Shantiniketan : the Bolpur school of Rabindranath Tagore

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SHANTINIKETAN

THE BOLPUR SCHOOL OF
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

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SHANTINIKETAN

THE BOLPUR SCHOOL OF
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

BY

W. W. PEARSON

ILLUSTRATED BY

MUKUL CHANDRA DEY

MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED

ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON

1917

^•..
^'\<^^^^^

COPYRIGHT

TO

JADAV

CONTENTS

PAGE

The Shantiniketan School Song .... xiii

Introduction, by Rabindranath Tagore ... 1

Shantiniketan, by W. W. Pearson . . . .11

The Gift to the Guru ...... 57

Paradise : being an Address delivered by Rabin-
dranath Tagohe before Japanese Students in
Tokyo 101

Parting, by Rabindranath Tagore . . . .107

SHANTINIKETAN

THE BOLPUR SCHOOL OF
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

■^iiWtLjini iiiii<>«wimwi»»W>

THE SHANTINIKETAN SCHOOL SONG

By Rabindranath Tagore
Translated from the original Bengali by the Author.

She is our otvii, the darling of our hearts, the

Shantiniketan.
Our dreams are rocked in her arms.
Her face is afresh wonder of love every time we

see her.
For she is our own, the darling of our heart.

In the shadows of her trees we meet,
In the freedom of her open sky.
Her mornings come and her evenings
Bringing down heavens kisses,
Mcdcing us feel anew that she is our oivn, the
darling of our heart.

xiv SHANTINIKETAN

TJic HtiUncss of her shades is stirred by the ivood-

land whisper ;
Her amlahi groves are aquiver with the rapture

of leaves.
She dwells in us and around us however far we

may wander.
She weaves our hearts in a song making us one in

music,
Tuning our strings of love with her own fingers.
And zve ever remember that she is our own, the

darling of our heart.

SHANTINIKETAN

INTRODUCTION BY

RABINDRANATH TAGORE

INTRODUCTION

By Rabindranath Tagore

The greatest teachers in ancient India, whose
names are still remembered, were forest-dwellers.
By the shady border of some sacred river or
Himalayan lake they built their altar of fire,
grazed their cattle, harvested wild rice and fruits
for their food, lived with their wives and children
in the bosom of primeval nature, meditated
upon the deepest problems of the soul, and made
it their object of life to grow in sympathy with
all creation and in communion with the Supreme
Being. There students flocked round them and
had their lessons of immortal life in the atmo-
sphere of truth, peace and freedom of the spirit.
Though in later ages circumstances changed
and numerous kingdoms, great and small,
flourished in wealth and power, and forests
began to give way to towns with multiplication
of luxuries in the homes of the rich, the highest

1 B

2 SHANTINIKETAN

ideals of civilisation in our country ever remained
the ideals of those forest sanctuaries. All our
great classic poets in their epic verses and dramas
looked back with reverence upon that golden
daybreak of the awakenment of India's soul.

In the modern time my turn has also come
to dream of that age towering above all ages of
subsequent history in the greatness of its sim-
plicity and wisdom of pure life. While spending
a great part of my youth in the riverside solitude
of the sandbanks of the Padma, a time came
when I woke up to the call of the spirit of my
country and felt impelled to dedicate my life in
furthering the purpose that lies in the heart of
her history. I seemed choked for breath in the
hideous nightmare of our present time, meaning-
less in its petty ambitions of poverty, and felt
in me the struggle of my motherland for awaken-
ing in spiritual emancipation. Our endeavours
after political agitation seemed to me unreal to
the core and pitifully feeble in their utter help-
lessness. I felt that it is a blessing of providence
that begging should be an unprofitable profes-
sion and that only to him who hath shall be
given. I said to myself that we must seek for
our own inheritance and with it buy our true
place in the world.

SHANTINIKETAN 3

Then came to me a vision of the fulness of the
inner man which was attained in India in the
solemn seclusion of her forests wlien the rest of
the world was hardly awake. Tlie truth became
clear to me that India had cut her ])atli and
broadened it for ages, the path that leads to a
life reaching beyond death, rising high above
the idealisation of political selfishness and the
insatiable lust for accumulation of materials.
The voice came to me in the Vedic tongue from
the ashrams, the forest sanctuaries of the past,
with the call — " Come to me as the rivers to the
sea, as the days and nights to the com})letion of
their annual cycle. Let our taking and impart-
ing truth be full of the radiance of light. Let us
never come into conflict with one another. Let
our minds speed towards their supreme good."

My heart responded to that call and I deter-
mined to do what I could to bring to the surface,
for our daily use and purification, the stream of
ideals that originated in the summit of our past,
flowing underground in the depth of India's
soil, — the ideals of simplicity of life, clarity of
spiritual vision, purity of heart, harmony with
the universe, and consciousness of the infinite
personality in all creation.

I knew that the lessons of the modern schools

4 SHANTINIKETAN

and the tendencies of the present time were
aggressively antagonistic to these ideals, but
also I was certain that the ancient teachers of
India were right when they said with a positive
assurance: "It is an absolute death to depart
from this life without realising the Eternal
Truth of life."

Thus the exclusiveness of my literary life
burst its barriers, coming into touch with the
deeper aspirations of my country which lay
hidden in her heart. I came to live in the
Shantiniketan sanctuary founded by my father
and there gradually gathered round me, under
the shades of sal trees, boys from distant homes.

This was the time when Satish Chandra Roy,
the author of the following little story, felt
attracted to me and to my ideas and devoted
himself to building up of the ashram and serving
the boys with living food from the fulness of
his life. He was barely nineteen, but he was
born with a luminosity of soul. In him the
spirit of renunciation was a natural product of
an extraordinary capacity for enjoyment of life.
All his student days he had been struggling
with poverty — and yet he cheerfully gave up all
chances of worldly prospects when they were
near at hand and took his place in the ashram

SHANTINIKETAN 5

because it was truly his by right. He would
have needed no recommendation from me, but
unfortunately he died young before he had time
to fulfil his promise, leaving the record of his
greatness only in the memory of his friends.

I cannot but conclude this preface of mine
with an extract from my lecture about Shanti-
niketan where I have described his connection
with the ashram.

" Fortunately for me, Satish Chandra Roy, a
young student of great promise, who was getting
ready for his B.A. degree, became attracted to
my school and devoted his life to carrying out
my idea. He was barely nineteen but he had a
wonderful soul, living in a world of ideas, keenly
responsive to all that was beautiful and great in
the realm of nature and of the human mind.
He was a poet who, if he had lived, would surely
have taken his place among the immortals of
world-literature, but he died when he was twenty,
thus offering his service to our school only for
the period of one short year. With him boys
never felt that they were confined in the limits
of a teaching class, they seemed to have their
access to everywhere. They would go with
him to the forest when in the spring tlie sal
trees were in full blossom, and he would recite

6 SHANTINIKETAN

to them his favourite poems, frenzied with ex-
citement. He used to read to them Shakespeare
and even Browning — for he was a great lover of
Browning — explaining to them in Bengali with
his wonderful power of expression. He never
had any feeling of distrust for the boys' capacity
of understanding ; he would talk and read to
them about whatever was the subject in which
he himself was interested. He knew that it was
not at all necessary for the boys to understand
literally and accurately, but that their minds
should be roused, and in this he was always
successful. He was not like other teachers,
a mere vehicle of text -books. He made his
teaching personal, he himself was the source
of it, and therefore it was made of life- stuff
easily assimilable by living human nature. The
real reason of his successes was his intense
interest in life, in ideas, in everything around
him, in the boys who came in contact with him.
He had his inspiration not through the medium
of books but through the direct communica-
tion of his sensitive mind with the world. The
seasons had upon him the same effect as they
had upon the plants. He seemed to feel in his
blood the unseen messages of nature that are
always travelling through space, floating in the

SHANTINIKETAN 7

air, shimmering in the leaves, tingling in the
roots of the grass under the earth. The litera-
ture that he studied had not the least smell of
the library about it. He had the power to see
ideas before him, as he could see his friends, with
all the distinctness of form and subtlety of life."

SHANTINIKETAN

BY

W. W. PEARSON

'^iiPs.

SHANTINIKETAN

By W. W. Pearson

The author of tlie story that follows was so
intimately connected with the life of Rabin-
dranath Tagore's school at Shantiniketan, 13ol-
pur, that in order to understand the spirit of
the story which was written for the boys of
the ashram and was told them as they sat under
the trees in the moonlight, a short account of
the School itself seems a fitting introduction.

As our first impressions of a place are often
the truest I will begin by an account of my
first visit to Bolpur in 1912.

Bolpur is situated about a hundred miles
from Calcutta, so that the School is remote from
the distractions of town life and yet within easy
reach of the stimulating activities of an intel-
lectual centre. When I arrived at the station

it was just sunset, the time picturesquely called

11

12 SHANTINIKETAN

ill Bengal the "cow dust" time, for it is then
that the cattle are driven from the fields, and
the sun sets behind a golden mist raised by
the cows as they slowly make their way across
the dusty fields. I was met by one of the
masters and four of the older boys who took all
my luggage from the carriage and carried it to
the cart which was waiting outside the station.
They welcomed me very warmly because I had
just returned from England, where I had seen
their Guru, and as we drove slowly along in the
bullock - cart our talk was chiefly about him.
As we approached the School, which stands on
high ground, so that the lights shine out over the
surrounding country, one or two remarks, such
as " That is one of his favourite walks " and
'* Under those trees he often walks on moonlight
nights," gave me the feeling that I was a pilgrim
visiting the shrine of a saint rather than a visitor
to a school. We became silent then, and no
one spoke again till we reached the balcony of
the guest house. There I was told the poet had
written many of his songs. The evening star
had just risen and a crescent moon was shedding
its faint light over the tops of the trees with
which the School is surrounded. Two of the
boys went with me on to the roof, and after sing-

SIIANTINIKETAN 13

ing one of the poet's songs, left ine to spend a
quiet evening with the master wlio had met me
at the station. He helped me to realise the true
spirit of the place, for he had been one of the
five boys who had read in the School when it
was first started. After a College course in
America he had come back to devote his life to
the service of the School to which he owed so
much. We talked on about the ideals with
which the poet had started the School. The
sound of the boys' voices, as they came back
from their evening meal to their dormitories,
had ceased, when in the stillness there arose the
sound of singing. It was a group of boys who,
every evening before they retire to bed, sing
one of the poet's songs. Gradually they ap-
proached the house where we were sitting,
and as they turned away, the sound receded,
getting fainter and fainter until it died out
altogether. Then silence descended like shadows
on a starlit hill, and I realised why the name
" Shantiniketan " had been given to the place.
A House of Peace it certainly was.

In the morning, before sunrise, the band of
young choristers wakened the sleeping school-
boys to the work of the day by another song.

