Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together.
– Jacqueline Woodson
Every soil has its history. However, none of it possesses the richness and valour to the extent to which India does. It is a land of struggles, sacrifices and devotion. Every part of the land is beautified with its vibrant colours of cultures, religions, languages and more.
India has always been proud of its heritage and dignity. The bondage of different segments of people with varied religion like Hindu, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and many more has always been on amicable terms due to the equal rights and status provided to every citizen of India. The strength of our country lies in its diversity, and thus, everyone is encouraged to feel closer to the country a little more and drifted apart a little less.
There is an existence of ample differences between the people of India. However, you will find its the only country to exist with such diversity and still living in its full integrity. Sometimes, not just the linguistic differences or caste differentiates of the people, but also the individual opinions do. In fact, they are the stepping stones towards the growth of the nation as no country can flourish without the discussions and clash of opinions.
India is also vibrant in its geographical richness covering the peaks and mountains in the north to the plains and plateaus in the west with the serene rivers and water bodies in the south and last but not the least, beautiful terrains in the east. Due to this, people are also differentiated based on their regions, food habits, cultures, but still, everyone cherishes the beauty of diversity and acknowledges it.
However, there is also a bitter side to it. According to Hinduism, there has been a division of society into four mainly; Varnas, which are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The former one is said to be related to the prestigious ones and is generally saints, priests and scholars. The second are warriors, the third is the merchants and traders, and the last one belongs to the labourers and the lower class groups. Nevertheless, all these are just illusions made for the status symbol and no logical reasoning.
People are so much engrossed in such stereotypical mindsets that they forget that we as humans are born first, and then the stamp of these castes are imposed. Humanity can be found explicitly invisible from humans nowadays and is seen twirled in the ropes of stupid practices. We have become so selfish that we are not able to connect to our fellow-mates either emotionally or socially and not able to stand with them.
This country is the land of Gautam Buddha, Shri Shankaracharya, Guru Nanak, Kabir and such pious saints. They hoped for harmonious and progressive existence of this land and its people. Though, the people seem to ridicule all the noble ideas that went into the creation of such a state. Moreover, they live with hatred and jealousy towards each other. The ”caste and creed” is separating people and forcing them to live with intolerance.
Now it’s high time that we understand and stop fighting and abusing each other. Its time to see everyone as a whole as a part of our nation where we all can live in peace with no conflicts and discriminations.
If we don’t mature ourself and accept the differences in peace, the plight of the country is very near. It has been a privilege to be born as a human and therefore, we must abide by this law and give respect to our human-birth in a real sense.
Mahatma Gandhi rightly said, “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”
