.
  • 9th March, 1919 Arrives in Madras.
  • 10th March, 1919 Delivers his address The Centre of Indian Culture as the Chancellor of National University at Gokhale Hall in Armenian Street, Madras.
  • 11th March, 1919 Lectures on The Message of the Forest.
  • 12th March, 1919 Lectures on The Spirit of Popular Religion in India.
  • 13th March, 1919 Visits Presidncy College, is welcomed by principal Allan, female students of Queen Mary College and others. Reads The Autumn Festival.
  • 14th March, 1919 Visits Law College with Andrews. Presented with an address by the students.
  • 14th March, 1919 Visits other educational institutions too.
  • 15th March, 1919 Sudden illness. Doctors advise rest. Poet nevertheless leaves for Kolkata.
  • 17th March, 1919 Back in Kolkata.
  • 19th March, 1919 At this Vichitra session Rabindranath gives an account of his tour in south India.
  • 21st March, 1919 Before a massive and distinguished audience gathered at the theatre he reads The Centre of Indian Culture. The proceeds donated to the Vidyalaya.
  • 22nd March, 1919 Back in Santiniketan.
  • 23rd March, 1919 Goes to see a circus with the students of the school.
  • 24th March, 1919 Reads The Centre of Indian Cultue to the inmates of the asram.
  • 26th March, 1919 Reads The message of the Forest to the inmates.
  • 27th March, 1919 Arrives in the city accompanied by Dinendranath and Andrews on the way to Benaras.
  • 28th March, 1919 Reads The Message of the Forest at Basu Vignyan Mandir at Jagadish Chandra's invitation.
  • 1919 Arrives in Benaras. He is now the guest of Ranu's father, Phanibhusan Adhikari from 29th March to 6th April, 1919. He'd promised Ranu that he'd stay with them when he would next come to Benaras. Thus a promise is kept.
  • 1919 Agitation against the Rowlatt Act (Bill passed on 18th March) at its height in the country. At Gandhiji's call a countrywide hartal is observed on 6th April. He writes to the poet asking him to support the movement (5th April). The poet's declaration of support is conveyed in a letter writen to Gandhi and published in The Indian daily News (16th April). In this historic letter Rabindranath addresses Gandhi as "Mahatmaji" and also offers the salutary warning - "Power in all its forms is irrational - it is like the horse that drags the carriage blindfolded." Many lives were lost in police firing during clashes between the police and the agitators in Delhi, Amritsar, Lahore, Kolkata and the government unleashed brutal repression.
  • 1919 Things come to a crisis in Punjab. Alarmed by the unity of Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus achieved in the struggle, the colonial government resorts to increasingly barbarous measures to quell the movement. The Jalianwallabagh massacre (379 killed, 1200 wonded) occurs on 13th April, 1919. Gujranwallah is bombed and people machinegunned. Martial law is imposed on Punjab, the press is gagged. News is scarce at first but continues to trickle out and soon the country is appalled.
  • 5th April, 1919 At a reception the Bengali students of Benaras Hindu University present an address to him.
  • 6th April, 1919 Felicitated at the Benaras branch of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad.
  • 8th April, 1919 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • 14th April, 1919 Prayers held in the temple at Santiniketan on the first day of the Bengali new year. Rabindanath speaks on the occasion.
  • April, 1919 A monthly magazine for people connected with the Santiniketan asram begins publication in April.
  • 1919 Andrews was in Delhi to gather news, writes to Rabindranath, returns to Santiniketan for consultations, goes back to Delhi, travels to Bombay to meet Gandhi and accompanies the latter to Ahmedabad. But the British authorities do not permit him to visit Punjab. Frustrated, he returns to Santiniketan.
  • 1919 By now enough horrifying details of British bestiality, sadistic violence and racist arrogance have reached him and filled him with unbearable agony which is rendered all the more unbearable by the craven silence of the political class and its failure to protest.
  • 17th May, 1919 Starts writing this series of socio-political commentary.
  • 22nd May, 1919 A letter written to Ranu who's holidaying in Simla with her family at this time gives a glimpse of his agony -- "Now that you are in Punjab, perhaps you get some news of Punjab's misery. The heat of this misery has burnt the ribs in my breast…"
  • May, 1919 Sends Andrews to Gandhiji with a proposal that both of them would go to Delhi and try to enter Punjab, court arrest while doing so and thus register their protest. Andews comes back carrying Gandhi's reply that he does not want to embarrass the government now. Poet also consults Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das but draws a blank. This is briefly the chain of events which forms the background of and inevitably culminates in his decision to renounce his knighthood in protest against the unspeakable brutalities perpetrated by the government in Punjab.
  • 30th May, 1919 Sits up all night to write his very famous letter resigning the knighthood in protest against the Punjab atrocities. It states -- "The time has come when badges of honour make our shame glaring in their incongruous context of humiliation…" It is dated 31st May, 1919 and addressed to the Viceroy.
  • 1919 It creates a sensation even beyond the shores of India and the Anglo-Indian press is up in arms against him. By this time poet has started penning the poems later collected in Lipika.
  • 1st June, 1919 Goes to see the ailing Ramendrasundar.
  • 2nd June, 1919 Jagadish Chandra Bose writes a three word letter to Rabindranath after hearing the news of renouncing the Knighthood by the poet in protest against Jallianwala Bagh killings.
  • 6th June, 1919 Ramendrasundar passes away in Kolkata at the age of fifty-five.
  • 6th June, 1919 Gandhiji considers the step taken by the poet "premature" and says so in a letter written to S.Shastri.
  • 11th June, 1919 A session of the club held. Poet reads poems.
  • June, 1919 Writes the song-- Ami jwalba na more.
  • 18th June, 1919 Back in Santiniketan.
  • June, 1919 He's busy writing the pieces later collected in Lipika.
  • June, 1919 His long association with Rolland (1868-1944, French writer, Nobel laureate) now begins. Ideologically they have a great deal in common and these deep affinities bring them close to each other in the post-War situation. Romain Rolland invites him to lend his support to and join an international movement against the horrors of war and aggression. Rolland, Henri Barbusse and others are striving to organise a global peace movement to prevent war and bloodshed and have circulated worldwide a manifesto 'Declaration of Independence of the Spirit' which has been signed by many famous personalities from different countries. They've sent the manifesto to the poet, too.
  • 24th June, 1919 In his reply to Rolland, Rabindranath lends unstinted support. Rolland will write back in August, 1919.
  • 3rd July, 1919 Visva-Bharati starts functioning in real earnest.
  • 3rd July, 1919 Poet delivers an address on the occasion briefly mentioning the basic tenets of the vision underlying the new University.
  • July, 1919 Melbourne University writes to him extending an invitation; invitations from other Australian universities also arrive, poet keen to go, but later he will shelve his plans for a visit to Australia for various reasons.
  • 1919 In Vidyar Jachai (Santiniketan, June-July issue) he echoes his familiar critique of the prevailing education system--"Now the question is increasingly arising as to why we have not yet been able to express original views powerfully on any subject in spite of our very long apprenticeship in the English school. The reason is: we have borrowed our intelligence too, from the same place from where we borrowed our learning in the first place."
  • 1919 A variety of developmental, infrastructural activities in progress in Santiniketan for the University.
  • 3rd August, 1919 Meeting held in the memory of Ramendrasundar Trivedi at University Institute hall. Poet attends, but doesn't speak due to indisposition.
  • 7th August, 1919 Back in Santiniketan.
  • 1919 Nandalal Basu arrives in Santiniketan as teacher of painting after summer vacation. Surendranath kar has already joined. Thus a small beginning is made for Kalabhaban.
  • 1919 Similarly a small beginning is made for Sangeetbhaban, also.
  • 23rd September, 1919 The play is performed by the students and teachers of Santiniketan,as usual. Rabindranath plays the role of the Sannyasi.
  • 25th September, 1919 Puja vacation commences in Santiniketan.
  • 30th September, 1919 Writes to Ranu from Santiniketan that he's going to Shillong.
  • 9th October, 1919 Accompanied by son and daughter-in-law, poet leaves Kolkata for Shillong.
  • 30th October, 1919 Stays at Brookside.
  • 31st October, 1919 In Guahati, enjoys his host Gyanabhiram Barua's hospitality.
  • 1919 In Vidyasamabaya (Santiniketan, Sept-Nov issue) he analyses the imperative of combining the best of east and west in educaton -- an imperative he's already pursuing at his University -- "Therefore, in our schools of knowledge we will have to make room for European learning as an integral part alongside Vedic, Puranic, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim and Persian streams of learning in our combined scheme of study."
  • 1st November, 1919 Civic reception at Jubilee Park.
  • 2nd November, 1919 Reception at Curzon Hall.
  • 4th November, 1919 Goes to Syllet via Lumding, arrives.
  • 6th November, 1919 Almost 5000 men and women gather at Town Hallfor the civic reception given to the poet. In reply Rabindranath delivers a lecture later printed in the Prabashi (Poush issue) under the title Bangalir Sadhana.
  • 7th November, 1919 Felicitated by 4000 students at Srihatta Colege Hostel.
  • 7th November, 1919 Witneses Manipuri dance performed by Manipuri children. Fascinated, he will soon introduce it in Santiniketan.
  • 9th November, 1919 Arrives in Agartala -- his sixth visit here.
  • 10th November, 1919 Visits Umakanta Academy School.
  • 10th November, 1919 Meets Maharaja Virendrakishore Manikya who secretly donates Rs 5000/- for the proposed hospital at Santiniketan.
  • 10th November, 1919 The maharaja also agrees to send two experts to Santiniketan to teach Manipuri dance. Kumar Buddhimanta Singh will before long come down to Santiniketan in this connection.
  • 12th November, 1919 Returns to Kolkata.
  • 13th November, 1919 Arrives in Santiniketan.
  • November, 1919 Nandalal Basu suddenly leaves Santiniketan for The Indian Society of Oriental Art, Kolkata. Rabindranath is rather bitter about it.
  • November, 1919 Poet shifts to his new residence called Uttarayan.
  • November, 1919 Busy with work at Vidyalaya -- taking classes, planning lessons.
  • 1919 Asitkumar Haldar soon fills the gap created by Nandalal's departure.
  • 22nd December, 1919 Poush festival is celebrated with flourish. Rabindranath delivers four lectures today.
  • 24th December, 1919 Annual meeting of Brahmacharyasram and Visva-Bharati. Dr. Chunilal Basu presides.
  • 27th December, 1919 35th annual session in Amritsar. Motilal Nehru presides. Poet composes three English hymns or prayers for the session.
    • Light thy signal father, for us…
    • Yet I can never believe that you are lost to us…
    • If it is thy will let us rush…
  • 1st January, 1920 Dr. Founcher, a professor of Sanskrit of the University of Paris, leaves Santiniketan after visiting the Ashram with his wife and Professor Ramaprasad Chanda (1873-1942), a famous archeologist from Kolkata.
  • 20th January, 1920 Rabindranath delivers a lecture at Ashram temple on the occasion of Maharshi's 16th death anniversary.
  • 25th January, 1920 Poet delivers two lectures at Santiniketan temple as part of Maghotsav celebration. The Ashram (January, 1920 issue) publishes the crux of his lectures – 'We have constantly to remind ourselves to awake and realise the infinite mercy of God by giving ourselves fully and partially to all'.
  • 26th January, 1920 Rabindranath writes to Sir Michael Sadler, asking for his permission to dedicate his book The Centre of Indian Culture to Sir Sadler as a token of his (Poet's) admiration for his (Sadler's) personality and for the work he has done for Indians with sympathy and thoroughness.
  • 1st February, 1920 Tagore writes to Dutch poet Frederik van Eeden in connection with the 'cruel sense of despair as to what a great calamity Europe has brought upon the rest of the world.'
  • 9th February, 1920 Arrangements are made to publish a commemorative volume on Prasad Chatterji, the deceased son of Ramananda Chatterji. The poet writes to Ramananda encouraging him to carry on with the work and sends him a small article on Prasad.
  • 15th February, 1920 Governor Earl of Ronaldshay visits Santiniketan.
  • 26th February, 1920 Poet writes to Nagendranath Mukhopadhyay expressing his inability to attend the foundation ceremony of Krittibas-monument at Phulia due to his ailing health.
  • 11th March, 1920 Gandhiji invites Tagore to visit Gujarat.
  • 25th March, 1920 Rabindranath starts for Gujarat along with Kshitimohan Sen, Santoshchandra Majumdar and Pramathanath Bishi.
  • 2nd April, 1920 Poet delivers a lecture at Gujarat Sahitya Sammelan. This lecture would later be included in Lectures and Addresses (published in 1928) under the title 'Construction versus Creation'.
  • 2nd April, 1920 Poet spends a night at Sabarmati Ashram.
  • 10th April, 1920 Rabindranath returns to Bombay via Ahmedabad after visiting Bhavnagar, Kathiyawar, Limdi, etc.
  • 11th April, 1920 Delivers a lecture at Bombay on an invitation from students – this lecture gets published in The Indian Daily News on 13.04.1920.
  • 16th April, 1920 Delivers a lecture at Bombay University on Education. Starts for Baroda.
  • 18th April, 1920 The poet is felicitated at Baroda.
  • 27th April, 1920 Poet visits Puna to meet Lokamanya Tilak to express his admiration for Tilak. Historian Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay accompanies Poet.
  • 1st May, 1920 Poet leaves Bombay for Calcutta.
  • 3rd May, 1920 Reaches Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • 12th May, 1920 As during his tour of South India, so also on his tour of North India, Tagore took every opportunity to propagate the ideals of his newly established Visva-Bharati. A few days after the celebration of his fifty-ninth birth anniversary in Calcutta (now Kolkata), it is decided that Tagore should go to the West to speak about Visva-Bharati and raise funds for it. Poet leaves Calcutta on 12th May, 1920 for Bombay (now Mumbai) accompanied by Rathindranath and Pratima Devi.
  • 15th May, 1920 Sails from Bombay (now Mumbai) by S. S. Moria for Europe. On board the ship Tagore has long talks with the Aga Khan who reads out to him from Hafiz and discusses Sufism. Tagore translates during the voyage some of his Santiniketan sermons later published as Thought Relics.
  • 5th June, 1920 Tagore Lands at Plymouth and is received by Pearson and Kedarnath Dasgupta. Tagore meets Pearson after four years. Stays at Kensington Palace Mansions Hotel.
  • 6th June, 1920 William Rothenstein meets Tagore at the Hotel.
  • June, 1920 In London, Oxford and Cambridge Tagore renews old acquaintances and makes new ones like Cunningham-Graham, Nikolas Roerich, Gilbert Murray, T.E. Lawrence, Laurence Binyon and others. Several of Poet's English friends keep themselves aloof from the Poet on the issues of Poet's outspoken comments on the character of the British rule in India and the renunciation of his Knighthood.
  • 13th June, 1920 Lord Satyendraprasanna Sinha and Sir Krishnagovinda Gupta meet Tagore to have a discussion on Jaliwanwala massacre.
  • 20th June, 1920 Reads an article titled 'The Message of the Forest' at Oxford University. The Poet gets introduced to Stella Kramrisch and invites her to visit Santiniketan. Goes to Cambridge on the same day.
  • 22nd June, 1920 Rabindranath meets civilian John Anderson, an admirer of Bengali language and culture, at Cambridge. Has his lunch with Prof. Lowes Dickinson.
  • 24th June, 1920 The Poet gets felicitated by the Union of the East and West Society at Caxton Hall. The noted Economist John Maynard Keynes is present.
  • 25th June, 1920 Reads 'Centre of Indian Culture' at the Shakespeare Hut of YMCA.
  • 26th June, 1920 Poet stays as a guest of Sir Muirhead Bone for about a week.
  • 7th July, 1920 On request of Lady Abala Basu, wife of Jagadishchandra Basu, Tagore reads his poem at Automobile Club.
  • 9th July, 1920 Poet attends a party at Rothenstein's residence. Meets W. B. Yeats. Poet sings from Gitanjali on request of Yeats.
  • 10th July, 1920 Goes to Bristol with Pratima Devi and Pearson.
  • 11th July, 1920 Visits Raja Rammohan Roy's graveyard.
  • 11th July, 1920 The King of Dark Chamber is staged by the students of Clifton Boarding School. The poet is moved by the acting.
  • 19th July, 1920 A debate regarding the Jaliwanwalabag massacre takes place at the House of Lords. Tagore writes to Lloyd George, the Prime Minister of England requesting him to appoint Mr. Montague, Secretary of State for India, as the next Viceroy of India.
  • 20th July, 1920 Tagore meets Sir Horace Plunket at latter's flat at May-Fair. Discussion regarding the cooperative movement of Ireland took place.
  • 28th July, 1920 5 Natya Kabya (for example Bidai Abhishap) of Rabindranath are staged at Wigmore Hall by Union of East and West. Tagore is present. Sarojini Naidu introduces all the 5 dramas. Tagore also recites Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka at the same day.
  • 29th July, 1920 Rabindranath reads his essay 'Some Songs of the Village Mystics in Bengal' at Wigmore Hall.
  • 1st August, 1920 Susan Owen, mother of one of leading English poet and a soldier of first world war, Wilfred Owen, writes to Rabindranath how her son admired Tagore. Rabindranath was young Owen's favourite poet.
  • 6th August, 1920 Rabindranath goes to Paris as a guest of Albert Kahn and stays at his Autour du Monde after spending some days in a hotel in Paris.
  • 7th August, 1920 Sees the play Faust at Grand opera.
  • August, 1920 Meets Andree & Suzzane Karpeles. Meets Sylvain Levi and invites him to come to Santiniketan.
  • 21st August, 1920 Visits war affected city Rheims with Kahn.
  • 24th August, 1920 Meets Henri Bergson, a professor of Philosophy at College de France.
  • 16th September, 1920 Meets Comtesse de Noailles, the famous French poetess.
  • September, 1920 Tagore also meets Andre Gide and Romain Rolland.
  • 18th September, 1920 Starts for Amsterdam, the capital of Holland by train. Stays at Huizen as a guest of E. H. Van Eeghen & Mary Van Eeghen-Boissevain.
  • 23rd September, 1920 Reads his essay 'Some songs of the Village Mystics in Bengal' at Church of the Free Christians.
  • 25th September, 1920 Delivers a lecture at Leiden University, Netherlands.
  • 27th September, 1920 Delivers two lectures at Amsterdam University on 26th and 27th September. The title of 27th's lecture is 'Ideal of Education'.
  • 28th September, 1920 Delivers another lecture, titled 'The Message of the Forest' at the Utrecht University.
  • 29th September, 1920 Poet meets Heinrich Meyer-Benfey & Helene Meyer-Franck from Germany.
  • 29th September, 1920 Visits International School for Philosophy at Amersfoot and reads his essay 'Some Village Mystics of Bengal'.
  • 30th September, 1920 The poet is at The Hague. Reads from his Gitanjali and Fruit Gathering at the Theosophical Society. In the evening on the same day reads his article 'The Meeting of the East and West'.
  • 2nd October, 1920 Tagore is at Antwerp. Reads his essay 'The Meeting of the East and West' which was arranged by the Royal Artistic Circle.
  • 4th October, 1920 Reads the essay 'The Meeting of the East and West' at Palais de Justice.
  • 6th October, 1920 Writes to Rothenstein from Belgium expressing his unhappiness about the British rule – 'You must know that the downfall of your Empire is imminent when the moral downfall of your people is proceeding in a rapid pace.'
  • 7th October, 1920 Tagore goes to Paris with Pearson. Rathindranath goes to England with Pratima Devi for latter's treatment.
  • 21st October, 1920 Rabindranath sails for America.
  • 28th October, 1920 Reaches New York. Stays at Anglo Queen Hotel.
  • 3rd November, 1920 Sees the stage show of Prince and Pauper (of Mark Twain) at the Booth Theatre.
  • 4th November, 1920 Being perturbed by the visit of Shaukat Ali, a Khilafatist, at Santiniketan, Poet writes to Andrews – 'Keep Santiniketan away from the turmoils of politics. I know, that the political problem is growing in intensity in India and its encroachment is difficult to resist. But, all the same we must never forget that our mission is not political. Where I have my politics, I do not belong to Santiniketan.'
  • 6th November, 1920 Attends a meeting of the Society of Friends. Poet campaigns for Santiniketan and Visva-Bharati.
  • 10th November, 1920 Delivers a lecture at the Brooklyn Academy of Music – 'The Meeting of East and West'.
  • 12th November, 1920 Reads his essay 'Some Songs of the Village Mystics in Bengal' at Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia.
  • 16th November, 1920 A lecture ('The Meeting of the East and West') of Tagore is arranged at Park Theatre in New York by League of Political Education.
  • 21st November, 1920 The essay 'The Poet's Religion' is read by Tagore at Brooklyn Public School auditorium. Arrangements are made by Brooklyn Civic Forum. This essay is written on the way to England and is read here for the first time.
  • 23rd November, 1920 Poet delivers his second lecture at Park Theatre. Reads his essay 'The Spirit of Literature'. League of Political Education arranges this lecture.
  • 7th December, 1920 The poet is at Harvard. Discussion with James Haughton Woods regarding fund raising for Visva-Bharati.
  • 10th December, 1920 Sacrifice and The Post Office are staged at the Garrick Theatre, New York.
  • 14th December, 1920 The poet is at Swarthmore College, Philadelphia. Reads the essay 'The Meeting of the East and West'.
  • 18th December, 1920 A dinner is arranged in honour of Tagore at Hotel Astor at New York by Society of Arts and Sciences.
  • 2nd January, 1921 Poet in New York, delivers a lecture on The Meeting of East and West at a meeting organised by Community Forum.
  • 4th January, 1921 Goes to see Helen Keller at her residence. She gifts him a copy of her The World I Live in. Later she will write about this meeting in her Midstream/My Later Life.
  • 10th January, 1921 Lunch with prof. Woods at Union Club. In the evening poet reads a short address on Education in India at a dinner party given by East Asiatic Society and attended by a number of Harvard University teachers.
  • 11th January, 1921 Lunch at Tavern Club with artists and writers to whom he explains his concept of an international university. He also sings -- Ogo dakhin hawa.
  • 11th January, 1921 Goes to Wellesley College in the evening and reads The Poet's Religion under the auspices of the department of philosophy.
  • 12th January, 1921 Lectures on The Folk Poets of Bengal at New Theatre hall.
  • 13th January, 1921 Lunch at Vedanta Society -- Boston with Swami Paramananda. Reads The Meeting of the East and West -- his second lecture at Harvard University. Dinner at Union Club in his honour.
  • 16th January, 1921 Dorothy Straight (later Mrs. Elmhirst) invites Rabindranath and his family to tea.
  • 17th January, 1921 Mr. Latham of Macmillan & Co. comes to see him and offers to gift to Santiniketan library copies of all the books published by them.
  • January, 1921 Lunch with Bernard Berenson, art critic and a friend of Rothenstein whose boorish opinions shock Rabindranath.
  • 24th January, 1921 Dorothy Straight takes the poet to Junior League-n association of wealthy women in New York. Rabindranath speaks of the university he's trying to develop but draws a blank.
  • 27th January, 1921 Poetry Society gives its annual dinner in his honour at Hotel Astor to which 236 guests are invited.
  • 1st February, 1921 In Chicago Mrs. Moody puts them up and the poet can at last relax in a familiar, friendly environment.
  • 2nd February, 1921 Pearson also joins him here, thus ending an estrangement which hurt both of them.
  • February, 1921 Harriet Monroe, artist William Henderson, Boris-a French poet and others come to see him.
  • 9th February, 1921 Indian students of Chicago give him a dinner at Mrs. Moody's house. They cook the dishes themselves though Pratima Devi gives a hand.
  • 9th February, 1921 Poet leaves for Texas with Pearson.
  • 10th February, 1921 Speaks on The Meeting of the East and West.
  • 11th February, 1921 Speaks at the Oaklahoma University auditorium on Some songs of the Village Mystics of Bengal.
  • 12th February, 1921 Stays at The Alophus hotel, is glad to see the sunlit fields "in the icy castle of Winter."
  • 12th February, 1921 Reads The Meeting of the east and West and a few poems at a meeting at the Scottish Rite Cathedral organised by the Matheon Club.
  • 13th February, 1921 Reads the same lecture, receives an honorarium of $ 500/-.
  • February, 1921 Delivers lectures at different places from 14th to 18th February, 1921, namely Waco (14th), Fort Worth (15th), Denton (16th), Georgetown (17th) and Shreveport (18th).
  • 20th February, 1921 Again in Dallas, speaks twice at the First Unitarian Church on the concept of a Global university.
  • 21st February, 1921 Reads some poems before the students of a girls' college.
  • 23rd February, 1921 Returns to Chicago.
  • 1921 Gets acquainted with the young Irish poet Padraic Column who is also a guest of Mrs. Moody.
  • 8th March, 1921 Back home the great movement is sweeping the country and its increasing impact on Santiniketan makes the poet anxious. Writes to Vidalaya teacher Jagananda Roy from Chicago - "Nationalism is a geographical demon. The world is rocked by the depredations of this demon, the time has come for exorcising it."
  • March, 1921 The same anxiety is reflected in the letters he writes to Andrews, particularly those dated 2nd, 5th and 13th March. These letters are published in The Modern Review(21st May) and Gandhiji answers the criticism in his articles English Learning and Poet's Anxiety. He feels that the first letter was written "in anger and in ignorance of facts."
  • 15th March, 1921 Leaves Chicago together with Mrs. Moody.
  • March, 1921 Poet sends a telegram to Elmhirst after his arrival in New York. He's staying at Mrs. Moody's flat in the city prior to his departure for England.
  • 15th March, 1921 In Kolkata the young progressive Brahma and college teacher Prasantachandra Mahalanabish publishes a booklet under the title -- Why we need Rabindranath which will play an important role in the Brahma movement.
  • 17th March, 1921 Leonard Knight Elmhirst (1893-1974) and the poet meet at Mrs. Moody's flat. What's obvious in hindsight is that the beginning of this association is the single most important development of the entire America tour. Elmhirst will play a major role in the years ahead in the rural reconstruction centered on Surul and later Sriniketan at Santiniketan. Rabindranath invites him to come to Santiniketan.
  • 19th March, 1921 Sails for England from New York.
  • March, 1921 In one of the letters written to Andrews during the voyage he declares in the context of the current political turmoil in India -- "I love India. But my India is an idea and not a geographical expression. Therefore I am not a patriot, I shall ever seek my compatriots all over the world."
  • 24th March, 1921 At a meeting in Cuttack, Orrisa, Gandhiji calls Rammohan a "pygmy." It will soon evoke a sharp protest from the poet.
  • 31st March, 1921 Arrives at Plymouth, England.
  • 2nd April, 1921 An unpublished English version of Viday Abhishap performed under the aegis of Union of East and West.
  • 8th April, 1921 At Shakespeare Hut - a hostel of Indian students poet reads The meeting of the East and West. Henry Wood Nevinson who has earned his praise presides.
  • 15th April, 1921 Visits House of Commons, lunches with Labour leader Ben Spoor and also sees Montague, discusses Visva-Bharati. Montague's enthusiastic.
  • April, 1921 Correspondence between poet and Rothenstein increasingly takes on a sombre tone because of divergent views.
  • 16th April, 1921 Flies from London to Paris.
  • 18th April, 1921 Renee de Brimont, who's translating The Fugitive into French meets him. Translation will be published in 1922.
  • 18th April, 1921 Goes to see a performance of Richard Wagner's opera Valkyre.
  • 19th April, 1921 Meets Romain Rolland over tea at his residence. They discuss a number of things including Visva-Bharati and music.
  • 21st April, 1921 Invites Rolland to lunch. They talk about Visva-Bharati.
  • 21st April, 1921 Reads An Indian Folk Religion at Musee Guimet gallery.
  • 22nd April, 1921 Comtesse de Noailles meets him after dinner. This influential poet will help him a great deal years later at the time of the exhibition of his paintings in Paris in 1930.
  • 22nd April, 1921 Rolland writes that he is ready to help in the realisation of the ideal of Visva-Bharati to the utmost of his ability.
  • 23rd April, 1921 Lunch with rich Indian businessman Srisardarsingji Raoji Rana who will donate a massive collection of books to Santiniketan.
  • 23rd April, 1921 Henry Bergson comes to see him.
  • April, 1921 Poet desirous of visiting Spain; Spanish translations of his works have become popular, his Spanish translators are very keen to receive him there but unfortunately the visit fails to take place.
  • 24th April, 1921 At Cercle Internallie hosted by Societe Amis de L'Orient. After dinner M. Copean reads a French translation of Dakghar.
  • 25th April, 1921 Dines with Andre Carpelles. Rolland unable to join them.
  • 26th April, 1921 Lunch with Sir Thomas Barelay at the latter's invitation. Patrick Geddes, Desjardin also present.
  • 27th April, 1921 Reaches Strasburg Sorbonne University, welcomed by Sylvain Levi, other teachers and Indian students.
  • 29th April, 1921 Goes to see an ancient cathedral; in the evening reads The Message of the Forest before an audience at Sorbonne University.
  • 30th April, 1921 On the way to Switzerland. Invited by Dr. Hans Bodmer.
  • 30th April, 1921 At Basel welcomed by Dr. Bodmer, Dr. Vischer."
  • 4th May, 1921 Reads from his writings at L'Athenee.
  • 5th May, 1921 In a letter written to Suhridkumar Mukherjee, consents to the abolition of the Matriculation examination at Santiniketan vidyalaya.
  • 6th May, 1921 He's sixty now and a committee of German intellectuals and writers plan to give him a grand gift of 400 valuable German books for Santiniketan.
  • 7th May, 1921 Goes to Lucern via Lusanne.
  • 10th May, 1921 Delivers his address on The Message of the Forest at Basel University.
  • 10th May, 1921 Writes to Andrews expressing his annoyance at Gandhiji's rude and ignorant remarks on Rammohan.
  • 11th May, 1921 Stays at Dolder hotel.
  • 12th May, 1921 Lunch at Mrs. Bodmer's. In the evening poet reads The Poet's Religion at Zurich University.
  • 13th May, 1921 At last he is in Germany -- the country he has always wished to visit. German translations of his books are selling well and he is no stranger to German intellectuals and writers.
  • 16th May, 1921 In Hamburg, received by Helene Meyer-Franck, visits Bismarck's castle.
  • 20th May, 1921 Delivers the address The Message of the Forest at Hamburg University amidst great enthusiasm.
  • 21st May, 1921 In Copenhagen, greeted by a massive crowd at the railway station.
  • 22nd May, 1921 Reads Bengali poems and their English translations to Danish students at their club. Later a large torch-lit procession of students brings him back to his hotel. Rabindranath addresses them from the hotel balcony.
  • 23rd May, 1921 Delivers the address The Message of the Forest at Copenhagen University.
  • 24th May, 1921 Arrives in Stockholm. Received by the Secretary of the Swedish Academy and a big crowd of cheering people. Put up at the Grand Hotel.
  • 24th May, 1921 Shown around the city in the afternoon. Witnesses Swedish folk festival at the folk-culture museum.
  • 25th May, 1921 Noted Swedish writer Selma Lagerlof meets him. Perhaps the poet is also received by the King of Sweden in a private audience.
  • 25th May, 1921 Reads East and West before a very enthusiastic audience at the largest auditorium in the city in the evening. In view of the unprecedented enthusiasm of the audience he promises another reading on 27th May.
  • 25th May, 1921 Most probably the poet witnesses a performance of the Swedish version of the play Dakghar at Volksbingen Theatre.
  • 26th May, 1921 Meets K.H. Brantin, Swedish socialist and former president of the League of Nations over lunch. Also makes the acquaintance of the brother of Karl Eric Hammergren.
