globalization of Indian Economy

The concept of globalisation was first introduced by Adam Smith, the father of modern economics in the year 1776 through the book titled, “Wealth of the Nations”, and since then the globalisation has been liked yo-yo.

In the days of yore, British, Chinese, Indians and Mughals were involved in global business. The Chinese used to sell silk to the world and buy dynamites. The British used to come to India to buy condiments and in return India used to buy ammunition.

So, the point is that - globalisation is not a new concept. In the good old days, globalisation even more prevalent because Indian spices, silk handicrafts, gold, sliver jewellery, etc., were ubiquitous everywhere in Europea.

In the past globalisation meant quid pro quo i.e., one thing for another. But in the early 20thcentury, everything changed when France introduced the system of protectionism and every nation began to create boundaries.

Protectionism destroyed globalisation in total. But again in the late 20th century the winds of globalisation began to blow. Dr. Allen Green Span as well as Dr. Paul Walker began to egg the nation in favour of globalisation and it was July 1, 1991, when India became the part and parcel of globalisation and today every nation, which happens to be a pursuer of globlisation derives plenty of basketfuls of fruits.

The word "goalisation", which connotes where all the nations join their hands d create a kind of synergy to do business or any commercial, cultural or educational activities, in which every participant nation should beneficiary. Globalisation in a nutshell is "one for all and all for no. The purpose behind globalisation has been to open the portals for each and every nation in different fields. A nation can buy from other nation and sell to other nation.

At the time when many analysts predict a booming future for Indian economy India remains hesitant to fully embrace globalisation India and its neighbour China have been tagged as the world's next economic super powers. Yet while China industriously makes its economy hospitable to foreign capital, Indian reformers continue to grapple with an intransigent domestic opposition to liberalization. Such are the pitfalls of Indian democracy.

"As Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen and many other experts ha pointed out that India, as a geographical, politico-cultural entity has bee interacting with the outside world throughout history and still continues to do so.

India has to adapt, assimilate and contribute." There are numerous experts to tell all who listen, that globalisation opens a tremendous potential for growth and poverty alleviation, and an outward looking model frees up entrepreneurs to innovate and invest.

Globalisation means many things to the hoi polloi, particularly in India, which is the to probably the widest range of anti-globalisation groups in the world Indian economy needs globalisation because it can reduce the poverty also increase India's forex level which means Indian can manage economic crisis through it.

During 1990's India was passing through mammoth economic crisis. The economic crisis of 1991 proved a real turning point for the Indian economy. Indian ambivalence towards markets and free trade has been evident in the way it has dealt with Bretton Woods institutions.

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were created with the fundamental premise that protecting and expanding the system of liberal international trade would help avert a third major global conflict. India has been a vibrant participant in these institutions, not only as a major client, but also through its brilliant staff members and its commending executive directors.

Since the days of 1991, India has come a long way. It has comfortable foreign exchange reserves (despite high levels of domestic debt); booming software and services export market, and a burgeoning knowledge economic Clearly, India has tremendous opportunities to benefit from globalisation but there is also consensus that the challenges confronting In development are substantial, even daunting. India remains handicapped by enormous infrastructure and labour and capital constraints.

"Everyone is talking the talk, but not everyone is walking walk". This statement was made by Planning Commission De Chairman, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, in the closing remarks of his talk,gIobalisation and Indian Economy." Dr. Ahluwalia suggested that most people in India now agree in India's greater participation in the global economy, but more needs to be done to achieve that objective. Even so, there have have been significant changes made, especially compared to the 1980s, when there were much talk of liberalization, but no action.

Before the 1990, India's economic model was dominated by a large public sector, which favoured partitions for domestic industry. There was distrust for private sector and suspicion of foreign investment, with extremely high taxation levels on imported goods and a different business environment for foreign business interests.

However, a balance of payment crisis in —rushed India to seek loans from the International Monetary Fund and liberalise the economy. Dr. Ahulwalia stressed that this economic liberalization led to a rapid paradigmatic shift that significantly reduced suspicion of the private sector. Dr. Ahluwalia argued that India has undoubtedly benefited from the 1990s reforms. His argument was substantiated by two major facts: (1) The reduction of Indian poverty rates in the 90s and (2) India's ranking second next to China, in comparison with growth rates for large developing countries.

