UNITY IN DIVERSITY: THE MULTIFACETED FABRIC OF INDIAN

SOCIETY
• Indian society is a pluralistic society with a complex social order characterized by a multitude of
ethnic, linguistic, religious, and caste divisions. It comprises people living in rural, urban, tribal
settings and all sections which carry the ethos of Indianness.
• Amid the complexities and so much diversity among the nation, widely accepted cultural
themes, the feeling of oneness, brotherhood, and values of constitution binds individuals and
enhances social harmony and order.
• After independence, several demands of the reorganization of states based on cultural similarity,
linguistic identity, and others emerged from di erent parts of India.
• Though the government restructured various states and also formed new states, cultural units
have been intact in India to this day.
• Indian society is an exempli cation of multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-ideological constructs,
which co-exist, at once striving to strike harmony and also to retain its individuality

Society: A Human Product with Continuous Impact

• Sociologist Peter L. Berger de nes society as “a human product, and nothing but a human
product, that yet continuously acts upon its producers.”
• Society may be illustrated as economic, social, industrial, or cultural infrastructure, made up of a
varied collection of individuals. M. Maclver (1937) also de ned it as a “web of social relations
which is always changing” where an individual forms the basic unit of it.
• It consists of groups of human beings who are linked together utilizing speci c systems and
customs, rites, and laws and have a collective social existence.
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Essential Traits of Society: Fundamental Characteristics
The following are the various characteristics of a society, which include society as the
largest human group, satis es the needs of its members, having a
sense of belonging and cooperation where everyone is dependent upon every other
member.
• Population
• Territorial Base
• Mutual Awareness
• Shared Culture
• Psyche Unity
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INDIAN SOCIETY: FEATURES

• Indian culture has been modi ed continuously, with times making India a composite culture.
• Culture during these four phases has been discussed below:
• Indian society was a strati ed society from ancient times.
• The division of society into Aryans and non-Aryans was mentioned in Rig Veda. The Aryan
society was further divided into four groups based on the pursuit of occupations.
• This division of social and economic activities became a norm, and a part of the social devices.
• Later from the 12th century onwards, the rulers of medieval India brought new forms whereby
Indian culture went through a transformation in uencing language culture and religion.
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• The confrontation of Hindu and Muslim culture led to a synthesis with interesting results and
mixed culture as a result of Su writings, the bhakti movement, Kabir Panth.
• The advent of the British marked the beginning of a new phase of re-emergence of pan- Indian
culture and national and social awakening through the process of modernization.
• India today (after independence) amalgamated di erent caste groups religions, race tribes,
linguistic groups. It glori es the ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity as its goals in a secular,
socialistic framework.
• Rig Vedic Age
• Medieval Period
• British Period
• Post Colonial Period
• Brahmana
• Kshatriya
• Vaisyas Culture And religion
• Shudra
Diverse Dimensions of Indian Society: Noteworthy Features
Explored
• Multi-Ethnic Indian Society
• Multilingual Indian Society
• Multi-Class Indian Society
• Patriarchal Indian Society
• Unity In Diversity
• Tribes
• Family
• Kinship System
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• Balance between spiritualism and materialism
• Balance between Individualism and collectivism
• Co-existence of traditionalism and modernity
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MULTI-ETHNIC INDIAN SOCIETY

• An ethnic group or ethnicity is a category of people who identify with each other, usually based
on a common language or dialect, history, society, culture or nation.
• A society with the co-existence of a wide variety of racial groups is a Multi-ethnic society. India is
home to almost all racial pro les.
• Depending on which source of group identity is emphasized to de ne membership, the following
types of groups can be identi ed:
Ethno-
Emphasizing shared language, dialect (and possibly script). example: French Canadians
linguistic:
Ethno-
Emphasizing a shared polity or sense of national identity – example: Austrians
national:
Ethno- Emphasizing shared physical appearance based on genetic origins – for example,
Ethno- Emphasizing a distinct local sense of belonging stemming from relative geographic
regional isolation – example: South Islanders of New Zealand
Ethno- Emphasizing shared af liation with a particular religion, denomination or sect – example:
religious Jews

MULTILINGUAL INDIAN SOCIETY:

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• Most present-day societies are multilingual, having diversity in languages.
• Language is a dominant source of identity so much so that the present form of India into states
represents the linguistic map of India.
• Various reasons for multilingualism can be:
• Despite Hindi being the o cial language of the country, the Constitution recognizes 22
languages.
• More than 1600 languages are spoken in india.
• However, the number of languages in use is much higher, and the Census 2011 identi ed about
122 languages of Indo-European, Dravidian, Austro-Asiatic, Tibeto – Burmese and Semi to-
Hamitic families.
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MULTI-CLASS INDIAN SOCIETY:

