RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LAW,

PUNJAB

POLITICAL SCIENCE (MINOR) PROJECT

TOPIC- TYPES OF NATIONALISM

Sub Topic – Nationalism in India: Lead to Independence and

Disintegration (Partition)

SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:

Ashish Kumar Mr. Saurav Sarmah
Roll no.: 21077 Assistant Professor of Political Science
Group no.: 7 RGNUL, Punjab

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 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project on the topic “Types of Nationalism” and its subtopic
“Nationalism in India: Lead to Independence and Disintegration (Partition)” made by Ashish
Kumar and submitted to the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab is an original
and bonafide piece of research work, that was carried out under my supervision and was
required for the 1st semester of B.A.LL.B (Hons.).

Mr. Saurav Sarmah

Assistant Professor of Political Science

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The accomplishment of this project is owed to the constant support and guidance of people to
whom I’d like to convey my sincerest gratitude. Saurav sir, our Political Science (minor)
teacher, who enabled me to complete this project, with her constant encouragement. Her
valuable help and guidance were instrumental in the project and resolving all the doubts
encountered during the making of this project.

The Library staff which aided me in my research for the project through the usage of the online
databases and journal collections are available in the library.

Lastly, I would like to sincerely appreciate my family members and friends for their help,
constant encouragement, and moral support to enable me to complete this project

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE ..................................................................................................... 2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................................... 3

1 NATIONALISM ..................................................................................................................... 5

1.1 What is Nationalism? ....................................................................................................... 5

1.2 Some types of Nationalism .............................................................................................. 5

2 NATIONALISM IN INDIA ................................................................................................... 7

2.1 World War I created a feeling of Nationalism in India. .................................................. 7

2.2 Satyagraha Idea by Mahatma Gandhi .............................................................................. 8

2.3 The Rowlatt Act Satyagraha ............................................................................................ 8

2.4 Jallianwala Bagh Infamous Incident ............................................................................... 9

2.5 Khilafat Movement .......................................................................................................... 9

2.6 Non-Cooperation Movement ........................................................................................... 9

2.7 The Civil Disobedience Movement ............................................................................... 10

2.8 The Sense of Collective Belonging................................................................................ 11

3 DISINTEGRATION OF INDIA THROUGH NATIONALISM FACTOR (PARTITION) 13

4 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................... 15

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1 NATIONALISM
1.1 What is Nationalism?
Nationalism is an ideology, which is the main constituent to form a Nation through the same
set of feeling like religion, ethnicity, culture, language, geographic location, etc. Nationalism
is intimately connected to a sense of unity by the same set of identities like as India was
connected to the anti-colonial movement. Indians People were oppressed under colonial rule
through this they began to discover unity and feel a shared bond that tied different groups of
people from all over Indian during colonialism and gave rise to resistance against British
colonial rule. Nationalism is basically a dynamic concept and subjective in nature. Like When
a nation has a common enemy than its citizens automatically feel the same sense of unity and
forgot about class inequalities among them. There are many types of Nationalism that help to
categorize the unity among groups or society by which factors, like Post-colonial nationalism,
led to the process of decolonisation through resistance by people united by the same set of
feeling to get Independence and relief from colonial suppression.

1.2 Some types of Nationalism

• Ethnic Nationalism: It basically depends upon the factor of ethnicity and involves the
element of genophilia (generational descent). This type of nationalism is extremely
region-specific and grow with the sense of shared culture, language, and shared
ancestor. For example- “This kind of ethnic nationalism has highly influenced the
nation-state of Israel and the Israeli identity. The region of Israel is very precise to
define its identity.”
• Civic nationalism: It is dependent upon active participation and a sense of belonging
through voluntary participation of citizens, through this state receives political
legitimacy. Membership is considered voluntary of the civic nation. For example- “
This type of nationalism can be seen in the nation France. A country such as France
development of representative democracy is influenced by civic-national can be seen,
means that through election government form within the country, principles are
commonly agreed upon, ensure voter security etc.”
• Cultural nationalism: It defines by the shared culture within a nation. It is not voluntary
in sense but it relies on traditional culture which shapes the individual life to define
their outlook from childhood. It is neither purely ethnic nor civic in nature but based on