India, A Hub for Globalisation", is timely. India fever has caught on in the world's investment community. Nowadays the Western press rarely mentions that certified growth miracle, that leviathan of global trade, Car: without adding India".

India and China are amongst the most pro-competition countries. India produces bountiful of software engineers and software analysts, while China supplies all kinds of equipments. So, as per the current scenario, the conclusion has been derived, "India as back office supplier, China as front office supplier." Globalisation involves FDIs & FIIs.

FDIs. India is the 'best destination' for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and joint ventures, claims country's Commerce and Industry Minister Mr. kamal Nath. Addressing an audience of United States investors at  the focus  India Show in Chicago recently, he said that India had emerged as an across the board low cost base, attractive enough to multinationals, to relocate in the country More than one hundred of the Fortune 500 companies have a presence in India, as compared to only 33 in China.

Reiterating that India promises high returns on investments, Mr. Kamal Kar said that repatriation of profits was freely permitted, while according to a survey conducted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce  and industry (FICCI) a few months ago, 70 percent of foreign investors were making profit and another 12 percent were breaking even. These figures would have since improved further, adding that FDI policies in India were among the most liberal, lucrative and attractive in emerging economics.

Mr. Kamal Nath listed out the policy initiatives taken by the Government in specific sectors such as telecom, ports, airports, railways, roads, and energy construction development with a view to improving competitiveness of the Indian economy.

Further, lucrative investment opportunities were being offered to investors through tax incentives and customs duty concessions for import of plant and machinery needed for the projects. The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act was also in place facilitate this process.

India has an open system with social and politic safety valves, and a regulatory mechanism that provides comfort, Ion term stability and security to the foreign investors. FDI plays an important role in the long-term economic development of the country, not only as a  source of capital but also for enhancing competitiveness of the domes economy through transfer of technology, strengthening infrastructure raising productivity and generating new employment opportunity.

According to a survey by the global consultancy firm KMPG, India has emerged as the top FDI destination on the basis of higher returns - investment that foreign investors earn in the country compared to the other emerging markets like China, Brazil and Mexico.

The Foreign Institutional Investment flows to India are very high India is believed to be a good investment destination among the Europe investors, despite political uncertainty, bureaucratic hassles, shortage power and infrastructural deficiencies.

India presents a vast potential overseas investment and is actively encouraging the entrance of foreign players into the market. A report published by Goldman Sachs shows that India has grabbed the major share of the $1 billion of investment made by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) in emerging market; the last week of July 2006.

Due to globalisation, the Gross.Domestic Product (GDP) increase with meteoric speed. GDP is the value of all goods and services produced in a country during a given period. Today, India's rank is 10th in the top ten economies (GDP). The USA is numero uno in this. India is 5th largest economy in the world (ranking above France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Russia)

Indian exports grew by 27.08 percent during April 2006, while imports registered a growth of 20.52 percent during the same year. The exports of India are increasing due to globalisation.

Commerce and Industry Minister Mr. Kamal Nath announced fresh trade initiatives to give incentives to make a India global hut gems and jewellery as well as auto components and to tailor expo; create more jobs. Mr. Kamal Nath launched two new schemes aimed creating more jobs in rural and semi-urban areas with diversifying trade basket to emerging markets of Africa and Latin America.

To take the benefits of foreign trade to rural areas, Krishi Vishesh Yojana is being expanded to include village and cottage industries while being renamed as the Krishi Vishesh Upaj Aur Gram Udyog Yojana. Now in rural  areas, denizens can also get benefit of the gloabalisation can get employment also.

Today, the foreign universities and different educational institutions are establishing their branches in other nations. Due to gloablisation in — a student gets foreign education in his own country. India has also lunched many sub-centres of different educational institutions in other countries. The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are its best

The RBI recently formed a six-member committee headed by former Deputy Governor Mr. S.S. Tarapore to prepare a roadmap towards capital account convertibility (CAC), the first step towards making the Rupee fully convertible. The committee was formed to review the experience of measures of capital account liberalization in India, examine: implications of fuller capital account convertibility on monetary and exchange rate management and provide a comprehensive medium term operational framework. The committee has already submitted its report.

Now a days globalisation has become laissez faire i.e., unrestricted commerce. Today, Indian economy is burgeoning due to globalisation, ergo contribution of globalisation in the progress of Indian economy crucial.

