Where The Mind Is Without Fear By Rabindranath Tagore - All Poetry

• Edit
• Report Content
• Ignore User
• Add to New List

Add to listRabindranath Tagore FollowWhere The Mind Is Without Fear

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.

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes Show analysisRead more →Analysis (ai): Written during British colonial rule in India, the poem reflects early 20th-century nationalist ideals while diverging from militant resistance by emphasizing internal reform and intellectual liberation.

Thematic Focus: The poem constructs a vision of freedom defined not by political independence alone but by integrity, rationality, and unity—qualities the speaker petitions from a divine figure as prerequisites for national awakening.

Religious and Philosophical Tone: Addressing a paternal deity, the language blends spiritual supplication with Enlightenment values, positioning moral clarity and reason as divine gifts rather than opposing forces.

Linguistic Simplicity: Despite its elevated theme, the diction remains plain and declarative, avoiding ornate phrasing typical of earlier Victorian poetry and aligning with early modernist trends favoring clarity.

Form and Structure: The poem’s structure—a single sonnet-like unit in free verse—breaks from Tagore’s frequent use of song forms and rhyme, favoring a meditative, incantatory rhythm over musicality.

Contrast with Contemporary Works: Unlike Tagore’s Gitanjali poems centered on personal mysticism, this piece turns outward, engaging civic ideals—an infrequent but significant direction in his oeuvre.

Engagement with Modern Concerns: It anticipates postcolonial discourse by critiquing fragmented identities shaped by sectarianism and tradition, advocating for epistemic freedom as the foundation of self-rule.

Less-Discussed Angle: The poem subtly critiques religious orthodoxy not through direct opposition but by privileging reason and truth-speaking over inherited ritual, a critical stance rarely emphasized in readings.

Place in Author’s Work: Among Tagore’s political writings, this stands out for its concision and universal framing; it is less a call to action than a prayer for cultural transformation, rare in his collection.

Comparison to Era Norms: While many nationalist texts of the time employed emotive or heroic language, this poem’s rational, introspective tone contrasts with contemporaneous Indian poetry and British imperial verse alike.

(hide)Read more → Like (1356) 754 Nicely written Inspiring Great Like (1356) Likes: Erebus1505, Blooming-beautiful, Swiniverse, Omniverse Traveler, DualisticAbyss, Jay Spades, , EL Aether, catsandspring, Dev Tripathi, FallFeath3r, , N.Park, Puskar Sikdar, Krishanu Mondal8, David Woods, , Aryanyl, Anaïs25, Mohammadmuizim, David Amaya, Pearl Pen, Whispersofsoul, Ecila Dans, romanticbutnotsure, Olga Nesterowicz, , Young sky walker, Chanukya, Daniel Rogers, Nikilitha Blaai, , Yohana, Shaveta, Moonshine Iris, Leon Vogol, Harry Heartwalker, Zoe Fragoso, , Charu6, agraj, , , Vie Noir, Mars The Planet, Nobiliwithoutnobility, Strangeo, Ricky67, Rupsaaaa, Kujtim Stojku, Liyapoetry20, jowana, Happiness5, Daisy Argeja, Whisperveil, nahshal, Sanjukta6, Poisenedpea, Queena Jordan, OceanTide, Nikita sahu, , , horrors.untold, D. Marvellous Kenukii, Allensaji, Thankyounicely, Jerrymie loves 9, Steve Ellis, TulipArte To reply, click a comment.← Previous 1 234…63Next →Older commentsTulipArte - "Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic walls" My favourite lines!!! It has a very deep and beautiful meaning on Mar 01 2026 08:24 PM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

Tri Tran - Impressive television Good share on Feb 28 2026 11:06 PM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

Oldrhymer - ← Well said!!! my favorite lines are "Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit" Great on Feb 08 2024 03:11 PM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

Lindasale - Hello there on Feb 19 2026 03:56 AM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

Strangeo - Totalitarian doesn't want a mind unshackled Enjoyable on Feb 11 2026 08:04 AM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

Virginia H - Tagore, always brilliant on Feb 08 2026 08:01 AM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

