NIOS Class 12 for English Where the Mind is without Fear
Where the Mind is without Fear
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📘 INTRODUCTION (English)
“Where the Mind is Without Fear” is a famous poem written by Rabindranath Tagore, originally composed in Bengali and later included in his Nobel Prize–winning collection Gitanjali (1912). The poem expresses Tagore’s deep vision for an ideal nation—one where people are fearless, knowledgeable, united, and morally strong. It is written as a prayer to God, wishing for India to become a land of freedom not just from foreign rule, but from narrow thinking, ignorance, and social divisions. The poem is a powerful blend of patriotism, hope, and spirituality.
NIOS Class 12 for English Where the Mind is without Fear
📘 Introduction (Hindi)
“Where the Mind is Without Fear” (जहाँ मन भय से मुक्त हो) रवीन्द्रनाथ टैगोर द्वारा रचित एक प्रसिद्ध कविता है। यह कविता मूल रूप से बंगाली में लिखी गई थी और बाद में उनकी नोबेल पुरस्कार प्राप्त कृति गीतांजलि में शामिल की गई। यह कविता एक प्रार्थना के रूप में लिखी गई है, जिसमें टैगोर ने एक ऐसे आदर्श राष्ट्र की कल्पना की है जहाँ लोग निर्भय हों, ज्ञान से समृद्ध हों और समाज संकीर्णताओं से मुक्त हो। यह कविता देशप्रेम, आशा और आध्यात्मिकता का सुंदर समन्वय है।
NIOS Class 12 for English Where the Mind is without Fear
📘 DETAILED SUMMARY (English)
In “Where the Mind is Without Fear,” Rabindranath Tagore expresses his dream of a nation where people live with dignity, confidence, and open-mindedness. He begins by praying for a land “where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,” which means to be fearless and self-respecting. In such a country, people can speak the truth freely and grow without any sense of oppression.
Tagore wants knowledge to be available to all so that society becomes enlightened. But he observes that human beings often remain separated by “narrow domestic walls.” These walls do not represent love or safety; instead, they symbolize petty and narrow-minded ideas that divide people on the basis of caste, religion, or region.
The poet dreams of a land where people engage in “tireless striving.” The word “tireless” is used to show constant, uninterrupted effort—work done with dedication and without laziness or discouragement. This striving is aimed at achieving perfection and progress, both moral and intellectual.
Tagore then compares reason to a “clear stream.” This comparison shows that reason should flow pure, bright, and free from pollution—something that guides people with clarity and logic. However, he warns that this stream of reason has lost its way in the ‘dreary desert sand of dead habit’—meaning it has been blocked by outdated traditions, blind beliefs, and harmful customs.
When Tagore says “Where the mind is led forward by thee,” the word “thee” refers to God. The poet’s purpose is to pray that God guides the minds of the people towards truth, wisdom, and noble thoughts.
Ultimately, Tagore longs for his country to awaken into a “heaven of freedom.” By this, he means a nation where every individual is free from fear, discrimination, ignorance, and narrow thinking. Such a heaven can be achieved when people follow truth, reason, unity, and work tirelessly to uplift themselves and society.
NIOS Class 12 for English Where the Mind is without Fear
📘 Detailed Summary (Hindi)
कविता “Where the Mind is Without Fear” में रवीन्द्रनाथ टैगोर एक ऐसे राष्ट्र का सपना प्रस्तुत करते हैं जहाँ लोग निर्भय होकर और सम्मान के साथ जीवन जी सकें। वे शुरुआत में प्रार्थना करते हैं कि देश ऐसा हो “जहाँ मन भय से मुक्त हो और सिर ऊँचा उठा हो।” इसका अर्थ है निर्भय और स्वाभिमानी होना.
कवि चाहते हैं कि ज्ञान सबके लिए उपलब्ध हो ताकि समाज प्रबुद्ध बने, लेकिन वे देखते हैं कि लोग “narrow domestic walls” यानी संकीर्ण सामाजिक विचारों से बँटे हुए हैं। यह वाक्यांश सुरक्षा या प्रेम का प्रतीक नहीं है; यह दर्शाता है कि समाज छोटे, संकीर्ण और कट्टर विचारों से विभाजित है.
