Rabindranath and Rothenstein (contd-1)

Rabindranath's main problem was a good accommodation other than a hotel. At the first information, Rothenstein found an accommodation, temporarily a house, for them. Rathindranath wrote Nagendranath in a letter dated nil,

" We were in a hotel in the city for the first two days -  Rothenstein, when we called on him, arranged a temporary lodging near his house at Hampstead in a private hotel."

It seemed that they had shifted to their new accommodation at 'The Heath', 2 Holford Road, Hampstead on Tuesday, 18 June (8 Asharh).The boarding house, where we remained, was run by two sisters of Beligium origin.

On thursday, 20th Jun, (6 Asharh), Rabindranath wrote Jagadananda Roy from this place.

" We are trying, here and there, to find an accommodation to our choice. In a day or two we may get it.The house we lave at present is better. It is good but it's rent is high. But i'm thinking that it dose not fit in my present income.Since I have come in an aristocratic area, I cannot live underground.To meet with others, or to invite foreign guests to my residence is expensive here. I can't avoid meeting them lest it will become meaningless to come over here"

Rothenstein had good relations with learned circle in England. For which, it became impossible for Rabindranath to live incognito. Rathindranath informed that the great scientist Sir Oliver Lodge came to see Rabindranath and began to discuss about the doctrine of re-birth. He came to know about Rabindranath from Jagadish Chandra. Havel, Anandakumaraswami, the ex-editor of Statesman S.K.Ratcliff etc, the previously known persons might have come to see Rabindranath. Dr. Devaprsad Sarbadhikari (1862-1935) had come to London to join the Conference of the Universities of the Empire as a representative of Calcutta University. He wrote,
" On Wednessday, 19th June (5th Asharh), I went to the Pearson's House at Hampstead Heath by his repeated request after my dinner. Few persons were invited there and only coffee and ice cream were offered to the guests. One Bengalee domiciled in London read an essay on Bengali literature and eulogized much about Rabindranath. Rabindra Babu too was present on the occasion. The meeting was convened for getting him acquainted  with the persons living in England.Rabi babu sung a song    after many requests and charmed everybody."
The conveners were the man Sukumar Ray (Choudhury), domiciled in England and Mr. Pearson, William Winstanley Pearson (1881-1923).

In 1906, Ray graduated with Hons. in Physics and Chemistry from the Presidency College, Kolkata. He was trained in photography and printing technology in England and was a pioneer of photography and lithography in India. While in England, he also delivered lectures about the songs of Rabindranath before he (Tagore) won the Nobel Prize. Meanwhile, Sukumar had also drawn acclaim as an illustrator. As a technologist, he also developed new methods of halftone blockmaking, and technical articles about this were published in journals in England.

( Book )Shantiniketan : the Bolpur school of Rabindranath Tagore by William Winstanley Pearson

14 editions published between 1916 and 1925 in English and Spanish and held by 165 libraries worldwide

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