In the Cause of Friendship…

‘In the Cause of Friendship ‘: Exchanges between Rabindranath Tagore and the Japan Consulate In Calcutta

Edited and introduced by Nilanjan Bandyopadhyay  

Publisher- Karigar

I am  going to present a brief picture of such a revolutionary yet most important collection of some documents, edited and compiled by none other than Nilanjan Bandyopadhyay, who is at present a poet, writer,  calligrapher and mist importantly a well known tea artist. I’m proud to present his much important documents of the relationship between Nobel Laureate Kabi Guru Rabindranath Tagore and the Japan Consulate of India, a rare collection of letters exchanged between the Consulate General of Japan in Calcutta (the then) between 1929- 40.

In the writer/editor’s own words- “this book is being brought out during the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Japan which will be sadly marked with the heinous assassination of Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister of Japan, a great friend of India.”

As a Bengali, I feel proud we got the opportunity to read such a rare collection of letters for the kind cooperation of Visva-Bharati, Rabindra- Bhavana (files 176 i, 176 ii and 177 under correspondence files in English and other Languages) at Santiniketan.

From several times the Nobel Laureate ‘s personal visits in Japan unfurled his special interest and harmony for the people and their culture, addressing this mystic land as ” distinct features, and what more, she is human. She is not a mask of modern science and organization with living face inside.”

This book of letters, exchanged with the Consulate of Japan unfurled his harmony and love towards Japan and her people and vis a vis through forty long years. [Reference: Mary Lago, ed Imperfect Encounter: Letters of William Rothenstein and Rabindranath Tagore 1911-1941 (Cambridge, Havard University Press,1972, 231. Letter dated 2nd August 1916]

Tagore’s relationship with Okakura Kaakuzo, the world of literature knows him as the Author ” The Book of Tea (1905) appeared from Tagore’s recollections of Okakura which compelled the poet to explore this beautiful country, full of its culture, ecstasy and aesthetics.

Bandyopadhyay clearly stated in his book of this valuable collection that Tagore was so impressed by Okakura that he admitted about him -” He was the first to arouse in us a love for Japan and not only that, he inspired our youths with the sense of their responsibility to their past, to their future and to all humanity. ”

Even Bandyopadhyay himself adopted Japanese art form, making tea aesthetically within himself to enhance the true value of love for Japan, following Tagore’s path honestly.

In his documentary collection of letters between Tagore and the Consulate of Japan, Bandyopadhyay unfurled some rare documents, unique and interesting de-factos about the letters which are available in the file as typed office copies without signatures on them.

These letters proved the fact that “no official proofs are there of the correspondences between the Nobel Laureate and the official of the Consulate General of Japan in Calcutta (the then) are available before 1929, i.e., after the fifth and the final visit of Tagore to Japan.
According to Bandyopadhyay, it seems unlikely that Rabindranath and the Consulate General of Japan in Calcutta didn’t engage in any written communications before 1929.

Whatever the documents are there, all are kept much cautiously at Rabindra- Bhavana, the Institute of Tagore Studies and Research– of Visva-Bharati.

Nilanjan Bandyopadhyay did an outstanding job, collecting all the necessary files and letters between Tagore and the Consulate General of Japan in Calcutta and from this book we’re pretty lucky to know about the warm and loving relationship between Tagore and the country of Japan, which is a great research work and priceless record in the world of Literature, Language, noble and loving relationship between the two generous corners, including political fairness.

Tagore was so in love with this small country that he praised the efficiency and dedication of Japanese women in terms of domestic responsibilities, he even was fond of their gracefulness and beauty, art.  He even desired to appoint a Japanese girl as his personal maid and during his return from Japan in 1929, he brought a young Japanese girl, named Hara-san (san being an honorific suffix attached to a Japanese name or the family name to show respect in Japan) .
In Bandyopadhyay’s documentary collection, Tagore’s biographer Prabhatmohan Mukhopadhyay introduced Hara as a student.

While Hara used to live with the Poet’s own family at Santiniketan, she presumably quite unwilling to leave Santiniketan. Still the poet arranged her way back to her country, Japan due to her illness which took place in Santiniketan.

This book is a must read and should be in each hand to know in detail about the loving, caring, harmonious relationship between the most beautiful country of Japan according to Tagore with him.

We’re grateful to Nilanjan Bandyopadhyay for presenting such a priceless document to us, about our pride of Bengal, the pride of Literary World, Rabindranath Tagore’s relationship with the Consulate of Japan, that’s unfurled in this valuable book.

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