Revered both in South Asia and the world as a great poet and literary figure, Rabindranath Tagore was also a courageous public intellectual. Two-thirds of his writings were essays and letters in which he articulated his views on issues that were political, social and economic in nature. The Political Ideas of Rabindranath Tagore analyzes in depth his views in a chronological and historical way—the way Tagore desired that he be remembered. His criticisms of imperialism and nationalism, his faith in pluralism, his severe indictment of totalitarian communism and fascism and his fiercely liberal beliefs make him a man to be studied again and again if we are to understand the times we live in.