Abstract:

Tagore was a great poet and also a shrewd philosopher. His is a philosophy of accommodation in the sense that in it all philosophical standpoints get their due! All philosophical stand points-realism, idealism, materialism, Monism, pluralism, spiritualism, humanism, theism are beautifully and tactfully harmonised in his philosophy. He was well versed in both the traditions-Indian and Western; the Upanishads had a special impact on him; he was very much moved by their teachings of universalism and Spiritualistic humanism. Tagore stands not for bare, abstract unity and monism, but for concrete unity in diversity; mere unity without plurality, according to him is an empty nothing; it is like the Vina without its music; plurality brings charm to life and makes life lively and enjoyable. His criticism of classical Advaita is sarcastic: ?one without a second (Nirguna Brahman) is emptiness, the ?other one? makes it true?! In his poems, Tagore challenges God: ?Where would have been your love if ?I? were not there?? ?It involves two to love and be loved.? But he is not for extreme unconnected radical pluralism. It is loving God who unites the infinite and the finite. Thus he accommodates both Monism and Pluralism, in his Vast philosophic thought.

Tagore's analysis of the relation between Poetry and philosophy is very interesting. Similarly his conception of religion (?The religion of man?) goes beyond all the fetters of individual and institutional religions. He calls the University established as ?Visvabharati, and the place Santiniketan! Some of his philosophic words are : Sadhana, Creative Unity, The religion of Man etc. The talk just dwells on all these conceptions of Tagore.

About the Speaker:

Dr. V. N. Sheshagiri Rao obtained his Masters Degree in Philosophy (1974) and Ph. D degree (1981) from the University of Mysore. He worked for his Ph. D. ?On the philosophy of Vacaspati Mishra, which has been published (1984). He is specialized in Vedanta and Comparative philosophy and has contributed a good number of Research articles in many journals. He wields his pen, with equal felicity, both in English and Kannada. He is on the staff of philosophy Department of Mysore University since 1974. His publications include 1. Vacaspati?s Contribution to Advaita, 2. Samakaleena Bharateeya Tattva Shastra (1985 Published by Mysore University). 3. Western Philosophical Thought (Paschatya Tattvika Cintana, Published by Mysore University, 1985). 4. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan ?Baduku, Baraha mattu Tattva Jnana (Published by Karnataka Government, 1992).He has successfully guided twenty six candidates for his Ph. D. Degree. At present Prof. Rao is the Emeritus Professor and Retired Head of the Department of Philosophy, Mysore University. He can be contacted at: