Rabindranath and Western India (contd-5)

On 6th April  in reply to the greetings of all sections of people in Bhavnagar, Rabindranath delivered his lecture in Hindi.This was the first time he spoke in Hindi. Though he was not well in Hindi, he delivered lectures in Gujarat in Hindi three to four times.
In Bombay, on 11th April,  he delivered his lecture to a gathering of students. This was reported in The Indian Daily News  on 13 April;

"On the invitation of the Students' Brotherhood Dr. Rabindranath Tagore delivered a public address on Sunday and received an enthusiastic reception on his first public appearance in Bombay. Sir Narayan Chandravarkar (Sir Narayan Ganesh Chandavarkar (Konkani: नारायण गणेश चन्दावरकर)(December 2, 1855 - May 14, 1923) was an early Indian National Congress politician and Hindu reformer. He was regarded by some as the "leading Hindu reformer of western India), who presided on the occasion, welcomed him on behalf of the Bombay public in eulogistic terms calling him the premier poet of India and maker of modern times.The subject of his speech  was 'the mission of youth" . Dr. Tagore in his lecture expressed his wish not to come before the students who composed the audience in the capacity of a teacher who was old and revered and held at a distance but rather as one who was young in heart and had the deepest sympathy with youth. In India the students of present generation need more than anything else to be constantly reminded that they are young and that it is their duty to find out truth for themselves and to build a new age with their own lives not dwelling merely on the past. .. To remain stationary is to miss truth altogether and to reduce to beggary and make oneself dependent for knowledge and health and wealth upon the fortunate nationals who are on the road of progress. At the conclusion of the address the president presented Dr. tagore rupees five hundred for his school at Santiniketan on behalf of the gathering.
In the night Rabindranath joined a big dinner party in the house of Mrs Petit.    

Rabindranath and Western India (contd-4)

Kshitimoahan Sen wrote ;

" At the end of the Conference of Sahity Sammelan the Womens of ahmedabad invited him to their organisation " Banita-Bisram" in Ahmedabad.. When he went there he was requested  to say something to them."

 VIDYA GAURI NiLKANTH (1876-1958) and her sister Sarada Gouri were the main organisers of this ceremony. As most of the ladies did not know English Rabindranath addressed them in Bengali which was translated in Hindi by Kshitimohan Sen.  

(Vidya Gauri Nilkanth was a social reformer, educationist and writer. She was one of the first two women graduates in Gujarat. Her daughrter Vinodinee Naalkanth (q.v.) also became a writer. Vidya Gauri was born on 1 June 1876 in Ahmedabad. She was the daughter of Gopilal Dhruva, a petty judicial officer, and Balaben. Her father was posted to various small towns in Gujarat while the family stayed in Ahmedabad so that the two girls, Vidya Gauri and Sharda, could go to school. Vidya Gauri studied till class VII at a school in Ahmedabad, then, finding nowhere else to continue their education, she and her sister joined the Anglo-Vernacular classes at the Mahalakshmi Teachers Training College. While still in school, Vidya Gauri was married to Ramanbhai, nine years older than her. Together they wrote articles and books and jointly edited a magazine, Jnansudha. She took the Matriculation examination and then, three years later, was admitted to the Gujarat College. Vidya Gauri stood first in Logic in the Intermediate Arts Examination of Bombay University, then took eight years to complete a BA in moral philosophy and logic. She came first in the entire University in 1901 and was awarded a fellowship in Gujarat College. She and her sister, Sharda Mehta, thus became the first two Gujarati women graduates)

(The National Conference was formed at the third session of the Indian National

Congress in 1887 to provide a forum for the discussion of social issues. The

Bharat Mahila Parishad was the women’s wing of this and was inaugurated in

1905. It focused on child marriage, condition of widows, dowry and other “evil”

customs.The Parsis, the Muslims and the Sikhs all formed their own women’s

organizations.Women in Calcutta, Bombay, Madras and other smaller cities

formed associations whose members were drawn from among a small group of

urban educated families. They were useful in bringing women out of their homes,

giving them an opportunity to meet other women, doing philanthropic work,

encouraging them to take an interest in public affairs and thus broadening their

horizon. It also gave them the experience of managing an organization.) 
After passing for a few days in Ahmedabad Rabindranath went to Bhabnagar. Sir Prava Sankar Pattani was thethen Primeminister of Bhavnagar. he took the initiative of arranging a special train with which Rabindranath came to Bhavnagar. 

