Unity in diversity
Topic: Nationalism and National Self-determination · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Nationalism"
Meaning
Unity in diversity is the idea that India has a deep oneness beneath its great variety of languages, religions and peoples. Indian nationalists pointed to India's long, unbroken civilisation as the base of the nation. Nehru expressed it in The Discovery of India (1946), writing of "diversity and infinite variety" carrying "that tremendous impress of oneness". It matters because it explains how a nation can hold together without everyone being the same. NCERT adds a caution: history used to build a nation is selective, and quarrels about the past can turn into conflict.
Example
India has many languages and religions, yet it has no national language. Hindi is only the official language of the Union under Art. 343. The Eighth Schedule recognises 22 languages. This is unity without forcing sameness.
Don't confuse with
- Cultural nationalism: unity in diversity accepts many cultures inside one nation. Cultural nationalism bases the nation on one shared language, religion or descent.