Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Rabindranath's journey to Europe

Rabindranath returned from Oakridge Lynch to Lnodon on 25th Aug and wrote a letter to Jagadananda on 26th;
" It was decided suddenly that we will be going to France and Germany for just a visit because there is no work in the month of Sept., so this is the best time to have a tour to Europe. I think to go to Hydelburg at first -- there I want to see the University in Germany how they are doing with their education."
On 30th Aug  he wrote Ajit Kumar;
" Dwijen Babu and Suren (Moitra) Babu came here today. Probably, in coming Friday or Saturday we are going for Europe. .. Will come back at the end of Sept."
Sukumar Ray wrote his mother on 29th Aug'
"Rabibabu is going to Germany and France and will start in a day or two. Dwijen Babu is going with them. Rabibabu has also requested me to accompany -- I also agreed. I can't say now, when we shall start, today or tomorrow."
But none of them were able to go.
Rathindranath explained the reasons to his brother-in-law Nagendranath on 4th Sept.,
" I have written you earlier that we will be going to continent for a visit -- Lucerne or Geneva. But just before the day of our journey, my father became seriously ill and we had to stop our journey. For a few days my father was suffering from piles, his old disease. Moreover, he has some tooth-ache. Day before yesterday, he has removed 2 teeth and got relief now. Hampsted Heath was good for health than this place. We are going back to that place on Saturday. We got an accommodation by the side of Heath -- but no arrangement for  fooding, that has been arranged in a boarding."
The postal address of the place was 21 Cromwell Road, South Kensington, S.W. This was the address of  a student's hostel and of Northbrook Society.
Sukumar Ray wrote a letter to his father on 20th Sept. from the same address;
"Tonight I am invited to the house of Rabindranath. Mr. Rothenstein and others are also invited. Rabi babu's residence is very near to this place . It is one minute' s way."
They came to their new accommodation on 7th Sept, before that Rabindranath wrote an essay "Poet Yeats" to introduce the poet to the Bengalee readers.
Rabindranath did the same thing in caseof Stopford Brook. He wrote an essay on Stopford Brook.
       Stopford Augustus Brooke (14 November 1832 – 18 March 1916) was an Irish churchman and writer.
Rothenstein sent a copy of Gitanjali to him also and wrote;
"One of the first persoms whom Tagore wanted to know was Stopford Brook..."
Stopford Brook was a favourite poet amongst the Brahmma.