Monday, April 2, 2012

Rabindranath and South India (contd-12)

On 9th March, 1919, Rabindranath came to Madras from Bangalore and became the guest of T.S.Rangaswami Ayar, advocate of  Madras High Court, residing at Mylapore.
On 10th Mar he delivered his first lecture as a Chancellor of National University in the Gokhale Hall situated on the Armenian Street on " The ideal of Education in India" [The centre of Indian Culture]. The meeting was presided by High Court Judge Seshadri Ayar at 5 P.M. Admission was open to persons holding invitation Card. He read essays on the next two days, 11th March &12th March on "The Message of the Forest" and " The Spirit of Popular Religion In India" respectively. Rabindranath visited some Educational Institutions and attended some functions on the next two days. On 13  Mar when he entered the Presidency College, Principal Mr. Alan greeted him. The female students of Mary College and some females were invited there. Rabindranath read the English version of Saradotsab titled "The Autumn Festival". A charity show in aid of Santiniketan was  arranged by Aryagana Sabha and staged a  Devotional Drama " Lalitangi". Rabindranath was greeted there with a  Sandle Box. Rabindranath expressed his gratitude in reply to their welcome and passionate love for his educational endeavor . He also expressed his desire to convert Santiniketan a National Institution so that the students from different provinces may attend it.
On 14th Mar he was greeted by Principal Mr. Arthur davis when he accompanied by andrews entered the Law College in the morning.. The students garlanded him and offered a felicitation paper. He went to Madras Christian College at 11 A.M. by Motor car  and attended an welcome ceremony organized the students and the teachers of the College . He said in reply that he always likes the young students and the read the poem " Gandharir Abedan" from the manuscript.
Rabindranath started for his Madras  tour on 6 Jan and returned back to Calcutta on 17th March. He took 60 days in his tour progrmme . Some days he spent for taking rest . The places he covered in his tour were Quambatour, Paul Ghat, Salem, Tiruchirapally, Kumbokanam, Tanjore, Madura, Madanpalle, and again  Bangalore. He delivered three lectures as a Chancellor of National University founded by Basant.
Due to his sudden illness he had cut all his programme including a lecture to be delivered in a Cinema Hall where he had to read the essay on  ' The message of the Forest". This was arranged by selling tickets or entry and the collected money was to be handed over in aid of Santiniketan.
He returned to Calcutta on 17th mar by Calcutta Mail train on 15th Mar.