Notes Class 12 Chapter 3 Sociology Maharashtra Board

Diversity and Unity in Indian Society

Introduction

India is celebrated as a land of “Unity in Diversity”, embodying a unique blend of diverse ethnic origins, religions, castes, tribes, languages, social customs, cultural beliefs, political ideologies, and geographical variations. Despite this diversity, India maintains a sense of unity or ‘we-feeling’, fostering oneness through shared structures, norms, and values. This chapter explores the forms of diversity, the concept of unity in diversity, and the challenges to national unity in Indian society.

3.1 Forms of Diversity in Indian Society

Indian society is characterized by multiple forms of diversity, including racial, religious, linguistic, regional, caste, class, and gender diversity. Below is a detailed examination of each:

Racial Diversity

Definition: Race refers to a group of people with distinctive, inherited physical characteristics, as defined by A.W. Green. Racial classifications are based on genetic traits, though modern science emphasizes genetic studies and DNA testing for accuracy.
Classification by Dr. B.S. Guha: He categorized the Indian population into six main racial groups:
1. Negrito
2. Proto-Australoid
3. Mongoloid
4. Mediterranean
5. Western Brachycephals
6. Nordic
Key Insight: Due to historical migrations, there are no pure racial types in India; intermixture has led to racial heterogeneity. Physical attributes are no longer the sole basis for identifying differences.

Religious Diversity

Overview: Religion is a universal institution influencing economic, political, and cultural aspects of society. India is a multi-religious country, home to Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, and tribal beliefs like animism and naturism.
Constitutional Mandate: The Indian Constitution ensures a secular fabric through the Right to Freedom of Religion, a Fundamental Right.
Coexistence: Despite differing doctrines, religions coexist, with shared celebrations of festivals like Ganapati, Diwali, Ramzan Eid, Christmas, and public holidays for events like Good Friday, Ram Navami, and Eid-ul-Fitr.
Diversity Within Religions: Each religion has sub-divisions (sects, cults) and varied interpretations of sacred texts, reflecting internal diversity.
Example: In Kolkata, Diwali (Hindu festival) is celebrated alongside Hanukkah (Jewish festival), showcasing interfaith harmony.

Activity 1: Interview 5 people from a specific religion to explore their customs and traditions, and present findings in class.

Linguistic Diversity

Multilingualism: India is a linguistically diverse nation with 22 official languages recognized by the Constitution, including Sanskrit, Tamil, and Kannada (classical languages with over 1000 years of history).
Language Policy:
- Protects linguistic minorities and promotes education in the mother tongue.
- The Three Language Formula encourages learning the regional language, Hindi/English, and another modern Indian language.
Preservation Efforts: The Language Bureau under the Ministry of Human Resource Development monitors language policies. 21st February is celebrated as International Mother Language Day.
Challenges: The decline of minor languages and dialects threatens linguistic diversity, necessitating community participation for conservation.
Example: Prasar Bharati broadcasts in 23 languages and 179 dialects, reflecting India’s linguistic richness.

Activity 2: Research languages and dialects spoken in one Indian state, record audio if possible, and display their scripts.

Regional Diversity

Definition: A region is a geographical space with cultural homogeneity, where people identify with a shared history and present.
Examples:
- North Eastern States (Seven Sisters: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura) are culturally rich with tribal populations like Garo, Khasi, Naga.
- Maharashtra regions: Konkan, Vidarbha, Khandesh, Marathwada, Western Maharashtra.
Characteristics: Regions have unique histories, natural resources, and socio-economic environments. For instance, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj shapes Maharashtra’s regional identity.
Cultural Contact: Conversion to Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, or Christianity and influx of outsiders have influenced regional cultures.

Caste Diversity

Definition: Derived from the Portuguese word ‘casta’ (race), caste is defined by varna (four-fold Hindu hierarchy: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra) and jati (approximately 3500 sub-castes, including 751 Scheduled Castes).
Historical Role: The caste system structured agrarian economies through interdependent barter relationships (e.g., jajmani system), but it also caused inequality and marginalization.
Beyond Hindus: Caste-like divisions exist among Muslims (e.g., Amir, Shaikh), Christians, and Sikhs, often carried over from Hindu converts.
Constitutional Provisions: The Scheduled Caste category applies to Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists, while Scheduled Tribes can have any religious identity.

Class Diversity

Basis: Class is determined by economic criteria (financial position) and education.
Impact: Economic class influences lifestyle choices, such as transportation, shopping, education, and marriage.
Distribution: The upper class is a small minority, while the majority identify as middle or lower class.

Gender Diversity

Sex vs. Gender: Sex is biological, while gender is a social construct involving roles, expressions, and identities.
Gender Binary: Society often enforces heteronormativity, normalizing male-female binaries.
LGBTQ+ Inclusion:
- Lesbian: Female-female relationships.
- Gay: Male-male relationships.
- Bisexual: Attraction to two sexes.
- Transgender: Mismatch between biological sex and psychological identity.
Gender Fluidity: Increasing acceptance of non-binary identities, rooted in Indian traditions (e.g., gender-fluid Hindu deities).
Legal Milestones:
- Decriminalization of homosexuality (Supreme Court, 6th September 2018).
- Recognition of transgender rights under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
Challenges: Protests against the 2019 Act highlight ongoing issues.

