Nationalism in India Mod 5

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

​This sense of collective belonging came partly through the experience of united struggles.

Other reasons:​ Come Have Fun & Play

a) Cultural Processes

b) History & fiction

c) Folklore & Songs

d) Popular prints & Symbols​

​Mostly symbolised in a figure or image, with which people can identify the nation

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In 20th century, identity of India - visually associated with image of Bharat Mata, 1st created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

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In 1870, he wrote "Vande Mataram" - hymn to motherland, later included in his novel Anandamath & widely sung during Swadeshi ​Mvt in Bengal

​Moved by Swadeshi Movt, Abanindranath Tagore painted his famous image of Bharat Mata, portrayed as :

an ascetic​ figure, (Mala in one hand)

calm, composed ; divine & spiritual​

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​She is shown dispensing learning, food and clothing

Ravi Varma style​ painting

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• 19th century nationalists began recording folk tales sung by bards & toured villages to gather folk songs and legends

• ​They gave a true picture of traditional culture, that was damaged by external forces.

• In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore started collecting ballads, nursery rhymes & myths

• In Madras, Natesa Sastri publised a massive 4 volume collection of folktales, "The Folklore of Southern India"​

In Swadeshi Movt Bengal: tri colour flag - red, green & yellow with 8 lotuses (8 provinces of British India) and a crescent moon (Hindus & Muslims)

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Gandhiji designed a Swaraj flag - tricolour - red, green, white with spinning wheel in centre ( ideal of self help)​

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Carrying flag = symbol of defiance.​

• Nationalism through reinterpretation of History

• Instilled a sense of pride in the nation

• Wrote about glorious developments in ancient times when art & Architecture , science and maths, religion & culture, law & philosophy , crafts & trades flourished

  Our glory declined with India's colonisation​

• Growing anger against colonial Govt - brought people together in a common struggle for freedom

• Congress under Gandhi tried to channel people's grievances into organised movements for independence

• Diverse groups & classes participated with varied aspirations

• There were phases of disuinty & inner conflicts between groups

• Finally there was a nation emerging with many voices wanting freedom from colonial rule​