Tradition vs Modernity

                          Tradition is the collective wisdom and modes of behavior of the ancestor's cherished and ritualistical iy observed by the present generations. Tradition is also belittled occasionally when it is seen to sanction or promote unscientific and superstitious conduct and beliefs. Modernity as opposed to tradition refers to an outlook that is generally future oriented and forward looking. 

                       Modernity rests on a rational interpretation of religious, social and economic institutions and phenomena. Modernity is identified very often with the industrialized western civilization where the family relationships, legal institutions and statecraft underwent tremendous transformation following the Reformation and Renaissance. Movements for abolition of slavery, voting rights to the women and universal suffrage were the natural outcome of the abandonment of traditional belief and practices in favor of a more democratic and equalitarian political and social system. 

                        Traditions exercise a very strong and sometimes almost imperceptible and unconscious hold over us. Such influence is seen at its most pervasive in rituals relating to birth, death and marriage.' The restrictions on the movement of the mother who has just delivered a child are universally observed by all classes and castes of people. Very few Hindus would willingly forego the vows of traditional marriage and feel properly married if they only sign on the register in the office of the registrar of marriages. Similarly at the time of death of father, the son only would light the fire and would also perform all the rituals to ensure that the soul of the dead obtains peace after death. Any deviation of short-circuiting of the procedures is normally resented by the near and dear ones of the deceased. It is seen that even the most modern-minded Hindus would not like to tinker with traditional rituals associated with the ceremonies of birth, marriage and death. Even very poor persons beg and borrow money to discharge their traditional obligations. 

                  Although the industrialization and the consequent urbanization have brought immense change in the Indian society, the hold of tradition still remains strong. The marriages are still arranged mostly with the initiative or consent of the parents. Caste marriages constitute the vast majority of marriages even when castes are ignored. The four major Varnas-the Brahmin, the Kshatriya, the Vaishya, and the Shudras are still maintained in most marriage alliances. The marriages between the high castes and low castes are still rare. Even highly placed public figures in India have violently opposed inter caste marriages of their sons and daughters which became hot news in the national newspapers and media. 

                 In many states of India, parents traditionally like to have male children, Now that the scientific advancement enables the parents to know the sex of the child before birth (although such a test has been declared illegal) many parents in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan get their female embryos killed through termination of pregnancy. This tradition of doing away with the unwanted female children is so entrenched that the population figures compiled by the 2001 Census of India has shown that the female population per thousand is much lower in some states due to female infanticide. 

                    While large population of many states of India are still stuck in the traditional quagmire of superstitions, there are growing number of parents, who are giving equal importance to the education and bringing up of their daughters. As a result, women are increasingly competing successfully in competition for jobs and professional opportunities in the country. There are many women chief ministers, chief secretaries, industrialists, business women artists' actresses, models and sportswomen who have impressed the world with their sterling performance and accomplishments.

They have broken the traditions of women playing a second fiddle and have become role models for the new generation to emulate their examples. Women have also joined professions like airline pilots, astronauts long considered a male preserve.
Media explosion and satellite television have facilitated intrusion of modernity even in the most traditional sections of population like the spiritual Gurus and astrologers.

There are ever increasing number of T.V. channels like Aastha, Sanskaar, Sadhana exclusively airing spiritual discourses and events. For many devotees, this has obviated the need to go to pilgrimage places or Gurudhams to sit at the feet of their Guru and earn Punya in their satsang. Thus the modern technology may reduce one to one contact between the Guru and devotee and dilutee the intensity of the spiritual experience which can be had only in personal contact. The astrologers have expanded their business enormously by using computer software for making horoscopes and making and communicating predictions on the internet. The modern technology has also been used effectively to reinforce and propagate the tradition.

Televising the serials on The Ramayana and the Mahabharata have revived interest in Indian mythology and tradition and acquainted the new generations with the great characters of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Krishna, Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishthra, Draupadi and Bhishma. Indian children and youth now enjoy the exploits ofthe Spiderman and the Hanuman with equal delight courtesy the reach of satellite TV. 

Apart for its external glamour, modernity actually refers to an out- look in life which is rooted in a scientific temper of mind. Modernity showed its first glimpse when Galileo rejected the traditional notion of the earth being flat and propounded the notion of the Earth being round. He also established the untenably of the earth centric universe and claimed that the earth revolves around the sun. Henceforth the exploration of knowledge declined itself from dependence on authority and ancient text and depended for its veracity on empirical observation and experimental results ever since modernity is bound as if with an umbilical chord with the scientific outlook on the world.

