Describe the ways in which the novel in India attempted to create a sense of pan-Indian belonging.

The history written by colonial historians projected Indians as weak, divided and dependent on the British. This was not acceptable to the new Indian administrators and intellectuals. Such minds wanted new view of that would show that Indians could be independent minded and had been so in history. The novels attempted to create a sense of pan-Indian belonging by imagining the country to be full of adventure, heroism, romance and sacrifice – qualities that could not be found in the offices and streets of the nineteenth century world. The novel provided them with opportunity to give shape to their desires. Inclusion of various classes in the novel also created a sense of pan-Indian belonging.

For example:

The Bengali historical novels of this time, dealing with Marathas and Rajputs, served this purpose.

Another way in which the sense of belonging to a common nation was popularised was by including various classes in the novel so that they could be seen to belong to a shared world.

For example:

Premchand’s novels are filled with all kinds of powerful characters down from all levels of society.