• The class system is a strati cation of society based on education, property, business/work, etc.
• In general, there are three classes –
• The emerging class system, though closely resembles the caste hierarchy, has provided
downtrodden section opportunities for upward social mobility.
• According to Karl Max– ‘Man is a class animal,’ i.e., his status, age, education, etc. are not the
same in society.
• Migration of labor mobility
• Cultural contact
• Annexation and colonialism
• Territorial conquest, etc
• Upper class
• Middle class
• Lower class
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PATRIARCHAL INDIAN SOCIETY:
• Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and enjoy greater status than
women.
• In this system, men make all decisions in both society and their family unit, hold all positions of
power and authority and are considered superior.
• Indian society is largely a patriarchal society where men tend to enjoy greater status than
women.
• However, some tribal societies are matrilineal societies where women have the dominant
decision making power.
• Women are still paid 20% less than men for the same job. They still experience a shockingly high
rate of domestic violence, which highly depicts the culture of the patriarchal Indian society.
• Moreover, Male child preference is also one such example that shows the patriarchal mindset.
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Impact of Patriarchal Indian Society:

• However, there are a few places that are more rigidly patriarchal than others where women have
been denied opportunities for growth in the name of religion and socio-cultural practices.
• Women in India have few freedoms even in their homes, hold an unequal and inferior status in
society, and are subject to the rule of male heads of household.
• Various reports suggested that because of women’s relatively low standing in Indian society,
rape, murder, dowry, burning, wife-beating, and discrimination are all commonplace as the
expression of male dominance over women.
• Additionally, about three decades ago, the adult male literacy rate in India was almost twice that
for adult females. While this gap has narrowed substantially over the years, the adult male
literacy rate still surpasses the adult female literacy rate by 17 percentage points.
Unity In Diversity: Embracing Differences In Indian Society
• “Unity in Diversity” is a phrase implying unity among people with diverse cultural, religious, and
other demographic di erences.
• It denotes the sense of oneness and we-ness.
• In India, people of di erent religions have continued to respect the ideals and values of people of
other religions, and hence, India has always stood up as an integrated nation ready to put its
arms around everybody in this world.
• Diversity in India exists at various levels in di erent forms.
• Various factors that contribute to Unity In diversity can be as follows:
• Geographical factor
• Cultural factor
• Religious factor
• Political factor
• Language Factor
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Example of Unity In diversity

• A great sage Shankaracharya bound the whole country together by asking the priests of south
India to worship in the temples of the north and vice versa.
• The Leaders like Swami Vivekananda, who, himself being a Hindu, had read extensively about
the Bible and talked about it at the world parliament of religions, Chicago.
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 • People of varying cultures, religious beliefs, and social status, living together in peace and
harmony, is a perfect example of “Unity in Diversity.”
Importance of Unity in Diversity
• Unity in diversity boosts the morale of people at the workplace, organization, and community.
• It improves healthy human relations and protects equal human rights for all.
• It gives value to the rich heritage of the country as well as strengthens and enriches the cultural
heritage of India.
• It gives rise to the habit of national integration among people of the country even after being
diverse in various ways.
KINSHIP, MARRIAGE, AND FAMILY:
Blood relations and kinship ties enjoy a stronghold over other social relationships.
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Social Fabric: Vital Role of Kinship in Society

• Kinship refers to a set of relationships and relatives formed thereof, based on blood relationships
(consanguineal), or marriage (a nal).
• This social institution ties individuals and groups together and establishes a relationship between
them.
• It is one of the essential organizing components of society.
• The Kinship system represents one of the basic social institutions. Kinship is universal in nature.
• It plays a signi cant role in the socialization of individuals and the maintenance of group
solidarity.
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 Types of Kinship
• A nal kinship: This kinship is based on marriage. The relationship between husband and wife is
also considered a basic form of kinship.
• Consanguineal Kinship: This kinship is based on blood or birth à the relationship between
parents and children as well as siblings. This is the most basic and universal type of kinship. Also
known as a primary kinship, it involves people who are directly related.
Types of Kinship
• A nal kinship
• Consanguineal Kinship
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Why is kinship important for people?

