Nov 27, 2016 04:47 PM
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Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore has been a positive influence in the minds, hearts and souls of Indians for more than a century. He was a great nationalist and a part of our freedom struggle. His Bengali poetry and Rabindra sangeet have become a part of our freedom struggle and have inspired millions to take part in the movement and free mother India from the shackles of the British Raj. His term of nationalism can be expressed by the term ambivilance. He felt India's situation during his time being ruled by the British a result of the social and cultural causes which were deeply entrenched in the society and gave a chance for the British to enter and lord over India. He felt the situation to be a result of the manifestation due to race and felt the countrymen have to overcome this barrier to come out of the mess in which they found themselves to be in. He denounced nationalism and termed it one of mankind's biggest problem.
His critique of nationalism emerges mostly in his essays. He believed in the term Vasudaiva Kutumbakam - The Whole World is One, in its true sense. He felt the sun will surely set on the British empire and would rise again on the people of India which would be a time of ridding them of all the ills plaguing the country by removing, ignorance, Spread knowledge the right path once again and help people see things in a new perspective devoid of the old stereotypical thinking. The new sunrise would also lead to the rise of a new Indian fresh with full of boundless energy free from the shackles of the past in which it was stuck for many centuries. He felt nationalism also created many different new political movements which again delayed the freedom movement and the fight against anti colonialism which was taking place at that time. He warned the country's leaders at that time to be aware of this problem. He studied nationalism movements in different parts of the world like Japan, Western world and other countries and gained deeper perspective on the subject.
He understood the problems faced by India at that time and wrote down his thoughts about nationalism in the Indian context and situation. He delivered a series of lectures about nationalism in USA and many other countries. Many of his thoughts are also reflected in his poetry and in the lyrics of his sangeet. He was undoubtedly on of the greatest educationist, poet, essayist, writer, poet of his times whose thoughts directly or indirectly impacted the countrymen. He is also known for our National Anthem written by him which reflects his thoughts about his nation and people. The song reflects the image of undivided map of our India as envisaged by him. One of the great sons India has produced and a legacy left behind by Gurudev which all Indians will cherish for a long time.
