NATIONALISM IN INDIA—BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Rabindranath Tagore has his own view on the Indian nationalism. He is of the view that the real problem of this country is social and not political, as some thinkers feel. He says that politics has always dominated the western ideals. Politics has always been the cementing force in the western countries. The reason being that the people in the west had no problem of racial unity. They were naturally united due to lack of natural resources. In order to survive they were forced to follow the path of commercial aggressiveness. It was but natural that their civilization took the character of political aggressiveness and domination over peace-loving affluent countries, like India. People in the west had no internal complications and were socially united. They regarded a watchful animosity against their neighbours as the only solution of their problems. If we read the history of Europe and America, we will find that the people there first organized themselves and then started plundering and looting their neighbours. The same mentality still persist; they first organize themselves and then plunder and exploit the whole world.

On the other hand, India has not chosen this rapacious (Living by preying on other animals) path. We, Indians don’t believe in the theory of plunder and exploitation. We feel that politics is not a cementing force. Politics always divides whereas culture unites the people.  Here, in this country, it is the race problem. Even if we try to be political, we will cut a poor figure, the reason being, as per Rabindranath Tagore, we have not been able to accomplish racial unity up to this date. It appears that this was the task set before us by our providence.

Rabindranath Tagore, the great thinker, feels that the problem of racial unity or in other words caste distinctions, exist in America also. America has not been able to get over her attitude towards Red Indians and Negroes. The Americans have a strong racial prejudice against the original natives of that country. They call them as niggers and don’t allow them to share food in their  restaurants.

But India has tried to solve his problem in her own way. She has tried to make an adjustment of different races living in this country. The differences of cast, colour, creed or religion do exist, but they are superficial (not deep). They are not an hindrance to the path of cultural unity. This country has produced great social and religious saints, like Nanak, Kabir, Chaitanya and others who succeded in bringing about racial unity by their spiritual teachings.

According to Tagore, India is the only country which on the basis of her past experience, can bring about racial unity to the comity (A state or atmosphere of harmony) of nations. The modern scientific discoveries have reduced the world into one great entity. That moment has now arrived when the world will have to find a basis of unity which is not political. If India can offer to the world her own solution, it will be a great contribution to the humanity at large. There is only one history—the history of man. All national histories are simply chapters of the larger history of mankind. This country will have to come forward and lead the world to the path of unity of all the nations, not on political basis but on the basis of one world culture.