Gurudev Tagore would have wept if he were able to revisit Santiniketan.
I have the rare privilege of possessing a sketch painted by Rabidranath Tagore. Also an autographed photograph of his.
No one now remembers Krishna Kriplani. He taught at Santiniketan for nearly 15 years, beginning in 1933. Indira Gandhi was studying at Santiniketan and got to know Krishna well. When she became prime minister, she nominated him to the Rajya Sabha.
Krishna married Tagore’s grand niece, Nandita. Gandhiji and Jawharlal Nehru knew Krishna Kriplani intimately. When Tagore died on August 7, 1941, Nehru was in jail. To Krishna Kriplani he wrote: “I have met many big people in various parts of the world. But I have no doubt in my mind that two biggest I have had the privilege meeting have been Gandhi & Tagore. I think they have been the two outstanding personalities in the world during the last quarter of a century... And I think of the richness of India’s age-long cultural genius which can throw up in the same generation two such master types... .”
Krishna Kriplani’s biography of Tagore, published in London, New York and New Delhi is among the best ever written. It is an inspired work.
I got to know Krishna Kriplani in the late 50’s. Our friendship flourished over the years. He was more than 20 years older than me. He treated me with much affection and was an appreciative and generous critic of my writing.
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He and Indira Gandhi were on first names. She bestowed the Padma Bhushan on a very embarrassed and reluctant Krishna. The declaration of the Emergency appalled and distressed this man of lofty principles and integrity.
When he finally left New Delhi at the end of his second Rajya Sabha term, he, most generously and unexpectedly, gave me the two treasures I have mentioned above. “I am settling in Santiniketan. With Nandita gone (she died of cancer) I have no use for worldly possessions. I know you will take good care of these heirlooms of mine.” I had no words to thank him. Silent acceptance was the only answer.
Except in East and West Bengal, not many people read Tagore today. Two eminent Indians, Amartya Sen (The Argumentative Indian) and Nirad C Chaudhuri (Thy Hand, Great Anarch!) have brought Tagore back to the Republic of Letters. Nirad C Chaudhuri, a dedicated iconoclast, wrote: “And if I were asked who was the greatest poet produced by India, including the greatest of the ancient Indians, Kalidas, I would certainly reply: ‘Tagore’, but not 'Tagore, alas!”
I have been to Santiniketan twice. The second time was in 2004, when, as foreign minister, I handed over to the vice chancellor the gold replicas of Tagore’s Nobel Prize medal. The originals had been stolen. Yes, stolen. The Nobel Committee generously sent us the replicas. Amartya Sen, Gopal Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee and Somnath Chatterjee were also present at the function.
My head and heart revolted on seeing an uncared for Santiniketan . Gurudev Tagore would have wept if he were able to revisit his creation.
Will the authorities in Santiniketan wake up on the 150th birth anniversary of the poet and do something worthwhile?
If Pranab Mukherjee did not exist, it would be necessary for the UPA to invent him. Here is a man, 75 years of age, working almost 20 hours a day. He is a one-man army, whom no political party can ignore. With one six-year break, he has been a Central minister for almost 30 years. He first became finance minister at the age of 44.
He is erudite without being pedantic. He is good at deflating amiable frauds. His energy, stamina, vast political experience and his judgment invite respect. He has the memory of an elephant. Actually, elephants consult him from time to time!!
I sat with him in the Congress Working Committee and Cabinet. In both, he excelled. For the UPA, he is indispensable. Here is a minister who resolves crisis after crisis, keeps the Opposition in good humour, the media satisfied and has so far not fallen foul of Sonia Gandhi. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh worked under him for several years. He is always courteous to “Dr Sahib”, as he calls the prime minister. I have not met him for several years but I do follow his functioning with much interest. Having resolved the Tharoor tangle, he should now find a way out from the mess Shri Jai Sia Ram Ramesh has created.
Finally, Britain has a government. The first coalition in 70 years. Prime Minister David Cameron is 43, his foreign minister William Hague is 49. The Liberal Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is 43. A new generation has now appeared on the British political firmament. Coalitions in Britain have not lasted long.
Tailpiece
Two Israeli ministers were having a discussion. Minister A said to Minister B, “Let us go to war with the United States.” “What on earth for,” asked Minister B. A said, “If we lose the war, the Americans will bail us out, as they did to Germany and Japan after World War-II,” B thought for a few seconds and asked A, “Suppose we win the war, what then?”