Nationalism In Japan By Tagore Summary

Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Nationalism in Japan’ is an analysis of the concept of the ‘nation’ and ‘nationalism’. Through this beautiful piece of writing, he has cautioned India and other nations that they must not thoughtlessly adopt the Western notion of Nationalism without first realizing the extent to which it can influence their non-Western culture and the cost that may come with it;

“Therefore, you cannot with a light heart accept the modern civilization with all its tendencies, methods and structures, and dream that they are inevitable. You must apply your Eastern mind, your spiritual strength, your love of simplicity, your recognition of social obligation, in order to cut out a new path for this great unwieldy car of progress, shrieking out its loud discords as it runs.”
Tagore stresses upon how every nation is dependent on each other and urges his audience to realize that development happens …show more content…
Tagore believes that Europe, it’s beauty and power aside, only turns a listening ear towards what is for their benefit and uses her power of greatness for all that is against the morals of human nature. He advises Asia to stop wallowing over what no longer is and start their journey on a new path, let the West teach them but through the filter of Eastern culture leaving behind what is wrong, as the filtrate. Tagore has accentuated upon the importance of progressing as a nation and shown that it is possible to develop into a successful nation all the while holding on to your history and civilization, by sketching the portrait of Japan as an efficacious Asian nation. He warns that while Japan is a progressing nation and weaponry is a necessity for protection, they must not acquire the undesirable features of the West and must never adopt their immoral social ideals because that would assuredly mean their