After an early walk to a neighbouring village,

14

SHANTINIKETAN

THE POET S UPPER ROOM

where some of the older students conduct a
night school for the boys of the Santal aboriginal
tribes who are to be found scattered about in
the neighbourhood, I attended service in the
temple, a building open to the light and air
on all sides. As I entered, the boys in their
coloured shawls were seated, some on the steps
outside, and some on the white marble floor in
an attitude of meditation. After an opening
prayer in Bengali, the boys, all together, chanted
a Sanskrit verse, ending with the words,

" Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti." " Om Peace, Peace, Peace."

To hear for the first time a Sanskrit prayer
chanted by the boys of Bolpur is an experi-
ence not easily to be forgotten. I wish it were

SHANTINIKETAN

15

possible to preserve the freshness of one's first
mipressions, for then the very sound of the
prayer would be a constant and never -failing
inspiration. I cannot describe the thrill which
1 felt as I listened to that ascendinjif chant
filling the fresh morning air witli its solemn
notes of youthful aspiration.

In the temple there is no image and no altar,
for the INIaharshi Devendranath Tagore, who
founded the ashram, declared that in Shanti-
niketan no image was to be worshipped and no
abuse of any religious faith was to be allowed.
There "the one invisible God is to be wor-
shipped, and such instructions are to be given
as are consistent with the worship, the praise,

THE SAL AVENUE

16 SHANTINIKETAN

and the contemplation of the Creator and
Maintainer of the world, and as are productive
of good morals, religious life, and universal
brotherhood."

The service was short, consisting only of the
prayers and an address given by one of the
teachers, but it was most impressive and devo-
tional in spirit. The clear sunlight streamed
throusch the screen of trees which surround the
temple, and outside one could hear the chirping
of birds and the distant cooing of doves.

During the day I came to know others of
the teachers, and listened to some of the boys
singing, for the poet's songs occupy a large part
of the school life. The influence of Mr. Dinen-
dranath Tagore, a nephew of the poet's, who
teaches the boys the new songs as they are
composed by the poet, is one the effect of
which cannot be measured. To be able to
spread the spirit of song is a great gift, but
when together with it one is able to spread the
ideals of a great spiritual teacher then the gift
is one precious beyond words.

In the evening, as it was a moonlight night,
we went out, boys and teachers as well, to a
wood about a mile away from the School. We
sat in a circle under the trees and the boys sang.

SHANTINIKETAN 17

One of tlie teachers told n story, and I told them
about my meeting with the poet in London.
Then we walked back across the open country
which lay still and quiet under the spell of the
Indian moonlight.

The morning 1 left there was a farewell cere-
mony according to the ancient Hindu custom
when a guest leaves an ashram for the outer
world. I was garlanded and a handful of rose
petals, together with some grains of paddy and
some grass, symbolic of the plenitude and fruit-
fulness of life, was offered to me, and at the
same time one of the teachers pronounced over
me the blessing which is found in the Sanskrit
" Sakuntala," and which has been translated by
the poet : " Pleasant be thy path with intervals
of cool lakes green with the spreading leaves of
lotus, and with the shady trees tempering the
glare and heat of the sun — let its dust be gentle
for you even like the pollen of flowers borne by
the calm and friendly breeze — let your path be
auspicious."

That I felt was my dedication to the service
of the ashram, and as I left for the station I
knew that my life work lay in trying to help to
realise the ideals for which the ashram stood.
There 1 knew was an atmosphere in which self-

c

18 SHANTINIKETAN

realisation was possible and a place where I
could feel the throbbing heart of Bengal, the
land of poetry and imagination.

Since then I have lived in the ashram, I have
got to know the boys and the teachers as my
friends for life, I have felt, even when my own
spirit has been dull and I have not been able
to feel the same inspiration as I hear the boys
chanting in the early morning or at sunset, that
Shantiniketan is truly an Abode of Peace.

Now that I am away from the ashram for a
time my thoughts constantly turn back to it,
and I know that under that wide and starry sky,
wandering across the open heath which stretches
to the horizon on all sides so that one feels as if
standing on the roof of the world, there is peace
to be found for the restless spirit of man. On
nights when the full moon sheds a flood of white
peace upon the landscape, one can walk for miles
across open country with nothing to obstruct
the view except here and there a neat Santal
village surrounded by its few cultivated fields,
and on the distant line of the horizon a group of
tall palm trees standing like the warning fore-
fingers of the guardian spirits of the place, raised
against all thoughtless curiosity of outside in-
trusions. As one lives in this ashram and

BOYS AT AX KXA.MINATION

THE SMALL HOYS 1)()|{ M ITdlUKS

SHANTINIKETAN 21

absorbs the spirit of its founder, one feels that its
stilhiess and peace are but the reflection of tlie
tranquillity which filled the mind of the Maharshi
Devendranath and is so marked a characteristic
of the poet. In the evenings and early morn-
ings, just at sunset and sunrise, when the School
bell has called the boys to their silent worship,
a silence strangely still and beautiful seems to
surround the place ; and in the early hours of
the morning, long before the peep of light in the
east, the stillness is so intense that it seems as if
time has held its breath in the expectation of the
daily wonder of the sunrise.

Does it seem as if this ashram were too remote
and monastic for the training of boys who, when
they leave school, have to struggle in the modern
world ? Can we not say rather, that perhaps
here they may acquire what the modern world
most needs, that wealth of mind's tranquillity
which is required to give life its balance when
it has to march to its goal through the crowd of
distractions ? Whatever may be the practical
outcome of this experiment in education, which
strives to combine the best traditions of the old
Hindu system of teaching with the healthiest
aspects of modern methods, there can be no
doubt that the ideal is a high one. Let me tell

22 SHANTINIKETAN

more of what these ideals are and how the boys
and teachers of the School strive to carry them
into practice.

Shantiniketan was originally a bare spot in
the middle of open country, and was notorious
for being the haunt of dacoits. It was to this
spot that Maharshi Devendranath came on one
of his journeys, and he was so deeply attracted
to the place that he pitched his tent under three
trees, which were the only trees then to be seen
there, and for weeks at a time would live there
spending his time in meditation and prayer.
These trees are still to be seen, with the wide
open plain stretching out before them to the
western horizon, and on the marble slab vvhich
marks the place of his meditation can be seen
the words which filled his mind as the Maharshi
meditated upon God.

He is the re])ose of my life
the joy of my heart,
the peace of my spirit.

It is under these trees that the boys sometimes
meet when they commemorate the life of the
Maharshi, or others whose lives have bound
them close to the heart of the ashram. I re-
member the last meeting which I attended there.
It was early morning and the boys were all

EVEN-SONU

SHANTINIKETAN 25

seated in the shade of the trees, which were a
mass of white blossom overhead. The bright
colours of their shawls as the sunlight fell
through the interlacing branches contrasted with
the white flowers above them, and in perfect
silence they waited for the service to begin.

This custom of holding meetings out of doors
is characteristic of the School, where all the
classes are held under the trees or in the veran-
dahs, excepting during the Rains. The boys
often organise some entertainment in the even-
ings, some circus performance or small play
composed by the boys themselves, to which the
masters are invited. Just before I left for
America the smaller boys had discovered the
existence of an imaginary hero named Ladam,
and for several days the history of Ladam
occupied their minds. Pictures were drawn of
his exploits, his heroic deeds, some of them by
no means exemplary, were staged for the benefit
of their teachers, and every tree and hillock in
the neighbourhood of the small boys' dormitories
was made the scene of Ladam 's fights and
victories. I was shown an ant-hill and was told
that it was the fortress of Ladam, and that the
ants were his disciples and followers. Whether,
since my last acquaintance with him, Ladam

26 SHANTINIKETAN

has come to an end of his career of reckless and
inconsequential adventures, I know not, but as
long as he lived his friends and discoverers were
never tired of telling of his deeds and describing
with the minutest details his appearance and
character. Perhaps his ghost still haunts tlie
corners of the dormitory and the shadow-
chequered path of the Sal Avenue.

This characteristic of one side of the School
life is vital to the ideals with whicli the School
was started. Education consists, not in giving
information which the boys will forget as soon
as they conveniently can without danger of
failing in their examinations, but in allowing
the boys to develop their own characters in the
way which is natural to them. The younger
the boys are the more original they show them-
selves to be. It is only when the shadow of
a University examination begins to loom over
them that they lose their natural freshness and
originality, and become candidates for matricula-
tion. When the small boys take up an idea and
try to put it into practice then there is always a
freshness about it which is spontaneous and full
of the joy of real creation. To see them give a
circus performance would delight the heart of
any man who had not become absolutely blase.

SHANTINIKETAN 27

This ideal of allowing the boys to develop
their own characters as much as possible is seen
in another institution of the School, namely, the
courts constituted by the boys for the punish-
ment of minor offences against the laws which
the boys themselves formulate. Most of the
discipline of the School is managed by these
courts, and although there are doubtless cases
of miscarriage of justice, there is no complaint
amongst the boys about the judgments pro-
nounced atjainst offenders. In this case as in
others, self-government is better than good
government. The committees which the boys
form are intended to deal with all the aspects of
school life in which the boys are themselves
vitally interested. On one occasion the boys
agreed to carry on all the menial work of the
School, cooking and washing up, drawing the
water and buying the stores, with tlie help of the
teachers. And although the experiment was
only found practicable for about a month, during
that time there were no servants employed to do
any of this heavy work, and many of the boys
worked like Trojans without complaint even
though it was the very hottest time of the year.

Tliere are several magazines published
monthly by the different sections of the School,

28 SHANTINIKETAN

most of them in Bengali, which contain stories,
poems and essays written by the boys. These
are illustrated by those of them who show signs
of artistic ability. Though these magazines
sometimes languish, and often do not appear for
months together, they quicken into life when
the anniversary of their birth comes round, and
then a grand celebration takes place. One of
the dormitories is taken possession of for the
occasion, and decorated with the green branches
of trees, and if it happens to be the season of
lotuses, a profusion of lotus buds and blossoms
fills the meeting-place. One of the teachers is
elected to be the chairman for the evening, and
a special seat of honour is prepared for him.
Over his head there hang, like the sword of
Damocles, ropes of flowers, so that he looks like
a queen of the May, and round his neck hang
garlands as though he were a lamb prepared
for the sacrifice. The various committees of
management of these diff*erent periodicals vie
with each other, not so much in the quality
of their contributions, as in the beauty of the
decorations and the garlands which are prepared
in honour of these occasions of birthday celebra-
tion. Sometimes if the anniversary happens to
fall during the hot weather, light refreshments

SHANTINIKETAN 29

are served at the close of the meeting, generally
in the shape of iced sherbet. The meeting itself
consists of a report of the year's progress by the
editor, and the reading of stories, poems and
essays by the contributors. Sometimes pictures
which have been given for illustration are
exhibited, and afterwards the chairman or the
poet himself, if he is present, will criticise the
writings which have been read, suggesting in
what way they might be improved. In certain
cases there is a competition, either for the best
picture or the best story. In this way the boys
are encouraged to think and write for them-
selves, and one or two of those who have illus-
trated these manuscript magazines have proved
to be artists of real ability.

