Nationalist historians in late-nineteenth-century India began writing about ancient India's achievements in s…

Question

Nationalist historians in late-nineteenth-century India began writing about ancient India's achievements in science, philosophy, art and trade. What political purpose did this retelling of the past serve for Indians living under colonial rule, and what were its limitations?

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer Nationalist historians wrote about India's glorious past in science, philosophy, art and trade to **instil pride** among Indians and counter the British claim that Indians were backward and incapable of self-rule. This encouraged people to struggle against colonial rule and change their miserable conditions under British domination. **Limitation:** When the glorious past celebrated was largely Hindu, with imagery drawn from Hindu iconography, people of other communities — Muslims, lower castes — felt excluded. This undermined the goal of forging a united national identity across all communities. *Source: The Sense of Collective Belonging, Chapter 2* --- ## Explanation The examiner expects two clear parts: (1) the political purpose — boosting national pride and inspiring resistance to colonial rule; and (2) the limitation — the Hindu-centric glorification alienated non-Hindu communities. Both points are directly stated in the textbook passage. Quoting or paraphrasing th…

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