Rabindtranath Tagore in China- Peking (contd-4)

On 27th April, Rabindranath with his party started for the Forbidden City to the dethroned king of China. In 1911 when China became Repubilic the six year old King Puyee of Manchu dynasty was removed from the power and kept under confinement.  An English  home tutor named Rejinald Jonston was appointed for him. He gave him the name Henry.For that he was known as ex-king Henry Puyee.  This learned man took the initiative of inviting Rabindranath and his party.
It was about one mile from gate to the palace. They had arranged two well decorated sedan-chair, one for Rabindranath and the other for his twocompanion Grechen Green and Miss Phyllis Lin. The rest of his company went by foot. Rabindranath offered his two female accompaniment lucky conchs as amemento. The rest too offered the king different gifts. The also offered Rabindranatha costly Budhists Statue and a trapistry.
In the evening the intellectuals of Peking offered a dinner to Rabindranath and his party in Navy Club. The learned persons like Liang Chi chao, Lin Chang Min and Fun Yuan Lian, Dr Hu Shi were present on the occasionMr. Lin in his Welcoming address said that they were not welcoming Rabindranath as a sageor Reformer. They took him as a great revolutionary poet. It is their bad luck that they could not come across his original works, still his poetry played an effective role to reconstruct the structure of their verses. " We cannot tell him how moved and touched we are by his presence.His appearance , his eyes, his deportment, his beard, his clothes - everything about him is poetic.He is in fact poetry itself . We hope our poet will give us strength, courage, and audacity. We hope that he will reveal to us the reality of truth, the beauty of moral courage and sacrifice. "
In reply to this welcoming address Rabindranath said;
" We try to find our own country even going to a foreign one and we see it in the surplus of the emotions of  the people of that country. Lin said that the Chinese literature is tied in old coverage - similarly, the literature of his country was bound by the classical Sanskrit literature  and was only approachable to a few learned persons.At the same time a folk literature for the illiterate villagers was circulated parallel amongst the local people. The writer of the classical literature usually collected their ingredients and inspiration from those literature. Those local languages was gradually changing without keeping any sample of it.
But some local dialect  gradually changed to  a higher level to give rise to literature.Here is Mr Kshitomohan Sen who always practiced   medievel period Indian Literature and capable of informing you about the omprovement of liture from the 13th to 16th century. He has come to know that literature with his help. and " I was amazed to discover how modern thy wer, how full of genuine and earnest feelimg of life and beauty. All true things are ever modern and can never become obsolete."
In this long speech he described nicely the nature and sources of his literature. He pointed out something new which he did not mention anywhere earlier.His attempt to read Dante, to translate Hyne from its original writings by knowing German language, the failure of reading Foust of Gette etc were only expressed in this lecture.His role in writing songs and literature were marked as revolutionary. Lastly he said with pride;
" Please donot think I am vain. I can judge myself  objectively and can openly express admiration for my own work, because I am modest. I donot hesitate to say that my songs have found their place in the heart of my land, along with her flowers that are never exhausted, and that the folk of the future, in days of joy or sorrow or festival, will have to sing them. This too is the work of a revolutionist."   

Rabindranath Tagore in China-Peking (contd-3)-1924

About thousand students of the National University, Normal University, and of different Govt.Colleges assembled in the auditorium of the National University to listen the lecture delivered by Rabindranath on 26th April in the afternoon Rabindranath came one  hour late because he went to attend a ceremony in Budhist temple. Liang Chi Chao ( Liang Qichao was a Chinese scholar, journalist, philosopher, and reformist during the late Qing Dynasty and early Chinese Republic who inspired Chinese scholars with his writings and reform movements) read the essay narrated by Rabindranath on the last day. Rabindranath emphatically said that a good number persons were against his visit to China 'because it might check your special modern enthusiasm for western progress and force. But he remarked with caution  that those who wanted to build their nation on the basis of material strength, they do not know the history of human civilization. The strength based only on materialism and those who  depended on that strength, they had  either been destroyed or remained in the dark. On the other hand, those who have mixed up their intellect with their physical strength and acquired the mechanical strength, they have understood that it is necessary to develop spiritual power simultaneously with the development of scientific discoveries. Otherwise, the material strength will reign over the human beings.Many have pointed out mentioning their weaknesses that they have to develop their mechanical strength to protect themselves.Rabindranath cited an example enunciating a translated version in English of a sloka from Manusangita."
 In many meetings of Rabindranath Tagore, the  Chinese youths mentioned him as a representative of a defeated country and cried shame on him.In this meeting, Rabindranath, admitting  this statement said;
" I am ready to accept weakness and insult and oppression of the body, but I will never acknowledge the defeat, the last insult, the utter ruin, of my spirit being conquered, so that I am made to lose my faith and purpose. My enemies may dominate and slay my body, but they cannot make me adopt their methods , or hate them.. The devil helps in the sphere in which he is master, but we must reject such aid to save our life from utter destruction . Seek righteousness even though success be lost."
This lecture delivered by Rabindranath had positive effect on the youths of the China. Elmhirst wrote;
" The scholars and literary men of the Renaissance Movement in Peking were a little sceptical about the poet's philosophy and were not quite sure whether in his enthusiasm for old China he would not be somewhat of a reactionary. His first talk to them has completely won their hearts and minds. They found that he had all the time been as  much of a reactionary in the field of letters , as any of them."
The lecture of Rabindranath was printed in Talks in China [1924] .                    

