Overview of the Types of Nationalism: Western and Indian
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology. The word “Nationalism” is used to describe the attitude of the people towards they nation or the actions of the members of state to bring reforms or achieve some form of political sovereignty. It can be expressed as a non state popular movement or as an ideology of state. It is an ideology that justifies political mobilisation and diminishes the barriers between nation and state. There are two variations of nationalism: Classical nationalism and moderate or liberal nationalism.
Classical nationalism is used to promote claims of expansion of state and for isolationist policies. It is not only concerned with the creation of state but also with its maintenance and strengthening. The ethno-national traits are preserved in this type of nationalism and people view it as their primary duty to protect the sovereignty and culture of state. Moderate or Liberal nationalism is less demanding when compared to classical nationalism. It has brought forth more modest, less philosophically charged arguments grounded in concerns about justice. It stresses on rights to have injustices redressed, democratic rights of political association and role of ethno cultural ties and play a role in promoting just social arrangements. This variation is sometimes seen as patriotism.
Nationalism is further classified into subtypes:
Ethnic Nationalism
This type of nationalism functions on the principle that a nation can only be defined by its ethnic connections which includes shared language, culture, heritage, and ancestry. Ethnic nationalism often leads to conflicts in ethnic diverse locations. For example: against non-Han Chinese people in China, Amerindian communities in Latin America, and ethnic minorities across Eastern Europe.
Religious Nationalism
It is a form of nationalism which relies on a major religion or principles that have implications in politics and state affairs. Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc are examples for this type of nationalism. Like ethnic nationalism, religious nationalism shows no tolerance towards other religions.
Civic Nationalism
It is also known as progressive nationalism. It advocates for social unity, individual rights and freedom. This form of nationalism shows tolerance for all individuals and strives to provide equality and social justice.
Definitions
According to John H. Randall, “Nationalism is almost the one idea for which masses of men will still die”. In the view of K. Roberts, “Nationalism is an ideology, based on the premise that it should be organised on basis of nationality.” According to Aurobindo Ghose, “Nationalism is a religion that has come from God; nationalism is a creed in which you shall have to live. It is an attitude of heart, of the soul. What the intellect could not do, this mighty force of passionate conviction born out of the very faith of national consciousness, will be able to accomplish. ”
Difference between Western Nationalism and Indian Nationalism
Nationalism in western democratic countries like Britain, France and the United States was based on democratic principles like liberty and equality. The personality of the individual was fully recognised and they felt the national urge in the atmosphere to complete freedom of thought and action. In totalitarian countries like Germany, Italy, Soviet Union nationalism arose on basis of a militant and aggressive spirit. These totalitarian states provoked individuals to develop an extremely aggressive type of nationalism opposed to peaceful co-existence. In Italy under Mussolini, Fascist nationalism rejected parliamentarianism and democracy. Nationalism in its extreme form was built on Nazism in Hitler’s Germany. It was based on the false theory of Nordic superiority and on militarism and aggressive imperialism.
Unlike Europe, nationalism in Asia and Africa has been the consequence of anti-colonialism. ‘Nationalism in India’ has broadly followed the pattern of West European nationalism, especially in terms of industrial establishments making it favourable for the 'middle-class based civil society' to take over into politics by using the ideology of nationalism; even then Indian nationalism managed to preserve its specific autonomous character. Indian nationalism also introduced its own ‘subcategories’ and unique style of anti-colonial movements, like 1857 Revolt, Swadeshi Movement, Non cooperation movement, Quit India Movement, etc. For instance, within the broader category of "Political nationalism", Indian political nationalism had unique native components, like ‘caste’, ‘dalit’, ‘mythical historiography’ and above all unique statesman ships of Gandhi and Ambedkar alongside the westernized Nehru which were for most of the part alien to the world outside.
