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
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
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will this really happen one day?
From guest JABA (contact)
so true and touching..this poem has always been close to me since i was a child..only a sensitive person close to life and future can think this....but still we all live in a world of trait and mean corrupted minds...really my father when will my country AWAKE??? -
poem is a wonderful one to recite
From guest Rounak Singh (contact)
this poem describes even after 60 years of independence we r still dependent or not gained complete freedom...we r afraid of speaking truth ..our religious leaders for their narrow purposes create hatred among people which result in these narrow confinement or walls ..each and every 1 should strive for perfection in their work...we should use our own rationality and not have that survile attitude ,we should not be diverted by emotions and follow science ...and leave superstitious practices ..then only we could gain complete freedom by waking from deep slumber of ignorance...1 -
i think he is a distant relative of ghandi.
he was a poet laurete and from his poem where the bangladesh national anthem was copied. (pls correct me if my wrong.) -
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For Vivuyo
Yes the national anthen was based on Tagore's poem
Gandhi and Tagore were contemporaries (Tagore was only 8 years older) and there were many similarities as well as disagrements between the two but I don't believe they were related as such.
An intersting comment Nehru Wrote:-
Gandhi and Tagore. Two types entirely different from each other, and yet both of them typical of India, both in the long line of India's great men ... It is not so much because of any single virtue but because of the tout ensemble, that I felt that among the world's great men today Gandhi and Tagore were supreme as human beings. What good fortune for me to have come into close contact with them."
Jim
BTW
The oldpoetry research team have a decent biography of Tagore on site. Just click on his name at the top of this page.
Jim
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Beautiful Poem
From guest Nishant (contact)
This is, I think almost the best poem of Rabindranath Tagore. So, beautiful, just Imagining India like this. -
Your poem was delightful as you described heaven.
Hopefully you have secured a little of heaven here on earth. It seems that you have grasped a lot of concepts that you would like to see after death but there are things that are present in this life which resemble what you are speaking about in this poem. Keep up the good work. -
Where the mind is without fear
From guest Dr Kamaraju .S.Ratnakar (contact)
After 62 years of freedom, we are looming under fear,corporate education and casteism,communalism. We are in adifferent kind of slavery. Thanks to Indian politics. -
wow what a poem
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nice
From guest nasreen (contact)
this is a very good poem. in all school diaries,this poem is printed.even in my school diary. -
Trying Understand Gurudev’s Prayer
Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let the humanity awake!
This is one of the most earnest appeals to God made by a human mind. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, warm with love for his fellow beings, urges God to let this humanity awake into a heaven of freedom. Bertrand Russel’s said his longing for love; search for knowledge and an un-enduring pity for suffering mankind have made him hither and thither for promotion of free thought, exchange and integration of refined ideas about humanity. And he goes on to delineate the heaven of his dreams…
Where the mind is without fear and head is held high…
Mind is the fertile ground of thought, seminal bed of reason and cultural field to harvest fruits of knowledge. The body housing it can be subdued, wrenched, and subjected to every kind of torture but its spirit can never be overcome. Cognizance of the past, awareness of the present, and the ability to see through the future are the qualities of the mind. It gives courage to look squarely at adversity. It looks straight and upright. Such a mind sees its own development in the continual elevation of people and endeavours to bring about unrestrained thinking, liberty for action and freedom of expression, simultaneously being cautions … seeing such liberty doesn’t lead to anarchy and chaos.
Where the knowledge is free…
We are heirs to vast amount of knowledge and rich culture—not of one place, one race, or generation but to the multitude of human experience that had preceded us. It governs us, it shapes us, and we achieve it through our actions. By consequence, we owe to it an obligation of continuance. We have our bounden duty to the unborn generations to preserve this knowledge and augment it with our own to make their lives easier and their world lovelier. It is the right of the generations coming up to demand from us their share and what we have inherited. It should be made available free to them… as free as air, water and sunlight… pure and abundant without discrimination of sex, colour or race.
