Rabindranath to South America (contd-2)

He stayed for one day in Ceylon and started with his party on 24th Sept. at 8 AM by a Japanese ship Haruna Maru. But the ship was a cargo ship and it took almost whole day to get it loaded with luggage but  the weather of the next day was not favourable.
In the japanese ship Rabindranath was given a king's reception. Girijapati wrote about his cabin;
" The cabin of Rabindranath Tagore was in the status of a state cabin.There was a drawing room, a small reading room, a bed room with gold plated cot .The whole space was covered with thick carpet."
They had started their journey in the cloudy weather so that the door of his mind was closed. This was expressed in the first place of his diary.
Surendranath Kar was accompanying him in this journey. He wrote his experience of this journey in his diary which was published in Santiniketan in Agrahayan issue , titled, " Jahajer Chithi".The sea was almost calm though there were rains etc. still Pratima Devi, Girijapati Bhattacharya and Bijoy Basu suffered from sea-sickness. Surendranath wrote that the weather was sunny on the third day of their journey and they became gradually fit. The captain of Suamaru ship informed his good wish by wire. He was coming from U.K and as at least 150 miles away.He would meet tomorrow. Eye-witness reported that the ship, "Suamaru", passed very close to the other ship. All the people within the ship cheered Rabindranath Tagore.

Rabindranath reached Port-Said on 3rd Oct and Marceilles of France on 12th Oct The ship Haruna-Maru and he get down there with his party. all of them took shelter in the Guest House of Kann. Elmhirst met with them at that place.
A vivid description of the guest house could be obtained in the "Smriticharan" written by Surendranath Kar. He wrote on Monday (14th Oct, 1924;
" I went to American Express office in the morning and collected tickets for Peru by Ship.At about 11.30 AM I met with one of the Minister of Peru. They had their lunch at 12.30 PM with Sylvain Levy.This arrangement was made to welcome . They went to visit the studio of Mr. Wilson of St. Cloud at 9.30 AM arranged by Prof. Geddes.  They took their lunch with Madam Tulmein at 12.30 PM. and went to meet Madam Rana at 40 Ave Charles Floquet. On 18th Oct at 10.30 AM Rabindranath started for South America with Elmhirst by the ship S.S.Andes from Sherboorg fort.
But Rabindranath caught chill on the boat, it developed into flu, he prepared to die after some hesitation and promptly got well, never ceasing to turn his imagination into poetry even at his worst."
On 18th Oct Rabindranath wrote a poem titled"Aparachita" ( in the manuscript it was "Path"). This poem was edited with deep black ink so that it took the shape of an "architecture" which also reflects the shape of a pointed mouth of an animal. It seems one is sitting on the other. Some poetic lines is overlooking between the gaps of the geometric figures. This drawing is done with thick lines on the white paper. The next poetry "Anmona" was also written on 18th Oct. The whole page was filled up with thick lines of geometric figures. On one main diagram, there are heads of different animals where the eyes are very prominent.....
This was the first attempt of Rabindranath's style of drawing.
On 26th Oct he wrote to Prasantachandra;
" I am  floating on the sea and will reach a port of Brazil within  few days. Then we shall go to Argentina very soon. I think it will reach there on 6th Nov. This time I have no programme of delivering lecture and I am writing poems gladly. I have not written so many poems so far after leaving India.On Indian ocean I wrote verses as well as prose, but here I am writing only poems.In seven days I wrote 12 poems which was difficult for me to write even in my country..'  

    

Rabindranath Tagore to South America (contd-1)

Rabindranath Tagore changed the date for starting his journey, several times, for South America. Ultimately he started  with his party on 19the Sept.,1924. Here was a reporting from Anandabazar Patrika in the afternoon issue, "aparahne" that he started for Madras by Howrah mail on 19th Sept. In the party there were Rathindranath, Pratima Devi, Nandini, Surendranath Kar, Girijapati Bhattacharya, and Bijoy Basu. Girijapati, the brother of Dr. Pashupati Bhattacharya wrote;
" When he heard that I have determined to go to France for study how to  manufacture scent, he told to be his co-passanger, The poet said, ' Bijoy Basu was nominated from  Viswabharati for going to France to be trained in industry for scent. He also nominated me to go to France from Viswabharati."" though both of them were going with their own fund."
The train reached Madras on 21st Sept in the morning.  Before that he was awakened by a group of scout boys in the station of Villapuram to accord  falicitation to me. An unknown Patrika reported;

