Nationalism can be justified as a collective response against external aggression. External threats unite people. The most convenient example that comes to my mind right now is India-Pakistan relationship. Indians can unite against any Pakistani threat, despite of their regional and cultural differences. I would not be wrong in saying that British occupation gave birth to the modern Indian nationalism. Nationalism can be aggressive also. For example, Nazis tried to dominate the whole world, waged numerous wars. Wars, either offensive or defensive, are perhaps synonymous to nationalism.
I, however, want to discuss here about scientific/cultural progress during nationalistic surges. Greeks got united and became a big imperial force because of the Persian threat. Much of the progress Greeks achieved was during their imperialistic expansions. Romans also had the same story. Arabs had their hey days in science and technology during their colonial expansions. Scientific progresses in 19th and 20th century Europe coincides with nationalistic wars.
Bengal and Tamilnadu are the two places where British started their rule in India. No surprise, most of the early nationalists are from those two places. And, most of the prominent scientists and cultural figures of 19th and 20th century India hail from those two places.
Strong correlation between scientific progress and nationalism can not be ignored. People in India usually blame funding problems for the slow scientific progress. I think this is fundamentally flawed. Many of the scientists of 19th and 20th century Europe had struggled with financial problems. So I think all that India needs is a nationalistic movement.
I, however, want to discuss here about scientific/cultural progress during nationalistic surges. Greeks got united and became a big imperial force because of the Persian threat. Much of the progress Greeks achieved was during their imperialistic expansions. Romans also had the same story. Arabs had their hey days in science and technology during their colonial expansions. Scientific progresses in 19th and 20th century Europe coincides with nationalistic wars.
Bengal and Tamilnadu are the two places where British started their rule in India. No surprise, most of the early nationalists are from those two places. And, most of the prominent scientists and cultural figures of 19th and 20th century India hail from those two places.
Strong correlation between scientific progress and nationalism can not be ignored. People in India usually blame funding problems for the slow scientific progress. I think this is fundamentally flawed. Many of the scientists of 19th and 20th century Europe had struggled with financial problems. So I think all that India needs is a nationalistic movement.
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