Where the Mind Is Without Fear

Where the Mind Is without Fear- Rabindranath Tagore, India (1861-1941)

Summary

One of the great and persuasive poems by Nobel Prize–winning poet Rabindranath Tagore is "Where the Mind is Without Fear." The poem emphasizes on genuine world patriotism so that people might live, work, and assist in the light without fear, violence, or discrimination. Additionally, it suggests that a contented and pleasant existence continues to exist. The poet creates a parody about how the modern society is rife with violence, fear, discrimination, and hatred. He so aspires for the world and all people to be free of all forms of bigotry, darkness, and fear through his poetry. He therefore desires to enter or stay in a world that is filled with love, knowledge, light, freedom, and harmony. In any case, he wants to alter the way the world is today. The poet considers how the current world is rife with wickedness, terror, and injustice. Thus, this universe is akin to hell. People's thoughts have been dominated by fear. Human understanding is not exempt from such apprehension and violence. In human civilization and throughout the world, inequality, strife, war, selfishness, jealousy, brutality, and corruption have predominated. Self-respect, decency, love, support, peace, equality, and justice have all been pushed to the background in such a world. The poet goes on to remark that people have divided the globe into several factions and view other people as their foes. As a result, there are neither peaceful global relations nor harmonious relationships among the world's population. Humanity, spirituality, and feelings of fraternity have all but vanished from this planet.

On the other side, the poet aspires to perceive and live in a world that is light, peaceful, and free. In such a society, individuals begin to love, support, and unite one another. They treat everyone fairly and act justly. Instead of fear, conflict, and discrimination, there is free and productive information. He longs for a world characterized by liberty, harmony, and cooperation. The poet asks God to make his community, nation, and entire world the heaven of freedom in order to achieve this.

Application of Four Levels

• Literal Comprehension
  • If a person's mind is free of all forms of fear, they may learn things freely. The current world, according to the poet, is rife with evil and ugliness. The world is now shadowy or dark due to evils, injustice, violence, corruption, and inhumanity. The effect is that the globe is divided. The populace lacks a sense of cohesion, love, harmony, and justice. As a result, the poet aspires to observe or inhabit this freedom- and beauty-filled modern world. He is hopeful that through developing humanity, justice, rules and regulations, peace, equality, freedom, unity, and fraternity, the dark side of the world will turn into a light and peaceful one. He asks God to create the world as heaven in order to achieve that.
• Interpretation
  • This poem was chosen from his English poetry collection, "Gitanjali." Despite having strong religious foundations, Tagore acted with a profound humanism. He was both a citizen of his country and the world. In his poem "Where the Mind Is without Fear," Tagore paints a vivid picture of the society in which he envisions India to exist. In a country where everyone is free to speak their mind and be heard without fear of tyranny or coercion, everyone within the brotherhood's embrace is independent. In addition to this, the poem is committed to promoting humanity, peace, harmony, justice, and freedom throughout the world. He speaks of a country where knowledge is not constrained by inadequate beliefs and allegiances! By turning India into a desolate country, British rule and law had deprived it of its pride and dignity. As a result, Tagore aspires to live in a nation where her people can be proud of their knowledge and the strength it has given them, and where every citizen is free from the shackles of caste, denomination, and religious allegiances. Prejudice and myths that divide people and confine their minds need to be eradicated.
  • It should be a nation where people speak fearlessly and out loud for everybody to hear the words of truth and loyalty that come from the bottom of their hearts. In the open light of reason, people should strive for perfection while putting behind all superstitious rituals, beliefs, and narrow-mindedness. Everyone should be able to toil and work hard for anything they choose, whether it is for their own advantage or the benefit of the country. Everyone is urged to work hard again and over again until they are fully satisfied with achieving their objectives and perfection.
  • It ought to be a nation where superstitious customs, ways of thinking, and behaviors haven't extinguished the light of reason. People's minds shouldn't be consumed by or dwell on their previous transgressions. The power of reason, on the other hand, should direct them to focus on the future by using rational thought and deed. Tagore's sole request of the Supreme God is that he guide the nation to a perfect state of bliss. India won't reach her full freedom until she has a universal viewpoint and a persistent zeal for the accomplishment of lofty human aspirations. She will fulfill her destiny on her own in this way.
  • The poet's decent and idealistic attitude is reflected in this poem. He firmly believes in God. He fervently asks God to lead all of the citizens of his country to labor hard, speak the truth, and lead the nation toward prosperity with a sound strategy. Rabindranath Tagore wished for peace and order for both his nation and his citizens. He has a deep affection for his nation and want for it to prosper.
• Critical Thinking
  • The poetry is patriotic, moral, and convincing. It displays a reflection of the society, nation, and global community as a whole. On the one hand, the poet opposes or wishes to stay away from discrimination, injustice, inequality, corruption, and violence. On the other hand, he hopes to see freedom, justice, spiritualism, and humanity in the globe. However, it appears that the poet tried to create an illusory heaven in order to escape the realities of the world. Is it feasible to transform the current world into the heavenly realm? Does God have the ability and authority to alter the course of events? Can there be peace, justice, and nonviolence in the world? Does God exist or not? Can the perfect world be created from the real one?
• Assimilation
  • The poet Tagore's views, which he presents through the poem, have really impacted me. It teaches me, as well as everyone else, how to create a harmonious society characterized by justice, cohesion, and humanity. If everyone in my society and the nation values free knowledge, self-respect, hard labor, love, spiritualism, unity, and brotherhood feelings, then our nation will be the heaven of freedom, justice, equality, and peace.

Referance

(Subedi, K.P. and Bhandari, M.B. (2014). Business English. Kathmandu: Highland Publication P. Ltd.)