" The "Sivaji Rovers" of Vallapuram , with their Scout  Master, Mr.K.RR. Sastry M.A. waited at the Vallapuram Railway Station on 21.9.24 to read an address of bon voyage to Dr. Rabindranath Tagore. Dr. Tagore  was was fast asleep in his carriage when Scouter K.R.R.Sastry gently wake him up. Through all too weary, he was full of gracious smiles when he saw many eager scouts rounded him him. Th poet was garlanded and an address was readby Mr. Sastry and presented to him. In reply, Dr. Tagore  said, that scouts in India should not be content with the stereotyped types of drills and games which found favor in the west ....The poet appreciated the fact that songs of the Tamil saints were sung daily by the Rovers. The poet gave an account of the good work done by his Scouts in villages by way of removing the marshes and cleansing wells.
He reached Madras  on 21 Sept and started for Colombo in the evening on that day. He reached there on 23rd Dec.  Ceylon Observer   wrote; " Dr. Rabindranath Tagore arrived in Colombo this morning by the Talaimanner route and proceeded to Sravasti, Cinamons Garden, the residence of Dr. W.A. de Silva, where he remained during his stay in Colombo....

Rabindranath Tagor in South America -1924

This time his foreign tour was full of uncertainty.The Englishman wrote on 17th Sep;
" Dr. Rabindranath Tagore is expected to leave Calcutta for Clombo to-day ( Wednessday) by the Madras mail. He will take the boat from there and proceed to Spain."

Rabindranath had to leave Calcutta on 17th Sep but due to his physical inability he left Calcutta on 19th Sep. In a meeting of the Viswabharati Sammilani, Andrews submitted a tour programme of Rabindranath which revealed the gaps between the proposed programme and its application. He said that Rabindranath would start from Calcutta on 18th May to go to Pithapuram.He would stay there for one/two days then  he would go to Marcelles by a ship named 'Harunamaru'  of Nippon Eusen Kaisa C o. to go to Marcelles. . Elmhirst would join with him at that place and they would go to Paris.From Paris Rabindranath would go to Spain from the city Vigo of Spain they would start in the first half of November and reach at the end of Nov to Callao, Peru.
The ship would stop at Cuba and Havana and would pass through Panama canal and passing through Panama canal and would take the western border line of South America to reach callao.This city is very close to Lima, Capital of Peru.
Rabindranath had to reach there before the centenary of Independence day of Peru started. All the countries of South America had celebrated their Independence day. The first celebration was held on 1910 and Peru would celebrate its independence day at the last.Their date of salvation was 9 Dec1824. He would go to Chile from Lima from that place he would go to Argentina . Then he would go to Italy from Maxico.

Rabindranath to Japan -1924

On 29th May at about 10 PM in the night Rabindranath with his luggage and his associates  got up in the ship "Sanghai Maru" to go to Japan.. The ship started for Japan on 30th May. Rabindranath had to stay there for 15 days. This invitation was given to him by "Kobe-Tagore -Society . A Japanese businessman was sponsoring this tour of Rabindranath.The account of his visit to Japan was written by Suchandra Basu.
Rabindranath delivered many lectures in Japan.
Rabindranath came back to Santiniketan on 22nd July and stayed there upto 9th aug 1924.
On 16th Sep at 6 PM in the evening Rabindranath was presiding over a meeting of Viswabharati Sammilani held at Dwarakanath tagore Lane. The secretary of the Sammilani informed that Gurudev would leave Calcutta on 18th Sep. He would go to South America .

Rabindranath in China - Sanghai

Rabindranath passed three nights and two days on the Yangsi river and reached Sanghai at about 10 AM on 28th May.Kalidas Nag wrote, " We passed two days with Gurudev happily.he was always in deep thought, it is ammazing to see more and more.Suddenly , we had a discussion on death and life after death.The sun is setting behind the river. He was talking about the death of his youngest son Shamindranath.He was saying and his eyes became filled with tears. Having reached Sanghai Rabindranath boarded in the house of an Italian businessman G.A.Bena and the associates of Rabindranath took their seat in the house of an Indian businessman Lalchand. Mrs. Bena was a promoter of learning. She invited some of her European friend in her  sitting room and requested Rabindranath to say something about learning. The lecture ofRabindranath was published in Talks In China (1924) , titled "at Mrs. Bena's Sanghai."

