The expeditions carried out by GiuseppeTucci (1894-1984) stand out in the history of the exploration of the Himalayas andTibet for their original character. Unlike otherWesterners, who travelled through the area as missionaries, geographers, politicalofficers or soldiers, he had been the very first scholar to organize his field work for over twenty years with the specific goal tostudy and to systematically document also with photographs as many aspects as possible of theTibetan civilisation.This achieve-ment went beyond the limits of the traditional academic scholarship of his main field of interest: the Buddhist religion and itshistory. It was made possible by his extraordinary linguistic skill and deep knowledge of the relevant literature as well as by hiscapacity to organize his work within the Italian Institutions and raise funds from private and public sponsors.This history begins in late 1925, when Tucci arrived in Shantiniketan together with Carlo Formichi, professor of Sanskritat the University of Rome.The two scholars had been sent to teach atVishva Bharati after the agreement between RabindranathTagore and the Italian government signed a few months before.At that timeTucci still waved between different interests, thoughhis publications had so far focused mainly on philosophy and religions. From his correspondence we glean, for instance, that hewas equally attracted by Dravidian linguistics.
The Sanskrit Prof. of Rome University Dr. Carlo Formichi has arrived at Shantiniketan on 21 Nov 1925, Rabindranath Tagore and Bihushekhar Shastri welcomed Dr. Formichi in a gathering at Ashram. Dr. Formichi, in reply, said that he had come to Shantiniketan as a representative of Italy, Dr. Formichi carried with him a letter by Senior Mussolini (translated)
Dear Dr. Formichi,
I am very happy to know that Viswa Bharati has invited you. Viswa Bharati respects the intellect of Italy and is respectful to Italian scholars, sciences and Rome University. I am entrusting you to deliver a few books as special gifts from me to Viswabharati - the ideal institute of learning in India. I wish these gifts will help to forge a link between the ancient literary thinking of two countries.
sd/- Mussolini
The response of Rabindranath by a written letter to Mussolini
(translated)
" we are grateful for your expression of respect for Indian civilisation through Dr. Carlo Formichi. You have also sent Prof. Tucci to work along with us on oriental studies and to familiarise our students on Indian history & civilizastion. You have also sent valuable books for our studies . We are thankful for your kind gestures. I am confident that by your sympathetic attitude towards Indian culture as a representative of Italy, the co-operation between our two civilizations will be strengthened and pave way for further meaningful exchanges. Moreover your gesture holds the possibility of turning out to be a memorable day in Indian histry,
sd/- Rabindranath Tagore"
( obtained from- http://pathabhavanpraktoni.net/main??p=3243)