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 community share cultural beliefs. For example- “ This type of nationalism can be seen
in Spain, where the federal state is established by the effort of Catalan nationalism.”
• Religious nationalism: This type of nationalism applies to the religion nationalist ideal.
It’s can be broken into two aspects, first National unity by the sense of unifying entity
of shared religion. Secondly, the politicization of religion by which there is a great
influence of religion on politics. When the state bases its entire political legitimacy on
religious doctrines, then it is dangerous. It can also be seen as a response to secularism.
For example- “Muslim nationalism led to the formation of Muslim state Pakistan”
• Post-colonial nationalism- After World War II, during the process of decolonisation
through resistance by people united by the same set of feeling to get Independence and
relief from colonial suppression. For example- “Through Indian nationalism to get rid
of British colonial rule and get Independence.”

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2 NATIONALISM IN INDIA
The Idea of a Nation-State in India created a sense of common identity and belongingness,
which gave the feeling of Nationalism toward India. Nationalism in India is just a by-product
of British colonial rule. The development of Nationalism in India was due to Anti Colonial
Movement or Sentiment. In India, the sense of being oppressed by British colonial rule
provided a shared bond among Indians to get freedom and gave rise to Anti Colonial
movement. But the notion of freedom from Britishers for each class and group within India
was different. We will now study a different event that created a feeling of nationalism in India:

2.1 World War I created a feeling of Nationalism in India.

World War I was fought from 1914 to 1918, it was indirectly related to India through Britishers.
As India was under the colonial rule of the British and British Empire was fighting as Allied
Powers against Central Power in the first world war.

The first world war created a new political and economic situation in India, through this
nationalism feeling grew more stronger in India. It increases the defence expenditure of
Britishers because they need different arms & ammunition during WWI. These Britisher's
expenditures were financed by war loans and increased taxes. Taxes were mainly increased in
Britisher's colonies like India, which was the colony of Britishers. Due to the increase of taxes,
common people face extreme hardship such as the increased price of essential commodities
(1913-1918 period). Britishers forcefully recruited the Indian population as a supply of soldiers
to fight in the war as British was a small country they mainly depend upon their colony
population to fight his war. Due to this forced recruitment caused spread anger among the
Indian population as they have no feeling or attachment or reason or binding force to fight the
war.

In WWI, soldiers needed food to fight a war. Britishers were diverting Indian food grain
towards Europe to keep food supply for soldiers despite there being a shortage of food due to
crop failure in India. Also, Influenza epidemic and famines due to the shortage of foods 12 to
13 million people have died in India1.

These things created a negative impact in India towards Britishers and suffering of the Indian
population by single identity Britishers gave unifying feeling among Indians. Due to these

1
Available at https://neostencil.com/upsc-modern-history-first-world-war-nationalist-response

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things, it increases the feeling of Nationalism among Indians to get freedom during the WWI
period.

2.2 Satyagraha Idea by Mahatma Gandhi

The Idea of Satyagraha was brought by Mahatma Gandhi. It has first experimented against a
racist regime in South Africa. Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915. Satyagraha means
that it emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth according to Mahatma
Gandhi. Use of Satyagraha by Gandhiji in a different place for a different cause:

• Champaran, Bihar (1916)2 – To support the Indigo planters against the oppressive
plantation system. Indigo was mainly produced in Champaran by farmers forcefully by
Britishers. There was a problem with Indigo that it degraded soil and made soil not
suitable for cultivation other than Indigo. After the introduction of synthetic indigo,
Britishers stop purchasing indigo and said that there is no need to produce indigo from
onward. Then afterwards farmers were not able to cultivate any other crop due to
infertile caused by indigo plantation. It became problematic for farmers and Britishers
were willing to give compensation but it was unsatisfactory. Due to this Gandhiji
supported Indigo planters to get justified compensation with satyagraha. As the result
was, they don’t get compensation as they demanded but they got more than previous
unsatisfactory once. Here somehow Britishers were bent against satyagraha but it was
feeble (the only matter that they bent against Indian voice for the first time).
• Kheda, Gujrat (1917) - Supporting peasants affected by crop failure to provide revenue
relaxation.

