Page 117 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

Unit 7: Essay Writing (Short Essays)

However, we have been passing through turbulent times, of late. Certain anti-national and external forces Notes
are trying to disrupt the unity of the country by encouraging communal feelings and sentiments. It has led
to increasing intolerance, disharmony and lawlessness among the masses. There has also been a spurt in
riots, violence and killings of innocent people. When people face a threat to their lives, they tend to cling
to their socio-religious groups which lead to distrust of the intentions of people belonging to different
communities. Terrorism should not be allowed to raise its ugly head and destroy our basic unity. When a
country is torn by internal strife, there is always a looming threat of external aggression.
Many ancient civilizations decayed and degenerated because of stagnation and resistance to change
with time. Indian culture has remained alive and dynamic because it has always been tolerant to
different cultures. It imbibed the good qualities of other cultures and constantly upgraded itself.
Influence of various cultures has made it rich and vibrant. Significant contributions have been made
to it by the Aryans, Dravidians, Greeks, Persians, Arabs, Mughals and Europeans. Had it not been for
the tolerance shown by the people of India during the rule of foreigners, who brought in their own
traditions and sought to impose them, the flexible Indian culture would have lost its moorings. The
Persian and western influence on our art, literature, painting and dress have now become an integral
part of our own culture.
The Indian civilization has always been based on religious and moral values. Herein lies its unity
and strength. In all parts of the country, cultural unity, the unity of the way of life and outlook
transcends the vast diversity in faiths, beliefs—at times bordering on superstition, magic, charms
and other practices. One may travel from one part of the country to another and encounter a totally
different milieu, where people talk, dress and worship differently, yet one will not feel as a stranger.
Everywhere he will recognise a common thread in some aspect of life which makes him feel at home.
This is because the Indian culture has preserved its fundamental character through the ages. We
have experienced revolutionary economic and political changes in recent times, but our past remains
very much with us. Our rich cultural heritage passed from one generation to another and in this
process it got nurtured and renewed.
Our rich cultural heritage, a legacy which binds the people together, should be preserved at all costs.
A correct balance of traditional values with modem ideas should be the objective. The future
generations should be able to hold their heads high with pride for being born in a country with a rich
tradition of values and morals. Our goal should be to achieve a balanced synthesis of the new trends
of science and traditional ideals which have sustained the country through all times.
In recent times, there has been a cultural awakening of the educated youth who have become aware
of the beauty of our art forms, crafts and have started taking a keen interest in educating themselves
about their rich cultural traditions. The government has also, in its effort to promote national
integration, started organising big cultural events and has set up four regional cultural centres in
different parts of the country. All these attempts should help in strengthening the common bond of
unity that ties the people together in spite of the diversity in their beliefs and religions.
However, the great Indian traditions of secularism and cultural diversity is under a major threat, of late.
Diversity which our founding fathers expected to be the cornerstone of our pluralistic society is now used
by many opportunistic politicians for divisive purposes. The implementation of the Mandal Commission
Report has made prominent the faultlines between castes. The Ayodhya issue, Mumbai blasts and
subsequent riots in the name of religion have further undermined our tradition of unity and peaceful co-
existence. The massacre of innocent Sikhs in the 1984 riots was horrific. In 2002, Gujarat burnt as a result
of fierce communal clashes leading to the loss of thousands of lives and massive internal migration. There
are many instances of minority oppression. The militancy problem in Jammu and Kashmir and the
Northeast too are manifestations of the damage that has been inflicted on the secular fabric of India. It is
imperative that all Indians should bury their petty differences based on caste, religion, etc. and work
together to ensure the success of the concept and practice of unity in diversity.
Key-words
1. ethnic—racial 2. myriad—great number 3. obliterating—destroying 4. synthesis—combination
5. splintered—fragmented 6. transcending—surpassing 7. hegemony—control 8. moorings—
permanent anchor 9. milieu—social environment

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