Study Notes on Understanding Diversity
The National Anthem and India's Shared Identity
The National Anthem of India, "Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he," serves as a fundamental expression of the country's unity and its diverse landscape. The lyrics celebrate "Bharata-bhagya-vidhata," the dispenser of India's destiny, whose name rouses various regions including Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha, Dravida, Odisha, and Bengal. The anthem mentions the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas and the music of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga, which mingle with the waves of the Indian Sea. The official translation, provided by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, describes the ruler of the minds of all people and the victory associated with this shared destiny. Notably, Tagore translated "Jana Gana Mana" from Bengali to English in February 1919 while at Madanapalle in the District of Chittoor.
Defining and Recognizing Diversity
Diversity is the state of being different from one another in various ways, including physical appearance, regional background, cultural heritage, and religious beliefs. Within a common environment like a classroom, no two individuals look exactly alike. These differences are not mere superficialities; they enrich human lives and make them more interesting. India's specific complexity arises from the fact that its people come from all kinds of backgrounds and belong to various religions and cultures. Even simple personal actions, such as drawing a human figure, reveal diversity; each individual has a unique drawing style that differs from others in the same way that spoken languages, religious rituals, and cultural backgrounds differ.
The Story of Samir Ek and Samir Do
A narrative used to illustrate diversity is the encounter between two boys at a busy intersection at Janpat crossing. The first boy, referred to as Samir Ek, is a student who cycles past the intersection. The second boy, Samir Do, is a small, ragged boy who sells newspapers, screaming out headlines in a mixture of Hindi and English. Their interaction highlights several layers of diversity and inequality. Samir Ek is familiar with English and studies Hindi as a "subject" in school, a concept that the unschooled Samir Do finds difficult to grasp. Samir Do speaks primarily Hindi and began working at a very young age, initially with his mother who later moved to Meerut.
The relationship between the two Samirs underscores that diversity does not necessarily prevent friendship. Despite their differences—one being a Hindu student (Samir Ek) and the other a Muslim newspaper seller (Samir Do)—they find ways to communicate and connect. However, their story also ends on a somber note when communal riots break out in Meerut, affecting Samir Do's family and leading to his disappearance from the crossing. This story emphasizes that while language and religion are aspects of diversity, specific circumstances and backgrounds shape individual lives profoundly.
Distinction Between Diversity and Inequality
It is critical to distinguish between diversity and inequality. While diversity refers to differences in culture, language, and religion, inequality occurs when a person lacks the resources and opportunities available to others. The fact that Samir Ek went to school while Samir Do sold newspapers is an example of inequality, often driven by poverty and the lack of access to basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter.
Another historical example of inequality is the caste system. Under this system, society was divided into groups based on the work people performed, and these groups were meant to be permanent and irreversible. For instance, if one's parents were potters, they were expected to only become potters. This rigid structure prevented people from seeking knowledge or professions outside their designated group, thereby creating a systemic environment of inequality.
The Influence of Diversity on Creativity and Social Life
Diversity adds significant value to our lives by exposing us to different foods, festivals, clothes, and languages. This variety is the foundation of creativity. Storytellers and writers derive their ideas from diverse sources, such as real-life experiences, books, and their own imaginations. Some writers focus on animal friendships in forests, others on the accounts of kings and queens, and some on childhood memories.
A world without diversity would be starkly limited. Imagine a scenario where every storyteller lived in a place where they only wore two colors (red and white), ate only potatoes, cared for only two animals (the deer and the cat), and played only snakes and ladders for entertainment. Such a lack of variety would severely restrict the types of stories they could create, highlighting how diversity is essential for the richness of human expression.
Historical and Geographical Roots of Diversity
India's diversity is a product of both historical and geographical factors. Long before modern transportation like planes or trains, people moved between regions via ships, horses, camels, or on foot. These migrations were driven by trade, the search for new lands, the escape from famines and droughts, or the displacement caused by war. As people settled in new places, their traditions mixed with local ones, creating a hybrid of the old and the new in languages, food, music, and religion.
Geography also plays a vital role as people adapt their lifestyles to their physical surroundings. Life in a mountainous region is fundamentally different from life near the sea. These geographical differences affect not only the food and clothing of the inhabitants but also the types of work they perform. In cities, people often lose sight of this connection because they depend on markets for goods rather than growing their own food, but the underlying geographical influence remains a cornerstone of regional identity.
Case Study: Ladakh, the Little Tibet
Ladakh is a mountainous desert in the eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir. Its geography is characterized by very little rainfall and a landscape covered in snow for much of the year, which makes agriculture nearly impossible. The inhabitants depend on melting snow for drinking water during the summer. The economy of Ladakh is centered on livestock, specifically sheep and goats. These goats produce the highly prized pashmina wool, which is used to make expensive pashmina shawls, primarily woven in Kashmir.
Despite being a desert, Ladakh was historically a significant trade route with many passes leading to Tibet. Caravans carrying textiles, spices, raw silk, and carpets passed through here. This led to Ladakh being called "Little Tibet." Culturally, Buddhism reached Tibet through Ladakh. The region also has a significant Muslim population, with Islam introduced more than four hundred years ago. Ladakh possesses a rich oral tradition of songs and poems, including local versions of the Tibetan national epic, the Kesar Saga, which is performed by both Muslims and Buddhists.
Case Study: Kerala, the Land of Spices
Kerala is located in the south-west corner of India, bordered by the sea on one side and hills on the other. Its geography allowed it to become a global hub for the spice trade, producing pepper, cloves, and cardamoms. Historical influences began with Jewish and Arab traders. St. Thomas, the Apostle of Christ, is believed to have arrived nearly 2000 years ago, bringing Christianity to the region. Later, Ibn Battuta visited approximately seven hundred years ago and recorded the lives of a respected Muslim community in his travelogue.
European contact was established when the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route to India and landed in Kerala. Because of these various waves of migration and trade, people in Kerala practice a wide range of religions, including Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Cultural ties to China are evident in the use of "cheena-vala" (Chinese fishing nets) and the "cheenachatti" (frying pan). The fertile land and warm climate are ideal for growing rice, which, along with fish and vegetables, forms the staple diet of the majority of the population.
Unity and Strength in Diversity
India’s diversity has historically been a source of strength rather than weakness. During the freedom movement against British rule, people from entirely different cultural, religious, and regional backgrounds united. Despite the British attempt to use these differences to "divide and rule," the Indian people proved they could be united in their goal of independence. They participated in joint actions, went to jail together, and developed unique ways to protest.
A powerful symbol of this unity is the song composed after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar. In that tragedy, a British general ordered fire on a peaceful, unarmed crowd of Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, rich and poor. The resulting song serves as a reminder of the blood shed by all communities in the struggle for freedom. Similarly, the Indian flag was used throughout the country as a symbol of protest against British rule.
In his book "The Discovery of India," Jawaharlal Nehru explained that Indian unity is not an external imposition but something deep and internal, characterized by the widest tolerance of belief and custom. Nehru coined the famous phrase "unity in diversity" to describe how the country acknowledges and even encourages every variety of its people while maintaining a cohesive national identity.
Questions & Discussion
Draw up a list of the different festivals celebrated in your locality. Which of these celebrations are shared by members of different regional and religious communities?
What do you think living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life?
Do you think the term "unity in diversity" is an appropriate term to describe India? What do you think Nehru is trying to say about Indian unity in the sentence quoted above from his book The Discovery of India?
Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which according to you, reflects India's essential unity.
Choose another region in India and do a similar study of the historical and geographical factors that influence the diversity found there. Are these historical and geographical factors connected to each other? How?