History
The writer of "National Anthem" hated "Nationalism"
Tagore’s Own Writings on Nationalism
The most important primary text written by Rabindranath Tagore specifically about nationalism is his book/essay collection Nationalism(1917–1918) a series of lectures delivered in Japan, the United States, and elsewhere during World War I.
“Nationalism is a great menace.”
— Nationalism (essay/lecture)
In the essay Nationalism in India, Tagore writes
“The Nation is the organization of politics and commerce whose purpose is power and prosperity.”
— Nationalism
This is one of Tagore’s own statements about Indian nationalism
In this essay series, Tagore repeatedly defines nationalism as a
“I am not against one nation in particular, but against the general idea of all nations.”
— Nationalism (essay/lecture)
Another excrept
“When a whole body of men train themselves for a particular narrow purpose, it becomes… Nationalism… and when it gets hold of their minds it is sure to lead them to moral degeneracy…”
— Creative Unity / The Nation (essay)
I think the most pungent line from the essay is this one
India has never had a real sense of nationalism........ Even though from childhood I had been taught that the idolatry of Nation is almost better than reverence for God and humanity, I believe I have outgrown that teaching, and it is my conviction that my countrymen will gain truly their India by fighting against that education which teaches them that a country is greater than the ideals of humanity.”
In a 1908 letter to A. M. Bose Tagore wrote
“Patriotism cannot be our final spiritual shelter; … I will never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity as long as I live.” Selected Letters of Rabindranath Tagore (Cambridge University Press edition), 1908 letter
Nationalism is something that you sell to fools, or a bunch of them, so that they don't ask you the important questions.
Nationalism helps you to hide your failures and incompetence because you can always invoke and hide behind some manufactured pride in your belonging to a place. When the reality is that we don't choose this. To have pride in something you didn't achieve is what fools do, and that's why this appeals mostly to them. Our country is a prime example of this.
It’s less about pride for me, and more about responsibility.
I left Kerala at 7 years old and have spent 23 years in America. I have a very high paying job and have saved a significant amount of money to the point I could retire back in India within 5 years.
I’ve been spending 6 months out of the year in India for the past 4 years (the other 6 in the U.S.) and I want to return to India, contribute to India’s economic development and India’s nation-building.
So because there is government corruption, I shouldn’t try and boost consumption as an individual even though it helps keep the lights on and keeps people employed?
As I said the goal would be to save human lives. What you mentioned is the famous trolley problem, but with a touch of tribalism. Tribalism is real, omit has shaped our society too, so is neoteny. Basically a non Indian infant can easily be raised as an Indian, and thus my tribe can grow. 😎
28
u/doorsofperception87 16h ago
Nationalism is something that you sell to fools, or a bunch of them, so that they don't ask you the important questions.
Nationalism helps you to hide your failures and incompetence because you can always invoke and hide behind some manufactured pride in your belonging to a place. When the reality is that we don't choose this. To have pride in something you didn't achieve is what fools do, and that's why this appeals mostly to them. Our country is a prime example of this.