Kinship determines –
• Who they marry
• How to raise children
• Which land to cultivate
• Where to live
• Which property to inherit
• Provides a sense of belonging and identity
Social Bonds: Exploring the Signi cance of Marriage in Indian
Society
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 • Marriage is an important social institution. It is a relationship, which is socially approved and
sanctioned by custom and law.
• It is also a set of cultural mechanisms that ensure the continuation of the family. It is more or less
a universal social institution in India.
Structural and functional changes in the marriage system:
The marriage system had undergone radical changes, especially after independence. The
recent changes in the marriage system are as follows:
• Changes in the aim and purpose of marriage: In traditional societies, the primary objective of
marriage is ‘dharma’ or duty; especially among Hindus. But today, the modern objective of
marriage is more related to ‘life-long companionship’ between husband and wife.
• Changes in the form of marriage: Traditional forms of marriages like polygamy, polygyny are
legally prohibited in India. Nowadays, mostly monogamous marriages are practiced.
• Change in the age of marriage: According to legal standards, the marriageable age for boy and
girl stands at 21 and 18, respectively. The average age of marriage has gone up, and pre-puberty
marriages have given place to post-puberty marriages.
• Increase in divorce and desertion rates: Relaxed legislative provisions for divorce have virtually
a ected the stability of the marriage, particularly in the urban areas. It is mainly due to economic
prosperity and internet connectivity. The Internet has exposed people to the di erent social
trends prevalent across the world.
• Live-in relationships: They are on a steady growth rate in India, especially among the youth in
metropolitan cities. The institution also had legal recognition as a three-judge bench of SC in
2010 observed that a man and a woman living together without marriage cannot be construed as
an o ence and held that living together is a Right to Life and Liberty (Article 21).
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Foundation of Indian Society: The Crucial Role of Family in
Social Structure
• The family forms the basic unit of social organization.
• It is the most immediate group a child is exposed to. It is in the family a child learns language,
the behavioral patterns, and social norms in his childhood.
• In some way or the other, a family is a universal group. It exists in tribal, rural, and urban
communities and among the followers of all religions and cultures.
• It provides the most enduring relationship in one form or another.
Characteristics of Family
• Family is a basic, de nite, and enduring
• Family is formed by the companionship of the husband, the wife who procreate children.
• The family may be limited to the husband, wife, or only the father and his children or only the
mother and her children.
• Family is generally smaller in size compared to other social groups, organizations, and
associations.
• Family can also be large in which persons belonging to several generations may live together.
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Types of the family

On the basis of size and structure:
Family
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 • Nuclear Family
• Joint or Extended Family
Nuclear Family Joint or Extended Family
• It includes members of
• A nuclear family is a family that consists of a husband, wife, and three to four generations.
unmarried children. • It is an extension of
• The size of the nuclear family is very small. parent-child relationships.
• It is an autonomous unit • This family is based on
• There is no control of the elders because newlyweds create separate close blood ties.
residences for themselves, which is independent of elders. • It is like the joint family of
Hindu Society.

Based on marriage:
Family
• Polygamous families
• Monogamous families
Polygamous Polygamous families may be described as families in which either spouse is allowed
families to have more than one spouse simultaneously
Monogamous Monogamous families are those families in which the marriage is limited to one
families spouse.
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Based on residence:
Family
• Patrilocal family
• Matrilocal family
• Bilocal family
• Neolocal family
Patrilocal The family in which after marriage wife comes to reside in the family of her husband is
family known as patrilocal family.
Matrilocal The family in which after marriage husband comes to reside in the family of her wife is
family known as matrilocal family.
Bilocal In this type of family, after marriage, the married couple changes their residence
Neolocal After marriage when newly married couple establish a new family independent of their
family parents and settled at a new place this type of family is known as neolocal family.

Based on Authority:
• Family
◦ Patriarchal Family
◦ Matriarchal family
 The family in which all the power remains in the hands of the patriarch or father is
Patriarchal known as a patriarchal family. In other words, in this type of family, power, or authority is
Family vested in the hands of the eldest male member of the family who is supposed to be the
father. He exercises absolute power or authority over the other members of the family.
It is just the opposite of a patriarchal family. In this family, power or authority, rests on
Matriarchal
the eldest female member of the family, especially the wife or mother. She enjoys
family
absolute power or authority over other members of the family. She owns all the family

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Based on the descent:

