how did people belinging to different communities region or language group in india develop a sense of collective belonging
Answers
Many factors played a role in the development of a feeling of collective belonging among Indians from different regions.
i] The image of Bharat Mata, created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay became the primary visual representation of the Indian nation. Moved by the nationalist sentiment, many other artists, including Rabindranath Tagore, re-adapted this image. It encouraged a nationalist fervor among Indian nationalists and it was widely circulated among the Indian populace.
ii] The flag developed during the Swadeshi movement and the tricolour flag designed by Gandhiji both came to have great political importance to the Indian public. Holding these flag during demonstrations and protests became a sign of defiance against the colonial government.
iii] While the colonial government worked to crush the spirit of nationalism among Indians, national leaders sought to glorify India’s past achievements during the pre-colonial period. This was done in order to instill a sense of pride among the general populace and rouse the public to participate in the national political process.
iv] Nationalist leaders also turned their attention to folk tales and ballads as these had great cultural reach. Indian folklore was reinterpreted and used many a times for subtle or open political propaganda.
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The cultural processes helped in creating a sense of
collective belongingness in India:
a. Nationalism is a belief that all are a part of the
same nation which binds the people together and
make different communities, regions and language
groups united.
b. This came through the muted struggles like the
different Non-Cooperation Movements, Civil
Disobedience movements, the wars like 1857,
history, fiction, folklores, folk songs, prints, icons
and symbols etc. all these helped in unifying the
Indians and inspired a feeling of nationalism in
them.
c. The image of India was first visualized as Bharat
Mata by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and
also a hymn ‘Vande 3 Mataram’ was written by
him in 1870s. This hymn was later included in
his novel Anandmath and sung in the Swadeshi
Movement in Bengal. The image of Bharat
Mata was portrayed as calm, composed, divine
and spiritual which acquired different forms in
different years by different artists. This image of
India developed the ideas of nationalism in India.
d. The Indian folklores were revived and the folk
tales were recorded and sung by bards which gave
a true picture of the traditional Indian culture
and tells how it was ruined by the Britishers.
e. A tricolor swadeshi flag, using red, green and yellow
was designed during the Swadeshi Movement in
Bengal which had 8 lotuses for the representation
of the 8 provinces and a crescent moon for
symbolizing the Hindus and the Muslims.
f. A tricolor Swaraj flag was designed by Gandhiji
in the year 1921 using the colours red, green and
white. A spinning wheel was in the Centre of the flag which represented the Gandhian ideal of self-
help.