WHERE THE MIND IS WITHOUT FEAR AND THE HEAD IS HELD HIGH

POEM

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.

 EXPLANATION 

The poet in these lines shows his hearty desire to see his country in a place where there is no need to be worried about anything, the mind would be free of fears and everyone could live happily. Where there are no boundaries in the name of race, religion, rank, caste, creed, and culture. Where everyone strives to uplift the growth of whole society.  In that ideal world, human reason would be free of worn-out traditions and customs. Rather reason would be illuminated by the glory of God, and there one could think and act without being biased, prejudiced and stereotype. The last line shows the keen feelings of the poet, the reader can feel how serious and ardent is Tagore in this supplication.