Question

what were the immediate factor that promote growth of Nationalism in India

Answer 1

Factors leading to rise of nationalism in India:

1. In India the feeling of nationalism is associated with anti colonial movement . In the process of their struggle against the colonial yoke people began to discover their own identity of belonging to one nation.

2. A variety of cultural processes, history, symbols, also played an important part in inculcating a sense of identity.

3. Identity of India came to be associated with Bharat Mata, with songs like Vande Matram and then our national anthem, also with our tri- color flag.

4. Umbrella Organization like Congress which led the nationalist struggle brought every section of Indian society under its fold. Nationalist Movement as led by Mahatma Gandhi who brought the people of country together into organized movements of mass struggle.

Answer 2

Several factors contributed to the emergence of Indian nationalism which can be analyzed as follows:

1. Political and Administrative Unity:

One of the significant results of the British conquest of India was the establishment of a centralized state. It brought about a political and administrative unification of the country.

The pre- British India was divided into numerous feudal states frequently struggling among themselves to extend their boundaries. The British authority established a centralized state structure in India with a uniform reign of law. They enacted and codified laws which were applicable to every citizen of the state. These laws were enforced by a hierarchically graded system of tribunals.

The public services brought about the administrative unification of the country. The establishment of uniform currency system, common administration, common laws and judicial structure contributed to India’s unification which ultimately helped the rise of national consciousness.

2. English Language and Western Education:

Introduction of western education was another important factor which paved the way for the growth of nationalism. Three main agencies were responsible for the spread of modem education in India. They were the foreign Christian missionaries, the British Government and the progressive Indians. With the intension of spreading Christianity among the Indians, the Christian missionaries did extensive work in the spread of modern education. They were among the pioneers of modern education in India. The British Government was the principal agent of disseminating modern liberal and technical education in India.

It established a network of schools and colleges in India which turned out a number of educated Indians well versed in modern knowledge. The introduction of modern education in India was primarily motivated by the political, administrative and economic needs of Britain in India. The British government assigned various key posts of the administrative machinery to the English and filled the subordinate posts with educated Indians.

Some progressive Indians like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar etc. were the pioneers of western education in India. The old system of education was only perpetuating superstition and orthodoxy. English education was treated as the treasures of scientific and democratic thought of the west. English educated Indians like Raja Ram Mohan, Vivekananda, Gokhale, Dadabhai Naroji, Feroz Shah Mehta, Surendra Nath Banerjee etc. who led the social, religious and political movements in India were all English educated.

English language became the medium of communication among the educated Indians by which they could develop close contacts with one another. They also came in contact with western ideas, culture and institutions through the medium of English language. It helped to build up a democratic and rationalist outlook. Ideas of nationalism, democracy, liberty, equality, socialism etc. could be infiltrated to India. The philosophical ideas of Milton, J.S. Mill, Thomas Paine, John Locke, Rousseau, Mazzini, Garibaldi etc. helped the growth of national consciousness.

Such consciousness found expression in the formation of various organisations where people could meet and discuss various problems of their motherland. Exchange of views on different subjects of social, political and economic interest could be possible on a national scale. These educated Indians were instrumental in the political awakening and organisation of political movements in India.

3. Development of Transport and Means of Communication:

Modern means of transport helps in the consolidation of people into modern nations. In India too, the establishment of railways, construction of roads, canals and organisation of postal, telegraph and wireless services all over India contributed in forging the people into a nation. Of course, all these facilities were developed in the interest of the British industries and for political, administrative and military reasons.

4. Emergence of Modern Press:

As a powerful social institution, the press facilitates the exchange of thought on a mass scale within a short time. The introduction of the printing press in India was an event of revolutionary significance. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the founder of nationalist press in India. His ‘Sambad Kaumudi’ in Bengali published in 1821 and ‘Mirat-UL-Akbar’ in Persian published in 1822, were the first publications with a distinct nationalist and democratic progressive orientation.

5. Economic Exploitation:

The worst feature of the British rule in India was the economic exploitation of all classes. Britishers came to India as traders and their primary motive was how to gain financial benefit. The industrial revolution in Britain necessitated the import of raw materials from different foreign countries and to search extensive market for its goods out side. India provided both to them.