• Family
◦ Patrilineal Family
◦ Matrilineal family
The family in which descent or ancestry is determined through father line and continues
Patrilineal
through father it is known as patrilineal family. The property and family name is also
family
inherited through the father line. The patrilineal family is also patrilocal and patriarchal
The matrilineal family is just the opposite of the patrilineal family. The family in which
descent is determined through the mother line or continues through the mother is
Matrilineal
known as the Matrilineal family. The property and family name is also inherited through
family
the mother line. This right was transferred from mother to daughter. A woman is the
ancestor of the family. The Matrilineal family is Matrilocal and Matriarchal in nature. This
Functions of the family
• Primary function
◦ Production and rearing of the child
◦ The instrument of culture transmission
◦ Provision of home
◦ Agent of socialization
◦ Status ascribing function
◦ Agency of social control
• Secondary function
◦ Economic functions: With economic advancements, the family has become a more
consuming unit than a producing one. Members are engaged in earning wages for ensuring
the socio-economic well-being of the family.
◦ Educational functions: Family provides the basis for the child’s formal learning. In spite of
great changes, the family still gives the child his basic training in the social attitudes and
habits important to adult participation in social life.
◦ Religious functions: The family is a centre for the religious training of the children. The
children learn from their parent’s various religious virtues.
◦ Recreational functions: Family provides opportunities to parents and children for engaging
in various recreational activities such as playing indoor games, dancing, singing, reading
etc.
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 Evolution of Family Dynamics: Recent Changes In Family
System In India
The Indian family system has undergone drastic changes in response to the development
in terms of industrialization, education, and urbanization. The following changes have been
observed in the family system as follows:
• Changes in the family: Family which was a principal unit of production has been transformed into
the consumption unit. Instead of all members working together in an integrated economic
enterprise, a few male members go out of the home to earn the family’s living. These a ected
family relations.
• Factory employment: It has freed young adults from direct dependence upon their families. This
functional independence of the youngsters has weakened the authority of the head of the
household over those earning members. In many cities, even women too joined men in working
outside the families on a salary basis.
• In uence of urbanization: Various sociologists have revealed that city life is more favourable to
small nuclear families than to big joint families. Thus, urban living weakens joint family patterns
and strengthens nuclear family patterns.
• Legislative measures: Prohibition of early marriage and xing the minimum age of marriage by
the child marriage Restraint Act, 1929, and the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 have lengthened the
period of education. Even other legislations such as the Widow Remarriage Act, 1856, Hindu
Marriage Act, 1955, Hindu succession Act, 1956, all have modi ed interpersonal relations within
the family, the composition of the family and the stability of the joint family.
• Changes in the marriage system: Changes in the age of marriage, freedom in mate-selection and
change in the attitude towards marriage has diminished. Marriage is not very much considered a
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 religious a air but only a social ceremony. Modern marriage does not symbolize the superior
authority of the family head over other members.
• In uence of western values: Values relating to modern science, rationalism, individualism,
equality, free life, democracy, freedom of women etc. have exerted a tremendous change on the
joint family system in India.
• Changes in the position of women: Main factor causing changes in the position of women in
Indian society lies in her changing economic role. The new economic role provided a new
position in Indian society and especially with respect to men.
• Over the years, various sociologists have a rmed in their studies that the rise of nuclear families
— consisting of a couple and their unmarried children — is consistent with rapid urbanization.
Diversity and Identity: The Fabric of Tribes in India
• Tribes have been classi ed as a group of home-grown people with a little background who were
entitled to have a common name, language, and territory, tied by strong kinship bonds,
practising endogamy, distinct customs, rituals and beliefs, simple social rank, and political
organization, common ownership of resources and technology.
• There are about 705 Scheduled tribes in the country and constitute 6 percent of the population
of the country, according to the 2011 census.
• However, in India, many of these characteristics are shared by many other castes. This questions
the validity in distinguishing them from other castes. Many conceptual attempts have been made
to de ne tribes.
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Geographically, the tribes are centered in ve regions as follows:

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The tribes in the state are dispersed across the state living in different physical
environments, exhibiting varied lifestyles, social habits, religious beliefs, and cultural
patterns.
Tribes in India
Himalayan region Tribes like the Gaddi, the Jaunsari, the Naga, etc),
Middle India Tribes like the Munda, the Santal, etc
Western India Tribes like the Bhil, the Grasia, etc.
South Indian region Tribes like the Toda, the Chenchu, etc.
Islands region Tribes like the jarawas in Bay of Bengal, the Aminidivi and the Key. in Arabian

Changes brought by changing economic scenario in tribal

regions:
• Forest resources have declined, and forests have been increasingly brought under reservation.
They are no longer the comfort zones of the tribal people except in certain areas of North-East
India.
• Tribal people have been compelled to give away a lot of land to more experienced agriculturists,
to industries, and for big projects like hydro-electric reservoirs.
• Big industries have been established in their areas. So, the bane is they have been displaced by
such industries, and the boon is they have been given employment as wage laborers.
• The impact of the market economy has resulted in the tribal’s production for the market rather
than for meeting their own needs.
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RACES IN INDIA
• India is a melting pot of races. The Indian population is constituted of major races of the world.
We nd people of di erent races in India.
• The most authoritative and plausible racial classi cation has been given by B S. Guha, who has
titled six major racial elements in India.
They are con ned to small provinces in the south, the Kadar, Andamanese, Angami
Nagas, and Bagadi of Rajmahal hills (Bihar).

