Since the independence of India from the British Empire in 1947, many commentators have argued that India is too vast and too diverse to maintain its unity and strength. 59 years later, India is more powerful than ever. Nation states are generally built upon the concept of sameness; a series of shared aspects of culture and daily life that binds them together. Sameness can be demonstration in a variety of forms - culture, language, religion and ideology. India, however, stands in defiance of this. India is an incredibly diverse and culturally rich state. There is arguably more diversity in culture within the Indian borders than there is in any other country in the world. So what is the glue that keeps India together? This essay will argue
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Gandhi’s vision of the ideal society within India is very closely related to the emergence of Hindu nationalism. While he was passionate about achieving a non-violent and democratic social order within India, he believed that to truly achieve nationhood a uniting factor such as religion or culture is necessary. Gandhi saw the ideal India as a “harmonious collection of religious communities all placed on an equal footing” (Jaffrelot, 2007 pp.4). Gandhi’s concept of a united India relied very heavily on Hindu beliefs and culture; he had a deep faith in Hinduism and strongly believed that spirituality is necessary within a civilization for it to prosper in a moral and ethical way. He promoted a “syncretic and spiritual” brand of Hinduism, in which he saw that minorities and other groups will eventually merge (Jaffrelot, 2007 pp.4). Hindu nationalism has, however, created huge ruptures within Indian society. Basing a nationalist movement around the culture and practices of one religion is incredibly problematic; once religious fanaticism creeps in it becomes an issue. Extreme-right wing concepts of Hindu nationalism have been the driving force behind ethnic violence and massacres within the …show more content…
The country is developing rapidly, with a powerful economy and a rich, diverse and increasingly educated population. There are a multitude of reasons for India’s consistent strength, but it’s the society’s ability to recognize and equally respect the cultural and religious differences that it consists of is arguably its saving grace. Despite ever existing tensions and a long series of secession movements, the majority of India maintains unity in its diversity. These secession movements have had little effect, and this is due to the strength of Indian democracy. The Indian people have a very idealistic view of the way democracy should work, and highly value their right to vote and influence the governance of their country. Without such a system, many minorities would no doubt begin to feel disenfranchised and misrepresented by the Indian government. Ensuring that each community gets a say in both federal and regional politics is essential as it ensures the concerns of the people are heard. This way, ethnic communities across India can feel included in federal politics, while maintaining a sense of their own independence thanks to their local governments. India would not have survived as a united force following British Colonialism if it were not for their ability to recognize and appreciate the richly diverse cultures that the nation
Gandhi’s vision of the ideal society within India is very closely related to the emergence of Hindu nationalism. While he was passionate about achieving a non-violent and democratic social order within India, he believed that to truly achieve nationhood a uniting factor such as religion or culture is necessary. Gandhi saw the ideal India as a “harmonious collection of religious communities all placed on an equal footing” (Jaffrelot, 2007 pp.4). Gandhi’s concept of a united India relied very heavily on Hindu beliefs and culture; he had a deep faith in Hinduism and strongly believed that spirituality is necessary within a civilization for it to prosper in a moral and ethical way. He promoted a “syncretic and spiritual” brand of Hinduism, in which he saw that minorities and other groups will eventually merge (Jaffrelot, 2007 pp.4). Hindu nationalism has, however, created huge ruptures within Indian society. Basing a nationalist movement around the culture and practices of one religion is incredibly problematic; once religious fanaticism creeps in it becomes an issue. Extreme-right wing concepts of Hindu nationalism have been the driving force behind ethnic violence and massacres within the …show more content…
The country is developing rapidly, with a powerful economy and a rich, diverse and increasingly educated population. There are a multitude of reasons for India’s consistent strength, but it’s the society’s ability to recognize and equally respect the cultural and religious differences that it consists of is arguably its saving grace. Despite ever existing tensions and a long series of secession movements, the majority of India maintains unity in its diversity. These secession movements have had little effect, and this is due to the strength of Indian democracy. The Indian people have a very idealistic view of the way democracy should work, and highly value their right to vote and influence the governance of their country. Without such a system, many minorities would no doubt begin to feel disenfranchised and misrepresented by the Indian government. Ensuring that each community gets a say in both federal and regional politics is essential as it ensures the concerns of the people are heard. This way, ethnic communities across India can feel included in federal politics, while maintaining a sense of their own independence thanks to their local governments. India would not have survived as a united force following British Colonialism if it were not for their ability to recognize and appreciate the richly diverse cultures that the nation