Question

Early Nationalist aroused national consciousness by exposing true character of British Imperialism. Discuss.

Answer 1

Considering all the circumstances we easily can believe that the early nationalists did yeoman service to their motherland. If India could attain her independence without much bloodshed, it was certainly due to the sincere efforts of these early nationalists. They sowed the seeds of patriotism and nationalism among the masses. Although Lala Lajpat Rai Said, ‘After more than twenty years of more or less futile agitation for concessions and redress of grievances, they had received stones in place of bread.’ But nevertheless, no one can ignore that the nationalists were successful to a great extent in arousing political awakening and national consciousness among the people of India of all shades. They not only spread the idea of civil liberties and democracy among the Indian people, but they also succeeded in exposing the true nature of British imperialism in India. The common people began to believe that the British rule in India was just to carry on economic exploitation of the Indian masses. The people forgot that the British Government ever had any ‘benevolent character’.