Monday, February 7, 2011

Mrinalini Devi (cond-5)

Rabindranath wrote letters regularly to his wife but he only occasionally received letters from her. He was delighted when he got a reply from his wife. One day he got two replies at a time. He wrote,
" I am so delighted to get all of two letters from you today. Unfortunately, I am unable to respond... because I must go to Bolpur today.  I have read out to father my address for the Seventh of Poush
celebrations (Seventh of Poush was the foundation day of Santiniketan Ashram). He has asked me to expand it a bit here and there. I have to get down to that now. There is only an hour left to finish it."
"Please don't work any harder for my happiness. Your love is enough. But it would be very nice if you and I could work together and think together with one mind. I know that cannot always happen even if we wish it. It will make me happy if you could join me in all that we do - and give me much joy if you agree to learn what I want to be learnt... It is easier to move forward if we are so united. I don't wish to leave  you out of anything  I do, but I hesitate to thrust my will on you. Everyone has  the right to do things their way, as they would like to. It may not be possible for you to agree with my wishes and inclinations every time -- I would not worry about it. It is good enough if you agree with my life the way you do with your love."
In another letter he wrote,
" I am back to my writing at the end of the festivities. I am just like a fish back in its own habitat when I can return to my writing. The solitude of this place has given me perfect shelter; none of the trivialities of daily life can touch me any more, so I am able to forgive ny enemies easily. I can well understand how this solitude may not appeal to you. I would have been so happy  if only I could have given you even a portion of my feeling for solitude. But such things can not be given. I can understand how you would miss the hustle and bustle of Calcutta in the first few days when you came here. I can also imagine that it may not be easy for you to cope with so much quiet even after you get used to it.
But when can I do if I can't stand the atmosphere of our Calcutta household any better? When I am there I feel a continuous irritation over every little thing , and lose my peace of mind. Besides, I know that Rathi will not get an adequate education there since everybody around is so restless. You will, therefore, have to accept this exile till I am able to move you to a better place. I cannot surrender my inherent nature to live in Calcutta.
The whole sky is thick with clouds and it has just began to rain. I have closed the glass windows in my room and I am enjoying the rain while I sit and write to you. You don't have this grand view from your room on the second storey.It is so beautiful to see this new rain falling on the rice fields on all sides, I am writing an essay on Meghdut...." ( This letter was written by Rabindranath to Mrinalini Devi in June 1901.)