Diversity

 

Diversity implies the many ways in which people are different or unique from each other] This difference or uniqueness can be in terms of the language they speak, the gender they belong to, the region they belong their culture, customs and traditions, the religion they follow, the way they dress, the way they cook, the kind of work they do, etc. It is this variety IT which enriches our lives in many different ways and makes our country so diverse.

 

Diversity does not mean that we do different things all the time. We may enjoy doing the same things. For example, many of us enjoy reading books or painting. But, we may do these same things differently. We don't all read the same books. Some of us like to read novels, while others read magazines or books on science.

 

 

HOW DOES DIVERSITY ENRICH OUR LIVES?

Diversity makes us aware of the rich variety in cultures, religions, etc., all around us and allows us to learn new things from them. We get to try different kinds of food, try on different kinds of clothes, learn new languages, take part in different types of festivals, learn new kinds of stories, etc. All this allows us to be more tolerant and learn to respect our differences.

 

Diversity also allows societies to progress.  A society needs people with different skills, such as doctors, scientists, teachers, builders, etc., in order to develop and survive. Imagine what the world would be like if we all looked alike, wore the same dresses, ate the same things, and did the same things. Would it be fun to live in such a world?

 

 

DIVERSITY IN INDIA

India's diversity has always been recognized as a source of strength. The rich culture, backgrounds, regions and even people from different countries live together. They call India their home. Diversity in India comes in the form of language, clothes, food, occupation, and art forms like music, dance, art, and architecture. Let us understand more about diversity.

Language and Religion

As many as 1600 languages are spoken in different regions of our country, including Hindi, Punjabi, Sindhi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Assamese, Urdu, Telugu, Malayalam, Manipuri, and Dogri. All the eight major religions in the world Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Judaism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism are practised in India. People from different religions follow different customs and traditions and worship differently. Different festivals are celebrated across the country, such as Baisakhi, Janmashtmi, Eid, Buddha Purnima, Mahavir Jayanti, Christmas, Holi, Dussehra, and Diwali.

 

Clothes

People from different parts of the country wear different kinds of clothes, depending on the tradition, region and climate. For example, the clothes women wear range from salwar kammez, lehenga choli, Ghaghara kurta, saree, jeans ect. Men werar trouser- shirt, dhoti-kurta, pyjama-kurta, lungi-kurta etc.

 

Food

People from different parts of india eat different types of fruits, vegetables, food grains etc. Even the way in which they prepare food is different. Some people prefer rice, while others eat roti. Some prefer fish, while others like meat. Some eat idlis and dosas, others eat dal bati, biryani, or khichdi. There is a huge variety in the sweets people eat as well - ladoo, shrikhand, payasam, imarti, rasagulla, kheer, etc.

 

Occupation

People of India follow different types of occupations. Some are engaged in farming, fishing, carpentry, weaving, dyeing, construction, etc., while others are engaged in medicine, banking, engineering, etc.

 

Dance and music

There are various forms of dance and music in our country. We have over a hundred dance forms, including classical and folk dance. Classical dance forms are based on stories from epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. The classical dances include Bharatnatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathakali (Kerala), Manipuri (Manipur), Odissi (Odisha), and Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh). Besides these, there are many dance forms that are based on folk stories, which were originally passed on orally. These folk dances include Garba (Gujarat), Bhangra (Punjab), and Bihu (Assam).

 

Diversity in family structures

Our country is also diverse in terms of the kind of families people live in joint or nuclear. Joint families are those where all the family members- husband, wife, uncles, aunts, grandfathers, grandmothers, cousins live together under a single roof. In such families, children do not leave home after marriage but stay on with the family. Nuclear families comprise only a husband, wife, and their children. In nuclear families, children leave their parents after marriage to set up their own homes.

 

 

 

WHAT CREATES DIVERSITY?

Diversity in a place or region is determined by historical and geographical factors.

 

Historical factors

We have learned in history classes how people used to travel from one place to another, even in ancient times. Many travelers came to India-some in groups, some individually. There were many reasons for people to travel- some travelled to visit religious sites, some came looking for work, and most people moved from place to place for trade. However, we must remember that transportation was very modern till the 18th century. It cost people a lot of time, resources, and money. Sometimes because of these reasons, people settled for a short time in a particular place. This led to the mingling of traditions and customs- and over time it gave rise to many new and unique cultures.

