Revisiting the path of Tagore, further advancing

Revisiting the path of Tagore, further advancing the friendship between China and India
Can you see the wind? "In the eyes of Indian dancer Suraja Tagore, it was the crossed hands, the continuously raised shoulders, and the smiling face looking up. In the dance classroom of Jinyuan Senior High School in Shanghai, she showed her classmates a dance created by Tagore's poetry with bare feet: the golden light danced gracefully on the leaves, the idle clouds swept across the sky, and the cool breeze brushed my forehead. This is Tagore's love for nature. Love can resolve all contradictions and difficulties, and love can connect the friendship between China and India
In 1924, Tagore, a famous Indian poet, writer, philosopher, and social activist, visited China for over 50 days. Today, it has been a hundred years since Tagore's first visit to China. On the 14th, the "Revisiting Tagore's Path" Indian delegation, consisting of six 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, and the visiting delegation has visited Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai. As Ma Jia, the interim charg é d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in India, said, following in Tagore's footsteps, continuing to care for and support the development of Sino Indian relations, and making greater contributions to the cause of Sino Indian friendship.
A hundred years of empty dialogue, 'retrace' the path taken by Tagore
In the central garden at the intersection of Nanchang Road and Maoming South Road, a half body bronze statue of Tagore stands quietly. Suraja Tagore took off his shoes, clasped his hands together, bent down to pay tribute, and placed a bouquet of wild chrysanthemums, jasmine flowers, purple lilies of the valley, and peonies wrapped around it in front of the bronze statue. Tagore was her great uncle, and Suraja grew up under the influence of poetry from a young age. All the flowers presented are those written in his poetry, and at this moment, I feel a little closer to him
A hundred years ago, as soon as he set foot on the land of China, Tagore said, "I don't know why, coming to China is like returning to my hometown." When he left China, he sadly said, "My heart stays here." Tagore visited Shanghai three times in his life. At that time, the passenger ship he was on docked at Huishan Pier in Hongkou, and during his visit to Shanghai, he stayed at Siming Estate. The Indian delegation visited the Huishan Pier Site and Siming Village, and their thoughts traveled back to spring a hundred years ago.
I am deeply moved to see how well the Tagore related memorial sites have been protected in Shanghai. Shanghai is an important stop for Tagore's visit to China, and our hearts have stayed here as well. Avigit Banerjee, Dean of the China School at the International University of India, has visited Shanghai three times, almost every time having to "retrace" the path taken by Tagore.
Music artist Manoi Murray Neil is visiting China for the first time and strolling on the streets of Shanghai for the first time. In front of the bronze statue of Tagore, he casually sat on a nearby stool and hummed a song in the sunlight; Stepping out of the dance studio of Jinyuan Senior High School, I saw a piano and naturally sat down, playing music about the gentle breeze. The sunshine, breeze, and leaves here all evoke my longing for nature, as if they can resonate with Tagore's soul from a hundred years ago
Looking back at the millennium long history of exchanges between the two ancient civilizations of China and India, Tagore must have practical significance, "said Banerjee. After Tagore returned to India, he devoted himself to promoting the establishment of the China College at the International University of India. With the efforts of Tagore and the first dean Tan Yunshan, the China Academy was completed in 1937. Over the years, the China Academy has trained a large number of ambassadors for friendly exchanges between China and India. In 1939, Xu Beihong gave lectures at the China Academy and held a personal art exhibition with the support of Tagore. The China College of the International University of India was awarded the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award" in 2014.
Leave your young heart in China, leave your young heart in India
Suraja Tagore attended "two classes" this time: one with students from Jinyuan Senior High School, and the other with international students from all over the world at Tongji University's School of International Cultural Exchange, dancing together. The same song, the same youthful face: Young people are the future of China and India, as well as the hope of Asia and the world.
As early as 2008, Jinyuan Senior High School signed a friendly school agreement with Tagore International School, making it the first high school in China to sign a friendly school agreement with India. During the visit of the visiting delegation, some students were learning Indian dance in the dance studio, while in another classroom, Chinese teachers were teaching Indian students calligraphy online. The children's dance steps are very light and lively, with smiles on their faces. I hope they can perform on a bigger stage one day, "said Suraja Tagore.
During the conversation, Banerjee mentioned that Xu Zhimo was the initiator, companion, and accompanying translator of Tagore's first visit to China at that time, and later became a close friend. This unforgettable friendship is not only a good story, but also provides more inspiration for the current friendship between China and India
"My students are very interested in Chinese culture. They want to learn Paper Cuttings and watch Chinese TV dramas." Banerjee believes that it can further promote Chinese culture and Indian culture into their own small cities and enhance mutual understanding between the two countries. Our school only has one online native Chinese teacher, and we hope to have more local Chinese teachers come to the college to teach in the future. Communication cannot be just a 'single arrow', it should be mutual and long-term exchanges
Only through dialogue and cooperation can China and India achieve national rejuvenation and usher in the "Asian century". Sabiyasaki Basu Re Joduri, former vice president of Tagore University, mentioned that young people can break free from habitual thinking and constantly look forward. He believes that the purpose of the visiting delegation's trip is to continue Tagore's "mission" and promote friendly cooperation and mutual progress between China and India. The two countries are neighbors and dear brothers, and there needs to be bilateral exchanges instead of understanding through a third party. This way, we can see through the clouds and welcome the warmth of spring
As Tagore said during his visit to China a hundred years ago, "Let the seemingly narrow pass become a gateway. May we not be afraid of differences, but rather unite on the basis of acknowledging them.