2.3 The Rowlatt Act Satyagraha3

This act gave the government power to repress the political activities and political leaders can
be arrested and kept in prison without trial, for two years. Gandhiji opposed this unjust law and
he launched Rowlatt Satyagraha on 6 April 1919. Due to these Non- Violent Rallies, strikes
and protests were started in different parts of India. To control all this British took various steps
and one was that they fired on peaceful procession in Amritsar. This provoked people to take
violence.

2
Available at https://www.mkgandhi.org/storyofg/chap15.htm
3
Available at https://neostencil.com/upsc-modern-history-satyagraha-against-the-rowlatt-act-first-mass-strike

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2.4 Jallianwala Bagh Infamous Incident 4
Martial law was imposed due to the Rowlatt Act Violence. On 13 April, people gathered in
Jallianwala Bagh for the Baisakhi fair and some for peaceful protest. General dyers took
command and closed the exit of Jallianwala Bagh, and open fire on the Crowd (many innocent
children, men and women died). Due to the death of many people, this angered crowd, people
to took over violence, clashes with palace and attack on property, from this Government got a
free hand. The government responded with the brutal repression of protesters.

2.5 Khilafat Movement5

Here, Khalifa was the spiritual head of the Islamic world and emperor of the ottoman empire.
Due, to the defeat of the Ottoman Empire there was a spread of rumours, that a harsh peace
treaty was going to be imposed on him, which disrespected the Muslim population in India and
they were angry. From this in India Muslim masses were protested as Khilafat Movement
(initiated by the formation of Khilafat Committee, Bombay in 1919 and its prominent members
were Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali).

From above, it gave the possibility of uniting Hindu and Muslim, which is seen by many
Congress leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, Mohamad Ali and Shaukat Ali to Against the repression
of Britishers. Due to this, In the Calcutta Session of September 1920, there was the demand to
launch a nationwide Non-Cooperation movement was raised by Gandhi Ji and other leaders,
which would unite Hindus and Muslims.

2.6 Non-Cooperation Movement6

Gandhiji In his book “Hind Swaraj” wrote that British Rule in India is due to the Cooperation
of Indians only, which means that if Indians were refused to Cooperate, British rule in India
would Collapse. To participate in Non-Cooperation Movement Gandhiji told Indians to
surrender of title that the government awarded, a boycott of civil services, foreign goods,
legislative council etc. if repression by the government took place like the Jallianwala Bagh
incident then they launch full nationwide civil disobedience campaign. In December 1920,
Nagpur session the idea of Non-Cooperation program was adopted by congress.

4
Available at https://www.britannica.com/event/Jallianwala-Bagh-Massacre
5
Available at https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-
online.net/article/khilafat_movement#:~:text=The%20Khilafat%20movement%20(1919%2D1924,the%20end%
20of%20the%20war.
6
Available at http://www.aees.gov.in/htmldocs/downloads/e-
content_06_04_20/PDF_Nationalism_in_India_2(1).pdf

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Here we will see now that Non-Cooperation Movement in different areas in India, as many of
them responded to the call of swaraj, but the term meant different things to different people (in
short notion). The middle class of town participated by students left government school,
headmasters resigned, lawyers gave up their practices, some town level elections were
boycotted, etc. Due to this Non- Cooperation movement, it halved imports in India from 1921
to 1922 (it gave the strike to Britisher's economy as the imports price Rs 102 crore went down
to Rs 57 Crore during this period) and many other things of Britishers were boycotted. In the
countryside, peasants participated Non-Cooperation movement against British agents (like
talukdars, landlords, etc. ask high rents). India National Congress person created Oudh Kishan
Sabha to create base support for Congress or to unify peasants against British suppression. And,
tribal people were participated Non-Cooperation Movement by wearing khadi, giving up
drinking, etc. (Britishers forcefully assigned them to labour work, restricted their living area in
the forest, etc. suppression were there on tribal people). In the Plantation field, Plantation
workers had their own notion of swaraj by leaving fields without Britisher's permission (as
there was a strict rule, they can’t easily leave their field and there was other suppression).