Here he explained again of his aims and objects of establishment of his school. He said,  " I believe that children should be surrounded with the things of nature which have their own educational value. Their minds should be allowed to stumble on and be surprised at everything that happens in the life of to-day. The new to-morrow will stimulate their attention with new facts of life. This is the best method for the child. he also described his experience in his school days and said, " I always had it in my mind to create an atmosphere . This I felt was more important than the teaching in the clssroom. 

On 29th April, Rabindranath went to a Japani School to attend a lunch, arranged in honour for him for bidding him farewell. 

In the afternoon he was given a welcome joyfully in the Garden House of Carson Chang. The chinese intellectuals assembled there to bid him farewell..     

Rabindranath in China -Hangkow (contd - 1)

No sooner had the lecture of Rabindranath finished, a group of youths from the audience stood up said loudly in Chinese language,
" Go, back; servant, of a subservient country. We don't want philosophy, we want materialism." - uttering this they began to wave placards, written with these words. Kalidas Nag became afraid and thought that they might strike Gurudev. But no such things happened. The youths came in front of Tagore and asked, "Dr. Tagore, we can't understand your argument against science.It is so hard."
Rabindranath didn't take it seriously as if it was nothing serious. In the afternoon, on that day, he read the essay , first read in Peking, "First Public Talk in Peking" in the open play ground of Wuchang before 700 people. He said empatically, " it is barbarism to depend on mechanical power and those who  depended on this power either remained as barbarous or have been vanished. kailidas nag wrote, "He said, forcefully, "you have called me untimely, now, your mind is after sucess - material prosperity at any cost but I say what our ancestors pointed out is 'you may get things what you want, may be more of your expectation but if you don't stand on irresistable power of  soul based on religion, nothing remains permanently."
On the very night Rabindranath left Hangchou and started for Sanghai by ship, Kut Woo.      
After dinner Rabindranath was greeted by about 200 Sikhs and Hindus. they remained standing till the ship left the shore. The ship sailed at 9.30 PM. 

Rabindranath in China - Hangkow -1924

Hangkow

The city's name literally means "The Mouth of the Han", referring to its location on the north bank of the confluence of the Han and Yangtze Rivers. The name appears in a Tang Dynasty poem by Liu Changqing. Other historical names for the city include Xiakou.
On 25th May, Rabindranath with his party reached Hangkow and boarded in a five star Hotel Wagon lits, constructed in European style. The people there also look like European.  
Stephen Hey described ; " Hangkow was situated on the bank of Yangsi river and was know as  the 'Chicago of China'. This was also the site of revolution against Manchu dynasty in 1911. There lived  7 lacs of people in Hangkow, Hanyang, and Wuchang and these three cities  became the  ultra modern city now a days. Moreover, the revival of Budhism under the leadership of T 'ai Hsu was started from this place. In 1922, a Budhist College was established in Wuchang and the head office of the Young Men's Budhist Association  was established in Hangkow. Stephen Hey wrote, " With strong organisations of both leftists and Budhists on the scene, the stage in Hangkow-Wuchangwas set for a final clash between Tagore and his fiercest antagonists in China.The intellectuals of Budhists arranged a lecture in the open space of the Supporting Virtue Middle School of Hangkow. There were mostly the students and youths amongst the audience of where Rabindranath explained the two reasons of his coming to China.  Firstly, to be acquainted  with the Chinese youths, and , secondly, to acquire knowledge of ancient Chinese civilization which was well connected with Indian culture. Uniting these two        
   items, he invited the youth listeners to make a balance between the modern scientific discoveries and the spiritual attainment of ancient Eastern Civilization. 

He said , " On your shoulders, my beloved young people, lies this responsibility . Like the dawning of the rising sun, you young people are full of promise. You have a great responsibility, and you should advance with determination. Do not let our Eastern civilisation imitate whatever is done in Western civilisation.I hope very much that more Chinese students  will come to India to study the principles of Chinese and Indian culture, for these two cultures are intimately related . Young people, I urge you to exert yourselves."  

