Unity in Diversity is the slogan of India and has a unique culture which has maintained continuity for thousands of years while adapting itself to ongoing changes at the same time. It is the duty of every Indian to preserve, promote and conserve our cultural heritage and all forms of art and culture. Indian culture has many colors. It includes social and intellectual aspects of any human being. It also takes into account of the aesthetic instinct as well as the spiritual impulses of human being. It has also, in effect, an appeal to the subconscious as a force for the formation of the character.
India is a country with a rich cultural heritage and a diverse population. With over 1.3 billion people, India is home to a wide range of ethnic groups, each with their own unique traditions, languages, and customs. From the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas to the sun-drenched beaches of Goa, India’s landscapes are as varied as its people.
India’s history spans thousands of years and has been shaped by a multitude of empires, religions, and cultures. This diverse heritage is reflected in India’s art, music, and architecture, from the intricate carvings of the temples in Tamil Nadu to the vibrant street art of Mumbai. Despite its diversity, India is united by a shared love for cricket, Bollywood, and spicy food. From the bustling streets of Delhi to the tranquil backwaters of Kerala, India is a country that never fails to captivate and inspire visitors.
Unity in Diversity of India
We see people around us speaking different languages, having different religions and practicing different rituals. You can also see the diversities in their dress patterns and food habits. As well as, look at their innumerable forms of music and dance in India. But within all these diversities there is an underlying unity which acts as a cementing force. The intermixing of people has been continuing in India over centuries. A number of people of different ethnic backgrounds, racial stock, and religious beliefs have settled down in India for unity in diversity.
Characteristics of Indian culture
Ancient Origin
Comparatively, Indian culture is the world’s oldest among other countries’ cultures. Cave paintings of Bhimbetka, of the pre-historic origin, are the example of such ancient origin. Indus valley people were the first to produce cotton, hence Greeks referred them as ‘Sindon’.
Stability and Variations
Many great cultures had developed in different regions of the world and have perished and have been substituted by some other cultures. Despite, Indian culture for unity in diversity has had an enduring character. Significant threats of continuity can be traced throughout the course of Indian history right up to the present day. And it has been more than 4500 years ago that the Harappan civilization multiplied in the Indian land. And even today if you have a look at the Indian villages they resemble the design of Harappan house. Some visible features of Harappan culture,like worshipping of the Mother Goddess are still practiced.
Variety and Unity
Few cultures in the world could boast of such variety as the Indian culture. Indian culture, has comprehended the best part from other religions of the world such as Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, and Sikhism etc since three millennia. various styles of sculpture, architecture and painting, music and dance etc. Indian literature in different languages also reflects this composite nature. People are coming from far places and have been settling here since many centuries.
Why is there so much variety in Indian culture? There are many reasons for this.the vastness of the country and variation in its physical and climatic features is an obvious reason for the variety. The second important reason for variety in Indian culture is the intermixing of different ethnic groups.
Secular Outlook
This feature of Indian culture is the outcome of the interlacing of the people belonging to different cultural groups over a long period of time. The well-known cultural traditions of India are the best examples of such cultural synthesis in which a mob of people belonging to diversified religious groups converge at a point. The state has no religion of its own and all religions are given equal importance in Indian land. The people believe in the theme of “live and let others live”.
Universalism
The theory of coexistence has not been restricted to the political and geological boundaries of the country only. India has a universal outlook and it has been promoting the message of peace and harmony to every part of the world. India has been promoting a strong message against colonialism and racialism. It has protected against the formation of power blocks in the world.
Spiritualistic and Materialistic
India is known to be the terrain of spirituality specifically to the West. Despite, Indian history from ancient times to present day shows that the developments of materialistic and non-materialistic culture have been going along side. The Harappan civilization was an urban one.
It had a systematic town planning system such as a detailed drainage system and they had a subtle knowledge of mathematics, weights and measures. Discoveries of theories like “ Earth revolves around the
Sun” or “Earth is round” were made by Indians long before Europe admitted them. There was no obligation or antithesis by religious other thoughts in preserving such knowledge.
Inclusiveness and Co-existence
Indian culture has included different elements of other cultures that came in contact. It is the reason why it has impacted the Arab and the European cultures. The cultural amalgamation is a continuous process and it is going on till date. Shakas, Huns, Kushanas, Turks, Arabs and Parsis kept coming to the country and enriched its culture. As per Dr.Radhakrishnan, India is the only country where there is peaceful co-existence between temples , churches, gurudwaras and mosques.
Cultural Identity : Religion and Religionism
Indian cultural identity is based on various aspects such as religion, domicile etc. it depends on social, political and economic factors. For instance, muslim culture of Uttar Pradesh differs significantly with that of Kerala, similarly the Kashmiri Brahmin Muslims, both are proud of their territorial identity with unity in diversity.