The History of Bhavnagar goes back a lot further then the city itself. It begins in the 12th-13th century, when the Gohil Rajputs of the Surya Vanshi clan, facing severe competition in Marwar, moved down to the Gujarat coast and finally settled at Gogha port, near present-day Bhavnagar.

Bhavnagar was founded by Bhavsinhji Gohil, the rulers of Sihor in 1723 AD. It was the time of persistent Maratha raids of the States of Saurashtra. The last princely ruler Late Sir Krishnakumarsinhji handed over the administration of his State to the people's representative in 1948 on the advice of Gandhiji.

Founded as a port in 1743, Bhavnagar is still an important trading post for the cotton goods manufactured in Gujarat. The Bhavnagar lock gate keeps ships a float in the city's port at low tide.

(video) Eki Labanye Punya prane

Rabindranath in Sabarmati Ashram (contd-3)-1920

As promised previously Rabindranath went to Sabarmati Ashram of Gandhiji on 3rd April, 1920.

Sabarmati Ashram
Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad
Sabarmati Ashram

Sabarmati Ashram (Gujarati: સાબરમતી આશ્રમ also known as Gandhi Ashram, Harijan Ashram, or Satyagraha Ashram) is located in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad adjoining to famous Ashram Road, at the bank of River Sabarmati, 4 miles from the town hall. This was one of the residences of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.Mahatma Gandhi spent approximately 12 years of his life here.
The teachers and the students made arrangements for his welcome gorgeously.
Kshitimohan Sen wrote;
" Gurudev visited Sabarmati Ashram  accompanied by Deenabandhu [Andrews] and the speaker himself. The affectionate hospitality of Kasturba was something that could not be easily forgotten."

Rabindranath and Western India (contd-2)-1920

Gujrat Sahitya Sammelan started on 2nd April in Ahmedabad and Mr. Haragobindadas Kantawala presided over the meeting. On the first day Rabindranath read a long essay on "Construction versus Creation " which was subsequently printed in the book Lectures and addresses [1928]. in the repoprt of Gujrat Sahitya Sammelan it was printed titled
" Tagore's Reply".
Rabindranath came to the conclusion by reciting the an original English poetry
He, Who is one, and without caste and color,
Who with his manifold power
    Provide people of all colors
with what are their intrinsic need;
Who is in the beginning
and in the end of all, the shining one,
Let him unite us with the wisdom
which is good.
Rabindranath described his own experience in Japan in this essay'
" The first thing that shocked me with a sense of oersonal injury was the sight of the ruthless intrusion of factories on both banks of the Ganges, where they are most unbecoming in their braze- faced effrontery.The blow which it gave to me was owing to the previous memory of the days of my boyhood when the scenery of this river was the only great thing near my birth place reminding me of the existence of a world made by God's own hands
In the context of the lecture given by Rabindramnath, Gandhiji said;
Let us consider what kind of literature should be produced if we are to educate the masses. The poet gave us today the right point of view on this. He was shrewd in taking the example of Calcutta. He saw that the things are the same in Ahmedabad as in Calcutta and his verbal  attacks were entirely for our benifit. Sydney smith was skilled in the art satire. By using the pronoun "we", to mean his own people. We should see, however, that his attack is against us. describing Calcutta, he says that the banks of the sacred Ganga was covered with huge buildings and this has turned what should be a beautiful scene of nature into an eyesore. Such a spot should fill us with thoughts of nature. Instead, when he thinks of Calcutta, his eyes fill with tears.             .    

