IP_ Tagore Issue - Final.indd - high commission of india mauritius

opinion as among 60 “mostinfluential foreigners” in shapingthe life of modern China, alongwith Marx, Engels, Nehru, etc.The Chinese remember Tagorefondly because his beingan Asian winning the NobelPrize of Western monopolywoke up the self-pride ofAsian peoples, becausehis advocacy of embracingWestern modernization whileconsciously developingEastern traditions of millennialsedimentation of sagacityand enlightenment, and alsobecause of his firm objectionto Japan’s aping the West. TheChinese have always likedTagore’s writings and songsfor the richness of love, hope,harmony, and humanness. A“Tagore fever” was created inChina in the 1920s, especiallyin the wake of his 1924visit. We see another rage of“Tagore fever” surging in Chinawith the universal celebrationof the 150 th birth anniversaryof Tagore.Tagore’s commentary inSikshar Milan likening modernWestern civilizations to “alocomotive… rushing on withits train, the driver left behindwringing his hands in despair”is highly relevant today aftereight decades. In the name of“development”, countries of theentire world are vying with oneanother in converting the fleshand soul of Mother Earth intothe so-called “wealth”, creatingBuddha – a sculpture by Ramkinkar Baej at Santiniketanan increasingly sick, immoraland uncouth humanity living inan increasingly rebellious andhostile environment. We seeTagore-like prophets runningbehind this mad train wringingtheir hands in despair. Wemust stop this mad train andput the driver of mankindto his seat. The best way ofcelebrating Tagore’s 150 th birthanniversary is to call upon thegreat civilizations like India andChina to lead the world out ofthis impasse.◆The author served at the University ofDelhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University.He was also a Professor-Consultant atthe Indira Gandhi National Centre forthe Arts in New Delhi. He was awarded‘Padma-Bhushan’ for his contribution toSino-Indian relations.Tagore’s Visit and its Impact onChina’s Literary WorldYIN XINAN“If all the land were turned to paper and all the seas turnedto ink, and all the forests into pens to write with, they wouldstill not suffice to describe the greatness of the guru.”– KabirRabindranath Tagore, who‘brought out the essenceof Eastern spirituality inhis poetry like no other poet’is revered as the greatest guruof modern India. Gurudev,as he is fondly referred toby his countrymen, had athorough knowledge and deepappreciation of the Chineseculture. On the one hand, heloved the Chinese culture somuch so that he always tookadvantage of his profoundknowledge of the Tang poetryand Tao Te Ching (Dao DeJing), compiled by Lao Tze (LaoZi, 6th century B.C.) one of themost famous sages of ancientChina, and quoted from themprofusely during his talks andspeeches. Tagore often showedhis regard for the glorioushistory and cultural traditionsof China, and was deeplysympathetic towards the countrywhich was being trampled uponby the colonialists at the time.On the other hand, he greatlyinfluenced the contemporaryliterature of China throughhis powerful writings. Bothhis literary works and socialactivities had a strong impact onthe Chinese literati and socialactivists of the time. Tagorewas viewed in those days as abridge of friendship betweenthe two countries.When Tagore won the NobelPrize in 1913, as the first Nobellaureate in Literature from Asia,his reputation spread across theHimalayas in a very short spanof time. Because of the longcultural relationship that existedbetween the two countries, theliterati in China were extremelyhappy to witness the greatachievements made by him. Asmore and more of his articlesbegan to appear in Chinesepublications, Tagore becamevery popular as a literary iconeven among the ordinaryChinese readers which, inturn, led to an upsurge in thedemand for his works. Thus,the conducive atmospherethat existed in China in theearly 1920’s paved the way forTagore’s visit to the country.INDIA PERSPECTIVES VOL 24 NO. 2/2010 100 INDIA PERSPECTIVES VOL 24 NO. 2/2010 101