Where The Mind is Held High

By Rabindranath Tagore

As a kid, I’m sure you’ve mumbled through stuff, prayers, and poetry with zero understanding. Then, years later, you've probably had this moment when you went, "Oh sheet, that was actually profound.”

For me, it was this poem:

This was our assembly school prayer more than 30 years ago. Every morning, hundreds of sleepy kids would recite it back to the principal in one giant monotone mumble.

I was one of those kids. Just trying not to fall asleep standing up, completely clueless about what I was saying.

It was only years later, when YouTube's algorithm randomly served me the poem and nostalgia hit, that I actually decided to figure out what the hell I'd been saying all those mornings.

Turns out, it's powerful as hell. And yeah, in these divisive times, it hits different. But honestly, when have times not been divisive? It's just that now we get a front-row seat to the fuckery through social media.

Let's break down what this beautiful poem actually means:

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high"

A place where people live with dignity and confidence, not afraid of oppression, judgment, or limitations.

Think about that for a second. How much of your day is spent worried about what others think? Afraid of saying the wrong thing, hesitant to take a risk, because of judgment. I'm constantly calculating risk in my head about sharing stuff—will this upset X person? Will this make Y person angry?

"Where knowledge is free"

A society where education and truth are accessible to everyone, without barriers.

In an age of paywalls, algorithms, and "this content is not available in your region," this hits different. Information might be free, but are you being educated on the right things? Or just what the algorithm says you should?

"Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls"

A vision of unity—no divisions by religion, caste, class, or borders. No narrow-mindedness.

Bless communities. But also un-bless communities. Tribal warfare that started eons ago continues today, but now the vitriol and negativity are supercharged and delivered with tactical precision by social media. We're more connected than ever, yet somehow more divided.

"Where words come out from the depth of truth"

People speak with honesty, not lies or flattery—their words come from deep conviction.

Not for likes, not for clout, not to fit in. Just pure, honest expression. When was the last time you wrote something without thinking about how it would be received?

"Where tireless striving stretches its arms toward perfection"

Everyone works relentlessly to be better—always improving, always progressing.

Not for the reels or to impress someone. But for the pursuit itself. For the joy of mastery and growth. Imagine that—doing something without documenting it for social validation.

"Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit"

Logic and rational thought should guide life, not blind traditions or outdated customs.

Question everything. Even—especially—the things you've always done. Why do you check your phone first thing in the morning? Why do you consume certain news? Why do you work where you do?

"Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action"

Guided by a higher power (or ideals), the mind grows, explores new ideas and actions.

Expansion, not contraction. Growth, not comfort. The willingness to be wrong, to change, to evolve.

"Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake."

A heartfelt plea for India (or any country) to wake up into this ideal world — free, fearless, and wise.

Call it a rallying cry for humanity or some damn good life advice, whatever it may be, these lines are the utopia if we can all get our shit together.

And maybe that's why they made us recite it every morning.

Not because they thought kids would understand it but because someday, we might. And maybe—just maybe—by the time we did understand, these words would already be part of us.

I think that's just how wisdom works. Not from sudden epiphanies, but from quiet seeds planted long ago, just waiting for the right moment to grow.

And finally, bear fruit.