Rabindranath Tagore and Victoria Ocampo

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 time
Born 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.  

Rabindranath Tagore to South America (contd-3)

On 8th Nov Rabindranath wrote to Prasanta Chandra ;
"I was not feeling well for a number of days for pain in my chest, and for weakness. That is why I was thinking of death while lying on my bed at night. The poem "Mrityur Ahbhan"  expresses the suffering of death in the lonely cabin.For the first two or three days I was thinking to go home but later I thought country is for the birth of a person and road is for one's death. "
Day after yesterday, they would reach Buenos Ayres. " I shall examine my body by a doctor. I am feeling what a person feel after a long journey.I am  creating what I feel to create"
It was revealed from the manuscript that the poem " Kritanga" was written at the port Rio-de-Generio". The ship reached Buenos Ayres on 6th Nov at 8 PM and Rabindranath was given a grand felicitation there.
The Standard of Argentinawrote on 7th Nov.;

" In the ship by which Rabindranath came, other important passengers such as British Minister Sir Beilby Alston, in charge of ambassador, with his wife and daughter, Sir Ralph Gore and his wife, Madame Martinez  de Hoz etc. But none was given felicitation. This was arranged only for Tagore. Under the leadership of the well known educationist Ricardo Rojas a reception committee was formed and other organisations had also formed separate reception committees;
" The famous Hindu Poet who arrived on the Andes last evening is only enroute to Peru, where he has been invited to attend the celebration of the  Centenary of the Battle of Ayacucho (The Battle of Ayacucho  was a decisive military encounter during the Peruvian War of Independence. It was the battle that secured the independence of Peru and ensured independence for the rest of South America. It is considered the end of the Spanish American wars of independence , which takes place at Lima on the 9th of next month.) which takes place at Lima on the 9th of next month...
Last evening a delegation from the Syrian-Libanyan Society in Argentina paid homage to the great poet. Mr. Simon Muse preneting the following ; J.M.Nastif, J.J.Bruse, Dr. George Soana ...etc; Where as japanese association were presented by the Vice-President and the Secretary Messrs G. Yashio Shinya and Y. Amano respectively....."
On 7th Nov Rabindranath wrote to Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis;
" We reached the shore yesterday. Now I could understand that I was attacked with Influenza. I had too much sufferings - otherwise I would not have written so many poems. Even I am feeling weakness now a days. Today morning the Doctor came and said that there is no problem in my system, only it is due to over work. This is also what Nilratan Babu said.Any way, I have been received here much cordially which we did not get any where else. The famous Art club of this place has agreed to arrange art exhibition with our materials...Dhiren is coming over here. ..."

The description of the journey of Rabindranath Tagore in Argentina as recorded by Elmhirst was kept in the museum of Victoria Ocampo.    

Rabindranath to South America (contd-2)

He stayed for one day in Ceylon and started with his party on 24th Sept. at 8 AM by a Japanese ship Haruna Maru. But the ship was a cargo ship and it took almost whole day to get it loaded with luggage but  the weather of the next day was not favourable.
In the japanese ship Rabindranath was given a king's reception. Girijapati wrote about his cabin;
" The cabin of Rabindranath Tagore was in the status of a state cabin.There was a drawing room, a small reading room, a bed room with gold plated cot .The whole space was covered with thick carpet."
They had started their journey in the cloudy weather so that the door of his mind was closed. This was expressed in the first place of his diary.
Surendranath Kar was accompanying him in this journey. He wrote his experience of this journey in his diary which was published in Santiniketan in Agrahayan issue , titled, " Jahajer Chithi".The sea was almost calm though there were rains etc. still Pratima Devi, Girijapati Bhattacharya and Bijoy Basu suffered from sea-sickness. Surendranath wrote that the weather was sunny on the third day of their journey and they became gradually fit. The captain of Suamaru ship informed his good wish by wire. He was coming from U.K and as at least 150 miles away.He would meet tomorrow. Eye-witness reported that the ship, "Suamaru", passed very close to the other ship. All the people within the ship cheered Rabindranath Tagore.

