First of all i would like to thank my friend Robin, as it is his latest article on WHAT IS INDIA?? that inspired me to write this article......below is the link to Robin's article.
http://robinsingh16.blogspot.in/2013/09/what-is-india-i-have-to-admit-it-was.html?showComment=1379620536068#c5659596084779155515
Basically everyone of us must have heard that India has Unity in Diversity. So what does it actually mean??? And HOW is it possible for India, the largest Democracy, that has so many diversities- race, caste, religion, linguistic etc to sail through strongly for the last 67 years?????Given that in Europe we have numerous Nations divided on linguistic lines and other democracies of the world such as USA is intact coz of single language and single religion. I will try to answer these ques in subsequent paras.
Geographically the diversity in India is in terms of relief variations Mountains, Plateaus nd Plains; variation in temperature nd rainfall; variations in natural vegetation nd soil(which will in turn impact the cultivation pattern in the country). However, it is also the geography of India that brings unity as well. Geographical Unity is provided by the comparative isolation of India from rest of the World. Himalayas in the North and long coast in the South ensured, since the ancient times, that majority interactions happened within the country.
India is also a country of diverse Religions. Majority share by Hindus, followed by Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains etc. Then how is possible for India to sustain itself. One of the reason is that Constitution of India stated India is a SECULAR STATE, but another major reason is that the concept of unity is inherit to Hinduism. In Hinduism there is tradition of accommodations nd tolerance. And this tolerance is primarily coz of diversity of faiths (Gods).So among so many faiths it doesn't matter if faith of another religion is added. Also Culture of Pilgrimage that makes sure that people of different backgrounds, states interact nd hence infuse unity among themselves.
Even in the 21st century, in India there are more than 3000 castes nd it is indeed one of the diversities.Since nearly 70% of population is rural, caste diversities can't be neglected. However, unity factor among various castes is brought by Jajmani System- interdependence between different caste groups for daily basis (eg. higher caste person needs lower caste barber). Also laws on Untouchability nd upliftment of lower castes played a part. Plus industrialization nd urbanization has diluted the caste divides nd class system is emerging now.
Racial diversity that existed such as negritos, proto- australoids, mongaloids, mediterraneans etc in the past no more exists. India has become Melting Pot of Races, except for few parts like ladakh nd north east it is impossible to differentiate people on the basis of race.
Thus the above mentioned aspects truely define the meaning of Unity in Diversity. Also answers to the amazed western scholars who fail to understand the stability of India despite so many diversities. I wud like to end it with a statement by Pandit Nehru,
" India is having unity in diversity nd hence best political system is Federal State."
http://robinsingh16.blogspot.in/2013/09/what-is-india-i-have-to-admit-it-was.html?showComment=1379620536068#c5659596084779155515
Basically everyone of us must have heard that India has Unity in Diversity. So what does it actually mean??? And HOW is it possible for India, the largest Democracy, that has so many diversities- race, caste, religion, linguistic etc to sail through strongly for the last 67 years?????Given that in Europe we have numerous Nations divided on linguistic lines and other democracies of the world such as USA is intact coz of single language and single religion. I will try to answer these ques in subsequent paras.
Geographically the diversity in India is in terms of relief variations Mountains, Plateaus nd Plains; variation in temperature nd rainfall; variations in natural vegetation nd soil(which will in turn impact the cultivation pattern in the country). However, it is also the geography of India that brings unity as well. Geographical Unity is provided by the comparative isolation of India from rest of the World. Himalayas in the North and long coast in the South ensured, since the ancient times, that majority interactions happened within the country.
India is also a country of diverse Religions. Majority share by Hindus, followed by Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains etc. Then how is possible for India to sustain itself. One of the reason is that Constitution of India stated India is a SECULAR STATE, but another major reason is that the concept of unity is inherit to Hinduism. In Hinduism there is tradition of accommodations nd tolerance. And this tolerance is primarily coz of diversity of faiths (Gods).So among so many faiths it doesn't matter if faith of another religion is added. Also Culture of Pilgrimage that makes sure that people of different backgrounds, states interact nd hence infuse unity among themselves.
Even in the 21st century, in India there are more than 3000 castes nd it is indeed one of the diversities.Since nearly 70% of population is rural, caste diversities can't be neglected. However, unity factor among various castes is brought by Jajmani System- interdependence between different caste groups for daily basis (eg. higher caste person needs lower caste barber). Also laws on Untouchability nd upliftment of lower castes played a part. Plus industrialization nd urbanization has diluted the caste divides nd class system is emerging now.
Racial diversity that existed such as negritos, proto- australoids, mongaloids, mediterraneans etc in the past no more exists. India has become Melting Pot of Races, except for few parts like ladakh nd north east it is impossible to differentiate people on the basis of race.
Thus the above mentioned aspects truely define the meaning of Unity in Diversity. Also answers to the amazed western scholars who fail to understand the stability of India despite so many diversities. I wud like to end it with a statement by Pandit Nehru,
" India is having unity in diversity nd hence best political system is Federal State."
