Author: Shiben Kumar Sarkar

Abstract: Rabindranath Tagore's literary and philosophical oeuvre presents a profound alternative to the anthropocentric alienation perpetuated by modern industrial civilisation. This review article explores Tagore's ecopoetics of harmony, arguing that his vision is fundamentally non-anthropocentric, positioning the Earth as a living, conscious entity with which humans are in a relationship of mutual reverence and spiritual interdependence. By synthesising ecocritical theory—including deep ecology, ecofeminism, and postcolonial environmentalism with a close analysis of Tagore's poetry, songs, essays, and his educational project at Santiniketan, this article demonstrates how Tagore dismantles the subject-object dichotomy between humanity and nature. It examines his concept of Jivan Devata (the Lord of Life) as a principle of universal consciousness, his critique of the mechanistic worldview, and his celebration of a "green fuse" that connects all existence. The article concludes by positioning Tagore's vision as a vital philosophical and ethical resource for contemporary environmental thought, offering a path toward a more harmonious and sustainable mode of dwelling on Earth.

Keywords: Rabindranath Tagore, Ecopoetics, Non-Anthropocentrism, Deep Ecology, Jivan Devata, Environmental Philosophy, Santiniketan.

Article Info: Received: 19 Jan 2021; Received in revised form: 22 Feb 2021; Accepted: 25 Feb 2021; Available online: 28 Feb 2021

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.61.67