In the evening of 24th March at 5.30 PM in the biggest community hall Jubilee Hall of the city Rabindranath was greeted in a citizens welcome ceremony in the presence of 5500 persons which was presided by U.Tuk Kyi, MLA and was offered a felicitation paper. Some lines of the felicitation was as follows;
" We greet you in the name of that universal culture which you have promoted with admirable devotion and singleness of aim. We greet you in the name of Human Brotherhood, the inculcation of which in East and West has been with you a consuming passion. We greet you as a votary of Truth sensed through beauty. We greet you as one representing the rebirth of Asia, as one who has thrown across the chasm of ignorance and misunderstanding a bridge of future comprehension between Asia and Eur-America. We greet you as the lineal descendant of philosopher-seers of Ancient India, who at the dawn of civilization proclaimed the Unity of Life and knew Humanity for one family transcending barriers of race and clime."
In reply to the Welcome address Rabindranath gave long speech ; He said;
" Every great nation have contributed something which happened to be the world's treasure. In ancient time India established a relation with the rest of the world which was not based upon their trade or extension of their territory. That was based on some great ideals. In the glorified past of the nation the messengers of the religious and cultural field of India went to distant places and informed them that they had brought something which would help them to tie their friendship for ever. the great contribution of Hindu Philosophy is the strength of the unity."
Elmhirst wrote to Rabindranath on 26th March;
" The local Gujrathi people wanted to utilize the occasion politically."
" We greet you in the name of that universal culture which you have promoted with admirable devotion and singleness of aim. We greet you in the name of Human Brotherhood, the inculcation of which in East and West has been with you a consuming passion. We greet you as a votary of Truth sensed through beauty. We greet you as one representing the rebirth of Asia, as one who has thrown across the chasm of ignorance and misunderstanding a bridge of future comprehension between Asia and Eur-America. We greet you as the lineal descendant of philosopher-seers of Ancient India, who at the dawn of civilization proclaimed the Unity of Life and knew Humanity for one family transcending barriers of race and clime."
In reply to the Welcome address Rabindranath gave long speech ; He said;
" Every great nation have contributed something which happened to be the world's treasure. In ancient time India established a relation with the rest of the world which was not based upon their trade or extension of their territory. That was based on some great ideals. In the glorified past of the nation the messengers of the religious and cultural field of India went to distant places and informed them that they had brought something which would help them to tie their friendship for ever. the great contribution of Hindu Philosophy is the strength of the unity."
Elmhirst wrote to Rabindranath on 26th March;
" The local Gujrathi people wanted to utilize the occasion politically."
