| National Unity Day: How Culture, Women, and Institutions keep India together | | | Prof. Prakash Chand Antahal
The Many Indias Within One Nation
Every lane in India tells a unique story — of languages, faiths, flavours, rhythms, and colours. The aroma of masala chai mingles with the fragrance of jasmine garlands; the sound of temple bells blends effortlessly with the azaan from nearby mosques. Travel a few miles, and the dialects change, the cuisines shift, and the folk tunes alter their notes — yet a deep sense of belonging unites people across these differences.
This “unity in diversity” is not a textbook cliché; it is a living reality that defines India. On Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day), celebrated every year on October 31, we commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, whose political vision and resolve welded 562 princely states into a single nation.
But Patel’s idea of unity was not merely territorial or administrative — it was profoundly social and cultural. He knew that maps could be redrawn, but hearts needed to be aligned. “India’s strength lies in her diversity,” he said, expressing a philosophy that continues to anchor the Indian Republic.
The question before us today is: What keeps this vast and vibrant mosaic from falling apart? The answer lies not merely in laws or boundaries, but in living unity — a unity sustained daily by our shared culture, the invisible labour of women, and the strength of our democratic institutions.
Culture: The Glue That Binds, Not a Decoration to Display
Culture in India is not an artifact to be admired in a museum; it is the living glue that binds people across religions, languages, and regions. Every festival, song, and tradition becomes a thread in the national fabric.
During Diwali, Muslim artisans in Uttar Pradesh craft earthen lamps that brighten millions of Hindu homes. On Eid, Hindu sweet-makers in Hyderabad prepare sheer khurma for their Muslim neighbours. In Kerala, Onam brings together people of all faiths to celebrate harvest and harmony. These cultural crossovers are not exceptions — they are the very foundation of Indian coexistence.
Our arts, music, cinema, and literature continue to play the same unifying role. From the energetic beats of Bhangra in Punjab to the classical ragas of Tamil Nadu, India’s soundscape is diverse yet harmonious — a reminder that though our notes differ, the melody remains one. Bollywood, with its multilingual songs and shared emotions, tells stories that resonate from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Even our cuisine mirrors this togetherness: the humble roti and dal vary in form across regions, but the act of sharing a meal itself becomes an act of solidarity.
Thus, India’s cultural diversity is not a challenge to unity; it is its deepest expression — a collective ownership of an identity built on pluralism rather than uniformity.
The Ethos of Togetherness: A Civilisational Strength
Historically, Indian civilisation has absorbed diversity rather than resisted it. From the ancient universities of Takshashila and Nalanda, where scholars from across Asia gathered, to the Mughal courts that blended Persian, Indian, and Central Asian traditions, India’s genius has always been synthesis.
Our freedom struggle, too, was a triumph of cultural unity. Gandhi’s spinning wheel, Tagore’s songs, and Netaji’s calls for unity beyond religion — all drew strength from a shared civilisational consciousness. Patel understood that national integration was not about erasing differences but harnessing them for a shared destiny.
Even today, in the age of globalisation and social media, culture remains the silent glue that prevents fragmentation. It enables a Tamil engineer in Bengaluru to find kinship with a Punjabi entrepreneur in Delhi, or a Kashmiri craftsman with a Gujarati trader. Beneath the visible differences lies an instinctive understanding: we are different, yet we belong together.
Women: The Invisible Architects of Unity
If culture is the glue, women are its guardians. The real work of sustaining India’s unity happens not only through speeches or parades but in homes, schools, self-help groups, and panchayats — spaces where women play a central role.
From the mountains of Himachal to the coasts of Tamil Nadu, women’s collectives form the backbone of community life. Self-help groups bring together women from diverse castes and faiths to save, lend, and support each other. Women-led panchayats resolve disputes through dialogue rather than confrontation. They preserve folk songs, rituals, and oral histories that nourish inter-community harmony.
As Ruma Devi of Rajasthan aptly says, “Women are the moral fibre of our civic life. They hold families — and therefore society — together.” Their work forms the social infrastructure of unity, complementing the political integration that Patel achieved.
Women’s Leadership: Quiet Revolutions in Public Life
The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments — reserving seats for women in local bodies — transformed India’s civic landscape. Lakhs of women now lead village councils and urban municipalities, redefining community development from the ground up.
In Kerala, Kudumbashree networks have become models of cooperative progress, blending economic empowerment with social cohesion. In Nagaland, women’s peace groups work across tribal lines. In Haryana and Rajasthan, women sarpanches have led campaigns against child marriage and alcoholism — threats to social stability.