Prof.Sankha Ghosh (rt), in his book "Nirman aar Srishti" described uniquely the nutshell of this essay.
" The poet wanted to show how our inclination from creation to construction gets priority in our civilisation and our lifestyle. He said,       

Rabindranath and Western India (contd-1)-1920

Knowing the acceptance by Rabindranath the invitation of Gujrat sahitya Parishad, Gandhiji started publicizing his possible arrival in Gujrat. Gandhiji Wrote in a Gujrati paper "Nabajiban" the news of his arrival which had also been mentioned in his biography in English version;
" Sir Rabindranath's visit
The Sahitya Parishad will be held in April. News had been received that Sir Rabindranath Tagore will grace the conference with his presence.His visit will be no ordinary event. He is not a politician, but a great poet.In India, certainly he has no equal .Our friend Andrews is himself a poet. and in his opinion Sir Rabindranath has no equal today even in Europe.
As he is a poet, so he is a Philosopher and believes in God.Andrews have even called him a prophet.This great poet is a priceless gem of India. No one can deny that his poetry is full of spiritual wisdom, ethical ideas, and other noble elements. His Gitanjali and Sadhana stand in a world apart, his stories are full of childhood's joy and equally of thought and art.
........."
It is to be noted here that even after Rabindranath had denounced his knighthood one year earlier, Gandhiji was writing "Sir" while addressing him which shows nothing but Gandhiji's pro-British attitude.
          For excessive heat, Viswa Bharati was declared to remain closed for three months on and from 25th march 1920 and Rabindranath and his company consisting of Prof Kshitimohan Sen, Srijukta Santosh Chandra Majumdar, Student of Viswa Bharati Sreeman Pramatha Nath Bishi  started for Bombay . Mr. Andrews went there after coming from South Africa.
Ahmedabad was not a new place to Rabindranath. He came here 42 years back and stayed for three months in King's palace of Sahibagh. Now became a guest of Ambala sarabhai
Ambalal Sarabhai (1890–1967) was a leading industrialist of Ahmedabad and also played an important role in India's freedom struggle. He was founder of Sarabhai group of Companies, like Sarabhai Textiles, Calico Textile Mills, Sarabhai Chemicals & others.

He was educated at Gujarat College in Ahmedabad and joined his family business as the director of Karamchand Premchand Private Ltd. He was the owner of Sarabhai Chemicals in Vadodara which manufactured chemicals and pharmaceuticals. He was the president of the Ahmedabad Mill Owner's Association in the year 1918-1919 and also a member of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. He was awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal by the British government which he renounced. He gave both personal and financial support to the freedom struggle in Ahmedabad  

Rabindranath and Western India - 1920

In January,1920,  Rabnbdranath kept himself busy in organizing Viswa Bharati in Santiniketan. Rabindranath got an invitation from Gujrat Sahitya Parishad sometimes in the month of Paush to preside over the annual meeting of the Parishad. But he could not join at that time for want  of time. The chief organizer approached Gandhiji for help in this regard.Gandhiji wrote Rabindranath (Gujrat)on 14th Jan 1920;

"... as one of the reasons for your inability to attend was the shortness of noticegiven to you. It was decided to postpone the Conference to Easter. It could be done without violating
any  canon of propriety as the conference is not an annual
fixture meeting at an appointed time. I know that you would come if your health and other consideration make it possible for you to accept the invitation and I sincerely hope that the Capital of Gujrat will have the honour of receiving you during easter."
Rabindranath could refuse the request of Gandhiji.Moreover, Many Gujratis have sent their wards to Santiniketan and contributed liberally to the fund of Santiniketan. And therefore, he did not  like to miss the opportunity of meeting them and the rulers of Ahmedabad, the capital og Gujrat.
Gandhiji in a welcoming letter informed him on 11Mar,
" ...every effort is being made not to overload you with engagements or tamashas. Will you please let me know, if necessary by wire, how long you will be able to give Gujarat and whether you could visit one or two important ceters. The second question is regarding your residence. Will you put up at the Ashram (Sabarmati) ? Nothing would delight me more.  than to have you at the Ashram..."