Rabindranath in China - Shansi (contd-1)

In communism right to property is the cause  of capitalism. Rabindranath does not agree to that. He thinks the property is the source of development of human personality.Though this is also the cause of conflict between two men and If it goes beyond the limit, it will be termed selfishness. Through this one communicates with the other. The history of human civilization is the history of of development of human personality. Individual is the unit of society as property is the unit of wealth. Our wisdom lies not in destroying separateness of units, but in maintaining the spirit of unity in its full strength. When life was simple, property does not create any complexity. The personal property was used for the benefit of human being.In India the well to do persons willingly arranged irrigation for cultivation, establishment of hospitals and of schools for education. The surplus wealth was utilized in social  welfare.But at present greed for wealth  had changed the total situation.In our Puran the king of capital is Kuber, odd looking with a huge stomach. But the goddess of wealth is Lakshmi, nice looking, who is seated on the lotus of heart of the  universe. It is pathetic that Lakshmi has lost its seat of lotus and every one is worshiping capital. The modern cities are the representatives of this ugly Kuber.Its growth is not the progress , it is a disease which keeps the body swelling while it is being killed. After his lecture the students of the schools of philology staged a drama Sannyasi of Rabindranath for the entertaiment of the guests.
Then Rabindranath was offered a dinner in presence of 50 important persons.
On 23rd May in the morning Rabindranath started for south by train. They had discussions on different subjects in the train.      

Rabindranath in China - Shanxi

[Shanxi (help·info) ( Shansi) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the North China region.]
Shanxi Provincial Education Association invited Rabindranath Tagore well in advance.The people of Taiyuan are awaiting your memorable visit and long to see your personality as well as to hear your exalted ideas and accept your challenge to international brother hood of mankind , both East and West alike, " -
Since 1911, the Governor General Yen Hsi-Shan of of the province Shansi was renowned as a good ruler.Keeping the social system as it was in ancient times of Confucious, he wanted to establish modern civilisation. He held the same idea as Rabindranath did regarding big industry and Cities.
Rabindranath met him on 22nd May in the morning. The details of their discussion was published in Viswabharati quarterly , Oct 1924 titled " Conversation betwen Rabindranath Tagore and Governor Yen. of Shansi, China.". This was also published in Talks in China.1999. Kalidas Nag also wrote nicely their conversation. Elmhirst earmarked a plot of land in Santiniketan for cooperative farming by the volunteers of China and India as an honour to Rabindranath Tagore. Though this proposal was never came to be true.
In the afternoon at about 3 PM Rabindranath read the essay " City and Village" in the Confucious Hall, established for self development of the local people.. In this essay Rabindranath pointed out that he is not against the progressive action but his against the attempt of selling one's soul in the name of progressive action; ;
" then I choose to remain primitive in my material possessions, hoping to achieve my civilisation in the realm of the spirit" he also wrote, " Cities there must be in man's civilization, just as in higher organisms there must be organised centres of life such as brain, heart and stomach...but a tumor round which the blood is congested, is the enemy of the whole body upon which it feels as it swells."  
   . 

Rabindranath in China - Peking (contd-16)

Rabindranath and his associates left Peking on 19th May.On that day a group of representative from Mahajan Budhists met him. He explained to them  the fundamental points of similarities of the two religions, Hinduism and Budhism and said that both India and China will be able to work together for the development of their ancient civilisation following their spiritual education and simple living.  
Dr. Gilbert Reid invited Rabindranath in a meeting of the Committee of All Religionsto be held in Chen Kuang Theater at 3 PM which Japan Chronicle mentioned as " before a house that was crowded to the doors."
The New India [27th Jun] of Madras refering to the Peking Daily News wrote;
" The meeting lasted from three o'clock to six o'clock...After the address of Dr. Tagore , listened to by over a thousand attentive listeners, there was an intermission of ten minutes, during which, as for half an hour before the meeting , music was renderedby a Chinese band of thirty persons rendering western music. Then the address was ably translated by Mr. C.S.Chang of the Chinese Y.M.C.A., after which Prof. Sen spoke briefly on Human Brotherhood translated by Dr. George Wilder, and Prof Nag spoke on Religious reformers of India, translated by Dr.Reid." Representatives of nine religions dressed in their own clothes were present on the stage.
After delivery of his lecture Rabindranath said;
" I have already confessed to you that my religion is a poet's religion, all that I feel about it , is form vision and not from knowledge... I am sure that there have come moments whenmy soul has touched the infinite and has become intesely conscious of it through the illumination of joy."
On 20th May at 11 PM Rabindranath with his associates left Peking for  Taiyuan, capital of Shansi province. Dr. Reid, Dr.Hu Shi, Dr Chang, LiangChiChao and Mr.Lin were present on the station to bid him farewell.   

