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VOL. 7, ISSUE 1 (2025)
Rabindranath Tagore's nationalism: A critical analysis and comparison with Gandhi
Authors
Zubair Khan
Abstract
This paper seeks to explore and explain the unique,
and often misunderstood, nationalism of Rabindranath Tagore. Let me be clear
from the start: Tagore was not an 'anti-nationalist' in the simple sense. His
critique was not of love for one's country, but of the modern Western model of
the nation-state, which he saw as a mechanical, aggressive, and soul-crushing
machine. This study argues that Tagore's vision was fundamentally different
from the political nationalism of his time, including that of Mahatma Gandhi.
He envisioned a nationalism rooted in moral universalism, social reform (samaj),
and cultural regeneration—a 'home' for the human spirit rather than just a
political entity. By tracing his intellectual journey from the Swadeshi
Movement to his famous debates with Gandhi on the charkha and non-cooperation,
and by engaging with contemporary scholarship, this paper aims to show that
Tagore's thought offers a critical, humanistic framework that remains
profoundly relevant for questioning the excesses of nationalist fervour in any
age.
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Pages:54-56
How to cite this article:
Zubair Khan "Rabindranath Tagore's nationalism: A critical analysis and comparison with Gandhi". International Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Vol 7, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 54-56
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