(i) Reinterpretation of history was an important means to create a feeling of nationalism.
(ii) The British saw Indians as backward and primitive.
(iii) In response, Indians began looking into the past to discover India’s great achievements.
(iv) They wrote about the glorious developments in ancient times when art and architecture, science and mathematics, religion and culture, law and philosophy, crafts and trade flourished.
(v) This glorious time, in their view, was followed by a history of decline when India was colonised.
(vi) These nationalist histories advocated the readers to be proud of India’s great achievements in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under British rule.
(vii) A growing anger against the colonial government and hope of reviving the glorious past infused a strong sense of patriotism in Indians.
(viii) They fought back for their rights and finally, in 1947 achieved it in form of independence and freedom from British Raj.
