Chapter 12 (Where the Mind is without Fear)
'Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.'
1. Who does the poet refer to as 'my Father'?
Ans: The poet refers to God as 'my Father'.
2. Summarise the poet's message.
Ans: The poet's message is a powerful prayer for the true freedom of his country. He envisions a nation where people are fearless, knowledgeable, united, truthful, logical, and constantly striving for perfection. He asks God to awaken his country into this ideal state of freedom.
3. What evidence can you find in these lines that might suggest that the poem is a prayer?
Ans: The direct address to "my Father" (God) and the earnest plea "let my country awake" are strong evidence that the poem is structured as a prayer.
4. Why does the poet use the word 'awake'?
Ans: The poet uses the word 'awake' to suggest that his country is currently in a state of slumber or ignorance, trapped by fear, prejudice, and meaningless traditions. He is praying for a spiritual and intellectual awakening into a new, enlightened state of freedom.
1. The poet wants his country to awake into a heaven of freedom. Freedom from fear is one form of freedom. What are the other forms of freedom that the poet mentions?
Ans: Besides freedom from fear, the poet also mentions freedom of knowledge (where knowledge is free for all), freedom from division (where the world is not broken up by narrow prejudices), freedom of truth, freedom from illogical habits, and freedom of thought and action.
2. What are the 'narrow domestic walls' that the poet speaks of?
Ans: 'Narrow domestic walls' refer to the divisions and barriers within society based on caste, creed, religion, colour, and other narrow-minded prejudices that break humanity into small, disconnected fragments.
3. What does 'tireless striving' lead to?
Ans: 'Tireless striving' or continuous, hard work leads to perfection.
4. Why is 'dead habit' compared to 'dreary desert sand'?
Ans: 'Dead habit' (old, meaningless traditions) is compared to 'dreary desert sand' because, just as a desert is dry, lifeless, and can cause a stream to get lost, these outdated customs can choke the 'clear stream of reason' and stop the flow of progressive, logical thinking.
5. Where does the poet want God to lead the mind?
Ans: The poet wants God to lead the mind forward into "ever-widening thought and action."
6. Explain the significance of 'awake' in the last line. What does it suggest about the present state of our country?
Ans: The significance of 'awake' is that it implies a transition from a state of darkness to light, or from ignorance to enlightenment. It suggests that the present state of the country (at the time the poem was written) was one of spiritual and intellectual slumber, suffering under the weight of fear, division, and superstition under British rule.
As a responsible citizen of today, do you think we are doing enough to rid the country of its current problems or corruption, unemployment, terrorism, and so forth? Form groups and debate for and against the motion.
For the Motion: We Are Doing Enough
"Respected chairperson and friends, I believe that we are indeed making significant strides. Our generation is more aware than ever before. Through social media, we raise our voices against corruption and injustice instantly. Start-up culture is tackling unemployment by creating new jobs. Citizens are more vigilant, participating in cleanliness drives and reporting crimes. While the problems are huge, we cannot ignore the widespread and collective effort being made by countless responsible citizens every single day to build a better India."
Against the Motion: We Are Not Doing Enough
"Honourable judges and my dear friends, while I appreciate the optimism of my opponent, I must strongly disagree. Are we truly doing enough? A look at our headlines says otherwise. Corruption remains rampant in many sectors. We share our outrage online, but how many of us actively refuse to pay a bribe or fight a case legally? We talk about unemployment, but do we focus on skill development from a young age? We condemn terrorism, but we often fall prey to the very 'narrow domestic walls' of religion and caste that create division. Simply being aware is not enough; consistent, unified action on the ground is what is lacking. Therefore, we are not doing enough."
A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
B. Fill in the Blanks
1. Where the mind is without fear and the head is held _______________.
Ans: high
2. Where words come out from the depth of _______________.
Ans: truth
3. Where the clear stream of _______________ has not lost its way.
Ans: reason
4. Into the dreary desert sand of dead _______________.
Ans: habit
5. Into that _______________ of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
Ans: heaven
C. Short Answer Type Questions (1 Mark)
1. What is the title of the poem?
Ans: The title is "Where the Mind is without Fear."
2. Who wrote this poem?
Ans: Rabindranath Tagore wrote this poem.
3. What does the poet want for knowledge in his country?
Ans: He wants knowledge to be free for everyone.
4. How should the people of his ideal country be, according to the first line?
Ans: They should be fearless and hold their heads high with dignity.