टैगोर एक ऐसे देश की कल्पना करते हैं जहाँ लोग “tireless striving” करें। “Tireless” शब्द यह बताने के लिए है कि संघर्ष निरंतर, बिना थके और पूरी निष्ठा से होना चाहिए. यह संघर्ष उत्कृष्टता, प्रगति और आत्म-सुधार के लिए होना चाहिए.
कवि तर्क (reason) की तुलना एक “स्वच्छ बहती धारा” से करते हैं। इसका तात्पर्य है कि तर्क को साफ, शुद्ध और स्पष्ट मार्गदर्शन देना चाहिए. लेकिन यह धारा पुरानी, बुरी और मृत परंपराओं की मरुभूमि में खो गई है—यानी लोगों ने अंधविश्वास और जड़ आदतों के कारण तर्क को महत्व देना छोड़ दिया है.
जब कवि कहते हैं “Where the mind is led forward by thee”, यहाँ “thee” ईश्वर को संबोधित करता है. कवि प्रार्थना करते हैं कि ईश्वर लोगों को सत्य, ज्ञान और महान विचारों की ओर ले जाए।
अंत में, टैगोर चाहते हैं कि देश एक “स्वतंत्रता के स्वर्ग” में जागे। इसका अर्थ है ऐसा राष्ट्र जहाँ भय, भेदभाव, अज्ञानता और संकीर्णता न हो. यह तभी संभव है जब लोग सत्य, तर्क, एकता और निरंतर प्रयास के मार्ग पर चलें।
NIOS Class 12 for English Where the Mind is without Fear
Question-Answers
Intext Questions 12.1
- What is meant by “mind is without fear and head is held high”. Tick the correct answer.
(i) to be fearless and self respecting.
(ii) to be proud of one’s high position.
(iii) to stand straight and be carefree.
Answer
(i) to be fearless and self respecting - The ‘domestic walls’ are usually associated with safety, comfort and love. Are these the feelings evoked by the phrase ‘narrow domestic walls’? If not, choose the correct answer from the ones given below:
(i) small houses which make us feel cramped.
(ii) ideas which are petty and narrow-minded.
(iii) a house divided into rooms by walls.
Answer
(ii) ideas which are petty and narrow-minded - Why has the word ‘tireless’ been used to describe ‘striving’?
Answer
Perfection is not an absolute end point. It is something towards which we work incessantly but never achieve completely. Hence, the ‘striving’ to try to reach it is a continuous process, in which one cannot afford to get tired. - What are we striving for?
Answer
We are striving for the perfection of our inner beings to realise our true selves, which is an essential prerequisite in shaping our destinies and claiming independence and liberation.
NIOS Class 12 for English Where the Mind is without Fear
Intext Questions 12.2
- Why is reason compared with ‘clear stream’?
Answer
Clarity of logical thought is compared with a clear stream. - Where has reason lost its way?
Answer
Reason has lost its way in our mindless adherence to outdated customs, superstitious beliefs and cultural dogmas, which the poet metamorphoses as “the dreary desert sand of dead habit.” - “Where the mind is led forward by thee…” Who is being referred to as ‘thee’? What is the poet’s purpose over here?
Answer
The poet is referring to the Almighty as “thee.”
He seeks divine guidance for his countrymen to be able to think and act progressively. Tagore perceives thought and action as being complementary – neither thoughtless action nor actionless thought have a role in the nation he envisaged. Only this can allow individuals and a nation to move away from entrenched dogmas and institutions, mindless habits and customs – and the stagnation that results in intellectual and spiritual death. - What does the poet mean by “heaven of freedom”? How can that be achieved?
Answer
“Heaven of freedom” is a reference to that future state of India gaining independence, having broken out from the shackles of her colonial oppressors, where there is absolute freedom, dignity, the right to decide on our own fate and individual liberty. It is this state that the poet compares to the divine bliss and magnificence of being in “heaven.”
It can be achieved by ensuring all of the conditions mentioned by the poet, like getting rid of discriminatory practices and doing away with divisive social hierarchies, being guided by rational thinking and not being servile to outdated customs and ritualistic beliefs, etc.
NIOS Class 12 for English Where the Mind is without Fear
NIOS Class 12 for English Where the Mind is without Fear