Nothing is taken on trust; the phenomena can be explained only by establishing relationship of cause and effect. This orientation has been responsible for all discoveries and scientific invention and the unimagined advancement in technology which has transformed the world more in two hundred years than the preceding millennia. 

Indian metropolitan cities have been enormously modernized in its residential and hotel accommodation, offices, and transport facilities and above all by cellular phone services. Distance has been annihilated, connectivity is immediate. Express highways join many metropolitan cities on which you can safely drive at 120 kms an hour. The eating places are mushrooming in the cities.

The plastic currency of credit cards has obviated the need of carrying wads of currency notes at personal risk. The increasing practice of home delivery and shopping on the net has saved the modern man a lot of time and energy which he can use more profitably.
Although modernity is prominently visible in the occupational and professional spheres, in family and social life, tradition still looms large. Joint family has almost disappeared from the salaried classes, but it still exists in business families. The nuclear families are on the increase. But the extended family is not a thing of the past as yet; the old parents still want to live with their sons.

They find it difficult to live alone. The idea of going to old age-homes is anathema to the most. Working women are increasing in number. Many of them are still apprehensive of leaving them in creches and would prefer leaving them under the care of grand parents although out of compulsion for the comfort and security of their children and not out of love for their parents in-laws. Family - soaps on the television enjoy increasing viewership and are working as blood transfusion to a dying extended family system in the cities. 

As a matter of fact, modernity in India has not replaced tradition largely or decisively. Indian tradition is ancient, long and haloed. Many western and eastern Spiritual personalities and institutions have made appreciative interpretations of Indian culture and traditions giving them a new lease of life. Yoga and meditation centers have sprung all over the world and are helping millions to gain physical and spiritual well being. Indian politics too is deriving nourishment by constant allusion and reference to the glorious Indian tradition. An obvious case in point is a string of successive Indian beauties winning the titles of Miss Universe and Miss World in international beauty contests. It was perhaps a combination of modern mind and traditional saris which won them the coveted titles of Beauty-Queens.

Internet Addiction

The Internet is a social technology, but the effect it has on face to face relationships can potentially be very detrimental. Like any activity, the Internet takes up a person's time; the amount of time varies depending on the person's level of addiction. Often this time usage could be spent bettering face to face relationships.

It is not uncommon for an Internet user to begin to replace their face to face relationships with those formed on the Internet. By doing this they often negatively affect their lives. The Internet has become one of the most universal methods for communication with over 100 million users worldwide. From e-mail to the possibly billions of web pages, there is an infinite amount of information flowing. And another enticing aspect of the Internet is the opportunity to interact with other people. Chat Rooms and MUD (Multi-User Dimensional) games offer the person the ability to talk and mingle with others online.

But with this newfound freedom, also comes the possibility of abuse and addiction. It is also known in developed countries as internet addiction. Internet addiction, also known as Pathological Internet use, has emerged as a very destructive force in today's society. An estimated 6 percent of the web user's 100 million people are thought to be online addicts and that number is growing every day. But what causes Internet Addiction? There are many different causes, but one of the most essential, is thought to be a personality disorder.

The lone, bored, depress, introverted, lacking self-esteem, or have a history of addictions are most vulnerable. This group of people seems to be the most susceptible to all mental disorders, psychologically or physical. These people need to fill the void that has been created by not having any real life relationships, so they turn to the Internet, just as if someone would turn to drugs. More than 90 percent of addicts became addicted to two-way communications functions: chat rooms, MUDs (Multi- User Dungeons), news groups, and e-mail.

Pathological Internet Use or Internet Addiction is a type of impulse control disorder. Psychologists put it under this category because the effects of chemicals produced in the brain during Internet use haven't been properly documented. The addiction is similar to an obsessive compulsive disorder and is also often compared to alcoholism.

This clearly shows that internet addiction is not a thing to just laugh about or pass away as a ridiculous joke. It has to be combated worldwide. This can be done by making more friends in your active life or by hooking onto an active sport. Proper parental guidance and having a good friend circle are few ways of beating this new disorder. So come on-"let us leave the monitor screens and lead a more healthy life and make a healthy society.

