India is a union of States as declared by the Constituent Assembly on 26th of November 1949. As history of India reveals, its territorial jurisdiction kept on changing from time to time according to the strength and the weakness of the rulers who ruled this land over the centuries and the ages. Unity of India similarly depended very much on the strength of the rulers. It suffered set-backs whenever the provinces or local chieftains questioned the central authority and established their independence. Unity and integration could be ensured in two ways. One was by way of ascertaining the central authority with the help of an organised military force. The other was by purely a moral force based on religion. India has had the opportunity of availing both these ways or methods. Indian history is an unfailing witness to this fact. Although unity of India based on military power was threatened on several occasions, its unity based on Hindu religion continued till date thanks to the selfless efforts and sacrifices made by great Acharyas, moralists and reformers.
2. Modern India is truly famous for its unity in diversity. This astonishing fact has really baffled many social scientists of the day. Normally unity is based on language, natural boundaries, religion, culture, race, colour or civilisation. Not a single factor of this type is common throughout India. We have several languages scheduled in our Constitution. We have different and varied climatic regions in the country.
We have almost all known religions of the world being practiced and protected by the Constitution. Every part of the Country has its peculiar culture entirely different from one another. Many races of the world found shelter on this soil. Similarly colour and civilisation also conform to this phenomenon unmistakably. The British, the last conqueror of this country, had also contributed to the unity of India in no small measure albeit their exit led to the partition of the country. India's freedom struggle was yet another excellent opportunity to nurture its unity. Its leaders, known for their national feeling and vow of independence, formed a strong and united force in advocating national unity.
3. Unfortunately with the passage of time, India is becoming a faction-ridden society day by day and turning out to be a mere conglomeration of warring groups fighting for their so-called independence based on language and religion. This is in no way a good sign of the progress we are making since our Independence in 1947. The divisive forces which were publicly condemned and suppressed by national leaders of the past have suddenly shown their ugly heads and are getting prominence and sustenance in the hands of the anti-social and anti-national characters. A sectarian feeling in the man makes him dance before the emotional appeal of divisive forces and converts him into a non-Indian. Even the intellectuals and highly-placed persons of these days unwittingly or instinctively fall a prey to this destructive thinking. Though 'man' is proverbially declared to be social in nature his individualistic characteristic does hardly allow him to cross boundaries of race, religion, caste, colour, culture and civilisation so easily as one would expect. It is only the true reformers, true liberators and true leaders in various walks of life who are capable of rising above all these factors and limitations and providing a national out-look both in word and deed. A nation is bound to have some crisis or other at different stages of its history on issues concerning politics or economics. But it would certainly steer clear of all such crisis provided those who preside over its destiny are cool-headed nationalists and powerful pragmatists.
4. India is passing through a stage now wherein everything looks topsy turvy. Immoral forces are getting prominence in every walk of life. The dishonesty seems to be the only guiding principle of many Indians in politics, education and economics. Laws and morals have become the exclusive concern of the downtrodden, the poor and the helpless. Man leads two different types of life - one for private and another for public. The good and the honest seem to be the most unwanted ones in the scheme of life meant for the latter half of 20th Century. And the trend continues even today. One simply doesn't know whether this trend will be reversed at least in the middle of 21st Century. Man's ideals and the desired means to achieve such ideals are the less said the better. Under these circumstances it is really a difficult task for the leaders to project a clean image before the public and instil a confidence about their teachings and doings. It is natural, therefore, that every small issue is blown out of proportions and allowed to grow into a gigantic size before it could be timely nipped in the bud. Recent incidents in Assam and Punjab indicate clearly the fact that a State or its leaders cannot control the divisive forces successfully with its police and Para-military force. Such elements and forces can only be controlled by one or more moral leaders known for their self-less conduct and sacrifices.
5. India's unity is really at stake. Every sectarian group is becoming active and promoting its own welfare at the cost of national welfare either on its own economic strength or with the patronage of power-hungry politicians. Open and indecent display or demonstration of a sectarian interest by top leaders in the country has resulted in a terrific set-back to national feeling and out-look. Their foremost and constant concern seems to satisfy every group or section somehow or other with the result they drag not only themselves but also the nation into a vicious circle. The brute force takes precedence over moral force. The meek and the weak continue to be exploited. No one has the ability or the desire to rise above the sectoral interest and ensure national interest. When a majority of individuals from the rulers to the ruled become self-centred and narrow-minded, it would be difficult to protect and preserve the national interest.
6. If India is to remain a strong and united nation and its unity in diversity is to last forever, every Indian should strive for the following :
India is a land of Indians and not of Gujaratis, Bengalis, Punjabis and Madrasis. Every citizen of this country has an obligation to this goal.
b) All public functions based on religion, language and caste should never be encouraged by the State or its functionaries. State patronage to such activities should be viewed seriously;
c) Esteemed and selfless conduct by the top leaders in every walk of life. Sacrifice in national interest to be admired and the selfishness in private interest to be admonished; and
d) Public boycott of all such groups and their activities based or sectional interest.
E) Complete ban on such anti-social groups by the State.
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