Author : Moksha Pillai
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| Source : The Statesman |
In a compelling set of essays written between 1910 and 1940, acclaimed Indian poet, playwright, educator and Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, envisioned a world order driven by the principles of tolerance, unity and co-operation. Identifying robust societies by their ability to accommodate rather than dwell in contradictory ideations; he firmly vouched for the adoption of consensus as the fulcrum of human progress over coercion.
With a growing nationalistic fervour, currently sweeping across countries opting to forfeit universalistic aspirations of an international liberal order and discriminate against ethno-religious minorities to protect their national interests and sovereignty; Tagore’s thoughts on peaceful cohabitation are relevant now more than ever. The emergence of multiple inter and intra-state power loci, owing to the paradigm shift in the economic and geopolitical centre of gravity; has only further fuelled the calls for re-enforcing the values of trust and co-operation amongst international players by ensuring increased capillarity, variable geometry and heightened inclusivity; rooted in normative assumptions of progress.
Tagore’s perspectives on the ‘Principle of Synthesis’ of the self and the community, sought to advocate for retaining individualistic fervour; while celebrating the plurality of cultures, ideological moorings, traditions and practices that lent a dynamic character to the socio- economic & political fabric of our civilisation. However, the ‘otherisation’ of nation-states as per Tagore, reined paramount when their ideals of individualistic expression, self-regulation and determination lacked congruency with the rest. This growing friction over perceived differences could impede the establishment of a community or ‘Samaj’; which thrives on inclusivity, representation and mutual respect.
Read more at : https://www.stearthinktank.com/post/tagore-talisman-fractal-world-tolerance-brotherhood-sustained-co-operation/
*Moksha Pillai is a Post Graduate Student from AIIS, Amity University, Noida.
