Exploring Sociocultural and Ideological Dimensions in Rabindranath Tagore’s English Translations of Kabir’s Poetry

Abstract

This paper explores how Rabindranath Tagore’s translations of Kabir’s poetry reshape its cultural and ideological meanings. Despite Kabir’s influence and Tagore’s role in introducing his works globally, existing research often overlooks the impact of these translations on the original sociocultural contexts. For example, Tagore’s translation of Kabir’s critique of social and religious hypocrisy (“Kabira khada bazaar mein”) shifts from a direct critique to a more neutral observation, reflecting Tagore’s reformist views and the colonial Indian context. Tagore also overlays his own philosophical interpretations on Kabir’s spiritual allegories, transforming the original mysticism to align with his vision of universal spirituality. Using postcolonial and sociocultural frameworks, the paper examines how these translations both reflect and challenge colonial ideologies. Case studies of specific translations illustrate how Tagore balanced fidelity to the source material with adaptation to his audience’s cultural context. The study concludes by suggesting further research into the influence of translator subjectivity on cultural representation.