What is binding us?
-Vignesh ram

Eleven million people, twenty eight states, six union territories, thousand six hundred and fifty two mother tongues, thousands of castes and religions, variety of climates covering a large land area, this is India which simulates “Planet Earth”. But a six-letter mantra binds this eleven million people and it is “Indian”. This magical spell has spread its root deep inside each and every citizen of India. Foreigners are taken aback when they come to know about our country’s vast diversity and still its people having the thought that they are all Indians. They wonder what is “it” that binds all the Indians together? So we shot this question to various groups of people and here are their interesting responses……

S.Ve.Shekar,Actor

The primary thought is that we are all children of mother nation. We got more and more diversified only after the invasion of Moghuls and Britishers. Till then, there were only Hindus in India and they didn’t have much diversity. Hinduism teaches peace and even now though diversified, we all have the thought that we are all Indians.

Dr. Rajendran M.A.B.L. Ph.D.,General Manager, Aavin

Thousand long years of subjugation under various foreign powers made Indians realize that division among themselves will lead to fall. Common religious practices, mythology, epics like Ramayana and Mahabharatha unified Indian Hindus. Non-Hindus also share the belief, food habits and language with the majority. Hence though diversified on many fronts we Indians are united.

Dr. P. Rajendran, Professor, University of Madras

The unified thought that we are all Indians was rooted in the minds of people during the freedom struggle. The hatredness against the Britishers brought all the Indians together. Even Christians wanted the Britishers to quit India. So irrespective of the religion, language etc. Indians have the thought that they are all Indians. But it’s sickening to see that we are slowly losing our integrity.

Dr. Madhusudhanan,Plastic surgeon, Chennai

Our Hindu religion taught us to be humane and friendly with other people. We celebrate many festivals and we people socialize and share sweets. We are so hospitable to people of other religions. Totally all religions in India are peaceful and non-violent. Moreover, in foreign countries, they don’t have time to speak with their own family members or neighbors. But here we are so social and mingle a lot which gives us the feeling that we are all Indians.

P. Vivian Joseph Ratnam,Student

All Indians are my brothers and sisters, I love my country and I am proud of it” is what every Indian has in his mind. Democracy, equality and secularism play their key role in creating the feeling. We had and have great leaders, poets and noblemen who created and still creating the “feeling” in each and every Indian. We also should give credit to our neighbouring enemy who often does things, which remind us that we are Indians and whe should be united. The “feeling” that “I am an Indian” is so deep rooted that only death can separate it from an Indian.

Mr. M. Pencilliah,Coolie

I am a coolie working on daily basis. We start working by 8 PM and continue till 6 PM. We have people from all over India working in our concern. We work hard to make ends meet. We don’t have time to think of the differences in us. If he gets hurt we feel form him. We consider everyone as our brothers.

Whatever may be the religion, the soul, the colour of blood is same for each and every people. So there is no differentiation between the people of different religions and we should have the inclusion that we are all human beings.

P. Vasantharaj,Software professional

Many religions, Many castes, Many creeds -  may be our culture .
But being one as India is our pride , strength, identity ,joy and  our instinct too.
United we live , divided we fall.
Yes We want to live . We want to live as one INDIA for ever.

Dr.Jesuraj, Software consultant, Boston 

This looks like a national level question.

As a result we should look at bit more locally. Given the common language, what else is binding us in Tamil Nadu? One more micro step, given the same roots what else is binding a family?

Well having looked into this, my answer to the national level question is the law.

When Annadurai started the movement, in 1960s, for getting the south separated from North, the government brought a law to jail people who supported that separatism. That ended the DMK's ambition in that part.

Again, Are we bound?I think we are bound when external threats come up- That too for a selfish reason. I never felt at home in Bombay or Delhi.Those places are foreign to me.In fact it is more foreign than US as the people there won't speak English.
 

Srikanth, NRI 

This is an interesting question, for which I have tried in the past to come up with a succinct answer in a few words but failed. But thinking about it, it is not easy to answer this question for several big nations in the world. What binds USA? McDonalds? Christmas? English? All these can be stretched outside the borders of this country as well...What binds China other than an autocratic communist rule?

I think we need to find this definition at a personal level. For me, what binds India and what makes it one nation is the pervading sense of familiarity I feel whenever I travel outside by city and state.
People's habits, food, cultural practices, music, religion and religious institutions (for the most part) give me a sense of ease and comfort that is difficult to define.

I lived in India outside of TN for six years with friends from all over the country. The shared experiences of these years are what define the nation for me.

Many very great people have said this before me - if you want to understand the nationhood of India, you must travel outside the domains of your sub-culture.

Ravi, NRI 

This interesting question needs a lot of thinking as to what to leave and what to have. We have a very diversed culture and there is some common thread in that culture which is common all over the country. I know I am talking like a Thuglak. It is hard to find that common thread. May be the relationship and the responsibility and the respect we show to our elders are common. A son/daughter has to take care of their parents. A parent is responsible for their children. May be this culture is common to all in our country.

JAIHIND