Nationalism in Rabindranath Tagore's Poems

Abstract

This study aims to explore Tagore on nationalism through his few selected poems. It shows how the national consciousness arises among Indian people and how they face the consequences of blind nationalism. It explores the identity crisis of Indian people during colonial period in India. It has focused for Indian freedom from British Empire. It has analyzed how the idea of nation and blind nationalism become a threat to mankind. It supports healthy nationalism which prioritizes the welfare and unity of mankind. It focuses on the idea that nationalism should not be limited only in geography. It emphasizes on the social issues like caste, religion, class, culture as the causes of social hierarchy which generate intolerance, irrationality, prejudice and hatred among the people. It has examined that to serve the mankind, we must liberate our mind from all kinds of national boundaries, dogmas and social taboos. It finds humanity as the precious gift of the world which widens the path of peaceful and harmonious living. It implies the message that nationalism should inspire equality, unity, harmony, peace and universal brotherhood to make the better world to live in. This study focuses on the need of today’s world to lead the world to the path of love, friendship, justice, honesty, equality, and the unity of mankind where the races of the world would live together in amity keeping their distinct characteristics but all attach to the steam of humanity by the bond of love and mutual respect. This study ends with the conclusion that, people of different races with different types of customs, religion, social values should live together and tie up with Eastern concept of nationalism by rejecting the dividing concept of Western nationalism to create peaceful and harmonious world.