The term “Unity in Diversity” refers to the state of togetherness or oneness in spite of the presence of huge diversity. “Unity in Diversity” is based on the concept where the individual or social differences in physical attributes, skin colour, caste, creed, cultural and religious practices, etc., are not looked upon as a conflict. Instead, these differences are looked upon as varieties that enrich society and the nation as a whole. Unity in diversity is a very important principle because we all live in a diverse world. It is crucial to respect each other and support each other no matter what our culture, background, gender, orientation, or other differences may be. With the help of this ‘Unity in Diversity’ Essay, we will help students understand how we all stand together even though there exist many differences among us. Students can also practise essays on other topics to improve their writing skills.

Unity in Diversity in Indian Society

India is a land of unity in diversity. It is a vast country with numerous variations in races, cultures, languages and even geographical features. In many countries of the world, major geographical features divide international borders, e.g. Nepal and China are separated by the Himalayas. However, in India, we have learned to live in diversity, and our geographical features further solidify this bond. The Punjab region is known for being one of the most potent agricultural lands on earth. The Northern Mountainous region has come across different people and different languages. In the Rajasthan desert, we come across Rajasthani languages and culture, all part of India, yet distinct in their culture and language. To the further south come the people of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, and Karnataka, all distinctive languages and cuisines.

India is a plural society. Its unity and diversity characterize it. Despite several foreign invasions, Mughal rule and British rule, the nation’s unity and integrity have been maintained. It is this synthesis that has made India a unique mosaic of cultures. India fought against the British Raj as one unified entity. The existence of diverse languages, religions and cultures, foreign visitors and immigration from other parts of the world have made India’s culture tolerant. The sources of diversity in India may be traced in a variety of ways.

Post-Independent India is a nation united against several odds and obstacles. The idea of the unity of India is inherent in all historical and socio-cultural facts as well as in cultural heritage. India is a secular state, and it has a constitution providing guarantees for people belonging to diverse regions, religions, cultures and languages. It covers people belonging to all socioeconomic strata. The Five Year Plans and several other developmental schemes are geared to uplift the poor and weaker sections of society.

India has been able to project itself as a single territorial unit in the face of physical, political, social and economic contrasts. The Great Plains, which is between the Himalayan ranges on the one hand and Peninsular India on the other has a unifying role. Climatically, the monsoonal rhythm of seasons provides a strong element of uniformity. The concentration of monsoonal rainfall to a few months in a year and the associated agricultural activities occur in India. Many cultural traditions are strongly tied to the monsoons. Saints have spread the message of universal brotherhood, which has helped a great deal in uniting different sections of society in India and making the country a unified nation.

India’s vast diversity is matched by its geographical features and shows the strength of the country. The extraordinary characteristic of India is that in spite of all diversity in different fields-physical, social, linguistic, cultural and religious; there is a fundamental thread of unity.

In India, there are followers of different religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam and Christianity. All religions have their sects and sub-divisions. So, there is diversity not only in regard to religious, racial compositions and linguistic distinction but also in patterns of living, occupational pursuits, land tenure systems, lifestyles, inheritance and succession law. Even the practices and rites related to birth, death, marriage and various functions are performed differently by each religion.

In the 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 India.