Many factors promoted the growth of nationalism in India. Describe briefly how this happened with reference to the following

(a) Effects of the Great Uprising of 1857.

(b) British imperialism.

(c) Western thought and education

(a) The Indians revolted against the tyrannical British Rule in India and their policy of political expansion and economic exploitation in 1857. After the revolt was crushed ruthlessly, the British began to suspect the Indians and doubt their loyalty and integrity. On the other hand, the revolt created discontent and dissatisfaction among the Indians and they began to the English rule in India. It gave birth to a new political consciousness and strengthened the sentiment of nationalism. There was a general national awakening which gave rise to the National Movement.

(b) It was during the British Role that the entire country was brought under one government and this gave her people a new sense of political unity. The English established a strong central government and introduced a uniform system of law and administration in the country. Setting up of industries and trade brought about economic unification. People from different parts of the country and various political leaders began to meet and communicate with each other. This national sentiment unified the Indians and integrated them as one nation. The anti-imperialistic feelings led to the rise of national outlook and encouraged the people of India to uproot the British imperialism from India.

(c) The British rulers imparted western education in arts and sciences through the medium of English to serve their own administrative and imperial ends. They wanted petty clerks to run the administration. Through western education they wanted to propagate the western culture and to win the loyalty of educated Indians. However, with the spread of western education and thought, the Indians came into contact with the west and imbibed a modern, rational, secular, democratic and national outlook. The American Revolution, the French Revolution and other revolutions in Europe inspired the Indians with the ideals/watchwords of liberty, equality and fraternity. They acquired the ideals watchwords of democracy, freedom and nationalism from the writings of western thinkers. English language served as a medium for the propagation of modern ideas. The uniform system of education through the English language throughout India produced the unity of thought, ideas and feelings.