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26 The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume III - 2011 26 Rabindranath Tagoreûs Contributions to Thailand and the World Tagoreûs contribution to Thailand Rabindranath Tagore visited Thailand at the invitation of Indian and Chinese residents in 1927. However, he was welcomed as a guest of the Thai government. He and his party stayed at the Phyathai Palace Hotel, which was formerly King Rama VIûs palace, now Phra Mongkut Klao Hospital. Tagore seemed to be impressed how the Thais had preserved Indian culture better than Indians themselves as can be seen from the following lines of his poem ç To Siam é. çI come, a pilgrim, at thy gate, O Siam, to offer my verse to the endless glory of India sheltered in thy home, away from her own deserted shrine, To bathe in the living stream that flows in thy heart, whose water descends from the snowy height of a sacred time on which arose, from the deep of my countryûs being, the Sun of Love and Righteousness.é (Kusalasaya, Karuna-Ruang Urai, 2001: 42) Rabindranath Tagore had an audience with King Rama VII (King Prajadhipok). Both the King and H.R.H. Prince Dhani Niwat, Minister of Education, requested Tagore to send an Indian scholar to reside in Thailand permanently so as to bring Thailand and India closer together through the scholarûs help in promoting the cultural understanding. Tagore did not forget this request. Thus Tagoreûs indirect cultural contribution, especially to Thailand, was when he recommended Swami Satyananda Puri to come to Thailand in 1932. Swami Satyananda was a good choice, his cultural activities being numerous. Here, I would like to remark just on his book ç Ramakirti é which relates in English the whole story of the Ramakien of King Rama I. His English is so perfect that the Ramakirti becomes a creative work worthy of reading for those non-Thais who wish to learn about the Thai Ramayana. Swami Satyananda Puri also set up a cultural association, now known as the Thai- Bharat Cultural Lodge, where Thais and Indians can meet. It has a very good library. Yoga is taught by an Indian expert. Other activities such as Hindi classes are organized according to the needs of members and guests. 16-28_mac9 5/3/12, 11:13 PM 26