Rabindranath Tagore, born in Calcutta on May 7, 1861, was a central figure in the cultural renaissance of India. As a versatile polymath, he excelled as a poet, philosopher, writer, educationist, and musician. In 1913, he achieved global recognition by becoming the first Asian to be awarded the Nobel Prize, honoring his poetry collection, Gitanjali.
He was respectfully bestowed the title Gurudev by M. K. Gandhi. He was also widely known by the monikers Kabiguru and Biswakabi. His vast musical contributions are popularly celebrated as Rabindrasangeet. Furthermore, Tagore holds the profound distinction of composing the national anthems for two nations: India’s Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh’s Amar Shonar Bangla.
Important Events and Achievements
- 1874: Under anonymity, Tagore published his first poem, Abhilasha (Desire), in the Tattvabodhini Patrika journal.
- 1876: He became a member of a ‘Secret Society’. This society was believed to be modeled after Mazzini’s Carbonari.
- 1877: Tagore pioneered the short story genre in Bengali literature by publishing Bhikharini (The Beggar Woman) in Bharati magazine.
- 1879: His work Europe-Prabasir Patra (Letters on a Sojourn in Europe) was published in a serialized form in the journal Bharati.
- 1905: During the partition of Bengal, he played a crucial role in the Swadeshi Movement. He also initiated the Rakhi Bandhan Utsav during this time.
- 1911: India’s National Anthem was adopted on the second day of the Indian National Congress’s annual session.
- 1913: He officially received the Nobel Prize for Literature for Gitanjali.
- 1915 & 1919: The British Government granted him a Knighthood in 1915. However, he renounced this honor in 1919 in protest of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
- 1918: The formal foundation stone for Visva-Bharati was laid.
- 1921: He established the ‘Institute for Rural Reconstruction’. This institute was later renamed ‘Shantiniketan’, which translates to ‘Abode of Welfare’.
- 1933: He delivered a professorial lecture titled ‘Religion of Man’ at Calcutta University.
- 1957 & 1961: His short story Kabuliwala (The Fruit seller from Kabul) was adapted into cinematic works. It inspired a Bengali film in 1957 and a Hindi film in 1961.
Critique of Nationalism
- Definition of a Nation: Tagore defined a nation as an organized political and economic union of people driven by mechanical purposes, specifically for competitive advantage, material gain, and power.
- Rejection of Western Ideals: He fundamentally rejected the concept of ‘Nationalism’ as it was understood in the Western sense.
- Key Works: His critiques were heavily featured in his essays and lectures, including Nationalism in the West, Nationalism in Japan, Nationalism in India, Construction versus Creation, and International Relations.
- A Threat to Humanity: He viewed nationalism as a recurring threat to “mankind’s higher humanity,” describing it as a terrible absurdity or an “epidemic of evil”. He further condemned it as the “canonization of banditry or the brotherhood of hooliganism”.
- Ties to Exploitation: Tagore asserted that nationalism functioned primarily as an organization of commerce and politics, possessing close links to capitalism, colonialism, and imperialism.
Critique of Indian National Leaders
- Opposition to Gandhi’s Methods: Tagore was critical of M. K. Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement, referring to the approach as “political asceticism”.
- Skepticism of Nationalist Symbols: He also criticized the use of the Charkha and the broader Swadeshi Movement as vehicles for achieving Indian independence.
- Condemnation of Extremism: Within the ranks of Indian National Leaders, Tagore strongly criticized extremist factions. He argued that they were blindly following the revolution and adopting violent measures, which caused them to ignore the very real suffering of their own people.
Synthetic Universalism
Rabindranath Tagore maintained that he was not opposed to any specific nation; rather, he objected to the broader, general concept of nations.
- He advocated for a cosmopolitan world where individuals would resolve their differences and collectively follow the path of humanity.
- Tagore held a firm belief that humanity contains a “harmony of completeness”.
- He emphasized the necessity of a global connection, stating that “when a man does not realize his kinship with the world, he lives in a prison house whose walls are alien to him”.
- Because of this worldview, he believed humanity must elevate itself above nationalistic ideals to instead pursue universalism.
Important Books and Themes
The following table outlines several of Tagore’s significant works alongside their publication years and central themes:
| Book (Year) | Key Themes & Details |
| Chokar Bali (1903) | Known in English as ‘A grain of sand’, the title’s literal meaning translates to ‘an irritation in the eye or an eyesore’. |
| Gitanjali (1910) | This work is a compilation of 103 Bengali poems, with ‘Love’ serving as its overarching main theme. |
| Gora (1910) | The narrative focuses on delivering a social message, exploring themes of self-searching, conflicts, and their resolutions. |
| The Home and the World or Ghore Baire (1916) | The primary focus of this work is its stance against Western culture. |
| Nationalism (1917) | This book is a compendium of various lectures delivered by Tagore during World War I and the Swadeshi Movement. |
| The Religion of Man (1931) | The central theme of this publication explores the divinity of humanity alongside the humanity of God. |