*Ravindranath Tagore:*
*His Concept of the Nation/State*
*Dr. Suresh Khairnar*
The mythological tale of the demon Bhasmasur is wellknown. On
whomsoever’s head he would put his palm on was burnt to ashes. It appears
that now-a-day it is the SanghParivar which is bent upon converting itself
intoBhasmasur. It has started putting its hand on the heads of many of our
national leaders—right from Swami Vivekanand to Yogi Arvind to
RamkrishnaParamhans, to SardarVallabhai Patel and Mahatma Gandhi. Everyone
has fallen under its pail.
And now it is the turn of Ravindrnath Tagore.
The present Supremo of RSS Mohan Bhagwat , at a Sangh Camp at Sagar (M.P.)
claimed that it was Ravindranath Tagore who conceptualized Hindu Rashtra
first in his book 'SwadeshiSamaj'. (Marathi Daily Loksatta, Nagpur
Dt.20-1-2015) . The first thing to note is that this work entitled
'SwadeshiSamaj' is not a book, it is just an essay of about 30 pages
written immediately after partition/bifurcation of Bengal (1905) and deals
with the scarcity of water in the area. It does not contain any formal
justification of Hindu Rashtra. On the other hand it tells how the local
people had earlier accommodated Aryans among them who had come here as
invaders. The Aryas were followed by Muslims. The locals welcomed them
also. In fact, RavindraBabu elaborates this peculiarity of the region in
this essay. The important thing to note in this context is that Tagore
had always criticized the concept of nation-state. He always insisted that
it was an entirely foreign —'European concept'.
In his book 'Nationalism in India' (1917) he had unambiguously stated that
that the political and economic basis of Nationalism was entirely a
mechanical endeavour to ensure increase in production and achieving
prosperity by lessening the human burden The concept of Nationalism
initially arises out of the desire to ensure national progress by recourse
to advertisement and other media thus enhancing the strength and
prosperity. This concept of increase in strength has led to mutual
hatred, dislike and spreading of fear and the resultantly vitiating the
atmosphere making the human life insecure . It was just playing with
life because this concept of Nationalism, besides dealing with outside
factors is also utilised to control internal situation of nation. because
it can also be used in controlling the inner development of the nation.
Under it there is an increased control over the society. Consequently,
the nation covering the private life assumes a fearful, controlling
atmosphere.
Ravindranath has criticized Nationalism on this basis. He considers
nationalism as such a form of consolidated selfishness entirely bereft of
humanity and mutual consideration. It is a natural outcome of the efforts
to obtain control over the weak, neighboringstates The imperialism which
comes out of it ultimately becomes the destroyer of humanity. No control is
possible over the increase in strength of the nations. There is no end to
its
growth. The seeds
of the destruction of humanity lie in it. When the mutual friction of
nations assumes the form of war everything before it gets destroyed. It is
not a way to create but to
destroy.
There is no end to it. The seeds of destruction of the world are imminent
in it. When the mutual friction of nations assumes worldwide dimensions
everything that comes in its way it gets destroyed. This certainly is not
the way to creation but rather towards destruction.
This is the original thinking of Ravindranath Tagore and it is indeed
an invaluable contribution. And RSS Supremo Mohan Bhagwat, by saying
that he is supportive of Hindu Nationalism . By saying that these are
supportive of Hindu Nationalsim is trying to detroy his
legacy.
Nationalism cannot be an option for India. Ravindranath says that indeed
nationalism is conspicuous by its absence in India. In fact, nationalism
of the European fashion cannot stand up in India. For those who adhere to
tradition in social functions were to talk about nationalism wherefrom it
is going to come? Some thinkers of the time considered that Switzerland
(which despite being multi-lingual and multi-ethnic stood up as One Nation)
was an ideal for India to follow. However, Ravindranath Tagore felt that
there are many a difference between the two. There are no caste
difference among individuals there and they maintain good relations with
each other and also inter-marry for they consider all of them to be of the
same blood. However, among Indians the birthrights are not equal. To
establish political equality of the Swiss type that is essential for any
nation. Tagore feels that the fear of excommunication by the society has
made the Indians very fearful. India, Where even eating together is an
anathema the political freedom is bound to be considered as subject to the
control of some. A dictatorial society is bound to come up there. In this
people holding opposing views and opinions are bound to find it difficult
to live. Should they sacrifice their moral freedom for such nominal
liberties.
