Monday, March 5, 2012

Rabindranth in America - Hudson Theatre, New York (contd-32)

Rabindranth read his essay on " The World of Personality" at the Hudson Theater on 22nd Nov,1916, organised by   League For Political Education .
Eve Post ironically wrote on 22nd Nov.;
" Much could be written of the picture made by this second lecture of Tagore's in this city. "Tagore and the Club Women" would be that story's name, for the membership of the League for Political Education is made up almost exclusively of women. Enough to say that the theater was well filled with smart hats and sumptuous furs."
Still the journal reported a vivid description of the meeting;
" Sir Rabindranath moves rather than walks, very silently and looking straight before him. He did not know just who this audience was, just what it meant or wanted to hear but he bowed in his simple, friendly way as he came, dressed in his long, cinnamon-coloured robe, his hands raised and pressed together as if prayer, which is his gesture of salutation and appreciation. Then he began to speak."
The New York City Sun  adversely criticized the essay on 26th Nov. issue under the title, " Tagore and his Gospel'.
Mr. William Samuel Johmson wrote in a protest letter dated 30th Nov;
" Rabindranath Tagore is one of the great ones of the earth, a doer of good deeds, a great poet, a great prophet. And his "gospel", though nothing new, is newly stated by his genius for this age of the world,is newly translated into the dialect of the time by an inspired and beautiful intelligence."He also commented, " it is necessary to have some homework study to understand clearly the lecture Rabindranath."
Waterbury American sarcastically wrote on 1st Dec;
" We wonder if there is a reporter in the world, or even an expert on Tagore besides Mr. johnson, himself, who would qualify on the above essentials for reporting Tagore".
The program circulated by Scranton Times [15 Dec] said that Rabindranath had delivered two more lectures, 1. In Brooklin on 22nd evening, and 2. Bennet School, Milbrook on 23rd Dec evening.
But no detail report was available.
Eabindranth informed Mrs. Moody that New york had been more generously responsive -- more than any other towns in this country.
On 24th Nov rabindranath read some portions from his writings in Hudson when he equested the audience to remain silent till he finishes his reading. He then went to Philadelphia.