 

It usually took people a long time to travel to a place and so they often stayed in the place for some time or even settled there. This brought them in contact with different people and customs, which often left a mark on them. They adopted some things from the new cultures, while some things they continued to do in the old ways. Over time, this led to an intermixing of foods, religions, traditions, customs, cultures, etc., influencing all people and cultures in a particular region. This led to the region becoming more and more diverse.

 

Nowadays, advances in transport communication, and technology have made it easier for more and more people to move to newer places and help make them more diverse. These advances have also led to globalisation, i.e., connecting people, countries, and markets across the world, which has led to an increase in diversity.

 

Geographical factor

Another reason for diversity is the effect of natural conditions on the lives of people. The geographical conditions of the place where people live influence everything from the clothes they wear, the crops they grow, the houses they build, etc. Thus a country has as many types of lifestyles as the number of physical features. The kind of food they grow depends on the land, climate, soil, etc., in their region. The food habits of people in the cities are not so closely tied with their physical surroundings. People in Punjab primarily practice agriculture as the soil is very fertile in the state. In comparison, people in Ladakh practice very little farming as the region is covered in snow for most of the year. People in hot regions like Kerala wear cotton clothes to keep cool, while people in cold climates like Kashmir wear clothes of wool.

 

 

UNITY IN DIVERSITY

As we know, India has a long and diverse history and many different landforms. This makes India a unique of its own. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru coined the phrase 'unity in diversity to describe India's rich tradition of respect for diversify this diversity has often been a source of strength, with people from different cultural, regional, and religious backgrounds uniting for a common cause For example, thousands of people from different backgrounds took part in India's independence movement. They launched movements against the British together, wrote songs dedicated to the entire country, took decisions together, suffered brutalities inflicted by the British together, and even went to jail together. Despite British efforts to divide them, people united against the British and fought side by LAP2 side. In this way, Indians proved they were united in spite of their differences This unity can be seen even today.

 

The Both our national flag and national anthem are expressions of unity. Our national flag was used by people across the country to mark their protest against British rule. Our national anthem is an ode to all the diverse people, faiths, and regions of India) Let us discuss the factors which bind all the Indians as one nation.

 

Geographical Unity

India is surrounded by the Himalayas in the north, the Assam hills in the northeast, the Thar Desert and other mountains in the northwest, and the Eastern and the Western Ghats on the east and west coasts, respectively. These natural features isolate our country from the rest of Asia and make India a single geographical unit.

 

Political Unity

The concept of a 'Bharata Varsha' spanning the entire subcontinent has been popular since ancient times. The land of the legendary king Bharata is said to have stretched from Kashmir in the north to Kanyakumari in the south. Different rulers have tried at various times to bring the entire subcontinent under a single political rule, Ashoka, Akbar, Aurangzeb, and the Britishers were among those who managed to establish control over large parts of the subcontinent and helped make India a single political unit. After independence, the government has ensured. political unity with the help of the Constitution and various laws.

 

Cultural Unity

People from different cultures have lived peacefully in India for many centuries. Beneath the differences in colour, customs, languages, and dress, there is a strong undercurrent of unity which binds us all together. People across the country take part in festivals such as Id, Holi, Diwali, Christmas, and Dussehra.

 

Religious Unity

India is a land of many religions. Different religions that came here were given space to grow and were slowly absorbed into the mainstream, making way for religious unity. Since olden times, people have lived together peacefully in spite of differences in religions and faiths. Our Constitution also helps promote religious unity by not endorsing any one particular religion. It describes India as a secular country where all religions are considered equal before law.

 

 

HOW IS DIVERSITY DIFFERENT FROM INEQUALITY?

Indian people belong to different religions, Regions, gender, culture, etc. This difference is a feature of diversity. People in India also belong to different economic backgrounds. Some people are rich, while others are quite poor. Some people do not even make enough money to eat, buy a house, or send their children to school. Such differences reflect inequality, not diversity. This is because such differences have a direct impact on the resources and opportunities available to people.