  • 26th May, 1921 Eight years after the award of Nobel Prize, Rabindranath gives the customary acceptance speech at The Swedish academy in the evening and lays stress on global cooperation and harmony.
  • 26th May, 1921 At the dinner given by The Academy in his honour Rabindranath meets the world renowned Swedish explorer Sven Hedin. Hedin will later recall(The Golden Book of Tagore-1931)--"I have a special reason to remember your speech as you mentioned my expeditions in Asia in the kindest and most encouraging words."
  • 27th May, 1921 Calls on the British envoy to Sweden.
  • 27th May, 1921 Delivers the promised lecture at the same venue.
  • 28th May, 1921 Visits Upsala University and the famous cathedral there.
  • 28th May, 1921 Back in Stockholm, leaves for Berlin by train in the evening.
  • 29th May, 1921 Arrives in Berlin with Rathindranath.
  • 30th May, 1921 Noted Indologist Helmut Fon Glasenup interviews him at hotel Esplanade where he's staying.
  • 31st May, 1921 Berlin University invites him to give a lecture.
  • 31st May, 1921 Maharani of Baroda hosts a lunch in his honour.
  • 1st June, 1921 Attends Dinner given in his honour by industrialist Hugo Stinnes.
  • 2nd June, 1921 Delivers the address The Message of the Forest at Berlin University before a mammoth audience. Sensing the fervent mood of those who have missed the address he promises to deliver the address again the next day.
  • 2nd June, 1921 Dinner is given in his honour. Attended by a number of distinguished persons, academicians and writers.
  • 3rd June, 1921 Meets the British envoy in Germany - Viscount D'Abernon who records his impressions in his diary -- " more impressive in appearance than most of the conceptions of Christ."
  • 3rd June, 1921 Invited to lunch by Mr. Nobel junior. Swedish envoy to Germany also present.
  • 3rd June, 1921 Delivers the promised lecture at the same venue.
  • 3rd June, 1921 Invited to a tea party given in his honour by Indians residing in Berlin.
  • 3rd June, 1921 Poet dines with Edith Andrea and Mr. Rathenau -- minister of reconstruction, Germany.
  • 4th June, 1921 Poet reads a part of The Message of the Forest and sings a song. All this is recorded on copper plates by Dr. Dogen of Laut-arbeitungen der Preuss, Staats bibliothek.
  • 4th June, 1921 At Helene Meyer-Franck's initiative, poet gives a reading of his writings at Charlottenberg.
  • 4th June, 1921 Writes to Andrews -- "I saw 'Post office' acted in Berlin Theatre. The girl who took part of Amal was delightful in her acting and altogether the whole thing was a success."
  • 5th June, 1921 Arrives in Munich, received by his publisher Kurt Wolff.
  • 7th June, 1921 Reads The Message of the Forest at Maximum Auditorium, Munich university. Donates ten thousand marks for poor German children. The massive audience receives the announcement with thunderous applause. Most probably his total donations exceed this amount.
  • 8th June, 1921 Reads from his writings at Wolff's house before an audience which includes great German novelist Thomas Mann(1875-1955).
  • 9th June, 1921 Arrives June 9, received by the personal secretary of the Grand Duke of Hesse. He is the Duke's guest and stays in his palace.
  • 10th June, 1921 Rathindranath records in his diary -- "Afternoon father speaks to many people in the garden." The topics range from modern civilisation to Buddhism.
  • 10th June, 1921 Prof. Hermann Jacobi calls on him. The son, sister and nephews of the former German emperor Kaiser also come to see him.
  • June, 1921 Count Keyserling organises a 'Tagore-Week' [starts from 10th June to 14th June] in his honour and acts as the interpreter when the poet goes and sits on the large steps outside the garden and visitors including curious school children gather around him in the morning and afternoon and ask a bewildering variety of questions concerning India and his educational endeavours.
  • 10th June, 1921 In the evening at the Stadtischer Saalbau (city hall) Rabindranath reads English translations as well as the original Bengali poems; Keyserling explains them in German. Mixed reactions in the media.
  • 10th June, 1921 He meets music director Ballin at dinner and later has a stimulating conversation with him about music.
  • 11th June, 1921 Explains the significance of East and West which Keyserling translates into German for an audience one thousand strong.
  • 12th June, 1921 Dr. Otto, Natorp, Wilhelm and others call on him and the conversations range from divine justice to the horrible devastation caused by the World War. Lunch at Keyserling's.
  • 12th June, 1921 After lunch the Grand Duke drives them to Herrgottsberg, a wooded cliff and a tourist spot. Nearly four thousand people gather round him. Rabindranath briefly speaks, the German national anthem is sung and more songs follow. Rathindranath records in his diary -- "...Best day spent in Europe."
  • 13th June, 1921 Girl students of the Elisabeth Duncan School perform a dance of Spring before him strewing roses as they dance.
  • 13th June, 1921 Poet reads The Village Mystics of Bengal at the University.
  • 13th June, 1921 The Rector of the University gives him the gift of a massive collection of books for Santiniketan library.
  • 14th June, 1921 Goes to the local Labour Union house in the evening, sits in the garden with the workers there and talks to them who listen to him attentively. Prof. Goldstein acts as the interpreter.
  • 15th June, 1921 Leaves Darmstadt for Vienna via Munich. Arrives in Vienna in the evening.
  • 15th June, 1921 Received by Hugo Heller and Mrs. Heller. Rabindranath comes to Austria following Mrs. Heller's passionate entreaty that her country which has borne the worst brunt of the World War needs his healing touch more than any other country in Europe.
  • 16th June, 1921 Reads The Message of the Forest at Vienna University, audience includes Austrian President. Meeting with musicologist Prof. Adler in the evening.
  • 16th June, 1921 Sees Wagner's Die Meistersinger at Vienna Opera House.
  • 17th June, 1921 Austrian President gives a lunch in his honour in the ministry of foreign affairs. Academics and diplomats attend.
  • 17th June, 1921 Reads from his writings at the Concert Hall in the evening. Programme organised by Hugo Heller. Proceeds donated to poor Vienna children.
  • 17th June, 1921 At 10 AM leaves for Prague in a special saloon arranged by the Czech Republic which is organising the tour. The Czech President Dr. Tomas Massaryk had already met the poet in France.
  • 18th June, 1921 Arrives in Prague -- received by famous Indologists Moriz Winternitz and Vincenc Lesny and representatives of the government.
  • 18th June, 1921 Reads The Message of the Forest at Czech University in the morning.
  • 19th June, 1921 Reads from his writings before a huge audience of students at the Concert Hall.
  • 19th June, 1921 Visits a school for the visually handicapped and meets the founder Mr. Bakule.
  • 19th June, 1921 Tea at Professor Lesny's in the evening.
  • 20th June, 1921 Reads The Village Mystics of Bengal at German University in the afternoon.
  • 20th June, 1921 In his welcome address Winternitz calls him "a friend and brother."
  • 20th June, 1921 Poet dines with Winternitz, invites him and Lesny to visit Santiniketan as guest lecturers.They accept the invitation.
  • 21st June, 1921 Leaves for Strasbourg via Paris accompanied by his son.
  • 22nd June, 1921 Arrives at Strasbourg.
  • June, 1921 Received and felicitated at Strasburg University on 22nd and 23rd June. 'Tetes Hindou' organised in his honour. They read articles on him; Janaganamana translated by Sylvain Levi into French with Kalidas Nag's assistance is sung. Rabindranath is also presented with a collection of french classics.
  • 24th June, 1921 Pratima Devi has meanwhile attended many studios and learnt fresco painting and many kinds of applied arts now joins them. Later she'll put her skills to good use at Kalabhaban, Santiniketan.
  • 26th June, 1921 Lunch at Srisardarji Raoji Rana's residence.
  • 29th June, 1921 Tea party is given by Indians residing in Paris in his honour. Vandemataram is sung.
  • 2nd July, 1921 Sails for India aboard the Morea.
  • 2nd July, 1921 Subhas Chandra Bose, who's also returning home after his success in the ICS examinations joins the poet aboard. Jagadishchandra's nephew Aurobindomohan is also on board.
  • July, 1921 Conversation with the poet about the situation in India and the Non-cooperation Movement during the voyage.
  • July, 1921 Poet writes 13 letters to Andrews during the voyage nine of which are later collected in Letters from Abroad and describe his reactions to the overwhelming response of the western public during his tour. Among other things he wistfully remarks that solitude has disappeared from his life ever since he won global fame. Stoically accepts differences of opinion with Andrews as far as the Gandhian movement is concerned.
  • 16th July, 1921 Disembarks at Bombay.
  • 18th July, 1921 Received at the station by Prasantachandra Mahalanabish.
  • 20th July, 1921 Arrives in Kolkata.
  • July, 1921 Pestered by newspapermen to give his opinion on the Non-cooperation Movement.
  • 23rd July, 1921 Followers of Gandhiji including the novelist Saratchandra whom the poet considers to be a truly great writer arrive at Jorasanko persuades him to publicly support the movement and speak in favour of the charkha and other programmes of the movement.
  • 23rd July, 1921 Poet fails to agree with them. Saratchandra leaves in a huff.
  • July, 1921 To his dismay he finds that he is politically in a minority not only in Kolkata, but in Santiniketan too, where his elder brother Dwijendranath, Andrews, Nepalchandra, Bidhusekhar, etc. are ardent supporters of the Gandhian movement.
  • 26th July, 1921 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • July, 1921 Meanwhile Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, VC of Calcutta University has requested him to deliver a series of lectures at the University.
  • August, 1921 Acceding to the request writes Sikshar Milan.
  • 6th August, 1921 Reads Sikshar Milan before an audience of the residents of the Ashram.
  • 10th August, 1921 Conducts weekly prayers in the ashram temple after a long time. It's a remarkable speech and beautifully blends scientific knowledge with spiritual urge.
  • 12th August, 1921 A session of songs for the rainy season performed. It's a ritu-utsav and the following songs are sung.
    • Viswa-veena rabey
    • Shangana-gaganey
    • Abar eseche asad
    • Jhara jhara barishe
    • Ke dilo abar aghat
    • Bujhi elo, bujhi elo, orey pran
    • Kothay alo
    • Abar sravan hoey ele phirey
    • Amar din phuralo
    • Aaj bari jharey jharo jharo
  • 14th August, 1921 Published as a booklet.
  • 15th August, 1921 Reads the essay at a mammoth meeting organised by Jatiya Siksha Parishad at the University Institute Hall to felicitate the poet. Asutosh Chowdhury presides. Sir Asutosh, Andrews are also present.
  • 15th August, 1921 In conclusion he stresses his vision of a world university for dissemination and development of knowledge and wisdom -- "That is why it is my heartfelt longing that the institutions of learning in our country should be the meeting point of East and West…I pray that India may erect the guest house on behalf of the entire Eastern hemisphere to promote the pursuit of truth...she possesses the wealth of Sadhana. By virtue of this wealth she will invite the world and in turn will receive invitations from all over the world..."
  • 17th August, 1921 Gandhiji and Maulana Mohammad Saukat Ali call on him. But their differences of opinion persist.
  • 18th August, 1921 Tagore again speaks on education and culture before a big audience which includes a number of women at Alfred Hall in the evening. Acharya Prafullachandra Roy presides. Rabindranath powerfully reiterates his opinions. Saratchandra's poor critique of the poet's views expressed at this meeting will be printed in the Narayana (Nov-Dec issue). Before long, however, he will write to the poet regretting his rashness (letter dated 9th May, 1922).
  • 20th August, 1921 Poet is felicitated by Sevasamiti.
  • 21st August, 1921 Rabindranath is felicitated by Pratibha Devi's Sangeetsangha at its tenth rakhi-sammelan. He is presented with an address and his songs are sung. He delivers a speech in reply. The proceeds are donated to the Khulna Famine Relief Fund.
  • 25th August, 1921 Rabindranath is the first recipient of the Jagattarini Gold medal awarded by Calcutta University "for original contribution to Letters written in the Bengali Language."
  • 29th August, 1921 Reads Satyer Ahwan at The University Institute Hall in which he clearly sets forth his critical stance vis-à-vis the Gandhian movement now in full swing while recognizing Gandhiji's unique role in mobilizing the masses of the people. Gandhiji himself writes a rebuttal--The Great Sentinel in which he states--"When there is war the poet lays down his lyre, the lawyer his law reports, the school-boy his books. The poet will sing the true note after the war is over…"
  • 1921 Saratchandra's poor critique of the poet's views expressed at this meeting will be printed in the Narayana (Nov-Dec issue). Before long, however, he will write to the poet regretting his rashness (letter dated 9th May, 1922).
  • 1921 Inspired by ritu-utsav in Santiniketan he now writes a few new songs.
    • Badal meghe madal bajey 26th August, 1921
    • Ogo amar sravanmegher kheyatarir majhi 27th August, 1921
    • Timir abagunthaney badan taba dhaki 29th August, 1921
    • Ei sravaner booker bhitar 31st August, 1921
    • Megher koley koley 2nd September, 1921
  • 1921 Varsha-mangal is celebrated with flourish [2nd and 3rd September]. Seventeen songs are sung; the poet himself sings a few songs and recites poems.
    • Viswaveenarabey viswajan
    • Abar esechhe asad
    • Badal meghe madal bajey
    • Aju moron ban boley
    • Ogo amar sravanmegher kheyatarir majhi
    • Timir abagunthaney badan taba dhaki
    • Jhara jhara barishe
    • Gaaner surer ashana khani
    • Amar nisitha rater badal dhara
    • E bhara badara
    • Dukher barashay
    • Harey re re re re
    • Amar din phuralo
    • Sravaner dharar moto parook jhorey
    • Utal dhara badal
    • Aaj bari jharey jharo jharo
    • Ei sravaner booker bhitar
  • 4th September, 1921 Poet felicitated at a function called 'Rabindramangal' organised by Bangiya Sahitya Parishad. Jagadindranath Roy, Maharaja of Natore, presides.
  • 6th September, 1921 Gandhiji at Jorasanko, their conversation lasts almost four hours. Gandhi fails to convert the poet to his views. While the conversation is in progress, a bonfire of imported British dress materials is made at Jorasanko by Satyagrahi-s.
  • 15th September, 1921 Macmillan & Co. published The Fugitive.
  • 17th September, 1921 Satyendranath Majumdar's Gandhi o Rabindranath is published; it's a violent attack on Rabindranath for his differences with Gandhi.
  • 4th October, 1921 Puja vacation commences in Santiniketan.
  • 4th October, 1921 James H. Cousins and his wife in Santiniketan.
  • 7th October, 1921 E.P. Thompson arrives. His book--Rabindranath Tagore/His Life and Work has already been published.
  • October, 1921 Sukumar Ray also comes with his son Satyajit during the Puja vacation.
  • 20th October, 1921 Sylvain Levi - accompanied by his wife - has already sailed for India. Rabindranath now writes to Sir Asutosh Mukherjee, VC of Calcutta University requesting him that the University should pay prof. Levi half of the passage money, as previously agreed upon. Asutosh promises to do it.
  • 9th November, 1921 The Levis arrive in Santiniketan accompanied by Rathindranath to a warm welcome. Received by the poet.
  • 18th November, 1921 The poet begins lectures on the poems of Balaka for the advanced students of Santiniketan.
  • 20th November, 1921 Levi starts teaching the Chinese and Tibetan languages. Mrs. Levi teaches French. Students of Calcutta University also come to attend his lectures. Prabodhchandra Bagchi(later a Vice-chancellor of Visva-Bharati University) is among them.
  • 27th November, 1921 Elmhirst and Pearson arrive in Santiniketan. They've come to join Rabindranath's unique mission of new education.
  • 29th November, 1921 Lucian Ernest Laronce visits Santiniketan, dines with Levi.
  • 1921 Rabindranath writes new songs.
    • Ami elem tari dwarey 18th November, 1921
    • Pachhey sur bhuli 20th November, 1921
    • Vasanta tar gaan likhey 19th November, 1921
    • Rajanir sesh tara 25th November, 1921
    • Deep nibey gechhe mama 26th November, 1921
    • Samoy karo je nai 28th November, 1921
  • 1921 Nagendranath Ganguly, poet's son-in-law, joins Calcutta University, thanks to Asutosh's initiative.
  • 1st December, 1921 Elmhirst has already collected a team of like-minded men and settled down to his task. Rathindranath writes to Mrs. Moody informing her of all this and reports--"We are now very busy drawing up a new constitution foe the whole institution."
  • 12th December, 1921 Acharya Brajendranath writes to the poet, wishes to see him. This probably sets in motion the chain of thoughts in his mind which culminates in his decision to hand over Visva-Bharati to the nation at a meeting presided over by Brajendranath latest by Poush Utsav.
  • 22nd December, 1921 Held in Santiniketan. Poet delivers an address later printed under the title Diksha (Santiniketan , Phalgun issue).
  • 23rd December, 1921 "Though this Visva-Bharati is a product of India, it must be transformed into an arena where all men and women can pursue their goals and perform tapasya." Thus speaks Rabindranath on the occasion when the Council (Parishad-sabha) of Visva-Bharati begins to function.The creation of the Council is celebrated in the historic Amrakunja with a host of academic celebrities-Brajendranath Seal, Sylvain Levi, etc. attending.
  • 23rd December, 1921 In the evening the third act of the Sanskrit play Benisamhar and selected scenes of Visarjan are performed to entertain the guests.
  • 28th December, 1921 On his way to Shilaidaha via Kolkata.
  • December, 1921 Starts writing Muktadhara and finishes it in a few days.
  • January, 1922 The poet's back in Santiniketan. Muktadhara is completed, brings alive the antinomy inherent in the subjugation of nature by man with the indiscriminate use of machinery so heavily relied on by western civilisation.
  • January, 1922 Writes seven new songs for the play.
    • Jaya Bhairab, jaya Sankara 22nd January, 1922
    • Nama jantra, nama jantra 22nd January, 1922
    • Ami marer sagar 22nd January, 1922
    • Bhule jai theke theke 22nd January, 1922
    • Tor shikal amay bikal 22nd January, 1922
    • Shudhu ki tar bendhei tor 22nd January, 1922
    • Phele rakhlei ki pade rabey 22nd January, 1922
  • 13th January, 1922 Mary van Eeghen, his hostess in Holland and a musician herself arrives in Santiniketan and stays for a couple of months associating herself with the activities of the school.
  • 17th January, 1922 300th birth anniversary of the great French dramatist Moliere(1622-1673) celebrated. The poet presides.
  • 30th January, 1922 Rabindranath's elder brother Somendranath dies.
  • 3rd February, 1922 The Maharaja of Pithapuram arrives with his family and the noted veena player Sangameswar Shastri. Spends a few days here.
  • 6th February, 1922 Elmhirst assumes charge of the Institute of Rural Reconstruction setup today.
  • 7th February, 1922 Rabindranath goes to Kolkata.
  • 11th February, 1922 Reads the play on two occasions, returns to Santiniketan.
  • February, 1922 Pulinbihari Das, the former revolutionary meets the poet. Always willing to assist them in peaceful reconstruction activities, Rabindranath promises to help him.
  • February, 1922 Poet takes classes, explains Mathew Arnold's essay and Keats's poems to the students.
  • February, 1922 Gandhiji subjects Visva-Bharati to adverse criticism in the Induprakash.
  • 21st February, 1922 Elmhirst reads his important essay The Robbery of the Soil. His insights attract the attention of even Gandhians like Nepal Ch.Ray.
  • 7th March, 1922 Pleased with the work being done at Surul the poet writes the poem Matir Daak and the song Phire chal matir taney.
  • 10th March, 1922 Gandhiji is arrested by the British government. Vasanta Utsav and other cultural activities postponed at Santiniketan.
  • 14th March, 1922 Poet in Kolkata, cancels proposed tour of Nepal in view of disturbed conditions.
  • 16th March, 1922 Hands over the play, Muktadhara, to Ramananda Chatterjee for publication.
  • 16th March, 1922 Poet goes to see the ailing Sukumar Roy.
  • 17th March, 1922 Presides over the prize-distribution ceremony of Sangeet Sangha.
  • 18th March, 1922 Awarded the Jagattarini Gold Medal by Calcutta University on the occasion of the annual Convocation.
  • 23rd March, 1922 In Shilaidaha with Andrews for rest and solitude.
  • March, 1922 Writes a few songs here:
    • Purbachaler paney takai 24th March, 1922
    • Asa-jawar pather dharey 25th March, 1922
    • Kar jeno ei maner bedan 26th March, 1922
    • Nidrahara rater e gaan 27th March, 1922
    • Ek phaguner gaan se amar 28th March, 1922
  • 31st March, 1922 Writes to Elmhirst admiring his efforts and says that he wishes he was young enough to join him.
  • 7th April, 1922 Back in Kolkata.
  • 9th April, 1922 Attends a session of Visva-Bharati Bandhusabha at Ramananda's place.
  • 10th April, 1922 Back in Santiniketan.
  • 14th April, 1922 Prayers held in the temple at Santiniketan on the first day of the Bengali new year. Rabindanath speaks on the occasion. His address printed under the title Navabarsha in the Santiniketan (May issue).
  • 14th April, 1922 Stella Kramrish, who will later win international fame as art teacher and critic, arrives in Santiniketan and starts giving a series of lectures on art and sculpture of the world.
  • 16th April, 1922 In a letter to Edward Thompson, he says – "I have come to the conclusion that translating a poem is doing it wrong, specially when the original belongs to a language which is wholly alien to the medium of its translation."
  • 17th April, 1922 Writes -- Eso eso hey trishnar jal, to celebrate the sinking of a tube well.
  • 1st May, 1922 Tagore writes song Jare Nije Tumi Janiechhile.
  • 8th May, 1922 The poet is 62 today and after a long interval writes the poem – Ponchishe baisakh.
  • 16th May, 1922 The Constitution of Visva-Bharati registered.
  • 19th May, 1922 In response to an international appeal to Tagore in 19th May, for help for the starving people of Russia and the scholars in exile, the poet at once associates himself with the appeal and issues a statement which is printed in newspapers.
  • 31st May, 1922 Rabindranath had earlier written to him requesting him to be a member of the governing committee of the University. Jadunath declines saying students of Visva-Bharati scorn ''exact knowledge."
  • 2nd June, 1922 Rabindranath thoroughly irked; writes to Prasantachandra Mahalanabish in anguish – "I cannot for the life of me understand what is there inside me which makes my friends hostile to me."
  • 24th June, 1922 Death of Satyendranath Dutta, noted poet and Tagore disciple. He was 41.
  • 8th July, 1922 After the vidyalaya reopens following summer vacation, Rabindranath speaks on the occasion of the centennial of the death of the famous English poet P.B.Shelley.
  • 11th July, 1922 Rabindranath presides over the condolence meeting held at Rammohan Library. Writes a poem - Satyendranath Dutta.
  • 15th July, 1922 At a meeting with young college students held at Rammohan Library the poet talks of forming an association through which Visva-Bharati will be able to connect with the students of Kolkata.
  • 21st July, 1922 Visva-Bharati sammilani is inaugurated at Rammohan Library by the poet who reads and explains Muktadhara. Members attend. The object of the function is to raise money for the cash-strapped visva-bharati.
  • 23rd July, 1922 Poet in Santiniketan, presides over the 1st meeting of the Visva-Bharati Samsad.
  • 28th July, 1922 L.K.Elmhirst reads The Robbery of the Soil at Rammohan Lbrary under the aegis of Visva-bharati Sammilani. Rabindranath also speaks.
  • 1st August, 1922 Kshitimohan Sen delivers a lecture on Kabir and reads from his verse at Rammohan Library under the aegis of Visva-bharati Sammilani. The poet presides.
  • 2nd August, 1922 Poet speaks on the occasion of the annual anniversary of Vidyasagar's death at a meeting at Brahmasamaj Mandir.
  • 7th August, 1922 Varshamangal is performed by the choir of students in Santiniketan on a full moon night after its success in Kolkata. The poet himself sings Aaj akasher maner katha and recites three poems – Jhulan, Varshamangal and Nirupama.
  • 8th August, 1922 The poet reads Bharatvarshe Itihasher Dhara before an audience of students and teachers of the vidyalaya.
  • August, 1922 The Levis finally say goodbye to Santiniketan, leave for Kolkata after a touching farewell ceremony. The poet also goes with them.
  • 16th August, 1922 Varshamangal is performed at Rammohan Library Hall, Kolkata for members only. The Levis are present, Rabindranath takes part in the performance. A sixteen page booklet named Varshamangal is published for this occasion containing the following 18 songs. Main object is to raise funds for cash-strapped Visva-Bharati.
    • Daruna agnibaney 8th August, 1922
    • Eso eso hey trishnar jal 8th August, 1922
    • Oi je jharer megher koley 8th August, 1922
    • Hridoy amar oi bujhi tor 8th August, 1922
    • Kakhan badal chhonwa legey 8th August, 1922
    • Aaj nabin megher sur 8th August, 1922
    • Aaj akasher maner katha 8th August, 1922
    • Ei sakal belar badal 8th August, 1922
    • Poob sagarer paar hotey kon 8th August, 1922
    • Aaji varsha rater seshey 8th August, 1922
    • Sravanmegher adhek dooar 8th August, 1922
    • Bahujuger opar hotey 8th August, 1922
    • Badal-baul bajai re ektara 8th August, 1922
    • Eki gabhir bani elo 8th August, 1922
    • Amar hridoy aaji jay je bhesey 8th August, 1922
    • Bhor holo jei 8th August, 1922
    • Brishtisesher hawa kisher 8th August, 1922
    • Badal dhara holo sara 8th August, 1922
  • 17th August, 1922 Varshamangal is performed for the general public next day at the same venue. Rabindranath again takes part.
  • 17th August, 1922 Lipika is published.
  • 18th August, 1922 Visva-Bharati Sammilani arranges a farewell party for the Levis. The poet attends.
  • 19th August, 1922 Varshamangal is again performed at the Alfred Theatre to satisfy great public demand.
  • 21st August, 1922 Poet is felicitated at Presidency College, speaks on the occasion.
  • 30th August, 1922 Takes part in the weekly prayers at santiniketan temple. Address given on this occasion later printed in Santiniketan (Bhadra-Aswin issue).
  • 31st August, 1922 Poet in Kolkata, speaks at a function organised by Visva-Bharati Sammilani to observe the centennial of Shelley's death.
  • 1922 Busy conducting rehearsals of Sarodotsav.
  • 6th September, 1922 Returns. Speaks at the weekly prayers.
  • 15th September, 1922 In Kolkata. Inaugurates Jatiya Mahamela at Sraddhananda Park. Sishu Bholanath anthology is also published today.
  • 16th September, 1922 Sarodotsav is staged at the Alfred Theatre to raise funds for Visva-Bharati. Rabindranath plays emperor Vidyaditya.
  • 19th September, 1922 Again performed at Madan Theatre.
  • 19th September, 1922 Leaves for Poona accompanied by Elmhirst and Gourgopal Ghosh.
  • 21st September, 1922 Sylvain Levi and the poet meet the renowned scholar R.G. Bhandarkar. Here the poet is the guest of Ratanji Dadabhai Tata.
  • 23rd September, 1922 Held in Bhandarkar Institute in his honour in the evening. Visits Deccan College in the morning. Andrews joins him in Poona.
  • 24th September, 1922 Speaks at a conference on education at New Poona College.
  • 24th September, 1922 Lectures on Indian Renaissance at Kirloskar Theatre, comes down heavily on the current education system.
  • 26th September, 1922 Reaches Bangalore, most probably stays at the Summer palace.
  • September, 1922 Gretchen Green, American social worker desirous of working in India who joined Rabindranath at Poona is travelling with him.
  • 27th September, 1922 Poet delivers a lecture at Mysore University.
  • 29th September, 1922 In Madras, he's a guest of well known lawyer T.N. Ramaswamy.
  • 29th September, 1922 Meets J.H. cousins and Annie Besant at the former's residence.
  • 29th September, 1922 Reads A Vision of India's History at the big Gokhale Hall.
  • 30th September, 1922 Visits the local Rabindranath Club, is greeted by the elite of the city.
  • 30th September, 1922 Speaks on Ideals in Education at Gokhale Hall.
  • 2nd October, 1922 Felicitated at the local Variety Hall, reads A Vision of India's History.
  • 3rd October, 1922 Reads An Eastern University at Variety Hall, Coimbatore.
  • October, 1922 Visits various educational institutions from 5th to 8th October, avoids public speaking for badly needed rest.
  • 8th October, 1922 Returns to Madras, calls on Cousins and Besant, discusses the proposed university magazine.
  • 9th October, 1922 Sails for Sri Lanka, his first visit there with Andrews.
  • 11th October, 1922 Reaches Sri Lanka. His host is Dr.W.A.De Silva.
  • 12th October, 1922 Visits the local teachers' training college, speaks about the vision underlying his university and reads from The Gardener.
  • 13th October, 1922 Rathindranath joins him in Sri Lanka.
  • October, 1922 In letters written around this time he often compares himself to a mendicant wandering from one country to another with a begging bowl collecting money for the university.
  • 13th October, 1922 Speaks at the local Y. M. C. A. about the ideals enshrined in Visva-Bharati. Chief Justice Sir Anton Bertram presides.
  • 15th October, 1922 Delivers a lecture on Growth of my Life's Work before a massive audience.
  • 16th October, 1922 Felicitated by members of the India Club at Storm Lodge.
  • 17th October, 1922 Visits Mahindra College at Galle in the morning. Delivers a lecture at the invitation of Galle Association.
  • 18th October, 1922 Visits the students' hostels of Mahindra College. Drives back to Colombo in the afternoon.
  • 19th October, 1922 Presides over the prize distribution ceremony of Ananda College.
  • October, 1922 At Campbell Park and Trinity College at 20th and 23rd October.
  • 1922 Goes to Newara Eliya for a week's rest.
  • 3rd November, 1922 Patrick Geddes has meanwhile arrived in Santiniketan with his son Arthur, spends a couple of days there. Rabindranath is glad to know that Arthur will stay in Sriniketan to help implement different projects of rural uplift.
  • 8th November, 1922 Leaves Sri Lanka, arrives at Trivandrum.
  • 9th November, 1922 Civic reception at Jubilee Hall, poet speaks of Visva-Bharati.
  • November, 1922 Learns from Elmhirst's letter that he has proposed to Dorothy Straight.
  • 15th November, 1922 On his way to Quillon halts at Varkkallai to meet Swami Sri Narayana Guru in his ashram – the famous guru of the Thiya community and crusader against untouchability.
  • 16th November, 1922 Meets the industrialist P.R.Ramanujam who gives him a gift of 200 volumes on the chemical sciences and complete equipment for setting up a chemical laboratory at Santiniketan.
  • 16th November, 1922 Arrives to a rousing reception, speaks on the problems of civilisation at the Electric Theatre, receives donation of Rs 1200/-.
  • 16th November, 1922 Arrives in the evening, taken to the Royal Guest House where he receives an address and some donation for Visva-Bharati from the local people. Speaks on the vision and mission of Visva-Bharati.
  • 18th November, 1922 Felicitated at Sri Narayanaguru's Adwaitashram. In the afternoon inaugurates a new hostel of Union Christian College. Mango saplings planted by Rabindranath and Andrews at the college.
  • 19th November, 1922 Felicitated at the local Gujrati School, receives a donation of Rs. 750/-. Visits Subba Raja Memorial Girls' School, speaks on True Love, leaves for Madras.
  • 19th November, 1922 Meets Cousins.
  • 20th November, 1922 Speaks on Visva-Bharati and what it stands for at United Women's College.
  • 23rd November, 1922 Reaches Bombay, stays at Sir Jahangir Petit's residence.
  • 26th November, 1922 Felicitated by the Pathare Prabhu Social Samaj, accepts donation for university.
