The rise of national consciousness in the nineteenth century was essentially the result of the British rule. The economic, political and social changes brought about by the British rule resulted in the oppression of all classes of Indian people giving rise to a wide spread dissatisfaction among the masses. Moreover, the uniform system of administration, development of post and telegraph, railways, printing press and educational institutions created by the British primarily as measures for running an effective administration also became instrumental in providing favourable conditions for the rise and growth of national movement.

The term nation is more a cultural term and less a political term. It implies collectivenss of people having common religion, language, food, dresses and other aspect of culture. People living in far away are also part of the nation.

Nationalism implies feeling of togetherness based on different traits of culture like language, religion, etc. When people begin to associate themselves with a country, the term nationalism assumes political colour. People even living in far flung areas associate themselves with a country and such country becomes nation. The feeling of belongingness with nation is called Nationalism.

British rule provided material, moral and intellectual conditions for rise of Nationalism in India. British rule was new system of governance with new administrative machinery. It was inherently different from traditional Indian system of governance.

British rule in India resulted in clash of interests of various classes and communities. British followed colonialial policies, which were characterized by exploitation. Indian reaction to such policies was in two forms. One was a series of revolts and rebellion what we called civil rebellions. These revolts were carried out by civilians in reaction to British socio-economic policies. The second form of reactions was socio-political consciousness in form of socio-religious reform movements. These movements began to associate people with new and modern ideas thus contributing to the growth of nationalism.

The British rule provided uniformity to India; earlier India was divided into different kingdoms and states. British unified whole India into one unit. They implemented single uniform administration, law and order system, economy, political system and land revenue system. However such systems were introduced for colonial intersts, yet it unified the Indians and provided an opportunity for interaction and sharing their grievances at the pan Indian level.

The means of Communication developed by British enabled Indians to share their feelings and grievances. People began to interact with each other. British broke all political boundaries in India and unified them all. Means of communication like railway lines, roads, post and telegraph etc made people to people contact and interaction easy. It helped in spreading new ideas of liberty, nationalism etc. Press played vital role in strengthening the spirit of Nationalism. During 18th and 19th century, press began to play its due role. It began to reach up to masses. The ideas of Nationalism now reached common man.

Their agriculture policy and industrial policy led to impoverishment of masses. Such policies created discontent among Indian people who began to suffer. The painful experience prompted people to come close to each other. It also contributed to the feeling of Nationalism. Industrialisation integrated the whole country in one industrial unit. It encouraged the workers to be geographically mobile which provided them opportunity to share their sentiments. It paved the way for growth of nationalism.

British introduced new Education system in India. They discarded India’s old traditional value system. The new education system imparted the values like Liberty, equality, fraternity, democracy etc. It prompted political consciousness in India.

The modern education strengthened middle class in India. Such middle class carried forward the spirit of Nationalism. They provided platform to whole India to cement their internal relations. Indians went abroad for study and they studied the ideas of J.S. Mill, Rousseau, Kant etc. Later they popularized same ideas in India. Such progressive ideas strengthened the spirit of Nationalism. The educated intelligentsia led the movement of Nationalism from the front. They began to mobilize people in the name of the nation.

It was the educated middle class who with the modern education and knowledge of the outside world exposed the exploitative nature of the British rule before the masses thereby contributing towards the formation of an anti-British sentiment across the nation.

During socio religious reform movement also it was the intelligentia who united the people. The leading figures in this regard were Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Soami Dayanand, Soami Vivekanand, Rabindra Nath Tagore etc.

Many international events too intensified the spirit of nationalism in India. The unification of Italy and Germany was product of Nationalism. It inspired many Indians to carry forward the process of one independent India. Later Japan, a small country defeated a known power Russia which again inspired Indians to unite against common enemy.

British had adopted very discriminatory and reactionary policies both in civil as well as in military administration. They discriminated in the name of race against Indian army soldiers and civil servants. Such discrimination further gave boost to the spirit of nationalism.

Certain policies of different Governor Generals also aroused the feeling of Nationalism. For example, Lord Lytton held Delhi Darbar while country was suffering from severe famine. Similarly, Lord Curzon parted Bengal into two parts. He also got passed the Universities Act of 1904. All such activities aroused the feeling of Nationalism.

Hurdles in the rise of Nationalism

There were many hurdles in the rise of National consciousness which slowed down the process of nationalism. These hurdles were like vastness of India, poor means of communication, lack of awareness or prevalence of traditional ideas or values among people or people were denied of progressive values, British Economic Policies and impoverishment of India.