Where the Mind is Without Fear

                                                              Summary 

Rabindranath Tagore was a great poet, novelist, short story writer, musician, painter, essayist, educationalist, freedom fighter and a great thinker. He won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 for Gitanjali. He is often referred to as the Bard of Bengal.  ‘Where the Mind is Without Fear’ is a thought-provoking poem. It was published in 1912. It was originally written in Bangla and translated by Tagore himself in English.

It is a pre-independent poem. In this poem, the poet prays to God to make our country a heaven of freedom. In our country, everyone should be fearless. Each one should be brave and no one should have fear in mind. Every countryman should be honourable. Every head should be held high with dignity and honour. This country should be free from criminals. In our country knowledge should be free and it should be such a place where all live in love and unity. There should not be divisions on the name of caste, colour, religion, language, etc. All citizens should love the truth and their words should come from the depth of their heart. All the activities of our countrymen should be guided by truth. Tagore prays that countrymen should work hard towards perfection. They should be ideal human beings. They should give up all that is evil and take up all that is good. They should be guided by reason. They should give up all those bad and harmful customs of society. They should be broad-minded. They should be generous in their thoughts and actions. Tagore says that it is his earnest prayer to God to show light to our countrymen and help each one to transform our country into heaven of freedom.   

This poem has a universal message. Tagore wishes a global society where there are no boundaries on the name of caste, colour or creed. The poet prays not only for the political freedom of our country but also for spiritual and intellectual freedom which is yet to be achieved.