Rabindranath in China - Peking (contdf-15)

Before coming back on 18th May from Western Hills, the President Gilbert Reid of the Committee of Religions  invited Rabindranath on 14th May and informed;
" herewith the formal invitation which I mentioned to you early after your arrival...we desire a message from you that will help on the moral and spiritual regeneration of China. From your wide experience you will be able to emphasize those great principles that belong to the whole human race. Then as your farewell message, you are free to point out what China needs along these religious lines.... It is your presence that we all wish...our committee will be reay to welcome you at any time before half past three in the room adjoining the theater. Over 900 hundred have been applied for and distributed among these various organisations. I am sure you will have one of the most sympathetic and appreciative audiences you have ever ever had."
As per scheduled programme Rabindranath came back to Peking. A group students of Peking National University approached  him unexpectedly to listen a few words from him. Due to incivility of a few young students of similar age group, Rabindranath cancelled three of his proposed lecture and left Peking. He asked them with astonishment ;
" What do you want from me ? Why do you ask me to give you a speech ? I wish I could have come to you today in my true capacity as a poet, you would not then have asked me for a speech, but for something better, a poem But one thing  I have gained, a sensitivity of mind which has never been impaired, the touch of life and of nature, who spoke to me. You may call me uneducated, uncultured, just a silly poet; you may grow great as scholars and philosophers ; and yet I think I would have the right to laugh at your pedant scholarship. "
In this speech he gave a fine touch of irony of their materialistic view. Lastly he said;
" I have kept the spirit of the child fresh within me; because of this I have found entry to my mother's chamber wherein a light burns in the dark, where some symphony of awakening light sang to me from the distant horizon, in response to which I also sang."
The lecture was published in Talks in China, titled, "To a Surprise Gathering of students in the National University, Peking."

In the afternoon, the acting Vice-Chancellor Chiang mon Lin ( CHIANG MON-LIN was born on January 20, 1886, in Chekiang Province in East-Central China. He received his traditional classical education in his native province and passed Civil Examinations under the Imperial Government with the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Hsiu-Tsai). He earned his Bachelor of Letters degree from the University of California and, in 1917, his Ph.D. from Columbia University. On returning to China, he was appointed Professor of Education at National Peking University and from 1923 was concurrently Acting Chancellor. In 1928, shortly after he became President of National Chekiang University, he was called to serve as the first Minister of Education in the National Government of China formed in Nanking. During his two years in that post, Dr. CHIANG is credited with laying the foundation of popular education in China ) of Peking University and other teachers bade farewell to Rabindranath in a tea party.In reply to his address he said; " I feel today a discontent, as of something not accomplished, as of my mission not completed. Though he got enough love and respect from the Chinese.            
   

Rabindranath in China - Peking (contd-14)

Stephen Hey cited the publication of the news of Rabindranath Tagore's visit to West Hill;
" On the advice of his physician, Dr. Rabindranath Tsgore has cancelled all his public and private engagements and after his last lecture at the Chen Kuang Theatre this morning, he left for the Western Hills. Because of his physical and mental fatigue. Dr. Tagore will remain in the hills until next sunday when he will return to Peking and leave the next morning."
A letter written by Kshitimohan to Rathindranath on 13th May reveals the actual state of things;
" ...We have come in and around the Chinese youths who are madly addicted  to the strength of mechanical  advantage.They want to get everything by machine and they also worship machinary equipments.They don't have higher thinking other than political circle....Gurudev has come to Western Hills after delivering 2/3 lectures - about 20 miles away from here in a peaceful place.He will comeback here again on 18th. he will then go to Shanghai via Hunkow throgh Yung Tse Kiang on 20th. He will meet with General Wu-Pei-Fu on the way....Mr. Elmhirst had a plan to go to Russia by train from Japan. Some authority of Russia have to fetch Rabindranath. Gurudev asking him to prepare everything for his visit. He expessed his willingness to go to Russianext year.
Rabindranath went to Russia in 1930.    
 

