WHEN Rabindranath visited die Soviet Union in 1930. he had only

10 more years to live. The poet himself confessed In his 'Letters from Russia' that had he not gone to Russia. Joining the life's holy congregation might remain unfulfilled. His advanced age was not particularly an advantage for a visit to that cold country. But Rabindranath went there with a learner s mind. The celebration of life that was taking place on a scale the world has never known before was on his mind when he established Shriniketon to complement Shantiniketon's educational programmes with social and economic ones. In one of the letters he admitted that what he had tried to do in a limited wav was being vigorously pursued by the Soviets on a grand scale.

< In fact some of the plaudits for the Soviet system may seem to be arising out of the favourable disposition the poet hpld towards the 1917 revolution. During his itinerary, the poet visited a few institutions spch as farm house and pioneers' commune. There is no dpubt that Rabindranath was not shown everything he wanted to see. But at the same tijne even the pre-arranged meetings helped him to get enough insight Into the sys-te»n. He was fully aware of the Soviet people's hardship, the ognturies-old social prejudice, lack of education and oppression they were subjected to upto the revolution. The poet was rather excited and im-ptessed by the classless 111-ejad Moscovites. He held the belief that the people were too absorbed in life's greatest of challenges to mind their clothes. They were only willing to make the sacrifices.

Rabindranath did not see all. nor he needed to. He had that probing mind and the versatile genius to .guide him.

And his is that prophetic utterance — where he unreservedly points out the danger of the application of physical power to level all and everyone on the same plane — which seems to have come true. He approved the tremendous effort that was being expended to reduce the mental and economic gap between people. The poet had no doubt that man's individuality must meet at some points with the society at large. When the individual greed overtakes collective interests and welfare, society loses its balance or equilibrium. Because on one side, it is shameless affluence and on the other intense jealousy and hatred. The individual has no meeting point with the collective well-being.

The poet then warned against putting in place theories before the people have been prepared for the appreci ation and implementation of those. It appears the farmers and the young learners he met were some of the most dedicated of party workers who were ready to sacrifice everything for building a better common future for the Soviet people. Well, there were some the poet met. who did not support many of the socialist . programmes. But let us not forget that the people were still in the process of orientation with the world's first communist programmes. The important thing is that people were interested in the system and it was only their Initial trepidation. It is this enthusiasm. excitement, the all-round activity, the unfolding of life in its most explosive vibrancy that impressed the poet.

In about 60 years since the poet's visit what really has gone wrong that the Russian people find themselves in almost the pre-revolution situa-

tlon? If we believe the poet, there was no deceit and lack of urgency at the initial stage. Even the people's cultural craving — if not standard — was impressive and Intense. It was a gala arrangement where people were deeply devoted to bring the best In their fellow beings through education that combines knowledge with practical experience and is enhanced by cultural cultivation of mind.

So a setting such as this cannot and should not have culminated in a whimper it has done. The poet warned of both outside and internal threats. It appears both had a fair share of undermining the world's most spectacular effort to bring parity and sanity In human society. That the Soviet Union had to commit itself to the mad race of armament and followed oppressive means in its haste to catch up with the West was counterproductive. The denial of individuality and diversity of human nature was bound to face opposition and therefore ’ led to undesirable consequences. Rabindranath saw the danger of making types of human minds. They are not machines and treating them so would bring the whole edifice down, the poet inferred. The system has disintegrated not because it itself is to blame but because there was aberration and gradual shift from the austere and sacrificing spirit and principles that once was the strength of socialism.

Rabindranath advised the recipe for the eternal conflict between individual and collective interests in that a balance has to be struck. His worst fear has come true. Had he lived to this day, he would have suffered Intense pain and disappointment but perhaps would not need to change his opinion and therefore reiterated his position on a society free of exploitation.