Where the world has not broken up into narrow domestic walls…
Unfortunately people have a tendency to fragment themselves in the name of every conceivable physical, ethnical division coupled with an unflinching flair for warring about the superiority of one culture, religion or race over the other. Every culture and every civilization prospered so long as ‘adopting to time’ was its basic tenet, reciprocity and appreciation of others its philosophy and uninhibited integration its practice. But when the basic fabric was torn to pieces and isolated excellence got precedence over collective progress, the spring of oppression recoiled with vengeance and the bright sunshines have reduced to relics of yester years. Confrontation and compartmentalization prevent free exchange of fertile ideas. Gurudev, therefore, prays for a state where the world is one united entity…
Where words come out from depths of truth…
Speaking truth doesn’t really mean making a matter of fact statement. Truth springs mercy when needed. It is a manifestation of God himself. The passion for speaking the truth does not envisage that one should turn hypocritical. It calls for understanding and genuine love and empathy for people. Truth is synonymous with love. It never betrays—it bestows. Gurudev prays for such a state where every one is bound to speak the truth and nothing but the truth.
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into dreary desert sands of dead habit…
Reason is a reliable guide and an unfailing friend in moments of crisis. It is the light that shows us the way when we grope in darkness and get exhausted wading through troubled waters. By its nature, reason is not a dogmatic precept but an ever changing and ever enriching stream. It expands common sense and widens its scope with every generation. But it has its pitfalls of arrogance and despair. And when it becomes excess, it hangs up its wits at the first encounter and even the lowliest obstacle. What we do, we must do with conscious awareness of the import of our actions. A dead habit collects myth around it. Reason should invariably conduct people to better environment than before. Its purpose is not to win over the submission of people, but to flow ever so serenely into the fertile minds of people, cultivating love, harmony and universal well being. Otherwise, it will dry up in the desert sands of dead habit…sans identity, sans existence, sans power…
Where mind is lead forward by thee into ever widening thought and action…
While reason gives a clue to get out of any critical situation, the real way out lies in enacting the solution. Most often, man is crippled by inaction, for known and unknown reasons, when the best of solutions lies readily at hand. Strange as it may seem, the springs of motivation dry up all of a sudden, like Arjuna throwing away his bow and arrows. Thought should instill courage to action and action should enthuse generation of healthy ideas. The gamut of action and thought should expand with success as well as failure… each success giving sufficient inspiration for further action and each failure more resolve and determination to succeed.
When freedom without fear and without divisions of caste creed or colour is supported by free flow of knowledge, truth and reason then the mind is led forward into ever widening thought and action for the general good.
Being one such great noble soul, Gurudev appeals to God to bestow on mankind such a state of thought and action.
By Late R.S. Krishna Moorthy & N.S. Murty
Excerpt from the Pamphlet published by the Walkers Club of Hyderabad Central under the guidance of Sri PNSN Murty.
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A simple but timeless write!
Words of wisdom from a truely knowing man! -
From guest ZOYA (contact)
IT IS REALLY A GOOD POEM AND IT OPENS THE EYES OF EVERY INDIAN AND EVEN BRITISHERS ALSO. -
comment
From guest sumir keshari (contact)
it has always ben a source of inspiration in every walk of my life.... -
FAITH AND MOTIVATION.
From guest ASHUTOSH KUMAR (contact)
ACCORDING TO ME WHERE THE MIND IS WITHOUT FEAR IS SUCH A COMPOSITION OF RABINDRANATH NATH TAGORE WHICH MOTIVATES HUMAN CULTURE TO LIVE LIFE HAPPILY AND FREELY. BECAUSE THERTE IS NOTHING IN THIS WORLD WHICH IS IMMORTAL EVERY THING HAS GOT ITS ENDING SO WHAT FOR FEAR?RABINDRANATH NATH TAGORE HAS GIVEN A GLIMPSE OF HIS OWN THOUGHTS OF LIFE WHATEVER HE EXPERIENCED AND LEARNT. -
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your caps is offensive and this guy sucks
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Seems to apply with remarkable truth to many times and places including my country , now...when change is needed and we seem mired in the petty ways of great destruction...so remarkable...PK
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Best quotes
From guest Radhika (contact)
I literally like the inner depth meaning of the verses of Respected R B Tagore. -
Where the mind is without fear
From guest T Saldanha (contact)
If every Indian aspires to emulate the words and put them in action, than we will surpass all the nations on this planet! This poem always rings in my mind when I see so much violence and hatred in our world. Let us try to live up to the ideals of this Great Soul Rabindranath Tagore. -
Always inspiring.
