1.1 Where the Mind is Without Fear... - Class 10 - Kumarbharati

Poet: Rabindranath Tagore

Maharashtra State Board – Std 10

Summary:

This poem is a heartfelt prayer by Rabindranath Tagore to God, seeking an ideal India. He wishes for a country where people live without fear and with dignity. He dreams of a nation where knowledge is freely available, truth is spoken from the heart, and people work hard to achieve perfection. He prays that the country remains united and is not divided by religion, caste, or class. He wants reasoning to guide actions, not old customs and habits. He envisions India awakening into a land of freedom, enlightenment, and progressive thought.

Theme / Central Idea:

The poem expresses the poet’s dream of a truly free India—free from fear, ignorance, discrimination, and narrow-mindedness. It is a spiritual and patriotic prayer for a nation guided by truth, knowledge, reason, and unity.

Word Meanings:

Figures of Speech:

Two-Mark Questions (Board Style Answers):

1. What does the poet mean by ‘narrow domestic walls’? → The phrase ‘narrow domestic walls’ refers to barriers created by caste, religion, region, and class that divide people. The poet wishes for a country where such narrow-minded divisions do not exist, and people live in unity.

2. What does the poet want people to do with ‘tireless striving’? → The poet wants people to make constant efforts to achieve their goals and work toward perfection. He believes that hard work and dedication are necessary for the growth of individuals and the nation.

3. What is meant by ‘dead habit’? Why does the poet mention it? → ‘Dead habit’ means outdated and harmful traditions that stop people from thinking freely. The poet warns that reason and progress should not get lost in the dry desert of such habits.

4. What kind of freedom does the poet pray for? → The poet prays for complete freedom - freedom of thought, speech, education, and action. He does not seek just political freedom, but also freedom from fear, ignorance, and social divisions.

5. Who is 'Thee' in the poem, and what does the poet request from ‘Thee’? → ‘Thee’ refers to God. The poet requests God to lead his country into a world of enlightenment, progress, and true freedom where people are guided by truth and reason.

Poem Appreciation :

The poem “Where the Mind is Without Fear” is written by Rabindranath Tagore. It is a prayer to God for the freedom and progress of India. The poem is written in free verse and does not follow any rhyme scheme. The central idea of the poem is to describe the poet’s vision of an ideal nation where people are fearless, educated, truthful, united, and progressive. The poet uses several metaphors like “narrow domestic walls” and “clear stream of reason” to express social issues and the importance of logic. The repetition of the word “Where” at the beginning of each line gives rhythm and emphasis to the poem. The language is simple but powerful. My favourite line is “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high” because it inspires self-confidence and dignity. The poem has a patriotic and spiritual tone. It appeals to every citizen to work for a better future. The poet wishes for a country that is awakened into a “heaven of freedom.” I like this poem because its message is still relevant today and it motivates us to build a better society. The poem is both beautiful and meaningful.

High-Probability Board Questions

1. What kind of freedom does the poet pray for in the poem? (2 marks) → The poet prays for true freedom - freedom of thought, speech, education, and action. He wants the citizens of his country to be fearless, truthful, logical, united, and constantly striving for progress.

2. Identify and explain the figure of speech in the line:“Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit.” (2 marks) → Figure of Speech: Metaphor → Explanation: Reason is compared to a clear stream, while outdated customs are compared to a dry desert. This suggests that logical thinking should not disappear into lifeless traditions.

3. Write an appreciation of the poem ‘Where the Mind is Without Fear’ in 8–10 sentences using the following points: (5 marks)

• Title and poet

• Theme

• Language and tone

• Figures of speech

• Personal opinion
  

4. What is the meaning of ‘narrow domestic walls’ in the poem? (2 marks) → ‘Narrow domestic walls’ refer to divisions in society based on caste, religion, class, and region. The poet wishes for a country where these social barriers do not exist, and all people live in unity.

5. Why does the poet repeat the word “Where” at the beginning of most lines? What effect does this have on the poem? (2 marks) → The repetition of “Where” emphasizes each of the poet’s dreams for an ideal nation. It gives the poem a prayer-like rhythm and reinforces the hopeful tone of the poem.

About BhashaLab

BhashaLab is a dynamic platform dedicated to the exploration and mastery of languages - operating both online and offline. Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Credit Framework (NCrF), we offer language education that emphasizes measurable learning outcomes and recognized, transferable credits.

We offer:

1. NEP alligned offline language courses for degree colleges - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi

2. NEP alligned offline language courses for schools - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi

3. Std VIII, IX and X - English and Sanskrit Curriculum Tuitions - All boards

4. International English Olympiad Tuitions - All classes

5. Basic and Advanced English Grammar - Offline and Online - Class 3 and above

6. English Communication Skills for working professionals, adults and students - Offline and Online

Contact: +91 86577 20901, +91 97021 12044

Mail: info@bhashalab.com

Website: www.bhashalab.com