From this participation in non-cooperation of a diverse population and from a different area of
the country, which created an emotion related to all India agitation (from this idea of Nation
state emerges like slogan demanding “Swatantra Bharat”). Also, it gave the National movement
a broad structure and gave a sense of collective belonging.

2.7 The Civil Disobedience Movement7

The Civil Disobedience Movement was based on disobeying British Colonial Law and it is one
way ahead of Non-Cooperation Movement. This movement was started by Gandhiji as Salt
March on 12 March 1930. During that time Britishers even imposed tax laws on Salt, which is
an essential item for people and is derived from nature (this shows the oppressive face and
cruelty of Britishers). Salt March was chosen starting point of this movement because Salt is a
common thing which consumes by everyone rich and poor alike in food, according to Gandhiji
Salt was a powerful symbol to unite people in India. Salt march was started by Gandhiji with
78 volunteers (Gandhi Ji took from his circle who can fast walk only to cover the distance in
fast) from Sabarmati to Dandi (240 miles and 24 days travel time) in a way he stayed many in
many villages, town etc. and teaches its people about Civil Disobedience with peaceful

7
Available at http://www.aees.gov.in/htmldocs/downloads/e-
content_06_04_20/PDF_Nationalism_in_India_3(1).pdf

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measures. After reaching Dandi (coastal town), Gandhiji manufactured Salt by breaking or
violating British law.

Onward, people from nationwide participated in Civil Disobedience by Manufacturing Salt,

Refused to pay Tax, Violated Forest Law (mainly by tribals people), and many other things.

Here we see how participants saw this movement:

• Rich farmers and landlords: They fight for Swaraj was the struggle against High
Revenue collected by Britishers. As there was the price of agricultural goods gone
downfall and they unable to pay high revenue demands, and British government
rejected their demands for giving some concession on revenue (not understanding their
condition) this enraged them.
• Poor Peasant: They participate with the idea of their demand of unpaid rent to be
remitted and there was High revenue collected from them also.
• Industrial owner: They participated with the notion of wanting protection against
imported products.
• Industrial worker: Participated by adopting Gandhian Idea.
• Women: First-time women can be seen in this protest. They protested by manufacturing
salt and they believe that it was a sacred duty to get swaraj.

2.8 The Sense of Collective Belonging8

The sense of Collective Belonging basically came from the experience of the United Struggles
of Anti Colonial movement in India (as discussed above in detail), which gave Nationalism
sentiment. Other than struggle from the cultural process also people developed a sense of
Collective Belonging such as history and fiction, folklore and songs, popular prints, and
symbols. For example:

• Image of Bharat Mata created and “Vande Mataram” written by Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhyay.
• Ascetic figure by Abanindranath Tagore (which has a calmness, composed, divine and
spiritual)
• Revive of Indian folklore by Rabindranath Tagore and Natesa Sastri (Book “The
folklore of Southern India”).

8
Available at https://studynlearn.com/blog/the-sense-of-collective-belonging/

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 • Tri-Colour Flag was created to bring people under a single banner and to bring a sense
of collective belonging by having these figures inside flag – 8 lotuses represent 8 British
provinces, crescent and moon representing Hindu and Muslims respectively.

All events discussed above developed and gave the feeling of Nationalism in India to fight for
swaraj (Independence from Britishers).

