Reflection on Diversity
This flashcard set explores India’s rich diversity, including its geographical features, racial composition, and linguistic variety. It highlights India as an “Ethnological Museum” and a “tower of Babel,” reflecting centuries of migration and cultural exchange. The set also covers India’s major racial groups, languages, and classical languages recognized by the Constitution.
What does “diverse” mean?
Differing from each other and made up of distinct characteristics, qualities, or elements.
Key Terms
What does “diverse” mean?
Differing from each other and made up of distinct characteristics, qualities, or elements.
How does the text describe India’s geographical diversity?
It mentions dry deserts, plateaus, rivers, evergreen forests, snowy Himalayas, coasts, and fertile plains.
Why is India called an “Ethnological Museum”?
Because of its lack of a uniform racial composition due to historical migrations from all over the globe.
What is another term used to describe India’s racial diversity?
“Melting pot of races and tribes”.
Name the six main racial categories recognized in India.
Negritos, Proto Australoids, Mongoloids, Mediterranean, Western Brachycephals, and Nordics.
What is the area of India in sq km?
3.2 lakh sq km.
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What does “diverse” mean? | Differing from each other and made up of distinct characteristics, qualities, or elements. |
How does the text describe India’s geographical diversity? | It mentions dry deserts, plateaus, rivers, evergreen forests, snowy Himalayas, coasts, and fertile plains. |
Why is India called an “Ethnological Museum”? | Because of its lack of a uniform racial composition due to historical migrations from all over the globe. |
What is another term used to describe India’s racial diversity? | “Melting pot of races and tribes”. |
Name the six main racial categories recognized in India. | Negritos, Proto Australoids, Mongoloids, Mediterranean, Western Brachycephals, and Nordics. |
What is the area of India in sq km? | 3.2 lakh sq km. |
From where to where can we observe geographical diversity in India? | Kashmir to Kanyakumari. |
Why is purity in race considered rare in India? | Due to historical waves of migration from various parts of the world. |
What does the term “Ethnological Museum” suggest about India’s history? | It suggests a long history of intermixing and absorption of diverse ethnicities and races. |
How does diversity enrich a country like India? | This is an open-ended question that encourages reflection and discussion |
What is India called in the context of its linguistic diversity? | A veritable tower of Babel and a Museum of tongues (according to A.R. Desai). |
Why is India considered a tower of Babel? | Because each state has its own language, dialects change regionally, and there are numerous languages spoken. |
How many languages did the Census 2011 identify in India? | 122 languages. |
How many languages are included in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution? | 22 languages. |
Which six languages are considered classical languages in India? | Sanskrit, Kannada, Tamil, Odia, Malayalam, and Telugu. |
Is India religiously diverse? | Yes, India is a multi-religious country. |
What are the major religions practiced in India, and what percentage of the population follows each? | Hindus: 79.9% Muslims: 14.2% Christians: 2.32% Sikhs: 1.7% Buddhists: 0.6% Jains: 0.41% Other religions like Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and tribal religions are also present. |
How do religious theories and tenets impact people in India? | Heavily, shaping their worldview and practices. |
How does the Indian Constitution promote religious harmony? | Through Articles 25-28, which guarantee freedom of religion and practice. |
Give an example of how religious diversity manifests in India. | The presence of various religious festivals, architecture, and cuisines throughout the country. |
How does India’s linguistic and religious diversity contribute to its rich cultural heritage? | (This is an open-ended question that encourages reflection and discussion.) |
What is culture? | Social heritage, way of life, storehouse of information, learned, shared, and transmitted across generations. |
Why is India considered culturally diverse? | It has a plurality and diversity of cultures, making it perhaps the largest multicultural society in the world. |
What are some distinctive characteristics of Indian civilization and culture? | A unique blend of languages, customs, traditions, yet with underlying unity in literature, philosophy, and conventions (e.g., Republic Day). |
How does institutionalization of behavior lead to cultural formation? | Repeated practices become customs, shaping a way of life. |
What is stratification? | A social concept dividing people into different groups and categories (layers) based on various factors. |
Name some dimensions of stratification in India. | Class, wealth, caste, gender, age, status, ethnicity, race, etc. |
What is unique about the caste system in India? | It's a specific form of stratification with distinct customs, rituals, and practices for different castes. |
How do tribal communities exhibit stratification? | They have diverse totemic practices, rights, customs, and rituals. |
What are some agrarian class divisions in India? | Big farmers, middle peasants, small & marginal farmers, landless laborers. |
Give examples of social stratification in the industrial system. | Industrial capitalists, white-collar workers, manual laborers. |
How does India's stratificational diversity affect its cultural landscape? | (This is an open-ended question that encourages reflection and discussion.) |