Rabindranath reached Port-Said on 3rd Oct and Marceilles of France on 12th Oct The ship Haruna-Maru and he get down there with his party. all of them took shelter in the Guest House of Kann. Elmhirst met with them at that place.
A vivid description of the guest house could be obtained in the "Smriticharan" written by Surendranath Kar. He wrote on Monday (14th Oct, 1924;
" I went to American Express office in the morning and collected tickets for Peru by Ship.At about 11.30 AM I met with one of the Minister of Peru. They had their lunch at 12.30 PM with Sylvain Levy.This arrangement was made to welcome . They went to visit the studio of Mr. Wilson of St. Cloud at 9.30 AM arranged by Prof. Geddes.  They took their lunch with Madam Tulmein at 12.30 PM. and went to meet Madam Rana at 40 Ave Charles Floquet. On 18th Oct at 10.30 AM Rabindranath started for South America with Elmhirst by the ship S.S.Andes from Sherboorg fort.
But Rabindranath caught chill on the boat, it developed into flu, he prepared to die after some hesitation and promptly got well, never ceasing to turn his imagination into poetry even at his worst."
On 18th Oct Rabindranath wrote a poem titled"Aparachita" ( in the manuscript it was "Path"). This poem was edited with deep black ink so that it took the shape of an "architecture" which also reflects the shape of a pointed mouth of an animal. It seems one is sitting on the other. Some poetic lines is overlooking between the gaps of the geometric figures. This drawing is done with thick lines on the white paper. The next poetry "Anmona" was also written on 18th Oct. The whole page was filled up with thick lines of geometric figures. On one main diagram, there are heads of different animals where the eyes are very prominent.....
This was the first attempt of Rabindranath's style of drawing.
On 26th Oct he wrote to Prasantachandra;
" I am  floating on the sea and will reach a port of Brazil within  few days. Then we shall go to Argentina very soon. I think it will reach there on 6th Nov. This time I have no programme of delivering lecture and I am writing poems gladly. I have not written so many poems so far after leaving India.On Indian ocean I wrote verses as well as prose, but here I am writing only poems.In seven days I wrote 12 poems which was difficult for me to write even in my country..'  

    

Rabindranath Tagore to South America (contd-1)

Rabindranath Tagore changed the date for starting his journey, several times, for South America. Ultimately he started  with his party on 19the Sept.,1924. Here was a reporting from Anandabazar Patrika in the afternoon issue, "aparahne" that he started for Madras by Howrah mail on 19th Sept. In the party there were Rathindranath, Pratima Devi, Nandini, Surendranath Kar, Girijapati Bhattacharya, and Bijoy Basu. Girijapati, the brother of Dr. Pashupati Bhattacharya wrote;
" When he heard that I have determined to go to France for study how to  manufacture scent, he told to be his co-passanger, The poet said, ' Bijoy Basu was nominated from  Viswabharati for going to France to be trained in industry for scent. He also nominated me to go to France from Viswabharati."" though both of them were going with their own fund."
The train reached Madras on 21st Sept in the morning.  Before that he was awakened by a group of scout boys in the station of Villapuram to accord  falicitation to me. An unknown Patrika reported;

" The "Sivaji Rovers" of Vallapuram , with their Scout  Master, Mr.K.RR. Sastry M.A. waited at the Vallapuram Railway Station on 21.9.24 to read an address of bon voyage to Dr. Rabindranath Tagore. Dr. Tagore  was was fast asleep in his carriage when Scouter K.R.R.Sastry gently wake him up. Through all too weary, he was full of gracious smiles when he saw many eager scouts rounded him him. Th poet was garlanded and an address was readby Mr. Sastry and presented to him. In reply, Dr. Tagore  said, that scouts in India should not be content with the stereotyped types of drills and games which found favor in the west ....The poet appreciated the fact that songs of the Tamil saints were sung daily by the Rovers. The poet gave an account of the good work done by his Scouts in villages by way of removing the marshes and cleansing wells.
He reached Madras  on 21 Sept and started for Colombo in the evening on that day. He reached there on 23rd Dec.  Ceylon Observer   wrote; " Dr. Rabindranath Tagore arrived in Colombo this morning by the Talaimanner route and proceeded to Sravasti, Cinamons Garden, the residence of Dr. W.A. de Silva, where he remained during his stay in Colombo....