5. What does "tireless striving" mean?
Ans: It means continuous and persistent effort without getting tired.
6. What is compared to a 'clear stream'?
Ans: Reason or logical thinking is compared to a 'clear stream'.
7. What does the poet want the mind to be led forward into?
Ans: He wants it to be led forward into "ever-widening thought and action."
8. Who is the poet addressing in the final lines?
Ans: He is addressing God, whom he calls "my Father."
9. What kind of poem is this?
Ans: It is a patriotic poem written in the form of a prayer.
10. What does the poet want his country to awaken into?
Ans: He wants it to awaken into a "heaven of freedom."
11. What has broken the world into fragments?
Ans: "Narrow domestic walls" have broken the world into fragments.
12. What does the poet mean by "the head is held high"?
Ans: It means to live with self-respect, dignity, and confidence.
13. What is the 'dreary desert sand' in the poem?
Ans: The 'dreary desert sand' is a metaphor for 'dead habit' or outdated customs.
14. What does the phrase "depth of truth" imply?
Ans: It implies that people should speak with absolute sincerity and honesty.
15. In what historical context was this poem written?
Ans: It was written when India was still under British rule, and Indians had lost their self-respect and motivation.
D. Medium Answer Type Questions (2-3 Marks)
1. Explain the first two lines of the poem: "Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high".
Ans: These lines describe the first condition for true freedom. The poet wishes for a nation where citizens are free from any kind of fear—fear of oppression, fear of speaking the truth, or fear of thinking for themselves. When people are fearless, they can live with dignity and self-respect, which is what "the head is held high" symbolizes.
2. What does Tagore mean by "Where knowledge is free"?
Ans: By this, Tagore means two things. First, he envisions a country where education is not restricted to the upper classes but is freely available to every citizen, regardless of their social or economic status. Second, it means a state where people are free to seek and share knowledge and ideas without any censorship or restrictions from an oppressive authority.
3. How do "narrow domestic walls" harm a nation?
Ans: "Narrow domestic walls" are the divisions created by prejudice, such as caste, religion, and regionalism. These walls harm a nation by breaking its unity. They fragment the society into small, conflicting groups, preventing people from working together for the common good and hindering the nation's progress as a whole.
4. Describe the quality of 'truth' that the poet desires for his countrymen.
Ans: The poet desires a profound level of truthfulness. When he says "Where words come out from the depth of truth," he is not just talking about avoiding lies. He is wishing for a society where people's words are a direct reflection of their sincere and honest thoughts, coming from the very core of their being.
5. Explain the metaphor of the "clear stream of reason" and the "dreary desert sand of dead habit".
Ans: This is a powerful metaphor for the struggle between logic and superstition. The "clear stream of reason" represents logical, progressive, and clear thinking. The "dreary desert sand of dead habit" represents old, meaningless rituals and blind beliefs that are lifeless and unproductive. The poet fears that the stream of logic will get lost in this desert, meaning that progress will be choked by outdated customs.
6. What is the poet's vision of 'perfection' and how can it be achieved?
Ans: The poet's vision of 'perfection' is a state of continuous improvement and excellence in all spheres of life, both for the individual and the nation. According to the poem, this can be achieved through "tireless striving," which means constant, determined effort and hard work without giving up.
7. What kind of "thought and action" does Tagore pray for?
Ans: Tagore prays for "ever-widening thought and action." This means he wants his countrymen's minds to be constantly expanding, becoming more progressive, open, and forward-thinking. He wants their actions to reflect this broad-mindedness, leading the nation away from narrowness and towards a greater future.
8. What is the "heaven of freedom" that the poet imagines?
Ans: The "heaven of freedom" is not just political freedom from British rule. It is a perfect, ideal state of being for his country. It's a heaven where people experience intellectual freedom (fearless minds), social freedom (no divisions), moral freedom (truthfulness), and spiritual freedom (guided by God towards progress).
9. Why does the poet address God as "my Father"?
Ans: Addressing God as "my Father" creates a personal and intimate tone for the prayer. It shows a relationship of love, trust, and dependence. The poet is not just making a formal request but is appealing to a divine parent to guide and uplift his child (his country) into a better state.
10. How is this poem still relevant in today's India?
Ans: The poem is still highly relevant today. Although India is politically free, the "narrow domestic walls" of caste, religion, and regionalism still exist. "Dead habits" like superstition and corruption continue to hinder progress. The poem serves as a timeless reminder for citizens to strive for a truly free and united society where reason, truth, and fearless thinking prevail.
E. Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks)
1. The poem presents a detailed vision of an ideal nation. Describe at least five key qualities of this ideal nation as envisioned by Rabindranath Tagore.
Ans: Rabindranath Tagore's vision of an ideal nation is deeply spiritual and progressive. Five key qualities are:
- Fearlessness and Dignity: The citizens should live without fear and with self-respect ("Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high").
- Universal Education: Knowledge should not be restricted but should be accessible to all ("Where knowledge is free").
- Unity: The nation should be united, free from the divisions of caste, religion, and other prejudices ("Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls").
- Integrity and Truthfulness: People should be honest to the core, and their words should come from the "depth of truth."
- Rationality and Progress: Society should be guided by logical thinking ("the clear stream of reason") and reject blind superstitions ("dead habit"). It should always be striving for perfection through hard work.
2. Analyse the poem as a prayer for India's awakening. What was India "slumbering" from, and what kind of "awakening" does the poet desire?
Ans: This poem is fundamentally a prayer for the spiritual and intellectual awakening of India, written during the time of British rule. The "slumber" that the poet refers to is not just a physical sleep, but a state of subjugation and mental stagnation. India was slumbering from:
- Fear: The fear of the colonial rulers, which led to a loss of dignity and self-respect.
- Ignorance: The lack of widespread education and free exchange of ideas.
- Division: The deep-rooted "narrow domestic walls" of caste, religion, and other social evils that kept the country fragmented.
- Superstition: The "dead habits" and blind rituals that were choking logical and progressive thought.
3. Discuss the significance of the two powerful metaphors used in the poem: "narrow domestic walls" and the "clear stream of reason" getting lost in the "dreary desert sand of dead habit."
Ans: The two metaphors are central to the poem's message.
The "narrow domestic walls" is a metaphor for the social and cultural divisions that plagued India (and still do). Walls physically separate and confine. Similarly, Tagore sees prejudices based on caste, religion, and language as man-made walls that break the unity of the nation into small, isolated "fragments." This powerful image highlights how these internal divisions are as imprisoning as any external rule.
The second metaphor contrasts life-giving reason with lifeless superstition. A "clear stream" represents purity, clarity, and the life-sustaining flow of logical thought. A "dreary desert sand," on the other hand, is barren, dry, and capable of absorbing and stopping a stream. By comparing "dead habit" (meaningless traditions) to this desert, Tagore creates a powerful image of how blind faith and outdated customs can completely halt a nation's intellectual progress and lead it to stagnation.
4. The poem progresses from individual freedom to national awakening. Trace this progression through the poem's structure.
Ans: The poem is structured as a beautiful progression, moving from the individual to the collective, and finally to a divine appeal.
- It begins with the individual: "Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high." This focuses on the personal state of dignity and intellectual freedom of each citizen.
- It then expands to the societal level, talking about free knowledge for all and a world not "broken up into fragments." This addresses the social structure of the nation.
- Next, it moves to the moral and ethical qualities of the people: speaking from the "depth of truth" and "tireless striving towards perfection." This is about the nation's character.
- The poem then identifies the main obstacle to progress: the conflict between "reason" and "dead habit."
- Finally, it culminates in a direct prayer to God ("my Father"), asking for divine guidance to lead the collective "mind" of the country into a state of "ever-widening thought and action" and to let the entire "country awake" into this ideal freedom.
5. When Tagore wrote the poem, India was under British rule. Do you think his prayer has been answered in modern, independent India? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans: (This is a subjective question requiring a balanced view. Here is a sample answer.)
To some extent, Tagore's prayer has been answered, but not completely.
Ways it has been answered: Politically, India is free, and its citizens have the democratic right to hold their "head high" without fear of a foreign ruler. "Knowledge is free" in the sense that education is a fundamental right, and there are no official restrictions on learning. We have made incredible strides in science and technology, showing that the "clear stream of reason" is active.
Ways it has not been answered: However, the "narrow domestic walls" of caste, religion, and regional politics remain a major challenge, often breaking the country into "fragments." The "dreary desert sand of dead habit" still exists in the form of superstitions and harmful social customs. Corruption and dishonesty mean that words do not always "come out from the depth of truth." While we are politically awake, the complete spiritual and intellectual "awakening" into that perfect "heaven of freedom" that Tagore envisioned is a journey that is still ongoing.