THE POET'S ANXIETY

Gandhi was often greeted by critics many of whom happened to be fanatics and cranks. However some were thinkers and actors of moral substance. He always proceeded to answer these substantive players in depth and clarity maintaining his composure and liberal temper. Tagore was one such critic who was at the height of his poetic career and reputation. But as said by Gandhi himself, great prestige had brought him great responsibility, a very important one of which had been the Indian message to the world which his poems and their interpretations would carry with them. Owing to this responsibility he became increasingly cautious of the Non-Cooperation Movement, which he felt was anachronously expedited. He feared that the NCM would foster an unreasoning hostility against the foreigner and the foreign rule. That is was a narrow doctrine of negation, despair, separation and exclusiveness.

However legit may the claims made by Dr. Tagore sound to be, they fail to hold the same staunchness after the declaration of Gandhi’s response. At first Gandhi address Tagore’s state of mind as “No Indian can feel anything but pride in the Poet’s exquisite jealousy of India’s honor.” He further explains that NCM is no cause to be ashamed and if it so happens to fail in the end then it would not be the fault of the doctrine but the truth itself. NCM have been anachronously expedited to save India from violence. He says that Non Cooperation is planned to pave the path for real, honorable and voluntary co-operation based on mutual trust and respect. That it is being waged against compulsory cooperation, one-sided combination and armed imposition of modern methods of exploitation masquerading under the name of civilization.

He even goes a step further to says that if the poet’s concern is about students who are being called to volunteer by leaving schools and colleges, then his response is that he had never been able to make a fetish out of literary training. He says that literary training adds not an inch to one’s moral height and character building. In fact that government schools have rendered us helpless and Godless. They have filled us with discontent and despondency. They have made us, what we were supposed to become, clerks and interpreters! He said that the moment it was realized that the system of government was wholly or mainly evil, it had become sinful to associate our children with it. The youth is the last hope. 

He said that 

“If India is ever to attain the swaraj of Poet’s dream, then it would certainly be delivered by the Non-Cooperation and Non-Violence”

-Yognik

from Makers of Modern India~Ramchandra Guha