Nationalist Movement of India parallels the country's cultural developments with education and books. The nation moved to a more educated, learned society. Most specifically Rabinranath Tagore wrote nationalist works that became wildly popular.
The rise of Nationalism is reflected in the spirit of Renaissance in Europe when freedom from religious restrictions led to the enhancement of national identity. This expression of Nationalism was furthered by the French Revolution.
For India, the making of national identity was a long process whose roots can be drawn from the ancient era. India as a whole had been ruled by emperors like Ashoka and Samudragupta in ancient times and Akbar to Aurangzeb in Medieval times.
But, it was only in the 19th Century that the concept of a national identity and national consciousness emerged. This growth was intimately connected to the anti-colonial movement.
The social, economic and political factors had inspired the people to define and achieve their national identity. People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle against colonialism.
To learn more, refer to this study guide (pdf): INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT (from NIOS.ac.in).