Where 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 the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way into the
dreary desert sand of dead habit; ...
Into that heaven of freedom,
my Father, let my country awake.

This prose has been taken from the nobel winning book ' Gitanjali '. It would be in vain if I dont throw some light on the relationship in between Rabindranath tagore and the patriotism. In the year 1997, 26th january Amartya Sen published an article regarding the same. He argued that an ambiguity about religious experience is central to many of Tagore's devotional poems, and makes them appeal to readers irrespective of their beliefs; but excessively detailed interpretation can ruinously strip away that ambiguity. For Tagore it was of the highest importance that people be able to live, and reason, in freedom. His attitudes toward politics and culture, nationalism and internationalism, tradition and modernity, can all be seen in the light of this belief.

This song was written and musically arranged by the great maestro Rabindranath tagore. I can only put a sincere effort to interpret those intricate lines in english. But it could be possible that I may not be able to churn out the real essence of those beautiful lines. I beg to bear with that.


The rhyming lines tells us about the 'maa' or Mother. Poet has put an endeavor to invoke the mother or motherland for help. He is begging and trying hard to abet his motherland remember her glorifying days of past when she used to be strong and potent.

Once you were the heart and soul of our homeland
O your affluent beatific beauty resembles like a caring mother

O mother ,by seeing your glory its difficult to draw my eyes from you
Your doors have been opened and leading towards the golden temples
O mother

Right hand is embellished with shining sword of fire
Left hand bears the horn of triumph
Two eyes full of loving enchants
Mouth bearing the fire of destruction

O mother, what power is it which I see in you today
O mother

Your enticing face and the golden locks of hair form the clouds, hiding many things beneath
Your pellucid cloth covering the sky, O you indignant swayer


O mother ,by seeing your glory its difficult to draw my eyes from you
Your doors have been opened and leading towards the golden temples
O mother

Despite of the reluctance you faced the savage demeanor with smiling visage

left all alone, aloof in a wreck bestow
boundless throe of amaranthine pain

where is your penurious drape
where is your impecunious smile
sky filled with those timeless streaks of smile

O mother, what power is it which I see in you today
O mother

In this sullen night flow in the tranquil current O holy bearer
Your virtues mellowing in the abyss of heart O enchantress

O mother ,by seeing your glory its difficult to draw my eyes from you
Your doors have been opened and leading towards the golden temples
O mother