Nationalism In India

Nationalism spreads when people begin to feel that they are all part of the same nation, when they discover some unity that binds them together.

A sense of collective belonging among the people came partly through the experience of united struggles .

These were also a variety of cultural processes through which nationalism captured people’s imagination.Like history, fiction folklore and some popular prints and symbols all played a part in the making of nationalism.

Introduction

Today living in free India we have actually forgotten the cost our freedom fighters have paid to achieve this independence. We hardly remember our struggle for freedom but history tells us that it was not achieved in one day. Series of events took place before we realized what freedom is all about. According to history it was the impact of English education in India, which led the foundation and growth of nationalism, which eventually resulted in freedom of thought and expression.

In the 20th century with the growth of nationalism the identity of India came to be visually associated with the image of Bharat Mata. Abanindranath Tagore painted his famous image of Bharat Mata, she was portrayed as an ascetic figure, calm, composed, divine and spiritual.

The Image Of ‘Bharat Mata’

‘The National Song’ Bankim Chandra

Chattopadhyay in the 1870 wrote Vande Mataram as a hymn to the motherland. Later it was included in his novel ‘Anandmath’. The image of Bharat Mata was also first created by him.

History Of Indian FlagDuring Swadeshi Movement in Bengal a tri-color

flag was designed. It had eight lotus representing eight provinces of British India, a crescent moon representing Hindus and Muslims.

By 1921 Gandhiji designed the Swaraj Flag. It was also Tricolor and had a spinning wheel in the centre representing Gandhian ideal of self help.

REINTERPRETATION OF HISTORY

Looking into glorious past by the end of the 19th century many Indians felt that to instill a sense of pride in the nation, Indian history had to be thought about differently. Indians started looking into the past to rediscover India’s achievements. They wrote about the development in ancient times when art, architecture, science, mathematics, religion, culture, law, crafts and trade had flourished.

When past being glorified was Hindu and celebrated images were drawn from Hindu iconology, the people of other communities felt left-out.

INDIAN FOLKLORE In the late 19th century India, nationalists began recording

folk tales sung by bards and they toured villages to gather folk songs and legends. It was essential to preserve one’s national identity and restore a sense of pride in one’s past.

These tales, they believed, gave a true picture of traditional culture that had been corrupted and damaged by outside forces.

In Madras, In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore himself began collecting ballads, nursery rhymes and myths, and led the movement for folk revival.

Mahatma Gandhi with late Prime minister of Independent India

GandhiJi going for Morning Prayer Services

Nationalism: Patriotism; a feeling of collective belonging to one’s nation; sharing common feelings of identity.

Nation-states: A state having common territory and inhabited by people sharing common language, race, culture, etc.

Satyagraha: A method of agitation and protest, based on truth and non-violence. This was first introduced by Gandhiji in Indian National Movement.

Khalifa: The spiritual and temporal head of all Muslims or the Muslim world. Khalifa was also the ruler of Turkey till 1922.

Picket: A method of protest by which the people block the entrance of a shop, factory or office. One or more persons stand outside a place of work or shop to dissuade others from entering.

Begar: Forced labor compelling people to work free without any remuneration.

Martial Law: Law of military government. When martial laws were imposed, ordinary laws are suspended.

Civil Disobedience: Refusal to comply with certain laws as a method of peaceful protest.

Important Terms

THANK YOU

Made by:-Shivansh Jagga

Class: 10 - B