compare and contrast the nationalism in Europe and nationalism in India
Answers
Explanation:
European nationalism began with romantic nationalism with emphasis on cultural, religious, linguistic, racial or ethnic unity in the nation state. The French revolution took this to - “liberty, equality and fraternity”, towards the modern-nation state.
Indian nationalism is Territorial nationalism - a consequence of its diversity. Though, the concept of Akhand Bharat did exist as both a theoritical and realistic concept, the modern Indian nationalism was the fallout of anti-colonialism and its associated paraphernalia. A similar phenomenon can be observed in the vast majority of the African and Asian ex-colonies.
Despite both Indian and European nationalism springing from the democratic principles of equality, their past plays a major influence leading to vast differences in their manifestations.
European nationalism is in its essence romantic nationalism, tempered by modern ideals and a few hundred years of political, economic and territorial considerations. This is evident from the modern nation states of Europe demarcated by linguistic or ethnic factors. As can be seen, the national boundaries of European nations and their ethnic or linguistic boundaries on the below map align to a great extent.
Source: File:Languages of Europe map.png
While a similar map of India shows an organisation of states on linguistic lines, all within the same nation-state, with 122 major languages and 29 of those languages having over a million speakers. Additionally with 24% of the population bi or multilingual makes ethno-linguistic nationalism difficult.
Source: States official languages
Besides territorial nationalism was a necessary outcome of Indian diversity with religion, ethnicity, language, race, caste encroaching upon each others domains and competing for significance in the common space.
Hence European nationalism stresses upon the need for a homogeneous commonality while Indian nationality lays stress upon territorial sovereignty while accommodating or at times celebrating diversity.
This also means that Indian nationalism is expansive with conception of Akand Bharat encompassing present-day Pakistan, parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Srilanka. This translates to greater tolerance for outsiders, immigrants and refugees.
This is in direct contradiction to romantic nationalism which by nature rejects “outsiders” the famous example in recent history being the Yugoslav Wars