Today s Rabid And Rampaging Hindutva Brigade Must Read Tagore
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
7 May 2023
" Tagore's universal vision proves that a
nation is a limitation and all the identities such as religion, language,
social standing etc. that we so steadfastly cling on to are subservient to a
human. Reading Tagore makes you universal. You don't remain Spanish , Indian or
an American. You become global, at least in your thoughts........"
Pablo
Neruda, Chilean poet and Nobel laureate
"Falsafa-e-Tagore Aap Ko Insaan Banata
Hai. Vatan Se Muhabbat, Jise Hum Hubbulvatani Kahte Hain, Acchhi Baat Hai Lekin
Insaan Ki Soch Ka Daira Darasl Is-Se Kahin Badh Kar Hai. Uss Ki Zad Mein
Kaainaat Hai. Tagore Ki Sukhanvari Ka Arq Hi Yahi Hai Ke Insaan Hindustani,
Pakistani Ya Hindu Aur Musalman Se Qabl Faqat Ek Insaan Hai Aur Uss Ki Sirf
Yahi Pahchaan Hai Aur Honi Bhi Chahiye."
An
editorial in a Pakistani Urdu newspaper in 1961 when it was Tagore's centenary
year
(The
philosophy of Tagore humanises you. Hubbul Watani is a noble thought but
the thinking of humans is actually all-embracing. It encompasses the whole
universe. The very kernel of Tagorean philosophy is that an individual is
neither a Hindustani nor is he a Pakistani. He's neither a Hindu nor a Muslim.
First and foremost, he's a human and that's his identity. Moreover, that should
also be the lone identity).
In these
times of misplaced nationalism, it’s indeed ironic to remember that the poet
and Nobel laureate who wrote India’s National Anthem Jana Gana Mana...was
remarkably universal in his vision and was unfettered by the narrowness of
caste, class, country and creed. Rabindranath Tagore, whose 162nd birth
anniversary falls on May 7, wasn’t a nationalist if judged by today’s
exaggerated standards, flawed perceptions and twisted definitions.
‘Tagore had
an all-encompassing vision and a heart that throbbed for every living and
non-living creature,’ opined Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan in his ‘Oxford Series of
Lectures’. Some pseudo-nationalists may argue that Tagore just wrote poetry
sitting in an ivory tower and didn’t participate in India’s freedom struggle.
They are grossly mistaken. Tagore wasn’t an indolent lotus-eater who just sat
on the fence and observed the cavalcade of history pass by, doing nothing. On
the contrary, he had the courage of conviction to return the Knighthood that
was bestowed upon him by the Brits following Amritsar’s infamous Jallianwala
massacre in 1919.
He wrote to
the Viceroy of India while returning the Knighthood, ‘A regime that doesn’t
have empathy for the innocent protesters, is presumed to have no empathy for
the decency and niceties of human existence. I, therefore, return the ‘honour’
to the oppressive and inhuman government.’
It was
Tagore who could write, Jaati, Dharmo Nirbisheshe/Aami Maanush, Nei Aamaar
Kono Desh, Na Kono Praanto (Regardless of caste and creed, I’m but an
individual who doesn’t belong to any country or province).
Irish poet
William Butler Yeats wrote of Tagore that after Greek philosopher Socrates,
Tagore was the first and truest ‘Global Citizen’ of the modern world. Tagore
himself wrote to Sarojini Naidu, Aami Bishwa Naagorik (I’m a world-citizen).
Nationalism is alien to me.’
In his
Nobel acceptance speech in 1913, Tagore said,‘ A poet has no country, he has no
community. He only has a universality of vision and a profound vastness of
sensibilities that enable him to connect with all humans on earth.’
Alas, where
is that universality and profundity of sensibilities that the Kavi Guru
propounded? When you see the overzealous respect and a new-found morbid
enthusiasm for his National Anthem and play it everywhere, you forget the
exalted philosophy of the poet behind it and get lost in pettiness. This is
sad, and highly condemnable. Rabindranath Tagore’s secretary Prabhat Kumar
Mukherjee said back in 1961 at Gurudev’s centenary, “Imbibe his universal
spirit and become a citizen of the world like him. There’ll be no rancour in
hearts. The world will be full of your brethren.” Are we paying heed to that?
Nobel laureate and Mexican ambassador to India Octavio Paz encapsulated Tagore,
" His verse is for the universe." Here, it won't be wide off the mark
to mention that Tagore's coeval Dr Muhammad Iqbal also had the similar
universal vision in the beginning and could have won the Nobel for Literature
had he not become a monomaniac spokesman of Islam and a stubborn supporter of a
separate country for the Muslims. Apropos, Pakistan came into existence after
his demise. Iqbal breathed his last in 1938. What a pity! Such a sublime poet,
yet so hidebound towards the fag-end of his life. It's worthwhile to mention
that Iqbal wasn't very effusive when Tagore got the Nobel. But, jealousy is a
universal human trait.
The
relentless juggernaut of the growing Hindu nationalism and hatred for the
Muslims can be checked if the rabid Hindus read Tagore's ennobling poetry,
enlightening thoughts and edifying works. But do destructive and discriminatory
people ever read? Because, those who read are seldom parochial in their
attitudes and approaches to a spectrum of issues, small or big.
----
Note:
The following piece is an enlarged version of an article, ' Pseudo-nationalists can learn from
Tagore '
(TOI, May 05, 2017) that appeared on the occasion of Tagore's 156th Birth
Anniversary. Rabindranath Tagore was born on May 7, 1861.
-----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/rabid-rampaging-hindutva-brigade-tagore/d/129722
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