Educational Ideals of Paul Geheeb and Rabindranath Tagore

The focus of this chapter is on a comparison of the two educational systems—one, Odenwaldschule–Ecole d’Humanité, and second, Rabindranath Tagore’s school in Santiniketan. For both, the most important underlying principle was freedom of the students to express and develop themselves. The similarities between the two systems are obvious: emphasis on a natural life, the role of religion, of asceticism, of music and singing, of co-education, of the ritualizing of daily life, and the reverence of the child’s personality. The idea of seva (social service) distinguished Tagore’s school. The importance of manual work and of the crafts has an important place in Geheeb’s school, but not so much in Santiniketan.

Introduction

Both Rabindranath Tagore and Paul and Edith Geheeb were deeply committed educators. Their respective schools in India and Germany (and later Switzerland) were at the core of their creative lives. These schools helped to shape the image and the international influence of their founders. Due to Tagore’s global contacts after he won the Nobel Prize in 1913, many foreign teachers offered their services in Santiniketan. In Paul Geheeb’s case, too, Indian persons came to teach Indian philosophy or just to participate in the school’s activities. Indian influence on the students’ lives has been notable. I have been visiting the Ecole d’Humanité often for over two decades. I met Paul Geheeb’s successor, Armin Lüthi, who allowed me to use the Ecole’s Archive. I sent a trained artist from a tribal village near Santiniketan to the Ecole to teach; he was twice invited to return. Thus the link between the Ecole and Santiniketan could be revived.

Relationship of the Ecole d’Humanité with India

There were several links between India and the Ecole. The most important of these have been discussed in this chapter. Aurobindo Bose was among the early students of Rabindranath Tagore’s Brahmacharya Ashram in Santiniketan. He was later also a part of the Ecole. In 1930, it was Aurobindo Bose who urged Tagore to visit the school. During his later life, he became attached to Edith Geheeb and lived at the Ecole d’Humanité as a permanent resident until his death. Edith Geheeb felt inspired by Indian philosophy which she first studied with V.N. Sharma and Alwine von Keller. Edith was in touch with two senior monks of the Ramakrishna Mission— Swami Yatiswarananda and Swami Nikhilananda. She was their loyal student, devotee, and supporter until their demise. In 1953, the two sons of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv and Sanjay, were admitted to the Ecole for several months while their mother was on a diplomatic mission. This resulted in a prolonged and affectionate correspondence between Edith Geheeb and Indira Gandhi. During that time, the Geheebs also met Jawaharlal Nehru in Geneva. Edith was deeply interested in visiting India, her spiritual home, but felt she could not leave the Ecole for very long. At the age of 80, when Paul Geheeb, had already died, she overcame her scruples and visited India, mainly Belur Math in Kolkata, Santiniketan, but also Madras, Bombay and Delhi.

An Indo-German Encounter

Apart from the persons mentioned in the main chapters of the book, several other important personalities were associated with the Ecole d’Humanité and its founders. They were, among others, the writers Hermann Hesse, Romain Rolland, and theologian and physician Albert Schweitzer. This demonstrates the range of the school’s influence. Incidentally, these same persons also had a relationship with Tagore. In difficult times, Tagore’s and Geheeb’s schools radiated a commitment to the humane spirit of Europe and India.

Rabindranath Tagore Meets Paul and Edith Geheeb

The focus of Chapter 1 is on Paul and Edith Geheeb and their first foundation, the Odenwaldschule (1910–34). The chapter begins with a summary of the Reformpädagogik Movement, of which Paul Geheeb was a major exponent. From a modest background his life progressed—through a decade of university studies and several attempts to join alternative schools, to prominence as an educator. By contrast, Edith Geheeb, hailing from a wealthy Jewish business family, was, as a woman, denied higher education. Her family’s generosity made the Odenwaldschule possible. Among the early contacts with Indian guests at the Odenwaldschule were Ananth Nath Basu, Premchand Lal, Aurobindo Mohan Bose (the great-nephew of the famous scientist Jagadis Chandra Bose), and the Gujarati dancer Shrimati Hutheesing. All of them were associates of Rabindranath Tagore in Santiniketan. Emma von Pelet and especially Alwine von Keller where two teachers at the Odenwaldschule with close contacts to India, especially to the Ramakrishna Mission. The only Indian teacher was V.N. Sharma who introduced Sanskrit studies and theosophy to the school. The most far-reaching Indo-German event, described here in detail, was Tagore’s three-day-visit to the Odenwaldschule in 1930. It has repercussions until this day.