is the Indian (Bharatiya) concept of Nation ?! Did the Brits give us that ?
Well, not a scholarly attempt, but these verses should give some clue...
Case 1 :-)
RigVeda III.53.12
vis'va_mitrasya raks.ati brahmedam bha_ratam janam
Case 2:
Atharva Veda 19.41.1 (Note, the transliteration of the shloka may have errors)
"BHADRAM ICHCHANTA RISHAYAH SWARVIDAH
TAPO DEEKSHAM UPANISHEDUH AGRE
TATO RASHTRAM BALAM OJASHSCHA JATAM
TADASMAI DEVAH UPASANNAMANTU ."
Translatin: The sages, aspiring for a higher and better standard,work with diligence and devotion; They inspire people to do their duty with dedication. This is the way how Nations and communities grow strong.
1 comment:
Well, as I said, the intend was not to explore the details, but to point out some interesting aspects
To your question, I would tend to believe that Bharata Rashtram was there as an ideological concept as well quite a geographical entity - the exact boundaries of which may have been dynamic
Again, when exactly did it come into being- difficult to say- and I would tend to believe that it was dynamic
Shankaracharya, in his travels, chose those places, which somewhat defines 4 parts of India.. Asethu Himachalam has been a saying for time immerial.. "Gangecha Yamunecha .." has been chanted by South Indians also for ages.. So some sort of a concept surey existed well before the Brits.. and I would also tend to believe that spirituality or religion played the major role in defining those concepts and boundaries
But yeah, questions still remain.. how abt the north east for example.. How were the princely states viewed, did they have the notion of "foreigners". If so why did they fall to islamic invasions, and some atleast even make allies with them .. Some of it can be answered- for example, the fire power that comes out of islam is just incomparable, and its no surprise that the pacifist Buddhist fell easily to them, even if they had any concept of Nation and so on
anyways, a scholary work is beyond the scope
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