Rasoul Sorkhabi
‘[I] have the greatest admiration for Gan- Einstein were published much later. Tagore only if I look at it.’ The discussion bet-
dhi and for the Indian tradition in gen- remarked8: ween Einstein and Tagore is closely related
eral.’ —Albert Einstein, 1950 to the ‘anthropic principle’ later developed
Einstein has often been called a lonely man. in physics and cosmology (see ref. 11 for
In reading Albert Einstein’s biographies1–6, Insofar as the realm of the mathematical detailed information) even though it has
I noticed that he had connections with vision helps to liberate the mind from the escaped the attention of many authors.
three great Indian minds of the early crowded trivialities of daily, I suppose he In 1929, Tagore sent a postcard (dated 22
twentieth century: Rabindranath Tagore is a lonely man. He is what might be called December) to Einstein from India: ‘My
(1861–1941), Mahatma Gandhi (1869– a transcendental materialism, which reaches salutation is to him who knows me imperfect
the frontier of metaphysics, where there
1948) and Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964). and loves me. My best wishes.’12 It is not
can be utter detachment from the entangling
Of course, Einstein as well as these three world of self. To me both science and art clear what the occasion was for sending this
Indian leaders were famous in their life- are expressions of our spiritual nature, above postcard; it may have been for new year’s
times, so these connections should not come our biological necessities and possessed greetings.
as a surprise. But my interest in this topic of an ultimate value . . . . The second Einstein–Tagore meeting
grew as I wondered what drew these great Einstein is an excellent interrogator. We took place on 14 July 1930 at Einstein’s
minds together. Einstein was not the type talked long and earnestly about my ‘religion summer house in Caputh near Berlin. This
of person to be attracted to the exotic East of man’. He punctuated my thoughts with dialogue was written down by a friend
for shallow sentimental reasons. This article terse remarks of his own, and by his ques- who was present, and has been published
chronicles Einstein’s connections with tions I could measure the trend of his own both in India13 and in the USA14. Most of
thinking.
these three men, and shows how Einstein their talks were about music. Einstein
saw some of his ideas and ideals in the was not apparently happy with the second
Indian mind embodied, to varying degrees, During their discussion, an important dif- dialogue and wished that it had not been
in Tagore, Gandhi and Nehru. Of all Ein- ference of opinion between Tagore and published.
stein’s biographers, Abraham Pais4,5 has Einstein revolved over whether there was On 30 September 1930, Romain Rolland
paid more attention to his Indian connec- truth in the world independent from human wrote to Einstein asking him for a contri-
tions. While, in writing this historical es- mind. Tagore argues that ‘the truth of the bution to a book to be presented to Tagore
say, I have benefited from Pais’ research, I Universe is human truth . . . when our uni- on the occasion of his 70th birthday the
have also added information and ideas verse is in harmony with man, the eternal, following May. Einstein replied on 10
using other sources. we know it as truth, we feel it as beauty.’ October 1930:
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary Einstein replies: ‘I agree with regard to this
of Einstein’s death. This article is offered as conception of Beauty, but not with regard I shall be glad to sign your beautiful text
homage to these four intellectual giants, to Truth.’ Tagore insists that ‘truth is real- and to add a brief contribution. My con-
and as a way of remembering some aspects ized through man’. Einstein illustrates his versation with Tagore was rather unsuccess-
of their lives and thoughts. However, the point of view: ‘For instance, if nobody is in ful because of difficulties in communication
this house, yet that table remains where it and should, of course, never have been
importance of this topic goes beyond this
is.’ To which Tagore replies: ‘Yes, it re- published. In my contribution, I should like
annual occasion because the first half of the to give expression to my conviction that
twentieth century, during which these gen- mains outside of the individual mind but
not the universal mind. The table which I men who enjoy the reputation of great
tlemen lived, was devastated by two world intellectual achievement have an obligation
wars, and as we are in the early years of a perceive is perceptible only by the same
to lend moral support to the principle of
new century and as the world is still im- kind of consciousness which I possess.’ In unconditional refusal of war service15.
mersed in prejudice and violence, these great his article, Tagore summarizes their discus-
minds are quite relevant to our times and to sion: ‘I could see that Einstein held fast to
our generation. the extra-human aspect of truth. But it is Interestingly, two days after this letter, a
evident to me that, in human reason, facts manifesto was released by Einstein, Tagore
assume a unity of truth which is only possi- and Rolland, appealing against conscription
Einstein and ‘Rabbi’ Tagore ble to a human mind.’8 and the military training of youth16. The
Einstein continued to believe in extra- Golden Book of Tagore came out in 1931,
Einstein (born in 1879) was eighteen years human existence of truth and even coined and its preface was signed by Einstein,
younger than Tagore. Tagore won the Nobel the term ‘objective reality’9 to highlight his Gandhi and Rolland. Einstein’s contribution
Prize in literature in 1913; Einstein won belief. The relation of truth to human mind to the book reads:
the Nobel Prize in physics in 1922. seems to have occupied Einstein for dec-
Einstein used to refer to Rabindranath ades. Pais10 remembers that in 1950 while You are aware of the struggle of creatures
Tagore as Rabbi Tagore7. The first time they accompanying Einstein on a walk from that spring forth out of need and dark de-
met each other was in Germany shortly Princeton University to his home, Einstein sires. You seek salvation in quiet contempla-
before World War I. In 1912, Tagore visited ‘suddenly stopped, turned to me, and asked tion and in the workings of beauty.
Europe. His reminiscences of meeting with me if I really believed that the moon exists Nursing these you have served mankind
Edited and published by P. Balaram, Current Science Association, Bangalore 560 080.
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