  • 27th November, 1922 Speaks on Ethics of Zoroastrianism at a meeting organised by several Parsi organisations. Soon a Zoroastrian Trust Fund will be set up at Santiniketan with their financial help.
  • 28th November, 1922 Back in Bombay (now Mumbai). Moriz Winternitz (1863-1937) – Indologist and professor of Prague University who is the second guest-lecturer at Santiniketan after Sylvain Levi, has already arrived in India and joins him here.
  • 29th November, 1922 Speaks at a meeting of the Bombay (now Mumbai) Ladies' Branch of National Indian Association.
  • 3rd December, 1922 Poet addresses the elite of the city in the garden of the house of Ambalal Sarabhai who is his host here.
  • 4th December, 1922 Visits Sabarmati Ashram with Andrews, speaks to the inmates about the role of Gandhiji who is now in jail.
  • 9th December, 1922 Reaches here with Winternitz. Meets Ranu and her father.
  • December, 1922 Back in Santiniketan.
  • 22nd December, 1922 Rabindranath prays in the temple (prayer printed in Santiniketan, Poush issue). Four songs are sung.
    • Swapan jadi bhangiley 22nd December, 1922
    • Prathama alor charanadhwani 22nd December, 1922
    • Jaya hok jaya hok 22nd December, 1922
    • Bhengechha dooar esechha 22nd December, 1922
  • 23rd December, 1922 Presides over and speaks at a meeting of the former students of Santiniketan.
  • 24th December, 1922 Annual meeting of Visva-Bharati Parishad. Poet presides. Elmhirst is now the Director of School of Agriculture.
  • 25th December, 1922 Rabindranath prays in the temple.
  • 28th December, 1922 In a letter to Ranu's father Phanibhusan, the poet writes that the Hebrew scholar Schlomith Flaum, Russian professor L. Bogdanov and mark Collins-expert in linguistics, have joined the university.
  • 28th December, 1922 Romain Rolland already wrote to him informing him of Weltbiblothek (World Library) -- an international publishing enterprise set up by Emil Roniger -- a Swedish publisher. The poet writes back giving permission for the German and French translations of Gora and the publication of Letters from Abroad.
  • December, 1922 38th annual session of the party held at Gaya from 26th December, 1922 to 1st January, 1923, Chittaranjan Das presides. Beginning of the emergence of Pro-changer and No-changer groups.
  • 3rd January, 1923 Rabindranath in Kolkata; Prasantachandra Mahalanabis puts him up at his Alipur quarters.
  • 4th January, 1923 Prof. Bogdanov recites and lectures on Persian poetry.
  • 7th January, 1923 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.
  • 9th January, 1923 Rabindranath's elder brother Satyendranath Tagore passes away.
  • 13th January, 1923 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.
  • 14th January, 1923 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.
  • 19th January, 1923 Poet delivers first part of an address on art at Kalabhawan at a special session of Visva-Bharati Sammilani.
  • 21st January, 1923 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.
  • 29th January, 1923 Delivers the second part of the address on art (first part given on 19th January). Abanindranath who is present also speaks.
  • 31st January, 1923 Rabindranath prays at the temple in the morning (Prayer printed in Santiniketan,Phalgun issue).
  • 31st January, 1923 Prof. Benoit reads a paper on Romain Rolland. Rabindranath, Abanindranath, A. Karpeles, Pearson also speak.
  • 1st February, 1923 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.
  • 1st February, 1923 Rabindranath and Abanindranath visit Kalabhawan.
  • 2nd February, 1923 Abanindranath returns to Kolkata.
  • 5th February, 1923 Reads the piece Galpa from Lipika at Kalabhawan in a series of readings spread over several days.
  • 14th February, 1923 Winternitz speaks on the memorial festival of the Jain savant Vijoy Dharmasur which was held in Gwalior and which he attended. Rabindranath presides.
  • February, 1923 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
  • 21st February, 1923 Rabindranath in Kolkata; reads the new play at a meeting of Visva-bharati Sammilani held at Rammohan Library.
  • 22nd February, 1923 Poet dedicates Vasanta to Kaji Nazrul Islam who is in jail.
  • 25th February, 1923 Performed at Madan Theatre. Rabindranath, Abanindranath, Samarendranath, Dinendranath, Gaganendranath, Elmhirst, etc. take part.
  • 27th February, 1923 Second performance at University Institute Hall.
  • 27th February, 1923 Rani Maitra, daughter of Heramba Chandra Maitra, marries Prasantachandra Mahalanabis. The poet blesses the couple and presents them with the manuscript of Vasanta.
  • 28th February, 1923 Leaves for Benaras with Kshitimohan Sen.
  • 1st March, 1923 In Benaras, his host is Ranu's father, professor Phanibhusan Adhikari.
  • 1st March, 1923 Addresses a meeting of the students of Benaras Hindu University. Welcome address by Pandit Madanmohan Malaviya.
  • 3rd March, 1923 Presides over the first session of Uttar Bharatiya Bangasahitya Sammelan and speaks here.
  • 4th March, 1923 Also speaks here the next day.
  • 5th March, 1923 In Lucknow, enjoys Atulprasad Sen's hospitality.
  • March, 1923 Delivers a lecture at Lucknow University. He is basically travelling across India on a lecture tour to raise money for Visva-Bharati.
  • 10th March, 1923 Arrives in Bombay with Kshitimohan.
  • March, 1923 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
  • 13th March, 1923 Arrives at Ahmedabad.
  • 17th March, 1923 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.
  • March, 1923 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
  • 19th March, 1923 Arrives at Karachi.
  • 19th March, 1923 Given a civic reception at Burns Garden.
  • 20th March, 1923 Felicitated by the Bengali residents of Karachi.
  • 21st March, 1923 Felicitated by Karachi Municipality at a massive reception.
  • 21st March, 1923 Felicitated at the local press club by journalists.
  • 22nd March, 1923 Gives a lecture on A Vision of Indian History at Pearl Opera House.
  • 24th March, 1923 Speaks at a meeting of women held at Theosophical Society Hall.
  • 26th March, 1923 Reaches Hyderabad in Sind.
  • 26th March, 1923 Speaks on Folk Religion of India.
  • 28th March, 1923 Back in Karachi.
  • 29th March, 1923 Goes to Porbandar from Karachi by sea.
  • 31st March, 1923 Anujan Achan lectures on The Buddhist University of Taxila.
  • 1st April, 1923 Czech guest – lecturer, Prof. V. Lesney speaks on Sanskrit and Slavonic Languages at Santiniketan.
  • 3rd April, 1923 Visits Limdi, Dhrangadhra and returns to Ahmedabad.
  • April, 1923 Pearson finds the warm climate uncomfortable, leaves Santiniketan for the time being.
  • 10th April, 1923 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • April, 1923 The following songs are written around this time.
    • Bhalobasi bhalobasi8th April,1923
    • Jakhan bhanglo milanmela8th April,1923
    • Doordeshi sei rakhal chhele10th April,1923
  • 14th April, 1923 The Bengali new year celebrated as usual at the ashram.
  • 15th April, 1923 Poet presides over the second session of Visva-Bharati Samsad. Important issues decided.
  • 20th April, 1923 Prof. Bogdanov recites and lectures on Persian poetry and discusses Sufism with Rabindranath.
  • 23rd April, 1923 Czech guest – lecturer V. Lesney is given a farewell. Returns to Europe.
  • April, 1923 Andree Karpeles also leaves Santiniketan to return to France. Rabindranath writes the song – Bhara thak, bhara thak - on this occasion.
  • 26th April, 1923 Mercury rises alarmingly. Poet goes to salubrious Shillong with Ranu, Rathindranath, Nandita, Nandini and Gretchen Green.
  • April, 1923 The first issue of The Visva-Bharati Quaterly, edited by the poet, published.
  • May, 1923 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.
  • 23rd May, 1923 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.
  • June, 1923 Back in Kolkata.
  • 23rd June, 1923 Speaks at the 14th session of Bangiya Sahiya-Sammelan held at Naihati, praising Bankim's monumental achievements.
  • 28th June, 1923 Bipinchandra Pal speaks on Bankim's writings at the second conference of Kalighat Sahitya-Sammilani. Poet presides.
  • 2nd July, 1923 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • July, 1923 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
  • 31st July, 1923 Preparations to stage the play in aid of Visva-Bharati get under way. Performance postponed owing to the poet's illness.
  • 19th August, 1923 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.
  • 25th August, 1923 First performance at Empire Theatre. Even at age 62 Rabindranath gives a virtuoso performance as Jai Singha.
  • 27th August, 1923 Second performance at Empire Theatre; Ranu plays Aparna.
  • 28th August, 1923 Third performance at Empire Theatre; Ranu plays Aparna.
  • 29th August, 1923 Poet speaks at Visva-Bharati Sammilani on prevention of malaria through cooperatives.
  • 30th August, 1923 Fourth performance at Empire Theatre following great popular demand. Ranu plays Aparna.
  • 1st September, 1923 Fifth performance of Visanjan.
  • 2nd September, 1923 Poet back in Santiniketan with Ranu.
  • 3rd September, 1923 Presides over the fourth meeting of the Visva-Bharati Samsad.
  • 4th September, 1923 Rave reviews in the press for Visarjan.
  • September, 1923 Busy translating the play into English with the help of Prof. Benoit. Keen to stage it, too.
  • 5th September, 1923 Writes to Ramananda Chatterjee that he wants him to print the play in the Falgun or Chaitra issue of the Prabashi.
  • 16th September, 1923 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.
  • 25th September, 1923 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.
  • 5th October, 1923 Reads the essay Samasya at Alfred Theatre before an audience of Visva-Bharati Sammilani.
  • 7th October, 1923 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.
  • 12th October, 1923 Reads Raktakarabi (till now called Nandini ) at a meeting of the Atmiyasabha at Jorasanko.
  • 16th October, 1923 Back in Santiniketan after spending 3 weeks at Alipore, Kolkata.
  • 19th October, 1923 Reads Raktakarabi to the residents of the ashram. Continues revising the play.
  • 1923 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).
  • 1923 Probably writes the major poem Tapabhanga and the symbolic play Rathajatra around this time.
  • 1923 Departs for an extensive fund-raising tour, chiefly of the princely native states Gujrat, in late October/early November accompanied by Gourgopal Ghosh.
  • 6th November, 1923 Arrives at Dhranggadhra.
  • November, 1923 Raja of Dhrangadhra promises to donate Rs. 25000/-, pays first installment of Rs. 500/-.
  • 8th November, 1923 Arrives at Morvi.
  • November, 1923 Raja of Morvi donates Rs. 10000/-.
  • 12th November, 1923 L.K. Elmhirst arrives from England and joins the poet in Rajkot.
  • November, 1923 Continues to revise Raktakarabi.
  • 14th November, 1923 In Limdi.
  • November, 1923 Ruler of Limdi promises to donate Rs. 15000/-.
  • 21st November, 1923 Arrives at Porbandar.
  • 27th November, 1923 Arrives Jamnagar.
  • 30th November, 1923 Arrives Bhabnagar.
  • 2nd December, 1923 Delivers lecture on Message of the Forest at Samaldas College.
  • December, 1923 Comes to Benaras via Bombay and Baroda.
  • 14th December, 1923 Delivers an address on Visva-Bharati at Benaras Hindu University; M. Malaviya presides.
  • 16th December, 1923 Back in Santiniketan. Donation worth Rs. 1,35,000/- collected.
  • 18th December, 1923 Writes the song-- Amar sesh raginir... (used in earlier draft of Raktakarabi).
  • 23rd December, 1923 Delivers a prayer address in the temple.
  • 25th December, 1923 Memorial meeting in memory of the deceased friends of the ashram. Rabindranath speaks on Pearson.
  • 1st January, 1924 Writes two songs:
    • Jakhan esechhile andhakarey 1st January,1924
    • Ami sandhyadiper sikha 2nd January,1924
  • 1st January, 1924 From Sriniketan writes to P. Geddes about land reclamation and beautification. Adds that temple reconstruction and pond restoration are very much on his agenda and have been put on hold for paucity of funds.
  • January, 1924 Invited to attend the convocation of Benaras Hindu University. Reluctantly decides to go hoping to meet high profile donors there such as the Maharaja of Baroda.
  • 11th January, 1924 Writes to Kalidas Nag asking him to accompany him.
  • 15th January, 1924 Writes to Edward Thompson in Bengali, complains that financial worries are causing his mind to grow old.
  • 17th January, 1924 Leaves for Benaras with Kalidas Nag and daughter-in-law Pratima Devi.
  • 24th January, 1924 Back in Santiniketan.
  • 26th January, 1924 Andree Karpeles has, instead of coming back to India and keeping her promise, married a Scandinavian - Dal Hogman. The poet feigns to be angry and writes in gay humour -- "…I forgive your husband for wrenching you away from us with such a sudden jerk--and I hope you understand what a degree of generosity that forgiveness of mine represents."
  • 3rd February, 1924 Second special session held in Kalabhaban, presided over by the poet. In honour of visiting French professor of law, Henry Solus who speaks on The Position of Women in French Civil Law.
  • 4th February, 1924 Goes to Kolkata, gets a medical check-up from Dr. Nilratan Sarkar. Advised rest.
  • 6th February, 1924 Second annual festival of Sriniketan Rural Reconstruction Centre held. Elmhirst present. Rabindranath speaks on the occasion.
  • 8th February, 1924 Third special session. Basantakumar Mallick speaks on Doctrine of Equality in Relation to Gandhism.
  • 9th February, 1924 Vasantotsav held at Kalabhaban. Rabindranath takes part and sings -- Tomai gaan sonabo.
  • 13th February, 1924 Elmhirst narrates his experiences of his China tour at a special session of Visva-Bharati Sammilani.
  • 23rd February, 1924 Presides over the fourth annual conference of the Central Cooperative Anti-Malaria Society held at Alfred Theatre in Kolkata.
  • 1st March, 1924 Speaks without using any written address in the Senate Hall of Calcutta University. The first lecture is on Sahitya.
  • 2nd March, 1924 The second lecture is on Tathya o Satya.
  • 3rd March, 1924 The third lecture is on Srishti.
  • 9th March, 1924 Condolence meeting at University Institute to mourn the death of Prof. Manmohan Ghosh (1869-1924) who was Sri Aurobindo's elder brother, a great teacher of English literature at Presidency College and a notable Indo-Anglian poet. Rabindranath presides and pays a touching tribute to the late poet.
  • 10th March, 1924 Surendranath Tagore's eldest daughter Manjusree marries Kshitishprasad Chatterjee. Rabindranath blesses the couple, writes the song -- Ogo badhu sundari for this occasion.
  • March, 1924 As far as Ranu's marriage (she's reached marriageable age now) is concerned, certain complexities emerge and worry her parents. Her father Phanibhusan Adhikari wants an early marriage to put an end to all this. Asks for the poet's opinion who is not in favour of rushing things.
  • 18th March, 1924 In Kolkata, preparing to embark on the China tour. Writing lectures.
  • March, 1924 A few songs have been written in March.
    • Dinasesher ranga mukul
    • Ebar abagunthana kholo
    • Je kebal paliye beray
    • Pagal je tui
  • 20th March, 1924 Farewell meeting of about 500 Indians and Europeans organised by Visva-Bharati Sammilani at Alipore, Kolkata to wish him a good journey.
  • 21st March, 1924 Sails for Rangoon (now Yangon) en route to China. The Birlas provide Rs. 33000/- for the journey. Gretchen Green, Elmhirst, Kshitimohan Sen, Nandalal Bose and Kalidas Nag go with the poet.
  • 24th March, 1924 Arrives at Rangoon.
  • 24th March, 1924 Huge civic reception at the Jubilee Hall. The poet speaks in reply.
  • 25th March, 1924 Felicitated by Sahityasammilani of resident Bengalis.
  • 26th March, 1924 Felicitated by the Chinese residing in Burma.
  • 30th March, 1924 Arrives at Penang.
  • 31st March, 1924 Arrives at Kuala Lumpur. Civic reception.
  • 2nd April, 1924 Arrives at Singapore. Takes ship for Hong Kong.
  • 7th April, 1924 Arrives at Hong Kong. Invitations pour in from different parts of China. Dr. Sun-Yat-Sen also invites him. Constraints of time prevent him from accepting the invitation.
  • 8th April, 1924 Sails for Shanghai.
  • 13th April, 1924 Arrives at Shanghai. Received by the poet Tsemon Hsu, who's also translated his writings into Chinese, and other intellectuals. Rabindranath is busy writing lectures.
  • 13th April, 1924 Meets Mr. Hardoon, Hebrew merchant. He will later send Chinese Tripitak to Santiniketan.
  • 13th April, 1924 Felicitated by the local Sikhs and Hindus at a Gurudwara. Poet critical of the Sikh policemen's behaviour towards the Chinese. Presented with a Hindi address.
  • 13th April, 1924 Poet speaks in Bengali, Kshitimohan translates into Hindi.
  • 13th April, 1924 Goes to see Dr.Carsung Chang, an associate of Rudolf Eucken. Here he is received by the educated Chinese elite of the city and he speaks extempore. This speech is known as First Talk at Shanghai.
  • 16th April, 1924 Here he pays homage to the Buddha at a massive meeting of students organised by The Provincial Educational Society.
  • 17th April, 1924 Reception given by the Japanese residents of the city at a Japanese school.
  • April, 1924 Meets Mr. Kadoorie, a poet himself and a leader of the local Jews who donates Rs. 12000/- to improve the water supply at Santiniketan.
  • 19th April, 1924 Leaves for Beijing, travels by river. On the way discusses the future of Asia and the shape of politics to come with companions.
  • 20th April, 1924 In Nanking. Meets the military ruler general Chi ShiYuan and the civil administrator Han Tze-sui who promises to help Visva-Bharati financially and warns that the students of this generation may not pay serious attention to his message.
  • 20th April, 1924 Delivers an address before a huge audience of students at Nanking University.
  • 21st April, 1924 On the way to Beijing (Peiking).
  • 21st April, 1924 Stops at Ch'u-fu to pay homage to Confucius.
  • 22nd April, 1924 Here the poet speaks on Materialism and the Spiritual Life at Provincial Assembly Hall.
  • 22nd April, 1924 Speaks on Santiniketan and Visva-bharati at Shantung Christian University.
  • 25th April, 1924 Arrives at Chien Men station in the evening. Greeted by a mammoth crowd of students, intellectuals and resident Indians. North China Standard reports the unprecedented welcome given to the poet and hopes that the young generation will pay serious attention to what he has to say and critically evaluate it.
  • 25th April, 1924 Ango-American Association hosts a lunch in his honour at the Grand Hotel. Rabidranath speaks here and says that he came away from the west with the impression that "The nations of the West were looking for some new ideal from the East which would reconstruct their civilisation on a better basis."
  • 25th April, 1924 Meets 50 Chinese scholars notable in their fields and distinguished men at a tea party in the famous Throne Hall where Chinese emperors used to receive foreign emissaries.
  • 25th April, 1924 Here in his welcome speech Liang Ch'i-Ch'ao, president of Peking Lecture Association hopes that the poet's visit will usher in a new era.
  • 26th April, 1924 In this ancient Buddhist temple Rabindranath is received and speaks to the priests and the members of the Young men's Buddhist Association.
  • 26th April, 1924 More than a thousand students from various universities and colleges gather to hear him speak in the National University auditorium. In no uncertain terms the poet warns young China that those who seek to be powerful using the means of material force do not know history because this is most likely to result in utter ruin.
  • 26th April, 1924 Referring to the fact that he has been dubbed the spokesman of a defeated nation by some Chinese students, he asserts --"I am ready to accept weakness and insult and oppression of the body, but I will never acknowledge the defeat, the last insult, the utter ruin, of my spirit being conquered...". Elmhirst writes this speech which produces a positive impact on scholars and literary men.
  • 27th April, 1924 Rabindranath and his companions go to the Forbidden City to see the former emperor of China at his invitation.
  • 27th April, 1924 Dinner in his honour given by the intellectuals of Peking. In a long speech given by him in reply to the welcome address the poet speaks about a number of things including his growth as a writer.
  • 28th April, 1924 Addresses an audience five to ten thousand strong (mostly students) from the five foot high marble platform at the temple of Earth and introduces himself as a representative of Asia. As usual he deprecates the militarism of the west and upholds the Oriental ideals of peace and fraternity.
  • 29th April, 1924 Speaks informally in response to a reception at the college. Here too, Communist students, opposed to his views, disribute leaflets criticising him.
  • 3rd May, 1924 Students of the college felicitate the poet in the evening.
  • 4th May, 1924 In which he traces the shaping influences on which his career is delivered.
  • 6th May, 1924 Gives an address before the teachers and students of the college.
  • 8th May, 1924 Rabindranath's 64th birthday celebrated by the Crescent Moon Society headed by Hsu Chi-mo at Peking Normal University. Poet given the honorary epithet of "India's cloud-thundered dawn."
  • 8th May, 1924 English Chitra is performed by Crescent Moon Society.
  • 9th March, 1924 Delivers the first of the stipulated six lectures at the invitation of the Peking Lecture Association at the massive Chen Kwang Theatre. Communist students distribute leaflets in protest.
  • 10th May, 1924 2nd lecture in which two articles are combined is delivered.
  • 12th May, 1924 Judgement delivered before two thousand male and female students.
  • 13th May, 1924 Cancels remaining lectures, goes to western hills near Peking for rest.
  • 18th May, 1924 Returns to Peking, speaks extempore to students of Peking National University who unexpectedly call on him.
  • 19th May, 1924 Gives an address at a conference convened by Committee of All Religions.
  • 19th May, 1924 Kshitimohan Sen and Kalidas Nag also speak.
  • 19th May, 1924 Famous actor Mei lan-fang performs the celebrated Chinese play The Goddess of the Lo River in his honour.
  • 20th May, 1924 Leaves Peking for Shansi.
  • 22nd May, 1924 Meets the enlightened military ruler Yen His-shan, reads address City and Village before a massive audience at Confucius hall.
  • 22nd May, 1924 Sannyasi is performed by Chinese students.
  • 25th May, 1924 In Hangkow. Speaks at a meeting chiefly of youths and students organised by Buddhist intellectuals at Young Men's Buddhist Association. Reiterates his views. Hostile elements in the audience tell him "Dr. Tagore, we can't understand your argument against science."
  • 28th May, 1924 Here he's the guest of Italian businessman G.A. Bena.
  • 28th May, 1924 In the evening speaks to a small circle of Europeans known to Bena.
  • 29th May, 1924 Visits Japanese school on Haskell Road.
  • 29th May, 1924 Farewell meeting in the afternoon organised by Chinese literati. The poet delivers a farewell speech.
  • 30th May, 1924 Sails for Japan aboard Sanghai Maru at the invitation of Kobe Tagore Society. The trip is funded by the Society, Mr.Mitsubishi of Sinda Company and Asahi Press.
  • 31st May, 1924 Arrives in Nagasaki. Sano-sun who previously taught at Santiniketan and spent some time in India, joins them here.
  • 1st June, 1924 Poet is in Hakota.
  • 2nd June, 1924 In Kobe. Great reception. N.F.Abdulali of the Indian reception committee puts him up.
  • 3rd June, 1924 In Osaka. Speaks to a mammoth audience at Nakanoshima Hall. Miss Tomiko Wada kora acts as the interpreter.
  • 5th June, 1924 In Nara. Attends a tea ceremony.
  • 5th June, 1924 In Osaka. Speaks at two meetings of women.
  • 7th June, 1924 Leaves Kobe, arrives in Tokyo at night. At Oakama station on the way a number of people board the train to meet him, among them notable Japnese poet Yone Noguchi (1875-1947) and the Indian revolutionary in exile - Rashbihari Bose (1885-1945) and Kesoram Sabrewala who is not allowed by the British Government to teach at Santiniketan.
  • 7th June, 1924 Wonderful ovation by a huge crowd.
  • 8th June, 1924 Shifts to Imperial Hotel.
  • 8th June, 1924 Visits dental hospital; later calls on Taikan-the greatest living Japnese painter-at his residence and sees his magnificent work.
  • 9th June, 1924 Gives the first public address of this tour at Tokyo Imperial University, champions oriental values.
  • 10th June, 1924 Speaks at meetings organised by National Women's Association and Buddhist Young Women's Association.
  • 11th June, 1924 Delivers the well known address on International Relations at Industrial Club. He is critical of Japan’s treatment of China and blames nationalism for such aberrations.
  • 12th June, 1924 Meets the cream of Tokyo society at Viscount Shibusawa's villa and gives the address My School.
  • 12th June, 1924 Speaks at a special meeting of the Pan-Pacific Club held at the Imperial Hotel.
  • 13th June, 1924 Lunch at Yokoama Taikan's. Meets leading painters of Japan and gives a lecture.
  • June, 1924 Goes to Mito in Ibaraki province at the invitation of the local youth, gives an address.
  • 14th June, 1924 Leaves Tokyo for Kyoto.
  • 16th June, 1924 Delivers the lecture The Place of Science at the Town Hall.
  • 17th June, 1924 Delivers an address at Otani University.
  • 17th June, 1924 Gives an address To the Child at Kyoto High School for Girls.
  • 18th June, 1924 Back in Kobe; speaks to local intellectuals and educationists of The Educational Association of Hyogo Prefecture in Japan, receives an honorarium of 100 yen.
  • 19th June, 1924 The Consul of Peru in Japan meets the poet, invites him to the centenary celebrations of Independence to be held in Peru in December, 1924.
  • 19th June, 1924 Rabindranath accepts the invitation and decides to bring Elmhirst and Kalidas Nag with him.
  • 18th June, 1924 Reads his poems at Kobe Women's Club.
  • 20th June, 1924 Felicitated by Indian residents of Kobe at Oriental Hotel.
  • 21st June, 1924 Attends a tea party at the residence of Mr.Muriyama, owner of the famous Japanese newspaper Osaka Ashahi.
  • 22nd June, 1924 Sails for India from Kobe.
  • June, 1924 Delivers the lecture The Soul of the East on board at the request of distinguished Japanese passengers.
  • 17th July, 1924 Reaches Kolkata via Shanghai, Hong Kong and Rangoon.
  • July, 1924 Mourns the death of Ashutosh Mukherjee in the article Ashutosh Mukherjee in The Visva-Bharati Quarterly (July, 1924).
  • 21st July, 1924 Addresses a crowded meeting of Visva-Bharati Sammilani at University Institute and narrates his experiences gathered during the recent tour.
  • 22nd July, 1924 Back in Santiniketan.
  • 9th August, 1924 Comes to Kolkata.
  • 14th August, 1924 Memorial meeting held in the Senate Hall, pandemonium, two groups of students opposed to each other indulge in barracking. Initially Rabindranath presides, then leaves, asking Chittaranjan Das to preside.
  • 17th August, 1924 Sisirkumar Bhaduri (1889-1959), perhaps the greatest Bengali actor of his age and a considerable innovator in Bengali theatre, stages Sita -- his first successful production. Rabindranath goes to see it.
  • 22nd August, 1924 Rabindranath writes to Lytton, Governor of Bengal, requesting him to clarify his highly controversial remarks about Indian women.
  • 28th August, 1924 Busy making preparations for the trip to Peru, South America; also conducting rehearsals for the performance of Aroopratan in which Ranu is to play Sudarshana.
  • 10th September, 1924 Invited by the students of Presidency College, he speaks before a massive audience of Presidency students in the afternoon.
  • 11th September, 1924 Felicitated at the Peruvian consulate in Kolkata.
  • 12th September, 1924 Addresses an assembly of the former and current students of Hindu Hostel on the occasion of reunion. Later they perform Achalayatan .
  • 15th September, 1924 Performed at Alfred Theatre in aid of Malabar flood relief work and Visva-Bharati. As usual it's a grand success. Rabidranath himself reads selected parts. Ranu plays Sudarshana.
  • 19th September, 1924 Leaves for Madras (now Chennai) on the way Colombo with Rathindranath, Pratima Devi, Nandini, Surendranath Kar and a few others.
  • 21st September, 1924 Arrives. Takes ship for Colombo.
  • 23rd September, 1924 Arrives at Colombo.
  • 24th September, 1924 Sails for France aboard Haruna-Maru.
  • 1924 During this voyage too, he’ll be prolific as ever and write his diary, letters and other things.
  • 1st October, 1924 writes two poems - Purnata and Awbhan.
  • 2nd October, 1924 Writes Chhabi.
  • October, 1924 Writes Lipi.
  • October, 1924 Writes Kshanika and Khela.
  • 12th October, 1924 Disembarks at Marseille, proceeds to Albert Kahn's guest house in Paris.
  • 18th October, 1924 Sails for Latin America, a three week voyage on board the Andes, Elmhirst accompanying him as his secretary.
  • October, 1924 Begins to paint on this voyage; different animal shapes -- prehistoric reptiles, birds-seem to emerge from corrections made in the manuscripts of poems. Writes Path and Anmana.
  • 26th October, 1924 Pens a number of poems, says he's never written so many poems away from India. Around end of October, 1924 he is very ill on the boat, confined to cabin, thinks increasingly of death. But never stops writing.
    • Anmana18th October,1924
    • Bismaran 19th October,1924
    • Asha 19th October,1924
    • Batas20th October,1924
    • Swapna 20th October,1924
    • Samudra 21st October,1924
    • Mukti 22nd October,1924
    • Jhad 24th October,1924
    • Padadhwani24th October,1924
    • Prakash 26th October,1924
    • Doshar 28th October,1924
    • Sesh 29th October,1924
    • Abashan 30th October,1924
    • Tara 1st November,1924
    • Kritagna 2nd November,1924
    • Mrityur Awbhan3rd November,1924
    • Daan 3rd November,1924
    • Dukkha-sampad4th November,1924
    • Samapan5th November,1924
    • Bhabikal 6th November,1924
  • 6th November, 1924 Arrives to a great reception though he is only en route to Lima, Peru.
  • November, 1924 He was down with influenza; still very weak, doctors advise complete rest. Annoyed and dismayed to know that the consulate of Peru in Buenos Ayres has as yet received no instructions regarding his visit from their government.
  • 7th November, 1924 Peru visit uncertain, poet not fit to travel. Victoria Ocampo (1890-1979), a great admirer of his poetry, comes to see him and get acquainted. A life-long association begins.
  • 11th November, 1924 Thanks to Ocampo's initiative and magnificent hospitality, Rabindranath shifts from hotel to villa Miralrio (owned by Ocampo's relative) for rest and recuperation.
  • November, 1924 Ocampo is now Tagore's hostess, does everything possible in her power to make Rabindranath's stopover here pleasant and comfortable as well as prolong it. Sells even her jewellery to meet expenses.
  • 12th November, 1924 Writes Videshi Phool at Miralrio.
  • 14th November, 1924 In a letter to Ocampo, Rabindranath writes movingly -- "last night when I offered you my thanks for what is ordinarily termed hospitality I hoped that you could feel that what I said was less than what I meant…an immense burden of loneliness I carry about me...my market price has risen high and my personal value has been obscured. This value I seek to realise with an aching desire...This can be had only from a woman's love...I feel today this precious gift has come to me from you and that you are able to prize me for what I am and not for what I contain." It is also undoubtedly true that Ocampo inspires and impacts the verse texture of a number of poems written in this period and collected in Purabi which will be dedicated to her.
  • 15th November, 1924 Writes Atithi , gifts Ocampo an English translation of it.
  • 16th November, 1924 Ocampo writes in reply--"All I received from you has made me so rich in love that the more I spend, the more I have to give. And all I give comes from you…so I feel I am giving nothing."
  • 20th November, 1924 The visit to Peru cancelled on health grounds.
  • November, 1924 Poet writes the following poems in November, December, 1924.
