Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

The student's argument is partially valid but oversimplifies the reality.

Supporting evidence: The Bharat Mata image, created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and later painted by Abanindranath Tagore, gave Indians a personified motherland to feel devotion towards. The Swaraj flag (1921) with its spinning wheel united people around the ideal of self-help, and "carrying it aloft became a symbol of defiance." Rewritten nationalist histories encouraged pride in India's glorious past, countering British claims of Indian backwardness.

Limitations: The textbook explicitly states: "When the past being glorified was Hindu, when the images celebrated were drawn from Hindu iconography, people of other communities felt left out." Source E glorifies only the "Arya vamsa," excluding non-Hindu communities. The conclusion also notes that unity "often broke down" and India emerged as "a nation with many voices."

Conclusion: These cultural tools stirred nationalism among many but could not fully bridge divisions of religion, caste, and region.

Source: The Making of a Global World, Section 4 – The Sense of Collective Belonging; Conclusion — Chapter 2

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• Examiners expect you to evaluate (not just describe), so always present both sides.
• Quote or closely paraphrase the textbook — the line about Hindu iconography leaving others out is key evidence against the argument.
• The conclusion from the chapter ("nation with many voices") is a strong closing point.
• Avoid padding; 5 marks = ~5 focused points, which these paragraphs deliver.