Negrito
They were the rst to arrive in India.
They have short stature, black skin, black woolly hair, thick lips, and a broad
They entered the Indian subcontinent after negritos. The common physical appearance
includes Brown skin complexion, short stature, broad nose, curly hair.
Proto-
Australoid
Central India tribes like Bhils, Mundas, Santhal, ho, Chenchus manifest their
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 They are divided into Paleo Mongoloid (Present in Nagas of Himalayan regions and
northeast India) and Tibeto-Mongoloid (Sikkim and Bhutan).

Mongoloid
They have yellow skin, straight hair, prominent cheekbones and almond-
shaped eyes with an epicanthic fold.
Northeastern Tribal groups like Naga Khasi, Garo belong to this racial group.
They entered the Indian subcontinent from the Mediterranean region.

Mediterrane
They are characterized by brown complexion, medium nose, medium stature,
an long and narrow head
They are connected to Dravidian languages and culture
They spread over the entire subcontinent with a major concentration in south
 They are classi ed into the following:

Western 1. Alpinoid: North and Western India

Brachycepha
ls
2. Dinaric: Bengal and Orissa
3. Armenoid: Parsis
They are characterized by medium stature, straight hairs, round face,
They were last to arrive in India.

Nordic
They spread over the entire subcontinent with major concentration seen in
Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttrakhand.

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Caste System in India: A Historical and Social Overview

• Caste is a Portuguese word that emerged from ‘caste meaning race.
• Caste can be de ned as a hereditary, endogamous group, having a common name, common
traditional occupation, common culture, relatively rigid in matters of mobility, the distinctiveness
of status, and forming a single homogenous community.
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 • It has origins in ancient India and was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-
modern, and modern India, especially the Mughal Empire and the British Raj.
• India’s caste system is among the world’s oldest forms of surviving social strati cation.
• The caste system consists of two di erent concepts, varna and jati, which may be regarded as
di erent levels of analysis of this system.
History of the caste system
HISTORY OF CASTE
• Ancient age
• Colonial times
• post-colonial times
During Ancient age:
• Generally, the caste system is associated with the Hindu religion. As per Rig Veda, there were
four categories known as ‘varnas.’
• Varnas consist of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.
• It is only in the post-Vedic period that caste becomes the rigid institution that is familiar to us
from well-known de nitions.
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During Colonial times

