Special Book Honouring Tagore's 1927 Journey to Be Presented to Modi

Author Arindam Mukherjee, who has spent the last two years researching Tagore’s Southeast Asian tour, announced that his newly completed book will be handed to Prime Minister Modi during the Jakarta visit. The volume chronicles the poet‑philosopher’s 1927 expedition across Sumatra, Jakarta, Surabaya, Solo, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Bali.

During the trip, Tagore visited the famed Borobudur temple, climbed its steps and composed a poem titled “To Java”. He was also deeply moved by Balinese and Javanese dance forms, and his companions learned the traditional batik printing technique, later introducing it into Shanti Niketan’s curriculum. Mukherjee calls the timing of the book’s release a “pleasant coincidence” with the centenary of Tagore’s voyage and Modi’s own diplomatic tour.