Introduction

The relationship and exchange of ideas that took place between two of the most iconic personalities of the twentieth century, Rabindranath Tagore and Albert Einstein, has provided an area of continued interest over the years. Tagore's political activities had included the organising of political opposition against the 1905 partition of Bengal and his writings, such as the powerful political novel Home and the World published in 1917, explore the political and socio-religious effects of narrow sectarianism. Jagadish Chandra Bose, scientist and close friend of Tagore's, was another figure linking these individuals in their scientific interests, concerns about education and internationalism. Like Einstein, Tagore's interest in science and education had begun in childhood. Both Tagore and Einstein had rebelled against conventional forms of schooling and argued for more flexible, creative forms of education. Marianoff notes that Einstein's could no more do without nature than his meat or drinkthe imperative need of his walks in the out of doors.