GANDHI AND THE SIKHS

	Gurmit Singh

Is there a people of India? Can the diversified assembly of races and religions, with the barriers und division of caste, of language and other differences, and with the widely varying range of social and cultural levels, inhibiting the vast sub continental expanse of India, be considered a "nation", or ever become a. nation? If these questions were asked from our ancestors living a century ago, they would have replied in the negative because to them India in this sense had no meaning and no existence. When the struggle against the British rule started, an attempt was made for the first time to inject the spirit of nationalism in the people of India. But even at that time concept of nationalism was given a narrow meaning. It was founded on the bedrock of common religion, culture and historical tradition but, was given a Hindu colour.