Tagore’s Philosophy of Education

Abstract

Rabindranath Tagore was a great philosopher, a thinker, a social reformer, educationist and also a great priest of Indian culture and tradition. He believed that the aim of education is self-realization. He himself was a poet and a saint, who had, through his imagination and insight, realized the universal soul in himself and in nature. He believed that thisrealization was the goal of education. To Rabindranath, the purpose of education is freedom of mind and spirit.Tagore’s philosophy of education conforms to universal philosophy. The three fundamental principles of Tagore’s educational philosophy are Freedom, creativeness, self-expression and active unity with nature and man. He tried to spread the Indian philosophical as well as cultural thoughts and ideas throughout the world. Tagore, who had a rare and a great personality, exhibited multidimensional ideas which have relevance in today’s world. He had been endowed with versatile genius and untiring zeal. His knowledge, the Soul, Nature and Man earned him a second name ‘Gurudev’. Tagore's philosophy reflects a perfect blending of Western and Eastern ideas.