Essay on Indian Nationalism: Nature and Perspectives for Class 10, 12, Mains Exam (UPSC, PSC, SSC)
“The shots that hit me are the last nails to the coffins of the British rule in India”- Lala Lajpat Rai. The concept of nationalism means showing loyalty towards the nation. Nationalism creates a robust psychological bond with one’s own nation. The bond is too strong to allow the invaders to intrude into one’s own country. Indian nationalism was developed during the Indian independence movement against the British rule. The national movement against the colonial rule included all the people of India irrespective of their religion, class, caste and gender. The feeling of being oppressed under the British rule enabled a shared bond that united all the citizens of India. National movement in India started in 1885 and continued till the time India gained independence (1947).
Nature of Indian Nationalism:
The nature of nationalism is such that it binds the people of India and ignites the patriotic fervour in them. It states that every nation should govern itself bereft of any outside interference. The nation should have its own governing bodies that can function independently. Indian nationalism includes all the citizen of India irrespective of gender, class, caste and religion. Nationalism adheres all the people together to work in unison and fight against the British government. Nationalist expressions and sentiments imbued the Indians to rebel for seeking India’s freedom.
Perspectives of Indian nationalism:
Initially the Indian Nationalist movement was headed by the moderates who were the Congress leaders. The moderates asked for Indianization of services, representative legislatures, decrease of tax-burden on the cultivators, holding of ICS examination in India, reduction of military expenditure, employment in government offices and education in government institutions. They placed their demands in the form of petitions to the government which were unanswered. Gopal Krishna Gokhale, M.G Ranade, Dadabhai Naoroji, Anand Mohan Bose, Surendranath Banerjee are few of the moderates who initiated the movement.
Extremism began to develop in the Congress after 1892 due to the failure of the moderates. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Aurobindo Ghosh were the extremists who emphasized on swaraj, self-reliance and constructive work. They boycotted foreign goods and services and used swadeshi good to boost the Indian small-scale industries. They educated the masses in vernacular language and instilled in them patriotic fervour for their motherland. Tilak started the Ganapati festival and the Shivaji festival to reach out to the public. They mobilized the public via meetings and encouraged them to speak for swaraj or self-government.Agitated by the British oppression, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant formed theHome-Rule League in India on the line of Irish Home Rule Movements, demanding Self-government.
Nationalism according to Gandhiji meant self-rule in India in which the entire community will participate freely and actively in ostracizing the British. Promoting national interest will be the main criteria of sate action and soul force will be the public order in lieu of the brute force. The nationalist movements organized by Gandhiji to oust the British from India are as follows:
The Champaran Satyagraha (1917) – The indigo cultivators in Champaran revolted against the tinkathiya system of the British.
The Kheda Satyagraha (1917-1918)- This campaign was the call for remission of taxes due to insufficient harvest. It was headed by Mohan Lal Pandey and joined by Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel.
Khilafat Movement (1919): This movement was started against the British government by the Indian Muslims to restore the degrading status of Caliph in Turkey, who was the leader of Muslims.
Non-Cooperation Movement (1920): This was launched to protest against the Jallianwala – Bagh massacre. This movement gained importance wherein Indians boycotted products and governmental establishments like schools, offices, colleges
Civil Disobedience movement (1930): it is to flout certain demands, laws and commands of the British government.
Quit India Movement (1942): In this movement Gandhiji delivered the speech “Do or die’ with an aim to drive British rule out of India.
Conclusion:
India is an outstanding country with great minds and talents. The world has benefitted from the inventions that India made. The world has prospered economically, technologically, culturally and socially due to India’s contribution. India has taught the world to live in peace and harmony and to develop a feeling of oneness. Ergo, India stands out separate as a proud a country among all the other countries of the world.
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