Continuing his tirade against sectarian nationalism he adds this
parochialism born out of nationalism is an impediment to human freedom and
stands in the way of natural freedom and spiritual development. He
considers nationalism as an impetus to warmongering and anti-social since
under the spacious excuse of nationalism it leads to many crimes.
Individuals devoting themselves to the nation was never acceptable to
him.Sacrificing humans and organization of humans for the purpose was
intolerable to him. In their thinking the gretest danger from nationalism
is that it the spirit of human tolerance and the inherent moral tolerance
would fall a prey at the altar of nationalism. Basing the political life
on such unnatural and inhuman think would only lead to total destruction.
It is precisely for this reason that Tagore insisted upon rejecting the
concept of nation not only in the Indian context but at the world level. He
was also a critique of the political liberty of the National Movement of
India because he was sure that it would not lead to any accession of
strength He felt that Indian should abandon the approval of such
agitations as he felt that it would not lead to accession of strength. He
felt that Indian should abandon the narrow idea of nationalism and should
go in for an internalism. May be India was economically backward. It
should never fall behind in human values.Even a poor India can guide the
world and guide the world. May be India is backward on economic front but
it should never fall back in Human Values. Despite its poverty India can
guide the world and ensure human unity. India should never fall back in
Human Values Even a poor India can guide the world and ensure a United
World.
Past history has shown that
India has, without worrying about material abundance has successfully
propagated spiritual values in the past.
*Society vs State*: Tagore critiques Nationalism because he gives priority
to Society over State and values it more and considers it important for
human development. He considers Fascism as a symbol of Nationalist Lunacy.
Prior to the rise of Fascism ,Nationalism was related to economic
expansionism and colonialism.As the borders of the countries were
extended after WWI it was praised by the States. Benito Mussoulini said
that that it is not the Nation which gives rise to state, it is the
country which gives rise to nations. This concept of Nationalism which
became a helpful concept towards the end of the nineteenth and the
beginning of the Twentieth century was basically a cultural concept.
Before this idea became popular Western Countries held a wide world-view.
On account of this Nationalism there remained dormant. But the regional
propaganda slowly convered the situation. Mechanisation created an
atmosphere. Old values tended to undergo slow change. Traditional values
tended to be abandoned.. The threads of human unity tended to disperse
away from each other. The rise of Hindu Nationalism and the RSS have to be
viewed and undersood in this context.
After the Second Round Table Conference (1931) Dharmaveer Dr Munjea
senior leader of Hindu Mahasabha went to Italy. He visited a number of
places there He also studied many schools and colleges of the Fascists and
closely studied their working. The pages of his diary (13 pages ) which are
available in the Nehru Memorial tell that during 15th March to 24th March
he supervised the Military College of The Fascist Academy of Physical
Education .He studied it to help the work of RSS which was founded in 1925
in Nagpur. Before leaving Italy he met Benito Musolini and praised the
programmes being conducted there. This was with a view or adopting them for
the RSS Training School referred to above. He met Dr.Hegdewar and gave
a shape to the courses there. The result is the present day RSS’. After
that the courses are conducted at Nagpur and the Bhosla Military School
near Nasik. Thereafter the RSS is conducting its courses in different
organisatios and a acquainting people with them.
Ravindranath criticized precisely this final form of Nationalism which
exposed its inhumanness, sickness and aloofness. He considers Nationalism
as the final form of consolidated, collective form of power exposing the
exploitative side of the State. According to him in the West compact
,pressed bundles of commerce and politics were prepared. In season and out
of season the RSS keeps pleading for this idea. It is within this policy
that its leaders, from time to time quote national
leaders,sometimesVallabhaiPatek and sometimes Ravindranath Tagore quote
sometimes twising and turning them for propaganda purposes.
RavindranathTagore had advised India to keep away from the poison of
Western Nationalism. He felt that it was essential for international
cooperation that India should remain away from the poison of Westerm
Nationalism. He felt that Westernism was such a barrage which would stop
them from going towards as would stop it from prevent them flowing into
countries which are not Nations proper. He consider India as such a country
since India was a multi-racial country. He considered India as a State
without Nainality for India was a country of different races and India had
to maintain this co-ordination. The European countries had no problems of
coordination of races. Consequently they we re getting drunk with the
Nationalistic wine and thus endangering their
spiritual
and
psychological unity.According to them the Western Nations have
either shut their doors for foreigners or made them their slave. This was
the only solution fo the problem of their subjects. Obviously this could
not be a solution for India.
Rabindranath Tagore had listed three main objections against Nationalism.
