Class 8 (New Oxford Modern English) Poem _ Where the Mind is Without Fear - Rabindranath Tagore

Summary

The script introduces Rabindranath Tagore, a multifaceted Bengali poet and the first Indian Nobel laureate in Literature for 'Gitanjali'. It discusses his poem 'Where the Mind is Without Fear', a pre-independence piece urging India to awaken to freedom, unity, and intellectual liberation. The poem advocates for a society free from oppression, caste divisions, and blind beliefs, where knowledge and reason prevail, and people live with dignity and moral awakening.

Takeaways

• 📘 The poem 'Where the Mind is Without Fear' is from Rabindranath Tagore's 'Gitanjali', a collection for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.
• 🎨 Tagore was a multifaceted artist, known for his contributions as a poet, novelist, dramatist, essayist, composer, painter, philosopher, and educationist.
• 🌏 Tagore was born in Kolkata, British India, and his works reflect the desire for freedom and unity in a pre-independent India under British rule.
• 🙏 The poem is a prayer to God for a nation free from fear, oppression, and forced compulsion, where every individual can hold their head high with dignity.
• 🌱 Tagore envisions a nation where knowledge is free and accessible to all, and children learn from the world around them without restrictions.
• 🌈 He emphasizes unity and the absence of division among people based on caste, creed, color, or religion, advocating for the eradication of prejudices and superstitions.
• 🗣️ The poet urges for truthfulness and sincerity in speech, with words coming from the depth of one's heart rather than superficiality.
• 🏗️ Tagore calls for hard work and perseverance, rejecting laziness and the neglect of duties, to achieve the nation's goals.
• 💭 He compares reason to a clear stream and superstitions to a dreary desert, advocating for the stream of reason not to be lost in the desert of prejudices.
• 🌟 The poet wishes for his countrymen to be progressive and broad-minded, overcoming the narrowness of mind and embracing new challenges and changes.
• 🙌 In the final lines, Tagore prays for a moral awakening, asking God to awaken the divine in every soul for a truly free and peaceful life.

Q & A

Who is Rabindranath Tagore?

Rabindranath Tagore was a Bengali poet, novelist, dramatist, essayist, story writer, composer, painter, philosopher, social reformer, educationist, linguist, and grammarian.

When and where was Rabindranath Tagore born?

Rabindranath Tagore was born on May 7th, 1861, in Kolkata, Bengal Presidency, British India.

When did Rabindranath Tagore pass away?

Rabindranath Tagore died on August 7th, 1941, at the age of 80.

What are some of Rabindranath Tagore's notable works?

Some of Rabindranath Tagore's notable works include 'Gitanjali', 'Guru', 'Jaina', 'Ganamana', 'Ravindra Sangeet', 'Vocation', 'The Child', 'Stream of Life', and more.

What is the significance of Tagore's Nobel Prize in Literature?

Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his collection 'Gitanjali', which was the first time the prize was given to an Indian, establishing his literary reputation worldwide.

What is the theme of the poem 'Where the Mind is Without Fear'?

The poem 'Where the Mind is Without Fear' is a pre-independent poem that urges for a free and united country, where people live with dignity, honesty, open-mindedness, and hard work.

In what year was the original Bengali poem of 'Where the Mind is Without Fear' published?

The original Bengali poem was published in 1910 and was included in the 1910 collection 'Gitanjali'.

What does Tagore wish for in the poem 'Where the Mind is Without Fear'?

Tagore wishes for a country where people are free from manipulation, corruption, and slavery, where there is freedom of the mind and expression of ideas, and where people are not divided by caste, creed, or superstitious beliefs.

What is the poet's view on education in the poem 'Where the Mind is Without Fear'?

The poet believes that education should be free and not restricted to any class, allowing everyone to achieve knowledge and learn freely from nature and the world around them.

How does Tagore describe the importance of reason in the poem?

Tagore compares reason or logical thinking to a clear stream and emphasizes that it should not lose its way into the desert of prejudices and superstitions.

What is the poet's final appeal to God in the poem 'Where the Mind is Without Fear'?

In the final lines, the poet appeals to God as the father to awaken his country into a heaven of freedom where the conditions of fearlessness, self-dignity, knowledge, truthfulness, hard work, and broad-mindedness meet.