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 3 DISINTEGRATION OF INDIA THROUGH NATIONALISM
FACTOR (PARTITION)
Partition of India was basically caused by these three types of the ideology of Nationalism as
a form of Muslim Nationalism to form Pakistan (Muslim state), Hindu Nationalism and Indian
Nationalism, this discontent was sown by Britishers through their “Divide and Rule” Policy
after the revolt of 1857, because this revolt had scared the British a lot and they were afraid
that if more such revolution took place, then their rule would soon to be end (as revolt ended
company rule and started British raj under British Queen or King). During revolt there were
seen unity in Hindu and Muslim, they fought together against the Company rule (For example
- Nana Saheb Peshwa, Rani Lakshmibai, Tatya Tope, Kunwar Singh etc. all of them accepted
Bahadur Shah Zafar as their Commander).

After the revolt, Congress was established with the help of British officer A.O. Hume (He was
a very spiritual person) in 1885. He had written a very courageous report on the Revolt of 1857
that this revolt was caused by British atrocities (ill-treating the Indians).

Syed Ahmed Khan, a loyal to Britishers and work for Britishers as they said. He started talking
about the “Two Nation Theory” and told people that Muslims were in danger. He claimed that
if Britishers leave then Hindu would start to agonize the Muslims once the British leave, so
Muslims should support Britishers and British rule. His Instigating and anti-Congress
movement had given severe results, as by the early 1900s a section of elite Muslims in the
country believed in his two-Nation theory very strongly. Because of this, in 1906 All India
Muslim League was founded and the British supported them because of Divide and Rule
Policy.

Muslim League demanded separate electorates from Viceroy Minto for the Muslims. Congress
opposed this demand including Mohammed Ali Jinnah (But he later supported Partition of
India but during this time period he believed that this will lead to the country being divided
into two). From this government-approved separate electorate for Muslims and bring it by
Morley-Minto reforms or Indian Council Act, 1909.

But the British didn’t stop here, by the Indian Council Act, 1919 similar representation was
given to the Sikhs, Europeans, and Anglo-Indians also and increases the seat of Muslims. This
Divide and Rule policy was more emerged, giving more crack among the various religions in
the country. From this small section of Hindus started feeling paranoid and they think that

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nothing was being done for them and what will happen about their interest. That’s the way they
formed Hindu League (Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha); it was founded by Madan Mohan
Malviya. After this, in 1925 RSS (another Hindu League) was founded by K.B Hedgewar.
Where on one hand, some Muslims were believing that “Muslims are in danger” and on
another hand, some Hindus started feeling that “Hindus are in danger.” This was the reason for
the Divide and Rule Policy and another reason behind it was that the history taught in the
schools and presented among people was in distorted form by the British, The British showed
how the Hindus were resisting the Muslim rulers in History. There was fear among Muslims
that the Hindu population would take over the country and vice versa. These fears turned into
Religious rites in 1920.

From 1920 to 1947, Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad, Subhas Chandra
Bose, C Rajagopalachari, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jay Prakash Narayan, Bhagat Singh, Chandra
Shekhar Azad, etc. these people were believed in inclusiveness not to divide people on the
name of religion, which means they believed in Indian Nationalism, not on Hindu or Muslim
Nationalism. But, Rahmat Ali, Shurawardy, after 1930s Jinnah are Muslim nationalist (follow
Muslim Nationalism Ideology) and Savarkar was Hindu nationalist (Hindu nationalism
Ideology).

Three distinct streams of Ideologies that existed in India basically after the 1930s are Hindu
Nationalism, Muslim Nationalism, and Indian Nationalism. The partition of the country was
basically the story of the struggle among these three ideologies.

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4 CONCLUSION
Nationalism in India was due to Anti Colonial Sentiment, being oppressed by Britishers to
create the common and binding factor among the population. Gandhiji and Indian National
Congress worked toward developing the feeling of Nationalism among the Indian Population
and giving a sense of collective belonging. Through many movements and the idea of swaraj
make more bonding among people to fight against British to attain swaraj. Other than struggle
from the cultural process also people developed a sense of Collective Belonging such as history
and fiction, folklore and songs, popular prints, and symbols.

Partition of India was started by the Policy of Divide and Rule of Britishers. Due to this policy
discontent were there among the religious population. Partition of India was basically caused
by these three types of the ideology of Nationalism as a form of Muslim Nationalism, Hindu
Nationalism, and Indian Nationalism.

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