The genesis of Nationalism and nationalistic ideas took place with the laying of the railwayline between Thane and Bombay and also the Telegraph line in 1852 between Agra and Kaunpur.True Nationalistic feelings first came to the fore in 1919 during the Jallianwala bagh agitation undertaken by Gandhi.Which can be called the first true Pan-Indian National protest.
The Shankaracharya is genesis of nationalism or Hinduism is nationalism argument is quite laughable and are the rants of a saffronus cow pee connoserius neech Kameenus mutaeus.
The genesis of Indian nationalism lies in the Modern Indian history than in some unidentified distant past
If the British rule is the only reason we are together, then why did't Burmese who were with us under the same British flag, ruled from Calcutta, Delhi, didnt got united with us?
When did whole India came under British rule - Never. British never ruled whole India.So how they can unite India?Hyderabad, Travancore, Baroda,Mysore,Jodhpur.Jaisalmer,Jaipur,Patiala, Cooch Behar(in today's Bengal),Junagarh,Kapurthala,Mandi, Kangra, Gwalior and may others were never ruled by them.How do you explain their nationalistic feelings if you discount the ancient ties?
British conquered Punjab in 1848 and that too not whole of it. States like Patiala were independent. from 1848 to jaliianwala Bagh - its only 70 years , one lifetime. So British in 70 years integrated Punjab with India?
The Soviets ruled Ukraine, Georgia for 70 years and yet couldn't integrate with Mother Russia. On BTW yes they had railway lines throughout USSR.
Before Jallianwala Bagh happened, Congress had already split into Moderates and extemists. Aurobindo Ghosh had dropped bombs against British, Khudiram Bose had given up his life. Rash Bihari Bose attempted what Netaji did 25 years later, Subramanya Bharathi had filled pages extolling Indian nationalism, Tilak had launched his Home Rule movement, Vivekanda was actively quoted by the revolutionary youth.In fact by the noughties the images of Lal - Bal- Pal (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak,Bipin Chandra pal) inspired revolutionaries throughout India and provided a pan India nationalistic leadership to the freedom movement.