Which one among the following thinkers argued that Maratha rule in general and Shivaji in particular represented early nationalist consciousness in India ?

Mahadev Govind Ranade (M.G. Ranade) was a pioneering figure among the early nationalists who reinterpreted Maratha history to foster a sense of national identity [1]. In his seminal work, 'Rise of the Maratha Power' (1900), Ranade argued that the Maratha state under Shivaji was not merely a result of chance or military adventurism but represented a genuine effort at nation-building and the manifestation of an early nationalist consciousness. He viewed Shivaji's 'Swarajya' as a precursor to modern Indian nationalism, emphasizing its role in promoting cultural and linguistic unity through initiatives like the 'Rajya-Vyavahara-Kosha' [2]. While other leaders like Tilak used Shivaji for mass mobilization through festivals [3], and Bipin Chandra Pal later glorified him within a 'cult of humanity' [1], it was Ranade who systematically provided the intellectual framework for viewing Maratha rule as a foundational stage of Indian nationalism.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 1: Rise of Nationalism in India > Introduction > p. 1
2. [2] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: The Rise of the Marathas > Cultural Revival > p. 77
3. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 24: Post-War National Scenario > Side-effects of Militant Nationalism > p. 483