Activity 3: Discuss the Transgender Persons Act, 2019, in class.

3.2 Unity in Diversity

India’s ability to integrate diverse traditions while maintaining a sense of we-ness defines its unity in diversity. The Constitution’s secular mandate supports this integration, despite occasional challenges.

Historical Perspective

D.P. Singhal: In India and World Civilisations, he notes that unity in diversity is a recurring theme in Indian history. India assimilates external cultures while preserving its essence.
Historical Examples: Emperors like Ashoka, Harshvardhan, Vikramaditya, and Akbar attempted political unification.
Modern Context: India’s adoption of political democracy reflects underlying unity.

Why Unity is Needed

Strengthen cultural heritage.
Protect diversity.
Uphold human rights.
Enhance workplace and community morale.
Promote effective communication, conflict resolution, peaceful coexistence, and prosperity.

Forms of Unity

Geographical Unity:
- Natural boundaries (Himalayas, water bodies) and shared resources (rivers, forests) foster oneness.
- The monsoon season connects agrarian cycles across India, celebrated through festivals like Onam, Pongal, Baisakhi.
Religious Unity:
- Common values (benevolence, piety, honesty) across religions.
- Pilgrimage sites like Badrinath, Golden Temple, Ajmer Dargah attract diverse visitors.
- Festivals like Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja unite people across faiths.
- M.N. Srinivas: Religion integrates society through caste relations, economic roles, and socio-economic privileges.
Political Unity:
- The Constitution establishes the rule of law, ensuring equality regardless of religion, caste, or gender.
- Five-Year Plans and welfare schemes uplift weaker sections (SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities).
Linguistic Unity:
- The Three Language Formula promotes Hindi, English, and regional languages.
- Media like Doordarshan and Akashwani broadcast in multiple languages.
- Educational curricula support minority languages and flexible exam mediums.
Cultural Unity:
- Shared festivals (Diwali, Eid, Christmas) and contributions from figures like Tagore, Mother Teresa foster a sense of belonging.
- Patriotic media (National Anthem renditions, films) evoke pride.

Activity 4: Discuss whether religion unifies or divides society. Activity 5: Research government welfare schemes for STs, SCs, women, and disabled persons.

3.3 Challenges to National Unity

Despite India’s unity, several factors hinder national integration:

Casteism

Definition: Loyalty to one’s caste over the nation.
Issues:
- Restricts social interaction and fosters biases in politics.
- Politicians exploit caste loyalties during elections, favoring their caste groups.
- Reservation Policies: Provide affirmative action for SCs (15%), STs (7.5%), OBCs (27%), and EWS (10%), but caste discrimination persists.
Impact: Weakens the sense of we-feeling, especially among Scheduled Castes due to historical suppression.

Communalism

Definition: Loyalty to one’s religion over the nation.
Consequences:
- Social: Creates hatred and insecurity between religious communities.
- Economic: Diverts resources to repair riot damage, slowing growth.
- Political: Undermines democracy by allowing religious manipulation.
Causes: Religious fundamentalism, ethnocentrism, illiteracy, and political exploitation.
Example: Communal riots and terrorism create fear and distrust.

Regionalism

Definition: Loyalty to one’s region or state over the nation.
Causes:
- Desire for linguistic or economic prioritization of one’s region.
- Political parties focus on regional issues, fostering separatism.
Examples: Movements in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Assam.
Impact: Inter-state rivalries escalate, threatening democracy.

Linguism

Definition: Excessive loyalty to one’s language, leading to conflict.
Issues:
- Linguistic minorities feel neglected, harming national unity.
- Resistance to Hindi as an official language in non-Hindi-speaking regions.
- Atrocities against linguistic minorities and decline of tribal dialects.
Impact: Linguistic nationalism fuels separatism.

Economic Inequalities

Causes:
- Family Influence: Poverty limits access to nutrition and opportunities.
- Private Property: Unequal resource distribution.
- Educational Differences: Access to quality education varies by class.
- Access to Opportunities: Limited infrastructure in marginalized areas.
- Individual Differences: Societal barriers hinder talent development.
- Social Environment: Influences personal and societal growth.
Impact of Globalization: Widens the rich-poor gap (e.g., mall culture, privatized healthcare).
Systemic Issue: Inequality is inherent in free market systems, perpetuated across generations.
Efforts: Welfare state policies and taxation aim to redistribute wealth, but challenges persist.

Activity 6: Debate on:

Laws protecting minorities.
Abolishing the caste system.
Necessity of protective discrimination.

Activity 7: Discuss measures to promote national unity.

Summary

India’s diversity (race, religion, language, region, caste, class, gender) is unified by a sense of we-feeling.
Unity is fostered through geographical, religious, political, linguistic, and cultural factors.
Challenges like casteism, communalism, regionalism, linguism, and economic inequalities threaten national integration.
The need is to embrace diversity empathetically and strengthen national unity.