Occasionally excursions will be planned, either
for the day for the whole School, or for several
days to some place of historical interest, in which
case only a few selected boys will go accompanied
by two or three of the teachers. In the former
case we go to some place within easy reach of the
ashram, and taking our food with us cook it by
the side of a river or under the trees in a wood.
The whole day is spent in the open air, and
singing and games form the chief part of the
programme, though stories are also told by some

30 SHANTINIKETAN

of the teachers. On moonlight nights, especially,
many of the boys go out for long walks with the
teachers, and in this way the bond between the
masters and the pupils becomes deep and strong.
The teachers live in the dormitories with the
boys, and are able therefore to help them in their
work and share with them their daily life.

Football is the most popular form of sport in
the School, and as there is plenty of space round
the buildings, there is enough ground for several
football fields, so that the boys of all ages can
have their own games. AValking is not so
popular, except when in the rainy season sudden
storms of rain come deluging the surrounding
country. Then the boys delight in going out
into the midst of the heaviest deluge and get-
ting thoroughly wet. Classes are stopped when
these heavy storms come on, and keen delight is
shown by the boys when they see that a dark
and threatening sky offers them the chance of a
cooling shower bath.

The following facts may be of interest to
those who wish to know the more practical
details of the working of the School.

At present there are about 150 boys in the
ashram, some of whom come from other parts
of India, though the majority are from Bengal.

SHANTINIKETAN 31

There are about twenty teacliers, some living
with their families, resident in the School. The
age of the boys ranges from six to seventeen or
eighteen, the younger ones being under the
charge of special teachers. These younger boys
often take their meals in the homes of the
married teachers, the wife of one of them, for
example, having undertaken to look after ten
boys who come to her house for all their meals
for a week, allowing another ten to take their
turn.

The boys are of all castes, and it is expressly
stated when they are admitted that they are to
be allowed to exercise their own discretion in
the matter of the observation or non-observa-
tion of caste distinctions. Serving at the meals
is undertaken by all the boys hi turn, which
lightens the burden of the kitchen service.

The fees charged are the same for all the
boys, though in certain cases poor students
are admitted free. Each pupil is charged 30s.
per month for tuition, board and lodging, so that
the yearly expense to the parent is less than £20.
But this does not represent the actual expense,
as there is a large yearly deficit which has, up
to the present, been met by the founder of the
School.

32 SHANTINIKETAN

One of the reasons wliicli make it impossible
to make the School a self-supporting institution
is that the number of teachers has to be so large
in proportion to the number of students in order
to ensure small classes and individual attention.

To the Western eye the outward aspect of
the ashram would suggest poverty, but this is
due to the ideal which has always been followed
in India wherever true education has been the
end and purpose in view. The emphasis on
efficient and expensive equipment which is a
characteristic feature of institutions of learning
in the West has never been accepted in India,
where simplicity of living is regarded as one of
the most important factors in true education.

The utmost simplicity is found in all the build-
ings which are used by the boys for their own
daily life. The dormitories are merely thatched
cottages, and it is intended to keep them simple,
though the present thatched roofs will have to
be changed for a less inflammable material as
soon as money is available, as the possibility of
a fire which would spread to all the dormitories
is a source of constant anxiety.

We are hoping to erect a new building for a
Hospital, as we have not proper accommodation
for our sick boys or suitable quarters for the

SHANTINIKETAN 33

segregation of infectious cases. Such a hospital,
when properly endowed, would ])rovide medical
help for the poor of the neighbouring villages.

Several interesting collections of curios from
different parts of the world have been presented
to the School, and we intend to add a Museum
as an addition to the present library building as
soon as funds are forthcoming.

The daily routine of the School is as follows :
The boys are awakened before sunrise by the
singing of one of tlie poet's songs by a band
of singers. As soon as they get up they go to
their morning bath which they take in the wells
to be found in different parts of the grounds.
After their bath they have fifteen minutes
set apart for silent worship. The boys sit out
under the trees or on the open fields in the
early morning light and then come together
to chant the Sanskrit verses selected from the
Upanishads by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore.

After some light food the classes begin at
about 7 o'clock. There are no class-rooms, so
the classes are held in the open air or on the
verandahs of the buildings.

After a meal at 11.30, during the heat of the
day the boys stay in their rooms and work at
their lessons, the teachers sitting with them

D

34 SHANTINIKETAN

to give help if needed. Classes begin in the
afternoon at 2 o'clock and continue till 4.30
or 5 o'clock.

In the cool of the evening football is played,
while some of the boys go for walks. At sunset
they have again fifteen minutes for silence and
the chanting of the evening verses. Some of the
boys teach in a night-school which has been
started for the servants of the School and the
neighbouring villagers.

Before the evening meal there is an hour which
is devoted to some form of entertainment, such
as story-telling by one of the teachers, a lantern
lecture, or some amusement got up by the boys
themselves. The bell for retiring sounds at
about 9 o'clock, and most of the boys are
asleep by 9.30, except on moonlight nights when
numbers of the older boys go out for a walk to
neighbouring woods, where they sit and sing till
late at night.

There is no head master, the School being
under the management of an executive com-
mittee elected by the teachers themselves, from
among whom one is elected each year as execu-
tive head. He is entrusted with the practical
management of the institution. In each subject
one of the masters is elected as director of

SHANTINIKETAN 35

studies, and he discusses with the other teachers
in that subject the books and methods of teach-
ing to be adopted, but each teacher is left to
work out his own methods in the way he thinks
best.

When the poet is himself present he presides
at the meetings of the executive committee, and
also teaches in some of the classes, but his in-
fluence is more widely felt in the informal read-
ings of his own writings wliich he gives in the
evenings during the entertainment period. He
also teaches the boys, when they take part in his
plays, not only how to act but also how to sing
his songs.

The boys are trusted very largely to look after
their own affairs, and have their own committees
in the different sections of the School, as well
as the general meetings of all the boys in
the ashram when questions affecting the whole
School are brought up for discussion. In their
examinations they are left to themselves and
put on their honour. When an examination
takes place the boys may be seen in all sorts of
positions writing their answers, even in such
inaccessible places as the fork of some high tree.
Though occasionally boys take advantage of the
trust thus placed in them, it is found that in the

36 SHANTINIKETAN

majority of cases trust begets trust, and there is
no question that the relationship between teacher
and pupil is a happier one in consequence.

The old boys of the ashram keep in touch with
the School in different ways. The boys who are
in the ashram know these " old boys " by the
title of "Dada," which means elder brother,
and at the annual festival, which takes place in
December on the anniversary of the date on
which the ashram was founded, numbers of the
old boys come to see the performance of one of
the poet's plays. The keenest interest is taken
by all in the football match between Past and
Present Boys. The School is not behindhand
in athletics, as can be seen by its record in the
inter-school Sports of the district, in which boys
from our ashram have carried off the chief
prizes for several years in succession. Their
football record also is one to be proud of, so the
education of the boys includes physical culture
as well as culture of the mind.

As I have said, the classes are held in the open
air as much as possible, and there is no need
for elaborate furniture and class-rooms. Each
boy brings with him to the various classes his
own square piece of carpet for sitting on, and
the teacher sits either under a tree or in the

SHANTINIKETAN 37

verandah of one of the dormitories. This open-
air class work has its great advantages, for it
keeps the minds of the boys fresh in tlieir aj)-
preciation of Nature. I remember in the middle
of one class 1 was suddenly interrupted in my
teaching by one of the boys calling my attention
to the song of a bird in the branches overhead.
We stopped the teaching and listened till the
bird had finished. It was spring-time, and the
boy who had called my attention to the song
said to me, *' I don't know why, but somehow I
can't explain what I feel when I hear that bird
singing." 1 could not enlighten him, but I am
quite sure that my class learnt more from that
bird than it had ever done from my teaching,
and something that they would never forget
in life. For myself my ears were opened, and for
several days I was conscious of the songs of the
birds as I had never been before. The boys are
very fond of flow^ers, and sometimes will get uj)
long before dawn to be the first to pluck some
new sweet-scented blossoms. These they weave
into garlands for their teachers or for the poet
himself.

Sometimes when the class comes at the end of
the day, the boys ask that they may go out to
some neighbouring village or the river, and have

38 SHANTINIKETAN

the class on the way. When this happens they
are supremely happy, and we go off together
with no other anxiety than that of getting back
ih time for the evening meal.

For the younger boys Nature Study forms
part of their work, and during the whole of one
term one class was kept busy in collecting all
the varieties of leaves and grasses that could be
found in the neighbourhood. Sometimes they
would find an unexpected addition to their
collection of botanical specimens, by getting a
thorn into their bare feet, for all the boys go
about barefoot in the ashram. But their feet
are so hardened to the gravel and thorny paths
which abound all round the School that it is only
the new boys that find any hardship in such an
experience. Occasionally on a clear night one
of the teachers gives a simple lesson in astro-
nomy, and shows the moon and stars through
a small telescope, and when lantern slides can
be obtained illustrated lectures are given in the
evenings, sometimes in the open air and some-
times in one of the dormitories. It is always
possible to find one or two of the more practical
boys eager to take charge of the lantern, and fix
up the sheet.

Bengali is the medium of instruction through-

SHANTINIKETAN 89

out the School, but Enghsh is taught as a second
language.

The dh*ect metliod of teaching English is
adopted in the lower classes, and when the boys
are beginning to understand, fairy stories or
adventures are told them in simple English.
When they are interested in a story it is sur-
prising with what ease they are able to follow.
I have myself found such stories as George
Macdonald's "The Princess and Curdie" and
" The Princess and the Goblins " fascinate
Bengali boys of thirteen or fourteen, and they
have been eager to hear the next instalment,
even though told them in a foreign language.

One of the things that strike visitors to the
School is the look of happiness on the boys' faces,
and there is no doubt that there is none of the
usual feeling of dislike for school life which one
finds in institutions where the only object held
before the boys is the passing of examinations.
Examinations have been abolished in the lower
classes, except once a year when tests of each
boy's progress are made by the teacher who has
been teaching the boy himself.

At the end of each term arrangements are
made for staging one of the poet's plays. The
teachers and boys take the different parts, and

40 SHANTINIKETAN

the play is staged in Shantiniketan, visitors
coming from Calcutta to see it, especially if the
poet is himself taking part. The poet coaches
the actors himself, first reading the play aloud,
and then reading it over with those who are to
take part. During the days when the play is
being rehearsed there are not many classes held,
for the boys of the whole School are always
present at the rehearsals. One sees the small
boys peeping in at the windows, and showing
the keenest appreciation of the humorous and
witty scenes. The final day is a busy one,
for the stage has to be prepared and there
must be a dress rehearsal. To this the boys
are not admitted, as it would take away the
freshness of the play if they were able to
see a too nearly perfect presentation of it
beforehand. But when it begins there is
great enthusiasm amongst visitors and boys
alike, as the songs and dances reveal the spirit
of the play to the dehghted audience. In this
way the ideas of the poet are assimilated by the
boys, without their having to make any con-
scious effort. In fact they are being educated
into his thought through the sub -conscious
mind, and this is one of the root principles of
Rabindranath Tagore's method of education.

