International Journal of Inclusive Development, Volume 1, No. 2, December 2015, pp.

23-27
© 2015 New Delhi Publishers. All rights reserved

Environment and Development : A Visit to the World of Tagore

Sreemanta Sarkar1 and Chaitali Ghosh2

Assistant Professor in Economics, Bidhan Chandra College, Asansol, West Bengal, India
1

2
Government Approved Part-Time Lecturer in philosophy, Raniganj Girls College, Raniganj, West Begal, India

Corresponding author: sreemanta.sarkar@gmail.com

Abstract
Environmental consideration of economic development has been attracting attention of the western
intellectuals for more than half a century. From 1970 onwards we find a large number of writings that
pointed out the danger of self-destructing nature of growth of the modern society. The study published
in 1972 under the title 'Limits to Growth' or its updated version 'Beyond the Limit' as published in 1992
portrayed an extremely pessimistic vision of the future of this world and predicted the cessation of growth
process after a certain period of time. Thus the environmental repercussions of economic activities led the
people to think about the kind of growth process that can be continued over time. The study published under
the title ‘The Ultimate Resource’ envisaged an unending process of growth but this seems to an extremely
optimistic vision of the real world situation. The concept of sustainable development, as it appeared in
the Brunt land’s report (1987) and got widely accepted in agenda 21 of the Rio conference in 1992 seems to
reconcile the concept of environment and development in a meaningful way. Sustainable development seeks
to provide the most obvious solution of the issue of continuing developmental activities paying adequate
consideration to this planet earth. But long before these western efforts Rabindranath Tagore, one of the
greatest poets, writers, thinkers, social reformers and environmentalists of the 19th century talked much
about environmental repercussions of economic development and provided solutions to embark on the path
of development suited to Indian soil and situations. A visit to the world of Tagore presents ample evidences
of his deep concern about nature and the self defeating activities of the human race that have enormous
bearing on environmental health. This paper attempts to focus on Tagore’s thought on environment and the
lessons as is found in his writings for mutual co- existence of progress and preservation.
Keywords: Environment, Development, Sustainable development.

Several decades have elapsed since the term Expansion of G.N.P. per capita or expansion of
economic development has got some separate people’s wellbeing or a combination of both,
entity from economic growth. Not only expansion whatever be the way development is defined
of per capita G.N.P. economic development implies there is no denying the fact that development
something more. Provision of life sustaining has important bearings on environmental health.
articles, ensuring self esteem and freedom which Economic development initiatives without any
in some sense implies expansion of entitlement environmental repercussions are completely
and capabilities of the people or in nutshell absurd as the development of language without
enhancement of well-being of the people comes people to speak it. Continuing development
under the orbit of development discussions. activities and maintaining environmental balance
 Sarkar and Ghosh

