Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Santiniketan (contd-31)

Rabindranath was closely associated with the formation of constitution and preparation of syllabus for National Siksh Parishad. It was formed on 1st July 1906 as per the Act XXI of 1860. Rabindranath was given the charge of setting the Bengali question of Entrance and F.A. examination, equivalent to fifth and seventh standard, to be held on 25th April. He was also given the charge of forming the syllabus of the examination sceduled on Jul 1906.
All these experiences was the basis of his essay 'Shiksha Samasya'. In his opinion the education system introduced in India by the European Society did not produce good result. On the other hand the attempt of introducing the ancient education system of India would be a mere immitation and would do good for nothing.
Rabindranath wanted to implement a best system in his Brahmacharyasram, five years earlierof forming it.In his opinion the Ntional Institution should be situated in a place far away from the cities so that the teachers and students had ample opportunities for acquiring knowledge.
Susila Devi the wife of Mohit Chandra Sen and her two daughters Mira and Uma were dear to Rabindranath.After some time a girl section was started in 1908-1910. Rabindranath asked Susila Devi to take its charges Susila Devi did not live long but her daughters  always  received love and affection from Rabindranath.
11th March, Rabindranath wrote to Sudhangsu Bikash Roy of Giridi,
Why you are insisting on me to supply with text books? Is there any text book in Brahmacharyasram? Text books are being developed gradually while the students are taught. Only in lower class there are only two text books, 1. English sopan, 2. Sanskrit Prabesh. It is better for you and Baman Das Babu to come here and see in your own eyes. Because it is difficult to make you understand by writing letters.
After establishment of  Brahmacharyasram in Santiniketan, Jyotirindranath had not visited. But he came along with Mejo Bauthan, Susi Bauma (wife of Balendranath), wife of Surendranath   and her son Subirendranath and drawn a sketch of Samindranath as the mark of his visit there.