This includes information about the author, theme, summary, and glossary.

1. Where The
Mind is
Without Fear
-RABINDRANATH TAGORE

2. About the
Author
01

3. Rabindranath Tagore
(1861-1951)
Was the author of Gitanjali
and its ‘profoundly sensitive,
fresh and beautiful verse’. He
became the first non-
European to win the Nobel
Prize in Literature in 1913.

4. 02
Theme

5. The poem is about true freedom. According to the poet,
true freedom is an inner possession of man and it can be
realized only with God’s help. It means moral and spiritual
uplift of the people under divine guidance. Freedom should
give India courage and should induce her people to pursue
the path of knowledge and truth. It should liberate her from
narrow prejudices and superstitions and make her people
sincere in word and action.

6. Introduction
This poem is one of his vastly read and
discussed poem. It was originally
composed in Bengali and later he
himself translated it into English. This
poem is from his Nobel Price winning
anthology “Gitanjali”

7. Tagore lived during the time
when India was ruled by the
British. In the poem, besides
political freedom from British,
Tagore also appeals to God for
social, educational and
economic freedom for the
people of India

8. Poem
Explanation
03

10. where the mind is without fear- The poet wishes that his countrymen (i. e. the Indians) should
be free from all sorts of fear. They should be able to live and think independently and fearlessly.
and the head is held high– People hold their heads high with self-respect and dignity.
where knowledge is free– Where all have equal opportunities to gain knowledge without any
distinction.
where the world has not been broken up into Fragments by narrow domestic walls– Where
the people are not divided into small groups on the basis of their caste, creed, language, region,
etc.
GLOSSARY :
broken up – divided into.
Fragments – small groups.
narrow domestic walls - narrow- minded family prejudices.

11. where words come out from the depth of truth – Where people speak from
their conscience; where people are honest and truthful.
where tireless striving stretches its arms toward perfection-Where people
never fell tired of making fresh efforts to improve themselves and achieve
perfection in all fields of life.
GLOSSARY :
tireless– untiring.
striving– efforts.
stretches– holds out.
perfection-an ideal state, moral and spiritual excellences.

12. where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way, Into the dreary
desert sand of dead habit– Where all antiquated customs, lifeless, habits, blind
beliefs and superstitions will be abolished, and clear reason will reign.
GLOSSARY :
the clear stream of reason– reason is spoken of as a stream of clear water.
lost its way– digressed from the right path.
dreary– dry dull.
desert sand– Dry barren land where nothing can be produced.
dead habit– old, antiquated, lifeless habits, customs, beliefs, dogmas,
superstitions, etc.

13. where the mind is led forward by Thee Into ever-widening thought and action– Where people will be inspired
by God to pursue their ever-expanding thoughts and ever-widening actions.
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake– The poet fervently prays to God to lead his
country to such a ‘heaven of freedom’ where spiritual outlook, universal brotherhood, free education, unity, peace,
truth, reason, love, lofty thoughts and noble actions will reign supreme.
GLOSSARY :
led forward– inspired, guided. by thee– by God.
ever-widening– always expanding.
heaven of freedom- spiritual freedom from tyranny, injustice, exploitation, fear, slavery, falsehood, hatred, and evil
desires and motives.
my Father– the Almighty God, Creator of the universe.
let my country awake– rise and live in this heaven of freedom

14. “Freedom is not
worth having if it
does not include the
freedom to make
mistakes.”