HPAS Mains 2021/22 Answer Writing Challenge Day 30: 07-11-2021

HPAS Mains: General Studies Paper I

Question: Describe the elements of unity in diversity of India and how they have contributed in building a national identity.                                                                                                                                                     8 Marks

Introduction – India is a plural society both in letter and spirit. It is a synthesis of cultures, religions and languages of the people belonging to different castes and communities has upheld its unity and cohesiveness despite multiple foreign invasions. National unity and integrity have been maintained even through sharp economic and social inequalities. The term ‘diversity’ emphasizes differences rather than inequalities. It means collective differences, that is, differences which mark off one group of people from another. The diversity of India is unique, being a large country with large population, India presents endless varieties of physical features and cultural patterns. It is a land of diversity in Geography, race, religion, caste, language, landforms, flora, fauna and so on.

Unity means integration, it is a social psychological condition. It connotes a sense of oneness, a sense of we-ness. It stands for the bonds, which hold the members of a society together. Unity in diversity essentially means “unity without uniformity” and “diversity without fragmentation”. It is based on the notion that diversity enriches human interaction. That’s why India is considered as salad bowl where all the cultural identities are distinctly preserved and conserved unlike the USA which is considered as melting pot where all the distinct cultures have been assimilated in one American way of life.

ELEMENTS OF UNITY WHICH BIND THE DIVERSITY OF INDIA

1. Geographical Unity – From the ancient time the entire land is called by a single name that is Bharatvarsha. This very name is given to the whole country in the Epics and the Puranas. The term is not associated with only geographical continuity but also political unity. Even, today this geographical unity is reinforced by the conception of common motherland – Bharatmata.

2. Religious Unity – There is an undercurrent of religious unity among the various religious sects in the country. The worship of vishnu and shiva though under different names is as widespread in the north as in the south. The ancient epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata are studied from north to south. The stories of Rama and Krishna are sung in unison and devotion from the Indo-Gangetic plains to the kaveri plains in the far south. The cow, the vedas, the Gita and the puranas and other scriptures are respected equally throughout this country. The religious shrines and sacred places are scattered equally all over this country Badrinath, Jaggant puri , Rameshawaram and Dwarka are among the prominent one.

3. Political and Administrative Unity – Time to time different rulers have brought the entire subcontinent under the aegis of single political empire like Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, Samundra Gupta and established their suzerainty over the entire India. Even in medieval ages Allaudin and Aurangzeb sought to established their lordship over the whole country. The Mughals created an imperial system which deepened the conception of oneness of rule and sameness of political experience with centralized administration system, uniform laws and common coinage and one official language – Persian, extensive roads etc. At the time of British rule, the concept of political unification emerged to make India free from the clutches of the British colonial empire. After independence India adopted democratic system of politics which demands political unification at all its levels.
4. Cultural Unity – In spite of different languages, customs and political disunity, a uniform cultural stamp was printed upon the literature and thought of all the different units of India. The thread of spirituality has tied India for long which is the underlying cornerstone beneath all aspects of diversities across this subcontinent. The cultural unity and homogeneity are also reflected in the social ceremonies and the religious rites- Sanskars, festivals and the modes of life which are same in both north and the south. The festivals such as Diwali, Dussehra and Holi are celebrated throughout the length and breadth of this country.

5. Constitutional Arrangements: The entire country is governed by one single Constitution. Even, most of the states follow a generalized scheme of 3-tier government structure, thus imparting uniformity in national governance framework. Further, the Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights to all citizens regardless of their age, gender, class, caste, religion, etc. Moreover, concept of Federalism and Linguistic organization of the states further strengthen this unity amidst diversity.

6. Religious co-existence: Religion tolerance is the unique feature of religions in India due to which multiple religions co-exist in India. Freedom of religion and religious practice is guaranteed by the Constitution itself. Moreover, there is no state religion and all religions are given equal preference by the state. The Secularism model of India including Freedom to profess religion and religious practices which is guaranteed by the Constitution itself. Moreover, there is no state religion and all religions are given equal preference by the state.

Conclusion – In the recent past It has been observed that certain issues have threaten this Unity in Diversity like engendering of religious communalism and riots, rise of regionalism etc which are supposed to be dealt with Iron hand. Communal harmony, peace and mutual respect for other communities are the binding forces or glue which promotes and preserve the Indian diversity together.