16

Where the Mind is without Fear

WHERE the mind is without fear and the
head is held high;
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth,
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by Thee
into ever-widening thought and action
Into that Heaven of freedom
My Father, let my country awake.
- Rabindranath Tagore

Glossary
striving

/straIviN/

to try very hard to achieve something or to

defeat something

dreary

/'drIJri/

that makes you feel sad

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Textbook

Exercises
Vocabulary
A.

The following words have special meanings in the poem.Write them.

high, free, walls, stream, awake, head, desert

B.

Match the words given in column A with their meanings given in

column B.
A

C.

fear

you

knowledge

large sandy piece of land where nothing

grows because there is no rain

thee

not having

desert

feeling which one has when in danger

without

things known

Write the meanings of the following expressions :

in fear and trembling
for fear of / that
No fear !
without fear of favour
I fear

D. Pronounce the following words :

when

van

worse

verse

wary

very

Textbook

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wine

vine

while

vile

Comprehension
A. Read the first four lines of the poem and answer the questions.
1.

What does the poet mean by the head is held high ?

2.

Explain what does the poet mean by where knowldge is free ?

3.

What are narrow domestic walls ?

B. Read the next four lines and answer the following questions.
1.

Find out the line expressing, Endless efforts are made to achieve the
best quality.

2.

What do you understand by clear stream of reason.

3.

What is the dead habit' according to the poet ?

C. Read the last four lines and answer the following questions.
1.

What does the poet mean by ever widening thought and action ?

2.

Describe any two traits of character the poet wants to inculcate in his
countrymen.

3.

What does the poet mean by let my country awake ?

4.

What is Heaven of freedom according to the poet ?

Speaking Activity
A.

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Form four groups in the class. Each group will be assigned some lines of the
poem. Discuss the particular lines in your group and express your opinion
about the poet's view.
Textbook

Writing Activity
A.

Write a letter to your friend describing the contribution of a freedom fighter.

(50 words)

B.

How can we get rid of narrow domestic walls ? Express your views.
(150 words)

Think it over
A.

All human beings are one. Caste, creed and colour divide people in small
groups. Such divisions go on till we are left alone. Still there are such narrow
domestic walls. Why ?

B.

Superstitions and prejudices hinder our progress. How ?

C.

How far has the idea of 'Heaven of freedom' been materialized in the modren
world ?

Things to do
Go to the library and read the fundamental rights as described in the
Constitution of India. Write them in the diary also.

Textbook

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