Rabindranath Tagore in China - Peking (contd-13)

The main intention of the leaflets circulated for publicity was meant  for the hosts who invited Rabindranath to China. On the next day, there was no lecture to be delivered. Rabindranath asked his  Chinese associates to call on some of the opposition youths to discuss the main issues of his mission in China.Though they agreed but lastly Hsu Tse wrote him;
" Unfortunately I find it difficult to get enough atheist friends for this coming meeting. Some are away while others do not fully understand English ....I do not deem it right that this rare pleasure you have promised me should be exclusively enjoyed by one or two persons.
It was decided that Rabindranath would deliver lecture from Monday to Thursday [12-15 May], in every morning.. But after this incident, he declared that he was cancelling all lectures on and from tuesday.Even on Monday he would deliver lecture one hour before the scheduled time.
Having got the news to the young students of Peking, about two thousands young students came to the Theatre Hall.     Hsu Tse-Monin his inauguration speech calmly said high of Rabindranath Tagore. Dr. Hu tse requested the audience to show proper respect to our Guest lecturer. The lecture delivered by Rabindranath was published in Viswabharati Quarterly [ oct 1925] titled Judgement.
He started the lecture in an ironically way;
" The young generation of men in the East are everywhere attracted by what they imagine is modern. And they have convinced themselves that Western life is modern. They are seeking from its manners and mentality the magic formula of how to grow modern. They believe that what is called modern represents the principle of indefinite growth and freedom. - it is youth,  it is life."
"Are we sure that the same thing has not happened to the West, and that the atmosphere of turmoil which we find there is not due to the conflict between, their present history, which is no longer modern, and the messenger of the future, which was come with its sovereign claims ?" He further said , " All that is deeply human  is never old. It has the perpetual freshnes of imperishable life.
Rabindranath went to a hill side in the West Hill to take rest.  

Rabindranath Tagore in China - Peking (contd-12)

The leaflets distributed among the audience was written in Chinese. Rabindranath asked one of his Chinese friend about the subject of the leaflets. But he felt uneasiness. Rabindranath came to know the subject matter of the leaflets with the help of some of his Japanese friends. This was known in Bengali by Sisir Kumar Das and Taan Oen;
1. We have got many things from ancient Chinese Civilisation, but now we need no more of it. This civilisation made kings greatest by exploiting the masses. It made  the females submissive to males, it offered all powers to the males, it flattered the aristocrats feudals. and Rabindranth wanted to us to go back that civilisation. So this was the cause of our protest.
2. The farmers of our society are unable to feed their own family, our industry is nothing but a cottage industry, our conveyance i.e., boat is unable to move more than a few miles in a day, our language, its alphabets, are still ancient, our roads, our toilets, our  Kitchens are simly a laughing skalk in the world. But Rabindranath is saying ill of our modern civilisation. So we are bound to protest against this.
3. We had seen the dangerous scenario of ancient civilisation of China what Rabindranath termed as intimate  civilisation  - unnecessary war, robbery, rape, hypocrisy, fraud, greed, shameless prostitution, blood sucking by greedy rich man, cutting of flesh from own body to feed parents, rejoicing of drinking liquor in the scull of a dead man, to add beauty to female by deforming her legs. Rabindranath asked us to turn to those days.
4. The cause of distress of China is the indifference of the citizens of the state.For this reason the military ruler and foreign power could play ducks and drakeswith us. But Rabindranath said that we were too much  distracted for those reasons which meant there was no need for Nationalism, no need for government, only we need self realisation
5. We had our own ism, our own theories and theories of Confucius. Now several theories have come, such as, "Harmniyas virtue Society", " Spiritual Cultural Association " and theories of Christianity. Rabindranatnh was saying about supreme power - salvation of own soul. We protest against this lazy theories. We oppose those who invited Rabindranath Tagore.
In the book of Stephen hey, the last portion of the para was illustrated vividly;
" Therefore we protest, in the name of all  the oppressed peoples, in the name of all the persecuted classes, against Mr. Tagore, who works to enslave them still more by preaching to them patience and apathy . Wre also protest against the semi-official literati who have invited Mr. Tagore to come to hyponotize and drug out Chinese youth in this way, these literati who use his talent to instill in Young China their conservative reactionary tendencies."                 

