Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t20.43

v2.c10.s2.t20.43

The most gratifying incident which showed Tagore’s profound friendship with the Chinese people was his unwavering support and sympathy towards the Chinese people during the arduous anti-Japanese war. Tagore’s concern for civilisational interaction assumes a different dimension in the context of Japanese aggression on China in 1937. With a strong sense of righteousness, he expressed his disappointment towards Japan, as he resolutely stood beside the Chinese people. On more than one occasion, he clearly expressed his deep sympathy for the Chinese people and severely condemned Japanese aggression. He was deeply anguished by this act of violence by one Asian civilisation on another. He engaged in a deep philosophical debate with the Japanese poet Noguchi on issues facing human civilisation and its universal values; in this very profound public correspondence in the newspaper, Tagore expressed strong solidarity with the Chinese people in very clear and emphatic manner. In 1941, before he became seriously ill he was still obsessed with China, and was eager to hear about good news about the Chinese People’s War against Japan.