Unity in Diversity’ is a special characteristic of the Indian nation and of Indian culture. India is a vast country-land of typical diversities. People of different communities, castes, colours and cultures inhabit this land. Their dialects and languages, religions and rituals, their dresses and manners, vary from region to region.
Saints, seers and social reformers worked tirelessly to weld these diverse elements into the bond of unity, This Ancient land which has always prided itself on her innate love for peace and tolerance, has lost those qualities
The British ruler’s policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ encouraged the growth and rise of fissiparous tendencies by creating a majority and minority groups based on religious and caste affinities. The Britishers dug chasms of contempt between different Indian communities and groups. India was Partitioned.
With the emergence of Independent India, it was expected that the national leadership would curb the disruptive elements with courage and determination. But this did not happen. Politicians’ interest lies in keeping the minorities under constant fear of the majority. So that they do not join the mainstream of the century.
The benefits of reservation for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes have not gone to the deserving people, with the result that even after four decades of reservation policy a vast majority of them continues to groan under the weight of poverty, want, backwardness and unemployment. The rulers of new India like the rules of British India appear to have a vested interest in preventing these people from joining the mainstream.
Every thinking man in India is worried about the unity of the country because the fissiparous tendency is strong and dangerously operative in the country, linguistic, regionalism, communalism, casteism and sectarianism are damaging the unity of the country.
The differences sprouting from these isms’ are sometimes magnified and exploited by interested parties. They relegated to the background the larger interest of India as a whole. A tense atmosphere of suspicion, fear and hatred is generated by self-seeking and power-hungry people.
If one looks at the various happenings that characterise India’s political life today, one is compelled to conclude that Indian nationhood has become almost non-existent. Spirit of oneness and mutual goodwill is absent.
Regionalism is coming in the way of nationalism. For example, if oil is struck in Assam, the Assamese would not like a refinery to be set up in Bengal. Karnataka is not prepared to release Cauvery water in favour of Tamilnadu, Punjab is opposed to the construction of Satluj link canal by Haryana.
If the present trend continues, the entire country will soon be consumed me monsters of communalism, parochialism and terrorism. In order to solve problem of disunity in the country effectively and permanently. Some remedial measures are urgently necessary.
Progress and protection of the minorities must be ensured. They should not be allowed to be exploited by self-seekers. Balanced development of all the regions of the country should be the main concern of the central government in order to check the growth of regionalism.
National unity has got to be forged through co-operation and not through compulsion of any kind. There should be no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, colour and community. The importance of education in fostering national unity can hardly be ignored.
In fact, if education is properly oriented, it can be the greatest cohesive force in the country. The leaders of both the ruling and the opposition parties should be secular in words as well as deeds. They shall not apply double standards while dealing with matters pertaining to different people.
Effective steps should be taken to wean away the misguided youth from the stranglehold of the enemy of the country. They should be enabled to lead an honourable life. Only leaders of proven worth and integrity can inspire the common people with the high ideal of national solidarity.
History is full of the examples of the nations which were ruined for the lack of national unity. India must not forget the lessons of history. The country must achieve national integration at any cost for its survival and progress.
