The concept of ‘Nationalism’ varied during different periods of the Indian history. It had various connotations at various points of time. Interestingly, Rabindranath Tagore in his famous essay ‘Nationalism’ has beautifully and categorically argued the essence of Nationalism. According to Tagore, the very idea of Nationalism is the promotion of unity and brotherhood, among different communities: complete absence of hate between different faiths and ethnic groups. Nationalism does not mean to invade the weaker one, annihilation of minorities, or dissemination of false propaganda. These parameters tend to divide the people under the pretext of religion, ethnicity, eating and living habits, etc. In a letter that Tagore wrote to his friend AM Bose in 1908, he mentioned: “Patriotism can’t be our final spiritual shelter. I will not buy glass for the price of diamonds and I will never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity as long as I live.”

The difference of idea of a nation and nationalism between Tagore and Gandhi. While Gandhi wanted Purna Swaraj, Tagore wanted the country to be free from the yoke of British imperialism yet Tagore developed his own ideology of ultimate freedom and degree of nationalism. Tagore was against British rule but was also against hardcore nationalism. Tagore wrote that he will never let patriotism come before humanity.

Tagore stressed the expression of genuine principles and unity in diversity yet claimed the societal structure of India to remain as it is. By not putting the country before humanity, he argued about the consequences of doing so. Tagore pointed towards the war and limited rights of the citizens are due to the extreme patriotic epidemic and identified India by her diversity.

Mahatma Gandhi

The definition of Nationalism of Gandhiji differed from the European Nationalism concept post-Westphalian peace treaties. According to him, Nationalism was a wide concept that was inclusive, considering nobody as an enemy.

He believed that the nation was not above people, so people should not sacrifice themselves for the nation, rather than practice common brotherhood and other social friendliness to live happily together and improve their lifestyles. It was not based on imperialist ideals. He believed that the nation should rather serve the people.

Rabindranath Tagore

The great of poet of all times, Rabindranath Tagore, in his writing “Modern Review” titled The Cult of the Charkha, has strongly repudiated the Nationalism’s ideologies Gandhiji during the Non-Cooperation Movement. According to him, nationalism was a concept of Maya or mirage.

We should not relentlessly run after it. We should rather practise spiritualism. He never considered Swaraj as our objective. He believed that a nation which takes an isolated view of one’s own country cannot have a harmonious living with the modern aged countries and will lag. He termed Gandhi’s concept of nationalism as pugnacious.

In 1920, during the non-cooperation movement, Gandhi asked Indians not to buy British goods and products and only consume Indian products. Then Tagore became the voice of labourers and peasants. He argued that many Indians couldn't afford this curb. Indian cloth was expensive while the foreign cloth was comparatively cheaper.

In his essay,  titled “Shodupaye” or “The Right Way” he mentioned the struggle traders were facing. How they were getting noticed to shun foreign commodities and many even encountered violence afterward. According to Tagore, the greatest curse upon India was not foreign cloth but the fight within it. According to him, we are only free when our minds are completely free. Until you are not free to think for yourself, you are not absolutely free.

In a letter addressed to his friend A.M. Bose in 1908, Tagore wrote that he will never let patriotism to come before humanity. In his book Nationalism, he even said that "Nationalism is a cruel epidemic of evil that is sweeping over the human world of the present age." He warned us about Repressive Nationalism and Compulsory Nationalism which ends in war, conflict, and retraction of citizen's rights.

Tagore also argued that when love for one's country becomes a "sacred obligation" then disaster is the only remaining outcome that is inevitable. According to him, we are taught from our childhood that our nation is our god and it is more important than humanity.

Gandhi and Tagore on Nationalism

Similarities 

• Feelings of nationalism drove both Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore.
• Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore had different ways of dealing with their oppressors, but, they were united by aim and Ideologies.
• Gandhi fought with the British with non-violence and started the Civil Disobedience Movement and other movements to show that Indian commended this oppression. Meanwhile, Tagore took to literature and propagated nationalist Ideas to young minds. He also surrendered his Knighthood in the act of support the Indian freedom struggle.

For his 70th birthday, Gandhi wrote about Tagore in an anthology—the Golden Book of Tagore—"In common with thousands of his countrymen I owe much to one who by his poetic genius and singular purity of life has raised India in the estimation of the world." Of course, twelve years ago, in April of 1919, Tagore had for the first time addressed Gandhiji as "Mahatma", even though it wasn't Tagore who was the first to use the honorific. And much prior to that, it was his elder brother, Dwijendranath, who was the first to recognise the leadership of Gandhi and even side with Gandhi on the support to the non-cooperation movement. Mahatma Gandhi, on the other hand, called Tagore, the "Great Sentinel" and said, "I regard the Poet as a sentinel warning us against the approach of enemies called Bigotry, Lethargy, Intolerance, Ignorance, Inertia and other members of that brood."

But Gandhi wrote this at a time when Tagore had stood up against the non- cooperation movement. The relationship between these two giants of India had been both rocky and extremely complex. The many subjects of disagreement and instances of mutual respect and admiration, as well similarities and stark differences in their personalities, weave together into an intricate fabric.