    • Antarhita1924
    • Ashanka 17th November,1924
    • Sesh Vasanta--one of his finest later poems 21st November,1924
    • Bipasha 22nd November,1924
    • Chabi 26th November,1924
    • Baitarani 27th November,1924
    • Prabhati 1st December,1924
    • Madhu 4th December,1924
    • Tritiya 4th December,1924
    • Adekha 7th December,1924
    • Chanchal 10th December,1924
    • Prabahini11th December,1924
  • 16th December, 1924 Goes to Chapad Malal to spend a few days there.
  • December, 1924 Writes more poems in December, 1924.
    • AkandaDecember,1924
    • Kankal 17th December,1924
  • December, 1924 Returns to Buenos Ayres.
  • December, 1924 More poems.
    • Chitti20th December,1924
    • Birahini 20th December,1924
    • Na-pawa 24th December,1924
    • Srishtikarta 25th December,1924
    • Beenahara 27th December,1924
    • Vanaspati 28th December,1924
    • Path 29th December,1924
  • 30th December, 1924 Meets the President of Argentina -- Dr. Alvear.
  • 2nd January, 1925 Farewell held at Argentina University. A number of distinguished people attend. In reply to a question poet explains the central message of Post Office.
  • 3rd January, 1925 Leaves for Europe by the Italian liner Giulio Cesare with Elmhirst.
  • 3rd January, 1925 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.
  • 4th January, 1925 TOMAKE BHALO BASI VIJAYA.
  • January, 1925 Rabindranath writes a few poems on board.
    • Milan9th January
    • Andhakar10th January
    • Pranganga16th January
    • Badal17th January
  • 18th January, 1925 Arrives in Barcelona.
  • 19th January, 1925 Arrives in Genoa.
  • 19th January, 1925 His son and daughter-in-law join him here.
  • January, 1925 Professor of Sanskrit, Rome University, meets the poet.
  • January, 1925 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.
  • 21st January, 1925 They arrive in Milan to a royal reception headed by Duke Scotti and Guido Cagnola, academics and other personalities.
  • 21st January, 1925 Felicitation at the Duke's palace in the evening. The poet delivers a short speech.
  • 21st January, 1925 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.
  • 22nd January, 1925 Rabindranath interacts with elite of Milan at a meeting in the hotel, Italian assistance for Santiniketan discussed.
  • 22nd January, 1925 Delivers an address on The Voice of Humanity at Circolo Filologico Milanese. Prof. Formichi translates the speech into Italian.
  • 23rd January, 1925 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.
  • 24th January, 1925 Down with influenza, advised rest, engagements cancelled.
  • 24th January, 1925 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.
  • 26th January, 1925 Doctors examine him again and urge him to return home for convalescence.
  • 29th January, 1925 Rabindranath writes to Rolland, promises to return to Europe soon and see him.
  • 29th January, 1925 Leave Milan, reach Venice; again a festive reception.
  • 1st February, 1925 Slightly better, swirl of private meetings, unending stream of visitors.
  • 1st February, 1925 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.
  • 4th February, 1925 Sails for India with family and Surendranath Kar. Elmhirst stays back.
  • 7th February, 1925 Starts writing a diary on 7th October, 1924 and resumes it today.
  • 18th February, 1925 Arrives at Bombay.
  • 23rd February, 1925 Arrives at Kolkata.
  • February, 1925 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.
  • 25th February, 1925 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.
  • 1925 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.
  • 4th March, 1925 Writes to Victoria Ocampo that it is unlikely that he'll be able to leave for Europe before August,1925.
  • 4th March, 1925 Jyotirindranath Tagore (Rabindranath's elder brother) dies in Ranchi. He was 76. Mourning in Santiniketan.
  • 5th March, 1925 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.
  • 10th March, 1925 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
    • Tomai cheye basey achhi
    • Nai jadi ba ele tumi
    • Phire phire daak dekhi re
    • Phagun hawai rangey rangey
    • Eki maya! Lookao kaya jirna
    • Mora bhangba, tapas, bhangba
    • Ohe sundara mori mori
    • Laha laha tule laha
    • Oki elo, oki elo na
    • Kusume kusume charan chinha
    • Je kebal paliye berai
  • 10th March, 1925 Even when the storm is raging, Rabindranath writes a new song Rudrabeshe kemon khela kalo megher bhrukuti.
  • 25th March, 1925 Art Theatre Ltd. offers to buy the performance rights of this play. The poet agrees.
  • 1925 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.
  • 4th April, 1925 Dorothy Whitney Straight, who has till now funded the development of Sriniketan and will continue to do so, marries Elmhirst.
  • 13th April, 1925 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.
  • 13th April, 1925 On the last day of the Bengali year Rabindranath prays in the temple in the evening and gives a short address.
  • 14th April, 1925 (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).
  • 22nd April, 1925 Kalidas Nag marries Shanta Devi, Ramananda Chatterji's daughter. Poet unable to attend.
  • 1925 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.
  • 1925 Founded by Santoshchandra Majumdar at Sriniketan chiefly for poor students.
  • 7th May, 1925 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.
  • 21st May, 1925 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.
  • 29th May, 1925 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.
  • 30th May, 1925 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.
  • 31st May, 1925 Visits the Surul centre of agricultural activities and expresses satisfaction. Meets the poet again and a long dialogue takes place.
  • 31st May, 1925 Frederick Bohn Fisher, Bishop of the Methodist Church, Kolkata is in Santiniketan with his wife and meets both Rabindranath and Gandhiji.
  • 31st May, 1925 Gandhiji interacts with the boys and girls of the ashram in the afternoon.
  • 2nd June, 1925 Leaves for Darjeeling to see the ailing Chittaranjan there.
  • 16th June, 1925 Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das (1870-1925) dies in Darjeeling at the age of 55.
  • 25th June, 1925 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.
  • July, 1925 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).
  • July, 1925 Several songs are written in this period (from May to July).
    • Oi akash pare sudhai bhare 16th June
    • Achho akash pane tuley matha
    • Tar hathe chhilo hashir
    • Maraner mukhey rekhey durey
    • Abelai jadi esechho
    • Dwarey keno diley nada
    • Gaan amar jai bhesey jai
    • Ogo ashader purnima aaji
    • Jetey dao gelo jara
    • Gahan ratey sravan dhara
    • Kotha je udhao holo
    • Jani jani holo jabar aeojan
    • Sakhi andhare ekela gharey
  • 18th July, 1925 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.
  • 18th July, 1925 Dramatised version of the novel Prajaptir Nirbandha is performed at The Star Theatre. Highly innovative and powerful production. Effusive praise in press reviews.
  • 19th July, 1925 Rabindranath performed at Santiniketan.
  • 25th July, 1925 Second performance; Rabindranath present.
  • 9th August, 1925 Arrives in Kolkata, ready to leave for Europe.
  • 13th August, 1925 Cancelled because Dr.Nilratan Sircar says he is not fit to travel and advises complete rest.
  • 17th August, 1925 Sends cable to Romain Rolland in Switzerland saying that he's compelled to cancel the tour because of the frail state of his health.
  • 18th August, 1925 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.
  • August, 1925 Anthology Purabi is published.
  • August, 1925 Lord Satyendraprasanna Sinha visits santiniketan Sriniketan and very pleased with what he sees, promises a donation of Rs. 10000/-.
  • 19th August, 1925 Rabindranath writes to Satyendraprasanna thanks him gratefully for the large donation.
  • 22nd August, 1925 Poet signs the new trust deed. Rathindranath and Surendranath made trustees. This deed provides for Meera Devi, Nadita and Pratima Devi.
  • 23rd August, 1925 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.
  • 1925 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."
  • 9th September, 1925 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.
  • September, 1925 24 songs are sung in Seshvarshan.
    • Gaan amar jai bhesey jai
    • Kotha je udhao holo
    • Olo sephali
    • Jhare jharajhara jhara bhadara badara
    • Tomar naam janiney
    • Aaj sravaner purnimatey
    • Je chhayarey dharba boley
    • Amar raat pohalo
    • Asrubhara bedana dikey dikey
    • Bandhu raho raho sathey
    • Hey kshaniker atithi
    • Shyamal shovan Sravan tumi
    • Eso nipabane chhayabithitaley
    • Dharanir gaganer milaner chhandey
    • Pathik megher dal jotey oi
    • Dekho shuktara ankhi meli chai
    • Eso Sarater amal mahima
    • Ebar abagunthana kholo
    • Kar banshi nishibhorey bajilo
    • Bajramanik diye gantha
    • Poob hawate dei dola
    • Oi asey oi ati
    • Ogo Sephali baner moner kamana
  • 17th September, 1925 Special performance in honour of Lord and Lady Lytton and the King and Queen of Beljium.
  • 30th September, 1925 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."
  • 5th October, 1925 Poet contributes an article to a volume being brought out in honour of Rolland on his 60th birth anniversary.
  • 7th October, 1925 Comes to the city for medical treatment of an aiment of the ear.
  • 12th October, 1925 Grihaprabesh is published.
  • 21st November, 1925 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.
  • 22nd November, 1925 Poet sends a cable to Mussolini expressing gratitude for his gift and offer of collaboration.
  • 24th November, 1925 Lord and Lady Lytton visit Santiniketan and see the poet.
  • 4th December, 1925 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.
  • 9th December, 1925 Pays another visit to Santiniketan, hands over half the donation promised and promises to pay the other half soon.
  • 10th November, 1925 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.
  • 19th December, 1925 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.
  • 19th December, 1925 The poet sees the third performance of the play at the Star Theatre staged by Art Theatre.
  • 22nd December, 1925 Rabindranath prays in the temple at Santiniketan, delivers a sermon.
  • 24th December, 1925 Visva-Bharati Parishad held in Amra-kunj. Poet presides.
  • December, 1925 Sun Yat-sen dies.
  • 4th January, 1926 In Kolkata to reply to Lytton's letter of 31st December, 1925 in which the latter expresses his inability to grant Visva-Bharati a charter as a University because Visva-Bharati is yet to attain the stature required for such recognition. Rabindranath replies reiterating his views.
  • 12th January, 1926 M.S.Marvin – cultural representative of The League of Nations visits Santiniketan and holds a meeting with the poet.
  • 14th January, 1926 Accompanied by Pratima Devi, Nandalal Basu and A. A. Bake and Mrs. Bake, Rabindranath goes to Lucknow to attend the Nikhil Bharat Sangeet Sammelan.
  • 16th January, 1926 Lytton replies (letter date 16th January).
  • 19th January, 1926 His elder brother Dwijendranath Tagore dies in Santiniketan. Poet hastens back to Santinketan, delivers the sermon Mrityu during prayers at the temple.
  • February, 1926 Meanwhile preparations are going on in full swing in Dhaka to receive the poet during his forthcoming visit. Historian Rameshchandra Majumdar of Dhaka University and Kabi-Abhyarthana Samity prepare to receive Rabindranath.
  • 6th February, 1926 Rabindranath arrives in Dhaka with a large entourage which includes Formichi and Tucci. Stays aboard Turag -- a houseboat made available by the Nawab of Dhaka for the poet's residence.
  • 7th February, 1926 Felicitations given by Dhaka Municipality and People's Association. Later speaks at a massive meeting at Coronation Park.
  • 8th February, 1926 Members of the local elite call on him on the houseboat. Visits Dipali Sangha(founded by Leela Nag). Nearly two thousand women welcome him here.
  • 9th February, 1926 Speaks at a huge meeting of five thousand people where many women are present at the sprawling grounds of Jagannath Intermediate College; concentrates on the central problems of Hindu-Muslim discord, duty towards the Untouchables and rural reconstruction.
  • 10th February, 1926 Attends reception organised by Dhaka University. Now Dr. Rameshchandra Majumdar is his host and poet moves to Majumdar's residence.
  • February, 1926 Slightly ill; engagements put on hold.
  • 11th February, 1926 Prof. Formichi lectures on Meditative and Active India at Dhaka university.
  • 12th February, 1926 Prof. Tucci lectures on The Idealistic School in Buddhism at Dhaka University.
  • 13th February, 1926 Rabindranath delivers the lecture The rule of the Giant at Curzon Hall, Dhaka University and thus completes his programme at the University.
  • 14th February, 1926 Attends a function of Visva-Bharati Sammilani at Apurbakumar Chanda's residence.
  • 14th February, 1926 Organised by Educational Institute.
  • 14th February, 1926 Poet sees a performance of Chirakumar Sabha.
  • 15th February, 1926 Received by a large crowd at the railway station led by Maharaja Sasikanta Acharya Chowdhuri who puts him up at his Alexandra Castle. Rabindranath rests here for a few days.
  • 15th February, 1926 Civic reception by municipality at Suryakanta Town Hall in the evening.
  • 16th February, 1926 Felicitated by the local Brahmasamaj. Visits Anandamohan College in the evening.
  • 17th February, 1926 Felicitated by Troiodashi Sammilani of Muktagachha.
  • 18th February, 1926 Rabindranath visits Vidyamayi Balika Vidyalaya and City School.
  • 19th February, 1926 Spends a few hours at the house of Zamindar Promodchandra Roychowdhuri-an alumnus of Santiniketan. Later leaves for Kumilla by train. Arrives and stays at Abhay Ashram, Kumilla.
  • 20th February, 1926 The residents of the ashram present an address to the poet. Rabindranath gives a lecture here.
  • 21st February, 1926 Presides over the third annual meeting of the ashram, speaks on the occasion.
  • 22nd February, 1926 Delivers a sermon after morning prayers at their ashram.
  • 22nd February, 1926 Calls on Akhilchandra and Indubhusan Dutta, visits Ramlala Students' Hostel.
  • 22nd February, 1926 Arrives in Agartala, Tripura on his seventh and last visit late at night. Stays at Kunjaban palace.
  • 23rd February, 1926 Writes the song – Doley premer dolonchampa.
  • 24th February, 1926 Poet is felicitated by Kishore Sahitya Samaj at Umakanta Acadmy Hall.
  • 25th February, 1926 Witnesses Rasleela dance performed by Manipuri women artistes at prince Brajendrakishore's house.
  • 26th February, 1926 Leaves Agartala for Kolkata.
  • 26th February, 1926 Halts at Chandpur on the way, addresses a meeting men and women who are grateful for the halt.
  • 27th February, 1926 Also halts at Naraynganj. Local students present him with an address and hear him speak.
  • 27th February, 1926 Writes the song – Phaguner nabin anandey.
  • 1926 Returns to Kolkata (28th Feb - 1st March).
  • 3rd March, 1926 Visva-Bharati says goodbye to Formichi who had come for three months only. Prof. Tucci stays back.
  • 5th March, 1926 Rabindranath writes the poem Nababadhu.
  • 9th March, 1926 Carlo Formichi is also given a farewell at Vichitra Bhaban,Jorasanko in the poet's presence. Rabindranath delivers a farewell address.
  • 10th March, 1926 Rabindranath writes a long letter to Mussolini expressing his gratitude and sends it through Formichi.
  • 17th March, 1926 Dr. Nilratan Sarkar examines him, advises complete rest and avoidance of all exertions in view of the state of his health.
  • 18th March, 1926 Medical bulletin to this effect issued to the press.
  • 24th March, 1926 Illness prolonged illness, prolonged stay at the Alipore residence of Prasantachandra Mahalanabis till 24th March.
  • 25th March, 1926 Having recovered if only partially, he returns to Santiniketan. As usual, a variety of tasks claims his time and energy during the period March-April, 26.
  • 26th March, 1926 Writes to Niharranjan Ray (1903-81), admiring his review of the Purabi in the Prabashi(Chaitra issue).
  • 28th March, 1926 Lord Satyendraprasanna Sinha pays the rest Rs. 5000/- of the donation for Surul.
  • April, 1926 He is again penning songs.
    • Eso Neepabane
    • Janine o kego amal akashe
    • Jabo,jabo, jabo tabe
    • Ke boley jao jao
    • Chaitra pavaney mama
    • Mon rey orey mon
    • Kalo megher ghata
    • Sakalbelar kunri amar
    • Ogo jaler rani
    • Apanhara matowara
    • Eso amar gharey eso
    • Se je moner manush keno tarey
    • Baney jadi phootlo
    • Parabasi choley eso
    • Eso eso eso praner utsavey
    • Tomar beena amar monomajhey
    • chapala taba nabina ankhi duti
    • Nupur bejey jay rinirini
    • Likhan tomar dhulay hoechhe dhuli
    • Jani tomar ajana nahi go 30th March, 1926
    • Ki phool jharilo 31st March, 1926
    • Amar latar pratham mukul 31st March, 1926
    • Keno rey etoi jabar twara 1st April, 1926
    • Kandar samay alpa orey 1st April, 1926
    • Bina sajey saji 2nd April, 1926
    • Ki paini tari hisaab 2nd April, 1926
    • Sei bhalo sei bhalo 2nd April, 1926
    • Anek katha jao jey boley 4th April, 1926
    • Dey pade dey amay tora 4th April, 1926
    • Patar bhela bhasai nirey 4th April, 1926
    • Ebar elo samay rey tor 6th April, 1926
    • Sesh belakar sesher gaaney 8th April, 1926
    • Adhek ghumey nayan chumey 8th April, 1926
    • E pathey ami je 8th April, 1926
    • Amar praney gabhir gopan 8th April, 1926
    • Haar manaley bhangiley abhiman 10th April, 1926
    • Din parey jay din 10th April, 1926
    • Bandhan chharar sadhan hobey 10th April, 1926
  • 2nd April, 1926 Bengal Pact negotiated by Chittaranjan between Hindus and Muslims in Bengal finally collapses as Hindu-Muslim riots break out in Kolkata in a big way.
  • 6th April, 1926 Rabindranath expresses his dismay and anguish in a letter to Pramatha Chowdhury.
  • April, 1926 Unable to preside over Bangiya Sahitya Sammilan at Suri due to weakness of health. The address written for this purpose is printed in the Prabashi (April-May issue,26) under the title Sahitya-sammilan.
  • 12th April, 1926 Chirakumar Sabha is published, 1100 copies printed.
  • 13th April, 1926 Lord Satyendraprasanna Sinha leaves for a tour of Europe including Italy. Rabindranath gives him a letter of introduction addressed to Mussolini.
  • 13th April, 1926 The poet prays in the ashram temple in the evening on the last day of the Bengali year and delivers a sermon.
  • 14th April, 1926 First day of the new Bengali year sees him pray in the temple in the morning.
  • April, 1926 Writes the Baikali cycle of poems and songs.
  • 7th May, 1926 65th birth anniversary celebrated with great flourish. Congatulations from notables both at home and abroad arrive. The Maharaja of Porbandar also announces his generous grant for Kalabhaban today.
  • 7th May, 1926 Natir Puja is performed in the evening at Santiniketan.
  • May, 1926 Rabindranath writes a long analytical review of hs book Ryoter Katha.
  • 12th May, 1926 Sends the manuscript of Baikali to Ramananda Chatterjee, writes in a letter that he wants it to be first published in Prabashi and later as a book.
  • 12th May, 1926 Prof. Formichi's letter inviting the poet to visit Italy received.
  • 12th May, 1926 Rabindranath leaves for Bombay en route to Europe with a large entourage which includes Rathindranath, Pratima Devi, Pupe, Premchand Lal, Gourgopal Ghosh.
  • May, 1926 Prasantachandra and Rani Mahalanabish will go to Italy via Colombo and later join the poet in Rome to Rabindranath's delight and Formichi's dismay. He'll play an important role in opening the poet's eyes to fraudulent fascist propoganda during the Italian tour.
  • 15th May, 1926 Rabindranath sails for Italy on the Italian boat Aquileja. Lavish arrangements on board and the poet is accorded the honour due to a guest of state.
  • May, 1926 Hebrew scholar Shulamith Flaum who had visited Santiniketan comes on board at Port Said and invites him to visit the new Jewish state in Palestine. But the poet declines because of his fast-paced Italian itinerary.
  • 19th May, 1926 Writes to Santoshchandra Majumdar that he has written an essay on the ideal of education.
  • 29th May, 1926 Disembarks at Naples, Italy.
  • May, 1926 Received by Formichi and government officials who've arrived from Rome. Goes to Rome by special train.
  • May, 1926 Elmhirst and Andree Karpelles arrive from England and France respectively to meet him at Naples.
  • 30th May, 1926 In Rome. State-sponsored hospitality leaves nothing to chance.
  • 31st May, 1926 He meets Mussolini and when he speaks to the press, Rabindranath is all praise, some would say fulsome praise for the Italian dictator. "His Excellency Mussolini seems modeled body and soul by the chisel of a Michael Angelo, whose very action showed intelligence and force. i see a great future for your country..."Statements like this are exaggerated and fastened upon by the Fascist press and give them a handle to project Tagore as witlessly endorsing everything Mussolini does and ignoring the cruel excesses committed by him.
  • 1926 Poet stays in Rome for a couple of weeks, goes to see many places famous in history and numerous visitors call on him though government officials and particularly Formichi who acts as interpreter are always at hand to make sure that only pro-Fascist intellectuals and academics get to see him.
  • 3rd June, 1926 The question as to who invited Rabindranath to visit Italy is keenly discussed and debated in the Indian press. For example, The Pioneeer of Allahabad writes--"The meeting between the great bengali poet and the Italian duke at Rome is a piquant incident in the international life today...The poet in Tagore may see much that is admirable in the wonderful work which Mussolini has done for his country...But he will not fail to see danger ahead." (3rd June).
  • June, 1926 Given a grand civic reception at the Capitol by the mayor of Rome and the elite of the city.
  • 8th June, 1926 Delivers an address on The Meaning of Art at a gathering of Unione Intellectuale Italina.
  • 8th June, 1926 Visits Orti di Pace -- a children's school.
  • 10th June, 1926 Witnesses Annual Choral Concert of School Children at the Colosseum.
  • 10th June, 1926 Felicitated by Rome University in the evening.
  • 11th June, 1926 King meets Victor Emmanuel (1869-1947) - King of Italy.
  • 13th June, 1926 The poet sees a performance of the play in Italian at the Argentina Theatre.
  • 14th June, 1926 And at last a secret meeting with Beneditto Croce(1866-1952) takes place - much to Formichi's discomfiture.
  • June, 1926 News of Fascist tyranny and atrocities from various sources somehow trickles in; in spite of the censorship exercised by Formichi. Prasantachandra tries his utmost to make him aware of the baleful nature of Fascist rule which Mrs. Salvadori will later unveil to him in lurid details in Zurich. But the spell cast by Mussolini over him is yet to be completely broken.
  • 16th June, 1926 In Florence, received by Marchase Corsini of the celebrated Corsini family of Florence.
  • 17th June, 1926 Delivers an address on My School at Florence University.
  • 19th June, 1926 In Turin, felicitated by women's organisation--Pro Coltura feminine.
  • 20th June, 1926 Delivers the address City and Village at Liceo Musicalle hall.
  • 20th June, 1926 Speaks to an audience of the students of Turin University.
  • 20th June, 1926 Leaves Italy for Switzerland.
  • 21st June, 1926 Arrives, stays in Hotel Byron.
  • June, 1926 Poet often meets Romain Rolland who lives close by. Rolland tries to disabuse him of the impressions created by Fascist propaganda, shows him the wicked disparity between what he actually said in his statements and distorted version put out by Formichi and the Italian press.
  • 6th July, 1926 In Zurich. Writes to Formichi pointing out the stark fact that his statements and pronouncements have not been correctly translated and reported by the Italian press.
  • 6th July, 1926 Italian refugees who have fled from fascist Italy and taken shelter in Switzerland meet the poet.
  • 7th July, 1926 But the frightful truth of what Fascism really is at last sinking in, though slowly. He writes in this letter that though he admires Mussolini, "That I should be made to appear to sanction a career of unscrupulous crime in any political body for the sake of the self-aggrandizement of a people is extremely repugnant to me."
  • 10th July, 1926 Arrives in Vienna.
  • July, 1926 Dr.Angelica Balbanoff and Modigliani -- victims of fascist tyranny and consequently refugees in Austria, meet him in Vienna and the poet is further disabused.
  • 20th July, 1926 Fires a second letter to Formichi.
  • 31st July, 1926 Reaches London via Paris; goes to Elmhirst's recently established school at Dartington Hall.
  • August, 1926 Meets old friends like Rothenstein, C.P. Scott, E.Rees.
  • August, 1926 Goes to Carbis Bay in Cornwall, meets Bertrand and Dora Russell.
  • August, 1926 Returns to London.
  • August, 1926 Spends a day with poet laureate Bridges at the latter's invitation in Oxford.
  • August, 1926 Meets the sculptor Epstein who makes a grand bust of the poet.
  • 21st August, 1926 After 3 weeks spent in London, Rabindranath sails for Norway with Lord Satyendraprasanna Sinha and Prasantachandra and Rani Mahalanabis.
  • August, 1926 His first visit to Oslo. Meets friends like Prof.S. Konow -- a former guest-lecturer at Santiniketan as well as King Hakone of Norway.
  • 25th August, 1926 Delivers a lecture at Oriental Academy, Oslo.
  • August, 1926 Gives a public lecture in the hall of the University.
  • August, 1926 Goes to see Gustav Vigeland's famous sculpture Fountain of Life in a park in Oslo.
  • August, 1926 During the brief stay in Oslo leading Norwegian writers and intellectuals call him.
  • August, 1926 Arrives in Stockholm.
  • August, 1926 Meets members of the Swedish Academy at a lunch hosted in his honour by the famous explorer Sven Hedin(1865-1952).
  • 6th September, 1926 Arrives in Copenhagen.
  • September, 1926 Sees the ailing George Brandis (1842-1927).
  • 8th September, 1926 Crosses the Baltic Sea to reach Germany.
  • 8th September, 1926 On the steamer writes the song – Se kon pagol jai.
  • 9th September, 1926 Delivers a lecture on Culture and Progress.
  • 9th September, 1926 Writes two songs
    • Kar chokher chawar 9th September, 1926
    • Roy je kangal shunya hatey 9th September, 1926
  • September, 1926 In Berlin and stays there from 11th to 16th September.
  • September, 1926 Meets the German president Von Hindenburg at the latter's invitation.
  • September, 1926 Meets education minister Dr. Becker and the world renowned Einstein.
  • September, 1926 Writes a letter to The Manchester Guardian attacking Fascism in italy.
  • September, 1926 Received by his German publisher Kurt Wolff at his residence.
  • September, 1926 In Munich. Writes four songs from 17th to 19th September.
    • Chhutir banshi bajlo 17th September, 1926
    • Akash, tomay kon roopey 17th September, 1926
    • Nai nai bhay, hobe hobe joy 18th September, 1926
    • Tor bhitarey jagia 18th September, 1926
  • September, 1926 In Nuremberg.
  • 21st September, 1926 In Stuttgart.
  • September, 1926 Writes three songs.
    • Amar mukti aloy aloy 19th September, 1926
    • Sakalbelar aloy bajey 20th September, 1926
    • Madhur tomar sesh je 21st September, 1926
  • 24th September, 1926 In Cologne.
  • 24th September, 1926 Writes two songs
    • Chahia dekho raser srotey 24th September, 1926
    • Tumi ushar sonar bindu 24th September, 1926
  • 25th September, 1926 Writes the song – Gane gane taba bandhana.
  • 26th September, 1926 Back in Berlin; Rathindranth undergoes surgery.
  • 4th October, 1926 Delivers lecture, goes to see performance of Dakghar.
  • 4th October, 1926 Ramananda Chatterjee is now travelling in Europe, meets the poet.
  • 6th October, 1926 Writes the song – Apni amar konkhaney.
  • 9th October, 1926 Arrives in Prague; stays a few days, sees a performance of Dakghar(Czech version). Delivers lectures. Also witnesses a Bach recital at New German Theatre.
  • 11th October, 1926 Writes two songs
    • Ogo sundara ekada ki jani 11th October, 1926
    • Kothay phiris param sesher 12th October, 1926
  • October, 1926 Gives an address immediately after arrival. Overcome with fatigue, rests here for ten days (16th to 26th October).
  • 20th October, 1926 Writes – Akashey tor temni achhe chhuti –
  • 26th October, 1926 Arrives in Budapest, Hungary.
  • October, 1926 Though ill, gives a lecture. Meets Hungarian supremo admiral Horthy. Falls ill again.
  • 27th October, 1926 In Budapest he writes the poem which begins -- Path ekhono sesh holo na.
  • 28th October, 1926 Budapest Municipality hosts a dinner in his honour at Municipal St. Gellert Hotel.
  • October, 1926 Following medical advice,retires to a sanatorium at Balaton Fured for rest and recuperation.
  • 30th October, 1926 At Balaton pens the song – diner belai banshi tomar.
  • November, 1926 Lekhan inscribes the poems of this anthology for facsimile printing on aluminium sheets based on new German methods. Writes to Prasantachandra instructing him to procure machinery for facsimile printing for Santiniketan press.
  • 8th November, 1926 Plants a linden sapling at the sanatorium.
  • 9th November, 1926 Writes another song at Balaton – Pantha-pakhir rikta kulai.
  • 15th November, 1926 In Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
  • November, 1926 Delivers addresses to a huge audience at Belgrade University on two days.
  • November, 1926 Rathindranath and others join him here.
  • November, 1926 Arrives in Sofia, Bulgaria.
  • November, 1926 Meets academics and opinion leaders, gives one lecture.
  • November, 1926 Is received by king Boris of Bulgaria.
  • November, 1926 Travels to Bucharest, Rumania.
  • November, 1926 Receives felicitation and veneration from Rumanians; king Ferdinand hosts a lunch in honour of the poet.
  • 25th November, 1926 Arrives in Athens, is accorded a reception by Greek writers and intellectuals and and the honour of the 'Order of the Redeemer' is conferred on him.
  • 25th November, 1926 Here Prasantachndra and Nirmalkumari(Rani) leave Rabindranath and start for England.
  • 27th November, 1926 In Egypt.
  • 28th November, 1926 Arrives Cairo.
  • 28th November, 1926 Invited to tea by the greatest living Egyptian poet Ahmed Souki. All the ministers of the Egyptian government attend the party and a session of the Parliament is adjourned in his honour.
  • 28th November, 1926 The poet is received by king Faud and presented with a collection of Arabic classics.
  • 29th November, 1926 Visits Cairo museum.
  • 1926 Sails for India from Alexandria.
  • 1926 Santoshchandra Majumdar – Rathindranath's classmate and a dedicated worker of Santiniketan and Sriniketan is dead. The news immensely saddens Rabindranath.
  • 1926 During the voyage begins a series of letters addressed to Rani Mahalanabis.
  • 1926 On board the ship gets acquainted with the German anthropologist Christoph Von Furer Heimendorf and his wife who will later win fame for his work on the aboriginals of central and south India. Admires their dedication in a letter to Rani Mahalanabis.
  • December, 1926 Arrives in Kolkata to a big reception of the city literati led by the mayor J.M. Sengupta.
  • 19th December, 1926 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • 24th December, 1926 Held as usual in the ashram.
  • 25th December, 1926 42nd annual session held in Guahati, Assam. Srinivas Iyenger presides.
  • 25th December, 1926 In an address delivered in Santiniketan before an assembly of local people, Rabindranath implores both Hindus and Muslims to maintain peace and harmony.
  • 10th January, 1927 Sahana Devi - noted singer of Rabindrasangeet - is suffering from tuberculosis. Rabindranath invites her to come to Santiniketan for cure and rest and assures her that she'll be well looked after.
  • 14th January, 1927 Writes to Mamata Dasgupta that Natir Puja will be performed. The play is in rehearsal and Nandalal's daughter Gouri Basu will play Sreemati.
  • 24th January, 1927 Arrives in Kolkata with his troupe from Santiniketan. Maghotsav will be held the next day, but he hasn't sent out invitations to anyone and writes to Rani Mahalanabis that he is not ready to regard himself as a Brahma if being a Brahma means following a particular religion.
