Explore the powerful insights of Nationalism by Rabindranath Tagore in this detailed summary, highlighting his views on nationhood, spiritual freedom, and humanity’s true purpose.
Nationalism Summary By Rabindranath Tagore
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Summary of Nationalism By Rabindranath Tagore
Introduction: A thinker’s call
“Nationalism“, i.e. “Nationalism”, is a collection of three major lectures given by Rabindranath Tagore in America and Japan in 1917. These lectures were given at a time when the whole world was burning in the fire of the First World War and the colonial powers were using nationalism as a political weapon for their selfish interests.
Rabindranath Tagore does not sing the so-called glory of nationalism in this book, but rather draws attention to its limitations, dangers and human crises. He puts nationalism as a serious question before humanity:
Can the cheers of the nation suppress the silence of the human soul?
Structure of the Book
The book is divided into three major sections:
Nationalism in the West
Nationalism in Japan
Nationalism in India
Each section explores the nature of nationalism in a different social, cultural and political context.
Main Ideas: Nationalism vs. Humanity
1️⃣ What is nationalism – a machine or a soul?
Thakur considers the nation to be a cultural unit, which consists of mutual attachment, tradition, religion, coexistence and sentiment in the hearts of the people.
But when this nation becomes an institution of organised power, a political machine or profit, then that nation turns into nationalism.
“The nation is not a sensitive human being, but a machine – which works for profit, power and victory.”
According to him, this machine does not allow a human being to remain a human being. It makes him a ‘functional unit’ – a soldier, a labourer, a consumer.
2️⃣ Criticism of Western nationalism: Politics of profit and plunder
Rabindranath Tagore believed that nationalism in Europe and America gave rise to industrialism, imperialism and war. There, the purpose of the nation is:
To increase its economic strength
To capture resources
To suppress other countries with its power
Thakur says that this nationalism does not lead to development, but to destruction. There is no place for the human soul in it.
“Nationalism which has its roots in violence and greed is not civilization, but devilry.”
3️⃣ Japan: The battle between tradition and modernity
Japan, which was rapidly adopting Western technology and governance style at that time, became a warning for Thakur.
He warned Japan:
“Your soul is Buddhist, but you are wearing a Western body. Be careful! Lest the soul gets lost.”
Thakur feared that if Japan blindly adopted the materialistic nationalism of the West, it would also repeat the same mistakes – the mistakes of selfishness, power and defeatism.
4️⃣ India and Nationalism: A Cultural Alternative
The soul of India is different from that of the West. It believes in meditation, tolerance, diversity and spiritual unity. According to Thakur, India can never make a nation into a machine, because India sees ‘life in unity’, not in competition.
India’s nationalism, according to him, should be linked to compassion, service, education and cultural revival – not just political independence.
“The basis of our nation should be ‘man’, not ‘state’.”
5️⃣ Man first – nation later
Rabindranath Thakur did not consider nationalism to be greater than human values. His clear message was:
If the nation degrades any religion – that is dangerous.
If the nation divides in the name of caste – that is not nationalism, it is fanaticism.
If a nation kills the soul of its citizens by throwing them into wars – then it is not a nation, but a demon.
His nationalism was such that the dignity of all – farmers, labourers, women, children – is equal.
Tagore’s Nationalism: A Path of Love
Rabindranath Tagore’s nationalism was not a flag, slogan or war. It was a sensitive, compassionate and inclusive approach.
He believed:
The nation should teach humility, not arrogance
The nation should build relationships, not borders
The nation should believe in dialogue, not war
He envisions a nation where
“Man from every corner of the world is not a stranger to us.”
Relevance of ‘Nationalism’ in today’s world
Today when the world is again divided in the name of religion, caste, colour, language…
When hatred, violence and exclusion are happening in the name of “patriotism”…
When nationalism has again become a political weapon…
This book of Thakur shows us the way to return to humanity.
His warning seems more accurate today:
“If the nation becomes bigger than man, then one day man will not survive.”
Conclusion: Man is the greatest, not the nation
“Nationalism” is not just an ideology, it is the call of the human soul. This is the true warning of a poet, a philosopher, a humanist that —
Create a nation, but do not forget humanity.
According to Rabindranath Thakur, if we have to love our nation in the true sense, then we have to first awaken the man within us.
✅ Summary in one sentence
“Nationalism is not that which makes us superior to others, but that which unites us with others.”
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