Chapter- 23 Where the Mind is without Fear
1. Who is the poet of the poem Where the Mind is without Fear?
Answer: The poet is Rabindranath Tagore.
2. What is the poem Where the Mind is without Fear about?
Answer: The poem is about the poet’s dream of a free, fearless, and united nation.
3. What does “the mind is without fear” mean?
Answer: It means people can think and express ideas freely without fear.
4. What does “the head is held high” suggest?
Answer: It suggests self-respect and pride.
5. What does the poet mean by “knowledge is free”?
Answer: Knowledge should be available to everyone without restrictions.
6. What are “narrow domestic walls”?
Answer: Narrow thinking based on caste, religion, and regional differences.
7. What happens when the world is broken into fragments?
Answer: Society becomes divided and loses unity.
8. What does “words come out from the depth of truth” mean?
Answer: People speak honestly and sincerely.
9. What is meant by “tireless striving”?
Answer: Continuous and sincere effort towards improvement.
10. Towards what does tireless striving move?
Answer: Towards perfection.
11. What is the “clear stream of reason”?
Answer: Logical and rational thinking.
12. What does the “dreary desert sand of dead habit” symbolize?
Answer: Blind customs and outdated traditions.
13. Why should reason not lose its way?
Answer: Because reason guides people towards progress.
14. Who is referred to as “Thee” in the poem?
Answer: God.
15. What does the poet ask God to do?
Answer: To lead people toward freedom of thought and action.
16. What kind of country does the poet want?
Answer: A country that is fearless, united, truthful, and progressive.
17. What is meant by “ever-widening thought and action”?
Answer: Continuous growth in ideas and actions.
18. What is the “heaven of freedom”?
Answer: An ideal state of complete freedom.
19. For whom does the poet pray?
Answer: For his country.
20. What does the word “awake” suggest in the poem?
Answer: To become aware and enlightened.
21. What qualities should citizens possess according to the poem?
Answer: Fearlessness, honesty, unity, and rational thinking.
22. How does the poem reflect patriotism?
Answer: It expresses love and hope for the nation’s moral freedom.
23. What form of freedom does the poet emphasize?
Answer: Freedom of mind and thought.
24. What is the tone of the poem?
Answer: Hopeful, prayerful, and inspiring.
25. What literary device is used in “clear stream of reason”?
Answer: Metaphor.
26. Why does the poet reject blind tradition?
Answer: Because it stops progress and free thinking.
27. What is the central theme of the poem?
Answer: Mental freedom, unity, and enlightenment.
28. How can a nation achieve true freedom according to the poet?
Answer: Through knowledge, reason, unity, and honest effort.
29. What message does the poem give to students?
Answer: To think freely, seek knowledge, and work sincerely.
30. Why is the poem still relevant today?
Answer: Because freedom of thought and unity are still essential for society.
Answer by Dimpee Bora
