Where the Mind is Without Fear

Rabindranath Tagore, India


Literal comprehension
 The poem is written by Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore. In the poem, the poet appeals God to make his country awake into that heaven of freedom, where people are without fear and live with honor; where knowledge is free; where the world has not been broken up into fragments by domestic boundaries; where people speak only truth; where people always work hard to reach perfection; where people are guided by reason or logic, not by dead traditions and superstitions; where their mind is led by God into broad-minded thought and action.





Interpretation
In this poem, Tagore tries to create an ideal place to live in. According to the poet, a country can be an ideal place if people have qualities such as truth, reasonable thought, and sincerity. The poet is also appealing for universal brotherhood.





Critical Thinking
 The poet wishes for an ideal place, but it is almost impossible. The questions a critical thinker can ask are: Can we imagine the world without national boundaries? Can we create a society dominated by reason easily? Do people express sincere feelings? Are the people of this earth generous?