Victoria Ocampo CBE (April 7,
1890 – January 27, 1979) was an Argentine writer and intellectual, described by Jorge Luis Borges
as La mujer más argentina ("the quintessential Argentine woman"). Best
known as an advocate for others and as publisher of the legendary literary
magazine Sur, she was also a
writer and critic in her own right and one of the most prominent South American
women of her timeBorn Ramona Victoria Epifanía Rufina Ocampo in Buenos Aires into a high-class society family, she was educated at home by a French governess. She would later write, "the alphabet-book in which I learned to read was French, as was the hand that taught me to draw those first letters
She was not, of course, ever matriculated at either; her very old, traditional and rich family frowned on formal education for females, and so Victoria had none.
In 1912, Ocampo married Bernando de Estrada (aka Monaco Estrada). The marriage was not happy, and in 1920, the couple separated, and Ocampo began a 13-year affair with her husband's cousin Julián Martínez, a diplomat.
Victoria read Gitanjali translated in French by Andre Gide. Later on she read all the works Rabindranath in English and French and Spanish translation and was attracted to its writer too much.Hence when she heard of Rabindranath's coming to Argentina en-route Peru, she waited anxiously to meet him. She herself wrote, " it was learnt that Rabindranath was going to Lima via Buenos Aires, we who are acquainted with his writings in French and English translation, were waiting for his arrival. His appearance was the most interesting that year for myself this was the greatest event in my life. She wrote, " La Algeria de leer a Rabindranath Tagore ( The joy of reading Rabindranath Tagore) "
Victoria began her writing in the magazine " La Nacion". In that magazine she wrote three essays on Dante, Raskin and Gandhi. This essay for Rabindranath Tagore was published on 9th Nov . She reached with her friend Adelia Acevedo in Plaza hotel where Rabindranath Tagore was boarded. As per physician's opinion who examined Tagore was not favorable for going to Lima through the hilly path of Andes Mountain for his cardiac problem..So it is better to inform the president of Peru that his guest would not be able to reach Peru and he had to take rest before he ascended his ship for his return. " at this Victoria proposed that Tagore with his secretary Elmhirst might stay in the house of San Isidro which belongs to her parents. but as her parents were reluctant to hand over their newly constructed building . Another house, Miralrio, near to the house at San Isidro, belonging to her relative Ricardo de Lafuente Mechain was arranged for a week.
Victoria Ocampo, the host of Rabindranath in Argentina, wrote a book titled Tagore en las barrancas de San Isidro [ 1961] in Spanish language which was translated in Bengali by Shankha Ghosh, titled Ocampo's Rabindranath.
La Nacion , the daily paper, wrote on 8th Nov, a good number of people, both male and female,came to hotel Plaza to pay respect to Rabindranath but all of them had to retreat unsatisfied. Two doctors, Dr. Castx and Dr. Beretervide examined him and said that Rabindranath became too much week due to the attack of influenza in the ship.They advised him not to meet any visitor . After few days the instruction could be relaxed and he might be allowed to walk a little. Rabindranath hoped that he might deliver a lecture in the local University after taking rest for a week.
Though Elmhirst wrote that the Doctors examined him on 9th Nov. and permitted him to go out. Then they moved by a car through the garden Palermo.
