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.