Unity in diversity
Download as PPT, PDF7 likes4,919 views
India is extremely diverse, yet also shares underlying unity. It has vast geographic, linguistic, racial and religious diversity. However, several factors have contributed to its fundamental unity, including: 1. A shared sense of geographical unity is embodied in the ancient name "Bharatvarsha" and reinforced by the idea of India as "Bharat Mata" or Mother India. 2. Political rulers from the Mauryan and Gupta empires to the Mughals and British sought to establish rule over the entire subcontinent and promote a common political identity. 3. Religions in India, despite their differences, share a belief in spiritual principles and the majesty of the spiritual. This
Unity in diversity
- 2. According to Sir Herbert Rizle, “Even after the linguistic, social and geographical diversity, a special uniformity is seen from Kanyakumari to the Himalayas.”
- 3. 5,000 year old civilization. 325 languages spoken – 1,652 Dialects, 18 official languages. 29 states, 7 union territories. 3.28 million sq. kilometers – Area. 7,516 kilometers – Coastline.
- 4. Parliamentary form of Government. Secular democratic constitution. Worlds largest democracy since 65 years. 4th largest economy. Fastest growing IT super power. Indian Railways ,the biggest employer in the world.
- 5. LANDSCAPES
- 6. Diversity of Physical Features From Geographical Point of View There are endless varieties; India has winding chains of inaccessable mountains, covered withs snow and flat plains, arid desert almost untouched by feet of man, as well as fertile river valleys maintaining a vast population. There are many rivers in India both Seasonal and Perennial. Vast stretch of fertile land with abundance of crop and lush green forest on the other hand arid land without any scope of vegetation. Existence of all kind of climate from the scorching heat of the desert of Rajasthan to the extreme arctic cold of snowy heights of the Himalayan ranges. From dry rocky table land of Deccan to the most tropical luxuriance of Bengal and Malabar. India offer all three kind of climate ; the polar, the temperate and the tropical. Geomorphologically also Indian landmass very from places to place. Variation in rainfall also found; some places witness highest rainfall in world o some place driest in the earth. Varieties in landmass, temperature, moisture resulted in varieties in flora and fauna.
- 7. Diversity of Races There is a great variety of racial types which India presents through her teeming millions. Famous historian Vincent Smith calls Indian an Ethnological Museum. India is home to one sixth of humanity and all most all kind of racial communities. Modern India posses the primitive tyribesman as well as the polished inhabitants of cities. B.S.Guha identifies six races in India- The Negritos, The Proto-Austroloid, The Mongoloid, The Mediterranean, The Western Brachycephal and the Nordics. Every phase of the racial evolution is represented by the people of India.
- 11. India enjoys good variety of religions. All the main world religious are found here-Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, etc. All the religions of India have their sects and sub sects.. Hinudism is followed by two third people of India is itself split up in countless creeds, the Vedic religion, The Puranic Hinduism, the Vaisnavism, the Shaivism, the Sanatan dharma and many more etc. Many gods, beliefs, superstitions, dogmas, practices, cults, creeds grouped under the wide umbrellas of Hinduism. If Buddhism is divided into Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana, Jainism has its own sects Svetambara and Digambaras. Christianity arrived in India within 50 years of its origin so also Islam. There are theist and atheist, the polytheist and the monotheist as well as the animist present over here in India.
- 15. India is a multilingual country. Language is another source of cultural diversity as well as unity. It contributes to collective identities and even to conflicts. Eighteen languages are recognized by Indian Constitution. All major languages have regional and dialectical variations, for example, Hindi has Awadhi, Brij, Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundeli, Pahari, Malwi, Odia has Sambalpuri and several other dialects. The situation is further complicated since 179 languages and 544 dialects are recognized in India. These languages and dialects are divided into three linguistic families Indo-Aryan, Dravidian and Mundari. During the medieval period Persian, Arabic and Urdu became popular languages. They have different script but many similarities. Arabic and Persian played the role of official and court languages replacing Sanskrit and Pali. In the post independence period, English replaced Urdu as the official and court language. Hindi was made the official language of India but English was retained at least for a transition period. In 1965, English was given the status of an “associate additional official language” of the union and of inter- provincial communication.
- 16. Diversity in Social Status, Habits, Dress and Diet Indians differ considerably in their social habits, dress and diet. The society is honey combed with castes, and sub-castes. If the upper castes enjoy all social privileges and rights, the lower depressed classes are denied even the fundamental rights. The Chandals, being considered inferior to the Sudras, lived outside the cities and villages and had no contacts with other members of society. Prevalence of Chatur-Varna and largely stratified caste setup. Peoples also largely differ in their costumes. Differences in climate and culture led to variation in costumes. On accounts of dress, the Bengalis can be distinguished from Gujratis and Maharashtrian, the Kashmiris and Punjabis can easily be distinguished from the people of south India. There is also differences in diet. If people of coastal region eat fish, the martial races take pleasure in taking meat. Then, some people dislike taking onion and garlic. Finally, too we find men with barely an income of a few paisa a day and others who rank among the richest of the world.
