How did novel fulfilled the task of nation-building during the British period? Explain.
THE modern novel developed in India in the nineteenth century during the British period. Leading novelists wrote to develop as modern literature of the country. They wanted to produce a sense of national belonging and cultural equality with the British. Novels could be read by people from all walks of life. This helped in creating a sense of collective identity on the basis of one’s language. Novels helped people to understand about the culture of other parts of the country’. They helped to create a sense of pan - India belonging.
In Bengal, many historical novels were about Marathas and Rajputs. These novels portrayed the nation to be full of adventure, heroism, romance and sacrifice. Bankim’s ‘Anandmath’ is a novel about secret Hindu militia which fights Muslim to establish a Hindu kingdom. This novel inspired many kinds of freedom fighters.