• 1901 census that sought to collect information on social hierarchy,
• Land revenue settlements gave legal recognition to the caste-based rights of the upper class
that became landowners in the modern sense
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 • Government of India Act 1935 gave legal recognition to the scheduled caste and scheduled
tribes and scheduled caste by marking out special treatment by the state.
During post-colonial times (after independence):
• The dominant view in the nationalist movement was to treat caste as a social evil, but on the
other hand, leaders like Mahatma Gandhi were able to work for the upliftment of the lowest caste
– Harijan
• The post-independence state inherited and re ected these contradictions. While the state was
committed to the abolition of caste, it was both unable to push through radical reforms, which
would have undermined the economic basis for caste inequality.
• For Example, Appointments to government jobs took no account of caste, thus leaving the well-
educated upper caste and illiterate lower caste to compete on equal terms. The only exception
to this was in the form of reservation.
• Moreover, the growth of private industries, endogamy, and democratic politics proved caste to
be the strongest.
Characteristics of the caste system in India
• Segmental division of society – It means that social strati cation is largely based on caste.
Membership to a caste group is acquired by birth, based on which people are ranked relative to
other caste groups.
• Hierarchy – It indicates that various castes are categorized according to their purity and impurity
of occupations. Just like a ladder, castes are ranked from higher to lower positions. Pure caste is
ranked at the top, and impure is ranked at the bottom.
• Endogamy – Members of a particular caste have to marry within their caste only. Inter-caste
marriages are prohibited. However, in urban areas, the phenomenon of inter-caste marriage is
increasing.
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 • Untouchability – It is the practice of ostracizing a group by segregating them from the
mainstream by social custom. Untouchability was a corollary of the caste system, wherein the
untouchables (those belonging to the lowest caste groups) were deemed impure and polluted.
• Civil and religious disabilities – These comprise restrictions based on contact, dress, speech,
rituals etc. and are placed on every caste group. It was done in order to maintain the purity of
speci c caste groups. For example, lower-caste groups had no access to wells, they were
restricted from entering temples etc.
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• Manual scavenging – Manual scavenging eventually became a caste-based occupation, which
involves the removal of untreated human excreta from bucket toilets or pit latrines. It has been
o cially abolished by the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their
Rehabilitation Act 2013.
• Caste-based violence in India – The increasing trend of caste-based violence are related to
instances of inter-caste marriage and assertion of basic rights by Dalits including land rights,
freedom of expression, access to justice, access to education etc
• The policy of caste-based reservation – The system of caste-based reservation in India
comprises a series of a rmative action measures, such as reserving access to seats in the
various legislatures, to government jobs, and to enrollment in higher educational institutions. For
E.g. Scheduled Caste groups are given 15% reservation in government services and educational
institutions.
Changes in the Caste system
• Trends for inter-caste marriage – Due to economic and social necessities, inter-caste marriages
on western lines are being performed at increased rates.
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• The challenge to orthodoxy – Orthodox practices of the caste system such as child marriage,
ban on widow re-marriage, ban on conversion, insensitiveness of superior class towards the low
caste people are being challenged in the wake of urbanization.
• New food habits – Due to the frequent mixing of the people at meetings, conferences, seminars,
etc., food habits have changed. Moreover, people have adapted to new ones.
• Improvement in the position of lower caste – Due to steps initiated by the government, the
position of lower castes has improved economically as well as socially.
• Changes in occupation – Leaving behind their traditional roles, Brahmins have become traders,
whereas Vaishyas have joined teaching and so on.
• While the manifestation of the order has changed to a large extent in recent times, the system
itself has not changed much.
• For instance – Even though untouchability and caste-based discrimination are barred under the
Constitution of India, occupations like manual scavenging have the majority of workers from
lower castes.
• Even the constitution provisions for reservation of seats and jobs for the people belonging to
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have failed to produce the desired integrative e ect.
• Political mobilization based on caste has been increasing. For e.g., Lingayats demand to be
considered as a minority community.
Factors Affecting the Changes in the Caste System
• Sanskritisation
• Modernisation
• Westernisation
• Industrialisation and urbanisation
• Democratic decentralisation
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 • Sanskritisation à Sanskritisation, as a process of change, is the mobility concerned with the
positional change in the caste system. By changing the customs and rituals such as by adopting
vegetarianism and teetotalism, people belonging to the low castes are claiming a higher position
in the caste hierarchy.
• Westernization à Due to changes in the spheres of education, food habits, dressing sense, style
of eating, manners, etc., westernization has brought occupational changes cutting across the
caste barriers.
• Modernization à It is a process that primarily relies on scienti c outlook, rational attitudes, high
social mobility, mass mobilization, and specialization in work. It has made the caste system more
exible. For example, in urban areas, castes are gradually becoming classes. The emergence of
the middle class with a rational outlook and goal orientation is a testimony to the fact.
• Industrialisation and urbanization à With the growth of industrial towns and cities, migration has
spiralled up. Unlike the source regions, destination areas witness fewer adherence to caste rules.
• Democratic decentralization à The reservation provided in the Panchayati Raj system has
allowed the lower castes.
• Caste and politics – They both are closely linked to each other. In fact, the link has led to
empowerment among the lower castes since they ventilate their feelings through elections and
power lobby. Dalit politics is one such example, where Dalits are trying to assert their identities
and have become successful in capturing power in various states.
• Legislative measures – A variety of social legislations have been introduced in the post-
independence era, which aims to safeguard the interests of the down-trodden, to eradicate
untouchability, and to facilitate the social and economic development of the depressed castes.
For instance, Untouchability (O enses) Act, 1955, provided for punishment against the practice
of untouchability.
Difference between Caste and Class
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 Class Caste
Class is not inherited but acquired through the
Caste is acquired by birth
ability
It is possible for an individual to change his It is not possible to leave the caste
Marriage outside class is allowed without It is impossible for a person to marry outside the
being thrown outside of society caste without the social annoyance
There is class consciousness among There is no class consciousness among members of
members of the class the class
Class system does not hinder the democracy The caste system hinders the democracy

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DIVERSITY: INDIAN CONTEXT

• India is a big country with di erent geopolitical conditions prevailing across where diversity can
be seen in a variety of things such as religions, languages, food, clothes, races, tribes, etc.
• A grand synthesis of cultures, religions, and languages of the people belonging to di erent
castes and communities has upheld its unity and cohesiveness despite multiple foreign
invasions.
• Unity in diversity essentially means “unity without uniformity” and “diversity without
fragmentation.”
• Examples of diversity exist in India with the help of two very distinct states, i.e., Ladakh and
Kerala.
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 Kerala is situated in the southwestern part of India. It is surrounded by the sea on one side
and the hills on the other side. Kerala practices a diverse group of religions because of
KERAL historical in uences. The place is extremely popular amongst the traders because of
A spices. The land in Kerala is fertile and suitable for growing various crops. With the advent
of globalization, inter-state mobility, the interdependence of various social groups has
increased, which further strengthens unity and ones among all.

