ABSTRACT
Rabindranath Thakur (Tagore) was an ardent early twentieth-century cosmopolitan rooted in the complex cultures of India. In this quote, he argued that a true view of humankind can come only through the relationship of the personal with the social, which he called love of humankind and justice. Cultures can be judged and/or appreciated by examining their laws and institutions to see the extent to which they lead to the well-being of humans. Thakur argued that ancient cultures fell and withered away because the people were callous of heart. They did not value human life and engaged in “cannibalistic” practices like slavery, injustice, and oppression. His use of the term “cannibalism” is striking; it calls to mind primitive societies of people who eat each other. It intentionally contrasts sharply with the civilized concepts of freedom and fair-play. Thakur certainly appropriated his knowledge of English culture and language to resist Britain’s imperialist position in India, foreshadowing the fall of the British Empire. Yet he was also looking inside his own culture to the inequities of caste.
