Question

Answer the following question in detail (in 150-200 words).

‘India is a multicultural country.’ Discuss with relevant examples of your own.

Answer 1

India is a multi-cultural country. In other words, people belonging to different races, languages, religions, castes and classes live together in Indian society. Such diversity in the Indian context can be explained with the help of following points (examples):

1. Race: The people of varying races form a part of Indian society. B.S. Guha classifies Indian people into six main racial groups; viz. Negrito, Proto-Australoid, Mongoloid, Mediterranean or Dravidian, Western Brachycephaly, Nordic.
2. Language: Multi-linguism is a way of life in India. The Constitution of India has approved of 22 official languages. These languages are classified under five language families, viz. IndoAryan (Arya), Dravidian (Dravida), Austro-Asiatic (Nishada), Sino-Tibetan (Kirata), Andamanese.
3. Religion: India is a multi-religious country where tribal beliefs of animism and naturism, and religions like Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, have originated and flourished. Later, there has been the influence of Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism and Sikhism. The secular mandate ensures that the secular fabric of society is maintained.
4. Caste: The caste system provides the bases of social structure in our society. The practice of caste system is found among Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs.
5. Class: Class is based on financial position and education. Indian society consists of upper class, middle class and lower-class population. Those who identify as upper class constitute a small minority in the Indian society as a whole. All the above points illustrate that India is a multicultural country.