Sunday, April 6, 2014

Freedom of Mind- Fight Within

Where The Mind Is Without Fear
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high


Where knowledge is free



Where the world has not been broken up into fragments



By narrow domestic walls



Where words come out from the depth of truth



Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection



Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way



Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit



Where the mind is led forward by thee



Into ever-widening thought and action



Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.


~ Rabindranath Tagore, 1913- Gitanjali


Eminent poet Tagore described his dream and vision about awakened India after independence in the above few lines but in our current scheme of things, lot is desired to be done to make this reality after 64 years of freedom. While we are indeed making progress on different aspects of society, much is needed to liberate our mind in our societies and in different parts of world.  How do we answer to the questions on differentiated behavior still being meted out to sons and daughters in many families, the way society objectify and treat women? Our societies are still not free from some of the archaic rules and regulations coupled with lack of education, want of basic infrastructures and poverty, pushing the growth back by quite a few decades. As citizens of a free country and today’s world, we are forced to live under a constant threat and continuous fear of security and law and order. This sense of insecurity stemming from degrading mentality of society has restricted our daughters and womenfolk to go out and win over obstacles slowing down our overall progress.  

At the individual level, while we continue to fight for legislation, we need to reflect upon ourselves to judge our actions and decisions bereft from any kind of prejudices. Some serious effort is needed at personal level to consider women and men as just as two wheels – equally needed in the journey of life. There is also an immediate need to look at how we treat our fellow people in the neighborhood or on the street with an open mind against a value system free from all biasedness. Basic civic sense is lacking in a good number of people and we need to get into an internal FIGHT -
Fist that is raised
In the hope to
Gain over
Heinous acts and
Threats 

with none other than ourselves to mature to the next level.

34 comments:

  1. Where the mind is without fear is one of my favorites!

    Random Thoughts Naba

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  2. Loved it.. I haven't read much of Tagore ji's work but I liked this one!

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  3. To be able to have a mind void of all fear would be utopia! Good post.

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  4. A safe and secure environment is needed for further growth and prosperity!
    Read this poem for the first time here, its wonderful! Thanks for sharing...

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  5. That is a very beautiful poem - I didn't know that one - also an interesting read today as well Jayanta:-) Thanks for sharing your thoughts:-)

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    1. Good to know that you liked it. Thanks for your time on my post..

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  6. This poem inspires, always! I remember how I used to love it when I was in school, many many many decades ago, and since then it has been a great favorite. You are so right in pointing out that freeing the mind of its prejudices and wrong notions can be a big, big step toward building a great future for the society. A good post, Jayanta.
    Beauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal

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    1. Thanks a lot. You kind comments are motivating.

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  7. My most favorite poem!!! Glad to have read it again!!! :) :) Good post!


    ~S(t)ri
    Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
    Smile, it makes (y)our day!

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  8. Aptly quoted, Tagore !! Is there a place where the mind is without fear ?
    For freedom, we MUST fight from within ! Well said !

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  9. One of my favorite verse. Your thoughts need to echo all through the country.

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  10. Jayanta, this is one of my all-time favorite poems and a great inspiration. Very well done!

    Cheers, Vidya

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    1. Thanks, Ma'm. Your time is much appreciated.

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  11. I liked the acronym for FIGHT within. Hope we all realize that and do our bit!

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    1. Thanks that you liked the FIGHT part. Much appreciated.

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  12. Our mind is still not freed from shackled of discrimination and archaic thoughts... For us to be liberated, we need to be truly freed from all that. I love the poem. One of my favorites.

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  13. You reminded me of my college days. Very well written post.
    I have nominated your name for the Sunshine Award. Congrats. Kindly read my post on this subject for details.

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    1. Thanks, Ushaji. I look forward to your support and blessings to continue on this path. Also can't express my gratitude for nominating me for the award. Will have to check and do the needful. Appreciate your thoughts on my posts.

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  14. You have chosen one of the most beautiful poems of our times. And yes one that provides the path to our country in every way..

    Richa

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    1. Thanks, Richa. Appreciate your time on my post.

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  15. A beautiful poem with so much truth..

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  16. Wonderfully put up thoughts in alignment to that lovely poem there.

    - Kripali
    (AJ's wHooligans)
    Sumptuous Living
    A2ZFiction

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  17. Beautiful poem; very thoughtful post. It would be a beautiful world, wouldn't it, where men and women were trully treated equally; both allowed to capitalise on their strengths. Where a woman doesn't have to be compared to a man; be seen to be manly when what she is is strong. Where she gets opportunities equal to her brother without being prepared from a subserviant role from childhood, where her parents, siblings, extended family and community provide an environment that enables her to be who she was meant to be.

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    1. Thanks a lot for your thoughtful reply. Yes, world will be different place then. Thanks.

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  18. The poem which you've chosen is so apt still today...The original version in Bengali ( chitto jetha bhoyshunyo , uchcho jetha shir ) first appeared in Tagore's volume of 'Naibodyo' means 'offering' especially to God and had the title " Prarthana" meaning 'prayer'...

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    1. Yes, I am aware- am also from WB. Thanks for sharing these details and your time on my pages...

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  19. Civic sense is at a great premium in India. That situation should change. You've done right to highlight the issue.

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