SHANTINIKETAN 41

English plays are also sometimes given, as well
as Sanskrit, and it is remarkable to see what
histrionic powers the Bengali boy has, even when
he has to act in a foreign tongue. When the
play is in Bengali then they are in their element,
and they seem to have such aptitude for acting
that the smaller boys often get up plays of their
own without any assistance from the masters.
At the beginning of 1916 there was a per-
formance of the poet's new play " A Spring
Festival" in Calcutta, and a number of the
younger boys, aged from eight to ten, took
part in the chorus. They did not have to do
any acting, but merely sang the songs and took
part in the dances, so that they were practically
in the position of spectators on the stage. After
the play was over, and we had all returned to
Shantiniketan, these small boys surprised us by
giving one evening a performance of the whole
play, each boy taking one of the characters with
such perfect mimicry of those who had taken
the parts in Calcutta that the performance was
irresistible. Every shade of humour and serious-
ness was reproduced to perfection by these pigmy
actors.

An account of the School would be incom-
plete without some reference to what strike

42 SHANTINIKETAN

one as the peculiar characteristics of the Ben-
gah boys as distinguished from English boys.
In the jrrounds of the School there is a small
Hospital building in which the boys when ill
reside, and to which outdoor patients from the
surrounding villages come for treatment. There
is a qualified doctor in charge, but the nursing
is done almost entirely by the boys themselves,
who, in the case of the serious illness of one
of their schoolfellows, divide the night up into
watches of two hours each, and look after the
patient all night. They seem to have a natural
instinct which makes them splendid nurses even
when they have not had any special training.
It is not only towards the boys themselves that
they show this care, but when necessity arises
for helping some poor villager from the neigh-
bourhood they will go to the village, and per-
haps carry the patient on a stretcher to the
School Hospital in order that he may get proper
treatment.

The story of Jadav well illustrates this re-
markable spirit. Jadav was one of the boys in
the lower part of the School. He was only about
eleven years old, but he was a brilliant boy and
full of promise. He was taken ill while he was
with us and died in the ashram.

SHANTINIKETAN 43

I remember so well his keen interest in Nature
Study, and how he would come runninj^ und
panting to my class with his latest addition to
the collections of different kinds of leaves which
the smaller boys were making. His words
tumbling over each other in liis eagerness to
show me what treasures he had found, he would
ask me whether any other boy had got so many
different kinds. All his teachers found in him
the same eager interest in his work, and at meet-
ings of the smaller boys he would sometimes tell
a story in English which was wonderfully good
for so young a pupil.

When he was first taken ill it was not realised
that it was anything serious, but after a week or
so he became worse and it was decided to re-
move him to Calcutta, as the accommodation in
our small Hospital building was not satisfactory
for cases of serious illness. Many of the older
boys had been taking their turns in sitting up
at night with the little patient, and when the
morning came for him to be removed eight or
ten of them took up the stretcher on which he
was to be carried to the station and started off
along the road. As soon as Jadav realised that
he was being taken away to Calcutta his whole
body became restless, and instead of lying still

44 SHANTINIKETAN

and quiet in his weakness he began to struggle
and cry out, " I don't want to leave the ashram.
Take me back." " I won't go. I want to go
back to the ashram." " Why are you taking
me away ? "

The doctor became alarmed and said that it
would be dangerous to take him if he struggled
and cried, so the boys turned back towards the
ashram again. The moment he realised that he
was returning to his ashram the little fellow
lay quite still and was happy again.

He began to get worse, however, and in spite
of the best medical aid that could be got from
Calcutta it soon became clear that we were to
lose his bright presence. Day after day the boys
took their turns in watching by his side and
carrying out the doctors' instructions, and would
sit up all through the night bathing his fevered
body with cool water.

An hour or two before he died I was sitting
by his side and he said in Bengali, in a voice
weak and full of pathos, " The flower will not
blossom." I whispered to him, " Don't be
afraid, for the flower will blossom."

He was cremated out on the open fields near
the ashram at dawn, and as the flames crept
slowly upwards I knew that for us at least his

SHANTINIKETAN 45

little life had blossomed and left a frajirance
behind which would never fade.

Another striking characteristic of the Bengali
boy is his genuine affection for little children.
The average English boy, if told to take charge
of an infant brother, would feel com])letely miser-
able, and if asked to carry his baby sister to the
annual prize -giving of his own school would
feel ready to sink through the floor with shame.
But in Bengal wherever one goes one is struck
by the fact that the boys are devoted to children
and are never tired of nursing them or playing
with them. I have seen boys at Shantiniketan
spend hours wheeling a perambulator with quite
a young child in it for the mere pleasure
of having a child to entertain. There is no
affectation about it, and this is not a peculiarity
of the boys of our School only. Nothing gives
the boys of the upper classes at Shantiniketan
more pleasure than to be allowed to bring to their
class the grandson of the poet, a little boy of four
who sits through the period quite quietly and
solemnly, with only an occasional diversion if
anything interesting is happening near the tree
under which the class is being held. And I have
often seen one of the biggest boys, on the way

46 SHANTINIKETAN

to the football field, hand in hand with the tiny
son of one of the teachers, a little boy of three,
who chatters away to his big companion on all
sorts of subjects.

Bengali boys have also a characteristic atti-
tude of receptivity to spiritual things which
makes it possible to trust to the atmosphere of
the ashram for the development of the spiritual
life. There is, for example, nothing irksome to
the boys in the habit of sitting in silence and
stillness during the morning and evening periods
of silent worship. The result of this is that even
the younger boys of our School often find it
easier to follow the addresses of the poet than
graduate students of Calcutta, who have not
had the opportunity of living in such an en-
vironment. They are like sensitive instruments
which respond to the least influence, and for
that reason unkindness or thoughtlessness in
one's dealings with Bengali students often have
results apparently far out of proportion to the
actual occasion of the hurt. This has been seen
recently in the effect of an unsympathetic atti-
tude adopted by many professors in Govern-
ment and other Colleges towards the students in
Calcutta. But this very sensitiveness responds
with even greater readiness to kindness and

SHANTINIKETAN 47

sympathy. In educational work of any kind
sympathy is the supreme necessity for a success-
ful teacher, but this is truer in Bengal than in
any other country in the world.

Eefore closing some reference should be made
to the religious atmosphere of the place. I say
religious atniosplierc because tliere is no definite
dogmatic teaching, and for the development of
the spiritual side of the boys' natures the ideal
has always been to leave that to the natural
instinct of each individual boy. In this con-
siderable help is expected from the personal
influence of the teachers, and from the silent but
constant influence of close touch with Nature
herself, which in India is the most wonderful
teacher of spiritual truth.

Shantiniketan was founded by the father of
the poet, Maharshi Devendranath Tagore, as
an ashram, or religious retreat, where those in
search of peace might have an opportunity for
quiet and meditation, and when Rabindranath
chose it as the site for his School he knew that
the atmosphere of the place was an ideal one for
the growth of his own ideals. The eldest son of
the Maharshi, Mr. Dwijendranath Tagore, iias
also chosen this place for the closing years of his
life, and is still living there in his seventy-fifth

48 SHANTINIKETAN

year, spending his days in quiet meditation and
writing on religious and philosophical subjects.
On the first day of the New Year, and on other
special occasions, all the boys and teachers go
to pay their reverence to this saint, who has
now lived constantly for about twenty years in
Shantiniketan, and is as much a vital part of
the ashram as the boys themselves. One of the
rarest privileges is that of going in the evening
to his house and in the fading twilight to sit and
talk with him on the deeper things of the spirit.
Mention has been made of the period set apart
in the early morning and evening for meditation.
Each boy takes his piece of carpet out into the
open field or under a tree when the bell for wor-
ship sounds, and sits there for fifteen minutes in
silent contemplation, or perhaps one should say
in silence, for the subject of his thoughts is left
entirely to each boy. There is no instruction
given as to the method of meditation, the direc-
tion of their thoughts being left to the influence
of the idea of silence itself and to the Sanskrit
texts which are repeated by the boys together
at the close of the period of silent meditation.
That many boys form the habit of such daily
silent worship is enough. Apart from this
morning and evening silence there is a service

SHANTINIKETAN 40

held in the temple once or twice a week at which
the poet himself, when present, addresses the
boys. When he is away one of the teachers gives
the address, and the boys join in the chanting of
certain Sanskrit mantras. The subject of these
addresses varies, and many of them have been
published in a series entitled " Shantiniketan,"
which has been published by the School authori-
ties. As an example I may give the notes I took
of an address given by the poet on the last night
of the old year. The service was held after sun-
set and in the darkness it was only possible to
distinguish the speaker dimly outlined against a
background of white-clad figures seated on the
floor all round him.

He began by saying that when a year comes
to its end we sometimes think only of the sad-
ness of ending, but if we can realise that in this
ending there is not emptiness but fulness, then
even the thought of ending itself becomes full
of joy. In this very process of ending we once
again have the leisure to throw off" the coverings
and wrappings of habit and custom and thus
emerge into a fuller and more spacious conception
of life. Even the ending of life in death has this
element of fulness in it when viewed from the
right standpoint. Death really reveals life to us,

E

50 SHANTINIKETAN

and never hides or obscures it except where we
ourselves are wilfully blind. Thus the breaking
of customs and forms, which have grown round
us only to choke true life, is a matter for joy
and not sorrow. In Europe this war, which is
robbing so many homes by death, is really the
tearing off, on a vast scale, of the wrappings of
dead habits of mind which have been accumu-
lating for so many years only to smother the
truth of our nature. The currents of life which
had become choked and stagnant will once more
become free to flow in fresh channels.

When death comes to those whom we love,
we seem to see the world in its completeness, but
without the customary crowd of things which
hide from us the reality which underlies the
scene. In death's presence the world becomes
like the darkness which is so full that one feels
it can be pierced with a needle and yet it seems
empty of objects.

Thus the message of this end of the year is the
joy of change and its acceptance as the means of
achieving a wider vision and grasp of life.

The address was full of illuminating illustra-
tions as all the poet's addresses are, and I have
only given the barest outline of this one in order
to give some idea of the kind of subjects which

SHANTINIKETAN 51

are taken. The fact that some of them seem to
be above the heads of the boys does not seriously
matter, for the boys, even without fully under-
standing, are all the time unconsciously absorb-
ing the point of view of the speaker.