Rabindranath Tagore in China - Peking (contd -2)-1924

About fifty specially learned and dignified renowned persons greeted Rabindranath in Throne hall on 25th April,1924 and met with him in a tea party.Once in this Hall the King of China met the foreign ambassador in this hall. The President of Peking Lecturer Associaion Liang Qichaoin a long speech describing the old relations between the two countries India and China, he said; " The coming of Rabindranath Tagore will, I hope, mark the beginning of an important period of History.If  we can avail of this occasion to renew the intimate relationship which we had with India  and to establish a really constructive scheme of cooperation, then our welcome to Rabindranath Tagore will have real significance."

(Liang Qichao was a Chinese scholar, journalist, philosopher, and reformist during the late Qing Dynasty and early Chinese Republic who inspired Chinese scholars with his writings and reform movements.)
His speech was written earlier and was added as an introduction to
 " Talks In China"
In reply to the welcome address Rabindranath said, " For many centuries many scholarly persons from  our country me to China. But he has come here as a representative of the culture of the past and present of his country. In this changing situation the intermixing of the  cultures of two countries." Kalidas Nag wrote, " In reply to the welcome address Rabindranath replied with proper politeness, "I have come here to bind ties of the two countries with love - let the two oldest countries unite in spiritual bondness. I have come here  as a representative of our country to invite you - now my dream has been fulfilled."
On 26th April, Rabindranath was greeted in the flower gardenof Lailak of a old Budhist temple. He addressed the young Budhist here. This was described by Kalidas Nag in an essay titled " Rabindranath Tagore's Viswabharati Mission;
"The poet and his party were welcomed by the priests of Fa-yuan-ssu, one of thge oldest temples of Peking. Here under the little trees tagore addressed the priests and the members of the youngbMen's Budhist Association. The temple bell sounded its rich music and the poet also in his wonderfully musical voice expatiated on the deathless doctrine of"   maitri - universal love , like a budhist saint of yore. "
The lecture was printed in " Talks in China [1924] under the title At a Budhist Temple , Peking."
While attending the lunch offered by Anglo-American Association, he said mentioning the name of a person present in the lunch;
" Whenheheard me talk of the mission of co-operationand conciliation which I had in my heart, this man said that China was the one place where I would find good soil for the seed of ideals I had come to sow."          

Rabindranath Tagore in China - Peking (contd - 1)

After coming to Peking Rabindranath and his party get their accommodation in the Grand Hotel of Peking. Kshitimohan wrote his wife Kiranbala ;
" We have come to Peking on 23rd April and got our accommodation in the biggest hotel. we stayed there from 23rd to 25th April and on 26th April myself, Nanda Babu and Kalidas Babu left the Peking Hotel. Now we three are staying the house of a business man of Ceylon, Mr. Lethumal.Gurudev and Elmhirst left the hotel on 28th April and took rent of some rooms in a peaceful hotel. Fresh Euopean meals were available there. "
Rabindranath was taking rest in the hotel. Excepting some interview he had no work.
On 25th April, Rabindranath offered a lunch by Anglo-American Association in Grand Hotel des agons Lits at 12.30 PM. Rabindranath delivered his first lecture here addressing the public. The meeting was presided by the President of the Association, Sir Francis Aglen but he had given the responsibility of introducing Rabindranath to his previously known Dr. Jacob Gould Schurman. In reply to the introduction given by Dr. Jacob Rabindranath narrated his experience as a founder of an Institution and as a trans later of his poems and lyrics in English. He said  when he had gone to England he had in contact with some greatman of England and got their friendship.and " when I dropped in Japan on the way to America in 1916, I realized for the first time...the terrible suffering with which the whole world was afflicted . I saw in Japan the war trophies taken from China publicly exhibited ...I felt humiliatied in my own mind at this primitive and brutal perpetuation of the defeat of an enemy... Nationalism, therefore, seemed to me to be pure barbarism, based on pride, greed and lust for power, with wealth dominating the disease, and I shuddered when I saw the result." Having gone to Europe he received enough greetings after the WWI and he felt, " the nations of the West were looking for for some new ideal from the east which would reconstruct their civilisation on a better basis."  He created Viswabharati University with this ideal.       