India’s Differences: Understanding Diversity

• Religious diversity
• Geographical diversity
• Linguistic diversity
• Culture diversity
• Caste and Racial diversity
Religious diversity:
• In India, religion holds utmost importance, and therefore this is the reason that India got the title
of “Land of spirituality and philosophy” all over the world
• India is a multi-religious country consisting of Hindus (79.9%), Muslims (14.2%), Christians
(2.32%), Sikhs (1.7%), Buddhists (0.6%) and Jains (0.41%).
• Further, The Hindus themselves are divided into Vaishnavas, Shaivites, Shaktas, Smartas, etc.
and the Muslims are divided into Shias, Sunnis, Ahmadiyas, etc.
• However, Religious diversity has posed constant challenges in the country in the form of
communalism and communal violence.
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 • Religious diversity and religious tolerance are both established in the country by the law and
custom; the Constitution of India has declared the right to freedom of religion to be
a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.
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Linguistic diversity:
• It is the most outstanding feature of India’s diversity and, in the past, has been a major source of
agitation.
• According to the 2011 census, more than 19,500 languages or dialects are spoken in India as
mother tongues.
• There are 121 languages which are spoken by 10,000 or more people in India. Of them 22 are
the o cial languages that have been recognized as o cial languages under the 8th schedule,
and about 197 are endangered.
• However,71 percent of the population in the country has one of the 22 scheduled languages as
their mother tongue.
• India has the world’s second-highest number of languages, after Papua New Guinea.
• However, on the other hand, linguistic diversity has also been a source of con ict. It has posed
many administrative and political problems in India.
• Recently, Gorkhaland agitation was one of the recent examples of it.
• Though there is mysterious diversity in languages in India, there is a fundamental unity found in
the ideas and expressions in them.
Indian languages are broadly classi ed under the following families:
Indo-Aryan language Languages like Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu, Bengali, Kashmiri, Marathi, etc. are part
family of this family and are spoken in most of the part of North India
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Dravidian language Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu are the prominent languages under
family this family spoken in the southern states
Austroasiatic Most of the tribal languages spoken in Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha are part
language family of this family, e.g., Khasi, Santhali, Meitei
Sino-Tibetan Languages of the north-eastern state like Assamese, Manipuri, Bodo, etc.
language family constitute this family
Other languages like Andamanese, Sentinelese are restricted to a small
Others
number of speakers and therefore face extinction.

Geographical diversity
• With an area of 3,287,263 square kilometres, India is a vast country with a great diversity of
physical features like dry deserts, evergreen forests, snowy Himalayas, along the coast, and
fertile plains.
• The great variety of climate topography and consequently varied conditions of life prepared the
Indian psyche to accept di erences.
• The unique geographic demographics also host a unique eco-system rich with vegetation,
wildlife, rare herbs, and a large variety of birds.
• The network of shrines and pilgrim centres spread across the country has been an important
source of unity.
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Cultural Diversity:
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 • Indian culture is one of the oldest and unique. In India, there is an amazing cultural diversity
throughout the country.
• The South, North, and Northeast have their own distinct cultures, and almost every state has
carved its own cultural niche.
• The years of foreign rule, religious movements, and spiritual discoveries in the ancient land of
India has given way to a rich culture of social habits, festivals, and customs.
• Indian culture has never been rigid, and that’s why it’s surviving with pride in the modern It timely
imbibes the qualities of various other cultures and comes out as a contemporary and acceptable
tradition. The exibility and movement with time have made Indian Culture fashionable and
acceptable too.
Caste and Racial Diversity:
• Refer to salient features of Indian society.
• India is a country of castes
In addition to the above described major forms of diversity, India also has a diversity of
many other types like that of settlement patterns – tribal, rural, urban; marriage and kinship
patterns along religious and regional lines and so on.
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FACTORS LEADING TO UNITY AMIDST DIVERSITY IN INDIA