In closing I cannot do better than quote in
full a letter written to a schoolmaster in England
who had written to the poet askhig for an account
of the methods he adopts at Shantiniketan. He
writes :

" To give spiritual culture to our boys was
my principal object in starting my School in
Bolpur. Fortunately, in India we have the
model before us in the tradition of our ancient
forest schools where teachers whose aim was to
realise their lives in God had their homes. The
atmosphere was full of the aspiration for the
infinite, and the students who grew up with
their teachers, closely united with them in
spiritual relationship, felt the reality of God —
for it was no mere creed imposed upon them or
speculative abstraction.

" Having in my mind this ideal of a school
which should be a home and a temple in one,
where teaching should be part of a worshipful
life, I selected this spot, away from all distrac-
tions of town, hallowed by the memory of a

52 SHANTINIKETAN

pious life whose days were passed there in com-
munion with God.

" You must not imagine that I have fully real-
ised my ideal — but the ideal is there working
itself out through all the obstacles of the hard
prose of modern life. In spiritual matters one
should forget that he must teach others or
achieve results that can be measured, and in my
School here I think it proper to measure our
success by the spiritual growth in the teachers.
In these things gain to one's personal self is
gain to all, like lighting a lamp which is lighting
a whole room.

" The first help that our boys get here on this
path is from the cultivation of love of Nature
and sympathy with all living creatures. Music
is of very great assistance to them— songs being
not of the ordinary hymn type, dry and didactic,
but as full of lyric joy as the author could make
them. You can understand how these songs
affect the boys when you know that singing them
is the best enjoyment they choose for them-
selves in their leisure time, in the evening when
the moon is up, in the rainy days when their
classes are closed. Mornings and evenings a
period of fifteen minutes is given them to sit in
an open space composing their minds for worship.

SHANTINIKETAN 53

We never watch them and ask questions about
what they think in those times, but leave it
entirely to tliemselves, to the spirit of the place
and the time, and the suggestion of the practice
itself. We rely more upon the subconscious
influence of Nature, of the associations of the
place and the daily life of worship that we live,
than on any conscious effort to teach them."

This letter sums up better than I can the
ideals of Shantiniketan and gives expression to
the spirit with which the ashram was started.

-^#k>

THE GIFT TO THE GURU

55

■~^*^%>

THE GIFT TO THE GURU

By Satish Chandra Rov
Translated by ^V^. W. Pkahson

Introduction

This evening I am going to tell you a story
about a boy of long ago.

Forget for a while this lamp tliat we have
lighted indoors, and thitik of that flood of moon-
light that pours itself out upon the surrounding
fields. On one side of this open country the
wood is black and indistinct like a huge python
that has risen from some chasm of the earth
and is lying asleep in the moonliglit, swaying in
the wind. To-night as we all sit together I
shall speak to you about the night If it had
been daytime, ])erhaps I should have talked
about the day. But no, — I have another reason
for describing the night, for night time is the
best time for story -telling. At night time every-

57

58 SHANTINIKETAN

thing* seems indistinct and distant objects are
brought near. If it had been daytime, would
you hav^e been able so easily to think that you
were seeing the stars, which, when the sky is
caressed by the shadow of the night, blossom
like flowers and fill the heavens in their multi-
tudes ?

So far I have been describing the night, in
order to carry you in thought out into the
darkness, where the sky is decked with the
moon and stars. Now you must accompany
me in imagination wherever I go.

What journey shall we take together ? We
are going to visit a sacred grove of ancient India.
If it had been daytime, how could you ever
have discovered this sacred grove of hundreds
of years ago ? If it had been daytime, what
should we have seen in modern India ? We
should have seen cities, railways and factories ;
we should have seen forests full of wild beasts,
dried-up rivers, hard rocky mountains, barren
parched deserts and many other things besides.
The sacred grove I am to tell you about no
longer exists.

But it is night time now — moonlight is falling
and the silence of sleep has come. Now the
mind can take wings and fly in imagination

SHANTINIKETAN

61

wherever it wishes. Come then let us forget
everything and all go together to see the Ash-
ram ^ of the Rishis ^ in that wood of ancient
India. You are Brahmacliaris ^ and you can
for a time go with me and exchange thoughts
with the Brahmacharis of those days.

' Ashram : a forest school where the teacliers and tlieir families
live with the hoys in some retired spot.

■^ Rishis : saints.

^ Brahmacharis : students brought up to a life of discipline in
an atmosphere of religion.

i^^^^

'ii^mmmmmmt^H<mmi^a^^i^^mm^>^^

..i^U^

CHAPTER I

In olden times boys used to go for purposes
of study to a Brabmachari - asbram. I bave
ab'eady told you tbat scbools of tbat kind were
situated in sacred groves. Risbis used to tbink
tbat tbougb it is necessary for groups of men to
build cities in places wbere tbere is a great deal
of business and bustle, yet tbere are otber needs
besides tbese, wbicb buman life is meant to fulfil.

If you live only in tbe busy work and turmoil
of tbe world, you will not get time to understand,
or even to see properly, all aspects of tbe world.
Tbe mind will bave no peace ; and if tbe mind is
not tranquil, tben tbe real meaning of tbings
will not be understood, nor will tbeir real beauty
be appreciated.

Besides tbis tbere was anotber advantage in
living in a forest, namely, tbat man felt a kind
of freedom and was able to realise bis own
wortb. Eacb one bad to do bis own work, so

62

SHANTINIKETAN 63

that no fjilse ideas crept in, tliat such a one was
poor, and therefore unini})ortant, and siicli a one
was rich, and therefore great.

It was those forest saints wlio were really
able to uphold the ideals of India, which made
peace and tranquillity the greatest of blessings.
In the solitudes of these forests, and in the
midst of the beauty of these woods, the teaching
given had a deep and penetrating effect. That
was the reason why the students of those days
saw such a wonderful glory in the world.

From the story that I am going to relate, you
will be able to see what great strength a pupil
gained from his training in a solitary place such
as I have described.

So now I will begin my story.

CHAPTER II

One day, when it was just dawn in the sacred
grove, Ved the Rishi of the Ashram, having
finished his morning prayer and worship of the
sacred fire, called liis pupils together, fresh from
their morning bath, and sat with them at the
foot of an amloki tree.

The deer have now risen from their sleep in
the courtyard and run into the forest. One of
the boys has driven a cow into a meadow luscious
with fresh tender grass. Now as he sits under a
tree the soft rays of the sun, falling through the
cool green network of leaves and branches, light
up his face, and he is singing with a sweet low

64

SHANTINIKETAN 65

voice a hymn to the sun. A band of vouni>er
boys witli baskets in their liands are filling
them with flowers from the woods. Near by
the wife of their Guru/ as she comes from the
river, is pouring a httle water from a pitcher
on to the roots of each tree, and smiles as she
looks with tenderness at the boys.

Thus while the fresh cahnness of early morn-
ing rests on the scene, \^ed begins to explain to
the boys with a voice full of joy the sacred
mysteries of God. Gazing on the radiant face
of their Guru the boys began to Hsten attentively.
When the morning reading was finished two or
three deer came to the place where they were,
and began to nestle with their warm breath and
soft noses against the boys' bodies. A few of
the students, however, remained seated in silent
thought quite motionless.

Then one of the older boys, named Utonka,
came up, and having bowed before his Guru's
feet said with clasped hands :

"To-day my time of discipline is finished. 1
have by your love gained strength. My body
has become strong and my mind bright and
happy. I have seen the glory of the sun and
moon and have felt a Power in the glowing fire.

1 (iuru : teacher and master.

66 SHANTINIKETAN

I have tasted the joys of the six seasons of the
year. The peace and tranquillity of the forests
have taken up their abode in me and the fresh
living spirit of the birds and beasts, of the trees
and creepers, has entered my heart. I have come
to understand that the food which we eat and
the wood of the trees which we burn in the fire
are to be deemed sacred because they do us good.
Air, water, sky and light are sacred also, and all
are filled with divine sweetness and goodness.

" Gurudev, I have learnt to understand all this
and now I must go out into the wider world.
In that outer world there are hundreds and
hundreds of men like me, and my duty now lies
amongst them, for man cannot live without
human love. By your help, Gurudev, I have
become a Brahmachari. JNly body is strong;
I am not afraid of difficulties, and when I go
out into the world I shall be able to fulfil my
purpose by your blessing. My Guru, give me
then your blessing, and tell me what offering I
am to bring you. When I have made my offer-
ing, I will bid farewell."

While U tonka was speaking, all the other
boys were watching him with sorrowful faces.
Hearing that he was going away their eyes filled
with tears. Gurudev also with tearful, yet

SHANTINIKETAN 67

smiling, eyes said, " My son, the lieart of a
Guru is always with his disciples, the blessings
of a Guru are taken up by the clouds and fall
like rain from heaven. They touch his eyes
mingling with the light of the sun. I^ike the
breeze they waft their fragrance around him,
day by day, and dwell in his heart as peace and
tenderness. You need not ask for my blessing :
it is yours already. Go out into the world and
my blessing be with you. What further offer-
ing can I desire, my son ? Go to your mother,
and if you can bring anything that she desires,
you will be free from your debt to your Guru."

Utonka replied, "Gurudev, I cannot hope
ever to free myself from my debt to you, but
I will do as you say, and will go and ask my
mother." Saying this he threw himself at his
Guru's feet and then slowly went away.

The other pupils remained silent with sorrow
and the Guru also for a little time was silent.
At last he said, " My children, it is now time
for you to go and beg your food." The boys
making an obeisance to their Guru dispersed in
all directions, to beg from the village food for
themselves and their Guru. Amongst them
there were the sons of many rich and influential
men, but all of them begged without distinction.

CHAPTER III

Utonka then went to his teacher's wife, who
was sitting in the shade of a tree near the house
weaving grass mats. A deer was lying beside
her, while overhead a bird was making a loud
noise, " Tee tee ii. Tee tee u," while other smaller
birds flew about without a care and drank water
from the pools under the ashoka trees. It really
seemed as if these birds and beasts were one
with man.

After bowing before his teacher's wife, Utonka
said, " Mother, the time of my training is
finished and I have, by the help of Gurudev,
become a Brahmachari. I have gained strength
and now I must go into the world. Tell me
now, Mother, what offering I can make you :
for Gurudev told me to ask you."

Quickly putting aside her weaving his teacher's
wife said with tears in her eyes, " What ! my
child, are you going to leave us ? Yet why

68

SHANTINIKETAN 69

should I be sad ? Go take my blessing witli
you. How many of my sons have one after
another gone away like this ! 15ut I am not
sorrowful ; for from the ashram they go out into
the world and benefit it by their work. Can
any one spend all his life in the seclusion of
this forest ? But wherever you go my heart's
affection and blessing will surround you all
your life."