  • 28th January, 1927 Natir Puja is performed at Jorasanko mansion.
  • January, 1927 Two more performances on 29th and 31st January. Gouri Basu's masterly performance as Sreemati universally acclaimed. Rabindranath excels as usual as the old monk Upali even at sixty six. But individual brilliance apart, this ground-breaking performance goes down as a watershed in the cultural history of Bengal because this is the first public performance in which girls hailing from distinguished middle class bhadralok families enact dancing roles,thus assaulting the old social stereotype of women actors as persons of low repute and virtually ostrasized from genteel middle class hierarchies. Initially the announcement of this performance by the girls raises some eyebrows. To stop that, Tagore creates the character Upali and presents himself at the stage. Secondly the cultural revolution initiated by the poet now widens the cultural horizons by presenting dance as a great art form and raising it to a new level of respectability and acceptability in Bengal.
  • 3rd February, 1927 Growing public anger and indignation at the tyrannical high-handedness of the government in imprisoning thousands of young men without trial. Rabindranath once more articulates public indignation in his own inimitable way when he sends an open letter to the daily Forward condemning "the primitive form of despotism which permitted detention without trial under Bengal Ordinances."
  • 6th February, 1927 In Santiniketan; presides over the anniversary festival of Sriniketan, stresses self-reliance and the necessity of a holistic approach to rural reconstruction.
  • 27th February, 1927 Inaugurates a new symbolism in his latest songs and poems through the cosmic Nataraja image, rich in rhythmic varieties and dramatic overtones.
  • February, 1927 A song-and-dance medley gets written perhaps inspired by Bharatnatyam dance and Nataraja iconography of South India.
  • February, 1927 Saratchandra meets the poet and urges him to protest against the government's decision to ban his allegedly seditious novel - Pather Dabi.
  • 10th February, 1927 Rabindranath writes to him declining to protest, maintaining that writers may write inciting, provocative things, but it is not a healthy attitude if at the same time they expect that the British government will not come down heavily on them. He adds, "Travelling around the world I have seen that there is not another government which is so tolerant and forgiving as the British government. To proscribe your book and say nothing to you almost amounts to forgiving you. To rely on this forgiveness and flay the government randomly is a travesty of courage." Saratchandra is deeply hurt.
  • 3rd March, 1927 Writes that his sense of responsibility has grown from a combination of the senses of beauty and self-dignity.
  • 9th March, 1927 Discusses the goals and aims of literature with Sajanikanta. According to the poet literature is eternal. However, the modernists do not hold with such views.
  • 18th March, 1927 enacted in Santiniketan.
  • 28th March, 1927 Leaves for Bharatpur at the invitation of the young prince Kishen Singh to preside over the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan with his future biographer Prabhatkumar Mukhopadhyaya. Braves the summer heat of Rajasthan even at this age because he needs funds for Visva-Bharati.
  • 30th March, 1927 Delivers his address at the Sahitya Sammelan in English.
  • 2nd April, 1927 Visits Agra.
  • 4th April, 1927 Visits Jaipur.
  • April, 1927 In Ahmedabad; Ambalal Sarabhai puts him up at his residence from 6th to 9th April.
  • April, 1927 Felicitated by Gujrati Sahitya Sabha.
  • April, 1927 Edward Thompson's recent book Rabindranath Tagore,Poet and Dramatist comes to his notice here and he reads it.
  • April, 1927 Writes to Prasantachandra from Ahemedabad - "I've read Thompson's book … It is superficial and incorrect to a great extent."
  • April, 1927 He writes to Rothenstein too in this vein and later demolishes the book in a review written under a pseudonym in the Prabashi (Sravan issue).
  • 11th April, 1927 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • April, 1927 Takes part in these ceremonies. Writs the poem Varshasesh on the last day of the expiring year and speaks at the prayers held in the morning of the first day of the Bengali New Year.
  • 4th May, 1927 Goes to Chandernagore, lays the foundation stone of the temple of the Prabartak Sangha at the invitation of he Sangha founder Motilal Roy.
  • 4th May, 1927 Felicitated by the Sangha. Visits Krishnavamini Balika Vidyalaya. Tea party at the residence of the French administrator with the elite of Chandernagore.
  • May, 1927 Spends the summer in Shillong as the guest of Ambalal Sarabhai who's also holidaying there. He's accompanied by Dinendranath, Jehangir Bakil and Prabhatkumar and occasionally visited by Suruchi Devi, maharani of Mayurbhanj.
  • 20th May, 1927 Taking full advantage of the freedom from public engagements Rabindranath launches into a new novel, later published in the new magazine Vichitra under the title Tinpurush (later changed to Yogayog). Prima facie, the poet's object is to earn some money by writing the novel. Indeed, he says so in a letter written to Indira Devi around this time. Also writes a few poems in Shillong.
  • 28th May, 1927 Very keen to visit Java-Bali-Sumatra. Writes to Ramananda Chatterjee that he's requested G.D. Birla for financial help. Even if the help isn't available, he will go and study the Hindu civilisation of those countries.
  • 27th June, 1927 Returns. Preparations for the tour get under way.
  • 1927 Philanthropist G.D.Birla and Narayandas Bajoria donate Rs. 10,000/- and Rs. 1000/- respectively.
  • 1927 Establishes The Greater India Society after his return from China. Rabindranath is the first President of the Society.
  • 1st July, 1927 Writes the poem Mukti(1).
  • 2nd July, 1927 Writes the poem Mukti(2).
  • 2nd July, 1927 International Cooperative festival held in Kolkata. The poet presides, gives a lecture on Bharatvarshe Samabayer Bisistata.
  • 11th July, 1927 Felicitates him in anticipation of the success of the tour. Rabindranath says in reply, "These felicitation which you have offered me prior to my departure for Jabadwipa will mentally fortify me".
  • 12th July, 1927 Leaves for Madras by train en route to Singapore accompanied by Surendranath Kar, Dhirendranath Devbarman and Prof. Sunitikumar Chatterjee--representative of Calcutta University. Arnold Bake and Aryanayakam have gone ahead as advance party to prepare for the poet's visit.
  • 14th July, 1927 Sails for Singapore on the French boat Amboise.
  • 20th July, 1927 Arrives.
  • July, 1927 Aryanayakam joins him here. For three days he's the guest of the Malay governor Sir Hugh Clifford. Then enjoys the hospitality of Mohammad Ali Namaji.
  • 21st July, 1927 felicitated by the elie of the Chinese community at Garden Club.
  • 22nd July, 1927 Delivers an address on Unity of Man at Victoria Theatre.
  • 24th July, 1927 Lectures to Chinese teachers and students on the ancient links between India and China at Palace Gay Theatre.
  • 24th July, 1927 Meets a distinguished group of people led by Mohammad Ali Namaji who want to set up an organisation under the name International fellowship.
  • 24th July, 1927 Speaks at Indian Association before a record crowd of common Indians of Singapore Sikhs, Pathans, Punjabis, Tamils, Gujratis, Hindus and Muslims. Rabindranath speaks in English, Sunitikumar translates the speech into Hindi.
  • 25th July, 1927 Gives a lecture on his experience at Santiniketan as an educationist at Victoria Theatre. All kinds of students present; Colonial Secretary E.C.M. Woolfe presides.
  • 25th July, 1927 A Chinese educationist, meets the poet.
  • 27th July, 1927 Arrives. Entertained at the government house. Dinner given in his honour.
  • 28th July, 1927 visits Mooar.
  • 29th July, 1927 Delivers two lectures in Malacca.
  • 30th July, 1927 Arrives at Kuala Lumpur.
  • 31st July, 1927 Civic reception organised by municipality at Town Hall, presented with a silver casket containing the address.
  • 2nd August, 1927 Lectures at a theatre hall; reads poems at a variety show in the evening.
  • 3rd August, 1927 Visits Seremban, delivers lecture, returns to Kuala Lumpur in the evening.
  • 5th August, 1927 Speaks at the Confucian School of the Chinese and also at Kajang.
  • 7th August, 1927 Visits Ipo, then goes to Tai-ping and lectures on Human Destiny.
  • 14th August, 1927 Speaks on Nationalismat Empire Theatre.
  • August, 1927 Mixed reactions to the poet's visit noticed. Malaya Tribune -- mouthpiece of British colonial interests, attacks the poet for his critique of imperialism.
  • August, 1927 The primary goal of the tour, namely securing funds for Santiniketan, has been more or less achieved. The poet's now headed for Bali and Java.
  • 17th August, 1927 Reaches Belawan in Sumatra from Penang.
  • 17th August, 1927 A number of Dutch, Sindhi and Tamil admirers of the poet led by Arnold Bake meet him in Belawan.
  • August, 1927 Takes ship bound for Java-sails on Plancius.
  • 19th August, 1927 Reaches Singapore on the way to Java, meets old friends on board.
  • 19th August, 1927 Writes the poems Notun Srota, Viday Sambal .
  • 21st August, 1927 Writes the poem Srivijayalakshmi aboard.
  • 21st August, 1927 Arrives in Jakarta. Stays at Hotel des Indes.
  • 21st August, 1927 Reception and dinner in his honour at the residence of the British consul Mr.Crossby who delivers a wonderful speech welcoming the poet.
  • 22nd August, 1927 Crossby introduces the poet to the Governor General of Netherlands India.
  • 22nd August, 1927 Indians of Batavia(Jakarta) come to see the poet; poet talks about Santiniketan, local Sindhi businesmen promise to help.
  • 23rd August, 1927 On the way to Bali writes the poem Nutan Kaal and the article Sahitye nabatwa on board.
  • 26th August, 1927 At Bangli the poet witnesses performances of the dance of Bali and Java a memorable event.
  • 1927 In Bali for a fortnight. Travels through the island with honours and receptions galore, keenly notes the vital influence of Indian culture in the vibrant living traditions of the island and the Balinese school of dance-drama. Visits Giyanga, Badoeng, Moendoeck..
  • 1927 Here discusses Catherine Mayo's book Mother India with Sunitikumar and sends a letter to The Manchester Guardian criticising it. Later J.T.Sanderland will use this letter as the introduction to his book Unhappy India.
  • 9th September, 1927 Returns to Java, arrives at Sourabaya. Local Indians crowd the pier to greet him.
  • 11th September, 1927 spends three days here, delivers a lecture on Art at the local Kunstkring.
  • September, 1927 Here he inaugurates a street named after him (Tagore street). Stays as a guest of the Mankunagoro, see enchanting performances of local drama and court-dance and interacts with local Javanese and Dutch intellectuals. Receives telegram from Siam inviting him to visit the country.
  • September, 1927 Sees the ruins of ancient temples at Peramban protected as monuments by the Dutch government from 18th to 20th September.
  • September, 1927 goes to see the legendary Borobudur temples.
  • 23rd September, 1927 writes the poem Borobudur.
  • 26th September, 1927 Spends a couple of days here. In a delightful letter written to Pratima Devi describes the place, "there was once a lake in the hollow where Bandung sits now. Later, at some time or the other, the surrounding hillsides crashed down in a landslide and the lake water drained away. I'm really feeling very comfortable here in the quiet house in this beautiful, secludd place after all the recent hectic travels."
  • 27th September, 1927 Returns to Jakarta (Batavia).
  • 30th September, 1927 Sails for Penang via Singapore.
  • 1st October, 1927 Writes the poem Bali aboard.
  • 2nd October, 1927 Writes the song Sakaruna benu bajaye ke jai aboard.
  • 5th October, 1927 Arrives en route to Bangkok.
  • 8th October, 1927 Arrives to a rousing welcome by Indians, Siamese, Chinese and Europeans who put them up at Phya Thai Palace Hotel.
  • 8th October, 1927 Meeting with education secretary, prince Dhani. Also meets the chief priest of Rajpotibar temple.
  • 10th October, 1927 Goes to see the renowned art collection housed in the palace of prince Damnog Rajanubhab.
  • 11th October, 1927 Delivers the address India's Role in the World. Writes the poem Siam.
  • 12th October, 1927 Visits Vajrayudh Vidyalaya. Delivers address on Child Education at Chudalankaran University.
  • 13th October, 1927 Meets the King and Queen of Thailand.
  • 13th October, 1927 Delvers two lectures Chinese Birth and Asia's continental Culture.
  • 14th October, 1927 Lectures on Ideals of National Education at the local museum before a massive audience.
  • 15th October, 1927 Leaves Bangkok.
  • October, 1927 Writes six poems
    • Siam(2)17th October,1927
    • Chirantan18th October,1927
    • Abujh Monon (board Aba-maru in this date)20st October,1927
    • Mohana24th October,1927
    • Durdiney26th October,1927
    • Nutan Srota27th October,1927
  • 27th October, 1927 Arrives in Kolkata.
  • 1927 A debate centred on what should be the ideal of modern literature which was simmering now comes to a head. The varied exponents of modernism are represented by new literary magazines like Kallol, Sanghati, Uttara, Kalikalam, Pragati, Lekha etc. with Kallol and Kalikalam leading the field. They lament the lack of modernism in Tagore literature and champion what they call new values of freedom and frankness for all they are worth. Rabindranath is seen as the bulwark of conservatism and remains the butt of criticism. On the other hand Sanibarer Chitti is pitted against them.
  • 8th December, 1927 Adapted from Nataraj Riturangashala is performed in Kolkata. Basudeva Menon, formerly of Kalabhaban, plays Nataraj. The performance and staging combine Indian and Javanese styles.
  • 19th December, 1927 A certain journal (of the Swaraj Party) asks him for an article but turns it down because of its implicit critique of Swarajist programme. It is later printed in the Prabashi(Magh,1334).
  • 23rd December, 1927 Held in Santiniketan. Rabindranath takes part.
  • January, 1928 The new year finds the poet in the city, not for long however.
  • 5th January, 1928 Presides over the foundation anniversary of Sarojnalini Nari Mangal Samity founded by Gurusaday Dutta, in memory of Sarojnalini Dutta who was his wife and a great soul.
  • January, 1928 Felicitated by Rabindra-Parishad of Presidency College. Prof. Surendranath Dasgupta presides.
  • 6th January, 1928 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • 6th January, 1928 Members of the Indian Science Congress arrive by a special train to visit Santiniketan. They are received by the poet.
  • January, 1928 Czech professor of Sanskrit from Prague, V. Lesny joins Santiniketan as visiting professor.
  • 8th January, 1928 World famous English contralto ballad ad oratorio singer Dame Clara Butt (1873-1936) visits Santiniketan and performs on two days. Of her encounter with the poet, she writes in her autobiography – "In India I met three of the most wonderful personalities of that wonderful country, Mrs. Annie Besant, Gandhi and Sir Rabindranath Tagore....with me alone for an audience and without accompaniment of any kind, he then sang two or three songs of his own composition."
  • 2nd February, 1928 Poet agitated and concerned about methods of collecting funds for the relief of the families of political prisoners. Writes to Sunitikumar Chatterjee that the politicians do not display enough concern for the prisoners; or the affected families would not be starving now.
  • 19th February, 1928 Accepts invitation to visit Europe and deliver the Hibert Lectures at Oxford University.
  • 6th March, 1928 Vasanta utsav celebrated. In deference to the poet's wish young poets recite their verse.
  • March, 1928 The arrival of spring stirs the poet into writing a number of poems and songs around this time.
  • 13th March, 1928 Arrives at Kolkata.
  • March, 1928 To resolve the differences between two groups of writers represented chiefly by Kollol and Sanibarer Chitti over the questions of modernism and realism in Bengali literature, the warring groups are brought together at a meeting held at Joasanko over two days at the initiative of Prasantachandra Mahalanabis and Apurbakumar Chanda. Rabindranath presides and speaks for the greater part. Reconciliation eludes them but the speeches delivered by the poet produce two remarkable essays on the questions raised – Sahityaroop, Sahitya Samalochana. Sunitikumar also attends the meeting.
  • 20th March, 1928 Lord Satyendraprasanna Sinha - a great patron of Santiniketan, passes away.
  • 9th April, 1928 Writes to Sarasilal Sarkar giving his views on the spinning of Charkha which according to him, is merely an external and mechanical act and hence tends to hinder the intellect and the expression of humanism. On the other hand, there is nothing mechanical about Vivekananda's message of loving kindness to all beings.
  • 11th April, 1928 Writes the poem Abasesh.
  • 14th April, 1928 Delivers an address Varshasesh, in the evening of the last day of the old year (13th April) and also speaks at the prayers held in the temple in the morning on the first day of the new year.
  • 1928 The Prabashi (May-June issue) prints his views on an unseemly row between Hindu students and Brahma authorities of City College over the issue of performing Saraswati Puja on the college premises.
  • 7th May, 1928 On the anniversary of his 67th birthday at Santiniketan, Rabindranath is weighed against his own books which are later donated to public libraries.
  • 12th May, 1928 Leaves for Madras en route to Europe and England to deliver Hibert lectures. Falls ill in Madras, cancels the voyage slated to begin 17th May.
  • May, 1928 Rests for a week at Adyar at Annie Besant's invitation. Writes the story Samsakar.
  • May, 1928 Here he's the guest of the raja of Pithapuram. Begins a story initially called Mita which will later develop into the novel Sesher Kabita.
  • 28th May, 1928 Sails for Colombo.
  • 30th May, 1928 On the way halts at Pondicherry to meet Sri Aurobindo. Comes away from the hour-long meeting convinced that he too needs to practice tapasya to nourish and sustain the self.
  • 31st May, 1928 Arrives in Colombo. Enjoys the hospitality of Dr. de Silva.
  • June, 1928 Illness persists. Advised rest. Cancels European tour. Motors down to Anuradhapuram to see celebrations of the Buddha's birth anniversary.
  • June, 1928 From Colombo journeys back to Bangaluru through Madurai and Madras accompanied by the Mahalanabis couple-Prasantachandra and Rani. Here their host is Prof. Brajendranath Sil, vice-chancellor of Mysore University.
  • June, 1928 Spends three weeks here. Finishes the first drafts of both Yogayog and Mita (later rechristened Sesher Kabita). Also writes some of the verses which will be later included in the Mahua anthology.
  • 4th July, 1928 Comes back to Santiniketan.
  • July, 1928 Busy revising Mita.
  • July, 1928 He has to handle the whole range of administrative functions as both his lieutenants – Rathindranath and Prasantchandra are away in Europe.
  • July, 1928 To celebrate the arrival of new seasons through seasonal festivals and the renewal of nature, the poet creates and introduces two festivals – Vriksharopana (planting of trees) at Santiniketan and Halakarshana (drawing the plough) at Sriniktan complete with proper ceremonies on 14th and 15th July respectively.
  • July, 1928 Varshamngal is simultaneously celebrated.
  • July, 1928 Nandalal Bose executes frescos on a wall of Sriniketan to mark the event.
  • July, 1928 Ramananda Chatterjee pays an advance of Rs. 1000/- because Mita will be serialised in the Prabashi.
  • 28th July, 1928 Arrives in Kolkata, for medical treatment of prostate gland ailment.
  • August, 1928 This time for three weeks his host in Kolkata is Mukul Dey – the new principal of the Government art school.
  • August, 1928 He's under the treatment of Dr. Nilratan Sarkar and receives few visitors.
  • August, 1928 En route to France from Japan, Sylvain Levi calls on the poet in Kolkata and goes to Santiniketan to say goodbye.
  • 22nd August, 1928 Centenary of the Brahmasamaj is celebrated. The poet delivers three speeches in this connection, namely - Rudrer Awbhan, Ashirvad and Rammohan Roy.
  • 1928 This stay in Kolkata is rich in poetry – poet writes 27 love poems; 4 more when he returns to Jorasanko and another 10 pieces in Santiniketan.
  • 3rd September, 1928 At Romain Rolland's request contributes a message to The Golden Book of Peace, published by Ligue Mondiale pour lapaix of which Rolland is a patron.
  • September, 1928 Having recovered to some extent, he returns to Santiniketan and himself takes full charge of all the institutions which are passing through a critical phase.
  • October, 1928 His Chinese friend – arrives for a visit around the middle of October.
  • 1928 Divides time between writing and the new found creative vehicle of painting.
  • 1928 The University authorities write to Rabindranath after Puja vacation, seeking his opinion on the issue of introduction of music as a curricular subject. The journals and magazines are seized of the issue and a debate is on. The poet writes in reply that, "Professor Bhatkhande is the fittest person for developing facilities for teaching music at the University." He also adds in this connection that - "Gopeswar Bandoadhyaya is at present the greatest vocalist in Bengal." This sparks off a controversy and finally the poet writes an article Viswavidyalaye Sangeet Siksha setting forth his views on the subject at length (Prabashi, Nov-Dec, 1928).
  • November, 1928 Pratima, Pupu are back home after their continental tour.
  • 22nd November, 1928 Poet moves house to Konark.
  • 1st December, 1928 Rabindranath writes a poem (Banabani) to felicitate Jagadishchandra on his 70th birthday.
  • 17th December, 1928 Viceroy lord Irwin and lady Irwin visit Santiniketan.
  • 25th December, 1928 Conference held at Senate Hall, Calcutta University. Poet unable to preside due to illness, sends in presidential address which is read by Hirendranath Dutta. Prof. Radhakrishnan presides.
  • 3rd January, 1929 Gandhiji's disciple Mrs.Sled pays a visit to Santiniketan.
  • 21st January, 1929 Maghotsav is celebrated in Kolkata and Santiniketan where the poet is staying while a choir of Santiniketan students sings songs at the Jorasanko celebrations. The address delivered by the poet in Santiniketan on the occasion is later published under the title Rammohan Ray.
  • 26th January, 1929 Sundar – a musical dance ensemble - is performed at Jorasanko mansion by the students who sang as members of a choir at Maghotsav a few days ago. All tickets sold. This musical dance is performed again on 28th February.
  • 27th January, 1929 Poet in town. Inaugurates a Conference of International Religions in connection with the centenary celebrations of the Brahmasamaj.
  • February, 1929 Sachin Sen, a young writer and student of the poet's views - writes a book on the poet - The Political Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore.
  • February, 1929 Cooperative Conference holds its annual session at Sriniketan from 9th to 10th Feb, presided over by Sir Daniel Hamilton of Gosaba fame who declares, "If co-operation fails, the hope of India will fail."
  • February, 1929 Rabindranath in his speech makes a powerful pitch for cooperation and its principles and asserts that is these are followed, the country may well be transformed socially and economically.
  • 21st February, 1929 In a letter written to Amiya Chakrabarty expresses his concern for the school, says he wants to tighten up the loose ends and regrets that women of the ashram are yet to take their proper place in his scheme of things.
  • 26th February, 1929 Having received invitation from the Canadian National Council of Education to attend its triennial conference, Rabindranath leaves for Bombay accompanied by Apurbakumar Chanda, Sudhindra Dutta and Boyd Tucker.
  • February, 1929 On the train to Bombay abridges Surendranath Tagore's Mahabharat into Kurupandava.
  • 28th February, 1929 Ambalal Sarabhai put him up at Tajmahal Hotel.
  • 1st March, 1929 Sails for Canada via Colombo, Singapore ad Japan.
  • 15th March, 1929 Arrives at Hong Kong. Dinner at the Governor's residence.
  • 15th March, 1929 Felicitated by Sindhi Hindu businessmen, presented with a silver box containing Rs. 800/- donation for the women's section of Santiniketan.
  • 17th March, 1929 Arrives at Shanghai.
  • 19th March, 1929 Spends a couple of days with friend Hsu Shi-mo. Lunch with General Chiang Fang Chen and dinner with Indian residents.
  • 24th March, 1929 Reaches Kobe, Japan.
  • 26th March, 1929 Goes to Tokyo via Yokohama.
  • 27th March, 1929 Hectic and tiresome schedule of meetings, receptions. Felicitation by the Ashahi group of newspapers in the evening. Poet delivers short speeches.
  • 28th March, 1929 Sails for Vancouver, Canada.
  • 6th April, 1929 Arrives in Victoria, Canada. Greeted by the local Indians, chiefly Sikhs.
  • 6th April, 1929 Andrews joins him here from USA. He's already published in England Letters to a Friend, Thoughts from Tagore, The Tagore Birthday Book and completed writing Mahatma Gandh's Ideas.
  • 6th April, 1929 Delivers his address The Philosophy of Leisure at the conference of the National Council of Education presided over by Governor General Lord Willingdon.
  • 8th April, 1929 Delivers the lecture The Principles of Literature in Vancouver. A mammoth audience hears him speak and the daily Vancouver Sun writes – "More than any other delegate to this Conference he seized their imagination. They paid him the respect due to intellect."
  • April, 1929 Winds up his Canadian tour, calls on lord Wilingdon.
  • 18th April, 1929 Arrives by train.
  • 19th April, 1929 Gives a short lecture before the students of Los Angeles University.
  • 20th April, 1929 Peeved about the boorish and racist behaviour of emigration authorities, cancels lecture engagements at a number of American universities and at once sails for Japan with Apurbakumar Chanda.
  • 8th May, 1929 Feted on his birthday by the captain and the passengers aboard.
  • 8th May, 1929 Writes the poem Aweary Pilgrim for the newspaper Ashahi Shimbum on board the ship.
  • 10th May, 1929 Arrives in Yokohama.
  • 11th May, 1929 Stays at he Imperial Hotel. Felicitated by the Tagore Society of Japan at Zozoji Temple. Lectures on Philosophy of Leisure.
  • 13th May, 1929 Lectures at Women's College.
  • 15th May, 1929 Speaks at the Indo-Japanese Association.
  • 16th May, 1929 Lectures at Mitsuda School.
  • 17th May, 1929 Goes to speak at Mito – an industrial town 60 miles from Tokyo.
  • 18th May, 1929 Count Okuma convenes a meeting to felicitate the poet.
  • May, 1929 Poet speaks on Philosophy of Leisure on 21st and 24th May.
  • 25th May, 1929 At Mr. Fujiama's garden party.
  • 3rd June, 1929 Speaks on the ideals of education at Concordia institution.
  • 7th June, 1929 Enjoys the hospitality of the local Indian community.
  • June, 1929 This visit affords the poet an opportunity to closely observe both the positive and negative sides of Japan.
  • 8th June, 1929 Embarks for India.
  • 21st June, 1929 Received by the mayor. Delivers a lecture in the evening.
  • 22nd June, 1929 Addresses a meeting of Indian businessmen. Sees the museum.
  • 26th June, 1929 Changes boat at Singapore.
  • 3rd July, 1929 Arrives at Madras. Leaves for Kolkata.
  • 5th July, 1929 Reaches Kolkata.
  • 8th July, 1929 Arrives in Santiniketan.
  • 16th July, 1929 Starts living on the first floor of Udayan house.
  • 20th July, 1929 Some of his admirers have plaintively said that his letters are not exactly what a letter is meant to be. The poet is agreed; he cannot write so called letters. Those who write good letters sit at the window of the mind and write. He too used to write such letters when he was young. Those who have won fame in the world as letter writers are few in number and are basically women.
  • July, 1929 Invites him to come and live at Santinketan. Assures him that they will have the kind of accommodation of their choice.
  • 7th August, 1929 Creates a condensed version of Raja o Rani in Tapati, completes it on 7th August.
  • 8th August, 1929 Writes to Nirmalkumari Mahalanabis (Rani) – "Yesterday my pen has borne a consummate play – it didn't live in the womb for ten months. I think it didn't take more than ten days."
  • 10th August, 1929 Takes part in Vriksharopana ceremony at Santiniketan.
  • 11th August, 1929 Takes part in Halakarshana ceremony at Sriniketan.
  • 12th August, 1929 Arrives in Kolkata to put Tapati in rehearsals and read it to his friends.
  • 18th August, 1929 At the invitation of prof. Surendranath Dasgupta of Rabindraparishad, Presidency College - Rabindranath delivers the address Sahityer Swarup at Rabindraparishad.
  • 21st August, 1929 Delivers the second lecture Sahityavichar. Later combines the two under the title Sahityavichar (printed in Prabashi - Kartick,1336).
  • August, 1929 Immediately returns to Santiniketan to arrange the rehearsals for Tapati.
  • 13th September, 1929 Revolutionary Jatin Das - an associate of Bhagat Singh dies after a 63-day protest fast in Lahore Jail. The news is received with mourning and sorrow in Santiniketan. Rabindranath saddened and immediately stops the rehearsals of Tapati.
  • September, 1929 In this frame of mind writes the song – Sarbakharbatare dahey taba krodhodaha.
  • 16th September, 1929 Writes an English poem (later used as the inaugural poem in the book The Religion of Man) for the opening day celebrations of the Indian College, Montpellier, France – founded by Patrick Geddes of which the poet is the Chancellor.
  • 1929 Tapati is performed at Jorasanko, Kolkata for four days (26th, 27th, 28th September and 1st October). At 67, Rabindranath plays Vikram with great aplomb. These performances with their ground-breaking direction and staging techniques set challenging benchmarks for Calcutta theatre. The second day's performance is broadcast by All India Radio. The first day's performance is seen by Sisir Bhaduri and other notable figures of Bengali theatre.
  • 1929 The young actor Madhu Basu an alumnus of Santiniketan, makes a silent film Giribala based on Rabindranath's short story – Megh o Roudra.The poet takes time off to improve the script and goes to see the premiere at Crown Cinema.
  • November, 1929 Nokuzo Takagaki, a notable Ju-Jitsu expert, joins Santiniketan and immediately starts instructing learners. He'll spend almost two years here; but unfortunately there will be few takers for his art here.
  • November, 1929 The poet now devotes more time to painting.
  • November, 1929 Sachin Sen, a young writer and student of the poet's views - writes a book on the poet - The Political Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore.
  • November, 1929 Rabindranath is pleased to read the book and writes an article in this connection which is printed in the Prabasi under the title Rabindranather Rastranaitik Mat (Nov-Dec,29).
  • November, 1929 Writes another political article at this time – Koreo Jubaker Rastranaitik Mat.
  • November, 1929 Reluctantly complies with the request of Sayaji Rao Gaekwar of Baroda and writes an address to be delivered at Baroda University early next year.
  • 22nd December, 1929 Poush Utsav is celebrated in Santiniketan. The poet attends and speaks.
  • 1929 Yogayog, Sesher kabita, Tapati, Mahua figure among his books published in 1929.
  • 3rd January, 1930 The poem Rakhi by Annadashankar Roy attracts Poet's praise. Tagore also likes Annadashankar's prose style. Rabindranath expresses his liking in a letter to Annadashankar.
  • 3rd January, 1930 Tagore writes a letter to Satyabhushan Sen saying that his short stories are markedly different from the contemporary English short stories. Hence no need of translation of his short stories.
  • 10th January, 1930 Poet arrives at Lucknow.
  • 14th January, 1930 Tagore arrives at Kanpur.
  • 17th January, 1930 Poet arrives at Agra and then starts for Ahmedabad.
  • 24th January, 1930 Poet is at Ahmedabad, down with influenza. Expresses his apprehension regarding his absence in the ensuing Bangiya Sahitya-Sammelan. He sends his written speech Panchashordhe.
  • 26th January, 1930 Poet arrives at Baroda.
  • 27th January, 1930 Lectures at Baroda--'Man the Artist'.
  • 30th January, 1930 Poet delivers lecture at Teachers' Training College, Baroda.
  • 4th February, 1930 Poet cannot attend Bangiya Sahitya Sammelan at Calcutta (now Kolkata). Swarnakumari Devi reads out poet's written speech Panchashordhe.
  • 5th February, 1930 Poet goes to Santiniketan.
  • 6th February, 1930 Tagore is at Santiniketan. Attends the annual festival at Sriniketan. Leonard Elmhirst attends the celebration.
  • 10th February, 1930 Meeting of the Sriniketan Cooperative Society. Governor Stanley Jackson inaugurates the meeting, Elmhirst presides. The Poet is criticized by the Swadeshis for inviting the Governor.
