10/07/2024
Where The Mind Is Without Fear by Rabindranath Tagore,Nobel laureate (1913)
This poem 'Where The Mind Is Without Fear' has been written before the independence movement of India, Rabindranath Tagore has gone beyond political freedom to express the necessity and importance of individual freedom in an excellent way.Here India and Indians are called to wake up. It can be said that Rabindranath Tagore has expressed his vision of freedom through this poem. According to Rabindranath Tagore, The idea of getting freedom was not only freedom from British rule, but the scope or imagination of his freedom was wide. Freedom is not only transfer of power but individual freedom, freedom of knowledge, freedom of free thought are equally necessary for a nation as it has clearly shown in this poem.
Summary:
Freedom means where the mind will be free from fear i.e. there will be no fear. Where people will live with their heads held high, where knowledge will be open and free.There will be no discrimination. Freedom exists where people live together without distinction. Where there will be no boundary between rich and poor, freedom is possible there. Freedom will exist where people feel free to speak what they feel in their hearts. At the same time, he has envisioned an independent India where people's activities would spread like a free stream across the country and abroad. That is, their actions will not be trapped inside the political system. Freedom exists where people's attempts at success or their actions are not entangled in political barriers. The poet imagines freedom there where it is impossible to block knowledge and judgement with frivolous manners, unreasonable practices and customs. That is, freedom exists only where reason and knowledge do not succumb to superstitions. So the poet is praying to God to make India such a free country with his own hands ensuring the country will be free from discrimination, measuring high and low, lies, tyranny, superstition and blind faith or fanaticism. And only then India will become a paradise on earth.
...To be continued with more discussion.