These quiet revolutions rarely make headlines, yet they are what keep India functioning as one nation — ensuring that unity is not a slogan but a lived experience woven through empathy, cooperation, and shared purpose.
Institutions: The Pillars of Peace and Stability
Culture and community form the emotional heart of unity, but institutions provide its structural backbone.
The Constitution of India is the most powerful embodiment of this unity. It guarantees equality, liberty, and fraternity, offering every citizen a common set of rights and responsibilities. From Ladakh to Lakshadweep, all citizens draw strength from the same democratic charter.
India’s electoral system, too, reinforces integration — connecting a villager in the Northeast with a voter in Mumbai through the same democratic act. Public institutions like the Indian Railways, postal services, and broadcasting networks have historically helped knit the nation together.
Peacekeepers: The Silent Sentinels of Unity
No cultural or civic harmony can thrive without peace. India’s police and Central Armed Police Forces — from the BSF to the CRPF — serve as the silent sentinels of national unity.
Whether during floods in Assam, earthquakes in Gujarat, or tensions elsewhere, these forces act swiftly to protect lives and restore order. They uphold Patel’s vision of integration not only by guarding borders but by safeguarding the social peace that sustains democracy. The Ekta Diwas parades, featuring these contingents, are not mere ceremony — they are tributes to those who ensure that our cohesion remains unbroken.
The Civic Meaning of Unity
Unity in India does not mean sameness; it means harmony amid difference. It allows a Sikh farmer, a Bengali teacher, a Manipuri artist, and a Gujarati entrepreneur to all feel equally Indian.
As India rises on the global stage, social cohesion remains its greatest asset. Economic growth without unity breeds division, but unity amplifies progress. When trust flows across communities, innovation thrives, and democracy deepens.
In an age of misinformation and polarisation, this civic unity — nurtured by culture, women-led communities, and robust institutions — becomes our greatest shield.
Modern Challenges and the Road Ahead
Yet, this unity faces new challenges — from urban alienation and identity politics to environmental displacement. Rapid urbanisation isolates individuals, migration strains solidarities, and social media often magnifies divisions.
To preserve unity, India must reinvest in the forces that have historically nurtured it — cultural literacy, gender inclusivity, and institutional fairness. Our schools must teach not only independence but interdependence; our media must highlight cooperation over conflict; and our governance must empower local communities — especially women — as partners in peace.
Technology: A New Bridge for Unity
Technology, often blamed for polarisation, can also serve as a tool of connection. Digital platforms allow artisans to reach national markets, students to learn beyond linguistic boundaries, and citizens to engage in democratic participation.
Initiatives like Digital India, e-Governance, and UPI have created not just convenience but a shared sense of progress. Yet technology must be guided by inclusion — for digital divides can quickly become social divides unless access is universal.
The Continuing Relevance of Patel’s Vision
Sardar Patel’s contribution to India’s unity was monumental. As India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, his diplomacy and determination persuaded hundreds of princely states to join the Union. But his vision went beyond annexation — it was about integration based on trust and belonging.
“Take away our unity,” Patel warned, “and we shall be left as a house of cards.” His message remains timeless: unity must be both political and moral, both national and personal.
Building the Future of Living Unity
The India of the future will be held together not by force, but by faith — faith in shared values, in cultural resilience, in democracy, and in each other. To strengthen this living unity, we must:
Invest in cultural education and regional heritage.
Empower women’s leadership in governance and cooperatives.
Reinforce institutions that uphold fairness and justice.
Promote civic literacy to counter misinformation.
Celebrate diversity through inclusive public and interfaith initiatives.
Unity cannot be mandated; it must be nurtured — in classrooms, workplaces, and neighbourhoods, where people celebrate each other’s festivals and differences.
Conclusion: The Living Flame of Unity
India’s unity is not a monument cast in stone; it is a living flame kindled daily by its citizens. It glows in the diya crafted by a Muslim potter on Diwali, in the prayer of a Hindu woman at a Sufi shrine, in the courage of a police constable standing guard in Ladakh, and in the laughter of schoolchildren reciting the Preamble of the Constitution.
As we celebrate Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, let us remember that national integration is not a past achievement — it is a continuing responsibility. In Patel’s words:
“Manpower without unity is not a strength unless it is harmonised and united properly; then it becomes a spiritual power.”
That spiritual power — born of culture, nurtured by women, and protected by institutions — continues to keep India together.
Dean, Students Welfare, University of Jammu |
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