Cultural Heritage of India

A nation that has no cultural heritage is like an orphan who has nothing to feed upon. An individual human being, a race or a nation must necessarily have certain roots somewhere. India is deep rooted in the culture of her past—the glorious past. India is a vast country, and centuries old. It is difficult to sum up her heritage in a few words. Her past has been full of glory. She has been the birth place of many great men and women. She has given birth to many great movements in religion, art and literature. These movements have not been limited to India alone, but they have travelled to other parts of the world. The India of today has a rich past over which we can look back with pride. Our past has given us a definite way of life, which is typically Indian and yet universal in approach.

The most prominent feature of India's culture it that it com­bines many cultures. India is a land of great variety and many in­fluences have worked to produce modern India. India has shown great capacity for absorbing what came to her from outside. The base of the Indian civilization was formed by the coming together of the old Indus Valley Civilization and the Aryan Civilization came from beyond the North-West frontier of India. It has been repeatedly influenced by other civilizations, though basically it has recognize the same. The Greeks, the Romans, the Scythians, the Turks, the Russians, the Arabs and the Europeans left their impre­ssion. India's capacity to abroad was so great that they all became Indian.

British rule in India brought a new element. The industrial civilization of the West brought in her influences. It produced changes in thought and outlook. The ideas of democracy of the parliamentary type were brought to India by the West. The English language also was helpful in bringing us in contract with the modern world by science.

For several hundred years India was weak and came under foreign rule. She lost her vitality. In ancient times, Indian missions went out, carrying India's religion, language, culture, habits and art, all over South-East Asia, Western and Central Asia. Ashoka, the great emperor, sent missionaries to spread Buddhism all over the then known world, some of the oldest books in Sanskrit drama have been found in the Gobi desert.

The came a period when narrow-mindedness entered Indian ways of thinking. Religion became a superstition. The ideas of caste cut Indian society into countless divisions. Foreigners took advantage of these and conquered India.

It was Gandhiji who made Indians aware of their ancient heritage which they had forgotten. He led us in our struggle for freedom. In this task he put into practice the basic wisdom of ancient India. That wisdom consisted in freedom from fear and freedom from hatred. To the ideals of truth and non-violence which had been preached long ago by the wise men of old, he have a new shape.

Throughout her past India has preached and practiced tolera­tion and understanding. These have been the basis of Indian reli­gion, philosophy, art and literature. Her sons wet far and wide, unmindful of the dangers in their ways, to spread this message of peace. By adopting peaceful means forgetting our independence, Gandhiji showed the superiority of peaceful methods over force and violence.

The charms and graciousness of the .Indian way of life endures due to the philosophy of life which we have inherited from the past. Religion in India is not a thing to be put on and put off like Sunday clothes. It permeates the whole fabric of Indian life. What­ever we do, however great or small, is colored with religious sentiments. From the planting of a tree to the establishing of an industry, all are regarded as pious acts. Training and education, marriage and procreation, birth and death are all tinged with reli­gious fervour.

It true that our attitude towards life is now rapidly becoming materialistic. The glamour of the western way of life with its glorification of material prosperity and its wonderful achievements in the field, of science and technology has modified our aim and ambitions. A new orientation has been given to Indian life. The ideal now chiefly adored is success or the ability which produces success. The Quit of success has dazzled our eyes and some of us have started looking down up to the old traditions and culture. The results, however, have not been very happy. We are losing our roots. Blind imitation of the west will just make us get lost in blind alley.

However, we must not also resist the winds of change and remain clinging to the past values and principles of life. We must not close our doors to the influences from the outside world. If those influences are good, they will strengthen the basic concepts of our culture and so enrich it as to make it truly representative of the life of our people. What is to be avoided is a blind imitation of cultures and values. Countries become great not because they have achieved progress in material things but because they follow noble traditions and base their life on what has been called by Tagore 'Dharma', or a moral way of life. We should remain true to the real genius of our land, the quality and habit of mind which has pre­served us through the ages.

Indian Culture Projects Unity in Diversity

In view of the diversity certain people have formed the impression that India was never a united country. But this view is not fully correct because under the facade of diversity India has always enjoyed a deep note of fundamental unity.

Dr. Radha Kumud Mukherjee says that a superficial observer fails to discover this unity. To quote him, "He fails to discover the one in many, the individual in the aggregate, and the simple in the composite."

Sir Herbert Risley also observed, "Beneath the manifold diversity of physical and social type, language, custom and religion which strike the observer in India there can still be discerned a certain underlying uniformity of life from the Himalayas to Cape Clamoring.”