Charu6 - I like this poem. The ideal world he speaks of still hasn't taken shape, and most likely never will. But given the context, it is a well-written poem that shines the light in the right direction. Something much needed at the time, I assume. Good write on Jan 18 2026 02:40 PM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

Nikita sahu - Amazing Amazing. on Jan 01 2026 08:00 AM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

Harry Heartwalker - This poem is beautiful, and a potentially a dream of every child growing up and about to its innocence before he/she loses innocence. A world ruled by love, and understanding not wrath, hate or conformity, a Eutopian vision, a love poem Inspiring on Dec 31 2025 11:08 PM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

Olga Nesterowicz - nice on Dec 21 2025 03:33 PM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

- i love this really connect with it Inspired me on Dec 18 2025 03:34 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

Kujtim Stojku - Great on Dec 16 2025 11:06 PM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

Racoon2 - This is actually so good I love itt on Dec 10 2025 12:28 AM PST

• Report Content
• Ignore User

← Previous 1 234…63Next →

Comments from the archive

← Previous 1 234…10Next → - From guest DEBOLINA CHATTERJEE (contact) according to me ths is one of the most beaupitul poem written by rabindranath tagore...before independence.,.....ths poem hs also helped our country to achieve independence....... on May 24 2010 05:06 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

Read more → - From guest Zivorad (contact) the point is that mr.R finally found ideals are no longer existing among the people and all of us are just narrow-minded selfish greed-driven lazy poetry lovers with no will on May 24 2010 03:21 AM PST

• Edit
• Delete

Read more → - From guest Robert (contact) We see so many domestic walls within the Indian Community in the GULF. The Andhra's, The Goans, The Malayalees, The Tamils, The Parsees all working against each other. Perhaps it is the dreary desert sand of dead habit of the oil rich GULF that makes them so. Rabindra Bhai, we need someone like you to reunite us. on May 18 2010 09:17 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

Read more → - From guest Jagannadham Rachakonda, Executive Assistant, NRIAS, Chinakakani (contact) Really Great ! A wonderful poem, I too read in my school days and repeat fondly to everyone I come across or whenever a discussion on 'narrow domestic walls' very much prevalent and extending their tentacles day-after-day in this Country comes for discussion among friends. Kabi Guru Rabindranath Tagore is a great visionary - It was written in pre-Independence period and even after 63 years of Independence this holds good and we must feel shy that the successive Governments are failing to removing those 'Narrow Domestic Walls' Kabi Guru was worried about - rather with their narrow-minded approach to draw personal and political mileages, our leaders are cashing in on these inherent weaknesses of the innocent people of this Great Indian Society. If Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose were alive, they would rather prefer commiting suicide with the growing inequalities and atrocities the present leadership is resorting to and giving direction to. Anyhow thanks for the one who put my favourite poem on line and giving this opportunity to comment. on May 18 2010 05:34 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

Read more → - From guest Bijaya Dey (contact) He was the true man,He is the perfece for saying this truth.We are proude of him.He is alwase have in all nature and peoples mind.If rebourn is true so i pray to GOD please send him in this world as a bengali. on May 17 2010 10:59 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

Read more → - From guest Monalisa (contact) I had read this poem in my school as part of curriculam. Till this date it inspires me and compels me to think and at all times put my best foot forward. on May 16 2010 10:36 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

Read more → - From guest Sekhar Roy (contact) Tagore is the vanguard of Indian nationalism in art & literature. A great philosopher who taught the world to build up a true global human outlook in an inter-dependent world and spoke against ultra religious fanaticism and racism. He was a true world citizen with rationale outlook. A piece of rare species would hardly born ever. on May 09 2010 01:53 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

Read more → - From guest smritisingh (contact) Its a poem I learnt in school and twenty years later ,its still a poem I gain inspiration and wonder it was a human creation . on May 09 2010 04:02 AM PST

• Edit
• Delete

- From guest Barbara (contact) on May 07 2010 03:54 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

- From guest karthikreddy (contact) wonderful lines by rabindranath tagore.everyone mind these word's. on May 06 2010 09:54 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

