About the book: 1989 / It is a great honor for me to introduce you to the life and work of Rabindranath Tagore. The poet himself became acquainted with your country during his visit in 1930. The memory of him remained from that time, and the appearance of the poet became clearer and more distinct as you learned more about him. Thus, the purpose of this book is to clarify the outlines, to add new touches to the portrait of the poet. I am glad that you will share with me the joy of understanding the spiritual world of Tagore. In the last years of the poet’s long life, I was close to him and had the good fortune to recognize his thoughts, experiences and fears. I say "concerns" because during the Nazi invasion of your country he was much more concerned about the fate of your people than about the fate of the Allies in Europe. Every day he asked me to read military reports aloud to him, and the more disconsolate they were, the more noticeable his excitement was. He could not bear the thought that a Nazi boot was desecrating the land of Soviet Russia (desecrate - this is the word he used, because the Soviet land was sacred to him - in his mind, it was here that the “greatest sacrificial fire in history” broke out, which brought justice to millions exploited and illuminated the path of liberation for the whole world. Sometimes his eyes filled with tears. What a pity that he did not live to see the days when the Soviet people expelled the invaders! How he would have loved to see this day, and, no doubt, he would have sung your victory! in wonderful verses. This was not destined to happen. However, until his very end, he believed that victory would still be with the Soviets. He had a deep, almost fanatical confidence that goodness and justice would definitely triumph. In the end, this faith was confirmed by history. Dear reader! Tagore’s great gift to his people and other peoples of the world is not only in his immortal creations, but no less in his irresistible faith in the triumph of good over evil and in the bright future of humanity. Krishna Kripalani New Delhi May 24, 1982