has been haunting intellectuals of different is often seen as in conflict with economy and is
branches of study for many years and this reached relegated to inferior status.
to an amicable settlement in the Rio conference This attitude towards environment has
in 1992 which accepted the idea of sustainable started yielding disastrous consequences. Some
development. Sustainable development seeks to 52% of the commercial fish stocks are now fully
offer the way by which development activities can exploited, about 20% are over exploited, and 8%
be pursued without much effect on environmental are depleted. In 2008 there were more than 400
health. But long before this concept has been oxygen depleted dead zones in the world's oceans
evolved by western thinkers, Rabindranath Tagore that cannot support marine life, covering an area
developed almost the same idea to maintain a fine equivalent to the size of U.K. The world’s forests
balance between environment and development. shrank by 1.3 percent or 520,000 square kilometers
If we delve deep into Tagore’s literary treasure, from 2000 to 2010—an area roughly the size of
we find ample evidences where he speaks about France. About one-fifth of the world’s coral reefs
environment friendly development approach have already been lost or severely damaged, while
(Sarkar 2012). This work attempts to travel into another 35% could be lost within 10–40 years,
the world of Tagore, as far as possible, to form a according to the latest review by the Global Coral
wreath into these concepts. Reef Monitoring Network. In 2012, there were 905
natural catastrophes worldwide—and 93 percent
Environment and Development: A Concept of these events were weather-related disasters.
Note This figure was about 100 above the 10-year annual
The report of World Watch Institute (2015), average of 800 natural catastrophes. Overall, the
shows that World coal extraction increased from global mean sea level has risen 1.65 mm per year
about 10 million tons in 1800 to 762 million tons since 1880. But average sea level rise from 1993 to
by 1900. It climbed to almost 7,900 million tons 2009 was almost double that long-term rate, at 3.2
in 2013—a more than 10-fold increase since mm per year. In 2013, the global combustion of
1900. World oil production started only in the fossil fuels and the production of cement resulted
late nineteenth century, but grew rapidly from in the emission of 36.1 billion tons of carbon
20 million tons in 1900 to 4,130 million tons in dioxide, a figure which was 61% over 1990 levels.
2013—a 207-fold expansion since 1900. Use of According to the most recent estimates, emissions
synthetic fertilizer increased from 137 million in 2014 are likely to be 2.5% over 2013 levels. In
tons in 2000 to 179 tons in 2013. From perhaps physical terms, this translates into the release of 37
25,000 cars on the world’s roads in 1900 and less billion additional tons of CO2 in the atmosphere.
than 1 million in 1910, the global automobile fleet (http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/trends).
crossed the 1 billion mark in 2013. The production The story does not end here. Some 1.2 billion
of energy-intensive materials— cement, plastics, people—almost one fifth of the world—live in
and steel—has more than doubled since 1992, areas of physical water scarcity, while another 1.6
far exceeding overall economic growth. Global billion face what can be called economic water
resource extraction—of fossil fuels, metals, shortage. It is estimated that by 2025 fully 1.8
minerals, and biomass—grew 50 percent in the 25 billion people will live in countries or regions
years between 1980 and 2005, to about 58 billion with absolute water scarcity, with almost half of
tons of raw materials (Renner 2015). Global coal the world living in conditions of water stress. For
consumption rose from 2261 million tons of oil reasons ranging from warfare and persecution to
equivalent to 3826.7 tons of oil equivalent in 2013 natural disasters and development projects, an
(http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/trends). estimated 92.56 million people were displaced
The above figure suggests that unending under compulsion in 2012, either inside their home
economic growth influenced by unbridled countries or across the borders .Global deaths from
consumption is so important to modern economies air pollution was about 7 million in 2012.
and so deep-rooted in the thinking of corporate These disturbing statistics are completely in
and political leaders that environmental action tune with the pessimistic group's study 'Limits to
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 Environment and Development : A Visit to the World of Tagore

Growth' or its updated version 'Beyond the Limit'. global action to achieve sustainable development.
These studies presented a completely dismal The Rio+20 conference outcome ’Future we want’
picture regarding the future of the growth process reaffirmed our need to achieve a sustainable world.
and predicted the cessation of the growth process
within a century. Limits on population or pollution Tagore on Environment and Development
can avoid the collapse the study suggested. The Tagore was very much concerned about
focal point of the pessimist model is that either the development and environmental issues as is
termination of the growth process by self-restraint found in his writings. Long before western
or conscious policy or termination of the growth efforts he announced the need for maintaining
by collision with the natural limits, resulting in environmental health in the context of economic
social collapse. One way or other the growth will progress. As early as 1916 on his way to Japan he
cease the study hints. The only issue is that the felt deep concern regarding environment seeing oil
conditions under which it will end, congenial or spill at sea. This incident annoyed him because of
hostile? (Titenberg 1998). the way modern man continuously disregarding
The picture presented by the study 'Limits to nature. He always wanted to maintain some
Growth' is not supported by many. well known harmonious relationship between man and
population economist Julian Simon published an nature. In Tapoban he wrote, the amazing fact is
alternative version 'The Ultimate Resource' which that, in India there is seen a mutual coexistence
out rightly rejected the prediction of collapse between river, ponds plants and human being.
(Simon, Julian L 1981). This study, as come to (Rabindra Rachanabali, vol-7 page 690). Tagore
known as, optimistic model, concludes that with strongly denied the disruption of this harmonious
the passage of time income rises and people relationship in the name of progress (Sarkar 2012).
move toward less severe shortage, lower costs In ‘Atma Shakti’ (Rabindra Rachanabali, vol-2 page
and increased availability of resources, including 692) he warned that to satisfy our ravenousness
a cleaner environment and greater access to we should not impair natural balance. But we
natural recreation areas. The study thus finds are doing these in every sphere of activities and
no convincing reason for the growth process to making our problems increasingly complicated.
continue indefinitely. Improvement of the quality of life and
The picture presented by the pessimistic or extension of real freedom of the people, not
by the optimistic model reaches into extreme simply the acceleration of economic growth, is
conclusions regarding the future of the growth considered to be the main theme of development
process and cannot be accepted totally. But both according to the modern thinkers. This is almost
contain some observations which are obvious as the reflection to what Tagore said regarding
reality. In between these two extreme the concept development of human race in general and India
of sustainable development as adopted in agenda in particular. Since village people constitute the
21 of the Rio conference in 1992 provides the most majority of Indian population, rural regeneration
likely solutions for the continuation of the growth got topmost priority in Tagore’s writing. ` He
process giving due consideration to environmental speaks for the establishment of self dependent
health. village units. In these self dependent village
Sustainable development seeks to meet the units, controlled by scientific and co-operative
need and aspirations of the present without understanding, people and society would be
compromising the ability of the future generations mutually responsible in the overall development
to meet their own needs. This definition signifies activities. Cities will be linked with villages with
the need for equity between and within generations mutual respect and trust. The society would be
to attain sustainability. Agenda 21, built around the free from all sorts of dominance, dependence and
concepts of combating poverty, restraining wasteful exploitation. He says the immense creative talent
consumption patterns and tackling demographic and mutual cooperation of the village people
pressures, provided a comprehensive blueprint for would give birth to a society free from poverty,
hunger and deprivation i.e. where the people will
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 Sarkar and Ghosh