Rabindranath Tagore in China - Peking (contd-11)

Kalidas Nag informed, " A few Budhist came to Rabindranath in the afternoon. They promised to cooperate with  any India student coming over here - this group of people is contemplative and simple - there is a difference between them and the modern group - they are ready to fight for truth, peace and friendship."

Stephen Hey wrote, " The first lecture of Rabindranath was aggressive in nature. It is obvious that the opposition group of Rabindranath had a meeting on that day  in the evening to finalise  their programme and on the next day before the meeting started, they began to distribute leaflets among the audience criticizing the statement delivered by Rabindranath."
Liang Ch’i-Ch’ao
(Born Feb. 23, 1873, in the district of Hsinhui, Kwangtung Province; died Jan. 19, 1929, in Peking. Chinese political figure, writer, philosopher, and historian.

Liang Ch’i-ch’ao was one of the leaders of the reform movement in China in the late 19th century. After the defeat of the reformers in 1898, he went to Japan, where he and K’ang Yu-wei established the constitutional-monarchical Alliance for the Defense of the Emperor. He opposed the revolutionary-democratic movement led by Sun Yat-sen, and after the Hsinhai Revolution (1911-13), he joined the government of the reactionary Yuan Shih-k’ai. However, in 1915-16 he actively opposed Yuan Shihk’ai’s plan to restore the monarchy)  
Liang Chi Chao  requested Hsu Tse to preside over the meeting. Hsu rebuked the students for disrespecting the guest. Rabindranath also was ready with proper reply. He said he had converted the two essays into one, "the rule of the giant" and "the Giant Killer" .The amended essay titled " The rule of the Giant" was printed in Viswabharati Quarterly. "The gist of the opinion of Rabindranath" , Stephen Hey said, " is Giant's rule which is nothing but the rule of modern civilisation controlled by the inconsistent development of mechanical strength." The Giant Killer of the Industrial Revolution and the unguarded expansion of the cloven-footed commerce is mainly responsible for this. He also took the modern democracy to task because a few  persons, being powerful for their riches, for their own vested interest  utilises human beings in disguise. He also said accusing those Cinese who called him reactionary and orthodox, "There are those in the east who have slavishly come to believe that superstitions which are modern denote progress." He also added refuting charges against him, " Those who know me that I have ever fought against obedience to the unmeaning , to traditions that are dead....I preach the freedom of man from the sevitude of the fetish of hugeness, the non-human. I refuse to be styled an enemy of enlightment because I donot stand on the side of the giant who swallows life, but on the side of Jack, the human, who defies the big, the gross, and wins victory at the end.".            

Rabindranath Tagore in China - Peking (contd-10)

At the end of his 64th birth day celebration , the "Chitra" drama in English version was staged. The young non-professional artists of the Chrescent moon Society took part in the roles. They had their dialogue in pure English pronunciation. Nanda lal Basu helped them in dressing and painting. He wrote I make the Chinese in Bengalee dress. I have to face some difficulty for their tiny eyes.Lastly they looked like Manipuri.. They acted well.Chitra played by Miss Miss Phillis W,Y. lin, in the role of Arjun Chang Hsin-hai, as Kamdev madan -bHsu Tse-Mon , Hritudevata Basanta - Lin Chang-min, Villagers- Miss Monica Y. Wang, Mrs c. Yang, Chiang Fang Cheng, Ting sih-lin.

Before the drama was staged Rabindrabath in reply to the welcome address paid thanks for his new nomenclature.
on and from the next day , 9th May, the series of lectures organized by the Peking Lecture Association on whose invitation Rabindranath had come to China would begine.
Rabindranath delivered his first lecture out of six to be delivered in the biggest and modern Community hall namely Chen Kwang Theatre Hall at 11 AM on 9th May, 1924.
Far Eastern Times wrote about this lecture,
" The pit of the Cheng Kwang  Theatre and a couple of score of seats in the gallery were filled with the audience that attendedthe first of Rabindranath Tagore's public lectures yesterday morning. It was a pity hat the gathering was not much larger, for the utterance was a  remarkably fine one., delivered with a rhetorical perfection that enhanced its acceptability, and made arresting by its quiet and indirect but eviscerating criticism of the accepted standards. "
 The lecture was published in Talks in China., titled ",To the public at the Theatre in Peking."  

Rabindranath Tagore in China-Peking -(contd-9)

On 8th May (25th Baisakh), the associates observed the  birth day of Rabindranath. Nandalal Basu gifted a self drawn picture to Rabindranath, Kalidas Nag read a self written poetry " Kabi Prasasti" and Kshitimohan Sen read a self written Sanskrit Sloka. In the evening the 64th birth day of Rabindranath was celebrated in the auditorium of the newly established Peking Normal University at the initiative of Chris cent Moon Society   in the presence of four hundred specially invited guests. about 80 intellectuals of Europe and America under the leadership of Su Shimo established the society.Dr. Hu Shi presided over the ceremony. Liang Chi Chau presented a pair of Sil and a valuable piece of stone engraved three Chinese letters " Chu Chen Taan". The word 'chu' is an ancient Chinese word used as a title of Rabindranath, The word Taan means Sun and Chen means Indra or the three words represent a Chinese word which meant Rabindra. Another meaning of this word is " the morning of clouded sky of India".Lastly Kshitimohan Sen read self written two slokas, Kalidas Nag read a poem  Balaka, "Puratan Batsarer jirna klanta Ratri" and Nandalal Basu presented a self drawn picture to Rabindranath." The chinese devotees presented him 15/16 grade I pictures, a thousan -petal cup and other materials.

Rabindranath came with Dhoti and Panjabi, the Bengali. Dress.

Rabindranath Tagore in China- Peking (contd-8)

Rabindranath delivered a lecture in Theatre hall on 4th May,1924 and on 6th May , morning, he met Dr. Hu Shi in a breakfast party.

Hu Shi - Father of the Chinese Renaissance

Hu Shi (17 December 1891 — 24 February 1962), born Hu Hung-hsing, was a Chinese philosopher and essayist. His courtesy name was Shih-chih. Hu is widely recognized today as a key contributor to Chinese liberalism and language reform in his advocacy for the use of vernacular Chinese. He was also an influential Redology scholar. Hu was born in Anhui to Hu Chuan and Feng Shundi. His ancestors were from Jixi, Anhui. In January 1904, his family established an arranged marriage for Hu with Chiang Tung-hsiu, an illiterate girl with bound feet who was one year older than he was. The marriage took place in December 1917. Hu received his fundamental education in Jixi and Shanghai. Hu became a "national scholar" through funds appropriated from the Boxer Rebellion Indemnity Scholarship Program. On 16 August 1910, he was sent to study agriculture at Cornell University in the United States. In 1912 he changed his major to philosophy and literature. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he went to Columbia University to study philosophy. At Columbia he was greatly influenced by his professor, John Dewey, and Hu became Dewey's translator and a lifelong advocate of pragmatic evolutionary change, helping Dewey in his 1919-1921 lectures series in China. He returned to lecture in Peking University. During his tenure there, he received support from Chen Duxiu, editor of the influential journal New Youth, quickly gaining much attention and influence. Hu soon became one of the leading and influential intellectuals during the May Fourth Movement and later the New Culture Movement. He quit New Youth in the 1920s and published several political newspapers and journals with his friends. His most important contribution was the promotion of vernacular Chinese in literature to replace Classical Chinese, which ideally made it easier for the ordinary person to read. The significance of this for Chinese culture was great—as John Fairbank put it, "the tyranny of the classics had been broken".

 In the noon the teacher of English Language of Yen Ching Women's College invited Rabindranath in a lunch After the lunch Dr. Bau introduced Rabindranath before the students of the women's college. The reply of Rabindranath Tagore was printed in Talks in China as a 9th lecture, titled "To the English Teachers' Association , Peking." .