- 17. Political Disunity The vastness of the country, the extreme diversity of physical features, endless variety of races, magnitude of its population, divided into countless castes. Professing numerous creeds and professions, speaking a variety of languages and dialects- all these have made difficult to establish an all India empire. Political unity was never a normal character of ancient and medieval India. In par India was divided into several political unit. There are monarchical form of government as well as oligarchic form of administration, centralized bureaucracy to decentralized local self government. There are also instances of powerful pan Indian empire for some time. Internal weakness and disorder or foreign invasions or both shattered great empires in past. In fact India had never enjoyed supreme political unity till the 19th century. Politically a popular national feelings was almost absent. Calamity of a neighboring province did not rouse sympathy and support in the people of another province. They had no urge to unity even in the face of a common enemy or danger. This absence of political unity fostered varieties in Indian culture and civilization.
- 18. In spite of the above mentioned bewildering diversity in the geographical features, the race, religion and language of the people, there is a deep underlying fundamental unity which is apt to be missed by the superficial observer. Sir Herbert Rislay has observed “ Beneath the mani-fold diversity of physical and social type, language, custom and religion which strikes the observer in India, there can still be discerned a certain underlying uniformity of life from Himalayas to cape Comorin” This unity although recently nurtured, but the ideals of unity in India was established by the ancestors. The ancient Indian were fully aware of geographical unity of the country and they tried to impress it on the popular consciousness. Factors of Unity in India
- 19. Geographical Unity of India The first expression given to this sense of unity was their description of entire land by the single name of Bharatvarsa or the land of Bharat. This very name is given to the whole country in the Epics and Puranas.. Uttaram Yatsamudrasya, Himadreshchaiva dakshinam, Varsham tad Bharatm nama, Bharati yatra santatih. The name Bharatvarsha has deep historical significance. It indicates the country of the Bharats and the Indo-Aryan culture of which the Bharats were the chief bearers. Bharat stood before the people, inhabiting the land that was called Bharatvarsha after him. The term Bharatavarsha symbolise fundamental unity of India. This name together with the sense of Unity that it imparted was ever present before the minds of the theologians, political philosophers and poets who spoke of the thousand Yojans of land that strecthes from the Himalaya toto the sea as the proper domain of a single universal monarch. Today this grographical unity is reinforced by the conception of common motherland BHARATMATA. The song Bandemataram and Jana- Gana-Mana characterstically embody this sentiment of unity.
- 20. The sense of the unity of the whole country was promoted by politics also. The political thinkers and writers have always stressed the necessity of establishing an all India Empire. This objective was accomplished during the Maurya and Gupta rule to a great extent. The ideal of great rulers of India in various ages has been become Chakravarti or to rule over the entire country. Chandragupta, Ashoka and Samudragupta had established their suzerainty over the whole of India. The frequent use of term Adhiraja, Rajadjiraja, Samrat, Ekaraj, Virat, Sarbabhauma etc in ancient literature and performance of great vedic sacrifices show that the idea of universal conquest and an all india ovelrdship was well known to the ancient Hindus. In the medieval age Allauddin and Aurangzeb sought to establish their overlordship over the whole of the country. The Mughal created an imperial system which shows the conception of oneness of rule and sameness of political experience. The Broitish also achieved the political unity of India. After independence modern Indian union also follow the same principle/ Political Unity of India
- 21. Religious Unity of India There is an under current of religious unity amng various religious sects in the country. All the sects and creeds believe in the majesty of the spiritual life. The worship of Vishnu and Shiva, though under different names , is as widespread in the north as in the south. The temples in honour of Vishnu and Shiva have been constructed all over the country. The ancient Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata have been studied across the sub-continent. The stories of Rama and Krisha are sung in all the languages of India. The cow, Vedas, and Gita, the Purana s and other scriptures are respected equally throughout the country. The doctrine of reincarnation, Karma, Mokshya and Nirvana are believed in and followed by all the sects prevailing in the country. All the activities of Indian are directed towards the fulfilment of religious ideals, the slavation of the soul, realisation of the Almighty etc. Network of sacred pilgrimage centre in all direction i.e Chatur Dhama is a permanent unity in the religious sphere. The daily prayers of Hindus includes the name of all the rivers of the sub-continent.
- 22. Cultural Unity A peculiar type of culture and civilization utterly different from any other type in the world, has been evolved among the diverse people of India. Inspite 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. There has been a basic unity of literary ideas, philosophy, conventions and outlook upon the life throughout the country. The cultural unity is reflected in social ceremonies and the religious rites, festivals and modes of life which are similar in entire sub-continent. The sanctity of the family, the rules of the castes, the sanskaras, the rite of cremating a dead body, the cleanliness of the kitchen, etc are common to all over the country. Several fairs and festivals are same across the country such as the Kumbhamela at Hardwar, Allhabad and Ujjain is attended by all the people of all walks of life. The fairs and festivals reflects and manifest inherent religious ad cultural unity. The Rakshabandhan, Deshera, Dewali, Holi and other festivals are celebrated across the country.
