Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Bichitra and Rabindranath (contd-4)

Pearson wrote Nagendranath on 28th June,1915, explaining the ideals of Bichitra;
" There are music and Drama classes and there will also be eventually some industrial classes in such subjects as carpentry, pottery etc. ". This ideal was not only a paper work. For teaching drawing Nandalal Basu, Surendranath Kar, Mukul Chandra De, and Asit kumar Halder were appointed with Rs. 60/- pm as stiphend. Narayan Kashinath Debal have come to India in the month of Aswin this year undergoing training in Sculpture. He was appointed to teach Sculpture. One Japanese carpentry-trained named K. Kasahara was appointed to teach carpentry.As there was no carpenter available at present, Rathindranath learnt the technique of a carpenter.
Rabindranath himself took the responsibility of developing  it to Cultural institution. With this intention he organised a library at the ground floor of this Red building.Many rare and valuable books of the different members of Tagore family was going to be destroyed uncaring for which were brought to organise this  library. Rathindranath had described  beautifully the different activities of Bichitra.
" In the morning, drawing classes were held, in the evening it became a library, a centre for accumulation of humen and once in week it was converted to an assembly of artists and writers organisation to practice social activities. Occasionally there dramas and cultural programme. Another important function was started which was described by Rathindranath;
" This was to collect different kinds of beautiful handicraft works from different places. A young man was appointed who would move from village to village and would collect samples of paintings on the floor, nice needle work,earthen works,materials made up of bamboo and cane etc. After a few days Abanindranath compiled those material in a book form and publish that in the name "Banglar Brata" with some rhymes and sacred stories.
Rabindranath instructed Surendranath Dasgupta and Ajit Kumar Chakraborty to assist and he himself collected some samples from Selaidah and Patisar.