Tagore is our pride forever. -
where the mind is without fear
From guest padma (contact)
there can never be a better and nobler prayer. -
my feelings
From guest Mukunda (contact)
tagore's poem where the the mind is without fear is a great poem thatalways inspires me so much. until and unless we destroy the domestic boundary, it is impossible to make our country heaven. -
From guest dr.ravindra (contact)
seems apt today more than ever.lots of falsehood,nepotism,lots of favoritism making life more difficult.hope ,someone atleast who matters,takes tha call. -
my feelings
From guest samikendra nath roy (contact)
this is a graet poem which inspired me so much in my life. also teaches me the truth knowledge cannot be bounded,inspiration to me that go ahead you will at a time find your sucess. -
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From guest dolma yankey (contact)
this poem has been the one poem in my life that has brought a great impact in my life so far.this poem from a patriotic person as rabindranathji himself is a great plea for his country to wake up and see the changes that is taking place around the world and learn to enhance these changes so that one can develop itself. I respect the essence of what the poet is trying to convey to us from this small prayer of his. It is something we should all learn from so that our motherland can smile happily back to us. i thank him for this "masterpiece" (according to me) -
From guest Shenil (contact)
It is a really great poem. I wish Tagore is still alive. Then he could have written some great poems like Jana Gana Mana. -
awakening
Always give impact for high civic sense -
hi
From guest thakur (contact)
today world is happy because of the great work of tagor he open the eye of the people of the world as every one is not thinking in the same way -
Where the mind is without fear
This stretches the mind somewhat. I wish I could have written this poem. -
From guest vinay prasanth (contact)
a very great poem wchich inspires youth to wake up and make the counrty as the one expected by ravindranath tagore -
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From guest Ravindrababu (contact)
He is a verstile genius. I read his books. I mostly like gora Geetanjali. -
The "Kohinoor" of India
Rabindranath Tagore was the Shajahan of Bengal on aesthetic ground in literature. His English collection of poems “Gitanjali” is the “Tajmahal” of Bengal. This poem “Where The Mind is without Fear' is the “Kohinoor” of India. His “Nobel” souvenir is “The Peacock Throne of Bengal”. His “Viswabharati” university at Santiniketan is the “Red-Fort” of Bengal. So I invite readers from all over the world to visit and enjoy these sites of ours as a common Bengali reader of R.Tagore. No doubt this poem is all in a nut-shell what we feel about that great genius. -
Magnificant
I will try to write a poem thinking of these wonderful
words in relation with what is happening in the world today.(in a contest) -
I look forward to the time somewhere in the distant future when I too have a mind without fear. Wise words, beautiful thoughts.
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Exquisitely Gifted...
I have completely adored Tagore's way of thought since I first read his masterpiece, "Fireflies", at college in the 1980's; in fact, I copied many of his "small" verses in my poet's journal. He is a MUST~READ for anyone who wishes to become a better writer & a more elegant & cultured human being. Thank you for featuring this piece & for having his works available on Oldpoetry, as well. Here is a link to provide an additional resource; it holds all if the verses from "Fireflies", has other photographs of him, as well as photographs of his writing in his native language. Fascinating & scholarly, to be sure. Thank you again, Oldpoetry staff. This is one Scribe who is quite worthy of deep & extensive study. 30 years later, I am still enamored by his words. 
www.terebess.hu/english/tagore5.html
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I have read Rabindranaths work before and I always enjoy the wisdom within his words, he is a very spiritual man.
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A wonderful poem that shows nationalism should be secondary to neighbourliness, for in today's world, we are all neighbors, regardless of where we live or what our beliefs are.
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In todays society I feel all have lost their way. This writing would be so helpful to so many that have lost all hope. For in the eyes of freedom our country can awaken again.
