‘The Diverse Nature of Indian Society’

Indian being a land of diverse culture and heritage does have a very complex society. However, the diverse nature of Indian society has its own dark sides.

• India is scaling new heights of development while many voices are going unheard; these are the voices of social problems.
• These are the areas which do not become obvious but are leading to pulling India backward in its climb to success.
• The fact that needs to be considered is how much ever a nation is developed if it doesn’t solve its internal crisis; the development goes down the drain. 
• Social issues in India are one of the main factors to be considered which is causing a ridge between developed and developing India.

What are the major social issues present in today’s society?

Poverty

• Type of social issue: Social inequality, social stratification and social disorganization
• Poverty is considered as the main reason leading to the birth of various other social issues in India and India is home to the world’s largest slum pocket.
• According to the 2013 estimation, by Indian Planning Commission 269 million people i.e. 22% of the population lives under the poverty line.
• The abolition of this problem requires imparting education to save more generations from the quicksand of poverty.

Corruption

• Types of social issues: Economic issues
• India being a democratic nation has its downfall because of them under the table practice.
• This can be seen as a practice by a person at a smaller position to a person as highly positioned as a minister.
  • Scams like the Colgate and 2 G scam or the cases like the one of Vijay Mallya have punctured the wheels of the economy.
  • This had led to an urgent need to teach our next generation to put a stop to this unethical practice.

Terrorism

• Types of social issues: Education deficiency
• Terrorism is backstabbing the nation through its wrath from the time of its partition.
• Some of the examples could be hideous attacks that took place on 26/11 and the recent Uri attack etc. These attacks are inclusive of internal terrorism practised through sleeper cells also.
• Such attacks have not halted, though many surgical strikes and peace talks are done by India.

Communalism

• Types of social issues: Social inequality, Social stratification, and Social disorganization:-
• India is home to 1,028,610,328 communities has additional challenges to maintain peace among them.
• The example could be the like the recent ones inflicted from Babri masjid demolition.
• This point of time to prevent them the Government needs to take strict actions against politics provoking them for votes.
• This further needs nurturance of education for peace and harmony to younger generations.

Illiteracy

• Types of social issues: Education inequality and social inequality
• State-wise Kerala boasts 93.91% but more focus should be on states like Bihar with 68.8% literacy rate; however, India’s literacy rate in India has increased.
• There should be a focus on such regions with high illiteracy rate for India’s all-round progress and as education has become the biggest weapon in present times.
• Education should be motivated by the Government or at the individual level by joining hands with NGO to teach underprivileged sections.

Violence against Women

• Types of social issues: crime and the justice system
• There is a new black spot emerging over India as tourists globally warned about the rape history of India.
• This range with an array of brutal crimes is it inside the house or outside.
• The Delhi Nirbhaya case shocked the country and now the capital of the country is considered rape capital.
• The reason being the estimations of rapes are surprising and increasing. This has led to an urgent need for initiatives by Government, education to younger ones and Indian society as a whole to stand against it. 

What is the role of migration in building of nations?

• There is a huge role of migrations in building of nations by diverse communities through alliances at multiple levels.
• Talking of India, diversity has been the hallmark of this society from long. Christianity entered India, right in first century.
• Already different religious traditions, Jainism Buddhism were present here.
• Islam came in 7-8 Century from Malabar Coast through Arab traders and later many of those who were victims of Varna-Caste system embraced Islam through Sufi saints.
• The Muslim invaders coming from North West were more for reasons related to power and wealth.
• Buddhism had spread in various South East Asian countries. Indians also migrated to different parts of the World mostly for economic purpose, employment or greener pastures.
• UK has abundant number of them, Similarly America and Canada, now Australia has lot of migrants from India.
• Earlier many Indians did migrate to Caribbean, Mauritius, and Ceylon among other places.

The positive side of diversity

• India’s diversity has been multi-factorial and at different layers. Different communities have been living and celebrating this diversity. Religious festivals have been one of the strong platforms for community interactions.
• In the area of religions Bhakti and Sufi traditions have upheld the diversity.
• While ‘melting pot model’ of cultural integration does apply partly, the main expression of diversity has been a ‘salad bowl’ model where different components are visible and still are thick part of the whole.
• The same diversity formed the base of freedom movement of India, which gave space to each of these components of diversity.

Concluding thoughts

Since decades, India is countering issues like poverty, illiteracy, child marriage, caste system, gender inequality and endless to count further. But with the changing scenario and thought process of the society, many more new problems have made their way into our lives. The society needs to take up these issues seriously before it becomes too late to act upon. Indian Government along with citizens should drive effective changes that will change the dream of developed India into reality sooner.