  • February, 1930 Writes to Pramatha Chaudhury asking him to find out the possibility of engaging Sri Satishchandra Ghatak, a contributor of Sabuj Patra, as the Bengali teacher.
  • 2nd March, 1930 Poet sails for Europe with Rathindranath, Pratima Devi, Pupe (Rathindra & Pratima's adopted child), Dr. Suhrid Chaudhury and poet's Secretary Aryanayakam.
  • 26th March, 1930 Reaches France. Stays as a guest of Albert Kahn. Painting is in full swing.
  • 30th March, 1930 Rabindranath Tagore writes a letter to William Rothenstein inviting Rothenstein to Villa Kahn to stay with him.
  • 2nd May, 1930 Exhibition of his 125 paintings at the Pigalle gallery starts by the initiative and financial support of Andree Karpeles, Victoria Ocampo and Countess de Noailles.
  • 7th May, 1930 Birthday is celebrated at Paris by the Indians.
  • 11th May, 1930 Poet is in London.
  • 13th May, 1930 Tagore is in Birmingham at the Woodbrook centre of the Quakers'. Poet Amiya Chakraborty and his wife Haimanti Devi meet Tagore. Delivers a lecture titled 'Civilization and Progress'
  • May, 1930 Following a meeting with the Poet Manchester Guardian reports 'India's ambassador is not Mahatma Gandhi but the poet and thinker Tagore.'
  • May, 1930 Tagore delivers his first Hibbert Lecture on 19th May at Manchester College, Oxford. Principal L. P. Jacks introduces poet to the audience. Two more lectures on 21st and 26th May. All three lectures are compiled as The Religion of Man. Manchester Guardian reports -- "No series of the Hibbert Lecture has aroused more public interest than the present one". Prof. Sarvepally Radhakrishnan is also at Oxford. Bother Tagore and Radhakrishnan are felicitated.
  • 24th May, 1930 Poet attends Quakers' annual conference on invitation. He explains the causes of plight of India. This is the first instance in the 226 year history of Quakers that a foreigner is invited to speak. Answering the query whether India wants freedom, the Poet replies -- "There can be no absolute independence for man...Independence is in his nature and it is the highest goal. All that is best in humanity has been achieved by mutual exchange of minds among peoples that are far apart. Let the best minds of the East and West join hands and establish a truly human bond of independence between England and India."
  • 25th May, 1930 Poet gives another lecture at the Chapel of Manchester College. The title of the lecture is Night and Morning. A member of the audience comments -- "His English is as beautiful to hear as to read…his words are music."
  • 26th May, 1930 The last part of the Hibbert Lecture is delivered. Sir Michael Sadler, Principal of the University College, thanks Tagore with these words -- "We shall never forget in Oxford the gift you have given us and the inspiration you have brought to us."
  • 27th May, 1930 Poet comes back to Woodbrook, Birmingham. Delivers one more lecture.
  • 30th May, 1930 Tagore is in London. Stays at Aryabhavan. Meets the Indian High Commissioner Sir Atul Chatterjee.
  • 6th June, 1930 Painting exhibition of Tagore at Woodbrook, Birmingham in his absence.
  • 4th June, 1930 India House arranges Arnol Bake's lecture on Tagore's music along with an exhibition of his paintings. Tagore invites Michael Sadler and Sir Muirhead Bone.
  • 5th June, 1930 Poet is at the residence of Elmhirst at Dartington Hall, Totnes. Rathindranath with his family stays here.
  • 7th June, 1930 Tagore's open letter (an appeal to idealism) gets published in the Spectator. He writes -- "I find it difficult to do my duty today in a spirit of patience and calmness and at the same time to do justice to the Indian cause, to myself and my Indian friends and my friends in this country. For the atmosphere of mutual relationship between India and Great Britain has grown dark with suspicion and suffering...For the sake of justice I must declare that in such conflict between an unarmed people and a government in possession of unlimited power of destruction our sufferings would have been terribly greater under any imperialistic rulers other than the British...'
  • 13th June, 1930 Tagore sends his message for Universal Relations Peace Conference--'I regard the race and colour prejudice which barricades human beings against each other as the greatest evil of modern times, which should be overcome if humanity must be realized as one spirit.'
  • 11th July, 1930 Poet is at Berlin with Aryanayakam and Amiya Chakraborty.
  • 12th July, 1930 Meets the members of the Reichstag and in the evening broadcasts a talk on the radio.
  • 14th July, 1930 Poet meets Einstein at his residence at Kaputh and later at Harnak Haus.
  • 16th July, 1930 An exhibition of Tagore's paintings is opened at Gallery Moller in Berlin.
  • July, 1930 Tagore visits Dresden (17th - 19th July) and Munich (19th - 24th July). A civic reception is accorded to the Poet at the Town Hall (19th July). Visits the famous Deutsches Museum. Poet is deeply impressed by the Planetarium. Spends a whole day at Obermmergau where he witnesses the traditional Passion Play. This show inspired him to write his one of the original English poems The Child (later translated in Bengali as Shishutirtha), which would later be published by Allen & Unwin.
  • 23rd July, 1930 An exhibition of Tagore's paintings opens at Gallery Caspari.
  • 24th July, 1930 Tagore starts writing a script for a film. This will ultimately become his long English poem The Child.
  • August, 1930 During 24th July to 6th August Rabindranath makes a rapid tour through Frankfurt, Marburg and Coblenz and gets acquainted with the Youth Movement of Germany known as 'Wandervogel'.
  • 5th August, 1930 Tagore goes to Denmark, arrives in Copenhagen, capital of Denmark.
  • 7th August, 1930 Tagore visits Peter Maniche's International People's College at Elsinore. Attends a meeting of the New Education Fellowship at Elsinore.
  • 9th August, 1930 An exhibition of Tagore's paintings opens in Copenhagen.
  • 19th August, 1930 On his return to Berlin, Tagore meets Einstein once again.
  • August, 1930 Andrews joins Poet and travels with him to Geneva. They arrive at Geneva on 19th August. Stays nearly for a month as a guest of Mis Storey.
  • 24th August, 1930 Tagore writes to Rothenstein informing him about the warm welcome his pictures have found in Germany.
  • 30th August, 1930 A communal riot takes place in Dhaka. Government takes an indifferent stance. Poet writes an open letter to the Spectator -- "At Dacca in Eastern Bengal, there have been communal riots in which men of vicious character have been brought in so as to increase the mischief, and the unspeakable atrocities occurred. Yet according to reports which have reached me, the police have either stood idly by or allowed the evil to go on with indifference and contempt."
  • 5th September, 1930 Meets Madam Dina in Geneva.
  • 11th September, 1930 Arrives at Moscow accompanied by Amiya Chakbaborty, Aryanayakam, Dr. Harry Timberes, Miss Einstein and Saumyendranath Tagore (Rabindranath's grand-nephew).
  • 12th September, 1930 A reception party is arranged at Voks Buildings. Professor F. N. Petroff, President of the Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries presides. In the evening a concert is arranged in Tagore's honour jointly by the Voks and the Moscow Association of Writers at the Club-house of the Association. He meets Professor Kogan, President of the Academy of Arts; Professor Pinkervitch, Director of the Second Moscow State University; Madame Livinoff, Fedor Gladkov, author of Cement, Essev and other writers and artists.
  • 13th September, 1930 Tagore has a confidential talk with Professor Petrov in the morning. This talk has been published only in 1961.
  • 13th September, 1930 Tagore received representatives of Moscow students and professors at the afternoon.
  • 13th September, 1930 Tagore shows his paintings to the Director of the Art Gallery and other art critics.
  • 13th September, 1930 In the evening around 7:30 PM, Tagore attends the 2nd Moscow Art Theatre and watches the play Peter the First.
  • 14th September, 1930 Visits the Pioneers' Commune (Vocational Training Centre for Orphan Children) where a young pioneer girl of 14 reads a message of welcome. The Poet gives a short reply and answers the questions put to him by his youthful audience and at their request sings his Jana gana mana adhinayaka.
  • 15th September, 1930 Visits the Federation of the Union of Cinematographic Artists.
  • 15th September, 1930 In the morning, Tagore meets the Deputy Peoples' Commissar of Foreign Affairs of USSR.
  • 15th September, 1930 At 7:30 PM, poet visits the Union Cinema Association and is shown the film The Old and the New and famous film director and film theorist Sergei Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin.
  • 16th September, 1930 Visits the Central Peasant's House where he has a talk with the peasants and answers their questions.
  • 17th September, 1930 An exhibition of his paintings is opened by Professor Petroff at 3 PM at the State Moscow Museum of New Western Art. His paintings are described as 'a great manifestation of an artisitc life' by Soviet art critics like Krishy, Sedorov and others. Also attends the performance of Tolstoy's Resurrection at the first Moscow Arts Theatre, and of Peter the Great at the Second Moscow Art Theatre, and of Baiderka (an Indian love legend) at the First State Opera House.
  • 18th September, 1930 Deputy Peoples' Commissar of Foreign Affairs invites Tagore at 5 PM for a friendly conversation at tea.
  • 19th September, 1930 At 9 AM Tagore leaves for the Summer Villa of L. M. Karakhan in the outskirts of Moscow. This is done to give sufficient rest to the poet. The first of the letters later will be included in Rasiar Chithi (letter number 2) is written from here on this day.
  • 20th September, 1930 Tagore writes two more letters, one to Rathindranath and the other to his grand daughter Pupumani.
  • 20th September, 1930 At 4 PM Tagore returns to his hotel at Moscow. At 4:30 PM he is visited by a group of Moscow Orientalists.
  • 21st September, 1930 Tagore is visited by the well-known composer S. A. Balasanyan who had set many poems of Tagore to music. The composer presents the music notes to the poet.
  • 22nd September, 1930 At 10 AM the eminent Soviet physician Prof. V. F. Zelenin visits Tagore and has a thorough medical check-up of the poet. He also advises the poet to spend more time in fresh air. Between 2 to 4 PM Tagore goes for a site-seeing excursion in Moscow and its suburbs.
  • September, 1930 Meets students and answers their queries and tells them about his own school at Santiniketan. Visits the Industrial Labourers' Commune, Central Ethnographic State Museum, The Children's Creche and Kindergarten attached to Moscow Dynamo Works, the Museum of Handicrafts, the Museum of Revolution and several other institutions.
  • 23rd September, 1930 In the afternoon, Tagore has a meeting with the Deputy Editor of Nevo Dvom, the Gypsy Journal.
  • 24th September, 1930 Delivers his farewell speech at a big reception organized in the Central House of Trade Unions -- "I am thankful, truly thankful, to you all who have helped me in visualizing in a concrete form the dream which I have been carrying for a long time in my mind, the dream of emancipating the people's minds which have been shackled for ages." At this meeting the Soviet poet Shingalee recites an Ode to Rabindranath especially composed for the occasion, and the author Galperin recites in Russian three of Tagore's poems and the actor Simonov reads selected scenes from The Post Office.
  • 25th September, 1930 Tagore gives a long interview to a correspondent of Izvestia which is a long-running high-circulation daily broadsheet newspaper in Russia.
  • 25th September, 1930 Poet leaves Russia for Germany. Takes rest in Germany for 3/4 days as the guest of Dr. and Mrs. Mendel (friends of Einstein) at Wannsee in Berlin.
  • 28th September, 1930 Tagore meets Einstein in Berlin for the third time in 1930.
  • 3rd October, 1930 Sails for the United States of America accompanied by Dr. Harry Timbers and Aryanayakam.
  • 9th October, 1930 Reaches New York .
  • 12th October, 1930 Tagore arrives at Williamstown, a town in Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts, for a few days of rest at the summer residence of Bishop Paddock.
  • 19th October, 1930 Tagore gets indisposed while at New Haven which is the principal municipality in Greater New Haven in the U.S. state of Connecticut.
  • 22nd October, 1930 "City of Calcutta anxious about your illness. ... Wire health." Telegram sent by Subhas Chandra Bose.
  • 26th October, 1930 Tagore arrives at Philadelphia which is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the fifth-most-populous in the United States.
  • 31st October, 1930 A delegation of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom visits Tagore at Philadelphia.
  • 3rd November, 1930 Tagore arrives at New York. Stays at a Park Avenue Apartment.
  • 6th November, 1930 Rabindranath gets luncheon reception by educationist William Heard Kilpatrick, a major figure in the progressive education movement of the early 20th century, of Columbia University and others.
  • 19th November, 1930 Writesa letter to the Spectator from America deploring Gandhi's hesitation to participate in the Round Table Conference, which in the Poet's opinion 'could have been used as a platform where from to send his voice to all those all over the world who represent the future history of man'.
  • 20th November, 1930 Exhibition of Tagore's paintings is opened at the 56th street galleries.
  • 25th November, 1930 A big public banquet is organised in Poet's honour at the Biltmore Hotel by 400 leading citizens of New York, although there is no poet or writer amongst them.
  • 29th November, 1930 Tagore visits Washington, D.C. and meets President Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of United States.
  • 1st December, 1930 The Discussion Guild and the Indian Society of America hold a reception at the Carnegie Hall where the Poet speaks on educational problems (The Meeting of East and West). Helen Keller is present in the reception. After the lecture Keller is trying to understand what Tagore said, through lip-read as Tagore briefly describes his lecture.
  • 8th December, 1930 Tagore speaks on The First and Last Prophet of Persia at a meeting under the auspices of the Bahais. Meets Helen Keller.
  • 13th December, 1930 Tagore meets Einstein again in New York at 1172 Park Avenue.
  • 15th December, 1930 Helen Keller sends flowers and a letter to Tagore.
  • December, 1930 Tagore meets philosopher Will Durant whose book The Case for India had been prohibited entry into Bengal.
  • 17th December, 1930 Danseuse Ruth Saint Dennis, the modern dance pioneer who introduces eastern ideas into the art, raises funds through a few of her dance recitals based on Tagore's poems. The poet gives away the proceeds for the relief of the unemployed in New York.
  • December, 1930 Exhibition of his paintings takes place at New York and Boston.
  • 18th December, 1930 Tagore leaves the United States of America.
  • 22nd December, 1930 Reaches England.
  • December, 1930 Declines invitation to act as mediator in the Round Table Conference dispute over the communal question.
  • December, 1930 Reception by Evelyn Wrench, the Editor of the Spectator, at Hyde Park Hotel.
  • 8th January, 1931 The Poet is entertained by the Editor of the Spectator at a luncheon at Hyde Park Hotel where he meets and has a long talk with George Barnard Shaw.
  • 31st January, 1931 Reaches Kolkata.
  • February, 1931 Presiding over the anniversary of Sriniketan delivers an address on Palliseva (Rural service) in which he refers to his impressions of the Soviet experiment.
  • 11th February, 1931 Writes a review article on Will Durant's The Case for India.
  • February, 1931 Writes a new song Ananda basanta samagame and dance sequence punctuated with interpretative prose read by the Poet himself.
  • 4th March, 1931 Navin, as this ensemble is called, is presented first at Santiniketan.
  • 17th March, 1931 The same show is staged again at Empire Theatre on four successive days beginning with 17th March.
  • 14th April, 1931 Bengali new year is celebrated at Santiniketan in presence of the Poet.
  • 16th April, 1931 Writes to Subhas Chandra Bose (Netaji) requesting him to find a suitable work for Jui-jutsu master Takagaki in Calcutta Corporation.
  • 8th May, 1931 Tagore's letters from Russia are collected and published as Russiar Chithi on his 70th birthday, which is celebrated at Santiniketan and also in many places all over India. Russiar Chithi is dedicated to Surendranath Kar. Suren's marriage with Rama Devi is solemnised on this day at Santiniketan.
  • 11th May, 1931 A large gathering of representative citizens of Calcutta meet at the Calcutta University Institute Hall and decide to celebrate his seventieth birthday in a grand and fitting manner. A strong committee is formed with Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose as President and Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Amal Hom as Joint Secretaries to plan a week-long festival during Christmas.
  • May, 1931 Poet goes to Darjeeling for a month. Poet meets Kazi Nazrul Islam, Manmatha Ray, Sir Jadunath Sarkar. Poet stays at Dr. Nilratan Sarkar's bungalow.
  • 2nd June, 1931 The poet sends a message of greetings in a poem (Nishithere lajja dilo) addressed to the political detenus of the Buxa Concentration Camp, detained under Viceregal ordinance, in reply to their felicitations on his birthday.
  • June, 1931 Tagore returns to Kolkata from Darjeeling.
  • 17th July, 1931 Visits Vopal accompanied by Dr. Hashim Amir Ali on a futile fund-raising campaign. This trip also brings the opportunity of visiting Sanchi with Nandalal Bose.
  • 24th July, 1931 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • July, 1931 Communal trouble breaks out in a number of places in Bengal. Deeply perturbed, writes in the Prabasi (July issue) an article on the Hindu-Muslim question in which he warns his countrymen against the 'fatal fratricide' helping the third party in keeping India under bondage.
  • September, 1931 In the aid of the flood-stricken people of North Bengal, Sisuthirtha, being the Bengali adaptation of The Child is presented in Calcutta (now Kolkata) on 14th and 15th September as a dramatic piece.
  • 20th September, 1931 The Pandits of Sanskrit College, Calcutta confer on him the title Kavi-Sarvabhauma. Professor Surendranath Dasgupta presides over. Poet delivers his lecture expressing his life-long admiration for the Sanskrit language.
  • 1st October, 1931 Tagore condemns the murder of two prisoners at Hijli Internment Camp at a big public meeting held in the Calcutta Maidan at the foot of the Ochterloney Monument.
  • 2nd October, 1931 Pays tribute to Gandhi in an address given at Santiniketan on Gandhi's birthday.
  • 11th October, 1931 Sends a message to Welt Gorthe Ehrung (organization set up for observance of Goethe's death centenary on 22nd March, 1932) in which he pays his homage to the undying memory of Goethe.
  • October, 1931 Gitabitan, a compilation of more-than-1500 Tagore songs, gets published.
  • October, 1931 Goes to Darjeeling with Rathindranath and his family either on 17th or on 18th October.
  • 20th October, 1931 Sends the tribute of a poem on Buddha on the occasion of the opening of the new Vihara (Mulagandhakuti Vihara) at Saranath near Benaras.
  • 25th October, 1931 Celebrates at Santiniketan the fiftieth birthday of Nandalal Bose.
  • 17th November, 1931 Mahamahopadhyay Haraprasad Shastri dies in Calcutta.
  • 6th December, 1931 A memorial meeting takes place at Bangiya Sahitya Parishat to pay the tribute to Haraprasad. Poet pays his tribute to Haraprasad in a letter.
  • 22nd December, 1931 Attends the Pausha utsav at Santiniketan.
  • 23rd December, 1931 Comes to Calcutta to attend the Rabindra-Jayanti celebrations .
  • 25th December, 1931 Jayanti celebration starts with the opening of an exhibition illustrating the significant events and activities of the Poet's varied life and a fair. A feature of the exhibition was a display (for the first time in India) pf a set of 100 of the Poet's drawings and paintings.
  • 27th December, 1931 Receives addresses presented by several organisations. The Golden Book of Tagore bearing the homage of his friends and admirers all over the world is presented to him by its Editor, Ramananda Chatterji.
  • December, 1931 Natir Puja is staged on 28th & 29th December and Sapmochan on 30th December at Jorasanko.
  • 31st December, 1931 The Student community of Calcutta also presents him with an address at the Senate Hall of the University.
  • 3rd January, 1932 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."
  • 4th January, 1932 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.
  • 4th January, 1932 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.
  • 4th January, 1932 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."
  • 5th January, 1932 Also sends a message of protest to the press and its bengali gist is printed in the Anandabazar Patrika.
  • 5th January, 1932 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.
  • 16th January, 1932 Poet arrives at Khardaha. Here he writes the poem Besur based on a painting by his nephew Gaganendranath Tagore.
  • 17th January, 1932 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.
  • 18th January, 1932 Poet writes the poem Kalo Ghora based on a painting by Gaganendranath Tagore and the poem Maranmata (included in the anthology Bithika).
  • 19th January, 1932 Poet writes the poem Pasarini based on a painting by Nandalal Bose.
  • 20th January, 1932 Tagore writes the poem Aprakash (included in the anthology Bithika).
  • 21st January, 1932 Tagore writes the poems Marichika based on a painting by Gaganendranath Tagore and Ratrirupini (included in the anthology Bithika)
  • 22nd January, 1932 Tagore writes poem Shyamla based on one of his own paintings.
  • 22nd January, 1932 Tagore writes a letter to the political prisoners of Hijli jail in response to their letter.
  • 23rd January, 1932 Tagore writes the poem Aarshi based on a painting by Surendranath Kar.
  • 24th January, 1932 Tagore writes poem Pushpachaini based on a painting by eminent artist Kshitindranath Majumdar and Bhiru based on a painting by nephew Gaganendranath Tagore.
  • 25th December, 1932 Tagore writes poem Dware based on a painting by Surendranath Kar and poem Pushpa based on one of his own paintings.
  • 25th January, 1932 Tagore goes to Jorasanko to attend the Maghotsav.
  • 26th January, 1932 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.
  • 26th January, 1932 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.
  • 27th January, 1932 Tagore writes the poem Dwidha based on a painting by Gaganendranath Tagore.
  • 28th January, 1932 Tagore writes poems Budhu based on a painting by Gaganendranath Tagore and Godhuli based on a painting by Nandalal Bose (later included in Bithika).
  • January, 1932 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.
  • January, 1932 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.
  • 1932 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.
  • 1932 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.
  • 2nd February, 1932 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.
  • 3rd February, 1932 Poet leaves Khardaha and moves towards Santiniketan.
  • 3rd February, 1932 Back in Santiniketan.
  • 6th February, 1932 Anniversary of Sriniketan celebrated.
  • 6th February, 1932 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.
  • 20th February, 1932 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.
  • 21st February, 1932 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.
  • 22nd February, 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."
  • 22nd March, 1932 Death centenary of Goethe celebrated worldwide and at Santiniketan as well.
  • March, 1932 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."
  • March, 1932 Against this political backdrop, Rabindranath writes few poems around this time.
    • Chhandamadhuri24th March,1932
    • Mani and Agradut25th March,1932
    • Santa27th March,1932
    • Pranam30th March,1932
  • 5th April, 1932 Poet in Kolkata. Chandicharan Saha of Hindustan Musical Products records songs sung and poems recited by Rabidranath.
  • 10th April, 1932 Poet interviewed by the representative of the Liberty at his Kharda residence.
  • 11th April, 1932 Leaves by air for Persia at the invitation of Reza Shah Pehlavi - king of Persia.
  • 11th April, 1932 He's accompanied by Pratima Devi and Amiya Chakrabarty. Kedar Chatterji has gone ahead as advance party.
  • 12th April, 1932 Poet flies to Jask,Persia via Illahabad, Jodhpur and Karachi.
  • 13th April, 1932 Poet arrives in Bushire, warmly received. Governor of the province hosts a public banquet in his honour.
  • 16th April, 1932 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.
  • 22nd April, 1932 Leaves for Isphan. On the way stops at Persepolis and Herzfeld shows him relics of ancient Iranian art and architecture.
  • 23rd April, 1932 Arrives in Ispahan.
  • 24th April, 1932 Felicitated by the Municipality, Military, Education Department of the Government and Chamber of Commerce.
  • 29th April, 1932 Poet is in Teheran.
  • 1932 Received amidst great jubilation, greeted as "the greatest star shining in the eastern sky" by the press.
  • 2nd May, 1932 Meets King Reza Shah Pehlavi, presents him with a poem written for him.
  • 3rd May, 1932 Poet holds conversation with educationists of Teheran who agree with his internationalist views.
  • 5th May, 1932 Civic reception accorded by the citizens of Teheran.
  • 6th May, 1932 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.
  • 15th May, 1932 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.
  • 15th May, 1932 Leaves Teheran for Iraq. He has already received an invitation from King Feisal of Iraq.
  • 16th May, 1932 The Times publishes a Message from RNT which is given to some members of the Society of Friends' who lately visit India.
  • 18th May, 1932 Arrives in Baghdad, received by a jubilant crowd at the railway station.
  • May, 1932 Meets King Feisal, admires his unassuming, modest ways.
  • May, 1932 Invited to visit a Bedouin community in an oasis. Spends a day there.
  • May, 1932 Witnesses performance of war dance.
  • 3rd June, 1932 Flies back to Kolkata.
  • June, 1932 Stays at the leased house in kharda which has meanwhile been renovated.
  • June, 1932 Back in Santiniketan.
  • July, 1932 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.
  • 1932 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
    • Mrittunjoy1st July,1932
    • Jatri2nd July,1932
  • 6th August, 1932 Felicitated by Calcutta University and presented with an address at a special academic reception. Vice-chancellor Hassan Surawardi presides.
  • 6th August, 1932 Writes the poem Durbhagini.
  • 7th August, 1932 Poet's grandson Nitindranath Tagore dies of tuberculosis in Germany.
  • 8th August, 1932 Poet writes the poem Mata.
  • 17th August, 1932 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.
  • 22nd August, 1932 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..."
  • 24th August, 1932 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."
  • 1932 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/-.
  • 1932 Introduces experimental free verse of an innovative kind in the poems now being written and later collected in the anthology Punascha (dedicated to Nitindranath).
  • September, 1932 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.
  • 20th September, 1932 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."
  • 20th September, 1932 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."
  • 20th September, 1932 Residents observe protest fast in Santiniketan, special prayers are offered in the temple and Rabindranath seeks explaining the significance of the fast.
  • 22nd September, 1932 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.
  • 24th September, 1932 Anxious and perturbed, Rabindranath decides to go to Pune and leaves with Surendranath Kar and Amiya Chakrabarty. Prof. Tucker has preceded him.
  • 26th September, 1932 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.
  • October, 1932 Always breaking new ground and never content to repeat himself, Rabindanath now writes a new novelette - Dui Bon.
  • 2nd October, 1932 In Pune, speaks on Gandhiji's birthday.
  • October, 1932 Back in Santiniketan.
  • October, 1932 Enthusiasm for social reforms having caught on, a Samaskar Samity headed by Sudhirchandra Kar is set up to fight untouchability and other evil practices.
  • October, 1932 Tagore spends the greater part of Puja vacation in Khardaha from 24th October, 1932.
  • October, 1932 Poet writes to the Maharaja of Kochin requesting him to fight untouchability in his state.
  • 17th November, 1932 Writes the first piece of the cycle of poems later published under the title Sesh Saptak.
  • 2nd December, 1932 Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya received by the poet and felicitated during his visit to Santiniketan.
  • December, 1932 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."
  • 11th December, 1932 In Kolkata, presides over celebrations on Ray's seventieth birthday. Dedicates to him the brochure Mahatmaji and Depressed Humanity.
  • 18th December, 1932 In Kolkata; speaks at the sraddha ceremony of Suniti Devi, the late queen mother of Koochbehar.
  • 18th December, 1932 Inaugurates Bengal Stores, the first departmental store of its kind set up by the Birlas in Kolkata.
  • 22nd December, 1932 Poush Utsav observed in Santiniketan. Rabindranath, now back in Santiniketan, delivers a sermon.
  • 29th December, 1932 Goes to see Sir Daniel Hamilton's model agricultural colony at Gosaba via Kolkata. Spends a couple of days there.
  • 31st December, 1932 In Kolkata; goes to see Kesoram Cotton Mills, a Birla enterprise, at their request.
  • December, 1932 This term - coined by Rahamat Ali - passes into political parlance.
  • January, 1933 Rabindranath back in Santiniketan.
  • 9th January, 1933 Sent by the Shah of Persia as he'd promised during the poet's visit last year, Prof. Agha Poure Davoud arrives in Santiniketan as visiting professor and is received by the poet.
  • 10th January, 1933 George Bernard Shaw arrives in Bombay in course of his world travel. Rabindranath sends a cable inviting him to Santiniketan. Shaw declines, says he is too old, but adds, ‘My only regret is that I shall be unable to visit you.'
  • January, 1933 Back in Kolkata to deliver Kamala Lectures. Delivers a three-part address in the Senate Hall of Calcutta University on 16th, 18th and 20th January.
  • January, 1933 The three parts together constitute the address Manusher Dharma.
  • January, 1933 Delivers a lecture Manabsatya at Vidyabhawan,Viswa-Bharati. It's a sequel to Manusher Dharma.
  • 5th February, 1933 Mayor of Kolkata - Dr.Bidhanchandra Roy presides over the anniversary celebrations of Sriniketan.
  • February, 1933 Dhirendramohan Sen assumes dual charge of Sikshabhaban and Pathbhaban.
  • February, 1933 Minister Sir Vijayaprasad Sinha of Bengal Government comes to inaugurate the first tube well successfully sunk and operating in Santiniketan.
  • 11th February, 1933 Gandhiji launches the weekly Harijan from Yervada Jail in Pune. Rabindranath sends an English translation of Satyendraath Dutta's famous poem Methar for publication in the inaugural issue.
  • 18th February, 1933 Rammohan centenary begins in Kolkata with an inaugural meeting held in Senate hall by Calcutta University. Rabindranath delivers an English address on Rammohan Roy in which he asserts -- "Rammohan was the only person in his time, in the whole world of man, to realize completely the significance of the modern age."
  • March, 1933 As Ramtanu Lahiri Professor of Calcutta University delivers another address- Sikshar Bikiran which unfortunately retains its relevance even today--"…If we have to turn to English to study the subjects which one must know to maintain self-dignity, then the mother tongue is doomed to suffer eternal humiliation because of this. Will those Bengalis who know only the Bengali language forever remain marginal and marginalised?...even now Bengali boys hang their heads in shame if they have to admit 'I know the Bengali language only.'
  • March, 1933 Still in Kolkata; sees a performance of the dance-drama twice on two days.
  • March, 1933 Goes to see Madhu Bose's silent picture based on the short story Dalia.
  • March, 1933 Under Pratima Devi's direction and ably assisted by Asit Halder - Director, Lucknow Art College, male and female students of Santiniketan perform Nabin and Sapmochan at a music conference in Lucknow -- the first performance of its kind outside Santiniketan.
  • 7th March, 1933 Back in Santiniketan.
  • March, 1933 Stimulated by the success in Lucknow, poet wants to stage Sapmochan in Kolkata; revises and expands the play.
  • March, 1933 Back in Kolkata.
  • March, 1933 Two consecutive performances at Empire Theatre on 29th & 30th March respectively, poet present on the stage.
  • 8th April, 1933 Madan Mohan Malaviya calls on him in Kolkata and draws his attention to the British-inspired politically motivated 'campaign of lies' in Europe against India and urges the poet to protest.
  • 13th April, 1933 From Sriniketan puts forth a long statement emphasizing the need to counteract anti-India propaganda in the west not merely by "sporadic oratorical display" but more substantially by establishing "fully equipped information centres in the West from where the organized voice of India may have the opportunity to send abroad her judgment and appeal."
  • 13th April, 1933 On this last day of the Bengali year writes the poem Abhyudaya.
  • April, 1933 Pens the play Banshari.
  • 23rd April, 1933 Gives a public reading of the play to the residents of the ashram.
  • April, 1933 Holidaying in Darjeeling during the summer vacation in Santiniketan.
  • 1933 After many years, the poet returns to the task of compiling a comprehensive glossary of technical terms and terminlogy in Bengali; Calcutta University appoints the young lecturer Bijanbihari Bhattacharya to assist him. But for various reasons the project fails to make much headway.
  • 1933 Gandhiji goes on a 21-day fast in Yervada Jail with the avowed objective of self-purification. Rabindranath sees no point in it and in a telegram sent to the Mahatma, urges him to withdraw the fast.
  • 10th May, 1933 Writes the poem Premer Sona on Saint Ramdas, translates it into English and sends it to Gandhiji.
