There must be either a brute force or voluntarily accepted commonality if society must be cohesive, bonded and can live in peace and harmony. It can be race, God or religion, culture or language that is followed by the most.
India takes pride in ‘Unity in diversity,’ with different languages spoken, two distinctly different races states mostly demarcated on linguistic lines and 1652 different dialects of which 22 are official, varying cultures from food to clothing, resources too varying from scarce to plenty. Efforts to polarise on language imposing Hindi had met in the past with severe backlash in the southern states, which is unlikely to change in the future.
Long steeped in caste divisions, India has tried to address the disparity and discrimination of a large section of the society, by providing reservations in education, job and entitlements and political parties have craftily maintained the fire of discontent aglow over the seven decades.
Western culture has overrun almost all aspect of our living, from our thoughts, food, language and dresses in proportions that may have a bearing on our future. The unifying factor of India regardless of its pride as ‘secular,’ is the religion, Hinduism. Other faiths have grown substantially in the recent decades, funded and encouraged by foreign missionaries and countries, causing disharmony among Indians.
Rather than finding ways to cement the differences, the polity is busy exploring the fissures and exploit them to their advantage, regardless of the disquiet that is being caused by regularity. Fake godmen too have diminished the faith of Hindus in God, particularly of the youth, who question the wisdom in their not being apprehended and punished. Though religion must be optional and should not be forced upon, god should not become a victim in the manifestations of petty politicians. Faith in God is often challenging established sciences, exposing our confinement to primitive mythologies.
Inter-religious engagements are necessary, as is sharing of river waters and resources for the country to stay united. It seems it is becoming easier by the day, to wedge a difference between the populace, incite disharmony and riotous situations.
India needs a few real leaders, more than thousands of vociferous and idiosyncratic politicians to keep the country cohesive and growing.
Jai Hind
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide voix
