27
Jnana Yoga, and Raja Yoga written by Swami Vivekananda
are available in bookshops.
4. In the early 20s groups gathering around the teachings
of Sri Ramakrishna form the fi rst Vedanta Society of South
America in Buenos Aires.
5. In May 1932 first Ramakrishna Ashram in South
America will be founded by Swami Vijoyananda, till his
death in 1973, is a restless monk who lectures all over South
American countries, appearing on the radio every week and
in the main cultural centres. Adelina del Carril will be the
fi rst president of the Ashram. She was married to Ricardo
Guiraldes, one of the greatest writers of the beginning of
the century. She adopted an Indian child, and brought him
Lunch in honour of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during her visit to Argentina,
to live in Argentina, Mr. Ramachandra Gowda, who would
30 September 1968, in Villa Ocampo
then devote his whole life to promote his adoptive fathers
work and let Argentine people know better his Motherland.
Mahatma Gandhi, translated into politics by Jawaharlal Nehru
Tagore´s infl uence on Victoria Ocampo will help India
and into the spiritual and personal practice by Vinoba Bhave
to get a higher place in the landscape of Argentine culture.
in India and Lanza del Vasto in the West.
What used to be just of minor signifi cance in certain writers,
Ten years later, in 1935, Jeddu Krishnamurti will stay at
mostly linked to occultism, led to a strong infl uence of the
Victoria Ocampo’s house in his two-month visit to Argentina.
deep Indian philosophy along the following decades and,
The 40s will see this new generation looking at India as a
also, to an endless interest in India, its culture, dance, music,
source of wisdom and human inspiration. Moreover, Indian
yoga, and meditation practice.
masters began to travel to South America, mainly Argentina
Inspired by Tagore´s Vishva Quarterly, Sur
and Uruguay, in order to teach yoga for the fi rst
In 1968 Indira
(south, in Spanish) magazine is founded by
time ever.
Victoria Ocampo in 1931: a complete cultural
How important Argentina had become to
Gandhi´s visit to
project that promoted sincere dialogue among
India is shown in the description of the following
Argentina illustrates event: when in May 1953 Victoria Ocampo
cultures: Latin and North America; America
and Europe; the West and the East, and the
is imprisoned by the Peronist government,
how the India-
South and the South.
one among all the voices that are heard in the
Argentina relationship world crying out loud for her release is that of
Among the people gathered around Victoria
Ocampo at Sur magazine, there is one that
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of
had been growing
stands out: the great Gandhian writer, Adolfo
India. His intervention was decisive in twisting
over the last decades. the decision of General Perón at a particularly
de Obieta, who, in 1996, received the Jamnalal
Bajaj Award for the way he promoted Gandhian
Among all her activity belligerent time of his government.
values in Spanish speaking countries
Politics will also reflect this budding
there, she presented relationship:
In this sense, Victoria Ocampo and Tagore’s
In 1949, India’s political presence
infl uence anticipated the reality to come in the
in Argentina turned from a simple offi ce to an
Victoria Ocampo
21st century.
embassy. A year later, the Argentine consulate
with the honorary
Both Tagore’s and Gandhi’s ideas, even
in Kolkatta since the 20s, moved to Delhi to
doctorate from Viswa become the Argentine embassy.
acknowledging their diff erent way of facing the
challenges of life, show the West the complete
In 1961 Argentine President Frondizi was
Bharati University.
spectrum of what India is really like: not just
the fi rst Latin American president to be invited
mystics unaware of what happens around them
to India. Reaffi rmed the commitment of both
but wise people working hard to make their dreams come
nations to peace, he was received at the Red Fort by Prime
true while being endlessly patient; a global vision of life as
Minister Nehru, and, also, at the Parliament.
a whole and an interdependent reality in which philosophy,
In 1968 Indira Gandhi´s visit to Argentina illustrates how
science, and politics work all together towards a common
the India-Argentina relationship had been growing over the
goal: the welfare of humankind. The real face of India starts
last decades. Among all her activity there, she presented
to be shown at that time.
Victoria Ocampo with the honorary doctorate from Viswa
In Sur magazine, there was a special place for the new
Bharati University. A photograph of Indira Gandhi with
ideals of the non-violent movement which was led by
Victoria Ocampo is still one of the main icons in one of the