Labels Undermine Diversity

Context: In a vibrant democracy like India, there is room for differences and debate but not disconnect.

Key Elements of India’s Vibrant Democracy

• Diverse and plural society: with innate cosmopolitanism due to a history of engagement with other races and cultures as a result of invasions, migrations, trade, or evangelical missions.
• Accommodative & inclusive Nationalism: with a sense of common humanity and unique heterogeneity in terms of race, religion, language and traditions.
  • Nationalism is derived out of the shared historical experience and mutual enrichment of cultures.
• Political democracy: with a shared sense of common citizenship (ensures the ability to connect each other as Indians) is aligned with India’s own striving as an independent nation.

Way Forward For India

• Acknowledge myriad identities and voices: because those who seek identity through exclusion narrow their own space.
  • Hindu unity cannot be built on a Hindu-Muslim binary because Hindus are also deeply attached to their other identities (like language, caste group, religious sect, economic/business group).
• Ensure label-free society: because labels not only preclude connecting and understanding but also prevent sharing and celebrating diversity.
  • For example, labeling protesting farmers as infiltrated by ‘Khalistanis’, Maoists and left-wing provocateurs, Muslim community as pro-Pakistan sympathies, writers and social activists as ‘urban Naxals’ will prevent the speaking and listening.