In 1910, the great
Indian poet-philosopher Rabindranath Tagore composed a poem that would not only
earn a permanent place in literary history but would also become a universal
cry for freedom, enlightenment, and humanity’s moral conscience. “Where the
Mind is Without Fear,” a stirring verse from his Nobel Prize-winning collection
Gitanjali, envisioned a nation—and a world—where reason reigned, knowledge
flowed freely, and narrow boundaries did not fragment humanity’s shared
identity. Today, more than a century later, the spirit of these lines echoes
like a ghost of a dream unfulfilled, haunting the present global landscape,
where fear, autocracy, and chaos loom large.
“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high…”
These lines, penned
before India's independence, were not just Tagore’s dream of a liberated
nation, but a vision for a world governed by dignity, justice, and truth.
Ironically, in today’s context, these ideals remain elusive. The modern world
seems to have regressed into a complex maze of dread, uncertainty, and
authoritarian tendencies—far from the utopia that Tagore imagined.
A Global Atmosphere of
Fear and Power Obsession
The question arises
naturally: is the world today truly without fear? Are heads still held high in
self-respect? Is knowledge genuinely free? And has the world been unshackled
from “narrow domestic walls”?
The answer, painfully,
is a resounding no.
From the East to the
West, democracies and autocracies alike are gripped by an insatiable hunger for
power. The global political stage today is dominated by strongmen leaders who
have internalized the mantra that once power is tasted, it must be clung to at
all costs. Vladimir Putin’s extended rule in Russia, Xi Jinping’s unprecedented
consolidation of power in China, and Donald Trump’s resurgence in U.S.
politics—all represent a troubling trend of megalomania and erosion of
democratic norms. The same can be said of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
who, through both rhetoric and policy, seems to exhibit similar tendencies of
centralizing power and stifling dissent.
The preferred tools of
this new breed of leadership are fear and manipulation. They engineer
narratives of nationalism and security while slowly dismantling pluralism and
institutional balance. Governance is less about vision and more about
domination. Dissent is labeled sedition, opposition is branded anti-national,
and laws are weaponized to maintain authority. What Tagore feared—mental slavery
bred from fear and ignorance—is being reimposed in new, more insidious forms.
Global Flashpoints: War
and Human Tragedy
While democratic
backsliding poisons politics, the world is also witnessing a brutal resurgence
of militaristic aggression. The Russia-Ukraine conflict continues with no
resolution in sight, claiming innocent lives and causing mass displacement.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the Israel-Palestine conflict has plunged into
unprecedented depths of violence. On April 4, 2025, Israeli airstrikes in
Gaza’s Tuffah district killed nearly 100 Palestinians, including women and
children, striking even schools like the Darul Arqam School—shattering any
illusion of humanitarian restraint. Hospitals and educational institutions,
once considered off-limits in warfare, are now legitimate targets in this new
normal of barbarism.
Hamas’ retaliatory
strikes against Israel, which claimed lives and took hostages, marked a new
level of devastation. The circle of violence is not only endless but also
fueled by global inaction. In such a scenario, the global leadership—be it the
United Nations, the World Health Organization, or even the G20—appears
impotent, paralyzed by diplomatic stagnation and national interests. The five
veto-powered members of the UN Security Council—USA, China, Russia, France, and
the UK—are more invested in geopolitical one-upmanship than in fostering peace.
These bodies, created to uphold global justice and order, seem now like relics
of a bygone era, helpless amidst today’s surging authoritarianism and
militarism.
India’s Own Battle with
Fear and Governance
Closer home, India
paints a disturbing picture. A nation once hailed as the world’s largest
democracy now stands as a theatre of fear, political polarization, and systemic
suppression. The ruling NDA government at the Centre, driven by its
insecurities and image management, often chooses to distract the public from
substantive issues. When pressed for a response on sensitive matters such as
former U.S. President Trump’s criticisms or international economic shifts, the
Parliament hurriedly pushed through the controversial Wakf Board Amendment
Bill—despite stiff resistance from the opposition and the Muslim community. It
was a classic tactic: legislate to deflect and polarize.
In states like
Maharashtra, political theatre continued unabated. Tensions rose over threats
to exhume Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave, while minority leaders like Anjum
Ara warned against misinformation campaigns targeting their communities.
Political manipulation even crept into the literary world—stand-up comedian
Kunal Kamra faced repercussions for satire, and Supriya Sule, NCP leader,
questioned attempts to ban Anil Deshmukh’s upcoming tell-all book. Freedom of
expression in India appears to be hanging by a thread.
The judiciary too finds
itself entangled in contradictions. The Supreme Court of India’s upholding of
mass dismissals in West Bengal’s education sector—where over 25,000
appointments were labeled “tainted beyond redemption”—left the state’s
leadership in disarray. Mamata Banerjee, while agreeing to follow the court's
order, refused to accept it morally, citing the potential loss of jobs for even
the deserving.
Perhaps most alarming
is the rising phenomenon of “bulldozer justice.” Governments in several Indian
states, starting with Uttar Pradesh and spreading across Delhi, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, and others, are resorting to demolition drives under the pretext of
penalizing alleged offenders. Even after the Supreme Court's November 2024
guidelines restricting such actions, the bulldozers roared back to life in
Maharashtra following violence in Nagpur—mocking the very idea of due process.
Meanwhile, unresolved
allegations against powerful figures like Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in
an ?11,000 crore irrigation scam, or Eknath Shinde’s sudden ascent via alleged
political horse-trading, continue without credible judicial scrutiny. Such
selective amnesia weakens the citizen's faith in law and governance.
A Selective Conscience:
Empathy Based on Politics
Equally disheartening
is the inconsistency in how leadership responds to human tragedy. The Manipur
conflict, raging for over a year, has hardly received the attention of India’s
topmost leaders. The Prime Minister, President, and Vice President have all
refrained from visiting the state, in stark contrast to their swift responses
to other incidents like the Sandeshkhali case in West Bengal or the doctor’s
murder in Kolkata. Bilkis Bano’s rape case, once a symbol of India’s
conscience, now lies buried under political dust.
It appears, tragically,
that even grief and justice are politicized commodities.
A Dream Deferred:
Tagore’s Lament from the Heavens
In such a fractured
world, one wonders how Rabindranath Tagore would view the legacy of his words.
Would he feel betrayed by humanity’s inability to uphold the values he
cherished? Would his vision of a world led by knowledge, unity, and
fearlessness appear as a naive utopia?
Perhaps, yes.
The world today more
closely resembles a “Theatre of Absurd and Awe,” where absurdity, fear, and
authoritarianism rule the stage. As poet Ben Jonson once wrote in “The Noble
Nature,” “In small proportions, we just beauties see; And in short measures
life may perfect be.” It is these short measures—of truth, courage, and
compassion—that remain rare yet essential.
Toward a More
Harmonious World
True governance must
transcend the numbers game of terms in office. It must be rooted in service,
sensitivity, and responsibility. The world is desperate for leaders who
inspire, not intimidate—who sow harmony, not hatred. Tagore’s poem, though
composed 115 years ago, is not obsolete. It is a reminder—a mirror to the
world—that unless we reclaim the values of courage, reason, and unity, the mind
will remain fettered, and the head will bow in shame.
Only by awakening to
this grim reality and striving sincerely for change can humanity hope to step
into the “heaven of freedom” that Tagore dreamed of. Until then, his words
remain not a tribute to our progress, but a haunting elegy for what we could
have been.
(Views
are personal. Email:dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com)
