Poonam Sharma
Nationalism does not grow overnight, nor is it something that can be imposed from above through speeches or slogans. It grows quietly—through shared experiences, memories, values, and a sense of belonging. People begin to feel national pride when they feel connected to the land, its story, and its future. In India, this feeling has always been deeper than political borders. It is civilizational, ethical, and emotional.
To understand why nationalist feelings rise among citizens, especially in a country like India, one must look beyond modern politics and into the philosophical foundations that have shaped Indian society for thousands of years.
A Sense of Civilizational Belonging
For most Indians, the idea of the nation is not limited to a date in 1947. The idea of Bharat existed long before the modern state. Rivers, mountains, pilgrimage routes, shared epics, and moral codes created a sense of unity long before passports and flags.
Indian philosophy speaks of a natural order that binds everything together. When people feel they are part of something ancient and continuous, nationalism becomes a feeling of inheritance rather than ownership. Citizens begin to see themselves as caretakers of a long journey rather than temporary occupants of a political system.
This sense of civilizational belonging explains why cultural revival often strengthens national pride. People feel rooted, not lost.
Culture as a Living Bond, Not a Museum Piece
Nationalism deepens when culture is lived, not lectured. In India, festivals, family traditions, local languages, food, music, and rituals quietly connect people across regions and social divisions. These are not symbols imposed by the state; they are carried forward by ordinary people.
Indian thought views culture (sanskriti) as something that refines human life over time. It evolves, absorbs, and adapts without losing its essence. When citizens see their culture respected instead of ridiculed, they naturally feel proud of who they are.
Alienation from one’s culture, on the other hand, creates emotional distance from the nation itself. Pride cannot grow in a vacuum of self-doubt.
Trust in the State and the Idea of Dharma
People feel nationalist when they feel the state belongs to them—not when they fear it. Ancient Indian political thinking never separated power from morality. Kautilya’s Arthashastra makes it clear that a ruler’s legitimacy depends on the welfare of the people.
The idea of Rajdharma—the moral duty of governance—still resonates today. When institutions function fairly, when laws feel just, and when corruption is not normalized, people begin to trust the system. That trust turns into loyalty, and loyalty into patriotism.
Nationalism weakens when citizens feel cheated or invisible. It grows when they feel protected and heard.
Memory of Sacrifice and Shared Pain
Nations are held together as much by shared suffering as by shared success. India’s freedom struggle left behind a moral legacy of sacrifice. From well-known leaders to countless unnamed individuals, the story of resistance created a collective memory that still shapes national identity.
Indian philosophy treats sacrifice (yajna) as a sacred act—giving up something personal for a larger good. When citizens remember that their freedoms came at a cost, nationalism becomes a sense of responsibility, not entitlement.
This kind of nationalism is quiet but enduring. It does not demand constant validation; it expresses itself through duty.
Education That Builds Self-Respect
Education plays a decisive role in shaping how people see their country. When young citizens learn about their civilization only through borrowed frameworks, they often grow up with a sense of inferiority. Swami Vivekananda warned against this long ago. He believed true education should build shraddha—faith in oneself and one’s heritage.
This does not mean rejecting global knowledge, but grounding it in local context. When students learn that their ancestors contributed to philosophy, science, ethics, and governance, they begin to stand taller. Self-respect naturally turns into respect for the nation.
A confident citizen is more likely to be a committed one.
External Pressure and Internal Unity
History shows that external challenges often bring nations closer together. India is no exception. However, Indian philosophy offers a balanced response. The Bhagavad Gita teaches action without hatred and strength without ego.
Healthy nationalism does not thrive on hostility; it thrives on self-confidence. When citizens believe in their cultural and moral strength, they respond to challenges with unity rather than fear.
Economic Dignity and Participation
National pride grows when people feel they have a stake in the nation’s progress. Employment, dignity of labor, and fair opportunities matter deeply. Indian philosophy speaks of l—working for the welfare of all.
When growth is inclusive, nationalism becomes participatory. When people feel left behind, national identity begins to feel distant and abstract.
A Nationalism Rooted in Balance
Indian nationalism, at its best, is not aggressive or exclusionary. It is rooted in duty, balance, and moral responsibility. It does not ask citizens to hate others; it asks them to uphold their own values.
In a rapidly changing world, this form of nationalism—civilizational yet inclusive, proud yet ethical—offers India a way to remain united without losing its soul.
