The Conundrum Of National Identity: Naturalisa-tion Of India As A National Collectivity - A Post-colonial Perspective

This paper critically examines the concept of 'imagined homogeneity' and its implications for understanding India as a national collectivity in a postcolonial context. It scrutinises the impact of British colonial rule on the formation of India's national identity, detailing how colonial strategies reinforced an oversimplified perception of India, a diverse and multi-faceted country. It explores how this 'imagined homogeneity' has been questioned in the post-colonial era, leading to the emergence of regional and identity-based politics and resulting in numerous conflicts. The challenges and complexities of achieving national cohesion in post-colonial India, particularly given its cultur-al, linguistic, and religious diversity, are also addressed. The study's findings emphasise the need for a more nu-anced understanding of India's diverse identities and the implications for the nation's attempts at naturalisation in the postcolonial era.