Then after a short silence she said, " What
offering shall 1 tell you to bring ? Though we
need nothing, we must observe the usual custom."
Then as if remembering something, she said with
a slight smile :

"I have just remembered something. The
Queen Shubashukla is famous all the world over.
Even the gods respect her virtue. The sahits
of the forests sing her praises and even a hard
stone would be melted by the love of her
generous heart. No impure person is allowed to
look upon her face. She has some golden ear-
rings which are so valuable that Takshat, the
king of the serpents, himself wants to keep them
in his storehouse in the nether regions. I have
a great desire to see and touch those ear-rings
just once, and I would like to wear them when
next 1 entertain the Brahmins. So bring me

70 SHANTINIKETAN

those ear-rings within three days so that my wish
may be fulfilled. You are a Brahmaehari and
should have no difficulty."

Utonka was delighted, and having saluted her
he determined to set off that very day to bring
his offering.

When he had gone, the Guru's wife sat still
and began to think to herself: ''I wonder if 1
have done right to send my child Utonka all
alone such a long distance to bring this offering.
But why should I be afraid ? Let him see the
glory of a virtuous woman before he enters
the world. Why should one be afraid for a
Brahmachari ? " As she thought in this fashion,
she remembered all Utonka's deep devotion and
goodness, and she began to feel sad.

By this time the other boys came back, bring-
ing the rice and other food they had begged —
but to-day, strange to say, there was none of the
chatter and happy noise which there was on
other days. The Guru's wife seeing the boys
looking so sad went up to them and asked them
the cause. They all cried, " Utonka is going
away." Then she went off towards the kitchen
consoling them as she went.

^:::z::-

CHAPTER IV

Now we must follow Utonka on his journey to
the palace of King Poshya, the husband of the
famous queen. After leaving the fields near
the ashram he entered a thick forest. It was
then mid-day, and the forest was very beautiful.
Here and there the sun pierced through the dense
shade of the trees. It seemed as though all its
rays were setting up ladders of light and were
descending like thieves to steal flowers from the
dark forest. Birds were peeping out from holes
in the tree trunks, their red and black beaks
looking as if the trees had put on red and black
leaves. In some places, on the huge trunks of
some big trees, it seemed as if a whole village of
birds were situated in the branches. In other
places rows of tall palms lifted their graceful
heads, and with their fronds joined together,
like the wings of birds, made a cool darkness in
the woods. In other places, tlu'ough breaks in

71

72 SHANTINIKETAN

the forest, sparkling chatim trees looked up to
the sky, holding their leaves aloft like beautifid
fingers. Great creepers joined tree to tree like
bridges, and in some places seemed to have
prepared swings for the spirits of the wood to
play in. U tonka saw wild boars, some of them
digging up the earth, and some lying in holes.
Now and then he saw two huge curved horns
appear behind the screen of distant trees, and
once or twice a forest deer started suddenly from
right before him. Once he saw on the branch
of a tree a big honeycomb with black bees
buzzing round it.

After some time U tonka entered a large open
plain. In the distance the scorching sunlight
was flickering like tongues of fire. The sky was
deep blue.

Before going out into the heat of the sun
U tonka sat down to rest in the shade at the ed^e
of the forest. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, a
huge black cow appeared in the middle of the
plain. How wonderful ! Whence could it have
come ? Utonka had no idea that there was such
a large cow anywhere in the world, and he rubbed
his eyes to make sure he was not dreaming.
When he had stopped rubbing his eyes he was
still more astonished ; for on the back of the cow

SHANTINIKETAN 7:J.

there was now a tall radiant figure. Utonka
stood up in his astonishment.

Perhaps you are thinking that Utonka ran
away, but if you had been there you would
certainly have stood motionless as he did to see
that huge cow. From its neck hung fold upon
fold of well-grown dewlap and on its head were
two shining sharp horns of great length. Its
legs were covered with soft white hair almost to
the ankle, and it had a huge tail white in colour
and gradually tapering till it almost touched the
ground.

It seemed as if light was coming from its
broad black forehead. On its back was a strong
man with shining bare body. So enchanting
was the beauty of this sight, that Utonka stood
overwhelmed with wonder and astonishment.

As he stood looking at the cow it seemed as
if, in the twinkling of an eye, it came right up to
him from the place where it had been standing
without apparently moving its limbs. In great
astonishment Utonka looked up at it an^ saw
two large black and lustrous eyes gazing at him.
On seeing those eyes the whole of Utonka's
body felt a pleasant coolness like that which one
feels on drinking very cool water, liaising his
face a little, Utonka saw two bright eyes looking

74 SHANTINIKETAN

at him from a face wreathed in smiles. As he
looked into those eyes he heard, as though in a
dream, a voice say to him, " My child, drink
some of the milk of this cow ; for your Guru
also has done so." Utonka then bent down to
drink and, as he drank, it tasted to him like
nectar.

But when he lifted his head after drinking he
discovered that the cow and its rider had dis-
appeared and there was no sign of their having
been there at all. The plain was flooded with
the blazing sunlight. Near by was the dense
forest with its shade, and from it the sound of
birds and bees could be heard. Squirrels with
their pretty striped bodies were running out
into the open from the shelter of the woods,
and they would tlien peep round and, starting
suddenly, run back into the safety of the
forest.

Utonka feeling much astonished said to him-
self, " Was it then all a dream ? Have 1 been
asleep ? It will never do for me to fall asleep
like this and dream on my journey. I have to
bring back that offering. I wonder how far I
am from the king's palace ? "

Thus thinking to himself he set off at a great
pace, but all the time he kept saying, " What

SHANTINIKETAN 75

have I seen ? Has some god shown himself to
me?" And as he questioned thus he imper-
ceptibly began to slacken his pace. Wlien, how-
ever, he remembered the offering he hastened

-- -^

CHAPTER V

Utonka arrived at the palace of King Poshya
ill the evening and thought he would try to get
the ear-rings and return the same night. So
without any delay he went straight to the king
and told him what he wanted. The king, after
saluting him with deep respect and giving him
water for his tired feet, asked him first to wash
his hands and mouth and rest a little. " Wliy
are you in a hurry?" he said. "You can get
what you want by going yourself to the inner
apartments of the queen."

Utonka replied, "O king, may you live long
and prosper. I wanted to return with the ear-
rings this very night, but if that is not possible,
let me at least ask for them at once. For so
long as I am in doubt I shall have no peace of
mind."

The king laughed slightly and said, " Very
well. Go into the palace. The doorkeeper

76

SHANTINIKETAN 77

will show you the way. 1 myself Jiin goiuu; to
my evenuig worship and cannot come with
you." Saying this the king- bowed low to
Utonka and turned away. Utonka was over-
joyed and raising his two hands in blessing
turned to follow the doorkeeper into the inner
apartments.

In every room of the palace lamps were
twinkling in the dusk of evening. On the altar,
in the fire temple, was seated the fire god wear-
ing a glowing crown of flame, while chanting
was heard to the accompaniment of the evening
bells. On entering the hiner palace Utonka
saw a large bokul tree in a courtyard round
which the darkness was gathering, — on all sides
from the windows of the palace the light of
lamps was falling and making the leaves seem
black and shining in the distance. At the
foot of this tree a large cow was standing, its
body a beautiful pale red, looking dark in the
evening gloom. On her forehead was a white
crescent moon and the white dust near her feet
looked very beautiful. From the body of the
cow came a sweet scent which seemed to fill the
air with peace, while in front were seated several
girls dressed in red silk and burning incense by
the 1 ight of lamps.

78 SHANTINIKETAN

In one of the rooms the doorkeeper stopped
and said, " Brahmachari, wait a little in this
room, while I go to call the queen. She will
make her obeisance to you in the next room."
Saying which, the doorkeeper went towards the
cow, while Utonka sat down and waited.

As he was waiting: it seemed to Utonka
that there was on all sides a calm and blessed
peace pervading the atmosphere. He saw the
queen's attendants moving about in the court-
yard from place to place with lamps in their
hands and dressed in red silk. By the light of
the lamps their faces appeared bright and beauti-
ful, full of joy and peace. At last the door-
keeper came and called him. Utonka, following
slowly, entered a room in the middle of which
a clear bright light was burning. A soft scent
came from the sweet-smelling; oil. On all sides
incense was rising — but in the room itself there
was nothing ; it was absolutely empty.

When he entered, Utonka could see no one,
but the doorkeeper pointed to a seat inlaid with
mother-of-pearl for him to sit on. As he took
his seat he asked the doorkeeper, " Has the
queen not come yet ? "

The doorkeeper replied with evident astonish-
ment, " Why there she is sitting on that shell-

SHANTINIKETAN 79

covered seat wearing a red dress. Can't you
see her ? "

Although Utonka looked liard he could see
nothing whatever, and he exclaimed, " What do
you say ? Are you joking with me ? AVliere
is the queen sitting ? I can see nothing."

The old doorkeeper laughed and said,
" Brahmachari, do not be angry with me ; but
you must, I suppose, be impure and that is why
you cannot see the queen."

Then the Brahmachari recollected his vision
at the edge of the forest and said to himself,
" Then that was not really a dream after all.
Everything was real, and because I have not
washed my mouth after drinking that milk,
therefore I am impure and cannot see the
queen. But I thought the whole thing was
a dream. How wonderful the glory of this
queen must be."

So Utonka rose quickly and went away to
wash. Having; washed his hands and mouth
the Brahmachari returned and the glory of the
queen was revealed to him. She was seated
on a seat which was decorated with exquisite
pearls. Her dress was made of red silk. Her
face was so radiant that the very gold of her
ear-rings appeared dull in comparison, and the

80 SHANIINIKETAN

beauty of her smile was like a flower or a star.
Gazing at her it seemed to Utonka that his brow
had been cooled with dewdrops, and he was not
able to take his eyes off her. He thought that
the palace in which such a woman lived must
indeed be a habitation fit for the gods.

Meanwhile the queen had come down from
her seat and was making her obeisance to Utonka.
Just as blossoms are shaken from the shal tree
by passing breezes, so it seemed as if blessings
were showered from Utonka's heart. He said,
" JNIay eternal good fortune attend you. JMother,
I request one gift from your generous hands.
Give me your ear-rings." Queen Shubashukla,
laughing gently, removed the ear-rings with a
graceful gesture, bending her head as she did so.
Just then, a companion of the queen entered
the room with a tray on which were honey,
curds, sandal paste, paddy and a cluster of Bokul
leaves.^ The queen, taking this tray from her
companion's hands, placed the two ear-rings on
it and laid it at the feet of Utonka, making an
obeisance as she did so. Utonka, accepting the
offering, lifted up the two ear-rings to look at
them. Then the queen said in a sweet voice,
" Brahmachari, take care of them, for the king

1 These are given as a sign of resjject to an honoured guest.

81

G

SHANTINIKETAN 83

of the siijikes has shown a great desire tt) pos-
sess them."

" Very well," said Utonka as he stood up and
blessed the queen. "May peace be with you
and waft its unseen breezes to cool your heart."

Full of joy Utonka left the inner apartments
with the doorkeeper, whereupon Shubashukla
embracing her companion said laughing, " To-
day, my companion, I am very happy ; for by
giving these worthless gold ear-rings to this
Brahmachari I have been made holier." At
which her companion laughed and said, " AVe
also share your happiness, but I hope that
Takshat will not cause any trouble to him on
the road."

