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the two languages and also his zeal to make Tagore's poems available to many readers through translations.
The author, by citing examples, claims that Rabindranath could converse brilliantly. Tagore's replies to Roy's queries bring out his clarity of thought and courage of conviction. Even Havelock Ellie, as we have seen earlier, appreciated Tagore's clarity of views. Moreover, Dilip Roy's quick wit shines out when one reads various questions asked by him so coherently and quickly to Tagore.
Roy liked to receive Rabindranath's personal letters very much. He was also fortunate to receive plenty of letters from Sri Aurobindo. Here, in his portrait of Rabindranath, he observes that though Rabindranath and Sri Aurobindo are almost equally great contemporaries, they are different in their method of writing letters. He finds a kind of detachment in the letters written by Sri. Aurobindo, though they are written in good linguistic style.
Dilip Roy compares Rabindranath's mind with the seismograph. The image. obviously is modernist and indicates the spirit of the author's age.
Dilip Roy liked Tagore as a person very much. He appreciates Tagore's generosity and in so doing exhibits his own. It should be remembered that Roy's father, himself an eminent literary figure, and Tagore had not been for some reason or the other (Dilip Roy never tells us why exactly) friendly with each other, even if they were not clearly antagonistic either. Dilip Roy, yet, almost worships Tagore and never remembers the grievances his father had against him. There is in his reverence an unmistakable spontaneity and warmth.
From this portrait, it appears that there was a great affinity between the author and the subject. Both of them were Bengali aristocrats, interested in arts, culture and literature. Tagore was famous as a great poet, while Roy became well-known as a foremost musician of his time. Both of them had romantic style of writing. They had deep love for their country and yearned for its independence. intensely. Both of them liked to communicate with as many people as it was possible for them. They also wrote long beautiful letters to many people.
But Rabindranath always appreciated the Western culture without caring for the criticism of the Indians. As against this, Dilip Roy stood for traditional Indian culture and religious heritage. He searched for a divinely-appointed guru and found one in Sri Aurobindo. Dilip Roy cleariy lacked Tagore's width and depth of vision. He looks like an immature child when we compare him with the wisdom of the old poet. Tagore is a romantic poet, but he has a fine sense of form. which Dilip Roy lacks. Tagore never aimlessly rambled as Roy seems to be doing. In everything. Tagore's genius, had been synthetic and he synthesised in his poetry and other writings the best of romantic impulse and the classical sense of order. Roy looks only like the worst of romantic rovers.
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