Unity in Diversity in India
By
Bonny Samanta
Department of Education
Introduction
India is a vast country. In this country consists of people belonging to different caste, creed, different language, professing different political faith, different culture, varieties of face and dress, region, food habit and life style. In fact India is a pluralistic society. Geographical diversity, wide area, diverse population have made India the smallest version of the World. According to Professor Dubey- race, religion and language are the major sources of diversity.
If we look at the recognized countries, we will find diversity in political affiliation, cultural origin, and even sport. Each state has its own unique historical, mythological and cultural background reflected in literature. Each state specializes its specific cultures and ethics and has its own identification mark. The whole country, viewed at a glance, shows diversities but remains to unite.
India is one of the ancient civilization in the world and boasts numerous ethnic groups professing different cultures and religions. Despite different cultures, religions, and languages, people of India live together with love and brotherhood. Great unity in diversity makes India an example of cultural society.
The term “ Unity in Diversity” refers to the state of togetherness or oneness in spite of presence of immense diversity.
Meaning of “Unity in Diversity”
Importance of Unity in Diversity
Elements of Unity in Diversity
India has geographical diversity. The country can be divided into several regions viz. Himalaya, plains, plateau of central India and Deccan, Western & Eastern Ghats, Thar Desert etc. Each of them has different climate, temperature, vegetation, fauna, people and so on.
Despite of this diversity, India has been defined as a distinct geographical unit since ages.
India has multitude of religions including majority Hinduism and minority Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and so on. The religion diversity has been one of the main divisive force in the country leading to problem of communalism, yet this diversity has many a times kept the country united in difficult times. Religious unity is particularly visible when a war or a disaster happens. Time and again, India has stood united in crisis, and that is what religious unity in diversity of India is.
In India a large number of languages are found. India has 122 major languages and 1599 dialects, thus making it one of the most linguistic diverse nation around the world. The languages have been a divisive as well as adhesive force in the country, English emerged as lingua franca of the country and serves as medium of communication between two people who have different mother tongue. Similarly, Hindi has also, to a great extent, serve to keep the country united. Despite major issues such as demand of linguistic states, status of minority, anti-Hindi movements etc. have passed major challenges to government from time to time.
India is a country of different castes. Caste or Jati refers to a heredity, endogamous status group practicing a specific traditional occupation. It is surprising to know that there are more than 3000 jatis in India. There are hierarchically graded in different ways in different regions.
We find castes among the Muslims, Christians, Sikhs as well as other communities. We have heard of the hierarchy of Shaikh, Saiyed, Mughal, Pathan among the Muslims, Furthermore, there are castes like Teli (oil pressure). Dhobi (washerman), Darjee (tailor) etc. among the Muslims. Similarly, caste consciousness among the Christians in India is not unknown. Since a vast majority of Christians in India were converted from Hindu fold, the converts have carried the caste system into Christianity. Among the Sikhs again we have so many castes including Jat Sikh and Majahabi Sikh (lower castes). In view of this we can well imagine the extent of caste diversity in India.
Indian culture possesses a fundamental unity. The fundamental approach to literature, philosophy, tradition and customs is typically Indian. Some of the religious and cultural festivals are celebrated all over the country without any consideration of caste or religion. Likewise, social institutions like caste and joint family are found throughout India. Even they are found among Muslims and Christians.
A peculiar type of culture and civilization utterly different from any other type in the world has evolved among the diverse communities in India. This culture has a fundamental unity. Inspite of different languages, customs, political disunity and geographical impediments, a uniform cultural stamp has been printed upon the literature and thoughts of all the different units of India. There has been a basic unity of literary ideas, philosophy, conventions and outlook of the people throughout the country. there has been close socio-cultural cooperation among the followers of different creeds and communities. Instances of their close friendship are abundant. Indian art, literature and music have greatly helped in strengthening this cultural unity. The composite culture of India is a living example of her fundamental cultural unity.
Herbert Risley had classified the people of India into seven racial types. These are- (1) Turko-Iranian (2) Indo-Aryan, (3) Scytho-Dravidian, (4) Aryo-Dravidian, (5) Mongo o- Dravidian, (6) Mongoloid and (7) Dravidian. These seven racial types can be reduced to three basic types- the Indo-Aryan, the Mongolian and the Dravidian. In his opinion the last two types would account for the racial composition of tribal India.
(i) Pre-Dravidian,(ii) The Dravidian,(iii) The Indo Aryan,(iv) The Indo-Alpine and (v) the Mongolian.
In the past India was divided into so many kingdoms. At the time of British rule the concept of political unification emerged to make India free from the clutches of the Britishers. After independence India adopted democratic system of politics which demands political unification at all its levels
Emotional Unity:
The burning example is Kargil war. From all these facts it is obvious that India is a fine example of unity in diversity. All these areas of unity cross the boundaries of caste, creed, social custom and religious grouping to establish unity in diversities.
References
Worksheet
2. Which commission proposed tri-language policy?
3.Who said “ India Is an Ethnological Museum”?
(a)Dr. B. S. Guha (b) J.H.Hutton (c )D.N.Majumdar (d) None of These
4. There are more than _________ jatis In India.
5. India adopted _______system of politics.
6. A group of people who have certain physical characteristics is called-
(a) Caste (b) Religion (c) Race (d) Culture
Thank You