Thursday, February 23, 2012

Rabindranath Left Japan

Rabindranath started for Japan in a Japani ship (Tosamaru) with Pearson, Andrews and Mukul on 3rd May, 1916 from Calcutta port. He reaached Kobe in Japan on 29th May, 1916 and was received by Yokoyama Taikan, and Katsuda Shkin, two artists, Ex-Physical Trainer of his school Sano Jinnosuke, and tourist Kawaguchi Ekkai and many emigrated Indians.In Japan he delivered two important lectures, one on "The Nation" and the other on " The Spirit of japan".
He mentioned many good qualities of Japan in his different lectures but he was critical on two points, one- Tendency of imitating West, and imperialistic tendency. He stayed there for three months.But when he left Japan none arrived in the port to bid him farewell.
A lecture-management organisation ( Pond Lyceum) invited him to America to deliver lectures in different cities of America against a sum of money of Twelve thousand Dollars (equivalent to 36 thousand rupees at that time)  in cash. He halted at Ja[pan enroute to America.
Before leaving from Japan, Rabindranath got invitation from Canada to deliver lecture in Torento and Montriel. But he did not agree. The journalist V.Jameson wrote in TorontoDaily Star on 27th Sept;
" He wishes this to be published and generally known. He saidthat he has asked to go ashore at Vancouver, but refused. He could never set foot on Canadian or Australian soil while his countrymen were treated as they were nor did he expect that things would alter until the psychology of nations was changed."
Probably before giving this interview he remembered the incident of Komagata maru in 1914 when the Indian workers were not allowed to enter.