Unity in Diversity
India being the largest democracy in the
world with a civilization more than five thousand years old boasts of multiple
cultural origins. The cultural origins of the Indian subcontinent can be traced
back to the Indus Valley Civilizations, the remains of which are cherished even
today. Since the late 16th century India was under the influence of the British
Empire until 15th August 1947 the day when India gained independence. India is
a land of diverse cultures, religions and communities. There is great diversity
in our traditions, manners, habits, tastes and customs. Each and every region
of the country portrays different customs and traditions. But though we speak
different languages yet we are all Indians. 'Unity in Diversity' has been the
distinctive feature of our culture. To live peacefully has been our motto and
this motto has helped us to achieve independence. As history tells us that
there has been active participation from people of different caste and
religion. In our struggle for freedom people from different communities
participated keeping one thing in mind that they all are Indians first. But
unfortunately this peace and understanding among different communities has been
endangered lately. India at present is facing many problems. The biggest of
these is the problem of communalism. In their personal fight they are
destroying their life only. In fact, it is the biggest threat to humanity and
to the unity and integrity of the country.
People from different background and
culture participated in India's struggle for freedom. The national leaders,
particularly Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Azad and Bose had coined the slogan unity
in diversity There are numerous others who were also involved. Be it Hindu,
Muslim, Buddhist, Jain and Sikhs everybody had a single identity of being an
Indian. It should be understood that all of us have multiple identities
religious, linguistic, cultural, regional and caste identities. No one can
claim single identity. One who demands single identity i.e. national identity
does not recognize the reality but during India's struggle for freedom no one
thought in that manner they just thought of India's independence. Modern India
presents a picture of unity in diversity where people of different faiths and
beliefs live together in peace and harmony. Still today also India remains one
of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world.
Geographic
Diversity
Spanning an area of 3,287,263 square
kilometers, India is a vast country and includes dry desert areas, evergreen
forests, snowy Himalayas, a long coast, and fertile plains.
The unique geographic demographics also
hosts a unique eco-system rich with vegetation, wildlife, rare herbs, and a
large variety of birds.
The Deccan Plateau -- Known as the
Dravida land, the four states of South India offer a marked cultural and
literary experience from that of the North.
Diversity of Religions
Virtually every major religion has a
strong connection with India (including Christianity -- some people claim Jesus
Christ meditated in India in his early years). Buddhism was born in India (not
China), so were Sikhism, Jainism, and of course Hinduism. The Zoroastrians, the
Jews (living in India since 600 B.C.), the people of Bahai faith, all are found
in India in substantial numbers.
There are also numerous cults in India,
each practicing their own ideologies and interpretations of the major
religions.
Diversity of Languages
There is no such thing as the Indian
language. By some counts there are over 200 languages in India (almost 1600, if
you include dialects), with about twenty of them being very prominent ones.
Imagine a nation where the population does not understand their national anthem
or the President's address to the nation. That is India for you.
The Indian currency is printed in 15 languages.
Most forms (like job application, tax
forms) in India are hence printed in three languages -- English, Hindi, and a
prominent local language.
Diversity of Clothing and Attire
Perhaps India remains the only country
where unstitched clothing is still popular. The Saree, Lungi, Dhoti, Turbans
are all worn this way. It is the way of wearing it is where the styles differ.
Tailored Indian clothing includes
Salwar-Kameez, collarless jackets, Kurtas, and western attires for both men and
women.
Many types of headgear are prevalent in
India -- these include rumals, topis, and turbans.
Diversity in Food Habits
The food habits of the one billion
Indians varies by the availability of raw materials, cooking traditions, local
spices, and interestingly their religious faiths. For instance, some Jain
communities do not kill life to feed themselves -- including plants! This means
they only consume fruits, milk and leaves only.
Many communities do not eat meats
respecting the life on the animals.
Some communities define meat as
"anything that moves" -- thus they consume muscles, but not fish!
Besides the staples, the spices play an
important role in Indian food. There are so many spices to appeal to different
parts of the body that the English language does not have adequate adjectives
to describe them. For example, the hotness that touches the taste-buds is
different than the hotness that makes your gums swell!
India also has a number of sweet dishes,
mostly based on sugar, milk, and unbleached sugar (called jaggery in India).
The Bengal is famous for its milk-based sweets.
In general Indian food is rich in oil
and in spices. Rice and wheat are the primary bases for Indian food. The coastal
areas fashion seafood delicacies, while the desert areas have mastered cooking
with minimal use of water.
Cultural Diversity
The years of foreign rule, religious
movements, and spiritual discoveries in the ancient land of India has given way
to a rich potpourri of social habits, festivals, and customs. To appreciate the
Indian culture, an introduction to the religious heritage of India is
necessary. Please see topics on the Bhakti Movement, Hinduism, Festivals, and
other Topics on the Indian Culture.
India also has a very rich native or
tribal culture. See topics on the life of some of the tribes of India at the
Tribals of Bastar and Children of the Forest God.
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