राष्ट्रवाद (raashtrvaad)

noun A single-sense abstract noun meaning 'nationalism'; built from राष्ट्र (raashtr, 'nation') plus the abstract-noun suffix -वाद (vaad, '-ism'), a pattern shared with words like समाजवाद (samaajvaad, 'socialism').
Sense 1 : nationalism (the political ideology or sentiment)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: देशभक्ति (deshbhakti, patriotism -- narrower, feeling rather than ideology)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In Indian public discourse राष्ट्रवाद (raashtrvaad) is a live, often contested word, heard constantly in news debates about who counts as a 'true nationalist' versus a 'true patriot' (deshbhakti); the distinction between the two is itself a common talking point on Indian TV panels. Note the -वाद (vaad) suffix pattern: the same building block gives you समाजवाद (samaajvaad, socialism), साम्राज्यवाद (saamraajyvaad, imperialism), and गांधीवाद (gaandhiivaad, Gandhism), so learning this one word unlocks a whole family of '-ism' nouns.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use राष्ट्रवाद (raashtrvaad) interchangeably with देशभक्ति (deshbhakti), but the two are not the same: देशभक्ति (deshbhakti) is love for one's country (a feeling, generally positive), while राष्ट्रवाद (raashtrvaad) names the political ideology itself, which in news and academic contexts can carry a critical or contested tone (as in 'rising nationalism' discourse). 2) As an abstract -वाद (vaad) noun it is grammatically masculine and does not take a plural in ordinary usage, even when discussing 'nationalisms' of different countries.
Sample Sentences:
आजकल टीवी पर हर बहस राष्ट्रवाद और देशभक्ति के फर्क पर आकर अटक जाती है। These days every TV debate gets stuck on the difference between nationalism and patriotism.
(aajkal tiivii par har bahas raashtrvaad aur deshbhakti ke phark par aakar atak jaatii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उन्नीसवीं सदी में यूरोप में राष्ट्रवाद की लहर तेज़ी से फैली थी। In the nineteenth century, the wave of nationalism spread rapidly across Europe.
(unniisviin sadii men yoorop men raashtrvaad kii lahar tezii se phailii thii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर राष्ट्रवाद संकीर्ण हो जाए, तो वह दूसरों के प्रति नफ़रत का रूप ले सकता है। If nationalism becomes narrow, it can take the form of hatred toward others.
(agar raashtrvaad sankiirn ho jaae, to vah doosron ke prati nafrat kaa roop le saktaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर उसमें राष्ट्रवाद की भावना होती, तो वह अपनी मातृभूमि के लिए ऐसा नहीं कहता। If he had had a sense of nationalism in him, he wouldn't have said that about his motherland.
(agar usmen raashtrvaad kii bhaavnaa hotii, to vah apnii maatribhoomi ke lie aisaa nahiin kahtaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
यह किताब भारत में राष्ट्रवाद के उदय पर लिखी गई है। This book has been written on the rise of nationalism in India.
(yah kitaab bhaarat men raashtrvaad ke uday par likhii gaii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
प्रोफ़ेसर साहब, क्या आप राष्ट्रवाद और साम्राज्यवाद के बीच का संबंध समझा सकते हैं? Professor, could you explain the relationship between nationalism and imperialism?
(profesar saahab, kyaa aap raashtrvaad aur saamraajyvaad ke biich kaa sambandh samjhaa sakte hain?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अंधा राष्ट्रवाद मत फैलाओ, इससे समाज में बँटवारा ही बढ़ता है। Don't spread blind nationalism, it only increases division in society.
(andhaa raashtrvaad mat phailaao, isse samaaj men bantvaaraa hii badhtaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
गांधीवाद और राष्ट्रवाद, दोनों ने स्वतंत्रता संग्राम को अलग-अलग तरह से प्रभावित किया। Both Gandhism and nationalism influenced the freedom struggle in different ways.
(gaandhiivaad aur raashtrvaad, donon ne svatantrtaa sangraam ko alag-alag tarah se prabhaavit kiyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कुछ विद्वानों का मानना है कि राष्ट्रवाद एक आधुनिक अवधारणा है, न कि प्राचीन। Some scholars believe that nationalism is a modern concept, not an ancient one.
(kuchh vidvaanon kaa maannaa hai ki raashtrvaad ek aadhunik avdhaarnaa hai, n ki praachiin।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
चुनाव नज़दीक आते ही नेता राष्ट्रवाद का कार्ड खेलने लगते हैं। As soon as elections draw near, leaders start playing the nationalism card.
(chunaav nazdiik aate hii netaa raashtrvaad kaa kaard khelne lagte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): राष्ट्रवाद (raashtrvaad)
(sg.m.oblique): राष्ट्रवाद (raashtrvaad)
(pl.m.direct): राष्ट्रवाद (raashtrvaad)
(pl.m.oblique): राष्ट्रवादों (raashtrvaadon)