Tagore’s Asian Voyages – 1927
Singapore
12 July Tagore left Calcutta.
14 July Arrived in Madras. Stayed a few hours before leaving on the French steamer Amboise.
20 July Rabindranath Tagore arrived in Singapore onboard the Amboise. A very large crowd greeted Gurudev at Tanjong Pagar led by Mr. R.J. Farrer, President of the Municipal Commissioners, and chairman of the reception committee. He was garlanded by Mr. K.K. Pathy on behalf of the Hindu Association. A musical chant in honour of the Poet was rendered by the Indian ladies present. The poet then proceeded to Government House as the guest of Sir Hugh and Lady Clifford till 22 July, and thereafter was the guest of Mr. M.A. Namazie at his Siglap residence.
July 21 Tagore attended a reception given by the Straits Chinese at the Garden Club at Raffles Square. A large gathering of prominent members of the community, including Dr. Lim Boon Keng, OBE, were present. Gurudev gave a speech about India and China, and how Indian students needed to study Chinese history in order to understand their own.
July 22 Gave a public address at Victoria Theatre about international friendship and the unity of mankind. The Governor, Sir Hugh Clifford, introduced him as
“the greatest poet that the East had produced in living memory”.
July 23, Saturday Garden party at Mr. M.A. Namazie’s bungalow. The reception was held under the auspices of the Indian Association. He was garlanded by
the President of the Association, Mr. Ali Khan Surattee. Several hundred guests were present, and probably for the first time in Singapore loudspeakers were installed by the Standard Telephone and Cable Company to enable all those present to hear the poet speak. Tagore spoke about the glorious past of India
and the need for his countrymen to support the ideals of Visva-Bharati.
July 24, Delivered an address to the Chinese community at Palace Gay Theatre. The Acting Chinese Consul General presided, and Tagore’s speech was
translated into Chinese. Tagore spoke of the cultural fellowship between Chinese and Indians. An “At Home” was given by Mr. M.A. Namazie at his
bungalow.
July 25 Address at Victoria Theatre to a large gathering of school children and teachers. Mr. C.H. Woolfe, the Acting Colonial Secretary, presided. He introduced Tagore thus: “You have before you one of the world’s greatest men.”
July 26 Farewell luncheon given by Mr. Granville Roberts, editor of the ‘Malaya Tribune’. Those present included the Consuls General for Germany, America and France, and the German Consul in Colombo. Left from Johnston’s Pier for his journey to Malacca.
Malacca
July 27 Arrived in Malacca by the steamer S.S. Larut. Met on board by Mr. G.C. Dodd and Mr. S.C. Goho of the Tagore Reception Committee. Mr. N.N. Pitchay JP, President of the Indo-Ceylonese Association, garlanded him. Tagore stayed with Mr. Chan Kang Swi. Lunch with the Resident Councillor Mr. Crichton at the Residency. Gave a public lecture at St. Francis Institution on education. An amount of $3500 was raised by the public for Visva-Bharati.
Muar
July 28 Arrived in Muar by car from Malacca. Was welcomed by the Chinese community at Chung Hua School. Public meeting held at a local Chinese theatre. Tagore gave a speech that was translated into Chinese and Tamil.
Malacca
July 29 An “At Home” was given by the IndoCeylonese Association at the Chinese Volunteer Club. Public Lecture at St. Francis’ Institution, where 2,000 people assembled to hear him. Mr. Crichton gave an introductory speech. Tagore gave a lecture, and said he had come to “claim their sympathy and cooperation” for what he had made “his life’s work”.
Kuala Lumpur
July 30 Arrived in KL by the mail train. He was received by Mr. Lok Chow Thye and Mr. J. Lornie, the British Resident of Selangor.
July 31 Public reception at the Town Hall. Tagore was garlanded by Mr. M. Cumarasamy.
August 2 Attended a variety show at the Chinese Theatre Hall, which had performances by various Chinese Associations, presided by Chief Secretary Mr. W.
Peel. Tagore gave a recital of some passages from his works.
August 3 Gave a lecture at Chunghua Theatre about Visva-Bharati, which was followed by some variety entertainment to raise funds.
August 4 Gave a speech on India and China at the Millionaires Club, Weld Hill. Mr. Chong Yoke Choy and other 40 wellknown towkays of KL were present.
Address at Victoria Institution, presided over by Mr. J. Lornie. Tagore spoke on the unity of the human race and read poems from ‘The Crescent
Moon’.
Klang
August 5 Gave an interview to the ‘Malay Mail’. At the Anglo-Chinese School, he was asked to read his poems instead of a lecture. Tagore remarked:
“Klang is the only town in Malaya where I am recognised as a poet”. He recited from ‘The Crescent Moon’. The Chinese community gave an “At
Home” where he spoke of uniting the cultures of India and China in service of the whole world.
Ipoh
August 7 Garlanded at Ipoh train station by Mr. Leong Sin Nam. Stayed at the Astana.
August 8 Tagore gave the inaugural address at the Annual Conference of the Malayan Teachers’ Association on the topic of education. Public reception in
Tagore’s honour at the Ipoh Town Hall, which was presided over by towkay Leong Sin Nam.
August 9-10 Tagore visited the Yuk Choy Public School, Gopeng Road, Gave an address on education. Visited Chinese Cave Temple.
Telok Anson
August 11 Address of welcome by Mr. Mohamed Fahir.
Kuala Kangsar
August 12 Arrived by car enroute to Taiping. Greeted by the President of the reception committee, Mr. Louis Thivy, JP.
Taiping
August 12-13 Greeted by the Resident of Perak, Mr. H.W. Thomson.
Penang
August 13 Arrived by train. Greeted by Mr. H.C. Bathurst, Deputy Controller of Labour.
August 14 Laid the foundation stone of the new Hu Yew Seah building in Madras Lane. The Hu Yew Seah Chinese Club gave a public reception at which the
leading members of every community were present. Tagore spoke about his visit to China, and how Asia was a birthplace of the great religions of the world. Lecture at Chung Ling High School, where the headmasters and schoolteachers of the various Chinese schools in Penang were assembled.
August 15 Met Chinese schoolchildren at Chong Ling High School. Public lecture on “Nationalism” at the Empire Theatre Hall chaired by Mr. R. Scott, the Resident Councillor. Tagore spoke about Visva-Bharati, and how India must understand Chinese culture and history. The Indian community of Penang hosted a dinner for Tagore.
August 16 Gave a lecture described by Suniti Chatterji as the “best public lecture of the poet in Malaya”. Took a trip around the island before leaving in
the afternoon on the SS Kuala for Belawan, Medan. Before he left, Tagore gave the ‘Straits Echo’ a message and wrote a letter of thanks to the ‘Malacca Observer’.