Rabindraprasanga 3 by Chittaranjan Bandyopadhyay [Hardcover]

**"Leonard Elmhurst, a dedicated servant of Sriniketan, was a close companion of Rabindranath Tagore. He saw the poet from up close and thought he would write Tagore's biography with the opportunity of this acquaintance. But as he began to write, he realized that it was impossible to capture the countless ideas and extraordinary diversity of Tagore's work in a single biography. This realization is evident in the current collection. From March 1932 to December 1941, selected news about Tagore published in the Anandabazar Patrika has been compiled in this volume. The subjects of this volume include: meetings and committees, tributes, book introductions, travels within the country, travels abroad, internationalism, and various topics. Five subjects from this period have been included in the second volume. The fourth volume will include news articles on three more subjects, along with a chronology and individual profiles. Reliable descriptions of how the events before and during the Second World War affected the poet's mind can be found in this collection.

At the end of his life, Tagore realized that the lack of morality in politics was the main cause of the war. He had no role in establishing peace in colonial India, so he appealed to President Roosevelt to stop the destruction. He further believed that universal humanism could pave the way for eternal peace. Global friendship should not be limited to the union of states; the union of people will strengthen the foundation of global friendship. Even in the toxic atmosphere of war, there was a faint glimmer of impending independence. Tagore realized that India's independence was imminent. He often explained to students that true independence was impossible without addressing illiteracy, poverty, superstition, and poor health.

The collection provides ample evidence of Tagore's keen interest in business and trade. During the Swadeshi era, he initiated various businesses and was one of the founders of Hindustan Cooperative Insurance. His well-thought-out opinions on diverse topics such as nutrition, hygiene practices, tuberculosis prevention, unemployment issues, the weaving industry of Bengal, maternal health, population explosion, and the problems of children with mental disabilities can still guide us today.

One notable aspect of this collection is Tagore's reminiscences, which reveal many little-known facts. He was an external student at Presidency College for one day. In Thakur Bari, the destitute widows often quarreled, and Sarada Devi would resolve their disputes. The vibrant cultural tradition of the Jorasanko house is beautifully described in Tagore's memories. During this period, around 60 of Tagore's books were published, and many of their reviews are included in this collection. It is natural to be curious about how his books were reviewed during his lifetime. Although Tagore seldom gave advice to young writers, he once told them that the pursuit of writing must be carried forward through a difficult barrier. This advice, along with the three pieces of advice given to writers by Bankim Chandra, will remain memorable.

The collection also provides descriptions of Tagore's travels within the country and abroad. In his old age, he visited Iraq, Iran, and Ceylon. A notable experience from his foreign travels is that there was no communal discrimination in those countries. He traveled to many places from North India to South India and explained the ideals of Visva-Bharati. Abroad, he received royal receptions. In the country, he was also greatly honored, the most notable reception being from Orissa after the implementation of provincial autonomy. Just as he received respect, he also freely gave it to eminent personalities from home and abroad. Tulsidas, Rammohan, Vidyasagar, Ramakrishna, Kamalpasha, Yeats, Whitman, and others were recipients of his admiration.

Tagore also faced criticism. He was accused of being a writer solely focused on art, disconnected from the soil of his country—'Currently, Rabindranath has sunk into a mire of misfortune through earning money with dance and song, and we must remember that.' In response to all these criticisms, we recall Tagore's words from long ago: 'My birthplace has accepted me with a bare body, and will bid me farewell with bare honor.'"