- From guest Moumita (contact) I read this poem when i was in class 11th, at that time i didn't understood the poem nicely but now i read it nicely & understood it on May 05 2010 09:54 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

- From guest Simran Shah (contact) We said this poem in our play called the 'Winds of Change' and it sounded beautiful. This poem talks about who India felt after getting its freedom and how free India will (probably) look like. I hope India comes closer to perfection one day... It does not look any near to it. The country that Gandhi talked about and this India is very different. Even the Constitution says something pretty different about India. I hope the India becomes like what is the constitution. It will realize how GREAT it is/ can be. on May 04 2010 01:37 AM PST

• Edit
• Delete

Read more → - From guest SHAGUN (contact) I AM PROUD THAT I LIVE IN WEST BENGAL WHERE RABINDRANATH TAGORE WAS BORN on Apr 30 2010 12:27 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

- From guest rajen chatterjee (contact) very good website on Apr 24 2010 02:13 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

- From guest Kumud Biswas (contact) Here is another Tagore poem in my translation which is very relevant today. RELIGIOUS OBSSESSION By Rabindranath Tagore Who is obsessed by religion He is blind He only kills and gets killed. Even an atheist is blessed Because he doesn’t have the vanity of any faith. Humbly he lights up his reason Defies the authority of scriptures And seeks only the good of men. He who kills as infidels The followers of other faiths Dishonours his own faith He kills the son in the name of the father Busy only with the rituals He loses his reason He hoists a blood-stained flag in his temple In the name of God He worships the Devil. Those who have retained in their creed The shame of ages, the cruelties and barbarities With those rubbish They are building their own prison – I hear a bugle is blowing The bugle of universal doom With his scythe the god of destruction is coming. Planting him as a stake who comes to liberate Putting him up like a dividing wall who comes to unite Flooding the world with poison in his name Who brings love from a divine source – They drown sailing in a boat they themselves have scuttled Yet they blame someone else! I invoke you O you the supreme judge Please come to end this degeneration of religion Save those who are deluded by their faith. Your altar they have flooded with blood Please completely break it Hurl your thunder at the prison walls of faiths And bring to this cursed land The light of reason. ---------------- Transcreation of the poem – Dharmamoha – from the collection Parishesh. Transcreation by Kumud Biswas. MOD MESSAGE Many thanks for the translation. If you could contact us at [email protected] we could arrange to add this and the original to the site and, maybe, others you have transalted. Jim on Apr 16 2010 03:26 PM PST

• Edit
• Delete

Read more →← Previous 1 234…10Next →

Rabindranath Tagore Follow

Rabindranath Tagore [1861-1941] was considered the greatest writer in modern Indian literature. A Bengali poet, novelist, educator,  Nobel Laureate for Literature [1913]. Tagore was awarded a knighthood in 1915, but he surrendered it in 1919 in protest against the Massacre at Amritsar, where British troops killed around 400 Indian demonstrators. Tagore gained a reputation in the West as a mystic originally and that has perhaps mislead many Western readers to ignore his role as a reformer and critic of colonialism.

Read more → Browse all Famous poems > By Rabindranath Tagore 1001.5k views +listShare it with your friends:

Make comments, explore modern poetry. Join today for free!

Or Sign up with Facebook

Top poems List all »

Bluebird1294 4669 Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night774 2617 Introduction to Poetry839 2337 Sonnet 116: 'Let me not to the marriage of true minds...'333 1055 About Marriage232 714 Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening600 1771

Have you read these poets? List all »

More by Rabindranath Tagore List all »

My Polar Star3 13 The Homecoming14 32 Our Meeting20 45 Tumi Sandhyar Meghamala - You Are A Cluster Of Clouds - Translation10 19 This Dog16 17 Krishnakali7 15 Freedom47 91 Waiting18 58 Fireflies37 48 On The Nature Of Love6 19 The Kiss7 22 The Sun Of The First Day3 12 Lord Of My Life3 5 Endless Time12 26 Lamp Of Love4 16 Loading ...

• Send Message
• Open Profile in New Window

Loading...