The Landscape of Diversity
Traveling through India offers a visual feast of changing landscapes, dresses, food, and scripts. With over 1.4 billion inhabitants (constituting about 18% of the world’s population), such diversity is natural.
The ‘People of India’ Project
In the late 20th century, the Anthropological Survey of India conducted a massive survey to document this diversity.
- Scope: Covered 4,635 communities across all States.
- Linguistic Findings: Identified 325 languages using 25 different scripts.
- Migration: Observed that many Indians are migrants, living away from their original birthplaces or communities.
Making Sense of the Many
While diversity is beautiful, it can be bewildering. How can a single history be written for such a diverse land? The answer, as noted by British historian Vincent Smith over a century ago, lies in the concept of Unity in Diversity.
Tip
Definition: Unity in Diversity implies that despite differences in physical appearance, language, custom, and religion, there is a fundamental bond of humanity and shared cultural history that unites the people of India.