Unity in Diversity: Build India, Better India - Elements and Approaches ! "Together We Shine, Together We are Right.”

Abstract:

India is a country that celebrates its variety while remaining united. Mountain ranges, monsoon, irrigated agricultural lands, rivers, streams, forests, and deserts have all contributed to India’s exceptional diversity among people of diverse races, castes, creeds, religions, and languages. Each state and region has its distinct colour, culture, and climate. Dance and music, colourful festivals, and stunning handiworks enchant visitors from all over the world. Beaches in Goa, backwaters in Kerala, snow-capped mountains in Himachal, beaches, and lakes in Kashmir, historical attractions in Delhi, and so on are symbols of our country’s diversity. This is called Unity in Diversity. 

Keywords:

Geographical elements, Religious elements, Cultural elements, Political elements,  Linguistic elements. 

Learning Outcomes :

After undergoing this article students will be able to understand the following

1. What's exactly Unity in Diversity?

2. Why unity in diversity is important?

3. What are the different elements which influence  unity in diversity?

4. What's the advantages of unity in diversity?

5. Conclusions

6. FAQs

References

1. What's exactly Unity in Diversity?

Unity in Diversity is a concept that signifies unity among individuals who have certain differences among them.

 

These differences can be on the basis of culture, language, ideology, religion, sect, class, ethnicity, etc. 

Furthermore, the existence of this concept has been since time immemorial.

2. Why unity in diversity is important?

Unity in diversity is very important for our country as it helps in maintaining national integration. Unity in diversity helps people to live with peace and harmony and if the people of India are united it helps in the growth and development of the country.

Need for unity 

To strengthen and enrich our cultural Heritage  

To protect the multiple diversities of  

To protect the Human Rights of all Indian society citizens.  

To boost workplace, organizational, and community morale.  

For effective and inclusive Communication.  

For conflict resolution.  

For peaceful coexistence.  

For the welfare of all people irrespective of caste, creed, sex, gender, race, economic class, culture etc.  

3. What are the different elements which influence  unity in diversity?

Different Elements of Unity in Diversity

For academic purpose, we can divide the different elements of unity in diversity in Geographical elements, religious elements, cultural elements, political elements and linguistic elements. 

A brief idea about some of them is as follows:

Geographical Elements of Unity in Diversity

India has diverse geography. At broadest level, the country can be divided into several regions viz. Himalaya, northern 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. A sloka in Vishnu Purana defines Bharata as the land which is south of snowy mountains and north of ocean. The country was time and again unified by different imperialist forces taking into consideration its geographical distinctness. There was a time two kings were known as Uttarapathapathi {Harsha} and Dakshinapathpathi {Pulkeshi}, thus giving a notion of only two parts of this vast country. The medieval sultans and mughals tried to consolidate their empire from north to south, geographically. British also did the same.

Religious Elements of Unity in Diversity

India has multitude of religions including majority Hinduism and minority Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Bahá’í Faith and so on. The religious 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.

This apart, we see everyday examples of religious harmony such as use of Ganapati Pandal as a makeshift mosque for Muslims; and Hindus participating in Eid festivities {reference}; Sikhs building mosques for Muslims; Muslims kids robed as Krishna for Janmasthmi festivals and so on. There are some religious centres in the country {Ajmer Sharif, Bodhgaya, Golden Temple in Amritsar etc.} which have acquired a character that goes beyond one religion.

Cultural Elements of Unity in Diversity

The Cultural unity in diversity of India is generally denoted with the phrase “Ganga-Jamuni Tahjeeb” or India’s composite culture. Despite of diversity, there are numerous cultural elements and factors that have shaped India’s composite culture. Some of them are as follows:

Indian Music

The best example of India’s composite culture is our music, particularly the Hindustani Classical Music. It has ancient origins, yet emergence of a highly developed and enriched music of northern India could not have been possible without Muslim contributions and its patronage. Emergence of Khayal from Dhrupad, Tabla from Pakhawaj / Mridangam are some of the key examples. Indian Veena and Persian Tambura merged to emerge as Sitar. Similarly, Ghazals and Qawwalis have played a unifying factor between the people of Indian sub-continent.

Daily Life

Each religion has influenced other in its customs, manners, rituals, etiquettes, dress, consumes, cooking, fairs, festivals, games, sports and so on. For example, Nisbat, Mehendi, Haldi, Tel, Mandwa, Jalwa, Barat, Kangan etc. are the Muslim adaptation of Hindu ceremonies. Similarly, when lower Hindu caste people converted to Islam during Sultanate and Mughal era, they kept their livelihood / vocational practices attached to the caste, thus we have Muslim castes as well including Julahas, Ansaris and so on.

Religion – Bhakti & Sufi Movement

Bhakti Movement dissolved the separate religious identities to a great extent and provides a great contribution to India’s composite culture. It gave a rude shock to Brahanical influence over Hinduism as well as religious bigotry in Islam. It brought to fore the universal brotherhood, equality and oneness of God while rejected castes, rituals, idol worship etc.

Essence of both Bhakti and Sufi movements was that they are not purists. Purism brings bigotry. Both of them brought Hindus and Muslim closer and thus contributing in compote culture of the country. The early Sufi saints laid great emphasis on love and had a pantheistic approach that was inherently in conflict with orthodoxy. Some practices of Sufi saints such as penance, fasting and holding the breath are sometimes traced to the Buddhist and Hindu yogic influences. Also, other evidence suggests that Hindu and Buddhist rituals have been absorbed and assimilated by the Sufis. The similarities between Hinduism, Buddhism and Sufism provided a basis for mutual toleration and understanding. The Chishti and Suharwardi orders both helped create a climate of opinion where people belonging to different sects and religions could live in harmony.

