No wonder why this great poet and literature genius has been awarded the Nobel Prize. Anyone who reads this book clearly gets an understanding as to how much this author has studied human mind and its social aspects that had been troubling the humanity ever since power and materialistic possessions have taken over spiritual freedom.
The book is divided into three parts- Nationalism in the West, Nationalism of Japan and Nationalism in India.
Rabindranath’s idea about a Nation is that of an evolution of a great organization of human mind, wealth, machines and power to control the minds and bodies of all that is surrounding this great artificial body. As per him, Power is a scientific product made in the political laboratory of the Nation, through the dissolution of personal humanity. As per him the West is necessary to the East and vice versa. His main target is the British (whenever he referred as Nation) rule in India and its ill effects on the moral and spiritual efficacies of the people of India. He ripped apart the cruel motives behind the industrial, economic, educational, social and political policies of Europe against all those countries it invaded and captured with main focus on how it affected India, whose history has been made across different races over centuries of suffering and learning not by material organization but by natural social cooperation and spiritual freedom.
He praises Japan and America for its different approach towards Nationalism unlike Europe. He appreciates the ideology of these Nations which imbibed power and wealth through love and admiration but not through ambition and greed. He warns the forces of Nation against the creation of politicians, soldiers, manufacturers and bureaucrats which he says shall bring down the entire gigantic organization of the Nation one day to bite the dust. That would be the day when the East would come back into its hay days and start a new history. He appeals to Japan and America to view the ideologies and histories of many countries like India which cannot be called as Nations due to their diverse coexistence of different races with respect and positive approach instead of insulting them and treating them as beggars.
The reader would be awestruck to come across such a vast expanse of usage of English verbatim in this book. I am totally perplexed by the way European organization has been constructively criticized apart by the author at the same time warning it of the detrimental effects it would have if they force upon spiritual countries like India.
The author seems to have totally targeted the European way of conquering the World through its massive Organization of military and commerce, but seems to have ignored the benefits it brought upon all those countries it went to. The benefits might be undervalued compared to the exploitation and conflicts it created in those Nations.
My rating is 4.5 out of 5
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Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2014
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2010
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Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2014
Top reviews from other countries
Great thoughts of a great poet.
Tagore on nationalism
Reviewed in India on October 5, 2023
