The Secret of Balatonfüred: Why Did Hungarians Go Crazy for Tagore 100 Years Ago?

Balatonfüred occupies a special place on the map of world literature: here stands Rabindranath Tagore’s tree, his statue and the promenade named after him. Had the great Bengali polymath not felt a strong attraction to Hungary, we would hardly preserve these memories on the lakeshore today. A hundred years ago, at the end of October 1926, he arrived in our country, and enthusiastic crowds accompanied his every step.

The Nobel Prize-winning writer, poet and philosopher was born in 1861 in Calcutta into a distinguished Brahmin family. He studied independently and at a young age was fascinated by world literature and Western culture. He also wrote the national anthems of three countries – India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – so his works are played three times at every Olympic Games. During his stay in Hungary, from 26 October to 12 November, he remained in the country and received an especially warm welcome in the town on the shore of Balaton.

The stay in Füred and the sincere admiration of the Hungarian people made a deep impression on Tagore. This personal bond meant that he later returned to the Balaton in his thoughts, and today we remember him here with the plane tree and the promenade. For locals, Tagore’s visit proves that Balaton is not only a holiday destination but also a meeting point of world culture.

Forrás: hvg.hu