Rabindranather Jatiyotabad-birodhi Swadeshprem

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Is nationalism—or Jatiyatabad—truly a sacred, inviolable, and universal concept, transcending all conflict and controversy? Is the acceptance of nationalism inevitable? Is the endeavor to become a "nationalist" a mandatory duty for every citizen? If so, why did Rabindranath Tagore—our National Poet and the composer of our National Anthem—advocate for the rejection of nationalism? While it is true that Rabindranath was an opponent of nationalism, he loved his country no less than anyone else. When he viewed nationalism as a distorted form of devotion to the nation, the question naturally arose: what, then, is the alternative path to loving one's country? If we characterise Rabindranath as an anti-nationalist patriot, what exactly is the nature of that patriotism (Swadeshprem) when juxtaposed against nationalism (Jatiyatabad)? Framing these questions, this book attempts to illuminate a specific epoch in the history of nation-building in India—an era marked by Rabindranath’s anti-nationalist discourse, his ideological differences with Gandhi, and, above all, the true essence of his anti-nationalist patriotism.