We disperse

Indeed, on Friday 9 December 1949 we each moved in different directions like bees, collecting our luggage and heading for the Bolpur station. We travelled 90 miles to Calcutta and arrived there at noon, when we were welcomed by kind committee members. Their cars took us to a house at Upper Wood Street where we had been before. We were then allocated to separate homes which were to accommodate us, just as we do at home for synod or conference delegates. I was sent to the beautiful home of a rich lawyer whose house is like that of a governor with several floors. This man has five cars, and two radio wirelesses, each one costing £100. I found out that the other delegates were also sent to the homes of wealthy people. I found very interesting books in this house and I read a great deal. I was given a car and a driver and I was told that I could go wherever I liked during the two days I was there, because Calcutta is big and one cannot tour it on foot. On Saturday 10 December 1949, the driver took me to various places and buildings. We returned and the owner of the house took me to a prestigious hotel for the meal and we ate very well.

At noon, I attended a conference of the World Association of Writers which is known as P.E.N. (Plays, Essays, Novels) to which I had been invited on my arrival in the country. There were many delegates and they included well-known people. We had tea and were introduced. The conference of the pacifists was given an opportunity to address the people of Calcutta at a meeting which was held at the palace of Nizam of Hyderabad. We had heard that the owner of this venue is the fifth-richest man in the world. His name is Aga Khan, he is a descendant of Mohamed. On that account, the Muslims pay a tithe to him every year. He lives in Paris, France, and he visits East Africa and India annually, where he is weighed and given silver which is equal to his weight. Sometimes he is weighed and given gold weighing as much. He is a big man of 217 lbs.