Santiniketan, Friends, the Bose and Tagore families
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This is Sanat Bose, Kunal's father. Bright and clear in his '80's, still active in the party (Bengal has one of the two communist state governments.)
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In the early to mid 1900's, Sanat was a writer and historical scholar
for the labor movement. He's signing a book for us, a collection of his papers.
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We're in Santiniketan now, at the Tagore's home. That is a "house
lizard" above one of their beautiful painted windows.
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Shubra and Supriyo, Sari's parents. Their house is beautiful, and they
are warm and generous -- wonderful hosts for our stay in Santiniketan.
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This is Rabindranath Tagore, and the baby he is holding is Supriyo, his
great grand nephew.
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Walking to the village center. I imagine the cow is walking home. They
wander free, but do know where they belong.
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Shubra and Supriyo are retired now, though still busy helping make this
a delightful community. This is one of the many former students we met.
They all love their former teachers, and seek their blessings.
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The University founded by Rabindranath still follows his principles,
among them to live and study in nature, under the trees, amid the
flowers, in the shadow of art.
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We went to a bazaar with beautiful crafts. This hand embroidered
coverlet was among many things that made us think about getting an extra
suitcase.
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Weaving a rug. Surrounded by other artists and craftmen. Nice to see the
work.
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Paintings on heavy paper or maybe parchment. The colors,
characteristically in India, are intense.
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Fron the crafts bazaar we went to a new and beautiful community arts
center. The older man is a renowned singer, and a teacher in
Santiniketan. On his left, one of his sons is singing.
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In Chennai we had seen the worldfamous Kalekshetra dancers, and hoped to
see something as beautiful again. This is exactly what we found at the
Musical Evening. Hard to show in photos, but elegant and enchanting.
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The Tagores started an orphanage a few years ago. Here is one of the
dozen or so childred whose lives have been saved. Smiles are in order.
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The walls are colorful, they become a canvas for the creativity released
by the gift of a home, food, and love.
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Near the orphanage there is a primitive village, which Supriyo was
especially interested that we visit.
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The village streers are hardpacked earth. Bricks are handmade, and walls
plastered with a clay-manure mixture that is very hard and durable. Water is carried from a central well.
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There are decorative drawings, bas reliefs, and pictures on
most of the buildings. Shubra said they speak one of the
many minor languages, not Hindi or Bengali.
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Kids everywhere love to be in pictures. Wonderful expressions. Primitive
village perhaps, but not primitive souls.
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Water buffalo are popular, for milk and as draft animals.
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Back at the orphanage, most of the kids have gathered to say goodbye,
and Shubra persuaded them to sing for us. Beautiful.
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Kunal's brother Rahul lives near Santiniketan with Kirstie and their
four kids. They have built a beautiful place, combining art and nature.
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There are, I think, three gardens, and among the wonders that result are
salads not otherwise to be found in India. Delicious.
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Lefty and Akash on the way back from a tour of the ceramic studio,
now a school. He's about 7 I guess, and speaks like a 20 year old.
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Lots of love in this family. The kids reflect it, and it will be nice to
see them come into their own. Sometimes the future looks promising.
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Beautiful children. They all are, especially in India, but some are
positively radiant like Rahul and Kirstie's youngest.