Question

Explain the role of rediscovery of Indians glorious past in the growth of Nationalism in India.

Answer 1

Rediscovery of India’s glorious past: By the middle of the nineteenth century the Indians themselves began to believe that their cultural heritage was no less rich than that of any other in the world. It ‘was proved beyond doubt by scholars like Sir Charles Wilkins, Sir William Jones, James Prinsep, Max Muller, Swami Vivekananda and Alexander Cunningham that India should be proud of her cultural heritage. The more the Indians studied their ancient culture and civilization, the more they became proud of their rich heritage. Even the foreign scholars wondered when they translated some of the ancient books of India. Naturally, therefore the old conception that India was uncivilized vanished from the mind of the Indians. They began to realize the necessity of being knit together by a strong spirit of Nationalism which would give them the strength to fight for the freedom of their country.