Rathindranath and Widow Marriage

Devendranath did not have good relation with "Tattwbodhini" paper and the authorities of the paper was reluctant to publish any news of Thakurbari. Many became astonished  to see the following news in Tattwabodhini;
"The widow daughter of one of the Judge of Calcutta High Court, Sreeyukta Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay Saraswati, was married in his residence at Bhawanipore on 24 Feb, 1908. Many important persons were present on that occasion. The marriage was performed according Hindu Philosophy."
  Once when Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagrar was the director of "Tattwabodhini", Devendranath boycotted the meetings of Tattwabodhini because they were publishing the news of widow marriage. Now the situation was reversed. Not only they were publishing the news of widow marriage, widow marriage was happening in Tagoe family.  
There had been a social turmoil at the marriage of the widow daughter, Kamala Devi (1895-1923), of Ashutosh Mukhopadyay. Jyotirindranath wrote in his diary on 27 Feb,1908,
" At the marriage of the widow daughter of Ashutosh Mukherjee a group of people became at daggers drawn....."Sandhya" and "Bangabasi" belonged to this opposition gruop."
Kamala Devi was married with Subhendusundar Bandyopadhyay, grand son of Bankim Chandra. The relatives of his ex-son-in-law filed a case in the court relating this incident. Neglecting all these, Ashutosh arranged the marriage of his widow daughter. But as ill-luck would have it , the second husband of Kamala was short lived.
There was no written description of  Rabindranath's reactions on this issue and  he who, at the direction of Devendranath, stood against  the marriage of Sahana Devi,the widow wife of Balendranath, on 1307 (1901), in his own initiative arranged marriage of his second  son-in-law, Satyendranath Bhattacharya with Chaya, the widow daughter of Satindra Mohan Thakur of Pathuriaghata, on 18 June 1908 (4 Asharh 1315). On the next year he arranged marriage of his son with child widow Pratima Devi.     

Rabindranath in Rural Reconstruction (contd-1)

Rabindranath started his rural reconstruction programme (sacrificial rite) from Selaidah. In place of the senior manager Bamacharan Basu he appointed Bipinbehari Basu, B.L., on Baishakh 1314 (April 1907). This energetic and efficient manager made simplified of Rabindranth's purpose. The estate of Berhampore Pargana was divided into four Mandali (departmental office) except Selaidah. 1. Janipur -Banagram, 2. Kumarkhali-Panthi, 3. Kaya-Kaloya, and 4. Sadirajpur-Radhakantapur. Four persons were given charges of those offices as Superindendants,  1. Nalini Chakraborty, 2.Bhupesh Chandra Roy,3. Ratikanta Das, and 4. Satish Chandra Ghosh. He charged welfare tax at the rate of 3 paise per rupee per tenant in his estate over the introduction of small donation (mustl bhiksha). Zamindar  paid  equal  or more the amount collected as welfare tax and small donations.
In each Mandali other than the Superintendent two Hindus and two Muslims were appointed as members. At the beginning twice in a week and later once in a week they met and look after the plan and programme. On 14th July, 1908 (30  Asharh , 1314) Rabindranath wrote Manoranjan Bandtopadhayay;
"I have established a work in our Zamindary estate. Dividing the Berhampore pargana into five Mandals, I have appointed five Superintendents These Superintendents are engaged in establishing Palli-Samaj (Rural reconstruction) so that the villagers took their own initiative for their welfare. They will do the following works,
1. Construct and maintain the roads of the village,
2. Remove the Darth of drinking water,
3. Settle down the litigation among the village people,
4. Establish and run the schools,
5. Cutting and clearing the woods,
6. Creation of Grain-Gola as a protection against famine etc
Moreover to develop initiatives and encouragements among the villagers to work hand in hand for the all round benefits of the village society.Work is progressing much among the tenants, those who are Muslims  - in the Hindu locality there are obstructions. Rabindranath could remember this difference between Hindu and Muslim locality through out his life. (vide Sriniketan-er Itihas o Adarsha, Palliprakriti 27/554). Probably for this reason, his plan of welfare work was successful more in the Muslim locality, Kaligram, than in  the Hindu locality, Berhampore.
Rabindranath transfered Subodh Chandra, working in Santiniketan to the job at Selaidah due to his high ambition. But it is only due to an accident he had to resign from his service. He wrote Bhupendranath,
"Bhupesh was always practicing heroism by loading a pistol and got pleasure by killing the pair of doves. One of the relatives of Subodh (Haridas) had taken away the loaded pistol from the hands of Bhupesh and was trying, as a play game, to frighten the children of Subodh who were sitting on the lap of Bhupesh. All on a sudden, a bullet came out of the pistol and hit Latu (Latika) on her forehead.Subodh was working with me on the boat. Latu died when we came  back from our work.  By nature Subodh was restless. He laid flat due to his bereavement. No one could give him solace so that he might resume his work. After all , he left Slaidah as soon as possible.         

