Divided and Bound by Nationalism: A Postcolonial Commentary

Scholars and critics alike agree that nationalism has been an important defensive feature of decolonization struggles in the Third World. Critics like Benedict Anderson, Bhikhu Parekh, Partha Chatterjee, Meenakshi Mukherjee, Ernest Gellner and Leela Gandhi have spoken extensively on its relevance to decolonizing efforts in the postcolonial world. Indian writers of fiction in English have deliberately or otherwise talked about ‘nation' in their works, in their debates, talks and interviews. It is one of the ways that provides methods of communication of a sense of identity and belonging. For some, it provides, in contrast, methods of communication of some sense of loss and longing. Many authors of fiction and non-fiction in English today have successfully brought out very telling debates of the concept of nation in their works. That is the reason why I chose to write on the concept of nation as propounded by a few important critics. This article will therefore delve into some of the arguments of the eminent critics on the concept.