Rabindranath Tagor in South America -1924

This time his foreign tour was full of uncertainty.The Englishman wrote on 17th Sep;
" Dr. Rabindranath Tagore is expected to leave Calcutta for Clombo to-day ( Wednessday) by the Madras mail. He will take the boat from there and proceed to Spain."

Rabindranath had to leave Calcutta on 17th Sep but due to his physical inability he left Calcutta on 19th Sep. In a meeting of the Viswabharati Sammilani, Andrews submitted a tour programme of Rabindranath which revealed the gaps between the proposed programme and its application. He said that Rabindranath would start from Calcutta on 18th May to go to Pithapuram.He would stay there for one/two days then  he would go to Marcelles by a ship named 'Harunamaru'  of Nippon Eusen Kaisa C o. to go to Marcelles. . Elmhirst would join with him at that place and they would go to Paris.From Paris Rabindranath would go to Spain from the city Vigo of Spain they would start in the first half of November and reach at the end of Nov to Callao, Peru.
The ship would stop at Cuba and Havana and would pass through Panama canal and passing through Panama canal and would take the western border line of South America to reach callao.This city is very close to Lima, Capital of Peru.
Rabindranath had to reach there before the centenary of Independence day of Peru started. All the countries of South America had celebrated their Independence day. The first celebration was held on 1910 and Peru would celebrate its independence day at the last.Their date of salvation was 9 Dec1824. He would go to Chile from Lima from that place he would go to Argentina . Then he would go to Italy from Maxico.

Rabindranath to Japan -1924

On 29th May at about 10 PM in the night Rabindranath with his luggage and his associates  got up in the ship "Sanghai Maru" to go to Japan.. The ship started for Japan on 30th May. Rabindranath had to stay there for 15 days. This invitation was given to him by "Kobe-Tagore -Society . A Japanese businessman was sponsoring this tour of Rabindranath.The account of his visit to Japan was written by Suchandra Basu.
Rabindranath delivered many lectures in Japan.
Rabindranath came back to Santiniketan on 22nd July and stayed there upto 9th aug 1924.
On 16th Sep at 6 PM in the evening Rabindranath was presiding over a meeting of Viswabharati Sammilani held at Dwarakanath tagore Lane. The secretary of the Sammilani informed that Gurudev would leave Calcutta on 18th Sep. He would go to South America .

Rabindranath in China - Sanghai

Rabindranath passed three nights and two days on the Yangsi river and reached Sanghai at about 10 AM on 28th May.Kalidas Nag wrote, " We passed two days with Gurudev happily.he was always in deep thought, it is ammazing to see more and more.Suddenly , we had a discussion on death and life after death.The sun is setting behind the river. He was talking about the death of his youngest son Shamindranath.He was saying and his eyes became filled with tears. Having reached Sanghai Rabindranath boarded in the house of an Italian businessman G.A.Bena and the associates of Rabindranath took their seat in the house of an Indian businessman Lalchand. Mrs. Bena was a promoter of learning. She invited some of her European friend in her  sitting room and requested Rabindranath to say something about learning. The lecture ofRabindranath was published in Talks In China (1924) , titled "at Mrs. Bena's Sanghai."

Here he explained again of his aims and objects of establishment of his school. He said,  " I believe that children should be surrounded with the things of nature which have their own educational value. Their minds should be allowed to stumble on and be surprised at everything that happens in the life of to-day. The new to-morrow will stimulate their attention with new facts of life. This is the best method for the child. he also described his experience in his school days and said, " I always had it in my mind to create an atmosphere . This I felt was more important than the teaching in the clssroom. 

On 29th April, Rabindranath went to a Japani School to attend a lunch, arranged in honour for him for bidding him farewell. 

In the afternoon he was given a welcome joyfully in the Garden House of Carson Chang. The chinese intellectuals assembled there to bid him farewell..