The composite culture of Indian
Represents the Unity in Diversity

“it tarter wonderful” said par winder with a mouthful of Dasa drenched with coconut chutney. She is planning for the day i.e. going to college and then to kathak classes in the evening. A fresh start of the day after Darjeeling tea, some yoga practice and acrobatics in Punjabi beat.

Not just par winder, but so many of us like, Daal bati and dosa, aloo – paratha and Idli, pongal and Lohari, kancheepuram silk and chanderi saari, Diwali and Eid, Christmas and gurupurnima, lavani and bhangra. This is the spectrum of our India’s diversity, rightly called a ‘culturelle mosaique’ (mosaic of cultures).

This essay intends to shed some light on what ‘unity in diversity’ a reality for us? Or are there any challenges in achieving this ‘unity’? Lastly, what can be done to ensure the spirit of ‘unity in diversity’?

India: riding the tide of time

Diversity of Indian rub continent was neither unheard of nor unseen. Our beginning from Indus valley civilization chalcolithic spread was marked by Heterogeneity of society and culture.

‘Advent of Aryans’ and emergence of Mahajanapadas led to a diverse socio – cultural fabric. Ashokan regime was characterized by tolerance for Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. ‘Ajanta and Ellora’s architectural heritage bears curtness of diversity and its acceptance in Gupta age.

Not only ancient but the medieval India is also the assimilation seen is Akbar’s pursuit of Din-i-ilahi. But this socio cultural DNA of Indian society underwent change with the ‘colonial spread’. Till now every effort is to regain the diversity that use last.

Indian culture: A potpourri

The concept of ‘India’ is new but the identities of region, religion, language and literature are old. This diversity and divergence with a peaceful, prosperous mutual coexistence give the culture of India – a unique color i.e. a composite culture; Not isolation, Nor assimilation but integration as enshrined in our constitution’s article 51A, which enjoins citizens to respect this composite culture.

Our diversity

Diversity of Indian culture is risible in all rehire of our contemporary reality too. Reiteration the ‘Hegelian nation’, nothing can bloom without its opponent. Hence growth presupposes diversity.

It follows that, even our political system guarantees the safeguard of this diversity, For instance, emergence of regional parties, higher demand for federalist principles in fiscal and administrative spheres shows how the aspiration of our composite culture influences polity of Nation.

In addition to this, our society compared of plurality of religions, castes, sects, languages, cultures, festivals, music and dances give a rather vibrant color to Indian palette. Our composite cultured gave the clarion call of ‘Vasudhava Kutumbakam’ thousands of year back.

This call today, has now taken never farms e.g. ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’. Heritage of our diverse past, present and future is imbued in practice of different handicrafts in different regains,

E.g. kancheepuram saaris, moga silk, chakeshashang shawl (Nagaland) etc. In the economic sphere also, the lifestyle choices, consumption baskets; livelihood choice architecture is influenced by the diversity of India.

Though, the diversity of ethos of different social circles persists, yet the ethical norms of Indian society are same e.g. collectivism, respect for woman and elderly, spiritualistic outlook to name a few. From ancient times to modern age, its these ethical contours which made our culture composite.

In addition to above, each religion, culture and ethnicity of India propounds sustainable eco-friendly living habits. Be it Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism on Hinduism. Where in Jainism killing an insect is wrong to Parris putting dead killing in open for cultures a concern for environment is always omnipresent, in our composite reality.

Emerging Hefty challenges of Indian diversity

Today, our society is mired in the challenges, genesis of which could be attributed to some degree to our diversity. “Diverse country, with diverse challenges”, we are.

Divisive politics bared on vote bank culture is reinforcing caste identities under the perfect smokescreen of revivalism at the shadow of modernism. Dominant caste politics, Quota in jobs and education e.g. Maratha Quota are creating faultiness.

Besides polity, these faultiness our tearing the very composite social fabric of our country. What are the problems that we are not facing? Cartecism, ethnicism, racism, communalism, regionalism, linguistic chauvinism, are manifesting rapidly e.g. Bhima – Koregaam, incidence, kasganj rivet (UP) etc.

Our challenges and threats to our composite culture are not limited to the social issues only but the economic sphere of our life is equally distraught. The handicrafts, artisans, textile etc are on decline, robbing next just the jobs away off the dependent but also heritage of diversity.

Crimes against women, children, hunger, poverty, malnutrition are some of the after – effects of this dystopia. The separatist tendencies we are facing in North – East, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir is but a forceful assertion of this diversity in a violent manner.

Unity in diversity: A duality

Having discussed the constituents of this diversity and challenges arising out of it, the logical necessity arises of ‘Uniting this diversity’

A Bird’s eye view, to this diversity. Gives us an incredible in right of the implicit, unmanigert and concealed. Our diversity is our strength, from the analogy of biodiversity, how a wheels vegetation of monoculture is destroyed with one parasite, similarly our society polity, culture, economy, and the individual itself requires this diversity.

An Organic relation of these composite cultures constituents can make the hitherto unachievable targets achieved. e.g. democratic education as given in New Education policy 2019, more exchange programmers across the length and breadth of India, Secular politics and inclusive outlook can take us to the heights of a conceivable ideal human civilization.

In the spirit of fostering this diversity and making it our weapon of choice, government has also initiated various programmers and schemes. For instance Gl tag for location – specific produce e.g. Alphonso Mango, twpati lader etc swadesh darshan, digitization of regional languages and making its repository etc.

Vision of a composite culture

The Essence of this unity in diversity of India lies in respecting the differences with each other, striving for agreements but in case of disagreement and dissent a compromise reaching attitude should be developed. Minorities and vulnerable sections should not be exploited under the benign gaze of majoritarianism. In this essay, We analyzed the components of our composite culture, through the lenses of diversity and then subsequently synthesized it to give a vision of unity that can overcome the challenges caused by this diversity.

Being the world’s biggest democracy we are the torchbearer, being an ancient civilization we are the mentor, being an evolving society we are a leaver. A learner, who is trying to learn and appreciate the unique blessing of diversity endowed upon us.