What Constitutes
"Nationalism"
In this way, a society having mental and
emotional bonds with a particular, well-defined territory and imbued
with a sense of we-ness acquires the nomenclature of Nation
in that particular piece of land. The great men who contribute to
its protection, progress and prosperity evoke deep feelings of
reverence and gratitude in that society. And the attachment to
values of life and traditions born out of a long existance in that
land also become a major link for binding the people of that nation
to one another. Apart from that, there are many factors like
language, history, festivals, feeling of having common enemies and
friends, common economic and political interests, common
aspirations, etc., which strengthen this feeling; but none of them
is indispensable for the formation of every nation.
While this story of transition from
tribal loyalties to nationalism is being written even today in
African countries like Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana and Zimbabwe,
Europe passed through that phase just three or four centuries ago.
But it is hard to tell when the Asian countries like Bharat, China
and Iran completed this journey. In fact, we find the various
features of a vast and organised society present in them as far as
recorded history goes, and a highly evolved feeling of we-ness
pervading those vast communities. This feeling was based more on
religious and and cultural, rather than political and economic,
factors. While leading a common existence on a well-marked territory
for long period, these societies shared common experiences of
sacrifice and heroism, joy and suffering. They made many original
contributions in material, intellectual, moral and religious
spheres; and created durable societies and civilizations on the
basis of their distinct cultural values. The inspiration that lay
behind such achievements was the feeling like We Chinese, We
Iranians, We Bharatiyas. Such sentiments had been
evolved centuries before the modern concept of nationalism took
birth. The only thing lacking in them was the political aspect which
has acquired a special force in the modem view of nationalism.
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