For its part, the Bhakti movement preached against the caste system using the local languages so that the message reached the masses. The values preached by the Bhakti saints coincided with the Islamic ideas of equality and brotherhood preached by Sufi saints. Together, these saints called for unity between Hindus and Muslims. The goal of saints like Kabir and Nanak was to unite all castes and creeds. They denounced untouchability and emphasized the fundamental unity of man.

Literature

Different regions of India contributed to the promotion of literature and higher learning to the composite culture of India. For example, Vedas were developed in North-West {Sapta-Sindhu region}, Yajurveda and Brahmana in Kuru-Panchal region; Rajatarangini in Kashmir; Upanishads in Magadha; Gita Govinda in Bengal, Charyapadas in Odisha, West Bengal and Assam; Mahakavyas and dramas of Kalidasa in Ujjaini; Bhavbhut’s works in Vidarbha; Dasakumarcharita of Dandin in Deccan; Sangam Literature in South and so on. Similarly, Taxila, Nalanda, Varanasi, Vallabhi, Vanvasi, Amaravati, Nagarjunkonda, Kanchi, Madurai and Odantapuri are shining examples of seats of higher learning in India.

Linguistic Elements of Unity in Diversity

While three fourth of India speaks Indo-Aryan Languages, Dravidian languages are spoken by one fourth of Indians. India has 122 major languages and 1599 dialects, thus making it one of the most linguistically diverse nations 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, served to keep the country united. Despite major issues such as demand of linguistic states, status of minority, anti-Hindi movements etc. have posed major challenges to governments from time to time.

Institution of Pilgrimage as element of Unity in Diversity

One of the important source of unity in India is its pilgrimage culture, reflected in network of religious shrines and sacred placed. For example, Badrinath, Kedarnath in North, Dwarka / Somnath in West, Rameshwaram in South, Puri in Eas and holy rivers across the length and breadth of the nation have fostered the sense of India as one unit.

Accommodation within Hinduism as element of unity in diversity

Hinduism is not a homogenous religion with one God, one book, one temple and so on. It is a federation of faiths with multiple deities, multiple Holy Scriptures and multiple of faiths and philosophies including atheism. Its elastic character of Hinduism that has accommodated and adjusted with various faiths, religions etc. and has allowed coexistence of several faiths in India.

Tradition of Interdependence as element of unity in diversity

Despite the fact that ours is a caste ridden society, India has a remarkable tradition of inter-dependence, which has kept it united for centuries. One example is the Jajmani System or functional interdependence of various castes. Jajman or Yajman is the recipient of certain services. This system initially developed in the villages between the food producing families and the families which supported them with other goods and services. The entire gamut of social order developed with Jajmani links with multiple types of payments and obligations. None of the caste was self sufficient and it depended for many things on other castes. Thus, each caste worked as a functional group and was linked with other caste via the mechanisms of Jajmani system.

Though Jajmani system represented the inter-linking of Hindu caste yet, in practice this system crossed the boundary of religion and provided linkages between different religions also. For example, Hindu’s dependence on Muslim weaver or washerman or Muslim’s dependence on Hindu trader / tailor / Goldsmith etc. is a manifestation of that mechanism only, though not called so.

4. What's the advantages of unity in diversity?

1. Unity in diversity increases the morale of people in the workplace, organization and community.
2. It helps to increase coordination, relationships, teamwork among people, thus improving performance, work quality, productivity and lifestyle.
3. This makes communication effective even in poor conditions.
4. Keeps people away from social problems and helps in managing conflicts easily.
5. Improves healthy human relationships and protects equal human rights for all.
6. Unity in diversity provides a source of tourism in India. People from diverse cultures, traditions, cuisines, religions and clothing attract more visitors and tourists from all over the world.
7. This, despite being diverse in various ways, leads to the habit of national unity among the people of the country.
8. It strengthens and enriches the country’s rich heritage as well as India’s cultural heritage.
9. It helps to enrich the agricultural sector through various crops and thus the growth of the economy.
10. Source of skilled and advance professionals in various areas of the country.

5. Conclusions

Unity in diversity teaches us that although we are from different caste, creed or race, these differences cannot keep us apart and we are always united for the betterment of our nation.

In short, the concept of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is an important reminder that we are all part of one global family. It teaches us to accept our differences and work together for the common good. As we face various challenges in the world today, including climate change, poverty and inequality, it is important to keep in mind the principles of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and work towards create a more united world. 

6. FAQs

What is the moral of United We Stand?

Ans.: The moral of the United We Stand Divided We Fall story teaches us that unity is a great strength, while division always leads to defeat.

References

1. Unity in Diversity: Learning from Each Other (5 vol set)

• By: Ronald Watts, Rupak Chattopadhyay, John Kincaid & Paul Morton

• ISBN: 9788130912011
  

Bind: Paperback

Year: 2009

Pages: 832

Size: 140 x 216 mm

Publisher: Viva Books Originals

2. The Rise Of Rishi Sunak: Going..

By: Michael Ashcroft

ISBN : 9781785906374

3. Discovery of India

4. About Festivals of India from various sources of information.

5.Art of Living

https://www.artofliving.org

Festivals of India | The Art of Living India