GS I (The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors or contributions from different parts of the country) (Duplex)

Patriotic writings proliferated almost spontaneously in different languages, as the resistance of a community against foreign rule. Analyse the birth of the novel  associated with the social reform-oriented movement of the 19th century.

Best answer

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The Indian freedom movement happened at the just the right time. There were many factors that aided our independence and none so much more than lowering of barrier entry in writings in the new form of novels. In this regard we realise the important of spreading ideas through the medium of the written language. Earlier the medium of writing and reading, being structured and poetic was reserved for the rich and high classes. The novel introduced a kind of informal way of expression that was accessible to the masses. So, Bengali writers like Rangalal, Urdu writers like Mirza Ghalib, and Hindi writers like Harishchandra wrote novels that instilled the readers with the homeland fervour and did much to raise the collective patriotic voices of the people.

For the first time after two centuries of British rule and British account of Indian history, we had Indian writers providing their account of a glorious Indian past. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Hari Narayan Apte and others wrote historical novels that gave veins to nationalistic pride. Our national song ‘Bande Mataram’ is famously from Bankim Chatterjee’s novel ‘Anandamath’. The song is recognised by all to be an important slogan in India’s struggle for independence.