Indian nationalism is quite different from its European predecessors and that it was certainly not a 'derivative discourse'. European nationalism may be said to have two major trajectories. The first, born out of the age of revolutions and of the European Enlightenment, defined the nation as an aggregate of citizens, whose consent to be thus governed defined the nation. The second was the post-enlightenment idea, influenced by the German idealism and Romanticism, of the nation as made up of a Volk, a people with a distinct ethnic, linguistic or cultural identity. Indian ideas of the nation, on the other hand, were characterized by their emphasis on desh or locality, region and territory, jati or birth, tribe, community, and praja or the people, subjects or citizens. Incidentally, the word praja, which M.K.Gandhi often used for the nation, includes in its various meanings both the citizens and the rulers of a state. It is also interesting to note that it is related etymologically to the nation, because of common Indo-European roots. In India, 'cultural nationalism' is synonymous with ethno-religious nationalism, ethno-religious group could emerge either in colonial or post-colonial India.
Types of nationalism in India
Gandhi and Tagore together recognized the need for a 'national ideology of India' as a means of cultural survival and both recognized that for the same reason, according to them India has to take a break from the post-medieval Western concept of nationalism or give the concept a new content. As a result, for Tagore, nationalism itself became gradually illegitimate; for Gandhi, nationalism began to include a critique of nationalism. It is for sure that neither of them wanted their society to be caught in a situation where the idea of the Indian nation would supersede that of the Indian civilization, and where the actual ways of life of Indians would be assessed solely in terms of the needs of an imaginary nation-state called India.
Nationalism in Gandhi’s, “Hind Swaraj” and Tagore’s, “Nationalism”:Though written a hundred years ago Tagore’s “Nationalism” and Gandhi’s “Hind Swaraj” both still hold much relevance in today’s modern world. Hind Swaraj deals with the concept and true meaning of freedom which is still relevant in today’s fast growing world, as still people continue to seek an understanding of the concept of freedom and its true meaning. In this book Gandhi explains the concept of ‘swarj’ and the means that should be employed for is attainment.
The book is written in a form of a dialogue between an editor and a reader of a newspaper, which makes it more interesting for the reader as the reader feels a personal connection with the book and gives an insight to the authors mind and his views on the topic discussed. Tagore’s “Nationalism” emphasizes on political and philosophical views on human understanding and its weakness for power and material hoardings. Tagore’s book is a compendium of lectures in form of essays. The lectures are written in a metaphoric, poetic prose form which gives readers scope to think beyond what is written by the author and form an insight of their own.
Both Gandhi and Tagore have futuristic view and they both at times criticise the view of modern civilisation and talk about is impact o n the coming future of India and other countries. Tagore was a farsighted visionary, whose forebodings on lack of human values and political role of the nation and state in the East and the West are well articulated in his lectures. Tagore discusses the revival of East and the challenge it poses to the western reign, calling on tolerance based future and a future where tradition and modernity are balanced. Gandhi’s “Hind Swaraj” is also known as Indian home rule talks about the conditions of India as a colony under British rule.
The book was written in Gujrati then later translated in English for readers of English Opinion. In the preface we can see Gandhi’s attachment to his mother tongue when he says that there are certain matters which he can only write in Gujrati and not in any other language. In the preface he also mentions that he is writing his final opinion of his views and he feels that it is his duty to share his views for the benefit of the readers. His only motive is to serve the country by bringing out the truth and the views according to which he hoped to act. He also makes it clear that the readers can disagree with his views and if they agree he wishes that they adopt them for the sake of the ‘Motherland’. In the text he writes about struggles of British government in India and about their suicidal policies which are driven by modern methods of violence. He also compares modern civilization to the ‘Kingdom of Satan’ and Ancient Indian civilization to the ‘Kingdom of God’. The book gives an insight to Gandhi’s views. He felt that British rule was making the country irreligious not in terms of any particular religion but rather a religion which underlies all the religion.
