Agnijuge Shantiniketane Hangerio Dampatir Smritilipi by G. Rozsa Hajnoczy [Hardcover]

Rozsa Hajnoczy and Jula Garmanush

Jula Garmanush, along with his wife Rozsa, came to Shantiniketan on the invitation of Rabindranath Tagore to work as a professor of Islamic philosophy and literature. They spent their time in India from 1929 to 1931. During this period, Rozsa kept a diary in which she sketched the experiences of that time. From this diary, she later wrote her memoir, capturing the atmosphere of Shantiniketan and the presence of Rabindranath with remarkable skill. Her account offers a clear depiction of contemporary Bengali society and its economy. She also noted the impact of the Non-Cooperation Movement on the Shantiniketan Ashram. The scenes of the Non-Cooperation Movement and Gandhiji's Salt March are described in great detail from a foreigner's perspective.

Reading this book, the reader feels as though they are living within the Shantiniketan community, experiencing the professors' and students' lives, as well as the daily activities and festivals of the nearby Santhal villages.

Rozsa Hajnoczy

Rozsa Hajnoczy was born on July 19, 1888, in Loch, a town in what was then Northern Hungary (now part of Eastern Slovakia, known as Lenova). Her father, Joseph Raymond Heinosi, was a supervisor of Sepesh County and a historian and educator. Rozsa completed her education in Loch and married Julius Garmanush in 1918. Rozsa lived a prosperous and independent life in Budapest, where she and her husband wore expensive and elegant clothes. They were actively involved in numerous cultural events and social activities. After returning from India, she spent many years working on writing this book.

Translator: Bichitra Bhattacharya

Bichitra Bhattacharya, the translator, was born in Kolkata. She studied Hungarian language in Budapest from 1977 to 1980, and in 1982, she joined the administrative service. In 2006, she was awarded the President's Award for Correctional Merit.