Saturday, March 31, 2012

Rabindranath and South India (contd-3)

Ootacamund (Tamil: ஊடகாமுந்த்) About this sound listen (officially, Udhagamandalam Tamil: உதகமண்டலம் sometimes abbreviated to Udhagai Tamil: உதகை or Ooty About this sound listen ), is a town, a municipality and the district capital of the Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Ootacamund is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills. Originally occupied by the Todas, the area came under the rule of the East India Company at the end of the 18th century. Today the town's economy is based on tourism and agriculture, with manufacturing of medicines and photographic film also present. The town is connected to the rest of India by road and rail, and its historic sites and natural beauty attract tourists.
Rabindranath went to Ooty Hill station after passing for ten days in Bangalore and Mysore. He stayed there about a fortnight (21st Jan - 5th Feb).  Andrews accompanied him at Ootacamond.  New India wrote on 14th Mar after quoting an information that Rabindranath has established Tagore's Renaissance Society ;
" A society after the name of Sir Rabindranath Tagore was formed here recently by a few young Theosophists, with the object of creating and developing an interest and taste in Eastern literature and Art. The inaugural address was delivered by Mr. C.F.Andrews , M.A., when he accompanies the poet to the hills early last month.