Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India

encyclopedia

EDUCATION

reading and self-study by Tagore himself. He developed an indepth

knowledge of Sanskrit and Bengali literature with a fairly satisfactory

knowledge of English and other subjects. His early youth was spent

in travel, reading and writing. He started composing poems from the

early age of eight years. His deep love of Nature drew him constantly

to a garden land near Bolpur, where his father Devendranath used to

go for peaceful rest and meditation. Tagore called this place

'Santiniketan', which means 'abode of peace'. It was here that he spent

the whole of his life, especially from the age of 23 years when he was

married to an eleven year old illiterate girl Mrinalini, from a poor rural

family.

Sri Jagadish Chandra Bose, the well-known scientist was a

friend of his. Tagore's letter to him in 1900 when J.C. Bose was in

England, indicates his intention to start a school. The letter says : 'I

am at Santiniketan in the throes of trying to start a school. It has to be

just like our ancient forest monasteries (

Ashrams

), where teachers

and pupils lived together in ordered discipline, without the least trace

of luxury, and the rich and poor alike had to be initiated as novices of

the orders.... In case you return soon, you will have to set the ball

rolling for me". The reply of Bose who highly rated Tagore's poems

and stories, dated November 2,1900 says : "Why do you hide yourself

in the jungle? I won't let you. You must be dragged out... you belong

to the whole world. You can't be just tied to one country." Tagore had

made up his mind. He started his school,"

Brahmacharyashrama"

(boy's monastery) in 1901, on December 22, the date on which his

father Devendranath had been initiated as

'Dwija', Brahmin

student.

His own two sons Rathindra and Samindra along with 8 others formed

the first batch. Education, considered as

’Vidya Dan'

(gift of learning)

was free along with free residence and free food. Tagore hoped that

rich, generous and charitable people would render financial help. But

his hopes turned into dupes. So later he started charging fees of Rs.

13/- per month, which a few years later was further enhanced to Rs.

20/- per month to include tuition, board, lodge and medicine. The

school became popular and the strength grew to more than a hundred

students for whose residence eight thatched room dormitories were

built. All manual labour, including cleaning, drawing water from

wells, serving food, gardening, running errands, taking care of visitors

and guests etc. was done by the students themselves. No class-rooms

were built. Classes were conducted under trees and in open yards in

accordance with Tagore's theory of education in which direct contact

with nature played a key role. The daily routine started at 4-30 am

and ended at 8-30 prr\at night. Teaching classes were held from 7 am

to 10 am in the morning and again from 1 pm to 4 pm in the evening.

The subjects taught included Sanskrit, Bengali, English, Mathemat-

ics, Geography, History and Science. It was also supplemented with

Music, Dance, Drama, Drawing and Painting. Football was a favour-

ite game, cricket was also played during some months. There was

provision for remedial teaching for slow learners or low achievers for

which half an hour per day was set apart. The students were prepared

for the Matriculation examination. The top-most class was called

class I and the bottom class std. XII. Wednesday was a weekly

holiday. On the opening day itself, there was the common prayer

(specially composed by Tagore) followed by initiation through

'Gay-

thri'Mantra,

the meaning of which Tagore himself explained along

with its special significance. Morning and evening meditation for 15

minutes each time was an integral part of the course. There were

regular entertainments in which Tagore himself participated with

students. Each teacher taught one subject from the top to the bottom

class. Tagore himself taught Sanskrit and Bengali. Grammar was his

favourite topic along with poetry and drama.

Tagore's visits abroad and his winning the Nobel Prize for Gi-

tanjali in 1913 intensified his desire to establish a permanent interna-

tional institute. The result was the establishment of 'Viswabharati'

university which was inaugurated by Dr. Brajendranath Seal at Santi-

niketan on 22nd December (sacred day for Tagore in memory of his

father's consecration as

Brahmachari)

1921. The name 'Vishwabharati'

appears to have sprung from the Vedic

mantra : ’’Yatra viswam

Bharatyekaneedam'

meaning 'where the whole world nestles at one

place'. This is in keeping with the basic purpose of Tagore who said:

'Viswabharati is a centre of culture where research into the study of

religion, literature, history, science and art of all civilisations - Hindu,

Buddhist, Jain, Islami, Sikh, Christian etc. - may be pursued along

with the study and research of the cultures of the West with the

simplicity in externals which is necessary for true spiritual realization

in amity, a good fellowship, and co-operation between thinkers and

scholars of both Eastern and Western countries free from all antago-

nism of race, nationality, creed or caste and in the name of One

Supreme Being, who is

Shantam, Shivam

and

Advaitam.

(Peaceful,

Benevolent and Non-Dual). The purpose and object of the (1922) in-

stitution's Article of Association are as under

To search for the inner unity of the different cultures and civili-

zations of the East through study and research,

To bring about a close contact between the Eastern and Western

cultures and civilizations on the basis of that unity.

To establish unity and peace among the people world-over on

the foundation of that contact.

To achieve the above ends, to establish in Santiniketan a cultural

centre for the study of and research in the following subjects viz,

Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Islamic and Christian religions, literature,

history, science, arts and Western culture. Under the Articles of

Association the responsibility of managing the Viswabharati was

entrusted to a Committee which was composed of two classes of

members - ordinary members and members for life. These

members again selected members for the

Samsad

or Executive

Council, the Secretary and the Financial Advisor. Apart from

the members selected by the above Committee, the

Samsad

Executive Council had as members representatives of the various

departments. Rabindranath was the Acharya of the Viswabharati

till his death. On his death Abanindranath and after him Sarojini

Naidu became

Acharyas

of the institution. Under the Articles of

Association again there was provision for the appointment of an

Academic Council.

The folowing departments of Viswabharati are worthy.of mention:

Pathabhaban

(school),

Vidyabhaban

(Higher Education),

Sik-

shabhaban

(college), 1937 -

China Bhaban

(Indo-Chinese traditional

relationship), 1939 -

Hindi Bhaban

(Hindi language & literature),

1942 -

Rabindra Bhaban

(study of Rabindra literature),

Sangit Bhaban

(Music & Dance) and

Kalabhaban

(Art of Painting).

Viswabharati has a valuable library which contains many rare

books and manuscripts. It has a special section for collection and

editing of manuscripts. Viswabharati is now recognised as a Central

University by the Government of India.