Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c15.s2.t55.8

v2.c15.s2.t55.8

These efforts by Rabindranath Tagore and Tan Yun-shan went hand-in-hand with fund-raising activities, and witnessed the establishment of Sino-Indian Cultural Society first in Nanjing, China, in 1933, under the active support of the government of Republic of China and celebrities from all walks of life. Cai Yuanpei became the first Director General of the institute, and Tan Yun-shan served as the secretary and took charge of specific matters. On this basis, Tan Yun-shan contacted senior officials of the Chinese government for financing the establishment of a Chinese institute in Visva-Bharati University. This initiative was supported by Chiang Kai-shek and Dai Jitao, president of the Examination Yuan of the Republic of China, so the Central Government of the Republic of China facilitated the cultural exchanges between China and India. Before long, Dai Jitao, Chen Lifu, Zhu Jiahua, et al., became leaders of the Sino-Indian Cultural Society, and Tan Yun-shan took up the post of the director general and took charge of the communication with the Indian side.