Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Rabindranath in Brussels (Belgium)-1920


While Rabindranth was in holland, he was invited to go to belgium and deliver at least two lectures there. Anthony Dubuis wrote to Rabindranath on 29th Sept after fixing a programme for him on 4th Oct;
" If dr. Tagore delivers his lecture in Antwerp on saturday, 2nd Oct, will be able to be in Brussels on Sunday? In that case I hope he will accept some friends at my house, and hear some music."
and Rabidranath wrote to Andrews from the address,
3 Oct, LGE Gasthuisstraat/ Antwerpen,
" I am writing this leter from Antwerp where I came yesterday morning, and I am getting ready to go to Brusselswhere I have an invitation'
Rathindranath informed that Dr. de Grot and his wife was in charge of arranging lecture for Rabindranath.Simultaneously Ons Vaderland , a Dutch paper, informed that at about 8 pm Rabindranath deliveed a lecture on "the message of the Forest" in Royal Artistic Circle on 2nd Oct.the entry was free.
Rabindranath came to Brussels on 3rd oct and became a guest of Anthony Dubois. On the next day [4th Oct] Rabindranath read the essay " The meeting of the East and the West" in Palais de Justice. A French version of this lecture written by Gaston Denys Perier was published in Modern Review on [Jan 1921/22-25] titled "Rabindranath Tagore in the Palais de Justice". which said that 'innumerable persons before the schedule time came to the hall and there was not a single seat vacant. Even the stairs for ascending  the stage was also filled up by audience." I wrote, Rabindranath chanted at times some of his Bengali songs." The next day an unknown person wrote him,
" For those who suffered with you when the savage clapping of hands interrupted the vibrations of your voice ; for those who wish heartily the real meeting of East and West , in purity of love and peace ... Thank you . brother."