China-India Friendship

On the 100th anniversary of Tagore's first visit to China, the Indian delegation arrived in Shanghai for a visit

"Can you see the wind?" In the eyes of Indian dancer Suraj Tagore, it is the crossed hands, the continuously shrugged shoulders, and the smiling face with head raised and sideways. In the dance classroom of Shanghai Jinyuan Senior High School, she barefooted to show her classmates the dance created by Tagore's poems: this golden light dances on the leaves, this idle cloud passes through the sky, and this cool breeze blows across my forehead. "This is Tagore's love for nature. Love can resolve all contradictions and problems, and love can string together the friendship between China and India."

In 1924, Tagore, a famous Indian poet, writer, philosopher and social activist, visited China for more than 50 days. Today, a hundred years have passed since Tagore's first visit to China. On the 14th, the Indian delegation "Revisiting Tagore's Path" composed of 6 Indian Tagore researchers and artists arrived in Shanghai for a visit. This year marks the 74th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India. The delegation visited Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai. As the Acting Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in India, Ma Jia, said: Follow Tagore's footsteps, continue to care about and support the development of China-India relations, and make greater contributions to the cause of China-India friendship.

A century-old "dialogue" across space, "re-walking" the path Tagore has walked

In the street garden at the intersection of Nanchang Road and Maoming South Road, a bronze bust of Tagore stands quietly. Suraj Tagore took off his shoes, put his hands together, bowed to pay tribute, and placed a bouquet of wild chrysanthemums, jasmine, purple lily of the valley, and peony in front of the bronze statue. Tagore is her great-great-grandfather, and Suraj grew up in the influence of poetry since childhood. "The flowers presented are all written in his poems. At this moment, I feel closer to him."

A hundred years ago, as soon as he set foot on Chinese soil, Tagore said: "I don't know why, coming to China is like returning to my hometown." When he left China, he said sadly: "My heart is left here." Tagore visited Shanghai three times in his life. At that time, the passenger ship he took docked at Huishan Wharf in Hongkou, and he stayed at Siming Village during his visit to Shanghai. The Indian delegation visited the Huishan Wharf site and Siming Village successively, and their thoughts traveled back to the spring a hundred years ago.

"I was very moved to see that Shanghai has protected Tagore's related memorial sites so well. Shanghai is an important stop for Tagore's visit to China, and our hearts are also here." Avijit Banerjee, Dean of the China Institute of the Indian International University, has been to Shanghai three times, and almost every time he has to "re-walk" the path Tagore has walked.

Music artist Manoj Murali Nair came to China for the first time and walked on the streets of Shanghai for the first time. In front of the bronze statue of Tagore, he sat casually on a stool beside him and hummed a song in the sun; when he walked out of the dance room of Jinyuan Senior High School, he saw a piano and sat down naturally to play music about the breeze. "The sunshine, breeze and leaves here all evoke my yearning for nature, as if they can resonate with Tagore's soul a hundred years ago."

"Looking back at the history of exchanges between the two ancient civilizations of China and India spanning thousands of years, Tagore must have practical significance." Banerjee introduced that after Tagore returned to his country, he was committed to promoting the establishment of the Chinese Academy at the Indian International University. With the efforts of Tagore and the first dean Tan Yunshan, the Chinese Academy was completed in 1937. Over the years, the Chinese Academy has trained a large number of envoys of friendly exchanges between China and India. In 1939, Xu Beihong gave lectures at the Chinese Academy and held a personal exhibition with the support of Tagore. The Chinese Academy of the Indian International University was awarded the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award" in 2014.

Keep the young heart in China and keep the young heart in India

Suraja Tagore took "two classes" this time: one with the students of Jinyuan Senior High School, and the other time at the School of International Cultural Exchange of Tongji University, dancing with international students from all over the world. The same music, the same young faces: young people are the future of China and India, and the hope of Asia and the world.

As early as 2008, Jinyuan Senior High School and Tagore International School became friendly schools. This is the first middle school in China to sign a friendly school agreement with India. During the visit of the delegation, some students were learning Indian dance in the dance studio, and in another classroom, Chinese teachers were teaching Indian students calligraphy online. "The children's dance steps are very brisk, with smiles on their faces. I hope they can perform on a bigger stage one day." Suraj Tagore said.

During the conversation, Banerjee mentioned that Xu Zhimo was the initiator, companion and accompanying translator of Tagore's first visit to China, and later became a close friend. "This friendship regardless of age is not only a good story, but also gives more inspiration to the current China-India friendship."

"My students are very interested in Chinese culture, and want to learn paper cutting and watch Chinese TV series." Banerjee believes that Chinese and Indian cultures can be further promoted to enter their respective small cities to enhance mutual understanding between the two countries. "Our school only has one online native Chinese teacher. I hope that more Chinese teachers will come to the college to teach in the future. Communication cannot be just a 'single arrow', but mutual and long-term exchanges."

Only through dialogue and cooperation can China and India achieve national rejuvenation and usher in the "Asian Century". Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chowdhury, former vice president of Tagore University, mentioned that young people can think out of inertia and keep looking forward. He believes that the purpose of the visiting delegation is to continue Tagore's "mission" and promote friendly cooperation between China and India and move towards each other. "The two countries are neighbors and dear brothers. They need bilateral exchanges, rather than understanding through a third party. This will surely clear the clouds and usher in spring flowers."

As Tagore said when he visited China a hundred years ago: "Let the seemingly narrow pass become a thoroughfare. May we not be afraid of differences, but unite on the basis of recognizing differences!"