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freedom reveiled
From guest gauri shankar (contact)
who lets our mind with fear, who restricts the truth come into, who fragments our thoughts---- the politicians, your friend, or ur neighbour, beware of all ur causes its us who let all in..... reveil your own freedom -
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Exceptionally enlightened
From guest bheshraj (contact)
-a great source of humanity - whilteling interantional brother hood and justice -
Where The Mind is without fear
From guest Pritam (contact)
When ever I read this poem I pray That a day will come when people of Palestine will be free and will have their own state without fear and terrorism on their own Land and will live in Peace and harmony. -
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stirring
From guest Yoganand Kore (contact)
the poem has never failed to move me and whenever i have read and taught this poem...the difference between patriotism and nationalism becomes clear. -
BRILLIANTLY THOUGHTFUL
From guest BHASKAR MIGLANI (contact)
"Where the mind is without fear" is a poem by which our country can get the freedom everybody wants. no terrorism, no prison by anybody only freedom and freedom -
Perfect
I am no one to even think of commenting on this priceless work of art. I just let the above poem lead me through all challenges in life. -
A Dreamer was Gurudev
From guest Prashant Chaubey (contact)
A man with depth in his thought and action. His eyes says most of the things which his speech MAY hide.A man of true spirit and highest wisdom. He was Rabindranath Tagore. -
From guest Nilanjana Choudhury (contact)
I'm an English teacher. this is quite an inspiring poem. It helps me motivate and incite the sense of fading patriotism among my students. -
From guest shahed ahmed chy (contact)
the personality of one's own soul is justified here with a very vivid attractoin. the reality of inactivity is the reality of death and it is the panorama of a dead soul. -
From guest SUCHISMITA SEN (contact)
AM A STUDENT NOW PERSUING MBA. AM A BIG FAN OF RABINDRANATH TAGORE. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE POETRY.... I RECITED THIS POETRY IN MY SCHOOLWHEN I WAS IN CLASS FIFTHON REPUBLIC DAY. -
Getting rid of nationalism
From guest Md. Nasireddin Ghani (contact)
This poem is an inspiration to come out of the narrowness of nationalism (national prejudice and patriotism) and of becoming unversal. The motto should be: THE WORLD IS MY HOMELAND, EACH PERSON IS MY KITH AND KIN. -
tagore's words ring true for the sub-c today, perhaps more then ever. though must expand, action must begin, emotion must be rationalized, acts must be accounted for. one day, one day
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Thought with Eternal Relevance
From guest Ramakrishnan (contact)
Tagore's Where the Mind is ------- stands out in the sense that it has eternal relevence to all times and transcends all the barriers of place,language and culture and reinforces the thought of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. -
Where the Mind is Wihtout Fear
From guest Xavier Thevankatt (contact)
A poem of eternal meaning. Wish everyone understood the truth communicated and following his thoughts we shall have an end to narrow mindedness,violence and the replusive vote bank craze we see today. All men must live in dignity. -
From guest Samrat nigam (contact)
Iam running a school in Kanpur city and this is what inspires me to tell my school children to read and understand this beautiful poetry forever. For the generations to come, this poem shall always remain a living testamont to our countrymen who honour freedom and love life. JAI HIND, PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN what a man! a nobel prize winner of 1913 for literature. It takes a genius like Shri R Tagore to show his passion for poetry, literature and -
Where the mind is without fear
From guest P.K.Joseph (contact)
The poem touches the very core of my heart! -
Great Tagore
From guest Kallol Shyam (contact)
I feel great because I am an Indian and also I am from the land of Tagore i.e, West Bengal. This poem shows the greatness of all Indian -
thought provoking
I will read this to my friends -
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Where the mind is without fear
This is my favourite poem,in the sense,it is inspiring!I hope all yungsters will read it and develop their personality!
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Where the mind is without fear
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Best from Best
From guest Mohanraj C (contact)
Rabindranath is my lord whom I have to follow with sacrificing selfish. -
A National Theme
From guest naveen (contact)
Every time I read this poem, I feel charged and envigorated. It is so apt and true even though written decades ago. If we can achieve what the great Tagore prayed for in this poem i feel, we would, without doubt, be the most developed nation in this planet -
best poem
From guest prateeksha mazumder (contact)
i myself am a bengali and i appreciate his poems for their deep meaning and excellent composition. there v=cannot be more truth and innocence un any other poem as this one is. -
From guest Sai Srija (contact)
whenever i read this poem I feel every individual shud understand every line of this poem and remember to do his duty in the best way. -
prayer of the oppressed & developed india !
