DIVERSITYDiversity means differences that distinguish one group of people from other groups. Such differences may be biological as in racial groups , religious , linguistic or any other differences that mark off one group from others . Thus in the case of society , diversity refers to collective differences.

Diversity is a set of conscious practices that involve: Understanding and appreciating interdependence of humanity, cultures and the natural environment.Practicing mutual respect for qualities and experiences that are different from our own.Understanding that diversity includes not only ways of being but also ways of knowing;Recognizing that personal, cultural, and institutionalized discrimination creates and sustains privileges for some while creating and sustaining disadvantages for others;Building alliances across differences so that we can work together to eradicate all forms of discrimination.

CULTURAL DIVERSITYCultural diversity is the quality of diverse or different cultures, as opposed to monoculture, as in the global monoculture , or a homogenization of cultures, akin to cultural decay. The phrase “cultural diversity” is also sometimes used to mean the variety of human societies

MULTI CULTURALISMMulticulturalism describes the existence, acceptance, or promotion of multiple cultural traditions within a single jurisdiction , usually considered in terms of the culture associated with an ethnic group. This can happen when a jurisdiction is created or expanded by amalgamating areas with two or more different cultures or through immigration from different jurisdiction around the world.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIVERSITY

Regional diversityRacial diversityLinguistic diversityReligious diversityCast diversity

REGIONAL DIVERSITY In ancient literature , mention is found of five natural divisions of India.1. Madhyadesa , i.e. Indo Gangetic plain stretching from

the valley of the river Saraswat to the Rajmahal Hill. This division has been known as Aryavarta from the ancient times.

2. Uttarapatha or Udichya i.e. North-West India3. Pratichya or Aparanta i.e. Western India4. Dakshinapatha or Dakshinatya i.e. the area south of

Madhyadesa5. Prachya or Purvadesa , the region east of

Madhyadesa

RACIAL DIVERSITYA .W . Green says , “A race is a large biological human grouping with a number of distinctive , inherited characteristics which vary within a certain range” The characteristics that help identify different racial groups include: Colour and texture of hair Quantity and distribution of hair on the body Colour of the eyes Shape of the eyelids Shape of the nose, the lip and the skull Skin colour and Body height

During the census operations of 1891, Sir Herbert Hope Risley attempted the first ever classification of the people of India into different racial types . They areTurko-IranianIndo- AryanScytho – DravidianAryo – DravidianMongolo- DravidianMongoloid andDravidian These seven racial types can be reduced to three basic types.Indo – AryanMongolian anDravidian

The census of 1961 listed as many as , 1652 languages and dialects . Since most of these languages are spoken by very few people , the subsequent census regarded them as spurious but the 8th scheduled of the Constitution of India recognizes 22 languages. These are Assamese BengaliGujaratiHindiKannadaKashmirKonkaniMalayalamManipuriMarathi NepaliOriya

SanskritTamilTeluguUrduSindhiSanthaliBoroMaithiliDogriPunjabi

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY India is the home of many religious . Indian society is multi –religious . According to the Census of 2011 , Hindus constitute 79.8% of the population; Muslims account for 14.2% of the population. 2.3% of the population are Christians. Sikhs constitute 1.7% of the population.0.77% is Buddhist and 0.40% is Jains. In addition there are Zoroastrians(Paris) and Jews. There is also a small number of people adhering to tribal religion.

CASTE DIVERSITYIndia is known as the land of castes and tribes. Caste or Jati refers to a hereditary , endogamous status group practicing a specific traditional occupation. The term caste is used in two senses. Sometimes , it refers to the division of Indian society into four varna , and sometimes to the jati . The varna hierarchy consisting of Brahman, Kshatriya , Vaishya and Shudra is accepted all over India. The Jati on the other hand , has a regional point of reference and signifies a hereditary endogamous status group. There are more than 3,000 jatis in India.