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Question
In the context of the causes of the rise of Indian nationalism, answer the following question:
How did the rediscovery of India’s glorious past prepare the ground for the growth of the national spirit among the Indians?
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Solution
The rediscovery of the past was great and glorious. It was a past that could boast of the intellectual richness of Vedic philosophy, the political unity and administrative wisdom of the Mauryas, the Golden Age of the Guptas, and the cultural brilliance of the Mughals. These discoveries were made by European scholars like William Jones, Alexander Cunningham, James Princep, and other Indologists, who researched India’s historical past and revealed its rich heritage. These revelations instilled in the Indians feelings of national pride and self-confidence and inspired them to dream of a new, resurgent India.
