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Home Identity Construction Political Economy Orientalism Language Borders Religion Annotated Bibliography	Purpose of the phrase Unity in diversity: In a nation that prides itself as the world’s largest democracy, the Indian Middle class snubs the Indian democratic process that many educated Indians consider rife with corruption and communalism. Britain’s introduction of a modern nation-state introduced the power dynamics over land and people that exist in modern states. From the level of the nation (where ‘Bharatvarsha’, ‘the eternal India’, the idea of a natural geographical unity, came to be regularly invoked) to that of the region (Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Maharashtra, Tamilnad, Andhradesa, all of which developed a heightened and sometimes fierce regional consciousness) to the level of the tribal tract and the small town and village, the notion of rights over given territories was now obsessively brought forward” (Pandey “Construction of Community 111). The state checks that all citizens can feel ownership over place and group identities through a list of fundamental rights. Hazards of feeling entitled in the modern state emerged in India in the form of sectarian violence between caste, regional and religious groups who considered their stake in India more important than others. The term ‘unity in diversity’ attempts to express the validity in multiple claims to Indian-ness. The phrase hopes to eradicate discrimination and build a composite Indian culture structured by its diversity. The Constitution highlights a list of fundamental duties to foster a nation that truly emanates ‘unity in diversity.’ The Supreme Court described a Hindu ‘composite culture’ that it built the base of Indian civilization. “The reason is that the original population of India was Hindu. Thereafter this country was subjected to Muslim and British rule. Because of its wonderful tolerance, the Hindu culture imbibed these alien cultures and thus grew up a ‘composite culture in India” (Basu 2005, 136). This definition of Indian ‘composite culture’ enables Indians to feel participatory in Indian identity, accepting the clashes that formed that identity as a stepping stone to contemporary Indian culture. Hinduism’s dominance in Indian culture provides the grounds to warily accept it as a cornerstone of the secular nation’s political culture. A dominant Hindu culture makes sense in India’s history where Hinduism originally was considered Indian lifestyle that did not follow one strict catechism like the Bible or Qur’an. One Pune University student tried to explain the notion of a Hindu culture to me through his own example, “on my caste certificate I am a Hindu Buddhist, because I live in a Hindu culture here in India.” Hinduism’s entangling interaction in Indian society allows Hinduist politicians to enter government posts since they simply support Indian/Hindu culture, not necessarily Hinduism as a religion. A daily column in TheTimes of India strives to erase the religious boundaries by demonstrating their intrinsic similarities. The Times of India is an English newspaper written for foreigners or Indians with English fluency, the part of the population that might be more familiar with the European definition of a united nation-state and thus interested in finding ‘unity in diversity.’ Sacred Scripts daily offers snippets on one topic from sacred texts of the main religions in India. November 25, 2005 Sacred Scripts offered quotes from the Rig Veda, Qur’an, Proverbs, Analects, and Berakot themed “Knowledge is Power.” In a village at the top of a big hill a few hour’s journey (by foot) from the next town, a group of kids sang songs in English and Marathi about India’s “unity in diversity.” They learned the songs in school to practice English and memorization. I figured the kids did not understand the meanings of the patriotic songs,. I assumed that a majority of the kids living in that village, learning those English-language songs about India’s diversity never will leave their village. Despite their seclusion, I was inspired by the integration their songs invoked. I went home to Pune to write in my journal recalling the: “patriotic songs about the diversity of India, united into one nation. While they were singing, I kept thinking about the powerful lines of the nation-state. Not only is there diversity between the North and South, but Pune compared with Rajmachi [the village], my God! Yet this unity exists. If only we could make one huge nation-staet of the world! No one would be the enemy.” I knew that divisions exist within national borders, yet at that moment with the kids I felt the purpose of the phrase “unity in diversity.” It is only a phrase, yet it holds the possibility to inspire young people to consider a harmonious nation. fragments map previous next
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Purpose of the phrase Unity in diversity:

In a nation that prides itself as the world’s largest democracy, the Indian Middle class snubs the Indian democratic process that many educated Indians consider rife with corruption and communalism. Britain’s introduction of a modern nation-state introduced the power dynamics over land and people that exist in modern states.

From the level of the nation (where ‘Bharatvarsha’, ‘the eternal India’, the idea of a natural geographical unity, came to be regularly invoked) to that of the region (Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Maharashtra, Tamilnad, Andhradesa, all of which developed a heightened and sometimes fierce regional consciousness) to the level of the tribal tract and the small town and village, the notion of rights over given territories was now obsessively brought forward” (Pandey “Construction of Community 111).

The state checks that all citizens can feel ownership over place and group identities through a list of fundamental rights. Hazards of feeling entitled in the modern state emerged in India in the form of sectarian violence between caste, regional and religious groups who considered their stake in India more important than others. The term ‘unity in diversity’ attempts to express the validity in multiple claims to Indian-ness. The phrase hopes to eradicate discrimination and build a composite Indian culture structured by its diversity.

The Constitution highlights a list of fundamental duties to foster a nation that truly emanates ‘unity in diversity.’ The Supreme Court described a Hindu ‘composite culture’ that it built the base of Indian civilization.

“The reason is that the original population of India was Hindu. Thereafter this country was subjected to Muslim and British rule. Because of its wonderful tolerance, the Hindu culture imbibed these alien cultures and thus grew up a ‘composite culture in India” (Basu 2005, 136).

This definition of Indian ‘composite culture’ enables Indians to feel participatory in Indian identity, accepting the clashes that formed that identity as a stepping stone to contemporary Indian culture.

Hinduism’s dominance in Indian culture provides the grounds to warily accept it as a cornerstone of the secular nation’s political culture. A dominant Hindu culture makes sense in India’s history where Hinduism originally was considered Indian lifestyle that did not follow one strict catechism like the Bible or Qur’an. One Pune University student tried to explain the notion of a Hindu culture to me through his own example, “on my caste certificate I am a Hindu Buddhist, because I live in a Hindu culture here in India.” Hinduism’s entangling interaction in Indian society allows Hinduist politicians to enter government posts since they simply support Indian/Hindu culture, not necessarily Hinduism as a religion.

A daily column in TheTimes of India strives to erase the religious boundaries by demonstrating their intrinsic similarities. The Times of India is an English newspaper written for foreigners or Indians with English fluency, the part of the population that might be more familiar with the European definition of a united nation-state and thus interested in finding ‘unity in diversity.’ Sacred Scripts daily offers snippets on one topic from sacred texts of the main religions in India. November 25, 2005 Sacred Scripts offered quotes from the Rig Veda, Qur’an, Proverbs, Analects, and Berakot themed “Knowledge is Power.”

In a village at the top of a big hill a few hour’s journey (by foot) from the next town, a group of kids sang songs in English and Marathi about India’s “unity in diversity.” They learned the songs in school to practice English and memorization. I figured the kids did not understand the meanings of the patriotic songs,. I assumed that a majority of the kids living in that village, learning those English-language songs about India’s diversity never will leave their village. Despite their seclusion, I was inspired by the integration their songs invoked. I went home to Pune to write in my journal recalling the:

“patriotic songs about the diversity of India, united into one nation. While they were singing, I kept thinking about the powerful lines of the nation-state. Not only is there diversity between the North and South, but Pune compared with Rajmachi [the village], my God! Yet this unity exists. If only we could make one huge nation-staet of the world! No one would be the enemy.”

I knew that divisions exist within national borders, yet at that moment with the kids I felt the purpose of the phrase “unity in diversity.” It is only a phrase, yet it holds the possibility to inspire young people to consider a harmonious nation.

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