Sunday, May 20, 2012

Rabindranath in Europe (contd-18) - 1921

The rector of Berlin University wrote a letter to Rabindranath on 30th May, requesting  him to deliver a lecture in the University. The queen of Baroda invited him in a lunch.
On 1st June, Jun Hugo Stinnes arranged a dinner in honour of Rabindranath Tagore.
On 2nd June he read " The message of  the Forest" in Berlin University at 12 O'clock.The arrangement of selling tickets was made. All the tickets were sold. The persons willing to attend the lecture but could not get tickets,  assembled there two hours  before the scheduled time and managed  to take their seats on the road and the staircase of the hall.The rush was so huge that it took more than an hour for Rabindranath to reach the stage.  Some  papers of England reported the news ironically under the capsion " Girl Students Trampled on in rush to Hear Rabinhdranath" and said;
" Scenes of frenzied hero worship marked a public lecture given by Sir Rabindranathy Tagore to-day at Berlin University. In the rush for seats many girl students fainted and were trampled on by the crowd.  
So great was the enthusiasm which greeted Tagore that the famous theologian Harnack, who presided, had difficulty in obtaining order. A promise that the lecture will be repeated tomorrowfailed to satisfy hundred of students who were  unable to obtain admittance to the lecture room, and eventually the police had to be summoned to eject them from the University."   
The other view was also focussed.  
The ex-professor of Arby language and at present  Education Minister Dr. Becker Deutsche Gessels Shaft arranged a dinner in honour of Tagore. Many important persons including , Ex-Foreign Minister Simons, director of National library Prof. Adolf von   Harnock [1851-1930], rector of Berlin University,Dr. Sekel, prof. of philosophy Dr. Troeltsch, the prof. of scripture of Marburg University Dr. Otto, write of opera Von Scilling  were present.
On 3rd June, he met the British Ambassador Viscount D'Abernon in British consulate of Germay.. His wife could not attend Tagore's lecture due to heavy rush. The ambassador wrote in his diary describing Rabindranath as " more impressive in appearence than most of the conceptions of Christ."
Mr. Nobel Junior offered him a lunch on this date.
In the evening, Rabindranath read " The Message of the Forest" in Berlin University as he proposed to do it. Thye Indian students of Germany entertained him in a tea party.
In the evening the re-established Minister Mr. Rathenau entertained him in a dinner at the house of Mrs. Edith Andreae..