Rabindranath in Rural reconstruction

Rabindranath came to the shore of Padma with his two daughters, Madhurilata and Mira. After coming over here Rabindranath became free from his health hazards and he wanted to use his physical fitness in the field of rural reconstruction . He was instructing the villagers for many days to develop self-strength. The neglected habitats of  the villages of Bengal were his main place of work. The wave of the movement against division of Bengal and the boycott movement drove away the young educated youth to move door to door campaign.But many of them could not establish good relation  with the villagers, their appeal fell flat on   them. Even they encountered direct opposition from the villagers. For this reason Rabindranath explained in his speech about the plan of "Pallysamaj" in the meeting of the Don Society.In this speech he mentioned ; " I have been trying to establish "pallysamity" which did not attain success. Any attempt for the benifit of the Bengalees could not get success because of their difference of opinion on petty matters."
When he was at Selaidah he again tried on his plan for rural reconstruction. He wrote to Bhupendranath;
" I have taken up a job here and I shall be glad if I become successful." He wrote in details of the plan and  programme to Ajit Kumar Chakraborty on 15  Jan;
" The village is not yet prepared to accept my plan of action. At present I am trying to know the village and the villagers. Bhupesh is collecting data. When this programme will  take a shape then we shall start with the plan. I want to establish 'Swaraj' to each of the village- the miniature form of the whole country. The work is difficult, but we have to do it. It  needs many sacrifices. I am preparing my mind to get the service of my son, Rathi . He also should get ready to sacrifice for this programme.
He came back from Selaidah on 6 April and wrote Abala Basu,
Now I'm busy with "Pallisamaj". I have decided to show an example in our Zamindari estate how to create an ideal village. I have already started doing work. I got some youth of east Bengal who are working with me. They are working within the village by staying with them. They are imparting education, advicing on health and justice so that the villagers  can do with their own initiative. With the help of the villagers, they are constructing roads, digging ponds, preparing drains, cutting of jungles etc.
If we can spread the initiative through out the whole country, then Swaraj, Independence etc will seem to be within our reach. Otherwise, one should feel ashamed to utter such shallow word. Rabindranath was also conscious about the complexity of psychological problems." He wrote Ajit Kumar Chakraborty ;
" First and foremost obstructions came from human being. But when they find it reliable, every obstacle will be removed very easily. There are some advantages. 1. One factor is that I am a Zamindar, 2. Economic stability; But actually it is difficult to say that these are advantages. Some hidden lies remain within it. If one could remove the actual obstruction with actual effort, then one can perceive what is  truth. After doing some work, it gains some inertia and the speed of the work will increase. So long as Bhupesh are working  with us, the impetus of the work will not diminish. So one day we have to leave the villagers work independently.Otherwise they cannot mix up with the grassroots. They will look upon the result to be earned easily. What may come we have to do it. Make the villages independent  and the humanity saved. Attempts are being made so that the village work are done by the villagers unitedly. One multipurpose shop is going to be established and one school to be founded. To each family we have given a pot where they will put coins for the village work. If 10 rupees are collected and I  give 5 rupees then  with 15 rupees one teacher could be appointed. He will get his fooding and lodging in a house and build up the village from within .
Rabindranath could visualise his imagination  to be converted into practice and became agitated with restlessness. He wrote Bhupendranath,
I am  feeling agitation within my heart and I have to find an way out or I shall not be able to settle my mind..              

