FA -3

Where the Mind

is without

Fear

THE POEM 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 wallsWhere words come out from the depth of

truthWhere tireless striving stretches its arms

towards perfection

IntroductionThe poet draws a picture of free India.

He dreamt of a country with no boundaries.This poem is his idealistic dream about India.Tagore prays for the welfare of the country.It is self explanatory.

About the PoetRabindranath Tagore, sobriquet Gurudev, was a

Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music.

• Born : May 7, 1861, Kolkata• Died : August 7, 1941, Jorasanko Thakur Bari• Spouse : Mrinalini Devi (m. 1883–1902)• Awards : Nobel Prize in Literature• Education : University of Calcutta, St. Xavier's

Collegiate School,University College London

Where the Mind is Without Fear was included in the volume called ‘Naibedya’, the original poem

bears the title ‘Prarthana’ meaning prayer. The poem is a prayer to God. The poem was written by

Rabindranath Tagore during the time when India was under the British Rule and people were eagerly waiting to get their

freedom from the British Rule. This poem had given a lot of strength to the people who were struggling for India’s independence. It is a prayer

to the Almighty for a hassle free nation free from any kind of

manipulative or corrupted powers.

An

alys

is• Where one feels fearless and honored, where knowledge is free,

where the whole world is united, where one expresses sincere feelings, where one tries so reach perfection continuously, where

new ideas are not disturbed by dead tradition and where the mind is directed to generous thought and action, let my country awake in such heaven of freedom. In the world our mind should

be fearless and we should be respected.• Knowledge should be free there. The world should not be

divided into smaller parts by the narrow conception of nationalism. The reality should be sincerely represented. We

should aim to reach perfection. Our mind should be led towards selfless thought and action. In such an ideal place our country should be awakened. The poem might be trying to show the

value of knowledge, courage, self-dignity, altruism, sincere, and reasonable thought. If all these qualities are found in the

countrymen of a particular country, the country itself will be the heaven.

The poet prays to God that there shouldbe an atmosphere of fearlessness.

Knowledge should be free for all. Thecountry men should not be divided over caste and creed.People of the country should speak

the truth and God blessed to have a perfec life. They should not get tired of working

The poet prays to God that Indiansshould be logical & progressive in

thoughts & actions. They should havethe power to reason out the bad and

useless uselesscustoms customs.Only God can helpby guiding the people. God should

make India a paradise on earth.

Central IdeaThis poem is a reflection of the poet’s

good and ideal nature. He has utmostfaith in God. He prays to God with all

his heart that He should guide thecountrymen to work hard, speak the truth, be

forward and logical in approach. Rabindranath Tagore aspires to see the country and his people to be in peace and prosper. He

loves his country a lot and wishes for its welfare.