Rabindranath Tagore in China-Nanking - 1924

Rabindranath met  military commanders  of Kiangsu, Kiangsi etc three provinces. Kalidas Nag had taken notes of their discussions. Rabindranath said;
" I feel deep regards and concern about China - I have become much pleased to express my sentiments in this regard - from ancient times China bears idealism of civilisation - which is based on peace - a precious treasure of human being. The brutal activities of modern civilisation is going to destroy this. I have come here to remind you about this because India feels China as its near relatives. India looking for China eagerly when the country will again establish itself before the universe on its own ideals and on its own civilisation. The peace loving China will show the new ideals - after solving  its own problems."
The lecture of Rabindranath titled " To Students at Nanking" was published in Talks in China[1924] . He said, " Today the human soul is lying captive in the dungeon of Great Machine, and I ask you, my young princes, to feel this enthusiasm in your hearts and to be willing to rescue the human soul from the grip of greed which keeps it chained." On 21st April, in the morning  Rabindranath with his party started for Peking by a luxury train Blue Express. The militant ruler of Nanking had arranged a special saloon car with the train.
On the way Rabindranath got down from the train and offered flowers to the grave of Confucious.
            On 22nd April, they took a break journey at Tsinan, the capital of Santung.
In the evening Rabindranath delivered a lecture at Provincial Assembly Hall. But it was so crowdy that the venue had to be shifted to open courtyard. The subject of his lecture was "Materialism and the Spiritual life."     On 23rd April in the evening at 7.15 PM the train reached Chien Men station of Peking.Having reached the station a huge gathering of the students and intellectuals greeted him by crackers and rains of flowers. Amongst the gathering there were retired politicician Lin Chiang Min and acting Vice-Chancellor of Peking University Dr.Chiang Mon Lin.
Before this President of Association of Lecturers of Peking, Liang Chi Chou came to the train and greeted Rabindranath and had talks through this train of 75 miles. Some local Persian people and Business man of hemp garlanded him. At last all of them was taken to Grand Hotel of Peking. North China Standard wrote on 25th April;
" No events in the recent years has aroused so much interest in Chinese intellectual circles as the visit of Rabindranath Tagore. Many men have come to China and gone yet none of them has been so enthusiastically received.What is the explanation ? It is because Dr. Tagore belongs to the East and in honouring him the chinese intellectuals are honouring the civilisation of the East. What is more, Dr. Tagore has come with a message which cannot fail to make a powerful appeal to both Young China and Old China. Young China has often be criticised because of its attempt to transplant Western civilisation into Chinese  soil, root and branch. The criticism was certainly justified a few years ago; but since then there has been unmistakable evidence that Young China is beginning to turn from the materialism of the West to the culture of their forefathers for spiritual relief. On the other hand, the will of Young China to examine the teachings of their forefathers in the light of the civilisation of the West, will be reinforced by the words of Mr. Tagore. In this way there will be soon brought about a reconcillation between Young Chinaand Old China, and if this turns out to be the ultimateresult of Dr. Tagore's visit to this country, he will have rendered a great service to the cause of Chinese civiliusation." 
   

Rabindranath Tagore in China-Peking-1924

On 19th April, in the morning at 8AM, Rabindranath left Sanghai and started for Peking through Yangshee river. On the way Rabindranath discussed with his associates about the future politics of Asia. Kalidas Nag wrote this valuable discussion in his diary;
" It is known by many that the strength of China is its population as in India. Russia may have begun to speculate on the basis of this. So we have to move carefully. Though the condition of India as well as Asia is same. Two gigantic power has grown up - one, old world exploitation and newly developed Bolsevik terrorism. Secondly, violence would be done in two ways......."
It was not very easy to know the social condition of Soviet Russia by crossing the net work of obstruction of Imperialism. It was unbelievable that the information gathered by Rabindranathin International politics and the reactions of this politics on other countries..
On 20th April they reached Nanking by steamer and got in the River Bridge Hotel...   

Rabindranath Tagore in China - Sanghai (contd-3)-1924

Rabindranath was greeted in the afternoon by the local institutions and cultural organisations in the community Hall of the largest publishing house on the Pooshan Road presided by C.C,Nieh. The felicitation paper was read by The President, Mr. Sung of Educational Association of Kingsu Province. There were present more than 1200 persons in the meeting. This meeting was arranged by 25 citizens and cultural organisations of the City. Stephen Hey wrote the gist of the meeting in News Paper.
After the meeting Rabindranath was brought to a non-vegetarian restaurant, Kung Teh Lin to get a dinner with theimportant persons of Sanghai. Chinese song was sung there. after the dinner they were entertained by an ancient Chinese Drama in Tai-i-tai hall.