Shubashukla replied, " Even if any accident
happens, who would hurt the Brahmachari?
The gods would conspire together to return the
ear-rings to him, if they were lost or stolen."

In the meantime Utonka, taking the ear-rings
with him, wondered, as he went out, at the
beauty and grace of the palace. On his way he
met the king who was returning from his even-
ing prayers carrying some flowers in his hands.
Seeing the Brahmachari he greeted him by
scattering flowers over him.

Utonka addressing him said, " My prayer,

84 SHANTINIKETAN

O king, has been granted. I have obtained the
gift and must now bid farewell."

The king replied, " But I cannot bid farewell
so soon. Stay at least to-night." So Utonka
stayed that night in the palace.

All the noise of birds and beasts and men
was stilled, and in the depth of the night Utonka
began to think about the splendour of the royal
palace. It seemed to him that heavenly mes-
sengers were descending through the moon-
light and were standing all round the palace
singing sacred chants in soft tones. Then
again he remembered with wonder his vision
of that cow. Then his mind turned to thoughts
of his Guru's wife and of his fellow-students
all of whom he was so soon to leave. All the
hundreds of events that had happened to him
since his childhood in the ashram came before
him and so he kept on thhiking till it struck
midnight. Then keeping tight hold of the ear-
rings, and uttering the name of his Guru,
Utonka turned over and went to sleep.

CHAPTER VI

In the fields there is neither man nor beast.
Overhead is the intense burning sun. But a
strong wind has sprung up and is raising a white
dust in the eyes of tiie sun. Look in the distance
and you will see that all the leaves and branches
of the forest are dancing like mad elephants
striking their trunks against each other's bodies,
while all the time a hissing panting sound can
be heard. Over the fields storms of dust, like
hordes of white frenzied ghosts, are tearing
along, sometimes turning round and round and
sometimes rising high in gigantic forms.

There seems to be not a cloud in the sky.
Only under those trees the sky in the distance
is dark and lowering and all the time the mad
breeze blows strongly.

Who is this who speeds along with scarf fiy-
in<>: in the wind, like the winos of a bird as it
struggles for its life with all its might against

85

86 SHANTINIKETAN

the storm ? Who but our Utonka returning to
the ashram with the ear-rinffs ?

Utonka having left the open fields is taking
shelter behind a tree. Take care, Utonka, be
careful of your precious ear-rings ! For this
is the very field where that mysterious cow
appeared to you and made you drink its milk-
all sorts of unearthly things happen here. It
seemed as though Utonka realised his danger ;
for he sat down carefully and said, " I will see
whether I can discover the meaning of what
happened to me yesterday."

For a long time he looked steadfastly in the
direction of the dusty field but he could see
nothing. On looking behind him, however, he
saw a curious sight. He saw, at a height of two
or three feet from the ground, a tall beggar with
shaven head, ugly and almost naked, coming
towards him. His face was clean shaven and
his cheeks wrinkled, while on his forehead were
three or four dreadful black lines, and as he
approached he kept making hideous grimaces.
Crouching down, he beat his hands all the time
against his hollow sides. It almost seemed as
if a dust-storm, vexed by the wind, was trying
to drag this object along in its clutches.

Utonka began to wonder whatever was the

SHANTINIKETAN 87

matter, but at that very moment the beggar
disappeared. Utonka burst out laughing at
having been deceived by such a curious image
and illusion. But he was again surj)rised
when that half- naked, shaven - headed image
appeared floating in the sky, only to disappear
again in the twinkling of an eye.

Utonka laughed to himself and thought :
" The next time the beggar comes, he will
stand right on my head and I shall be able
to make Mr. Juggler a captive." Laughing at
this thought Utonka stood up suddenly, but
the beggar was nowhere to be seen. Instead,
Utonka saw the powerful Takshat emerge sud-
denly like a flash of lightning from a hole five
feet away. Darting to Utonka's feet he seized
the box containing the ear-rings and leapt back
into the hole.

When Utonka realised the clever cunning of
the wicked serpent king, he fell into a frenzy of
despair. But when he had managed to calm
his mind, he began to pray to Indra, saying,
*' O mighty Indra, whose thunderbolt can
shatter a rock to atoms and can burn the whole
world to ashes, now help this poor helpless
Brahmachari. O Indra, whose clouds afix:>rd a
grateful shade to the hot and weary traveller

88 SHANTINIKETAN

and give water to the thirsty, and abundant
crops to your worshippers, help this poor and
helpless Brahmachari."

Looking up to heaven Utonka prayed thus
with folded hands, and as he gazed into the sky
a cloud descended and floated just above his
head. A little later Utonka felt a gentle rain
falling and then a rainbow appeared, and from
one side of the cloud to the other bright flashes
sparkled and danced. Utonka saw some one
sitting in the middle of that dark cloud who
encouraged him with loving smiles. He gazed
steadfastly and, as he gazed, the cloud de-
scended still lower with a gentle patter of rain,
and at last, drenching Utonka with its dew,
it entered the earth. The ground opened as
though struck by a thunder-bolt. Sitting on
the rainbow, in the middle of that dark cloud,
Utonka descended into the nether regions. As
he entered the womb of the earth he saw sus-
pended on all sides of his cloudy chariot the
tops of many sweet-scented trees with crowds
of bright- coloured insects fluttering in their
branches. Seated on the cloud he felt a pleasing
coolness until suddenly he ceased to move.

-VfA

XM^

i ~

CHAPTER VII

The nether regions are merely a pleasing fancy
of the poets. For the nourishment of a tree,
air and light are needed outside, while inside is
needed the cool sap drawn from the dark regions
underground. So, also, this vast earth needs
sap, as the tree does, to give it strength.

When the minds and imaginations of the
poets were filled with the heauty, immensity
and power of the world and the stars and planets,
then in the joy of that power and energy they
tried to express the rhythmic movement of the
spirit of the universe, and the idea of this inner
energy, in niany varied images.

The nether regions were to them a bottomless
storehouse from which the world, standing like
a huge branching tree, draws its nourishment.
Just as the roots of a tree are in the ground,
from which it draws cool sap, so the roots of
the world descend into the lower regions. That

89

90 SHANTINIKETAN

energy which you see expressed in the world in
light and in flashes of lightning has also been
gathered up and stored in the hidden chambers
of the nether regions. And those changing
pictures of the seasons which you see as the
years pass over the world are but the reflection
of original paintings which are there also ; while
the ever new days and nights in the world are
but the play of a power hidden there.

In this storehouse many wonderful things are
kept. Therefore these regions are full of terror.
No one dare enter them alone. Fearful serpents
go round and round hissing fiercely, — sentinels
keep guard over great heaps of jewels and pearls.
Over these there always hangs a thick gloomy
haze like a cloud, from which every now and
then in the stillness there darts a sudden flash of
lightning. Here the wind blows keenly and is
not restless like our breezes. It blows silently
and constantly with a piercing chill. Deep
echoes like thousands of conch shells blown
together sound on all sides.

Arriving at the entrance to these regions
Utonka heard, as he came to a standstill, a
sound like the roar of the mighty sea. He
was astounded, and you can understand hov/
alert his mind was at that moment. The dark-

SHANTINIKETAN 91

ness and that roaring sound filled his mind with
fear and doubt, but after remaining for a long
time motionless with fear he began to concen-
trate his mind and sat down to meditate on
Indra.

You must remember that if you have the
power of deep concentration and can meditate,
you can realise God's presence at any time ; for
He is present at all times and in all places.
Utonka was a true Brahmachari, so he had
acquired considerable power of concentration.
While he was plunged in deep meditation a
dreadful sound pierced the darkness a little to
U tonka's right, as if the light of a flaming fire
had suddenly been revealed, and with a solemn
note a sweet voice sounded in his ear, saying,
" Utonka, enter this room."

As Utonka got up he saw a bright and beauti-
ful flaming light and he started with surprise.
Then his mind was filled with intense joy.
Often in the darkness of the night-time he had
risen to adore the blazing fire ; and to-day in
the darkness of the nether regions his life had
in a moment become full of power through the
radiance of this great blazhig light.

Utonka began to advance towards this light
uttering a chant of adoration as he did so. But

92 SHANTINIKETAN

on getting closer to it he found that it was not
a fire at all but a huge golden door that shone
with intense brightness. He thought with a
certain amount of shame, " A his, I have been
worshipping a mere door of gold as if it were
fire. But perhaps I shall find the god of fire
within this room." Then he a])proached the
door, and no sooner had he touched it than it
was blown open by a strong gust of wind. On
entering he saw a wonderful sight. A huge
room filled with white lioht in the middle of
which, glowing like a blazing fire, stood a horse
with large wide-open eyes. By its side a strong
man was standing, while surrounding it on all
sides were six beautifully dressed boys dancing
wildly and every moment throwing off one dress
and putting on a new one. Sitting a little
distance away were two exquisitely beautiful
damsels on golden thrones busily weaving cloth
upon a loom with threads of two colours, one
bright like the golden colour of their bodies, the
other jet black like their hair. They were every
moment throwing the cloth on to the bodies of
the boys, who, laughing merrily, kept picking up
this cloth and putting it on. On one side two
guards were standing motionless.

Utonka became more and more astonished as

SHANTINIKETAN 93

lie looked upon this scene. These two giuuds
seemed so strong that it looked as if tliey could
easily overpower that radiant horse of fire.
Their bodies were so upright and full of energy
and their arms were so straight that it seemed
as if they could at any moment overcome the
most powerful lion, and yet from the look on
their faces they appeared to be tranquil and
smiling angels.

Utonka now turned to look at the man who
was standing beside the horse. On examining
him closely he recognised him as the same man
who had shown himself seated on the cow which
had appeared to him on the plain. Then the
man said with a gentle smile, " My child, take
this horse outside, breathe once in his nostrils
and you will get back the ear-rings." Utonka,
stupefied with wonder, took the horse out, and
in accordance witii the man's connnand he blew
strongly in the horse's nostrils. As he did so
the hair of the horse's body stood on end, and
gradually from every hair fire came out. With-
out any sound the fire consumed the whole of
the nether regions in a moment of time, so that
there was not a trace of them left, l^ut curi-
ously enough the fire did not touch U tonka's
body at all. He called out in a loud voice.

94 SHANTINIKETAN

" Now my worship of the fire has borne some
fruit. O powerful Fire, I salute thee. O
beautiful Fire, I salute thee. O mighty Fire,
take me in a golden chariot to the foundations
of tlie earth. O god of Fire, now I understand
that it is your throne that is spread in these
mysterious lower regions, and to thee, O glorious
one, I bow."