- 23. Ayodhya Matura Maya Kasi Kanchi Avantika Puri Swaravati Chaiva Sapteta Mokshyadyika Gange Cha Yamuna Chaiba Godavari Saraswati Narmada Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhikarun
- 24. Unity of Language India enjoyed unity of language. Before the Christian era, there was Prakrit. It was the common language of the people. The message of the missionaries of Ashoka was successfully carried in this language to the doors of the humblest of his subjects. Latter on Pali and Sanskrit took its place. Sanskrit has always been the vehicle of our thought and philosophy, theology and mythology. It is the mirror in which all creeds, opinions, customs and usages of the Hindus are reflected. Sanskrit has been acknowledged as the one sacred language by all sections of the people irrespective of their race, rank and creed. Again Sanskrit has been the original source of the different languages of the country like the Hindi, Marathi, Gujrati, Bangala etc. Even Tamil ad Telugu could not escape the far reaching influence of Sanskrit. What Sanskrit had done in the past the English language had tried to achieve during the British rule and now Hindi has been doing the same.
- 25. Physical Uniformity Various tribes-Aryans, Sakas, Scythians, Hunas etc have entered India. But they were so completely absorbed in the Hindu fold tha they had lost their separate individuality. In all the ages different races and tribes have acquired, with the lapse of ages, physical uniformity. There have been achieved same approximation also in physical type and mode of life among the various foreign races that have lived long enough in India, fed on the same crops, drunk of the same streams, basked under the same sun and submitted to the same rule in their daily lives. In India different racial group, linguistic, religious, social and political trends have been wielded into an abiding cultural unity and it has survived successfully numerous invasions and successions of empires. Saint, prophets and followers of different rival creeds have been associating freely throughout the country. Inspite of diversity in India herself the great example of the doctrine of one in many.
- 26. Agencies for Fostering Unity in India Following agencies have been fostering in the country uniform culture and unity. Sages, Saints, Missionaries and Pilgrims. Imperial conquerors and Soldiers of Fortune. Uniform Administration Language and Religion Modern Means of Transport ad Communications. Common History and Nationalism. Thus, Indian culture and fundamental unity have been grounded together. A basis unity of religion, philosophy, cutoms, convbenstions, literary ideas, and cultural life has been fostred throughout India from he earliest times and it continues even today..
- 27. North India - Culture, Festivals & The People Important festivals : Rakshabandhan - celebrated all over North India Lohri - Punjab Holi - celebrated all over North India Vaisakhi - Punjab Hemis - Jammu & Kashmir
- 28. East India - Culture, Festivals & The People Important Festivals : Durga pooja - Calcutta Bihu - Assam Kharchi Puja - Tripura Chapchar Kut - Mizoram Cheiraoba - Manipur Moastu - Nagaland
- 29. South India - Culture, Festivals & The People Important festivals : Onam - harvest festival, Kerala. Vijayadashami (Dussehra) – Karnataka Pongal - Tamilnadu Sankranthi - Andhra Pradesh
- 30. West India - Culture, Festivals & The People Important Festivals : Gangaur - Rajasthan Kite festival – All over west India Nagpanchami – All over West India Janmashtami – All over West India Ganesh Chaturthi - Maharashtra Navratri - Gujarat
- 32. Exotic WExotic South Indian Wedding
- 35. North Indian food Rajma Chawal Tandoori Chicken Naan Shahi Paneer Gulab JamunAloo Paratha
- 37. Mouth Watering South Indian Cuisine
- 39. Famous places of the North Mount Kailash - Himalayas Taj Mahal - Agra Ladakh Lake - Kashmir Famous places In the North
- 40. India Gate - New Delhi "Lotus Temple“ - Delhi. Golden Temple - Amritsar, Punjab.
- 41. Darjeeling – Tea Estate Howrah Bridge Famous places In the East Kalighat Kali Temple
- 42. Jagannath Temple, Puri Sun Temple, Konark Konark Temple Rajarani Temple, Bhubaneswar Wheel of Konark Temple Mukteswar Temple
- 43. Tirupathi - one of the richest and most visited religious centers in the world. Ooty - Udagamandalam Famous places In the South Mysore Palace
- 44. Meenakshi Temple - Madurai “Gods Own Country”, Kerala The Charminar - Hyderabad
- 45. Western Thar Desert, Rajasthan Hawa Mahal - "Palace of Winds" Jaipur The Ajanta and Ellora caves Famous places In the West
- 46. The Famous Goa Beach Gir National Park BollywoodMount Abu - Rajasthan St Francis Church Goa
- 47. The Seven Classical Dance Forms Mohini Attam Kathakali Bharatnatyam Kuchipudi Odissi Manipuri Kathak NATARAJA One of the most enduring symbols of India is the figure of
- 48. India the land of unity in diversity
- 49. "Oneness amongst men, the advancement of unity in diversity – this has been the core religion of Rabindranath Tagore Poet and writer of India’s national anthem and Nobel laureate in literature in 1913, (18611941) :