The motto of Viśva-bhāratī University founded by Rabindranath Tagore
https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6401-2023-4-170-193
Abstract
The subject of this paper is the motto of the university Viśvabhāratī founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921: yatra viśvaṁ bhavati ekanīḍam. In spite of the world fame of the poet and his well researched biography, this motto has remained burdened with a number of questions. What is the “correct” form of this motto? In (by) what official document has this motto been fixed? By whom and when these words were proclaimed the motto of Viśva-bhāratī? From what source (text) these words have been taken? Why, in the vast literature about Tagore, this source (text) is never mentioned? The paper addresses these questions, but not for all of them clear answers are found. The most simple question has proved to be one about the source. It was not too difficult to find out that the motto of Viśva-bhāratī is a line (a pāda) from “chapter” 32 of the “Vājasaneyi-Saṁhitā” of the “White Yajur-veda”. But, while turning into the university motto, this line radically changed its meaning. In the Vedic context, the subject matter was Brahman (the Absolute) as the one and only essence of all that there is. The motto is interpreted as proclaiming the unity of humankind. In such a reinterpretation of an ancient text there is nothing extraordinary. As a rather similar case, we may recall Immanuel Kant’s motto “Sapere aude!” which is a reinterpreted quotation form an “Epistle” of Horace.
Keywords
Rabindranath Tagore,
Viśva-bhāratī ,
university,
motto,
White Yajur-veda,
upanishads,
I. Kant,
sapere aude
Supporting agencies: The author expresses his gratitude to Dr. L.I. Kulikov, a specialist in Vedic philology, for his help. Dr. L.I. Kulikov read an earlier (raw) version of this paper and made a number of valuable critical remarks which the author has done his best to take into account while finalising the text of the paper.
About the Author
S. D. Serebriany
Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Sergei D. Serebriany, Dr. of Sci. (Philosophy), Cand. of Sci. (Philology), Director, E.M. Meletinsky Institute for Advanced Studies
bld. 6, Miusskaya Square, Moscow, 125047
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Review
For citations:
Serebriany S.D. The motto of Viśva-bhāratī University founded by Rabindranath Tagore. RSUH/RGGU BULLETIN. Series Philosophy. Social Studies. Art Studies. 2023;(4):170-193. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6401-2023-4-170-193
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