India finds its etymological origins in the Indus, the first of the largest rivers that marks the plains if one travels through the land routes from the West. However, in the present fate of the State, the river lies in Pakistan, best described as a geopolitical adversary. The other words for the state, like Hindustan or the abode of Hindus, have slightly relevant terminology but none that reflects the actual history. Since no Hindu king had presided over the land after the 11 century. Further, it's crucial to note that no king has ever ruled over the entirety of present India at any point in history. Instead, rulers have found it easier to consolidate the connected regions of Pak and Afghan than the southern coasts.
Midst all these historical facets, the question that begs to be asked is when India began to identify itself. Many believe the form that India exists today must be credited to the Britishers. I find this argument, first of all, hollow and, secondly, misleading. Open because when the British were at their colonial height, the sole reason for creating provinces was administrative. Just like the parallel between US and Canada. However, the cultural identity of India extends beyond administration. In fact, the perplexing diversity, which should have divided a state, unites India. And this credit to the English men for identifying India is misleading because it hides the importance of a specific individual who deserves credit for current India. The only distinction the Brits deserve in this debate is the one for a religious-based partition of the country.
This person is Gandhi. He is widely credited for his adherence to peace, the satyagraha and non-violent protests, which became the blueprint for civil rights activists. We need to catch up on his ingenuity in identifying India. His careful analysis to realise that the population here had never been homogenised, like the Chinese counterparts, nor had any interest in doing so. His model of India, which treats states as cultural partners, and its citizens as thinkers, is the earliest example of globalisation. The realisation that uniting India as a military force against the British was not a plausible solution, owing to the country's diversity. The only resolution was an intellectual awakening at a personal level that made a change inevitable.
Sadly, Gandhi did not guide the early governments of the country. Which fell into a terrible mess in the 50s and the 70s ( my earlier article did deal with this ). But the understanding of what India truly has only been reflected in the thoughts of Gandhi.