tagore
TAGORE’S THOUGHTS ON NATIONALISM Among the various dimensions of Tagore’s polymath personality- that of a writer, poet, playwright, dramatist, painter, philosopher, political thinker- his political thought is perhaps the least understood. ... Rabindranath Tagore, of course, was no politician in the real sense of the term; besides he did not found any particular kind of political school. Tagore’s patriotism was also not that brand of blind obeisance that so easily attracts followers and often transforms itself into a cult. The core of Tagore’s nationalism was the universal concept of humanism, a concept that goes beyond geographical barriers and the barriers of race, color and creed. ... “The history of India,” says Tagore, “is not the history of Aryans; it is not the history of Hindus, nor the history of Hindus and Moslems taken together. ... ” Although, Tagore’s was a different form of patriotism It was in fact routed to reality. Tagore was amongst the first to point out that the two most essential things that India needed were education and unity. ... Thus, central to Tagore’s idea of nationalism, peace and development, lay the principles of humanism. ... More than half a century after India achieved independence it might be interesting to ponder on Tagore’s thoughts on Indian independence and freedom. For Tagore perfect freedom meant more than mere independence. ... To Tagore this greed and unreasoning obedience to a political programme was not promising for a young and emerging nation. In a day and age where nationalistic fervor has reached its zenith and men and women across nations scream of hate and revenge while religiously guarding their borders it would do well to be gently reminded of what Tagore said about patriotism. ... Rabindranath Tagore had identified globalisation in the early decade of 1900 and reflected this in his novel “ The Home and The World.” Tagore believed that nationalism in the West had produced an extreme hankering after material wealth and political power.