• Constitutional identity: – The same constitution and Parliament govern the entire territory of it.
Moreover, the Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights to all citizens, which
contributes to unity among people amidst such diversity in India. The uni ed judiciary,
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 Bureaucratic, defence structure, Parliamentary form of government providing for the federal
structure are other factors that promote unity in India.
• Inter-State mobility: – The Constitution guarantees freedom to move throughout the territory of
India under 19 (1) (d), which promotes a sense of unity and brotherhood among the masses.
• Religious co-existence: – India is a country where people are largely in uenced by religious
principles and doctrines. Freedom of religion and religious practice guaranteed by the
Constitution promotes religious co-existence with peaceful means.
• Modernization and Urbanization: – A relationship between cultural modernization, urbanization,
and industrialization is assumed as a matter of logical necessity. They provide more
opportunities for employment and a more modern western lifestyle. These interdependent
relationships are supportive of di erent communities with qualities of instant help.
• Fairs and festivals: – India is noted as the land of festivals, and Indians too enjoy every festival
with much zeal and fervour. Due to the varied culture and heritage of India, there are various
religious as well as social festivals that are con ned to speci c regions of the country. Festival
celebrations help in strengthening unity among the Indians. Festivals like Diwali, Eid, and
Christmas are enjoyed by all with the same spirit and fervour.
• Climatic integration via monsoon: – The ora and fauna in the entire Indian subcontinent,
agricultural practices, the life of people, including their festivities revolve around the monsoon
season in India.
• Sports and Cinema: These are followed by millions in the country, thus, acting as a binding force
across the length and breadth of India.
Living Together: Different Ways Societies Embrace Diversity
Salad Bowl Model:
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 • In the salad bowl model, di erent cultures are brought together – like salad ingredients – but do
not form together into a single homogeneous culture; each culture keeps its distinct qualities
• This model of racial integration can be described as a salad bowl, with people of di erent
cultures living in harmony, like lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots in a salad.
• In this type of model, cultures do not mix at all.
• For example, This kind of model is followed up in the UK, where regions like Scotland, Northern
Ireland are di erent, and intermingling is less between people of these regions.
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Melting Pot Model:

• A melting pot is for a society where many di erent types of people blend as one.
• For example, America is often called a melting pot because, with time, generations of immigrants
have melted together: they have abandoned their cultures to become assimilated into American
society.
Mosaic Model of society:
• Mosaic is a form of art where di erent rocks of di erent colors are joined together and form an
image.
• This model is the mix of ethnic groups, languages, and cultures that coexist within society.
• The idea of a cultural mosaic is intended to suggest a form of multiculturalism.
• This model emphasizes integration with isolation.
• Here a new identity is created, but the original identity is not lost.
• For example: In India, di erent cultures like Bengali, Kashmiri, Punjabi coexist with their original
identity of being Indian
Challenges to Unity in India: Factors Threatening Harmony
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 • Regionalism – Regionalism highlights the interests of a particular region/regions over national
interests. It has posed constant challenges to the country in the form of communalism and
communal violence. If regionalism challenges the fundamental tenets of the constitution like
sovereignty, unity, and security of India, it becomes divisive and disintegrative.
• Divisive politics – Political manipulation has projected one religion against the other, which
results in communal riots, mutual distrust, and disintegration of Indian society and country.
Communal antagonism has posed a serious challenge to national integration in India. Ascriptive
identities such as caste, religion, etc. are evoked by politicians to garner votes.
• Development de cit – Inadequate economic policies and consequent economic disparities can
lead to the backwardness of a region, further threatening the unity of the nation.
• Ethnic di erentiation and nativism – Ethnic con ict is one of the major threats to peace and
security. Ethnic con icts are often accompanied by gross human rights violations, such as
genocide and crimes against humanity, and by economic decline, state failure, environmental
problems, and refugee ows. Violent ethnic con ict leads to tremendous human su ering.
Di erent language factors also sometimes pose a great threat to the unity of the nation. It can be
used for political mobilization in India. E.g. frequent clashes between Bodos and Bengali
speaking Muslims in Assam.
• Geographical isolation – India has diverse geography from snow-covered mountains in the north
to coastal plains in the south. Later, Regional consciousness and regional identity evolved due to
geography. Geography, when combined with the ideology of aggressive regionalism, acts as a
divisive factor. E.g. The North-East that is geographically isolated from the rest of the country,
i.e., the Siliguri corridor (Chicken’s neck) acts as a source of disintegration and con ict.
• Inter-religious con icts – Inter-religious con ict not only hampers relations between two
communities by spreading fear and mistrust but also hinders the secular fabric of the country. g.
Sikh-Hindu con ict in Punjab, Religious riots over Babri masjid and ram mandir, Gujrat riots etc.
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• The problem is not of diversity per se, but the handling of diversity in Indian society. The
problems of regionalism, communalism, ethnic con icts etc. have arisen because the fruits of
development haven’t been distributed equally or the cultures of some groups haven’t been
accorded due recognition
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Conclusion
• The Unity in Diversity is disturbed in Indian society due to some communal forces with a vested
interest. But India has the strength to overcome communal violence and religious threats.
• Every Indian must lift oneself up above the challenges and work towards national unity and
integrity.
• The common values of democracy, equality, and justice, as de ned in the constitution that we
share and cherish as a part of the value system of Indian Society, is India’s strength.

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