Nationalism

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Good

My soul was uplifted while reading this book, but the book has its caveats as well. The language is so beautiful that you get sucked (almost) into his point of view, most of which is true, but not all. I cannot agree with "collaborating with the West" and I cannot agree that the mixture of science and commerce is, somehow, detrimental to humankind. This point of view may have flown a century ago, today, it will, and has, left us simply penniless and nothing else. The book is worth reading simply due to the effect it will have on your heart, but remember that Mr. Tagore's point of view is only his and may not be shared by the rest of us.

In "Nationalism," Rabindranath Tagore offers profound insights into the multifaceted nature of patriotism and its implications for society. Tagore's nuanced exploration challenges conventional notions of nationalism, urging readers to critically examine its impact on identity, culture, and humanity. While the language may be dense at times, the depth of Tagore's ideas and the clarity of his vision shine through. This timeless work serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of embracing diversity and fostering global unity. A must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of nationalism and its relevance in today's world.

When the entire world is scorching under the resplendence of narrow-minded segregationalism and the rhetorical vociferations in form of "howling verses of vengeance", this book with all its relevance and literary beauty appears to be an eternal source of breeze with a touch of respite to and for the humanity, with its soulful rendition of altruistic refrain. First published in the year 1917, this book is a compendium of lectures on Nationalism by Rabindranath Tagore. Though these lectures were in the backdrop of European political crisis leading to two devastating World Wars, and also in the context of colonialism, it's philosophical propositions transcend the bounds of time and assume relevance even in the contemporary world order. These lectures bear testimony of its timelessness and cannot be wrapped and hidden under the anachronistic limitations of historical reference and perspective. In these lectures the author has classified ideas underlying nationalism, it's causes and consequences into territorial contexts-- the oriental and occidental, and has depicted it as an organisational mechanism borne out of economic and technological excesses of Western world, quickly engulfing the entire world in a smog of greed and commercial rapacious imperialism. It acts as a mechanism to breed competition, hatred and vengeance in the garb of political and commercial aspirations. It compartmentalizes the humanity and like an anaesthetic drug, is making us oblivious to pangs of death of our subtle feelings, creative fervour and grace of gratuity innate and essential to our collective existence, growth and excellence. Tagore's mystic cloirvoyance and artculative excellence pierce into the way this selfish desires emanating from Nationalistic sectarianism percolate into the basic relations of humanity and distort and destroy the very foundations of our social institutions. In the lecture titled, "Nationalism in the West", the poet author writes, "The very psychology of men and women about their mutual relations is changing and becoming the psychology of the primitive fighting elements rather than humanity seeking completeness through the union based on mutual self surrender". In the contemporary world, the organised religion and communalism have become the eternal source of vengeance, political policies and propaganda, retribution, conflict and blood shed, atrocities, intolerance, inflexibility and dogmatic bigotry, and have gone beyond the regional limits and identities. In these hour, the ideas of Rabindranath Tagore propounded in these lectures have become more relevant and significant. The world still needs the thought of the Universal poet.

fair

Good one

It's a great resource to comprehend the global view of materialism vs. spirituality from a wise man's perspective. Set in the spirit of nationalism, it presents some meaningful facts and some personal experiences of the author. You may find these aspects confusing or contradictory at times. Yet, the moral of the story will be clear to you as you approach the end of the book towards a few powerful poems to summarise it all.

Good

Cet ouvrage, vieux d'une centaine d'années, n'a rien perdu de son actualité. Il reste salutaire en notre époque où justement les nationalismes s'affirment au détriment d'une plus large générosité d'esprit.

interesting look at nationalism from a new perspective

This Penguin reprint is important and timely. I believe that, among other things, Tagore's NATIONALISM should be thoroughly read and carefully thought about by every member of both the British Parliament and the U.S. Congress and White House. (There are also closely related things in the middle pieces of Tagore's CREATIVE UNITY and in his LETTERS TO A FRIEND.) The indictment of the nationalism developed in the West and the account of the contrasting ways in which human beings have related to each other in older civilisations of the East have the strongest application to our own times. Knowledge of them could also promote a more sympathetic understanding of current suspicion of and hostility to the West. The West has given much to the rest of the world, but Tagore shows and/or reminds us that it also owes the world the gravest apology. He himself writes at one point in the later CREATIVE UNITY that the post-WW1 move to 'internationalism' made little difference to the arrogance and greed that still governed much of the West's behaviour to the rest of the world. Those vices obviously still govern much of it now, as in the appalling invasion of Iraq. The full and proper making of that grave apology to the rest of the world could help promote worldwide peace by being the start of a more concilatory because penitent attitude in the West - to, among others, the so-called Islamic 'extremists'.

Prescient beyond belief. Today the 'nationalists' are more empowered than they were in 1917, when this was written. Social Media probably explains why. Notwithstanding anyone's political or Political views, I think this book is so far ahead of its time, as to be worth reading for that fact alone.