Rabindranath and Techical Laboratory

Since the inception of the school, Rabindranath thought of establishing a laboratory and a technical department in his institution. But for want of money, equipments and suitable teachers his desire did not fulfill. He started a carpentary and weaving sections with small costs. After the closure of a college, established by the Maharaja of Tripura, he received as a gift some scientific instrument from the college. But those instruments were insufficient to  start a full-fledged technical department.
Being encouraged at this  Rabindranath wrote Bhupendranath on 15 Dec 1908;
There are some instruments at the Ashram established by Darmapal at Sarnath of Kasi. He proposed to donate all these instruments to our instittution. But those instruments are to be brought after proper packing. It is you only, who can do this because you stay in Kashi and you know how it can be done. I asked Satya to make arrangement for bringing a permission letter from the authority. After getting that you can proceed to bring those instruments."
He was instructed not to proceed after few days for it had been decided that Satya would bring all those intruments.
On 17 Feb 1908, Rabindranath wrote son-in law Nagendranath ,
A meeting was held in America by the benifactors of India. Do they are agrreable to give us some advice in this regard. If it is possible for me to organise a technical department, which I like, and run it under the name "Indo American Industrial Institution" so that we may get help from abroad. The reply of Darmapal needs to be informed to Bhupendranath.
Jagadish Chandra Basu was at London at that time. He informed Rabindranath,
"a small instrument is available here. It's my desire to open a workshop at your school. With only Rs. 150/- one may get one horse power Kerosene Engine which runs  a dynamo very easily to produce light. Ofcourse another Rs.50/- is necessary for kerosene. An American lathe machine is available with only Rs.200/-. Your workshop can be started with Rs. 500/- or 600/-."
In reply Rabindra asked the actual amount with which it can be started. Will it be possible with Rs. 1000/- ? Jagadish Chandra answered that it can be started with Rs. 1500/-.
The proposal did not materialised  due to want of suitable available teacher.
Not only a techinical Department,  Rabindrnath wanted to open a College at Santiniketan in Bolpur. The pleader and national leader of Silchar named Kamini Kumar Chanda wanted to get his son Apurba Kumar admitted in Brahmacharyashram and agreed to pay Rs.60/- per month.
In 1911, Rabindranath took another attempt for openning a College. But that two was not possible.    

Rathindranath and Santiniketan (contd-44)

Rasbindranth's youngest daughter, Mira, was to be married to Nagendranath Gangopadhyay on 23 Jaishthya. After their marriage Nagendranath would be sent to America for training in Agricultural Science. Rathi and Nagendranath would be absorbed simultaneously.
During the movement against "Division of Bengal' the name of Rabindranath was black-listed by the police. The police was curious about his poem "Namaskar" and also they were watchful about Brahmacharyasram. Rajlakshmi Devi wrote Rathindranath on 4th Sept 2007,
"Perhaps you know that your father does not possess good name in the police document. The Government has prosecuted Arabindo Ghosh, the editor of "Bandemataram" .Perhaps you know this.  Your father has written a poem wishing  him which has been circulated throughout Calcutta and was published in Bhadra issue of Bangadarshan. In that poem he didnot show faithfulness to the government. For all these reasons they were displeased with him. Yesterday we got a sign of that. On all a sudden a man came to our place, apparent intention of him was to inspect the school.  Your father felt some doubt about the man. He, at first, introduced him with the teachers and left the place in a hurry. But the man did not relieve him so easily.He began to search this and that and asked the students whether they undergo training of bamboo-sticks or sword or gun etc. We had a Volunteer Band amongst the students now a days.12/14 students are practicing, every day, different difficult training. They are instructed by blowing bugle. On hearing the sound of the bugle, the doubt of the man became sound. At last he went to inspect nook and corner, from Laboratory to kitchen  searching everthing. After the lunch he interrogated your father for long time on different issues. He pretended to show that he is eager to establish a school of this type and asked to be frank to inform him in details about the school. Ultimnately your father told him that you may please see all the rooms but you will not be able to find anything which you want to see. We donot prepare bombs like things. Then he went away and did not stay in Santiniketan even on repeated requests.
Another person came , and halted for 2/3 days."
Rabindranath  wrote Rathindra to make Nagendranath convince to take up agricultural Science instead of Ceramic. "Try your best so that Nagendra become stout and bold like a man. I find him  shading tears while he writes letter to his brother. That was  typical of the members of Brhmo Samaj. They think that this is the way how one can show his tenderness. But they do not know that this is the sign of disgrace to a maleperson."

