Friday, March 9, 2012

Rabindranath back to India via Japan

On 17th Jan,1917, Rabindranath left America from San Francisco by Siberia-Maru, a cargo ship and reached Hanalulu on 20th Jan, 1917. He started from Hanalulu on 1st Feb and reached Japan on 9th Feb. Tagore passed about three weeks in Yokohama before taking the train for Kobe to embark for India. He took 26 days to reach Calcutta from Kobe and 55 days from Sanfrancisco. There are several reports of his return from Sanfrancisco to Calcutta.
Mrs. Moody wrote to Mrs. Handerson ;
" I had a line from Mukul from Hanalulu, speaking with enthusiasm of their trip up to that point, and one from Mr. Pearson, posted in Yokohama, saying that the poet was well and ejoyed his voyage, also saying that Mukul had decided to stop in Japan rather against the Poet's wish. I should thank Mr. Tagore had decided to go right on to India."
Rabindranath stayed in Japan for a veryfew days. He came to India but Pearson did not who stayed there for some time and this  gave a rude shock to Rabimdtanath. He wrote to Pearson on 4th july 1917;
" I shall never forget that room in Nara hotel where I went through such a painful struggle when you announced your intention of parting from me. But in the small hour of night a flash of joy struck my heart with the assurance that this was needed  and that I should completely trust this dispensation of Providence and be glad. I feel deeply thankful for this inner message which I received and which made our parting so peaceful and sweet. I know the disappointment oboys uch greater in missing you than their joy in finding me ack, but they understand  -- for they are sure of your love and they n wait."
But Pearson could not return to Shantiniketan e Sep 1921. He gave Bankim Chandra Roy to take care of Rabindranath till came back to India.
Rabindranth halted for a day or so in Rangoon before returning to Calcutta.