  • May, 1933 After Gandhi's release from jail and the withdrawal of the Civil Disobedience Movement, a leaders' memorial is sent to the government urging the release of thousands of political prisoners from jail. Rabindranath is the first to sign it.
  • May, 1933 Prisoners - mostly revolutionaries at Cellular Jail, Andaman, go on an indefinite fast in protest. Extremely perturbed Rabindranath sends a cable from Darjeeling urging them to withdraw the hunger-strike. They desist.
  • 6th June, 1933 A sub-standard Urdu translation of his poem GuruGovinda which shows the Guru in a poor light angers Sikhs and leads to protest meetings. Rabindranath has a trying time convincing Sikh intellectuals that he is not at fault (Tagore's reply to Teja Singh on 9th June, 1933). The ripples will cease when he'll visit Lahore in 1935.
  • 10th June, 1933 The Times publishes an appeal to the Government for the release of Political Prisoners in India, sent by sixty prominent Indians headed by Rabindranath Tagore.
  • 11th June, 1933 Gymkhana Club, Darjeeling, invites him, the poet reads his poems and their English translations, Viday Abhisap is recited and Sreemati Debi performs an exquisite dance.
  • 25th June, 1933 Noted teacher of the ashram vidyalaya, Jagadananda Ray dies.
  • 1933 Tagore writes four poems in Darjeeling during the period May-June,1933.
    • Ashad
    • Yaksha28th May,1933
    • Bichched30th May,1933
    • Duhkhi17th June,1933
  • July, 1933 Back in Santiniketan.
  • 8th July, 1933 Vriksharopan and Varshamangal celebrated.
  • 12th July, 1933 Uday Shankar, who has already won international renown as an exponent of Indian dance, visits Santiniketan and performs before the poet.
  • 24th July, 1933 Resentment has grown in Bengal that the Hindus here have got a raw deal as a result of the Poona Pact. Gandhi faces flak; the poet isn't spared either because he was at Poona when the pact was hammered out. Rabindranath is embarrassed and issues a statement in self-defence which states--"...Never having experience in political dealings, while entertaining great love for Mahatmaji and complete faith in his wisdom in Indian politics I dared not wait for further consideration."
  • 24th July, 1933 News arrives of Deshapriya Jatindramohan Sengupta's death in Ranchi. In a brief speech delivered to the residents of the ashram, poet mourns his death.
  • August, 1933 Writes Tasher Desh and Chandalika. While the first is based on an early short story of his, the latter has a pertinent social message -- the heroine, an untouchable herself, revolts against untouchability. In this case too, he falls back on Rajendralal Mitra's book which has been for long years a kind of source book for him.
  • 1933 Writes the essay Kalantar (Parichay , Sravana 1340).
  • September, 1933 Tasher Desh and Chandalika are performed by a troupe of students and teachers of Santiniketan at Madan Theatre with the poet on stage on 12th, 13th and 15th September.
  • 16th September, 1933 Delivers a lecture on Chhanda at Calcutta University.
  • 27th September, 1933 The daily Forward requests him for a message for the occasion. Rabindranath writes an English poem which begins -- "Freedom from fear is the freedom I claim / for you my motherland…"
  • 1933 Spends the Puja vacation here in Santiniketan. The Poet is busy writing lectures for the proposed Andhra tour.
  • 23rd November, 1933 Sarojini Naidu promotes a Tagore Week (Rabindra Saptaha) in Bombay (now Mumbai). Rabindranath arrives with a large party of 45 persons which includes a troupe of Santiniketan students, to a massive and spontaneous reception at Victoria Terminus.
  • 23rd November, 1933 Vice-chancellor of Bombay University gives dinner in his honour.
  • 25th November, 1933 Sapmochan performed at Excelsior Theatre.
  • 26th November, 1933 Delivers address The Challenge of Judgment at Regal Theatre.
  • 26th November, 1933 Sarojini Naidu says that the lecture should be widely disseminated because it has a message which should be broadcast over the country.
  • 27th November, 1933 Tasher Desh performed.
  • 28th November, 1933 Tasher Desh is performed again with additional songs and dance sequence.
  • 29th November, 1933 The poet is felicitated by Persian Youth Association at Atia Begum's garden palace.
  • November, 1933 Donations worth Rs. 65000/- collected for Visva-Bharati.
  • 2nd December, 1933 Delivers the address The Price of Freedom at Cowasji Jehangir Hall. Sarojini Naidu presides.
  • 5th December, 1933 Leaves Bombay (now Mumbai) for Waltair.
  • December, 1933 Received by Prof. Radhakrishnan, Vice-chancellor of Andhra University. Delivers Sir Krishnaswami Aiyer lectures on 8th, 9th and 10th December.
  • 9th December, 1933 Felicitated by students.
  • 12th December, 1933 The poet arrives in Hyderabad. Delivers Message to Youth at a garden party arranged by Osmania University.
  • December, 1933 Speaks on the Ideals of an Eastern University at a public meeting at Secunderabad.
  • December, 1933 Meets the Nizam of Hyderabad who had earlier donated one lakh rupees for Visva-Bharati for creating a Chair of Islamic Culture.
  • December, 1933 Back in Kolkata.
  • 29th December, 1933 At the Senate Hall speaks on Bharatpathik Rammohan Roy -- the last lecture delivered on the occasion of the death centenary of Rammohan.
  • 30th December, 1933 Addresses All India Women's Conference and says -- "…It is not that woman is merely seeking today her freedom of livelihood…but against man's monopoly of civilization. Woman must come into the bruised and maimed world…The union of man and woman represents a perfect co-operation in the building up of human history on equal terms in every department of life..."
  • 1933 Publications in 1933 include the remarkable novellas Dui Bon, Malancha and the play Bansari.
  • 3rd January, 1934 Back in Santiniketan.
  • 5th January, 1934 Sarojini Naidu visits Santiniketan (5th - 6th January). Warmly received by the poet. Addresses the students at Uttarayan in the evening.
  • 15th January, 1934 A calamitous earthquake devastates Bihar.
  • 19th January, 1934 Jawaharlal and Kamala Nehru visit Santiniketan. Their daughter Indira is a student of Santiniketan. A public reception is arranged in their honour.
  • 23rd January, 1934 Poet cables Andrews in England to raise relief funds for victims of the Bihar quake. Also issues a statement to the press, both at home and abroad, urging aid for Bihar because "its calamity transcends geographical limits and makes its appeal to universal man."
  • 5th February, 1934 Mahatma Gandhi sees the earthquake as the wages of the sin of untouchability practised in India. Shocked and dismayed at this preposterous statement, Rabindranath writes a letter of protest to Gandhiji. Also releases it to the press.
  • 6th February, 1934 Naliniranjan Sarkar -- mayor of Kolkata, presides over the anniversary celebrations of Sriniketan. Rabindranath delivers an address on Upekshita Palli.
  • 7th February, 1934 In view of the proposed boycott of Gandhiji's forthcoming visit to Bengal and strong sentiments prevailing in the province following the Poona pact, Rabindranath issues a statement deprecating the boycott moves and defending the Mahatma's bona fides -- " I would be failing in my duty were I not to raise my voice of protest against the slanderous campaign that is being carried out against him. I have often disagreed with him and even quite recently criticized his belief...but I have enough regard for the sincerity of his religious convictions and abiding love for the poor...I offer him a hearty welcome."
  • 8th February, 1934 During the period (3rd January - 8th February), the poet has written a few poems in Santiniketan.
    • Ishat Daya10th January,1934
    • Ami11th January, 1934
    • Mouna18th January, 1934
    • Kaishorika23rd January, 1934
    • Asanna Rati4th February, 1934
  • 8th February, 1934 In Kolkata; delivers lecture on Sahityatattwa at Calcutta University.
  • February, 1934 During this stay in Kolkata he has many calls on his time. Visits Bharati fountain pen factory set up by G.C.Laha.
  • February, 1934 Visits and speaks at Rabindraparishad, Presidency College, Kolkata.
  • February, 1934 Presides over the silver jubilee celebrations of the Hindustan Co-op Insurance Company (his nephew Surendranath was one of its founders).
  • 24th February, 1934 Tagore delivers speech as President at Hindustan Cooperative Insurance Society.
  • 1934 Returns to Santiniketan and taking advantage of the month-long interlude (24th February - 2nd April) spent here writes quite a few of the poems later collected in Bithika.
  • 3rd April, 1934 Back in the city.
  • 6th April, 1934 Tagore observes Raktakarabi staged at Natyaniketan, organized by The Tagore Dramatic Group.
  • 7th April, 1934 Addresses the International Relations Club in the Senate Hall of Calcutta University (established under the aegis of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
  • 10th April, 1934 He is now the guest of Prasantachandra Mahalanabis at his Baranagar residence.
  • April, 1934 In a statement carried by Associated Press, the poet says he endorses the Mahatma's decision to call off the Civil Disobedience Movement.
  • 1934 Growing Hindu-Muslim strife now threatens to distort and disfigure the Bengali language too, thanks to the misguided zeal of some Islamist zealots who want to purge the language of its allegedly preponderant pro-Hindu Sanscritic elements, by deliberately pumping into it enormous amounts of Urdu words not connected with the language. The poet writes to M.A. Ajan and later to Altaf Chowdhury deprecating the efforts.
  • 5th May, 1934 Sails for a cultural tour of Ceylon (now Srilanka) accompanied by a select group of teachers and students of Santiniketan with the aim of raising funds for Visva-Bharati in view. This is his third visit to the country.
  • 7th May, 1934 The poet's birthday celebrated aboard the ship.
  • 9th May, 1934 Arrives at Colombo. Received by first Minister Sir Baron Jayatilaka who delivers a welcome address.
  • 10th May, 1934 Speaks on Visva-Bharati at Rotary Club, Colombo. Radio Ceylon broadcasts the address.
  • 11th May, 1934 The poet is felicitated and presented with an address by Indian Mercantile Chamber of Ceylon.
  • 12th May, 1934 A veritable cultural festival is enjoyed by Colombo (11th - 18th May) as Sapmochan is staged at Regal theatre by the Santiniketan troupe and exhibitions of the poet's paintings and those of the Kala-Bhavana artists are held simultaneously.
  • 14th May, 1934 Art and Crafts of Santiniketan are exhibited at Colombo Art Gallery. Tagore speaks on The Ideals of Indian art.
  • 16th May, 1934 Civic reception given in his honour by City Corporation, Colombo.
  • 17th May, 1934 Gives a public reading of his poems at Y.M.C.A.hall.
  • 20th May, 1934 The poet travels to Horana via Panadura to lay the foundation of a Santiniketan-type institution which he christens Sripalli. The architect of Sripalli is Wilmot Perera, an alumnus of Santiniketan. Kandyan dance performed in his honour.
  • 22nd May, 1934 Visits Galle and Matara where he witnesses a performance of Sinhalese mask-dance for the first time.
  • 26th May, 1934 Returns to Colombo.
  • May, 1934 Sapmochan has swiftly grown so popular that it is performed on three days consecutively.
  • 4th June, 1934 Spends a restful week (3rd - 8th June) in this ancient capital of Ceylon and completes his last and perhaps most controversial novel- Char Adhyay. In this period he also visits Kandy.
  • 9th June, 1934 Having visited Anuradhapura and other places, arrives in Tamil-dominated Jaffna.
  • June, 1934 Here too, Sapmochan is performed on three consecutive evenings and the poet gives an address.
  • 15th June, 1934 Leaves Jaffna. Reaches Madras.
  • 28th June, 1934 Back in Santiniketan.
  • July, 1934 Effects some changes in the administration of Visva-Bharati.
  • July, 1934 Dinendranath Tagore leaves Santiniketan.
  • 14th July, 1934 Arrives in Kolkata. As usual, his hosts in Kolkata are Prasantachandra and Rani Mahalanabis. Reads Char Adhyay to a select audience.
  • 16th July, 1934 Delivers address Sahityer Tatparya at Calcutta University.
  • 19th July, 1934 Attends a meeting with Gandhi in the city. Returns to Santiniketan.
  • 6th August, 1934 Kamala Nehru comes on a visit to Santiniketan. Her daughter Indira is now studying here.
  • 8th August, 1934 In a letter written to Prafullanath Tagore the poet says that while he is not in favour of violent activities committed by revolutionary terrorists or activities of political extremists, he does not want to say anything about it at public meetings either.
  • August, 1934 As part of Varshamangal celebrations, Sravangatha -- a medley of old songs cast in a dramatic form with three characters- raja, sabhakabi and Nataraj -- performed on 11th and 12th August. Rabindranath plays Nataraj.
  • 13th August, 1934 The poet is in correspondence with Malavyaji on the subject of Communal Awards. States in a letter--"You all know that I have always disapproved of the Communal Award and I hope that our leaders will join their forces to save from its paralysing grip the political integrity of our nation."
  • 19th August, 1934 Chinese professor Tan Yun-Shan is in Santiniketan. Rabindranath invites him to set up the headquarters of Sino-Indian Cultural Society in Santiniketan.
  • 31st August, 1934 Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan comes to Santiniketan to see his son, who is studying at Kala-Bhavana.
  • 16th September, 1934 Professor Murray has already written to Rabindranath on the deteriorating world situation. The poet now writes a long reply to Murray. This correspondence is later published under the title East and West by the International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation of the League of Nations. In his letter Rabindranath reposes great faith in the future and declares -- "I feel proud that I have been born in this great age."
  • 22nd September, 1934 Poet is in Kolkata. Here he attends and delivers lectures at the inauguration of Basanti Cotton Mills.
  • September, 1934 Writes Sarat and Pralaya (13th -14th September).
  • September, 1934 Writes a number of songs in September.
    • Hey sakha, barata peyechhi17th September,1934
    • Bandhu, kon alo laglo chokhey 20th September,1934
    • Durer bandhu soorer dootirey 21st September,1934
    • Kshanik--Chaitrer ratey je Madhabi-manjari 26th September,1934
    • Orey chitra-rekha dorey 27th September,1934
    • Maya-bana biharini harini 29th September,1934
    • Kachhe thekey door rachila keno 29th September,1934
    • Kon gahan aranye tarey elem haraye 30th September,1934
  • 21st October, 1934 Arrives in Madras with a troupe of Santiniketan students and teachers. Welcomed by Chief Minister, Raja Saheb of Bobbili.
  • 22nd October, 1934 Civic reception given to the Poet, presented with an address by Madras Municipality. In reply poet speaks about Visva-Bharati.
  • 23rd October, 1934 Addresses a gathering of students at Midland Theatre Hall. One thousand rupees donated by students for Visva-Bharati.
  • 23rd October, 1934 Felicitated by girl students of Queen Mary College.
  • 26th October, 1934 Paintings by Rabindranath and others of the Santiniketan School of Art displayed at an exhibition held at Congress House.
  • 26th October, 1934 Rabindranath speaks here on Myself and Bengal Renaissance.
  • October, 1934 Sapmochan is performed on four evenings (27th,28th,30th,31st October).
  • 2nd November, 1934 In Waltair, enjoys the hospitality of his hostess Maharani of Vizianagram.
  • 5th November, 1934 Addresses the students of Andhra University.
  • 7th November, 1934 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • 12th November, 1934 At the House of Commons of British Parliament a question - answer session is held about the censoring of Tagore's article (translated from Rashiar Chithi) in the Modern Review.
  • 19th November, 1934 Bidhusekhar Shastri leaves Santiniketan and joins Calcutta University as lecturer in Sanskrit.
  • 22nd November, 1934 The Joint Parliamentary Committee unveils its report. In his reaction issued to the press Rabindranath observes--"Swaraj is not a question of apportionment of votes and seats. There can be no swaraj for us until…dead villages are again brought to life and that can be done only through our own work."
  • 1934 The Poet is in Benaras to inaugurate the new building of Rajghat Montessori School (29th November - 3rd December).
  • 4th December, 1934 Returns to Kolkata.
  • 23rd December, 1934 Poush Utsav celebrated in Santiniketan. Rabindranath attends.
  • 25th December, 1934 Andrews prays in the temple. Rabindranath translates Manabputra into English as The Son of Man.
  • 27th December, 1934 Back in Kolkata. Inaugurates Prabashi-Banga-Sahitya-Sammelan. Delivers a speech.
  • 27th December, 1934 Later in the day inaugurates Nikhil-Banga-Sangeet-Sammelan in the Senate Hall. Here too, the poet addresses the conference.
  • 6th January, 1935 Receives at Santiniketan delegates and invitees of the Indian Science Congress who come on a visit to the institution.
  • January, 1935 Char Adhyay gets published.
  • January, 1935 Noted dancers Gopinath and Ragini Devi visit Santiniketan.
  • 6th February, 1935 Sir John Anderson, Governor of Bengal, visits Santiniketan. As the police suggest elaborate security measures, the Poet has all the inmates of Santiniketan removed to Sriniketan for the period of the visit, the Governor going round the deserted institution. The same evening the Poet leaves for Benaras to attend the Convocation.
  • 8th February, 1935 Tagore delivers the Convocation Address at Benaras Hindu University. The University confers on him the degree of D. Lit. (Honoris Causa).
  • 9th February, 1935 Leaves for Allahabad by car.
  • 12th February, 1935 Addresses the students at the Senate Hall of the University.
  • 13th February, 1935 Leaves for Lahore.
  • February, 1935 Addresses the Punjab Students' Fifth Annual Conference on 15th and 17th February.
  • 17th February, 1935 Gives a recitation of his poems at the YMCA. Also meets the leaders of the Sikh community and visits the Gurdwara.
  • March, 1935 Arrives at Lucknow on 28th February and addresses the students of the University on 1st & 2nd March.
  • 4th March, 1935 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • 17th March, 1935 Tagore draws a cartoon of Benito Mussolini, the leader of the National Fascist Party and the Prime minister of Italy.
  • 20th March, 1935 Vasanta Utsav is celebrated at Santiniketan. Poet is present. Rathindra and Pratima Devi are in London.
  • 14th April, 1935 Bengali New Year Day is celebrated. Address by the Poet.
  • 16th April, 1935 Opening of Co-operative Stores at Santal colony at Santiniketan.
  • 7th May, 1935 His birthday is celebrated. The Poet finally goes into residence in his newly built mud-hut, 'Syamali'. Shesh Saptak, a book of poems, is published.
  • 12th May, 1935 Bangiya Sahitya Parishad felicitates him at a meeting held in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • May, 1935 Visva-Bharati Quarterly , which ceased publication after 1931, reappears in its new series under the editorship of Krishna Kripalani.
  • May, 1935 Speaks at the birth anniversary of Buddha at a function organised by Mahabodhi Society.
  • June, 1935 Spends summer at Chandernagore in his house-boat, Padma. Writes a number of poem, later compiled as Bithika.
  • 4th June, 1935 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • 15th July, 1935 Writes a letter to Dhirendramohan Sen saying that education without culture is meaningless.
  • 21st July, 1935 Dinendranath Tagore dies in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
  • October, 1935 Sharodatsav is staged at Santiniketan with the Poet in the role of Sannyasi.
  • 17th October, 1935 Writes to Ramananda Chatterji requesting him to get Malancha and Dui Bon translated in English by Surendranath Tagore. Krishna Kripalani starts English translation of Shesher Kabita.
  • 16th November, 1935 The American representative of the Young Women's Christian Association Miss Ethel Cutler visits Santiniketan.
  • 30th November, 1935 Japanese Poet Yone Neguchi visits Santiniketan and is welcomed by the Poet at a public reception.
  • 5th December, 1935 Has an interview with Margaret Sanger who discusses India's problems arising out of her rapid population growth.
  • December, 1935 Writes a poem on Sri Ramakrishna by way of tribute on the occasion of his centenary.
  • December, 1935 Arupratan is staged in Calcutta (now Kolkata) with the poet in the role of Thakurda on 11th and 12th December.
  • 19th December, 1935 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • December, 1935 Attends the functions at Santiniketan in connection with the anniversary of Seventh Pausha.
  • December, 1935 In a letter to Mukul De outlines his scheme for the establishment of a National Gallery of Art.
  • 27th December, 1935 Sends a message of felicitation to the President Babu Rajendraprasad of the Indian National Congress on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee.
  • 7th January, 1936 Chief Financial Advisor to the Central Agricultural Research Dr. D. K. Kapoor visits Sriniketan.
  • 9th January, 1936 Countess Hamilton visits Santiniketan.
  • 15th January, 1936 Prof. Howard Tharman visits Santiniketan with a Nigro representative team. Tharman remarks -- 'Dr. Tagore is one of the chief reasons of our visiting India.'
  • 28th January, 1936 Lt. Col. F. B. Yeats Brown, an ardent admirer of Tagore and the writer of Bengal Lancer, comes to Santiniketan. Brown remarks -- 'Tagore remains in my mind as a beautiful but somewhat tragic figure…Behind Santiniketan there is not yet the driving force of a great popular movement, but only a great man: a man who makes the arc of the sky seem bigger after one has met him.'
  • 5th February, 1936 The Poet attends the annual function of Sriniketan.
  • 7th February, 1936 The Poet comes to Kolkata.
  • February, 1936 The Poet lectures on Ideals of Education, Place of Music in Education and Education Naturalized during the Education Week (starting from 8th February) organised under the auspices of the Bengal Government and the New Education Fellowship. In the last lecture he outlines a scheme of home education under proper guidance with graded examinations marking progressive at ages.
  • 21st February, 1936 Returns to Santiniketan and is engaged in preparing a new version of Chitrangada as a dance-drama.
  • 8th March, 1936 When delivering his lectures at the occasion of Basanta Utsav at Santiniketan, Tagore addresses Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (First Prime Minister of independent India) as Nabojuger Rituraaj by comparing Nehru with Spring.
  • March, 1936 This is produced in Calcutta (now Kolkata) at the New Empire Theatre on 11th, 12th and 13th March in aid of Visva-Bharati.
  • March, 1936 The Poet starts on a performance tour of North India on 16th March. Chitrangada is staged in Patna (16th & 17th March), Allahabad (19th March), Lahore (22th & 23th March).
  • March, 1936 Sir Muhammad Iqbal (widely known as Allama Iqbal, a poet, philosopher, politician, academic, scholar of British India) leaves Lahore when Tagore is in Lahore during the period 21st to 24th March. Sir Iqbal leaves Lahore with a comment that two poets cannot stay in the same city.
  • 25th March, 1936 Tagore reaches Delhi and lays the foundation of the prayer hall of the Modern School.
  • March, 1936 Chtrangadais staged in Delhi on 26th and 27th March.
  • March, 1936 Mahatma Gandhi, who is in Delhi, feels perturbed by the fact that the Poet should expose himself to the risk of such ardous tours at his age to collect funds for his institution. At Gandhi's instance, G. D. Birla, one of his followers, presents the Poet with a cheque for Rs. 60,000/- being the accumulated deficit of Visva-Bharati.
  • March, 1936 The Delhi Municipality votes a civic address to the Poet, which is however negatived by the Government. The citizens of Delhi hold a public reception at the Queen's Garden where an address is presented to him. Aruna Asaf Ali and Deshbandhu Gupta organised this reception.
  • 29th March, 1936 Goes to Meerut with Chitrangada and the Municipality and the District Board present him with addresses.
  • 30th March, 1936 Returning to Delhi broadcasts on the day following a recitation of his poems over the Delhi Radio.
  • 2nd April, 1936 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • 15th April, 1936 Poet's birthday is celebrated on the Bengali New Year's Day.
  • 25th April, 1936 Marries his only grand-daughter Nandita to Krishna Kripalani. Dedicates his book of poems Patraput.
  • 7th May, 1936 The Poet is with Prasantachandra and Rani Mahalanabis at their residence and celebrates his birthday.
  • 15th July, 1936 Visits Calcutta (now Kolkata) to preside over a mass meeting held in the Town Hall to protest against the discriminatory provisions of the Communal Award.
  • 28th July, 1936 Writes to Jawaharlal Nehru accepting the honorary presidentship of the National Council of Civil Liberties Union.
  • 29th July, 1936 The University of Dacca confers on him the degree of D. Litt. (Honoris Causa in absentia).
  • August, 1936 Lokashiksha Samsad, an organization for people's education, is set up with Rathindranath as Secretary and Prabhatkumar Mukhopadhyay as Assistant Secretary.
  • 5th September, 1936 Sends a message to the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom at Brussels, in course of which he writes, 'We cannot have peace until we deserve it by paying its full price, which is that the strong must cease to be greedy and the weak must learn to be bold.' The Poet is in Calcutta (now Kolkata) now with Prasantachandra.
  • 15th September, 1936 Writes an introduction to Jogindranath Sarkar's book Galpasanchayan.
  • 3rd October, 1936 Gives a discourse at the special service held at the Santiniketan Mandir on Gandhi's birthday.
  • October, 1936 Dramatizes the poem Parishodh (Retribution) (originally written on 9th October, 1899) and sets it to music.
  • October, 1936 Parishodh is staged in Ashutosh College, Calcutta (now Kolkata) on 10th and 11th October. Poet is present on the stage.
  • 10th October, 1936 Attends the sixtieth birthday celebration of Saratchandra Chattopadhyay.
  • 12th October, 1936 Speaks at a sitting of the Bengal Women Workers' Conference at the Albert Hall.
  • 13th October, 1936 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • November, 1936 Takes up residence at the Sriniketan Kuthi and stays here for about a month (29th October - 22nd November).
  • November, 1936 Jawaharlal Nehru, Congress President, pays a one-day visit to meet the Poet at Santiniketan.
  • 22nd December, 1936 Attends the anniversary of seventh Pausha.
  • 25th December, 1936 Conducts the Christmas Service.
  • January, 1937 Spends the first month of the year in Santiniketan.
  • 6th January, 1937 This building is about to collapse. The poet is sick in body, but alert as ever in discharging his responsibilities.
  • January, 1937 Not at all willing to observe Maghotsav in Kolkata -- "The pomp of a meaningless ceremony at our house makes me immensely ashamed."
  • January, 1937 "I am not at all embarrassed to celebrate the festival of 11th Magh in Santiniketan." Writes three new songs.
    • Shuva karmapathey dharo24th January, 1937
    • Hridoye hridoy asi mile jay25th January, 1937
    • Dukkher timirey jadi jwaley25th January, 1937
  • 24th January, 1937 Shyamaprasad Mukherjee, Vice-chancellor of Calcutta University, requests the poet to write a song for the foundation day of the University. Rabindranath gives two songs. One is -- Shuva karmapathey. The other is -- Chalo jai, chalo jai. C.U. takes the latter.
  • 31st January, 1937 Prof. Winternitz dies in Prague on 9th January, 1937. Rabindranath mourns the death in a letter he writes to his sister -- "During my long life and extensive travels, I never met a savant more worthy of respect than the learned doctor…In him I have lost a faithful comrade, India has lost one of its truest pandits and best friends, and humanity one of its sincere champions."
  • 10th February, 1937 Mussolini's Italy has already invaded and occupied Ethiopia. At Amiya Chakrabarty's request writes the famous poem Africa.
  • 11th February, 1937 Arrives, stays at Prasantachandra's Baranagar residence.
  • 17th February, 1937 Delivers the keynote address at the convocation of Calcutta University. It is called Chhatrasambhashan. This is the first time that the Convocation address is delivered in Bengali. This is also the first time that a non-official delivers the address.
  • 17th February, 1937 He ends this historic address with a striking prayer--
    O lord
    Give us the pride that lies
    In courting the impossible
    And unbearable sorrow.
    Lift us up and out of the enchanted
    trance of emotionalism.
    Sternly upbraid this wallowing in the
    dust of meanness.
    Remove the bondage of the slavery of the mind,
    the perennial disability of fate,
    put an end to the stupid sacrifice of
    human dignity at the feet of the unworthy,
    ruthlessly pulverize the shameful follies
    piled up over the ages.
    Let us lift our heads high
    without fear
    under the endless sky
    in the magnificent light,
    in the wind of freedom.
  • 18th February, 1937 Lovers of Hindi literature, Rambhadur Chokhani, Sitaram Sakseria and Bhagirath Kanoria present to him a collection of ancient literature of Rajasthan, suggest that Hindi Bhavan be set up and promise to raise funds.
  • 21st February, 1937 Goes by boat from Baranagar to Chandernagar, speaks at the 20th session of Bangiya Sahitya Sammelan and returns the same day.
  • 3rd March, 1937 Addresses the Parliament of Religions in the Town Hall convened as part of the centenary celebrations of the birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna on Religion of the Spirit and Sectarianism.
  • 3rd March, 1937 Civil war is raging in Spain. Rabindranath issues a statement to The Statesman which contains an appeal -- "In this hour of the supreme trial and suffering of the Spanish people, I appeal to the conscience of humanity. Help the people's front in Spain, help the Government of the people, cry in million voices, halt to reaction, come in your millions to the aid of democracy, to the success of civilization and culture."
  • 3rd March, 1937 League against Fascism and War is set up at the initiative of Soumyendranath Tagore with Rabindranath as president. The other members are Nehru, Jayaprakash Narayan, Dange, etc. This mood will be reflected in the poem Chalti Chhabi written a couple of months later in May, 1937.
  • 7th March, 1937 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • 8th March, 1937 Sir John Russell visits Santiniketan and Sriniketan with his wife and meets the poet. Later he writes -- "It is rare to find so much of the university ideal realized within so small a compass."
  • 14th March, 1937 The literati of the literary club Rabibashar come to Santiniketan. Received by the poet who addresses them too.
  • 1937 Poems written from early March to late April are to be found scattered in the anthologies Senjuti, Nabajataka, Prahasini.
  • 14th April, 1937 Bengali new year's day is celebrated. Attends the inauguration of China-Bhavana and delivers the address China and India. Nehru's address is read in absentia. Nehru says - "China and India, sister nations from the dawn of history…have to play a leading part in the world drama, in which they themselves are so deeply involved." Gandhiji also sends a warm message.
  • 14th April, 1937 In his speech Rabindranath reiterates the ideal underpinning Visva-Bharati -- "For this Visvabharati is and will, I hope remain a meeting place for individuals from all countries, East or West, who believe in the unity of mankind and are prepared to suffer for their faith. I believe in such individuals even though their efforts may appear to be insignificant to be recorded in history."
  • April, 1937 Poet's busy reading up all kinds of books on science that he can lay his hands on preparing himself to write the innovative science primer Viswaparichaya with which he intends to inaugurate the proposed Lokesiksha Granthamala to be published by Visvabharati. Writing this science primer will consume much of his leisure when he'll be holidaying in Almora during the summer months.
  • 19th April, 1937 In a letter written to Hemantabala Devi at this time he says that he now reads more books on science than literature.
  • 29th April, 1937 Arrives at Almora for summer vacation accompanied by Rathindranath, Pratima devi, Nandini, Nandita and secretary Anilkumar Chanda.
  • 1937 Spends May and June here. Even at 77, he's no less prolific writing Viswaparichaya and much else. He has brought along certain sketches by Nandalal Bose. Around these sketches he weaves the poems of Chadar Chhabi. Writes other poems too. And, of course he continues to paint.
  • 1937 These poems are written in Almora:--
    • Janmadin
    • Jalajatra
    • Bhajahari
    • Kather singi
    • Khatuli
    • Joginda
    • Budhu
    • Patharpinda
    • Khela
    • Chhabi-ankiye
    • Ajaynadi
    • Pichhudaka
    • Chalachal
    • Kandiya Naach
    • Bhagyarajya
    • Pisni
    • Tirthajatrini
    • Natun Kal
    • Hathat Milan
    • Gharer Kheya
    • Istishane
    • Sanir Dasha
    • Padmaye
    • Paler Nouka
    • Jatrapath
    • Basabadi
    • Akash
    • Kashi
    • Rikta
    • Jhad
    • Talgachh
    • Chalti Chhabi
    • Chadibhati
    • Prabashe
    • Bhramani
  • 12th June, 1937 Writes a long rejoinder in the form of a letter to Prof. Debaprasad Ghosh's critique of the orthographic reforms in Bengali proposed by Calcutta University and Visva-Bharati. This polemic will continue in the months ahead.
