Evaluate Walt Whitman’s treatment of modernity and spirituality in the poem Passage to India.

Evaluate Walt Whitman’s treatment of modernity and spirituality in the poem Passage to India.

Answer:

In Passage to India, Walt Whitman beautifully combines the ideas of modernity and spirituality to show how human progress and the soul’s journey are deeply connected. The poem praises scientific achievements like railroads, undersea cables, and the Suez Canal. But at the same time, it also reflects on the ancient myths, the spiritual past, and the inner calling of the soul.

In the first section of the poem, the poet joyfully sings about the progress of the modern age. He appreciates the engineers for building strong but elegant structures. He sees the wonders of the present as even greater than the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. He mentions the Suez Canal and the Pacific Railroad as examples of how the world is becoming more connected. However, even while celebrating modern technology, the poet turns towards the past. He calls out to the soul and says that the present is only a continuation of the past. Without the past, there could be no present.

In the second part, Whitman addresses the soul and tells it to travel to India — not just the physical land, but the India of dreams, myths, and ancient wisdom. He does not reject science, but says that myths and fables are equally important. He welcomes the spiritual stories, the old religions, and the dreams of poets. He praises the temples and towers of India that shine under the rising sun. These are not just buildings, but symbols of the soul’s imagination and longing.

In the third section, Whitman speaks of God’s purpose — to unite the world. He believes that oceans exist to be crossed, races to be mixed, and lands to be connected. He sings a new kind of worship — not of gods, but of voyagers, explorers, engineers, and machinists. For Whitman, these are the new saints, because they help to unite the world not just in body, but in soul.

In the final part, Whitman presents two tableaus or pictures. One is the opening of the Suez Canal, and the other is the building of the Pacific Railroad. Both are symbols of how the modern world is becoming united. He imagines himself traveling through the desert, passing machines and workers, crossing mountains and plains. This physical journey is also a spiritual journey — a journey of the soul. He finally remembers explorers like Vasco da Gama and Columbus, and says that their dreams have been fulfilled. The world is now one. India, as a symbol of spiritual wisdom, becomes the ultimate destination of the soul.

Passage to India is a great example of how Walt Whitman connects modern achievements with spiritual truth. For him, science and technology are not against religion or imagination — they are part of the same journey. India becomes both a real and symbolic land — the land where the soul can finally reach its destination. Through this poem, Whitman celebrates not only the body’s journey across the world, but also the soul’s journey through time and space.