Rabindranath Tagore’s Vision
India Vision 2020 - as envisioned in 2002
In 2002, the Planning Commission of India, Government of India, published a Report on India Vision 2020. This poem was used to give direction. The report mentions:
"It is indeed a challenge to formulate a cohesive vision for India in 2020. Therefore, we
thought it appropriate to seek inspiration from one who had a clear vision and possessed the gift to
articulate it in a manner that has inspired the hearts and minds of countless Indians. The vision
articulated by Rabindranath Tagore is all encompassing in every sense. In Annexure I, we identify
eight components of the vision reflected in the following poem and attempt to translate them in
operational terms for India Vision 2020."
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
The vision articulated by Rabindranath Tagore is all encompassing in every sense. It has
laid down what he considered to be the basic constituents of the “heaven of freedom”. We can
identify eight components of this vision reflected in the poem quoted earlier, which we can attempt
to translate into operational terms for India’s vision 2020.
Where the mind is without fear – Peace and security, internal as well as external, is the first
and most essential foundation for the nation’s future progress. Fearlessness can only be attained
when this security extends to cover, over and above our physical safety, our social rights and
economic well being, to eliminate all forms of vulnerability and discrimination.
Where the head is held high – Self-respect and self-esteem are the psychological foundations
for the development of individuality and individual initiative, which are the means through which
the nation builds its strength and fulfils its aspirations. The nation prospers through the development
and flowering of all its citizens as individuals. Health, education and employment opportunities for all, and awareness of our rich spiritual and cultural heritage are the essential bases for fostering
self-respect and self-esteem.
Where knowledge is free – Development takes place when people become aware of opportunities for advancement and acquire the knowledge needed to convert those opportunities into
practical accomplishments. Knowledge in the form of education, technology and access to a wide
range of information is a catalyst for individual and social progress. The free flow of knowledge is
the basis for a free and prosperous society.
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls – The
spirit of globalisation which is rapidly reshaping the world today cannot be better expressed. The
accelerated flow and exchange of trade, capital, technology, information and people will create
unprecedented opportunities for the progress and prosperity of all countries that can transcend the
narrow confines of national boundaries. India can however realise its full potential in the wider
world only when it is internally united, surmounting all the centrifugal forces that overlook our
common heritage and accentuate our differences.
Where words come out from the depth of truth — Integrity, honesty and trustworthiness
are the essential foundations for a successful democracy and a prosperous society. Both good
governance and commercial success demand rigorous standards of transparency, accountability
and reliability in word and action.
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection – Prosperity is the result of
productivity and efficiency which require the highest level of productive skills, technological
excellence and human effort.
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead
habit – Nations develop by choosing the best the future has to offer, while being willing to discard
outmoded ideas and behaviours that retard future progress and even threaten to undermine the
country’s unity and strength.
Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action – Education,
innovation and creativity are the ultimate driving forces for the continuous advancement of scientific
knowledge and material accomplishment.
These threads from. Rabindranath’s poem are the vital strands from which a fulfilling vision
of India 2020 can be woven.
Source:
This is taken from Report of the Committee onIndiaVision 2020, Planning CommissionGovernment of IndiaNew DelhiDECEMBER, 2002
The image of Rabindranath Tagore is from this article. The article is worth reading. It is on -
Source:
This is taken from Report of the Committee onIndiaVision 2020, Planning CommissionGovernment of IndiaNew DelhiDECEMBER, 2002
The image of Rabindranath Tagore is from this article. The article is worth reading. It is on -
