Question
What was Rabindranath’s ‘Gora’ role in awakening nationalist feeling in India?
Answer
Rabindranath Tagore’s novel ‘Gora’ played a significant role in awakening nationalist feelings in India by:
- Depicting the tension between British colonial rule and the Indian desire for self-rule.
- Criticizing the hypocrisy of Indian elites who embraced Western education and culture while denigrating their own heritage.
- Celebrating the unity of India’s diverse religious and cultural traditions, emphasizing the importance of embracing and respecting all communities.
- Encouraging the use of Indian languages and promoting the idea of Swadeshi or indigenous industries.
- Challenging the caste system by portraying a protagonist who defies social hierarchies and embraces a casteless society.
- Inspiring the idea of a new India, rooted in tradition yet modern and forward-looking, with a strong sense of national identity and pride.