Rathindranath and Santiniketan (contd-43)

Rabindranath decided to send Rathindranath to America for getting him trained in Agricultural Science. He surely had started communication earlier with Urbano Agricultural College. The expenses for purchasing some emergency materials for going to America was found in the official cash book dated 25 Feb 1906. The farewell of Rathindranath and Santosh Chandra  was arranged on 12 March at Santiniketan. They had some acquittance with Anushilan Samity after joining in the Movement for withdrawal of the order of  "Division of Bengal". Jibantara Halder wrote ;
"After few days RathinThakur, Nagen Ganguli and Santosh Majumdar started for America for getting themselves trained for "Introduction of National Education" in our country." A meeting was arranged at the central office (49 Corrnwallis Street) for bidding the farewell. Rabindranath was present on the occasion, delivered his welcoming address and took dinner with the members of the Samity."The autobiographer of Rabndranth wrote that Rathindranath and Santosh Chandra started for America via Japan in a steamer on 3rd April 1906.
Surendranath took the charge of Zamindary after the death of Maharshi Devendranath. He changed some duties of the office clerks.

SANTOSH PATHSALA Santosh Pathsala was established in 1988. This Kindergarten School is in the memory of one of the earliest students of Tagore's asrama and later, staff of Visva-Bharati, Santosh Chandra Majumdar. This school is modeled on the lines of Mrinalini Ananda Pathsala. Here children are provided an exposure to the work of schools and learning in the open. Most children are first generation learners and the years spent here make for a smooth transition to main stream high school education. The children move on to Siksha-Satra after successful completion of two years. Rathindranath and Santosh Chandra Majumdar started for Japan on 3rd April and on 22 April Santosh Chandra wrote Rabindranath, " We reached Hong Kong on day before yesturday. We went for visiting Canton and could not find time for writing you." He wrote a letter to Mira Devi on reaching Tokyo on 18 May describing the Joyful mood of the Japanese after their victory against Russia. Rathindranath wrote a similar description in his "Pitri-Smriti". Here he also described how he has passed in the examination of his eye sight and boarde the ship in a third clss seat for America. But he did not describe how they have reached Urbano through  Sanfransisco being affected by earthquake. But he described that it was winter when they have reached through frost-wave. An article, titled "Student life in America", was published in "The Bengalee" on 2 Jan 1907 by a writer from Ilionois, may be, it was Rathindranath.

Rathindranath and Santiniketan (contd-43)

At the advice of Rabindranath a Bandemataram Community was formed during Swdeshi Movement (1905) with the following members,

President:  Surendranath Bandyopadhyay (1848-1925),

Vice-Presidents; 1. Rabindranath, 2. Chittaranjan Das, 3. Kumar Sarat Chandra Roy,

 Treasurer: Amritalal Mitra, Joint-Secretaries; Nanda Kishore Mitra, and Hemendraprasad Ghosh,

 They went out door to door for mass collection singing Rabinath's songs,

1. Amra pathe pathe jabo sare sare,

2. Tomar nam geye phiriba dware dware etc.

Rathindranath wrote, "we also formed a "Baitalik Dal" at Santiniketan under the leadership of Dinendranath and went out singing collecting money for "National Fund".  It was a great pleasure to us when we saw that the Beetle-shop owner, hawkers etc were donating paisa in our busket.  Organisations of this type were formed at different places of Bengal. 

In Bhadra -Aswin issue of "Bhandar" (2nd Volume)was published on 27th oct (10 Kartick). In this issue one essay and three songs of Rabindranath were published.

"Rakhi sangeet"

1. Banglar mati bangalar jal....,

2. Onder bandan jatai sakta habe...,

3. Bidhir Bandan Katbe.....

On the of Rakhi bandan, the lady get from bed, early in the morning. The city was calm and quite, breeze has not blown, Morning softness was prevailing in the sky, the impending light was waiting for its brightness in the dark.After a minute fraction of time the whole world would be awakened to spell it with tremendous enlightenment........"