Question

The identity of the nation, is most often symbolised in a figure or image. This helps create an image with which people can identify the nation. It was in the twentieth century, with the growth of nationalism, that the identity of India came to be visually associated with the image of Bharat Mata. The image was first created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. In the 1870s he wrote ‘Vande Mataram’ as a hymn to the motherland. Later it was included in his novel Anandamath and widely sung during the Swadeshi movement in Bengal. Moved by the Swadeshi movement, Abanindranath Tagore painted his famous image of Bharat Mata. In this painting Bharat Mata is portrayed as an ascetic figure; she is calm, composed, divine and spiritual. In subsequent years, the image of Bharat Mata acquired many different forms, as it circulated in popular prints, and was painted by different artists. Devotion to this mother figure came to be seen as evidence of one’s nationalism.

Ideas of nationalism also developed through a movement to revive Indian folklore. In late-nineteenth-century India, nationalists began recording folk tales sung by bards and they toured villages to gather folk songs and legends. These tales, they believed, gave a true picture of traditional culture that had been corrupted and damaged by outside forces. It was essential to preserve this folk tradition in order to discover one’s national identity and restore a sense of pride in one’s past. In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore himself began collecting ballads, nursery rhymes and myths, and led the movement for folk revival. In Madras, Natesa Sastri published a massive four-volume collection of Tamil folk tales, The Folklore of Southern India. He believed that folklore was national literature; it was ‘the most trustworthy manifestation of people’s real thoughts and characteristics’.

Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option
(i) How did the identity of India symbolise in the twentieth century? *
1 point
Growth of nationalism depicted one nation theory.
Growth of nationalism urged for social consciousness.
Indian visually associated with the image of Bharat mata.
None of these
(ii) How did Vande Mataram inspire the Indians? *
1 point
It was sung widely during the Swadeshi Movement.
It was included in famous Novel Anandamath.
It was written by great nationalist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
None of these
(iii) How do you describe the Bharat Mata painted by Abanindranath Tagore? *
1 point
As ascetic figure
Calm, composed, divine and spiritual
Beautifully painted
All of these
(iv) Identify the purpose of revival of folklore in the period of our national movement *
1 point
It gave a true picture of our traditional culture
It discovered one's national identity.
It restore one's sense of pride of past,
All of these

Answer 1

Answer:

Only in the 20th century, with the development of nationalism, did Bharat Mata become the visual expression of the Indian identity.

Explanation:

• The concept for the image was initially conceived by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
• Bharat Mata is shown in the picture as an ascetic woman who is serene, heavenly, and spiritual. The image of Bharat Mata, who is shown as distributing knowledge, clothes, and food, is said to be evidence of one's nationality.

• In order to find one's national identity and rekindle pride in one's history, nationalist intellectuals thought that it was imperative to maintain this folk culture. it is Bengal.  

Rabindranath Tagore spearheaded the folk revival movement and started collecting songs, nursery rhymes, and mythologies.

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