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India, one of the most diverse countries in the world, has always cherished the concept of unity in diversity. Diversity of religion, ethnicity, caste, and language has been a unique selling point for India and yet we have not seen any major conflicts over these differences. It would not be wrong to say that India has been able to peacefully co-exist with all its differences because it’s also been celebrated and enjoyed those differences by all its people. Unity in diversity is the essence of India. It explains the unity in diversities and differences in Indian culture, traditions, religions, customs, and more. The term was coined by Rabindranath Tagore when he has conferred the Nobel Prize in Literature on December 10, 1913, in Sweden. He defined it as something that weaves together different strands into an inseparable whole and promotes an understanding of cultural similarities and differences. Today this term has become relevant again as there are many issues on unity in diversity being discussed by social scientists. Unity in diversity is what India has been all about since time immemorial. Unity in diversity has been the most crucial factor which kept India united when many other countries were being torn apart from within and without.
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A) Caste System
The unity in diversity in India is not only reflected in its different cultures and languages but also in the caste system which has been around for over 3000 years. Indian society has always placed great importance on self-reliance, which is so apparent in our existence right from ancient times. The caste system was prevalent as early as 4500 years ago, when there were four major classes or varnas – Brahmin (scholars), Kshatriya (rulers and warriors), Vaishya (traders), and Shudra (laborers). Each category had several sub-divisions or jatis. There was a fixed hierarchy that defined each person’s role and responsibility within a community. This led to stability and security in an otherwise chaotic world. The caste system assigned people to their respective roles by birth, which made it easier for them to accept their lot in life without questioning it too much. However, over time things changed drastically with people starting to question their place in society based on factors like education and profession rather than birth alone. This led to more freedom of choice but also caused problems such as discrimination against lower castes by higher ones.
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B) Language and Religion
While both are important, language is often a quicker and easier way to unify a country. For example, in India—a country with 22 official languages (and hundreds more unofficial ones)—it’s common for people from different states or regions to speak different languages. While unity in diversity has been achieved by both common religion and language, it’s often harder to achieve through religion than it is through language; today, less than 2% of Indians speak English as their primary language. Language also tends to be something that can be changed much more quickly than religion: while conversion may take place over generations, learning a new language can happen in months. This is why many countries have attempted to use language as a tool for creating unity in diversity.
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C) Geographical Region
India is a federal union comprising 29 states and 7 union territories. At its center, there is a Federal Government that passes common laws for all and gives them defense and foreign policy but leaves each individual state to run its own public sectors. This system has helped maintain unity in diversity. The Indian subcontinent itself was home to many different kingdoms before British colonization and these different regions have distinct histories, cultures, languages, and religions- including Hinduism (80% of Indians are Hindu), Buddhism (7%), Islam (13%) and Christianity (2%). The caste system has also traditionally been very strong in Indian society. It’s difficult to generalize about such a large country with so much variation, but here are some broad differences between geographical regions: Northern states tend to be more modernized and cosmopolitan while southern states tend to be more traditional; Southern cities like Bangalore and Chennai tend to be wealthier than northern ones like Chandigarh or Jaipur; Northeastern India is mostly tribal territory which can feel quite removed from mainstream Indian culture. Overall though, it’s important not to generalize too much about India as it really does vary quite widely depending on where you go!
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D) National Identity
When we talk about a nation’s identity, we are referring to its unique set of cultural traditions, ideals, and beliefs. For example, when most people in France think about their country they’ll think about symbols like bread, cheese, and berets. To understand French culture is to understand what’s important to people who live there: food (yum), fashion (not so much), and having fun (absolutely). The same thing goes for Americans—we love fast cars, superhero movies, and telling jokes. These things are tied together by one thing: They make us who we are as a culture. That’s why national identity is also often called ethnic or cultural identity. It’s how a group of people defines itself.
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E) Common History
As a result of colonialism, an entire generation is ignorant of its own heritage and origin. The average young Indian does not know anything about his country’s history. Although there are many attempts to unite Indians under one banner, it is difficult to revive nationalism in a country where we do not have any common past or present. Most people today believe that diversity has been forced upon us by our colonial rulers who used religion as a tool for partitioning India into a Hindu nation and a Muslim nation. But there are still several beliefs that unite all Indians regardless of caste, religion, or region. These points are considered sacred by people across India. Worshipping them would mean accepting certain basic values essential for being called an Indian: unity in diversity.
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F) Common Political Ideology
A shared political ideology, while not a requirement for unity in diversity, can be an important factor. Examples include cultural or religious heritage; common ancestry; a shared economy; collective defense (e.g., NATO); or similar geographic proximity. While unity in diversity doesn’t necessarily require a common political ideology to exist, having one can certainly expedite any process toward it. For example, once countries have identified a shared political ideology (whether explicitly stated or implicitly understood), they will typically work to implement various policies that align with those ideologies and further strengthen unity in diversity between them. One thing to note about having a common political ideology is that it does not mean there won’t be conflict among groups within said country. Rather, as long as there is still diversity present within said country’s borders, the conflict will inevitably arise from time to time. However, because these conflicts are likely rooted in differences in opinions regarding how best to achieve goals aligned with their shared political ideology, such conflicts are unlikely to threaten overall unity in diversity between all groups within said country’s borders. The most likely outcome is compromise on both sides leading to more effective strategies for achieving their shared goals.
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G) Common Culture
Every culture has its own values, traditions, and language. And yet, so many people are convinced that everyone has to be just like them. It’s easy to assume that if you have a specific way of life, others must too. But in reality, there are as many cultures as there are groups of people in India and abroad. We can easily misinterpret someone’s actions or words because we don’t share the culture-based meaning behind those actions or words. For example, when an Indian man offers his seat on a bus to an elderly woman, he is not doing it out of politeness but rather out of respect for his elders. He doesn’t want to sit next to her because he thinks she smells bad—he wants her to feel comfortable on public transportation. So how do we learn about other cultures? The best way is by getting out into your community and talking with people from different backgrounds. You may find that some things you thought were universal aren’t at all!
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H) Common Location/Region
Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Gujarati, etc. This diversity is mainly seen in states like Assam, Bihar, Punjab, etc. The Indian culture exhibits many symbols such as Unity In Diversity (UNITY IN DIVERSITY) that make it much more diverse than any other country in the world. Also known as composite culture or bhugol khatrai or sammanvad; unity in diversity is an essential characteristic that makes us very different from the rest of our neighboring countries. It is a kind of coexistence where people from different cultures and religions live together with ease in one place. This type of cultural diversification has made India unique in its own way. If you are interested to learn new skills, the Entri app will help you to acquire them very easily. Entri app is following a structural study plan so that the students can learn very easily. If you don’t have a background, it won’t be any problem. You can download the Entri app from the google play store and enroll in your favorite course.