According to his view point the modern development brought by the British in India like railways has only helped British to tighten their grip over India. He also says that it has not helped with the progress of nationalism which the Indian people believed. Gandhi also draws similarities between nationalism in India and South Africa. He talks about the Indian National Congress and its leaders like Dadabai Naroji and Gokhale, their difference in opinion and approach to nationalism and how it influence Home rule (Swaraj). According to Gandhi, the Grand Old Man of India (Dadabai Naroji) is the author of nationalism in India. Gandhi also says that the Congress (the moderates) has a desire to follow the Canadian model of government. He talks about the Partition of Bengal (1905) and says that it was an awakening for Indian Nationalism which was seen in the actions of Congress and the spread of unrest and discontent throughout India after the partition.
Gandhi feels that the Nationalism in England is in a pitiable stage where the governments do not respect the Parliament and use their power to manipulate and work for their own selfish interest and not for their countries benefit. He also talks about Italian Nationalism. Gandhi didn’t want Indians to use the Italian way of revolt of assassinations and national wars. He wanted them to follow non violence and satyagraha. He also justifies it by saying that even if India wanted to fight like Italy, she doesn’t have the arms nor she has skilled army like British have, even if India is armed it would become Europeanized which will in turn make her condition pitiable like most of the European countries. He says that India should not follow the European or English Nationalism as it degrades and ruins nations. He also talks about civilization and feels that though civilization seeks to increase bodily comforts it fails miserably even at providing basic needs (industrialisation and its effect on the working class in England).
According to him modern civilization is like a mouse chewing Indians while calming them. He talks about the emerging elite in doctors and lawyers. He says they are becoming self indulgent and the doctors by intervening with natures cycle are helping people indulge, thereby making people at ease and making them loose control of their minds and lives. He talks about “true civilization” and defines it as the ‘mode of conduct which points out to man the path of duty’. He further adds that moral behaviour is nothing but to attain ‘mastery over one's minds. Gandhi is not completely against railways, courts, or hospitals as he also accepts that they are necessary evils in modern society, but he also feels that they do not add anything to the moral status of the country.
According to Gandhi the act of killing others is a cowardly action instead he says that one must be brave enough to sacrifice him-self for the sake of the nation and use one’s body in a right way. Gandhi also writes about the use of Brute Force by the British in gaining what they wanted and he also says that Indians can get their independence by using similar means, but he feels that doing so would distort men and to obtain real rights people must perform their duties instead of using physical force. Gandhi believes that Indians should have a duty along with a right (concept of fundamental rights and duties) unlike their English counterparts who only insist on having rights without duties. Gandhi also gives many relatable examples in his book like; driving a thief out of the house where he says we use different means for different people based on our relations with them.
Gandhi’s Nationalism is a type of civic nationalism often goes hand in hand with his ideas of patriotism of welfare, we can see this in his book where he says, “India cannot cease to be one nation because people belonging to different religions live in it. A country is one nation only when such a country must have faculty for assimilation. India has never been such country.” He also says that those who are conscious of spirit of nationality do not interfere with others religion. Here we can see that Gandhi’s nationalism is also secular. He talks about true civilization and free India where every individual is free, safe, treated equally, the country is free of arms and violence, passive resistance is based on love-force or soul force, and they are the ways of securing rights, where passive resistor’s follow truth.
Gandhi rejects the British theory that India was never a nation and says it has always been a conglomerate of different creeds and communities. Gandhi also laid foundation of Secular Nationalism in India. His ideas of nationalism have been incorporated in Indian constitution. His ideals have become a part of Indian ideology. He was a staunch believer of equality, freedom, non violence and justice for all, we see this in his idea for a government based in grass root levels like village panchayat, his belief for abolishing un touch ability, fundamental rights and duties, Directive principles etc. Gandhi followed civic nationalism where he worked for a common people and supported indigenous nationalism and fighting to bring individuals rights and democratic policies. He also believed that there should be equal right and opportunities for all.
