60 Days Daily Free Mains Answer Writing Program for UPSC 2023

Day 7

Topic: National integration, important Political events, and foreign policy

Date: 12/07/2022

Q.1) “The roots of India’s nationhood lie deep in its history and also in its experience of the
struggle for independence.” Comment 10M

How to approach the question

Introduction
· Introduce by defining the nationhood.
Body
· Write characteristics of nationhood.
. Write the India's nationhood as historical factors and experience of struggle for
independence.
Conclusion
· Conclude by mentioning India as successful nation.

Answer:
Introduction
“Nationhood or Nationalism is a condition of mind, feeling or sentiment of a group of people,
living in well-defined geographical area, speaking a common language, possessing a literature
in that the aspirations of the nation have been expressed, attached to common customs and
in some cases having a common religion. It is a product of political, economical, social and
intellectual factors at a certain stage in history”. Prof Synder

Body
The Royal institute of International Relations pointed out the following characteristics of
nationahood or nationalism in its report published in 1930.
● One Nation: An idea of a common government always implies in a nation. It may he
the reality of past or present or just an ambition of the future.
● Group Feelings: There is sense of belonging together among the people of a nation.
● Distinction: There is distinctiveness in a nation that separates it from other nation as
language, religion, race and national character.
● Defined Territory: There is defined territory large or small.
● Common Interest: Existence of same common interest shared by all is also one of the
most important features of nationalism.
● General Picture of State: A general picture of state in the mind of every individual.

The roots of India’s nationhood lie deep in its glorious past

● Several avenues in the field of oriental studies were opened up by the nineteenth-
century Indian Renaissance.
● Spiritual supremacy: Vedic text provided the glimpse of the rich heritage of India.
During freedom struggle leader like Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Vivekanand
emphasised the Indian spiritual values to bind India as a nation.

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● Social affinity: Elaborate marriage system, festivals and fairs etc led to sense of
commonness among the people.
● Western scholars such as Max Muller, Sir William Jones, Alexander Cunningham, and
others translated several ancient Sanskrit texts from this land, establishing the
glorious cultural heritage of India before the people.
● Indian scholars such as R.D. Banerjee and R.G. Bhandarkar was inspired by them.
Mahan Mukhopadhyaya, Hara Prasad Astir, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and others
rediscovered India's past glory from its history.
● This encouraged the people of India, who felt they were the ancestors of this country's
grand monarchs and were being ruled by foreigners. This fanned the flames of
nationalism.
Also, the roots of India’s nationhood lie deep in its experience of the struggle for
independence
● Western education: Macaulay had instituted a western educational system in India
with the sole aim of creating a class of educated Indians who could serve their colonial
masters in the administration of the ‘natives’. However, the English language united
Indians from various regions and religions.
● Vernacular languages: The 19th century also saw the revival of vernacular languages.
This helped the propagation of the ideas of liberty and rational thought to the masses.
Eg Marathi, Bengali etc.
● End of the old social order: British imperialism put an end to the old social order of
the country. This was resented by many Indians.
● Socio-religious reform movements: Socio-religious reform movements of the 19th
century helped a great deal in the rise of nationalism in India. Notable reformers were
Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotiba Phule and so on.
● Economic policies of the British: The oppressive economic policies of the British led
to widespread poverty and indebtedness among the Indians especially farmers.
Famines which led to the deaths of lakhs were a regular occurrence. This led to a bitter
sense of suppression and sowed the seeds of a yearning for liberty from foreign rule.
● Political unity: Under the British, most parts of India were put under a single political
set-up. The system of administration was consolidated and unified throughout all
regions. This factor led to the feeling of ‘oneness’ and nationhood among Indians.
● Growth of the modern press: This period also saw the rise of the Indian press, both in
English and in the regional languages. This also was an important factor that helped in
the dissemination of information.
● Legacy of the Revolt of 1857: After the Revolt of 1857 and its bitter crushing by the
British, there was deep racial tension between the British and the Indians.
● National movements outside the country: There were many national movements
outside the country that inspired the Indian nationalists like the French Revolution,
the American War of Independence and so on.

Conclusion
However, modern nationalism and sense of nationhood have been evolving. Since
Independence India as a nation has been strengthened and emerged as an example to the
world. Its institutions like democratic , political system, and patriotism of people towards the
nation have been phenomenal.

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 60 Days Daily Free Mains Answer Writing Program for UPSC 2023

To join the program visit – dpp.onlyias.in Mail us – info@onlyias.com

Call us - 7007931912