  • 29th June, 1937 Arrives at Kolkata.
  • 30th June, 1937 Proceeds to Santiniketan.
  • 1st July, 1937 Vidyalaya reopens at Santiniketan.
  • July, 1937 The students and teachers of City College, Kolkata organised a meeting in the memory of the great American poet Walt Whitman (1819-92). At their request the poet writes a short article praising Whitman.
  • 19th July, 1937 Bharatvarsha commences publication. Rabindranath congratulates Pramatha Chowdhury.
  • 27th July, 1937 Visits zamindari estate Patisar for the last time. Celebrates Punyaha.
  • 1937 These poems are written in Santiniketan in June-July:-
    • Balak
    • Deshantari
    • Achala Budi
    • Sudhia
    • Madho
    • Atar Bichi
    • Akashpradip
  • 2nd August, 1937 Poet presides over a massive protest meeting held in the Town Hall, Kolkata to express solidarity with political prisoners on a hunger-strike in Cellular Jail, Andamans to protest against inhuman treatment. The meeting demands that they be brought back to Bengal. A cable is sent to the prisoners in Andamans assuring them that the country is solidly behind them.
  • 14th August, 1937 Andaman Day is observed in Bengal. Santiniketan observes it, too and the poet speaks on this occasion.
  • 14th August, 1937 Presides over Briksharopan and Halakarshan festivals in the rural suburbs of Santiniketan.
  • August, 1937 Festivities cancelled in Santiniketan on account of bereavement in the ashram. Pandit Nityanandavinod Goswami's son Bireswar is dead. The poet decides to have Varshamangal performed in Kolkata.
  • 26th August, 1937 Arrives with the Santiniketan troupe of performers. Puts up at Prasantachandra's Baranagar residence.
  • September, 1937 Varshamangal is performed at Chhaya Theatre on Upper Circular Road consecutively on 4th and 5th September.
  • September, 1937 These newly composed songs are sung in the performance:--
    • Eso shyamala sundara
    • Ami sravana akashey oi
    • Chinile na amarey ki
    • Maney ki dwidha rekhey
    • Aaji godhulilaganey
    • Thamao rimiki jhimiki
    • Varshanamandrita andhakarey
    • Ami takhan chhilem magan ghahan
    • Ogo amar chira achena paradeshi
    • Meghachhaye sajal baye
    • Godhuligaganey meghey
    • Madhugandhey bhara
    • Amar praner majhey sudha achhey
    • Aaji pallibalika
    • Sravaner pavaney akul
    • Amar je din bhesey gechhe
  • 6th September, 1937 Back in Santiniketan.
  • September, 1937 Suddenly falls unconscious in the Uttarayan house. Seriously ill for a couple of days. Dr. Nilratan Sarkar comes from Kolkata. Recovers.
  • 1937 Writes a few of the poems later collected in the anthology Prantik between 25th September to 9th October.
  • 12th October, 1937 Back in Kolkata for more medical care. Enjoys Rani Mahalanabis's hospitality at their Baranagar residence for three weeks.
  • October, 1937 Congress stalwarts like Nehru, Kripalani, Sarojini Naidu and Subhaschandra who has recently returned from Europe come to see him. Rabindranath goes to see Gandhiji who himself fell ill while preparing to go to see the poet.
  • 26th October, 1937 A fierce controversy with communal overtones of Hindu-Muslim antagonism now rages around Vande Mataram. The Congress Working Committee is deliberating whether it should be adopted as the national song. The poet is asked for his opinion and he sends his opinion in writing to Congress president Nehru. Congress agrees with the poet's opinion and accepts the first two stanzas of the song as the national song.
  • 4th November, 1937 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • November, 1937 The efforts of Gandhiji and Rabindranath succeed. At last Bengal Government sets free 1100 political prisoners held in Andamans and other prisons of the country.
  • 22nd November, 1937 Jagadish Chandra suddenly dies in Giridih (now in Jharjkhand). The impact of this death obliquely enters the texture of certain poems musings on death written 8th and 25th December.
  • 22nd December, 1937 Poush Utsav is celebrated in Santiniketan. Delivers the address Pralayer Sristi on this occasion in which he expresses his anguish over Japan's continuing invasion of China.
  • 25th December, 1937 Writes two poems on kindred themes on the occasion of Christmas (no 17 & 18--Prantik).
  • December, 1937 As President of the Indian branch of New Education Fellowship he sends his written speech to its conference being held in Kolkata at this time.
  • 31st December, 1937 A few members of the Fellowship come to Santiniketan to see the poet.
  • January, 1938 Members of the New Education Fellowship spend a couple of days in Santiniketan in the 1st week of January.
  • 2nd January, 1938 Lord Lothian, statesman and diplomat, comes to Santiniketan to see the poet. Received at the station by Andrews.
  • 9th January, 1938 Nehru urges the country to observe China day as a mark of solidarity with the beleaguered country. Rabindranath has already donated Rs. 500/- to the China Fund on 7th January.
  • 10th January, 1938 Nehru's mother Swaruprani Devi passes away. Poet mourns her death.
  • 16th January, 1938 In the poet's absence Andrews lays the foundation of Hindi Bhavana for which funds are provided by Halbasia Trust.
  • January, 1938 Urged by The Statesman, Calcutta writes the article Gandhi The Man.
  • January, 1938 Though the government freed the bulk of the prisoners last year, the task isn't completed yet; Rabindranath, Gandhiji and Ramananda Chatterji exert themselves to secure the release of the rest.
  • 2nd February, 1938 Governor of Bengal – Lord Brabourne visits Santiniketan with his wife.
  • February, 1938 Around this time completes the first draft of the dance-drama Chandalika. Now rehearsals begin for the inevitable performance and more changes will be made by the poet as the rehearsals proceed.
  • February, 1938 He is also busy editing this anthology of Bengali verse. Published months later, it will be finally withdrawn for lack of popular demand, but the introduction contributed by the poet is indeed valuable.
  • February, 1938 He's simultaneously busy preparing the new two-volume edition of Geetabitan which will eventually see the light of day after his death.
  • 28th February, 1938 Of late he has often been asked to give his opinion on the new Act. In this connection writes an open letter to The Manchester Guardian which shows he has no illusions of hope as far as the Act is concerned. It states "It was made by politicians and bureaucrats embodies all their narrow caution and miserly mistrust"
  • 1st March, 1938 Hyderabad bestows on him the degree of D. Litt. (Honoris causa) in absentia.
  • 12th March, 1938 Europe inexorably slides towards another Armageddon as Hitler annexes Austria.
  • 16th March, 1938 The new dance-drama performed in Santiniketan on the occasion of Dol-Purnima.
  • 17th March, 1938 The troupe leaves for Kolkata.
  • 18th March, 1938 Performed in Kolkata at Chhaya Theatre. The new Congress president Subhaschandra Bose witnesses the performance.
  • 19th March, 1938 Second performance; Rabindranath present.
  • 22nd March, 1938 Meets the Mahatma who's in Kolkata negotiating with the government the release of the remaining prisoners.
  • 14th April, 1938 Conducts prayers on new year's day in the temple. The poet's birthday celebrated in the Amrakunja.
  • 25th April, 1938 Goes to Kalimpong, puts up at Gouripur Lodge as the guest of Brajendrakishore Roychowdhury, zamindar of Gouripur.
  • 7th May, 1938 Recites the great poem Janmadin on his birthday which is broadcast by radio.
  • May, 1938 Starts writing Banglabhasa Parichay in Kalimpong.
  • 21st May, 1938 Goes to Mangpu with Anilkumar Chanda, Sudhakanta Roychowdhury. Here his hostess is Maitreyi Devi, daughter of Prof. Surendranath Dasgupta.
  • 1938 Finishes writing Banglabhasa Parichay in Mangpu.
  • 25th June, 1938 Writes a poem which he sends as his tribute to Bangiya Sahitya Parishat organising the centenary of Bankimchandra's birth anniversary.
  • 4th July, 1938 Leaves for Kolkata.
  • 5th July, 1938 Arrives. Saddened by the untimely death in Lahore of Maulana Ziauddin, lecturer in the Islamic Department of Visva-Bharati.
  • 17th July, 1938 Harivishnu Kamath visits Santiniketan; pleased to see the Sriniketan enterprise in rural reconstruction.
  • 23rd July, 1938 In Kolkata to receive medical treatment for an eye ailment.
  • 30th July, 1938 Returns to Santiniketan.
  • July, 1938 In the declining years of his life is drawn into what will be considered years later the very stuff of history and once more vindicate his stature as a world poet who can arraign both European and Asian powers for xenophobic, predatory nationalism. His letter written to Chiang-Kai-Shek earlier on expressing solidarity with China and condemning Japanese aggression is widely published abroad, rouses Japanese ire and noted Japanese poet Yone Noguchi sends a rejoinder to the poet (23rd July) defending Japanese militarism and glorifyng Japan as the saviour of Asia against European colonialism and its scheme of Asian "Co-prosperity Sphere".
  • 1938 Rabindranath in his reply (1st September) calls Japan's bluff and accuses Japan of "building your conception of Asia which would be raised on a tower of skulls." Noguchi replies in the same vein. Concluding his reply to this, Noguchi's second letter, the poet prophetically states -- "Wishing your people whom I love, not success, but remorse."(29th October).
  • 1938 Poems written in Kalimpong and Mangpu are to be found in the anthologies--Senjuti, Nabajatak, Sanai.
  • 4th August, 1938 Plants a sapling of the Bodhi-tree of Gaya in its premises.
  • 19th August, 1938 Gaganendranath Tagore, eminent painter and writer, dies in Kolkata.
  • 1938 Meanwhile Congress president Subhaschandra Bose assures Chinese representatives of Congress's resolve to send a medical mission to China.
  • 1938 Rashbihari Bose, who now resides in Japan comes in on Noguchi's side and flays Rabindranath for his stance.
  • September, 1938 Varshamangal, Vriksharopan, Halakarshan celebrated in Santiniketan in 3rd and 4th September. On this occasion poet delivers the address Aranyadevata.
  • 3rd September, 1938 Prof. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan visits Santiniketan. Received by the poet.
  • 4th September, 1938 Radhakrishnan delivers lecture.
  • September, 1938 Dramatises the short story Muktir Upay.
  • 2nd October, 1938 Rabindranath pays moving tribute -- "To this great soul in a beggar's garb, it is our united privilege to offer felicitations on his birthday."
  • 4th October, 1938 The poem Prayaschitta, written on 4th October, reflects the gloom and violence of a world drifting towards another world war.
  • 15th October, 1938 Poet writes to Prof. Lesney in Prague -- "My words have no power to stay the onslaught of the maniacs, nor the power to arrest the desertion of those who erstwhile pretended to be the saviours of humanity...I feel so humiliated...so helpless..."
  • 13th November, 1938 Dr. Meghnad Saha visits Santiniketan and delivers an address which is attended by the poet.
  • 17th November, 1938 Rabindranath sends his message to the organisers of the birth centenary of Keshabchandra.
  • 18th November, 1938 Kamal Ataturk the builder of modern Turkey, dies. Vidyalaya closed as a mark of respect. Rabindranath speaks praising Kamal's achievements.
  • 8th December, 1938 A permanent emporium of Sriniketan, Shilpabhavan is inaugurated in Kolkata by Subhaschandra Bose.
  • 9th December, 1938 Lord Zetland opens an exhibition of the poet's paintings at Calmann Gallery, London.
  • 11th December, 1938 Inaugurates Havell Hall at Kala-Bhavana, Santiniketan in memory of E.B. Havell (1861-1934), recalls his contribution to the modern revival of Indian art.
  • 19th December, 1938 The Marchioness of Linlithgow, wife of the Viceroy and their daughter Lady Anne Hope come to call on the poet at Santiniketan.
  • 23rd December, 1938 The Poet delivers an address before an assembly of devotees.
  • 23rd December, 1938 Elmhirst is back in Santiniketan after long years.
  • 23rd December, 1938 Andrews has also come, but leaves for Allahabad the very next day. He'll come back on 13th January, 1939.
  • 31st December, 1938 Writes Malyatattwa
  • 1st January, 1939 In the same serio-comic vein writes Samayhara.
  • 9th January, 1939 The king of Tripura Bir Vikram Kishore Manikya formally received by the poet on his visit to Santiniketan who mentions the numerous bonds of affection and friendship that exist between Santiniketan and Tripura in his welcome address.
  • 9th January, 1939 Chandalika performed in honour of the maharaja who donates Rs. 20000/- for Sangeet Bhavan.
  • 12th January, 1939 The poet gets busy revising Shyama,Chandalika and Tasher Desh which are to be performed in Kolkata next month. Writes to Amiyachandra -- "I am burdened with the rehearsal of three plays."
  • 21st January, 1939 Subhaschandra reelected Congress president for a second term in the teeth of stiff opposition from the Gandhian camp -- arrives. Accorded due reception at Bolpur and Santiniketan. Meets the poet.
  • 31st January, 1939 Jawaharlal Nehru also visits Santiniketan, stays for three days and inaugurates Hindi-Bhavana with Rabindranath and Andrews attending the ceremony.
  • 2nd February, 1939 Subhaschandra pays a second visit to Santiniketan and holds a dialogue with Nehru in the poet's presence.
  • 6th February, 1939 Veteran Congress leader from Bihar visits Santiniketan and presides over the anniversary festivities of Sriniketan.
  • 6th February, 1939 Lord Bishop Metropolitan of Kolkata also pays a visit to Santiniketan.
  • February, 1939 The Poet is in Kolkata. Sees the performance of Shyama, Chandalika and Tasher Desh at Sri Theatre (07.02.1939-10.02.1939).
  • February, 1939 The revised Tasher Desh is dedicated to Subhaschandra.
  • 12th February, 1939 The Poet formally launches Visva-Bharati Sammilani as a cultural and literary club.
  • 13th February, 1939 The Poet is back in Santiniketan to receive Raja of Awagarh -- Suryapal Singh, an unassuming patron of Santiniketan.
  • 1939 Parts of this play are staged with dance and songs in Santiniketan on the occasion of Dolpurnima.
  • 1939 Meanwhile Subhaschandra's relation with the Congress high command is deteriorating.
  • 1939 Amita Sen, an alumna of the Vidyalaya, now joins Sangeet Bhavan as a teacher and to a considerable extent fills the void created by the deaths of Dinendranath and Rama Kar.
  • 10th March, 1939 53rd session held at Tripuri. The rift between Subhas and Gandhians widens. Subhas reelected, Gandhiji dismayed and indignant.
  • 14th March, 1939 Vallatholi, the major Malayalam poet of Kerala, is on a visit to Santiniketan. Performs Kathakali with Kerala Kalamandalam group.
  • March, 1939 Gandhiji is on hunger-strike in Rajkot to protest the Maharaja's failure to carry out promised administrative reforms. In his address delivered on the day of Dolpurnima, Rabindranath speaks about it.
  • March, 1939 The Poet is no less indignant at the way the Congress high command is stonewalling Subhas.
  • 17th March, 1939 The Poet writes to Amiyachandra, castigating the cult of hero-worship in the Congress -- "At last victorious chants for Hitlerite policies emanated today, loud and clear even from the Congress platform…"
  • March, 1939 Writes Prajapati and Dhakira Dhak Bajai --the latter a protest against increasing crimes against women in Bengal.
  • 1st April, 1939 Requested by the Canadian government, writes the poem Awan. Recites the English translation and it is broadcast by Ottawa Radio on 29th May.
  • 15th April, 1939 Bengali New Year’s Day celebrated. The Poet inaugurates Dinantika tea-club in memory of Dinendranath Tagore at the newly constructed house of the same name with interior decoration planned by Nandalal Bose and Surendranath Kar and executed by their students.
  • 18th April, 1939 Invited by the new Congress government of the state, Rabindranath visits Orissa.
  • April, 1939 Subhaschandra quits as Congress president at a meeting of the All India Congress Committee held in Kolkata.
  • 4th May, 1939 The poet has already written the article Deshnayaka about him. He sends a telegram to him which says -- "The dignity and forbearance which you have shown in the midst of a most aggravating situation has won my admiration and confidence in your leadership."
  • 9th May, 1939 Stays at Puri for about 3 weeks. Birthday celebrated with great flourish at Government Park with prime minister Viswanath Das presiding and thousands attending.
  • May, 1939 Honorary title Paramaguru conferred on him by the Raja of Puri.
  • 1939 Writes Janmadin, Prabashi, Eparey Oparey, Atyukti in Puri (April-May, 1939).
  • 1939 Congress is now the strongest political party in the country and has formed governments in 8 provinces under the new power-sharing arrangement. But the uncouth power struggle inside the party has already resulted in the ouster of Subhaschandra from the office of party president. But with his vigorous initiatives and positive activism, Subhas has already won the poet's warm affection who now reposes great faith in his ability to lead the people.
  • 1939 Spends a month at Mungpoo as Maitreyi Devi's guest (17th May - 17th June).
  • 1939 Rewrites old pieces and composes new poems at Mungpoo which include -- Karnadhar, Sade nata, Manashi, Udbritta, Smritir Bhumika, Parichay.
  • 1939 In two letters written to Amiya Chakrabarty (Orissar Atithi and Congress-later published in the Prabashi) around this time, he unerringly lays his finger on the malady inside the Congress and makes almost prophetic statements about the alarming state of the country.
  • 19th June, 1939 Returns and starts living in Sriniketan Kuthi.
  • 1939 Preparations are on in full swing in the publication department of Visva-Bharati to publish the first volume of the Visva-Bharati edition of the poet's complete and collected works.
  • 17th July, 1939 Emerges from Kuthi and returns to the ashram.
  • July, 1939 Administrative reforms in Sriniketan introduced. Dhirendramohan Sen is now in charge of both Sikshasatra and Sikshacharcha.
  • July, 1939 Sikshabhavana and Pathbhavana separated. Anilkumar Chanda now in charge of the latter.
  • 26th July, 1939 Writes the poem Ratri.
  • August, 1939 Maharaja Suryapal Singh of Awagarh spends a fortnight at Santiniketan as the poet's guest.
  • 13th August, 1939 A sapling of the Bodhidruma of Gaya is brought to Santiniketan by the Hungarian artist Mrs. Brunner and planted in the premises of China-Bhavana.
  • August, 1939 Revises the Dakghar written long years ago with a view to staging it again. It is in rehearsal, but the performance fails to take place mainly because of the poet's frail health.
  • August, 1939 Adds new songs to the play.
    • Amra door akasher
    • Bahir holem ami
    • Shuni oi runujhunu
    • Ei to bhara holo
    • Soorer jaley ke jadaley
    • Kothao amar hariye jabar
    • Samukhe santiparabar
  • 18th August, 1939 At Subhaschandra's invitation lays the foundation of Mahajati-Sadan in Kolkata (the name of the proposed building was also chosen by the poet).
  • 18th August, 1939 Geetotsav organised by Visva-Bharati Sammilani.
  • 19th August, 1939 Prior to his China visit, Jawaharlal calls on the poet at Jorasanko. Recently the poet wrote to him in connection with the proposed visit -- "I cannot help hoping that as a messenger of from India's youth you would give strength to the historic forces of Asiatic unity, bringing new urge of neighbourly understanding to our Eastern peoples."
  • August, 1939 Feud inside the Congress takes an ugly turn, Subhas is expelled from the party.
  • 21st August, 1939 The Poet returns to Santiniketan.
  • August, 1939 Writes new songs for varshamangal.
    • Ogo Sanotali chhele
    • Badal-diner prathama kadam phool
    • Aaji tomay abar chai
    • Eso go, jweley diye jao
    • aaji jharo jharo mukharo badal diney
    • Aaj sravaner gaganer gay
    • Swapne amar maney holo
    • Sesh gaaneri resh
    • Esechhiley tabu aso nai
    • Esechhinu dwarey tabo
    • Nibid megher chhayay
    • Amar jedin bhese
    • Pagla hawar badal diney
    • aaji megh kete gechhey
    • saghana gahana ratri
    • Ogo tumi panchadashi
  • 27th August, 1939 Varshamangal performed. Sailajaranjan Majumdar was in charge of rehearsals.
  • 29th August, 1939 Halakarshana performed at Sriniketan. Poet speaks on the occasion.
  • 29th August, 1939 In the evening delivers the lecture Gadyakavya to the students of Santiniketan.
  • 8th September, 1939 The leading lights of Bengal led by the poet issue a statement at this juncture putting first the interests of the country and democracy.
  • September, 1939 Poet contributes to the Commemoration volume edited by Dr.S. Radhakrishnan in celebration of Gandhiji's 70th birthday.
  • 1939 Spends a couple of months in Mungpoo (12th September - 9th November) This time too, Maitreyi Devi is his hostess.
  • 1939 In Mungpoo Rabindranath paints, writes poems such as Narir Kartabya and the story Seshkatha.
  • 11th November, 1939 The Poet is back in Santiniketan.
  • November, 1939 Krishna Kripalani assumes charge of Pathabhavana.
  • 30th November, 1939 Russia attacks Finland. Rabindranath condemns the attack.
  • 15th December, 1939 The poet is in Kolkata. Inaugurates Food and Nutrition Exhibition of Calcutta Corporation and speaks briefly on the occasion.
  • 15th December, 1939 The Poet leaves for Medinipore with Jadunath Sarkar, Ramananda Chatterji, Sajanikanta Das, Tarasankar Bannerji,etc.
  • 16th December, 1939 Poet inaugurates Vidyasagar Smritimandir. Delivers a short speech.
  • 17th December, 1939 Medinipore Municipality organises civic reception in the poet's honour at Smritimandir and presents him with an address.
  • 20th December, 1939 Sends cable to Gandhiji urging Congress to "immediately remove ban against Subhas and invite his cordial cooperation…"
  • 21st December, 1939 Noted Chinese artist Ju Peon arrives in Santiniketan as visiting Professor of fine Art.
  • 22nd December, 1939 Gandhiji sends cable in reply, expressing the inability of the Congress to remove ban on Subhas on disciplinary grounds.
  • 23rd December, 1939 Poush Utsav held in the ashram. Rabindranath delivers the sermon Antardevata.
  • 25th December, 1939 Song composed by the poet on Christ's self-sacrifice for humanity, is sung at the service which Andrews conducts (incidentally his last service).
  • 30th December, 1939 Nandini -- adopted daughter of Pratima devi and Rathindranath marries Ajitsingh Morarji Khatau of Bombay.
  • 1939 The first volume of his complete and collected works (Visva-Bharati edition) published.
  • 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.
  • 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."
  • 25th January, 1940 The address Purner Sadhana read on the occasion of Maghotsav.
  • January, 1940 Writes quite a few poems and songs in January, 1940.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 6th February, 1940 The Sriniketan anniversary celebrated. Ajijul Haq - education minister of Bengal Government presides. Rabindranath delivers the address Palliseva.
  • 17th February, 1940 Gandhiji and Kasturba Gandhi pay their last visit during the poet's lifetime.
  • 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..."
  • 18th February, 1940 Chandalika performed in the evening in honour of the guests.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • March, 1940 The Poet is in Bankura (1st - 3rd March) Inaugurates Bankura Exhibition and lays the foundation of a maternity and child-welfare centre.
  • 3rd March, 1940 The Poet addresses medical students in Bankura.
  • March, 1940 Writes the poem Doorer Gaan.
  • 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."
  • 13th March, 1940 Centenary of Dwijendranath Tagore's birth anniversary celebrated. Poet speaks on the occasion.
  • 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.
  • 31st March, 1940 Poet writes back to Nevinson accepting the office.
  • March, 1940 In March writes the poems Aspasta, Jababdihi, Asa-jawa, Jyotirbaspa.
  • 5th April, 1940 C.F. Andrews dies in a Kolkata nursing home.
  • 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."
  • 10th April, 1940 Writes the song Prem esechhilo nishsabda chraney.
  • 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.
  • 17th April, 1940 The poet arrives in Kolkata.
  • 19th April, 1940 Poet inaugurates Trust Building of Calcutta Builders Stores Ltd.
  • 19th April, 1940 Poet visits his ailing nephew Surendranath.
  • 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.
  • 21st April, 1940 Arrives in Mungpoo where his hostess is Maitreyi Devi.
  • 3rd May, 1940 Surendranath Tagore passes away in Kolkata.
  • 7th May, 1940 Local folks celebrate his birthday.
  • 8th May, 1940 Shifts to Kalimpong.
  • May, 1940 Kalimohan Ghosh dies in Santiniketan.
  • 12th May, 1940 Rabindranath receives the news.
  • 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."
  • 29th June, 1940 The Poet is back in Kolkata.
  • 29th June, 1940 Inaugurates Gitali -- an institution dedicated to music.
  • 1940 Writes the poems Sesh Abhisar, Proiti, Janmadin (3 poems under the same title), Abhisap, Nabajataker kanda in Mungpoo and Kalimpong.
  • 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.
  • 2nd July, 1940 Subhaschandra comes to see the poet. It's their last meeting.
  • 24th July, 1940 Poet inaugurates the new telephone exchange at Bolpur.
  • 1st August, 1940 Dhirendramohan Sen leaves Santiniketan to take up a high-profile job in Delhi.
  • 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.
  • 7th August, 1940 Sapmochan performed in the evening in honour of the guests.
  • 8th August, 1940 The Times writes, "This is believed to be the first time that a special convocation held outside Oxford."
  • 10th August, 1940 At a memorial meeting held to commemorate Tulsidas, the Poet explains the enduring significance of the Tulsidas Ramayana.
  • 3rd September, 1940 Varshamangal and Vriksharopan celebrated in Santiniketan.
  • 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.
  • 17th September, 1940 The Poet is in the city for a quick medical check-up.
  • 19th September, 1940 Leaves for Kalimpong.
  • 25th September, 1940 The Poet is severely ill in Kalimpong.
  • 29th September, 1940 Brought back to Kolkata. Prompt medical care enables him to overcome the crisis. Remains bed-ridden for almost two months.
  • 18th November, 1940 Back in Santiniketan. Prolonged convalescence.
  • 9th December, 1940 A Chinese Goodwill mission headed by Tai Chi-Tao comes to see the poet.
  • 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.
  • 24th December, 1940 Writes Prachhanna Pashu on the eve of Christmas.
  • 1940 Nabajatak, Sanai, Chitralipi1, Rogsajyay, Complete Works volumes 3, 4, & 5 published.
  • January, 1941 Writes Miler Kavya, Parer Kheyar Pratikshay, Janmadiney (10), Oikatan, Janmadiney(22), Mahatma Gandhi, Chirasmaraniya in January.
  • 24th January, 1941 The Poet is unable to attend due to illness. His last utsav address which is on Rammohan is read in the temple on the occasion.
  • 24th January, 1941 In his absence Prof. Gurudayal Mullick conducts the prayer. In spite of illness writes two poems [Janmadin (13) & Arogya (33)].
  • 26th January, 1941 Subhaschandra hoodwinks British police and escapes from Kolkata.
  • 1941 Writes most of the prose and verse pieces between 6th February and 12th March.
  • 21st February, 1941 Instructs Sailajaranjan Majumdar and Santidev Ghosh to prepare and rehearse for Vasantautsav which is properly performed. Natir Puja performed in the evening. Writes poem Janmadiney (4).
  • 14th April, 1941 Writes Oi mahamanaba ase.
  • 14th April, 1941 The song mentioned above is sung on the Bengali New Year’s Day. His birthday is also celebrated the same day. His last serious message is conveyed through the address Sabhyatar Sankat (Crisis in Civilisation) which is read in public by Kshitimohan Sen. It's an immensely moving sombre address which, though called forth by the world war raging around him, outgrows the limitations of place and age and lives on like a great poem.
  • 6th May, 1941 Writes poem Seshlekha (10).
  • 6th May, 1941 Alters an old poem to create the famous song -- Hey nutan, dekha dik ar-bar.
  • 8th May, 1941 Birth anniversary observed quietly in Santiniketan, but celebrated all over the country.
  • 13th May, 1941 Special envoy of the Maharaja of Tripura arrives to confer on him the title of Bharat-Bhaskar.
  • May, 1941 One of the leading modernist bengali poets, arrives with his wife Pratibha Bose - novelist and short story writer, and spends a few days in Santiniketan. Buddhadev will later record his experience in his Sab-peyechhir Deshe. But the more immediate outcome is an essay published in the Prabashi (Ashad, 1348) under the title Sahitya, Gaan, Chabbi based on the conversations with Buddhadev.
  • May, 1941 To escape the intolerable heat, stays in an air-conditioned room during the day. But his health is steadily declining.
  • 5th June, 1941 Though increasingly ill, he can't pass over in silence British M.P. Eleanor Rathbone's malignant attack on India. Issues a ringing rejoinder to the press rebutting her arguments.
  • June, 1941 Writes two letters on painting to Jamini Roy (3rd June) and Bishu Mukherjee (23rd June).
  • 27th June, 1941 Reads Abanindranath's Gharoa in manuscript and highly admires it in a letter written to the author.
  • 13th July, 1941 Writes an introduction for the book.
  • 25th July, 1941 In view of his deteriorating health doctors advise surgery to arrest the decline. Hence brought back to Jorasanko, Kolkata.
  • 27th July, 1941 He has not ceased to be visited by the muse. In spite of acute physical discomfort writes the triumphant poem beginning-- Prathamdiner surya…
  • 30th July, 1941 A short while before the surgical operation, dictates his last poem which begins Tomar srishtir path rekhechha akirna kari...
  • 30th July, 1941 Poet undergoes surgery at home.
  • 7th August, 1941 A sharp deterioration in his condition takes place after 3rd August and he sinks into a coma. Dies on 7th August, 1941 at 12:10 PM at the age of 80 years 3 months.
  • August, 1942 Indian National Army Established by Subhas Chandra Bose
  • 1943 Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind, the Provisional Government of Free India formed by Netaji. Subhas Chandra Bose calls Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of the Nation.
  • 1944 Nabanna, the Bengali language drama, written by Bijan Bhattacharya and staged by Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) under the direction of Sombhu Mitra. The drama is about Bengal famine of 1943 in which more than 2 million people died of starvation, malnutrition and disease. The main character of this play is Pradhan Samaddar, a peasant of Bengal. The play presents the intensity of famine through the starvation of Pradhan Samaddar's family. Samaddar's family face a range of disasters during the food crisis. This play changes the face of Bengali litarature after death of Tagore.
  • February, 1946 Royal Indian Navy Mutiny.
  • 16th August, 1946 Direct Action Day (16th August 1946), also known as the Great Calcutta Killings, was a day of widespread riot and manslaughter between Hindus and Muslims in the city of Calcutta (now known as Kolkata) in the Bengal province of British India.
  • July, 1947 Indian Independence Act 1947 by British Raj.
  • 14th August, 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan becomes an independent state on 14th August 1947.
  • 15th August, 1947 Indian independence day Hundreds of thousands die in widespread communal bloodshed after partition.
  • 30th January, 1948 Mahatma Gandhi assassinated by Nathuram Godse. War with Pakistan over disputed territory of Kashmir. Telangana and other princely states integrated in Indian union
  • 1949 A film was produced based on Putul Nacher Itikatha by Manik Bandopadhyay in 1949 directed by Asit Bandopadhyay.
  • 26th January, 1950 India becomes Republic
  • 1951 Congress Party wins first general elections under leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru. Rabindra Puraskar, the most prestigious literary award in the West Bengal state of India, was posthumously awarded to Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay for his novel, Ichhamati.
  • 1955 Pather Panchali, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's 1929 novel is filmed by Satyajit Ray and produced by the Government of West Bengal, India.