ABSTRACT
‘If’ is Rudyard Kipling’s (1865–1936) most famous work, coming a close second after his Jungle Book (1894). Written in 1895, the poem has always been looked at as positing values such as humility, courage, and perseverance, which can inspire young people. However, even a cursory knowledge of Kipling’s relationship with the Empire raises questions about the apparently simple message of the poem. Kipling avowedly had great admiration for the Empire, though he was not a jingoistic imperialist as many critics suggest. He was also aware of the great responsibility that the Empire entailed, as is evident in many works, including ‘The White Man’s Burden’.
In many ways, Rudyard Kipling’s concept of the Empire is similar to a popular concept in the Victorian Era, i.e. Muscular Christianity. In its purest form, Muscular Christianity emphasised upon humanitarian values, as opposed to a ‘might-is-right’ policy that some imperialists believed in. Muscular Christianity was popularised by writers such as Charles Kingsley and Thomas Hughes. The influence that Muscular Christianity had on Kipling cannot be exaggerated. However, it is not just conjecture that the writing of ‘If’ was closely connected with the Empire. The inspiration behind the poem was Dr. Leander Starr Jameson, a disgraced general. In my paper, I will examine the poem in this regard and analyse how the poem, far from being an apology for imperialism, in fact, is an indictment against the Empire and a treatise for the ideal imperialist. The paper will also attempt to relate the values extolled in ‘If’ with the Hindu concept of sthitapragna, or the person who remains calm at all times. A study of how the values in the Gita can be applied to ‘If’ will be made, also looking at what the similarities between the two texts actually mean in a larger context.
