Global Journal of Sociology and Anthropology

ISSN 2756-3456

Global Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 5 (2), pp. 001-012, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Understanding India’s sociological diversity, unity in diversity and caste system in contextualizing a global conservation model

Babul Roy

Social Studies Division, Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Sewa Bhawan, R. K. Puram, Sector-I, New Delhi - 110066, India. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 13 October, 2015

Abstract

This essay relates to the issues of sociological and cultural diversity in India vis-à-vis the global emerging issues of sociological and cultural diversity conservation. The Caste system upon which India’s tradition of diversity or unity in diversity is essentially rooted requires a fresh attention in the emerging perspective of sociological and cultural diversity conservation. The argument here, however, is not a Caste favoritism or revivalism, but that there is still need for further understanding of the system. Although the caste system in India is a unique one, in essence the traditional multiplicity of India’s social and cultural contents pivoted around Caste system is essentially comparable to the now emerging multiculturalism around the world. Both, the Indian traditional situation of sociological and cultural diversity and the now emerging situation of multiculturalism elsewhere in the world face a common problem in negotiating modern liberal democratic values and universal individual freedom. For last 50 years, the independent India is trying to overcome the problem, and therefore, the Indian successful account could be an instant model for the rest of the world.

Key words: India, cultural diversity, caste system, multiculturalism, conservation, public policy.