Certain scholars have tried to project the image that the ideal of unity is of recent growth in India and it was to a large extent the result of the efforts of the British Government. This view is not fully correct because India has enjoyed unity right from the earliest times and the founders of the Indian civilization were fully aware of this factor.

This shall be fully substantiated by the following discussion.

Geographical Unity:

Geographically India may not be a united by itself but from times immemorial India has been considered as one country. The single name “Bharata Varsha” given to this country emphasis this unity.

According to the authors of 'Advance History of India,' this name and the sense of unity which it denotes, was ever present before the minds of the theologians, political philosophers and poets who spoke of the thousand Yojans (leagues) of land that stretches from Himalayas to the sea as the proper domain of a single universal emperor."

During the medieval times the Muslim rulers also considered it as one country and made efforts to capture all parts. The nature has also bestowed a geographical unity by providing Himalayas in the North and Ocean in the other three sides of the country and thereby completely separating India from other countries.

The rivers of, India have also been responsible for giving a sense of unity in the country. Some of the rivers are ascribed divine origin and are considered sacred by every Indian. For example, Ganga is worshipped in all the four direction of the country.

Pilgrims from all over the country continue to visit the various holy places situated on its banks. Other rivers like Yamuna and Saraswati are also considered sacred by people all over the country. In short we can say that in spite of the geographical diversity the country has enjoyed a typical unity.

Racial Unity:

No doubt, the people of India belong to different races but they are so much absorbed in the Hindu fold that they have virtually lost their separate entity. It’s a well known fact that the people of India, to whichever race or region they might belong, are known as Indian of Hindustanis. This is a clear proof of the underlying recital unity of the people.

Linguistic Unity:

Although India possesses a variety of language, but she has enjoyed a linguistic unity from the earliest times. In the 3rd century B.C. the Prakrit served as the common language of the people.

According to Dr. Choudhury, Prakrit was the one single language sufficient to bring the message of a royal missionary to the doors of his humblest subject throughout this vast kingdom." After Prakrit, Sanskrit became the common language of the masses. The other local languages which subsequently gained prominence originated out of Sanskrit.

Some of the prominent Indian languages which owe their origin to Sanskrit include Hindi, Gujarati, Telgu and Tamil. In fact Sanskrit served as the lingua franca during the ancient times. During the Medieval times also though the Sanskrit language was not extended royal patronage by the Muslim rulers, the rulers in fete south continued to patronize it and it continued to flourish with the coming of British, English became lingua franca. After independence this role has been taken over by Hindi.

The script of the various languages used in India also possesses a certain amount of uniformity. In fact almost all the scripts are based on the Brahmin script. The literature produced in different Indian languages also possesses an element of unity. Most of the literature in Indian language drew inspiration from the Sanskrit literature and maintained the unity.

No doubt, certain local pieces of literature like Vedas, Puranas, Dharma Sastras and Upanishads were written in Sanskrit and are regarded as the common reissue by the people all over the country.

Religious and Social Unity:

In the religious sphere also despite the manifold diversity a sort of unity has prevailed amongst the various religious sects in the country. India was primarily a Hindu country and its culture was based on Varna Ashrama Dharma Vyavastha, i.e., caste.

People in all the four corners of the country followed these principles. The people also worshipped the same Hindu Gods all over the country, although they were assigned different names in different regions. The Hindu religious works Ramayana and the Mahabharata were also popular throughout the country and Indians both in the north and the south as well as east and west attach great importance to these works.

Similarly, the Vadas, Puranas and other religious scriptures are given due regarded by the people from all parts of the country. Again, every Indian irrespective of his caste, creed and race believes in the doctrine of transmigration of soul, monotheism, immortality of the soul, re­incarnation of Karma, deliverance or Moksha etc.

The people staying different parts of the country followed the same religious rites and rituals. Even the religious places of the Hindu like Ayodhya, Avantika, Mathura, Gaya, Kashi, Sanchi and Puri are located in the four directions of the country. Hindu festivals like Holi Diwali are also celebrated in the regions of the country. In fact, people from all religions participated in these festivals. Thus we find that in spite of the religious diversities there has been an undercurrent of cultural unity which to large extent nullified the peculiar effects of various religions.

The religious and cultural unity has also led to unity in the social sphere. The people belonging to various religions have been following common customs both with regard to the dress and eating habits.

