Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Rabindranth in America -- New Haven, Connecticut (contd-39)

Woolsey  HallRabindranath entered the stage through one of the door of the pair of doors on the left side of the stage. He was dressed with a brown coloured soft- silken robe. While entering the Hall, he greeted the audience with folded hands.The President of the University Mr.Hadley introduced him before the audience and said, ' Yale is much more debted to india. The pandits of this place are strongly influenced by Indian literature.The greatest Sanskrit Pandit William Dwight Whitney was a man of Yale. The founder Governor of the Collegiate School of Connecticut colony was born in India. Elihu yale (1649-1721) , English official in India; born in Boston. In employment of East India Co. (1671-92_Resident in England from 1699. Made gift of books and goods to the Collegiate  school at Saybrook, Connectcut, and the schooltook his name perpetuated in the yale College. It was with evident surprise that Tagore received the presentation of the Yale bi-centinnial medal, bearing the words "Light and Truth". In presenting it for the College, President Hadley said it was fittting tribute to the man who had brought light and truth to the millions.
Rabindtanath gave a small introduction before he read the poem. He said that he felt uneasyness for vried reasons if he was requested  by to read his poetry. Because the poet could hide himself safely behind the printed pages of the poems. Moreover, there should remain a difference of division of labour between the poet and the readers. "The duty of a poet is to write poetry, not to read out those.". He made a reference with a tree whose duty is to blossom a flower, but not to make a garland with those flowers. Moreover, it is difficult to select the poetry. It would have been suitable if there was a system for selection of poems. In lieu of thay he is selecting poems as it appeared in times. He will read start reading poems of his young age." I hope will believe that when I confess that there was a time when I was young even younger than the youngest of youin this meeting. He began to read poems yearwise and then read some unpublished poems. Selection from poems on children from the "Crescent Moon" were delightful and pleased perhaps as much as any group that he noted seer read."
Then he was greeted by many renowned persons.