Agnijuge Shantiniketane

Author: Zsóka Hainocsi

Genre: Autobiography - Memoirs - History

ISBN: 9789389876758

Pages: 692

Weight: 1075 grams

Cover: Hardcover

Zsóka Hainocsi, along with her husband, Jula Garmanush, arrived in Shantiniketan in 1929 at the invitation of Rabindranath Tagore. He had invited them as a professor of Islamic philosophy and literature. The couple spent two years (1929–1931) in India, and from the drafts in her diary, Zsóka later wrote this memoir, capturing a vivid picture of the environment of Shantiniketan at that time.

The book masterfully describes the presence of Rabindranath, the daily life, the culture of the Bengali society, and the economic situation of the time. The memoir offers a clear portrayal of Shantiniketan, its faculty, students, and even the surrounding tribal villages. Zsóka also touches upon the impact of the Non-Cooperation Movement, Gandhiji's Salt Movement, and how these events cast a shadow on the peaceful Ashram life. This book offers an insightful perspective from a foreigner’s eye, as she recounts the movements and the socio-political atmosphere of India in those years.

By reading this book, one feels immersed in the daily activities of the Ashram, among the professors and students, participating in the celebrations of the nearby Santhal village and the changing political climate. It provides a unique opportunity to witness early 20th-century India through the eyes of an outsider deeply involved in the cultural and social life of the time.

Zsóka Hainocsi
Born on July 19, 1888, in Loce, which was in northern Hungary (now part of eastern Slovakia or Lenova), Zsóka was the daughter of József Raymond Hainocsi, a supervisor of Scepesh County, a historian, and teacher. Zsóka completed her studies in Loce and in 1918, married Julius Garmanush. The couple lived a prosperous and independent life in Budapest, often engaging in cultural activities and social life.

After their time in India, Zsóka dedicated herself to writing this memoir, offering insights into the time they spent in Shantiniketan. The translator, Bichitra Bhattacharya, was born in Kolkata, where she studied Hungarian between 1977 and 1980 and later worked in administrative roles, winning a Presidential award for Correctional Meritorious Service in 2006..