(i) Image of Bharat Mata: The identity of nation was symbolised in an image. Rabindranath painted the famous image of Bharat-Mata. Devotion to this mother figure came to be seen as an evidence of one’* nationalism.
(ii) Folklore: Nationalists toured villages to gather folk tales. These tales gave a true picture of one’ national identity and helped in restoring a sense of pride in one’ past.
(iii) Icon and Symbols: Nationalist leaders used icons and symbols to unite the people and create in them a feeling of nationalism.
(iv) Reinterpretation of History: Another means of creating a feeling of nationalism was through reinterpretation of history. By the end of the 19th century many Indians began feeling that to instill a sense of pride in the nation, Indian history had to be thought about differently. The British saw Indians as backward and primitive, incapable of governing themselves. In response, Indians began looking into the past to discover India’ great achievements. They wrote about the glorious developments in ancient times when art and Architecture, Science and Mathematics, religions and culture, law and philosophy, crafts and trade had flourished. Thus glorious ****, in their view, was followed by a history of decline, when India was colonised. These nationalist histories urged the readers to take pride in India’ great achievements in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under the British rule.
Examples:
• During the Swedeshi movement a tri colour flag was designed.
• In 1921, Gandhiji designed the Swaraj flag carrying the flag during protest marches became a symbol of defiance
