Speech on Unity in Diversity – 3

"Ladies and gentlemen!

I have great pleasure to be here today to share my views on the splendid plurality that marks our Indian society, and the unity that keeps us all together in peace and harmony.

With an area of more than 3 million square kilometers, India is the seventh largest country in the world. The physiographic features of the country are diverse and varied. There are the majestic Himalayas in the north, a number of mountain ranges across the country as also many, many rivers and lakes, and forests and mangroves around the country. Then, there is the Thar Desert; seas and the vast Indian Ocean. Likewise, the vegetation found in the different regions is equally diverse, and there is a great variety of fauna that inhabits the different habitats. Diversity is really the hallmark of India.

And what is interesting is the fact that our society too exhibits a great degree of diversity. There are people of different faiths, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Jews, who follow different traditions and customs and observe their particular festivals and occasions. Then, there is a plethora of cuisines that make it to the dining tables across the country, and there is a great diversity in the costumes and attires that people can be seen in. There is also a great multiplicity in the number of languages and dialects spoken by the people in different states. And just as humongous is, therefore, the literature that these various languages have churned out for the people to feed themselves on. Likewise, the arts, crafts, culture and folklore of each little area of the country is rich and has survived the ravages of time.

While there is a fantastic variety and fabulous diversity that marks Indian society, what is even more fascinating is the unity that weaves together the Indian populace.

What is it that unites the people? What keeps us all as Indians together through thick and thin? It is our passion to make India a glorious nation. We all share our Indian identity. We all live in and make our livelihood in the nation. We all share the pride of our nationhood.

In the stupendous journey to make India the truly great nation, we are coming together more than ever before. We owe everything to our nation. It gives us all a great sense of belonging. Our pride in the Indian nation brings us all, with all our diversity, into a unity that binds us in a spirit of common brotherhood. This sense of brotherhood is what gives our nation the strength to excel. And we value the human heritage that we all share.

Devotion to the cause of national integration has given the country its independent identity, and our loyalty to our pluralist ethos bestows on us a shared identity.

We pride ourselves in our diversity just as we feel great honour in our unity. And that will always be true.

Thank you.
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