1 The invading attitude of the Nation State
2 Commercial competetion
3 Racism ( Prajatiwad)
Tagore used to severally criticize Fascism. Comparing Fascism and
Communism he considered the condition under Fascism worst for everything
under it was under control. To this day the RSS has been doing this from
the beginning.After the BJP came to power at the Centre in May 2014 the RSS
became more enthusiastic. Consquently from different melodies LoveJehad,
Ramjade—Haramjade to 'GharWapasi' are being sung. Right from Mother Teresa
, the saint of the poor man to attacks on churches, riots and quoting
different leaders of the people for the propogation of Hindutwa , that too
in a twisted form are getting popular. And has is in fact become the rule.
The attempt to project RavindranathTagore as an advocate of Hindu Rashtra,
is in line with this thinking only, which is effectively vulgarisation of
his legacy.
*What VinobaBhave thought about the RSS?*
Earlier also the RSS had attempted though unsuccessfully to similarly
misrepresent Vivekanand. Swamijee was a World Class thinker. However, the
Sangh packed him up within the image of a Hindu Sadhu and reduced his
contributions. To have recourse to falsehood , represent things in a
twisted form is a part of Sangh strategy. It is not I alone say so. Even
VinobaBhave did it. After the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi a discussion
meeting was held in Sewagram from 11th to 15th March 1948 .In it
Vinobaji,clarifying his position, said that told in unambiguous terms
that he hailed from the same province where RSS was born. I have renounced
my caste but cannot forget that I hail from the same caste to which
Nathuram who killed Gandhi belonged. I have abandoned my caste but cannot
forget that I hailed from the same caste to which NahuramGodse belonged
and which has been founded by Dr.Hegdewar who is a Brahmin. What is more
the one who became SarSanghChalak after him Golwalkar is also a
Maharashtrian Brahmin. Most of its Pracharaks wherever they are
working—Punjab,Madras,Bengal or North India mostly happen to be
Maharashtrian Brahmins. This organization has spread far and wide with
dexterity . Its roots are indeed very deep. The organisaion is run
precisely on Fascist lines. Maharashtrianintellect has mainly assisted in
it. Maharashtrians , especially the Brahmins among them ,have invariably
tended to be its office-bearers and leaders. Its membes do not take others
into confidence.
Truth was the Rule of Gandhiji. With these people Untruth appears to be the
guiding rule with these people. Untruth (falsehood) appears to be part of
their technique and their philosophy
I came across one article by their Supremo Golwalkar in a religious paper
wherein he says that Arjun is the ideal of Hinduism . He did love and
respected his teachers and other near and dear ones, but during the course
of his duty he did not hesitate in killing them albeit with a respectful
salute. The one who could come down to such killing is a ‘sthithpradna’
(steady intellect). Not that the devotion of these people is in any way
lesser than mine and must be reading the Geeta daily equally devotionally.
The upshot of theirGeeta is that ‘the one who could kill his seniors and
near and dear ones with equinamity is a ‘stithpradna’ (steady intellect)
Poor Geeta! It is used in all ways. This means that it is not just the
group of trouble-makers. It is also an organisation of philosophers It
has its own philosophy and its own technique.
To interpret the society of the country right from The Geeta to
GurudevRavindramath Tagore, to draw meaning from it in our own way and to
propagate it is a part of this technique. The RSS has gradually developed
it since 1925.On being awarded the Nobel Prize in 1913 Tagore got an
opportunity to travel the world over. In a visit to Japan during this
tour he had severeally criticised nationalism. Japan had been suffering
from the fever of Nationalism at this juncture.Consequently Tagore had to
return to India without delivering his speech. Mr Mohan Bhagwat is
interpreting such a Tagore as a suppoter of the concept of a Hindu
Rashtra. Vinobajee had correctly commented that this was an organisation
of philosophers and it has a technique of its own. They are experts in
twisting and presenting in a twisted form everything from Geeta,
Vivekanand, Gandhi and Nehru and upto Patel. Tagore is just a latest link.
Reference Books
1.KaltakBaputhe.who will now bilge: Dr.GopalGandhi,Permanent Black
2-Tagore Selected Essays RupaPblications New Delhi
3- SwadeshiSamaj: RavindranathTagore(Marathi Translation)
4.RavindraRachanavali, VishwaBharatiPubication, Shanti Niketan
5.Gandhi Nehru and Tagore(Prakash Narayan Natani Pointer Publishes, Pointer
Publishers,Jaipur
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