enjoy ‘real freedom’, as per modern development all that is the gift of god (Rabindra Rachanabali,
terminology. This can be achieved as Tagore said vol-14 page 372-373). This concern for nature, and
in ‘Samabayaniti’ (Cooperative policy), human harmony of man and nature, which is an essential
beings can be saved from conflicts and sufferings perquisite for the development of a sustainable
resulting from inequality by inculcating the truth living condition, is also reflected in the building of
of unity in the sphere of economic activities too Santiniketan, Sriniketan and in Tagore’s vision of
(‘Samabayaniti’Rabindra Rachanabali, vol-14 Visva-bharati. The seasons festivals of santiniketan
page 322). Thus Tagore leaves us to the concept and Sriniketan,Viz., Barshamangal, Brikhharopana
of a society, a habitable people’s world, which can (tree planting ceremony), etc. bears the testimony
ensure sustainable living for everybody. of his love for nature and his untiring efforts in
Tagore’s immense love for nature is found in building up of a society which allows sustainable
his songs, poems, plays, in short in almost every living by maintaining ecological balance. At
branch of literature he has travelled. Tagore wrote Santiniketan, Tagore started the festival of the
song under the label’ Prakriti-Parjaay’ where Earth through brikkharopan (planting of trees) in
‘prakriti’ stands for nature and ‘parjaay’ stands for 1927 which reflects Tagore’s vision of the necessity
form, in which he uttered the need for maintaining of tree plantation in environment protection.
adequate balance between human activities and The way by which he tried to develop Sriniketan
environment and urged for protecting the mother’s and Santiniketan conveys the message that rural
earth. Tagore’s play ‘Muktadhara’ (The Waterfall), regeneration through development of agriculture
centres around a mountain-stream and a dam by cooperative efforts and improvement of living
which has been built by the royal engineer, Bibhuti conditions of the people are sine qua non of the
of Uttarakut across its waters with the help of a advancement of the country.
scientific Machine. The stream known as Mukta-
dhara (the Free Current), and the dam, stand out
Conclusion
as the chief matters of interest in the play and it Tagore’s view on environment and development
evolves around three persons, namely the Yuvaraja makes it amply clear that Rabindranath Tagore,
Abhijit, the royal engineer Bibhuti, and the king of much before the western development thinkers,
Uttarakut, Ranajit. Going against the king and the campaigned much to maintain ecological balance.
engineer the prince finally succeeded in shattering Tagore wanted to convey in many of his writings
the dam and letting the water of the river flow with that development activities are necessary but not
its usual course. at the irreparable cost of environment. He was
The play actually conveys Tagore's strong always in favour of a balance between progress
objection against human efforts of subordinating and preservation. Tagore dreamt of a world which
nature. In the poem ‘tame bird was in a cage' (The ensures congenial living not only for us but also
Gardener poem No. 6) Tagore nicely pictures the for our progenies.
longing of caged birds to sing the song of the
woodlands and his inability to fly into the forest References
for its powerless and dead wings. Sarkar Sreemanta, 2012. A note on the roots of
Tagore was in strict opposition of the self sustainable development in the writings of
defeating nature of development activities, which Rabindranath Tagore, Impressions of Eternity, 3-4:
125-129.
cares little about nature, and the balance between
man and the surrounding environment. He was Titenberg, Tom, 1998. Environment Economics and
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forests greedy people are digging their own grave. Princeton, NJ, Princeton university press.
People have uprooted trees which give us clean Tagore, Rabindranath 1986. Rabindra Rachanavali,
air, help us in making our land fertile. Completely 2,l7,14.
forgetting their own welfare man has destroyed

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 Environment and Development : A Visit to the World of Tagore

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