Explain any 5 factors that contributed to the development of a sense of nationalism and collective belonging among Indians during the national movement.

Hint: The Indian National movement was a countrywide mass movement in which people from all walks of life came together to fight for their freedom. It led to the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885 which was the first and most active political party in the Indian freedom struggle.

Complete answer: The factors responsible for a sense of nationalism in the Indians were
a. Administrative unity helped in the unification of national consciousness. Equal laws for all were an important step towards bringing people together.
b. Western education also played an important part in bringing about nationalism because now people became aware of the modern ideas of liberty, freedom and equality.
c. Modernised transport also helped in bridging the gap between the different regions of the country as now people could travel and interact and understand each other’s cultures.
d. Modern press and print played a massive role in nationalism, local newspapers and pamphlets were used by freedom fighters to spread the ideas of liberty and decimate information.
e. Economic exploitation by the British affected all Indians equally, it played an important role in bringing together people and raising a sense of collective belonging.

Note: International movements also inspired Indians to fight for their freedom. Events like the American Independence in 1776, the French revolution in 1789 propagated the ideas of freedom and independence.