 

Inequality Definition- Inequality occurs when a person does not have access to resources and opportunities available to others.

 

Caste system is another instance of inequality

This system divided the society into differ groups, called castes, depending on the work that people performed. The caste system was quite rigid. This means, under the system, a farmer’s children could only take up farming, a craftsman’s children could only take up craft and nothing else etc. This led to partiality amongst people, a they did not have access to the same resources and opportunities. They had to remain within the roles assigned to their castes.

 

Diversity	Inequality
Recognize and appreciate various difference among people. These difference can be due to different religions, regions, gender, culture, etc.	Focuses on widening gap among people due to uneven distribution of resources, opportunities, and power.
Promotes inclusivity and respect for different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds.	Results in limited access to resources, opportunities, and social mobility for marginalized individuals or groups.
Promotes growth and unity amongst people irrespective of various features of diversity.	Divides people and create groups based on religion, regions, gender, culture, etc.
Considers factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, etc.	Involves disparities in wealth, income, education, healthcare, and social status.

Both regions attracted Chinese as well as Arab traders due to their geography or location.

KERALA

Kerala is located in the south-west of India. It is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on one side and the Western Ghats on the other. The region receives abundant rainfall and is drained by a number of rivers. The fertile plains of Kerala are ideal for production of rice, which forms a major part of the people's diet along with fish and vegetables.

 

Fishing is another important activity of the people. The fishing nets used by them are much like Chinese fishing nets. They are called cheena-vala. It is believed that the word cheena is derived from China. Perhaps Chinese traders or explorers introduced the fishing nets here. Many kinds of trees also grow in the region, such as coconut, rubber, and a variety of fruit trees. The hills of Kerala are known for production of several spices, such as pepper, cloves, cardamom along with cash crops like tea and coffee.

 

In the past, traders from distant lands came here in search of spices. The ships of Jewish and Arab traders were among the first to land in Kerala. Many settled down in the region. St. Thomas, who is said to have brought Christianity to India, is also believed to have come to Kerala. Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea route from Europe to India, first landed in Kerala. The discovery of the sea route brought Portuguese traders to India. As a result of these historical influences, the people of Kerala practise different religions, such as Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

 

Notice how certain geographical features like fertile soil and climate allowed the cultivation of spices in Kerala, which ultimately drew traders who exerted such an influence on the region's history.

 

LADAKH

Ladakh is a cold desert located in eastern Jammu and Kashmir. It is surrounded by mountain ranges. The region receives very little rainfall and remains covered in snow for most of the year. As a result, very little farming is carried out here. Crops like potatoes, beans, and wheat are grown in the summer as the harsh climate in the winters makes it impossible to work on the fields. Not many trees grow in the region. Ladakh has very limited water resources. Melting snow in the summer is the chief source of drinking water for the people.

 

The people depend on animals for food and livelihood. They rear animals, such as goats, cows, dzos (yak- cows), and sheep. They consume animal products like milk, cheese, butter, and meat. The people also make clothes with the hair of sheep and goats. Sheep are important for the people as they produce a special kind of wool called pashmina, which is used to make very expensive shawls. The people of Ladakh sell this highly- valued pashmina wool to traders in Kashmir, who weave it into shawls.

 

Ladakh has also attracted many traders in the past. It is located on ancient trade routes to Central Asia and beyond. The region served as an important trade route to Tibet, and is often called Little Tibet. Traders from China are also believed to have travelled through Ladakh's many passes. People in Ladakh mostly follow Buddhism. In fact, Buddhism reached Tibet through Ladakh. People of different religion participate in the region's rich oral tradition, which involves singing songs and poems.

 

It was Ladakh's geographical location and conditions which favoured production of pashmina that attracted traders to the region and influence its history.

 

Diversity	Refers to differences between people on the basis of language, gender, region, culture, customs and traditions, religion, dress, food, work, etc.
Culture	Set of features of a particular society or a social group.
Inequality	Refers to a difference because of which some people do not have access to the same resources and opportunities that are available to others.
Joint families	Families where all the family members live together under a single roof; children do not leave home after marriage.
Nuclear families	Comprise only a husband, wife, and their young children; children leave their parents after marriage.
Globalisation	Connecting of people, countries, and markets across the world.