GIVING WINGS TO SPIRITUAL NATIONALISM

THE GROWTH OF THE MASSIVE INDIAN LANGUAGE PRINT CULTURE PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN CREATING A PUBLIC SPHERE LARGELY DOMINATED BY HINDU PHILOSOPHICAL IDEAS OF SANATAN DHARMA AND VEDANTA

- SHUCHI YADAV

The history of freedom struggle of India, in several ways is the history of constructing and communicating the idea of Swa or self as a comprehensive response to colonialism. It must be seen as a dynamic and multidimensional idea consisting of economic, political, social, religious and cultural freedom to discover, create and nurture something of your own. Nineteenth-century India witnessed a massive awakening of the idea of Swa manifested in the form of a struggle for Swabhiman (self-respect) Swa-deshi (self-made) & Swa-raj (self-rule). The development of print culture in colonial India led to a formation of a public sphere where Indians from across class, caste, religion and region found a space to communicate their ideas of Swa. In the 19th century, the national awakening of Swa found its roots in ‘spiritual’ nationalism, clearly grounded in the rich cultural heritage of the ancient Hindu philosophical thought.

BRITS BELIEVED IN SUPERIORITY OF WHITE RACE