ABSTRACT
Nationalism is a modern phenomenon. It emerged gradually in Western Europe and was theoretically formulated in revolutionary France. It took different forms in Europe and gradually spread to different parts of the world taking different hues during different stages of history. For example, the nationalism in the colonial situation should be viewed as a reaction of the ‘colonized’ societies to the colonial situation. Thus the character of nationalism differs in many ways from country to country. Indian nationalism, viewed in this light, was primarily anti-colonial in character. The establishment of British rule pushed India into a subordinate colonial position and into the orbit of world capitalist economy. Indian society and economy experienced a comprehensive process of transformation under the colonial rule. The local economic structure began to change. The colonial economic exploitation of India led to the demise of traditional crafts, created a stagnation in agriculture and so on. It also paved the way for the establishment of a centralized state, introduction of Western education, modern means of communication and other modern institutions. These social changes gave birth to new social classes and the unleashing of new social forces unique in themselves who in course of time came into conflict with the British imperialism. This conflict and the conducive socio-economic conditions constituted a strong basis for the rise and growth of Indian nationalism.
