Encyclopaedia of Eminent Thinkers: The Political Thought of Rabindranath Tagore

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

There are many Indian thinkers who have contributed a great deal to the political thought of the country. In these initial 10 volumes, an effort has been made to bring together keen players and their significant contributions to the political thought of India in an unbiased way. The authors included in this series are giants by themselves in the socio- political arena of the country. The set provides insight and critical an evaluation of the political thinkers.

A significant attempt has been made in this book to make a comprehensive study of the Political Thought of Rabindranath Tagore. To understand fully the implications of Tagore's ideas is a tremendous task. The author in this book makes an honest endeavour to present his view in a lucid manner. It studies in detail: Life-sketch and Sources of Influences, On Religion and Politics, On Hindu-Muslim Unity and Education, On Charkha, On Non-Cooperation Movement and Chronology of Events.

This book is a treasure for all teachers, scholars and students of Political Science, Gandhian Thought, History, Sociology and Social Work; all university, college, legislative, judicial, public and other libraries in India and abroad and for all those interested in the study of Political Science. In nut-shell, this book will be of great importance to all.

K.S. Bharathi did his Master's Degree in Gandhian Thought, Peace-Science, Economics, and Political Science. He also did Postgraduate Diplomas in Politics, Public Administration, Population Dynamics, Gandhian Thought, Tourism, and Telugu. He has contributed some articles in learned journals. He is the author of Foundations of Gandhian Thought; Gandhi and Humanity; Socio- Religious Thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi; The Philosophy of Sarvodaya; The Satyagraha of Mahatma Gandhi; Gandhi and Nehru; Foundations of Ambedkar Thought; The Social Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi; Gandhian Approach to Rural Development; The Relevance of Gandhi; Gandhi and Vinoba; The Philosophical Foundations of Gandhian Thought; The Political Thought of Gandhi; The Economic Thought of Gandhi; The Social Thought of Gandhi and The Quintessence and Chronology of Gandhi. At present, he is the Head of the Postgraduate Department of Gandhian Thought of Nagpur University. He is the Chairman of the Board of Studies of Gandhian Thought, member of the Academic Council, member of the Faculty of Social Sciences, member of the Board of Examination and member of the Doctoral Research Committee of Nagpur University.

Rabindranath Tagore was not a professional politician but the sufferings of the Indian people moved him to political action and utterance at every critical stage of the National struggle. He became the bard and spokesman of the Swadeshi movement in 1906. In 1919, it was again he who first raised the voice of protest against the atrocities at Jalianwalabagh. He wanted Indian political action to be based on a positive programme of national regeneration rather than a blind reaction against foreign rule.

Tagore's political views were a natural growth out of his religious and social ideals. With his faith in the freedom and equality of the individual, it was inevitable that he should be a democrat in his social, economic and political outlook. In the political field, it was his conviction that there should be no discrimination based on religion, language or sex. In his basic political outlook, he was completely at one with the great tradition of liberalism which holds that the government is best which governs the least. He believed in a federal union of smaller autonomous units, for he held that they offered the individual the greatest opportunity of freedom and self-expression.

The life-sketch and sources of influences has been discussed in the first chapter. Religion and politics has been discussed in the second chapter. Hindu-Muslim unity and education has been analysed in the third chapter. Charkha, Non-cooperation movement, and Chronology of events have been covered in the fourth, fifth and sixth chapter respectively.

I would like to place on record my indebtedness to scholars and thinkers whose ideas enabled me to bring out this book. I gratefully acknowledge the scholars from whose works I have drawn citations viz. Dr. B.R. Bali, Dr. Ahluwalia, Dr. S.R. Chowdhary, Dr. Sankar Ghose, Dr. Humayun Kabir, and Dr. Rabindranath Tagore.

So far as the writing of this book is concerned, whatever success I have achieved is due to relentless efforts and encouragement of Dr. P.S.G. Kumar, Head, Department of Library and Information. Science, Nagpur University. I sincerely express my gratitude to him.

**Contents and Sample Pages**