Going on 60, still together.. what unites India?

Nick-H · Oct 22nd, 2007, 16:13

I'm more of a herstorian than a historian: I usually find women have better stories, or, at least, tell them better.

Hey Hio!

beesakopie · Dec 8th, 2007, 09:26

I tend to think that India is a federal union of states that sticks together because of shared history. Most states suffered first at the hands of muslim invaders and then the European invaders...hence a shared sense of history that trouble always comes from the outside...
I do believe that the Indian "union" is of British making - States that belonged to erstwhile British India collaborated with Semi - Independant Indian princely states to make this entity.
Since 1947, Indian leaders have worked overtime to ensure that this entity sticks together...the sheer pressure of keeping this going has led to faultlines in certain areas - the NorthEast, Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, the Maoist Insurgency...
At the end of the day what matters though is that despite the sheer diversity and the manifold differences between people, the country is (still)learning to stick together. Therein lies the beauty of India.

May long this continue!

backpakker · Dec 8th, 2007, 20:38

Its the shared sense of unity..theres something in the culture that I believe is truly Indian and no one can replicate that..not even our neighbours !

ashishraj · May 15th, 2008, 15:18

Yes, India is somewhat like United states of America, it probably is United States of India. The credit goes to the leadership at the time of Independence who provided constitution and government system that respected diversity, this however, cannot to be stated with confidence for todays leadership.

But, after them, it is the democracy which sustained it. With regional leaders getting leadership of their regions, they were content to live with it.

View Poll Results: What keeps India united?
Shared sense of identity	32	45.07%
Extreme form of democracy	11	15.49%
Secular tradition with religious freedom	26	36.62%
The Indian ruling elite	8	11.27%
Or just the sheer differences	17	23.94%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 71. You may not vote on this poll

Oct 22nd, 2007, 16:13	#256
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,884	I'm more of a herstorian than a historian: I usually find women have better stories, or, at least, tell them better. Hey Hio! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Dec 8th, 2007, 20:38	#258
backpakker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 164	Its the shared sense of unity..theres something in the culture that I believe is truly Indian and no one can replicate that..not even our neighbours ! __________________ www.backpakker.blogspot.com

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Dec 8th, 2007, 09:26	#257
beesakopie Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wallis and Futuna (Republique Francaise) Posts: 82	I tend to think that India is a federal union of states that sticks together because of shared history. Most states suffered first at the hands of muslim invaders and then the European invaders...hence a shared sense of history that trouble always comes from the outside... I do believe that the Indian "union" is of British making - States that belonged to erstwhile British India collaborated with Semi - Independant Indian princely states to make this entity. Since 1947, Indian leaders have worked overtime to ensure that this entity sticks together...the sheer pressure of keeping this going has led to faultlines in certain areas - the NorthEast, Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, the Maoist Insurgency... At the end of the day what matters though is that despite the sheer diversity and the manifold differences between people, the country is (still)learning to stick together. Therein lies the beauty of India. May long this continue!

May 15th, 2008, 15:18	#259
ashishraj Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Rajasthan, India. Posts: 3	Yes, India is somewhat like United states of America, it probably is United States of India. The credit goes to the leadership at the time of Independence who provided constitution and government system that respected diversity, this however, cannot to be stated with confidence for todays leadership. But, after them, it is the democracy which sustained it. With regional leaders getting leadership of their regions, they were content to live with it.

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