Bahujati To Mahajati

This paper operates which attempts to explore the birth of Indian nationalism on a cultural paradigm on two levels. Firstly it traces the regeneration of national pride through the reconstruction of regional histories focusing on a particular province or even a locality, hagiological semi-fictional biographies of local heroes which tried to rekindle pride of a glorious bygone era. Secondly it concentrates on illustrating the genesis of nationalism through the twin cultural prisms of Samaj and Jati. The multidimensional concept of Jati had been often erroneously equated with the caste system and been regarded as a source of dissension. I endeavour to trace the evolution of the term from initial association with the heinous and fragmentary Caste/Varna system and later coming to signify Pan Indian nationalism cutting across several social segments.