Political Unity:

In the political sphere the unity of the country has been one of the greatest goals which most of the Indian rulers cherished. No doubt, India was divided into a number of small principalities but the powerful rulers were always keen to bring all these areas under their control. They were keen to assume the title of Chakravarti.

According to Kautilya, Chakravarti king domain extended from Himalayas to the seas. In other words according to Kautilya, the king was’ considered to be a Chakravarti only when he succeeded in extending his power or supremacy over the whole of the country. Usually such titles were assumed by the king after due performance of rites and sacrifices.

In the ancient times Chandragupta Maurya, Asoka and Samudra Gupta carved out all India Empires. During the medieval times also kings like Ala-ud-din Khiliji and AJirangzeb made efforts and succeeded in establishing their control' over the entire country. These Muslim rulers have been provided similar system of administration, uniform laws and customs, common coinage etc. and thus imparted a type of political unity to the entire country. Thus we find that despite the variety of religion, cultures, languages, geographical diversity etc. India has enjoyed some sort of the unity.

Cultural Unity:

Cultural unity amidst various diversities is found in India. In spite of difference in language, religion, dress and manners, Indian culture is homogeneous. In ancient time, the rock-cut architecture to the Mauryan period found its expression throughout India. The Gandhara School of art and Mathura School of art also flourishe in this land. The Indo-Islamic art and architecture were alike in the and corner of India. Superscriptions found from different parts country bore uniformity in many respects though the events and narratives were different.

Similarly, many festivals like Holi, Diwali, Sahara, Rakshabandhan, Idd, Sobebarat, Christmas, and Good Friday are observed throughout the country with their colorful lustier. Further, the Kumbhamela at Allahabad, Hardwar and Ujjain are attended by people from different parts of the country. Similarly many rites like birth-rite, funeral-rite are observed throughout the country, the caste system, family sanctity, modes of offerings, several social ceremonies are celebrated almost in a similar manner in different parts of the country. Thus, the cultural unity in India amidst several diversities is a unique phenomenon.

Unity in Literature:

In different parts of India literature has been written in several languages. The ancient literature like the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Dharmasastras etc. were written in Sanskrit. Basing upon those, literature has been written in different languages. The theme and characters of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Raghuvansam etc. are same in different languages may be Oriya, Kannad, Bengali, Ahamiya and so on. Thus, the influence of Sanskrit is greatly felt over that literature and really it plays a cementing force to bind together the literary traditions of different parts of the country.

Philosophical Unity:

India is the birth place of many philosophical systems of the world. The Vedic Philosophy, the philosophy of the Sankhyas, Yogas, Advaita Vedantins, Buddhisas, Jainas, Saivas, Shaktas etc. vary in many respects from each other. Buddha, Mahavir, Shankaracharya, Ballavacharya, Nimbarka, Kabir, Nanak, Sri Chaitanya, Nizamuddin Auliya, Eknath, Tukaram and many other saints preached their philosophy. Monotheism and polytheism have been preached in this subcontinent.

However, the ultimate aim of every philosophy is to lead a life full of bliss and happiness, the concept of Nirvana, Nfoksha, Mukti etc. or the life in this world and the other are certain other aspects of each philosophical system. This unity in Indian philosophical system has allured the attention of the people of the world at large.

Promoter of this Unity:

There are several agencies which have promoted the unity amidst diversity.' The sages, saints, reformers and pilgrims who have visited throughout India sing the glory of several places like Kurukshetra, Allahabad, Hardwar, Rishikesh, Dwaraka, Mathura, Kanchipuram so and so forth. Their description makes Indians feel that they belong to a glorious land, their motherland, India.

In the past, the conquerors like Chandragupta Maurya, Asoka, Chandragupta and Akbar wanted unity of this land which inspired the leaders of the part and inspires the present leaders too to maintain the unity and integrity of our country Among other factors, uniform administration, language and religion modern means of transport and communication, common history and nationalism and the present democratic set up act as agencie for maintaining this fundamental unity of India amidst various diversities Unity in diversity is the basic postulate of Indian culture. It is a wander that in spite of several diversities Indian culture preserves unity. That is quite unique and unparalleled in the chequered annals of history.

That is why, perhaps Herbert Risley has rightly pointed out— "Beneath the many-fold diversity of physical and social type, language, custom and religion which strikes the observer in India, there can still be discerned a certain underlying uniformity of life from the Himalayas to Cape Clamoring.