As India celebrates the diamond jubilee of its independence, it may be worthwhile to take stock of its diversity record. There does not exist any comprehensive state policy to monitor diversity. The following four principles can be considered for evolving a framework for such a diversity audit.

One, at the minimum, any society should ensure a firm commitment to protect any and all groups from extermination. India may take pride that it has not, after Partition, witnessed mass killings or ethnic cleansing though, of course, Gujarat 2002 came close. One has also to take into account instances of exclusion and marginalisation that may be used against linguistic groups, and smaller tribal communities. Treatment of the Pandits by Kashmiri insurgents is an instance of exclusion.

Two, we need to ask: is our public life generally — as a matter of routine — pro-diversity? Much too often there is a tendency towards homogenisation. In the name of ‘our great tradition’, one segment of the heritage masquerades as representative of all. For instance, the many rich north Indian traditions of the Hindi language are drowned in the din for one formal Sanskritised Hindi language for official purposes.

Or take the Mahatma’s all-religion prayers. Many certified secularists have ridiculed these. They worry about the display of religiosity involved in these prayers. They miss the intent of underscoring symbolically the multi-religious social reality and avoiding the public predomination of only one religion. Gandhi knew well that symbols matter in public life and they need to be inclusive of diversity.

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