Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Rabindranath in England 4th time (contd-5) - 1920

Nicholas Roerich, also known as Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh (Russian: Никола́й Константи́нович Рéрих; October 9 [O.S. September 27] 1874 – December 13, 1947), was a Russian mystic, painter, philosopher, scientist, writer, traveler, and public figure. A prolific artist, he created thousands of paintings (many of them are exhibited in well-known museums of the world) and about 30 literary works. Roerich was an author and initiator of an international pact for the protection of artistic and academic institutions and historical sites (Roerich's Pact) and a founder of an international movement for the defence of culture. Roerich earned several nominations for the Nobel Prize.
On 17th June after dinner, Suniti Kumar Chattopadhyay fetched Nicholai rerickh and his two sons to Rabindranath to meet him and he wrote;
" The famous Russian artist Nicholai Rerick was passing a life of exportation in England. He was against the rule of Bolsheviks for which he was exiled. He had to leave his magnificient building,  his collected antiques, collected paintings,and all his properties and live outside his own country. I was a class mate of his elder son in the "School of Oriental Studies" . .....he offered a prsentation of his own paintings and read before him the poem translated by him in Russia......."
One day rabindranath went to his residence.
On 18th June, the poet, dramatist and expert in drama Robert C. Trevelyan [1872-1951] came to meet Rabindranath. During day time Rabindranath had a lunch in Mahutton Restaurant with Mr.Milburn, Rothenstein, Arnest Ridge, and his friend Miss Sawyer. Mr Milburn adviced Rabindranath to write an essay addressing the British people on the State of things of Amritsar Massacre which he will read in Young Unionist Party and a print out of that lecture might be distributed to public. He may see the political leaders  lke Lord Robert Cycil, Mrs. Drmsty, Loyed George. If these programme be taken prior to the session of discussion of the Report of Hunter Commission. it will have far reaching consequences. It was settled that after coming back from Oxford he will meet these persons.
In the evening Union of East and West gave a tea party in honour of Rabindranath Tagore.