UNITY IN DIVERSITY

யாம் பெற்ற இன்பம் பெறுக இவ்வையகம்
LET ME SHARE THE BLISS I ATTAINED WITH THE WHOLE WORLD


UNITY  IN  DIVERSITY

(Speech prepared for school students on the eve of Independence Day - 2016)
(by Swami Sadasiva Giri)

Friends,

We have assembled here today to refresh and rejuvenate our memories with regard to our nation's political independence that became a fact sixty nine years ago on the 15th of August, 1947 after decades of long drawn out struggles and sacrifices of wealth, energy and very precious life put in by our patriotic forefathers led by the father of our nation, the great Mahatma Gandhi.  India's democratic constitution was drafted by the great scholar and reformer, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and presented in front of a constituent assembly specially constituted to ratify and approve the draft before it became the law to be followed by all citizens of this country.  In the constitution, India is mentioned as a federal union of states built on the three cardinal principles of equality, fraternity and liberty to all the citizens alike. 

 We have several spoken languages used as mother tongue by various communities of our nation from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Kutch to Dibrugarh Town in the lengthwise and breadthwise consideration of our vast country.  This could be extended to Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands as well.  Similarly we have many religious faiths followed by our vast population.  Staple food consumed in different parts of our country varies according to the availability and taste of the people in each area.  Dress code adopted in different parts of our country varies according to the aesthetic values of the natives living in each part of our vast country.  Celebrations based on festivities differ from time to time according to the traditions and conventions existing among the people.  For example, if the festival of Deepavali is celebrated in southern parts of India as Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Naraka the same Deepavali is celebrated as Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana in Lanka.   

With all these diversities in language, religious faith, dress code, food habit and the likes there is an underlying bond of unbreakable unity in this country among its people.  That is the spirit of our great nation which can be said that we are all BHARATEEYAS or Indians first before any other consideration.  This spirit is imbibed from the teachings of our great Gurus of ancient times such as Lord Krishna, Gautam Buddha, Mahaveera Jaina, preceptors such as Shankara, Ramanuja, Madhva and Guru Nanak.  Through Saint Thomas, the apostle, Christianity came to India.  Through the Sufi  and Zoroastrian saints from Iran, Islam and Parsee religious faiths came to India.  All these faiths of Indian and foreign origins are well nourished and followed in this country.  Happy coexistence is the essence taught by all these seers.  

Presently, communal clashes are in the upswing in our peace-loving country based on language, cast, colour and creed in addition to financial and educational status.  This phenomenon is most unfortunate and grievous.  To overcome this state of disunity we should strengthen the unifying virtues from the basic levels of education and culture.  We should understand that we are Spirit or Atman and not mere bodies which represent matter.  Spiritually we are one as there is only one Atman for the whole universe.  Bodily we may look different but this difference should be sunk in the unity of Atman.  Love, harmony and peaceful co-existence of the citizens will return and thrive in our country through spiritual unity only.  

In the field of education spirituality should be inculcated in the hearts of our children from the very early stage.  Spirituality should be taught through one's own example primarily.  Teaching spirituality through articulation should be considered as only a secondary method.  Basically spirituality lies in virtues.  Only by developing virtues consciously we can promote spirituality.  Let us create an enlightened world, a transformed world by enhancing virtues in our individual life which will get reflected automatically  in our collective social life as time evolves in a steady pace.  If individuals are reformed, society is automatically reformed as there is no society without individuals.  Through our spiritual unity let us build a new India, a transformed India, a glorious India to feel the Upanishadic dictum VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM (The entire universe is after all a small family) in thought, word and deed for all times to come.

  

BHARAT  MATA  KI  JAI.   SATYAMEVA  JAYATE.  OM SHANTI-SHANTI-SHANTI.

யாம் பெற்ற இன்பம் பெறுக இவ்வையகம்
LET ME SHARE THE BLISS I ATTAINED WITH THE WHOLE WORLD