Published Paper Details:

Rabindranath Tagore's The Home and the World presents a profound exploration of the tension between nationalism and modernity, using allegory to examine the complexities of identity, politics, and social change in colonial India. The novel, set during the Swadeshi movement, reflects Tagore's critique of aggressive nationalism through the characters of Nikhil, Bimala, and Sandip, each symbolizing different facets of the national consciousness. Nikhil embodies rationality, moral responsibility, and a modern, liberal worldview, advocating for peaceful reform and individual freedom. In contrast, Sandip represents a radical, passionate nationalism driven by emotional fervor and self-interest, while Bimala, caught between the two men, illustrates the nation's struggle to reconcile tradition with modernity. Through these characters, Tagore delves into the ethical dilemmas of nationalistic zeal, highlighting the potential dangers of blind patriotism and the erosion of moral values. The allegorical elements of the novel serve to underscore the conflicts between spiritual ideals and political aspirations, tradition and progress, and personal freedom and collective identity, making The Home and the World a critical commentary on the challenges of forging a modern nation-state.