Rabindranath Tagore's freedom ideology
Freedom
Tagore was a lover of human freedom. Influenced by the western liberalism, Tagore opined that freedom of a nation will provide ample scope to its citizens to express their view openly. His idea on freedom contained the following things.
Enlightenment of soul through self-realization:
Freedom will provide opportunity to attain enlightenment of soul. It is only because by pursuing a goal in an atmosphere of freedom, one will get scope to realize one's self. That self-realization will enlighten the soul and illumine it.
Political freedom accompanied by spiritual freedom:
Tagore envisaged that political freedom is not freedom unless it is accompanied by spiritual freedom. Spiritual freedom is the guiding force behind political freedom. It will show right path to an individual in realizing his political goal. The same is also applicable in case of a nation too.
Freedom, according to Tagore, has a spiritual root. It includes freedom of expression and freedom of conscience. Thus, his concept of political freedom was a spiritualized one like Gandhi, where the use of force will suppress the legitimate demands of the people creating frustration in their mind. His 'Geetanjali' reflects his idea of freedom thus.
"Where the mind is without fear,
And the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up.
Into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Regulation of Almighty in guiding the soul:
Tagore had great faith in God. The spiritualism within him prompted him to say that the Almighty guides the soul of a human being. He changes the civil mind of a man (or a race) and enlightens his soul. To him "The turning of the wheel of fortune will compel the British one day to give up their British empire."
Comprehensive social and cultural growth:
Tagore viewed that freedom will lead to 'the comprehensive social and cultural growth. For that growth, he never accepted the idea of either the Moderates or Extremists. To him, the
Tagore was a lover of human freedom. Influenced by the western liberalism, Tagore opined that freedom of a nation will provide ample scope to its citizens to express their view openly. His idea on freedom contained the following things.
Enlightenment of soul through self-realization:
Freedom will provide opportunity to attain enlightenment of soul. It is only because by pursuing a goal in an atmosphere of freedom, one will get scope to realize one's self. That self-realization will enlighten the soul and illumine it.
Political freedom accompanied by spiritual freedom:
Tagore envisaged that political freedom is not freedom unless it is accompanied by spiritual freedom. Spiritual freedom is the guiding force behind political freedom. It will show right path to an individual in realizing his political goal. The same is also applicable in case of a nation too.
Freedom, according to Tagore, has a spiritual root. It includes freedom of expression and freedom of conscience. Thus, his concept of political freedom was a spiritualized one like Gandhi, where the use of force will suppress the legitimate demands of the people creating frustration in their mind. His 'Geetanjali' reflects his idea of freedom thus.
"Where the mind is without fear,
And the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up.
Into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Regulation of Almighty in guiding the soul:
Tagore had great faith in God. The spiritualism within him prompted him to say that the Almighty guides the soul of a human being. He changes the civil mind of a man (or a race) and enlightens his soul. To him "The turning of the wheel of fortune will compel the British one day to give up their British empire."
Comprehensive social and cultural growth:
Tagore viewed that freedom will lead to 'the comprehensive social and cultural growth. For that growth, he never accepted the idea of either the Moderates or Extremists. To him, the