Difference Between Nation And Nationalism

The terms ‘nation’ and ‘nationalism’ are part of everyday jargon and are inevitably interlinked. Nation commonly refers to a community of people that are associated with a particular territory or region and have been brought together as a result of the conjunction of psychological, cultural and political factors. These may also include literature, history, language, customs and religion. It is these elements that help people become conscious of a shared identity and brings within them a sense of solidarity. Nation also is at the very core of nationalism. This is because nationalism relates to a feeling of attachment or devotion to a nation. This appreciation and loyalty is developed as a consequence of the influences that have already been discussed. …show more content…
Moreover, the effort that has been put in to invoke a feeling of patriotism amongst citizens is extremely riveting. In my paper, I will use the writings of Gandhi, Nehru, Jinnah and Iqbal to talk about their ideas for the twin notions of nation and nationalism. I will also bring to the forefront how reading their works has given me a more comprehensive understanding of these subjects.
One of the most interesting features of M.K. Gandhi’s “Hind Swaraj” is his insistence that India constituted a nation much before the British arrived on our shores. This is surprising since I have always considered India to be a nation only after Independence in 1947. The rationale is that a nation can only be thought as such after a formal declaration of its birth. Moreover, such an announcement is necessary to bring people from diverse backgrounds and religions to believe in a common goal. However, Gandhi has a differing opinion. He believes that the Indian people have always been a nation and the British or the Mahomedans have made no difference to this theory. According to him, the only condition that is necessary is that a “country must have