Characteristics of indian culture

Characteristics of indian culture

1. Characteristics of Indian Culture

2. The present name of the country “India” refers to ancient “ Bharatavarsha ” or the Land of Bharata of mythological fame. Various Muslim nations to the west of India prefer to call it as Hind or Hindustan. Thus we find diversity in the nomenclature of the land itself.

3. For a better understanding on the diverse elements of Indian culture we shall first should focus on its various aspects. Then we shall examine how among these diverse elements there is the eternal flow of unity which is the fundamental characteristic of Indian culture.

4. Physical Diversity: Geography has given India different physical diversities in its very structure. It has vast varieties of soil, wide differences of the frontiers with four distinct geographical divisions.

5. They are as follows: 1. The Himalayan Mountains with its Eastern and Western ranges 2. The Northern plains enriched by Indus, Ganga , Brahmaputra and their tributaries 3. The Central Indian plateau and the Deccan plateau 4. Long strips of coastal lands between the sea and the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats Mountain ranges

6.  Thus it is referred to as a sub-continent rather Chan a mere country. Physical diversity has its side effects. Differences in physical features automatically have brought differences in altitude, climate, temperature, rainfall, flora and fauna.

7. Racial Diversity: In the words of the prominent historian V.A. Smith: “India is an ethnological museum.” Even the ancient. Greek historian Herodotus remarked: “Of all the nations that we know of India has the largest population.”

8. In the 21st century also India is the second most populous country of the world. This population is composed of so many races and it represents primarily all the ethnographical dimensions of mankind.

9. Linguistic Diversity: Racial diversity of India has its direct reflection on the linguistic variety of India. As per the Linguistic Survey of India, India possesses 179 languages and 544 dialects. These languages and dialects are spoken by the people of different regions and different races.

10. Scriptural and Literary Diversity: India being a multi-lingual country has a vast treasure of different scripts and literatures. When the languages are many, naturally scripts are of different types.

11. No wonder then literatures have emerged in various languages and dialects, both major and minor, thus contributing to the richness of a Pan- Indian literature including Sanskrit. So far as script is concerned India has got a good number of scripts.

12. Socio-Cultural Diversity: The variations in physical features, racial structure and languages have resulted in considerable differences in dress, food habits, social customs and beliefs of the people. The people of India differ considerably in their social practices and cultural differences vary from state to state.

13. For example the dress habit of the people of a hot place like Rajasthan will definitely differ from that of Kashmir because of a very cold climate. The North-Eastern people have their traditional dress whereas the tribal dress is unique of its own. Even the style of wearing a dhoti or a saree differs from Uttar Pradesh to Bengal to Tamil Nadu to Maharashtra and Gujarat.

14. Religious Diversity: India is a country of many religions. All the major religions of the world are found here. Mention may be made of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism etc. People of different religions live here in sizeable numbers. All these religions have grown here quite freely with their different sects and sub-sects.

15.  Economic Diversity: Since ancient times India has been regarded as the land of milk and honey. It is for this economic prosperity of the land India has been invaded and occupied by the foreigners many a time though at present the picture is not so rosy. Rather from economic point of view India presents a picture of diversity.

16. It is a country of princes and paupers, aristocrats and middle class people, highly rich and extremely poor people. If India is proud of possessing some richest people of the world, it is also a matter of shame that millions go without two square meals a day. Crores of Indians live below the poverty line for generations while the rich continue to grow richer and richer.

17. Political Diversity: The vastness of the country, its geographical diversities, various races with various languages, religions, creeds and systems of belief have all contributed significantly to the political unification of India. Regionalism and local identity have played a great role in the path of maintaining this unity. Interestingly, history has time and again proved that Indians never presented a united front in the face of foreign invasion.

18. Continuity and Change Variety and Unity Secular Outlook Universalism Materialistic and Spiritualistic Culture is spiritual development of a race or nation in the field of mind, interests, conduct, thought, art, skills and civilization