From guest renukaprasad tumkur basappa (contact)
The poet is the idol of literature in India, he was no more today but he lives and rules in the heart of Indians with the prayer we use to chant in schools in our young days and now is has become a testimony to teach lesson to the USA to soft peddle with Iraq. -
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For us now
From guest Woodrow Jarrell (contact)
The lines and message of this poem are right on target for the USA on July 14, 2007; especially "broken into fragments By narrow domestic walls" and "the clear stream of reason ...lost its way in the dreary desert sand of dead habit" -
AN ARDENT PRAYER TO THE LORD.RABINDRANATH IS MY POET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Pranaam
From guest Navdeep Kaur (contact)
To respected Tagore ji, i love your poetry and even your pricious words because these words are meaningful which shows us a reality of our life and of this world too.Whenever i read your peotry, i feel a comfort in my mind. Thank u so much. -
NAAD KHULA...
From guest indrajeet patil (contact)
he is my idol...all time great poem...naadkhula..kata kirrr...jagyawar palti poem !! -
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Great
Another wonderful poem from Rabindranath Tagore.
It would be wonderful to have the freedom he speaks of, he has such a wonderful way of expressing how he feels about his country. -
From guest Rhonda Stevenson (contact)
This is a wonderful call to freedom, for all countries, in all times. We all becomes slaves to 'dead habit' for many reasons, now let us all awake! The 'domestic walls' he writes of can be easily torn down by the 'heaven of ever-widening thought and action'. Beautifully written piece. Has a prayer-like quality more than an activists 'banner'. -
all bright & beautiful !!!
From guest ashh.... (contact)
rabindranath tagore was a great poet of india who wrote in bengali , his mother tongue. this prayer is a profound prayer to god on behalf of his country & humanity. it holds up a great ideal of freedom for all human beingsto strive for ! -
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Masterpiece!
Hey, another very famous poem here!
A Wonderful piece by Tagore Ji...Who else could have woven the emotions with the same beauty as him? I think it's a masterpiece!
Madhumita
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the values of inner strength and knowledge found in freedom and viceversa ... had been one of our daily school song...
the depth of words... always thought provoking and strengthening... -
Good.
The repetition is a nice touch. I love the message, and its put in a very clear and precise way. I kind of get the feeling that this person was an idealist, but one with pessimistic urges. They saw the world and said, this is the way it should be. This is how people should treat each other, this is how countries should be run. Things should be fair for the rich and the poor, the lame and the strong. This is how they should be, but their not. In the end the writer uses the line, "Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake." Please let my country be more free, let some of the things that should be done, be done. Let people treat each other the way God intended, the way they deserve to be treated. I would have to say it was a very good poem. -
Imagination/thought, is a powerful posision to have in our arsonal. I find this piece very easy to read and understand. I found lines 5 and 7 to be promident with a deeper meaning behind the lines.
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excellent
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sir tagaore is one of the talanted poets india has ever got!!!we learnt this poem in school and have it printed on our school diaries!!!!this indeed is wonderful!!
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I am from Bulgaria ,Tagore is one of the greatest poets in tehw orld and all that i have read from him including this poem r PURE TRUTH and GOODNESS and thats why it sounds so beautiful and close to the sopul and heart it inspires u to be MORAL and to believe in the humanity of the people and in the goodness of life and world
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I find that reading Tagore (most Indian poets) an expansive experience. The words are usually so gentle on the lips and so powerful to the mind.
Great pick by the Old Poetry staff.
Lisa
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This is one of the classics of Tagore, which captured the imagination of masses of Indian people. The power in these words resonates with the message, and inspires one for a dignified, disciplined, dedicated and meaningful life.
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This is a poem which we all learn in school and that has inspired millions of indian. Such truth and righteousness flows from Tagore's words of wisdom.
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
these lines show that he lived in a time when the intelligensia of india were trying to bring the country out from blind superstitions and harful traditions. It was a time of awakening and reform. The whole poem is wonderful. Tagore was a socially conscious poet like many of the writers from Bengal and other places who have awakened the conscience, and understanding of a nation and made the masses think. -
Ohh gosh such beauty... he is the most inspirational poet... wonderful words..
~LadyStarlight~ -
Its lovely to see promotion of the work of Sir Rabinderanath Tagore...
mina
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