Diversity in India and Secularism of India.pptx

Diversity in India and Secularism of India

1. DIVERSITY

2. Black Power salute US athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, with Australia's Peter Norman, in their famous pose at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.

3. People are different from each other in many ways. Belong to different regional , cultural or religious backgrounds. Diversity enrich our lives in many ways. All these different people, who come from all kinds of backgrounds , and belong to all kinds of religions and cultures help to make India so interesting and so diverse.

4. Origins of social differences These social differences are mostly based on accident of birth . Normally we don’t choose to belong to our community . We belong to it simply because we were born into it. We all experience social differences based on accident of birth in our everyday lives. People around us are male or female , they are tall and short, have different kinds of complexions, or have different physical abilities or disabilities. But all kinds of social differences are not based on accident of birth. Some of the differences are based on our choices . For example, some people are atheists . They don’t believe in God or any religion. Some people choose to follow a religion other than the one in which they were born . Most of us choose what to study, which occupation to take up and which games or cultural activities to take part in . All these lead to formation of social groups that are based on our choices . It is fairly common for people belonging to the same religion to feel that they do not belong to the same community , because their caste or sect is very different. It is also possible for people from different religions to have the same caste and feel close to each other . Rich and poor persons from the same family often do not keep close relations with each other for they feel they are very different. Thus, we all have more than one identity and can belong to more than one social group . We have different identities in different contexts .

5. DIVERSITY IN INDIA India is a country of many diversities. We speak different languages, have various types of food, celebrate different festivals, practise different religions. But actually, if you think about it, we do many things that are similar except that we do them in different ways . The history of many places shows us how many different cultural influences have helped to shape life and culture there. Thus regions became very diverse because of their unique histories. Similarly diversity also comes about when people adapt their lives to the geographical area in which they live . sar - zamīn -e-hind par aqvām -e- ālam ke ' firāq ' qāfile baste gaye hindostāñ bantā gayā ~ Firaq Gorakhpuri (The caravans of people from all parts of the world kept on coming and settling in India and led to the formation of India)

6. UNITY IN DIVERSITY India's diversity has always been recognised as a source of its strength. When the British ruled India, women and men from different cultural, religious and regional backgrounds came together to oppose them. India's freedom movement had thousands of people of different backgrounds in it. They worked together to decide joint actions, they went to jail together, and they found different ways to oppose the British. Interestingly the British thought they could divide Indians because they were so different, and then continue to rule them. But the people showed how they could be different and yet be united in their battle against the British. In his book The Discovery of India Jawaharlal Nehru says that Indian unity is not something imposed from the outside but rather, "It was something deeper and within its fold, the widest tolerance of belief and custom was practised and every variety acknowledged and even encouraged." It was Nehru, who coined the phrase, "unity in diversity“ to describe the country.

7. Difference and Prejudice There are eight major religions in the world . Every single one of them is practised in India. We have more than 1600 languages that are people's mother tongues, and there are more than a hundred dance forms . Yet this diversity is not always celebrated . This is because we feel safe and secure with people who look , talk , dress and think like us. People also form certain attitudes and opinions about others who are not like them . Prejudice means to judge other people negatively or see them as inferior . When we think that only one particular way is the best and right way to do things we often end up not respecting others, who may prefer to do things differently . We can be prejudiced about many things: people's religious beliefs , the colour of their skin , the region they come from, the accent they speak in, the clothes they wear etc.

8. When we fix people into one image we create a stereotype . When people say that those who belong to a particular country, religion, sex, race or economic background are "stingy ,“ " lazy," "criminal" or "dumb," they are using stereotypes. There are stingy and generous people everywhere, in every country, in every religion, in every group whether rich or poor , male or female. And just because some people are like that it is not fair to think that everyone will be the same. Stereotypes stop us from looking at each person as a unique individual with his or her own special qualities and skills that are different from others. They fit large numbers of people into only one pattern or type. Stereotypes affect all of us as they prevent us from doing certain things , that we might otherwise be good at.

9. Inequality comes about when a person does not have the resources and opportunities that are available to other persons. Another example of inequality – Caste System According to this , society was divided into different groups depending upon the work that people did and they were supposed to remain in those groups. So if your parents were potters you could only become a potter, nothing else. This system was considered irreversible. And because you were not supposed to change your profession, it was not considered necessary for you to know anything more than what you needed in your profession. This created a situation of inequality.

10. Inequality and Discrimination Discrimination happens when people act on their prejudices or stereotypes. If you do something to put other people down, if you stop them from taking part in certain activities and taking up jobs, or stop them from living in certain neighbourhoods , prevent them from taking water from the same well or hand pump, or not allow them to drink tea in the same cups or glasses as others, you are discriminating against them . A positive attitude towards diversity and a willingness to accommodate it do not come about easily . People who feel marginalised , deprived and discriminated have to fight against the injustices. Such a fight often takes the democratic path , voicing their demands in a peaceful and constitutional manner and seeking a fair position through elections. Sometimes social differences can take the form of unacceptable level of social inequality and injustice. The struggle against such inequalities sometimes takes the path of violence and defiance of state power. However history shows that democracy is the best way to fight for recognition and also to accommodate diversity.