After this joyful salutation Utonka looked in
front of him, his face bright with the rays of the
brilliant fire which spread on all sides, quivering
and scarlet like the blossoms of a dhah tree.
There in front of him he saw Takshat, who,
driven mad by the dreadful heat of the flames,
was in full retreat, having thrown down in his
haste those ear-rings which lay like golden
flowers at Utonka's feet. As soon as he had
disappeared, the fire gathered itself together and
entered the horse's body again.

Utonka having picked up the ear-rings was
about to say something when he suddenly
realised that the whole vision had vanished.
He saw on all sides of him the fresh sunshhie of
dawning day falling through the trees, the dew
on the leaves was not yet dry, the birds were
singing, while in front of him was flowing the very
stream which passed the ashram of his Guru.

SHANTINIKETAN 95

For some time Utonka remained motionless
with wonder and astonishment, but at last lie
stood up laughing and exclaimed, " Ugh ! I have
been dreaming again." Then meditatively and
with eyes half closed he went slowly towards the
ashram.

As he approached he saw that many Brahmin
guests were seated in a circle, their faces radiant
with joy, while his Guru Ved was in the centre.
They all looked with veneration to the place
where the Guru's wife was seated. She was
expressing some anxiety because of U tonka's
delay. " Every one has come," she was saying ;
" but why is Utonka so late ? Can some acci-
dent have happened to him on the way ? " To
this Ved replied at once, " Do not be anxious, for
he will be here immediately." Even as he spoke
Utonka appeared from behind a screen of jas-
mine flowers, and at the same moment the eyes
of both the Guru and his wife met his own.

All were delighted as Utonka first of all did
obeisance to his Guru and his Guru's wife, laying
the precious ear-rings at their feet. Then he
saluted the rest of the company. The woman's
eyes filled with tears of joy as she took the ear-
rings, then she went towards the house looking
at them as she went.

96 SHANTINIKETAN

After receiving the Guru's blessing Utonka
stood quietly at one side of the assembly. Then
he began to speak, saying, " Gurudev, to-day I
have tasted of the limitless energy of the world.
iSIy discipline has borne fruit. Plunging into
the nether regions I have seen the beauty of day
and night, the restless dancing of the six seasons,
and all the imperishable forms of beauty in this
world. The god of Fire has set his seal upon me,
and the glory of the hidden fire has filled my
mind w^ith w^onder. Indra has taken up his
abode on the throne of my heart. JMy life in the
world will now be successful. Gurudev, I pray
that your blessing may be a constant benediction
and help to me."

Having said this Utonka came and sat at his
Guru's feet and asked for permission to depart.
His Guru Ved gave an affectionate farewell
blessing, saying, " JMy son, may your mind always
be happy, and may your work in the world
be fruitful. May nobility of purpose, like a
flower, blossom in your heart. May all my
pupils be able, like you, to accomplish their
noble purposes."

CONCLUSION

At last our story is finished. Need we say
any more about that constant nobility of purpose
which blossomed in the heart of our Utonka ?

My prayer is that you also may learn to
appreciate the deeper mysteries of this universe,
that you may be able to admire the beauty of a
pure and noble life, and treasure at all times the
blessing of your teachers.

May their blessing, uniting with the clouds,
fall upon you like gentle rain. Mingling with
the sunlight every day at dawn may it manifest
itself to your eyes. Breathing in the wind may
it bring deep peace into your hearts. May your
minds be happy and filled with the joy and
energy of the universe. May your lives in the
world be fruitful, — may nobility of purpose ever
blossom in your hearts. May you also be strong,

97 H

98 SHANTINIKETAN

fearless and pure ; and may you accomplish
your spiritual destiny by devoting yourselves to
God.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. Om Peace,
Peace, Peace.

^:

PARADISE

BEING AN ADDRP:SS DELIVERED in

RABINDIIANATH TAGORE BEFORE

JAPANESE STUDENTS IN TOKYO

99

PARADISE

BEING AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY RABINDRANATH
TAGORE BEFORE JAPANESE STUDENTS IN TOKYO

The following words xvere spoken bij Kabin-
dranath Tagore before cm audience of young
Japanese children and Norinal School students
in Tokyo. They so tridy represent the ideals of
Shantiniketaii that they will be useful to readers
of this book, to convey to them the spirit in which
I Rabi7idra7mth Tagore comes into touch with those

xvho teach and learn in his School: —

" My dear young friends, do not be frightened
at me, or think that I am going to give you a
long lecture, or good advice, or moral lessons. I
know I look rather formidable, with my grey
beard and white hair and flowing Indian robe,
and people, who know me by my exterior, make
the absurd mistake that I am an old man, and
^ give me a higher seat and pay me deference by

101

102 SHANTINIKETAN

keeping at a distance from me. But if 1 could
show you my heart, you would find it green and
young, — perhaps younger than some of you who
are standing before me. And you would find,
also, that I am childish enough to believe in
things which the grown-up people of the modern
age, with their superior wisdom, have become
ashamed to own, — and even modern schoolboys
also. That is to say, I believe in an ideal life.
I believe that, in a little flower, there is a living
power hidden in beauty which is more potent
than a Maxim gun. I believe that in the bird's
notes Nature expresses herself with a force which
is greater than that revealed in the deafening
roar of the cannonade. 1 believe that there is
an ideal hovering over the earth, — an ideal of
that Paradise which is not the mere outcome
of imagination, but the ultimate reality towards
which all things are moving. I believe that this
vision of Paradise is to be seen in the sunlight,
and the green of the earth, in the flowing
streams, in the beauty of spring time, and the
repose of a w inter morning. Everywhere in
this earth the spirit of Paradise is awake and
sending forth its voice. We are deaf to its call ;
we forget it ; but the voice of eternity wells up
like a mighty organ and touches the inner core

SHANTINIKETAN 103

of our being with its music. Though we do not
know it, yet it is true, that everywhere men and
women are living in the atmosphere of these
sounds. This voice of eternity reaches their
inner ears. It models the tunes of the harj)
of life, urging us in secret to attune our own
lives according to that ideal, and to send our
aspiration up to the sky, as flowers send their
perfume into the air and birds their songs.
Even the most depraved, in some moment of
their lives, have been touched by this voice, and
not altogether lost. They have felt a beauty in
the depth of their being, which has reached them
from heaven itself.

'* These may seem nursery rhymes to you, and
too absurd to be believed by grown-up people.
But I am one of those children who never grow
old, and I would ask you to accept me as one
of yourselves.

" I know that some who are here are being
trained to be Teachers. That is my vocation
also, but I have never had any training. I have
a school, in which we try to teach boys better
knowledge and higher ideals of life. But, for
myself, I must confess I was a truant, and left
off going to school when I was thirteen, so I
am a bad example to follow. But I have been

104 SHANTINIKETAN

trying to make up for lost time, and have under-
taken this task of teaching my boys at Bolpur.

" One thing is truly needed to be a Teacher
of children, — it is to be like children ; to forget
that you are wise or have come to the end of
knowledge. In order to be truly the guide of
children, you must never be conscious of age, or
of superiority, or anything of that kind. You
must be their elder brother, ready to travel with
them in the same path of higher wisdom and
aspiration. This is the only advice 1 can offer
to you on this occasion, — to cultivate the spirit
of the eternal child, if you must take up the
task of training the children of Man."

PARTING

By RABINDRANATH TAGORE

105

PARTING

By Rabindranath Tagore

In God's creation there is no end to anything.
All that is true is continuous. In God's garden
the flower blooms and fades, but when it fades
it does not really come to its end. It blooms
again and again. The seasons come and go,
but they return. In their succession there
is truth. So all true relations, all true happi-
ness, are continuous. They are not merely
temporary. In their succession they do not
really cease.

In man's works there is this taint of death.
Most of our activities are unmeaning. Our
energies are employed in supplying ourselves
with things and pleasures. They have no
eternity in the background. Therefore we try
to give things an appearance of permanence by
adding to them. Man in his anxiety to prolong

107

108 SHANTINIKETAN

his pleasure tries simply to make additions, and
we are afraid to stop, because we fear that it
must some day come to an end.

But truth is not afraid to be small, to come
to an end, — ^just. as a poem, when it is finished,
is not really dead. Not because a poem is com-
posed of endless lines. If that were so we should
know that the poem was not true. The true
poem knows when to come to an end. It has
attached itself to some permanent ideal of man,
which belongs to all men and is the inner
principle of all creation. If a poem has reached
this ideal of perfection, then it knows that, by
stopping, it does not die, but live.

So the true meeting can afford to stop, because
it never comes to an end, but has its continuity
in truth. Where we are true, we are immortal.
When we are on the side of truth, we are on the
side of immortality. 13 ut man scatters his life by
giving it up for objects which are meaningless in
themselves. We make these our ends and then
it becomes a life of death.

In our everyday world we meet many men ;
but they pass like shadows over our life. But
where we meet in truth, there all is different.
Here, in this corner of the country, we have
come together. You long for truth, as I do.

SHANTTNIKETAN 109

We are all children crying in the dark for our
eternal JNIother, but we do not know that she
is in the same bed with us all the time. We
do not know this, and we think that we are
separated. But when the lamp is lit we know
that the Mother has been here all the while.
Then we find that we are children of the same
Mother, that amid differences of race, and climate,
we are children of the same Mother, and the
cry of India, " Lead us from the unreal to the
real, from darkness to light, from death to im-
mortality," rises from our lips. When we listen
to that prayer we know that these differences
are the unreal, and that the Ileal is that we are
one. Under these trees we have called Him in
united voices our Father, and we have come to
know that this is our true relationship ; it can
never be lost, but will continue deep in our
souls.

Our personal relationship with this world was
begun in love — Mother brought us into the
world, Father's love cherished and nourished us
there. Gradually through the keynote of this
love we could see that only this relationship
was final. The objects of our passionate desires
were either destructive or shadowy tlnngs. Life
becomes unreal when filled up with them. But

no SHANTINIKETAN

when we meet with each other in God, then
our life is continuous in truth. It has not this
element of falsehood in it. That is what we
must remember. Here we have ffot the meaning;
of the words, " Lead us from the unreal to the
Real."

When we take food, that food is assimilated
into our body, and it goes on with its work of
creation. But if we eat dust or gravel, it is not
creative, but destructive. So the true relation-
ship with man is creative. Under these trees,
this very meeting will be creative in our lives
and become truer every day. It is true that,
like God's daylight, all its energies may be
shrouded under night's darkness for a time, but
it lives again. So with all true relations. These
will remain to the end of our lives and will not
be lost. These will grow into some great life,
which will have its fulfilment of purpose in the
days to come. And I offer my prayer to God
that He may lead us from all that is trivial,
unmeaning, disconnected, and unrelated to the
truth of love.

Lead us unto the Real, the Truth which
is Eternal, from darkness which blinds us to
the infinite truth, that Thou art our Father
in truth. Deliver us from that darkness of

SHANTINIKETAN 111

desire ; that smallness of heart. Bring us
unto the light.

From death, lead us to the Deathless. From
all that is perishable, lead us to truth that is
eternal.

THE END

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