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Diversity should be celebrated, not shunned


In a multi-caste / multi-religion group, caste / religion based comments ought to be made with some sensitivity. I say this with the understanding that no human being is the Supreme Being. Nobody is perfect. Nobody is superior or inferior to anybody else on the basis of anything at all. I do not say this with the intention of preventing or avoiding conflict, but by acknowledging that we are all just about as superior or inferior as anybody else. Change the parameters and get different results.


I am not being idealistic, spiritual or even blind to the deep-rooted systems that exist in our environment. I do not claim that I do not think of the caste / sub-caste / religion of a person when I am introduced to them. I am sure the other person does too. The system is so deeply entrenched in our psyche that we immediately classify each other.


For me, however, this exercise ends here. I put a tick mark under some column…in fact it happens quite involuntarily…and then I forget about it. It is not a factor in my professional and / or personal dealings with a person. I choose to look at these as trait-indicators. Through centuries of observing, certain traits are seen more in certain castes / religions / communities / people in specific geographical locations. That’s just about it for me. This, too, in my opinion, isn’t reliable basic information to determine how to deal with somebody. Each person is different. I can’t devise a common way of dealing with a group identified on just one parameter.


It pains me when some people make random caste / religion based comments as generalisations. It smacks of self-centeredness and insensitivity. If one is a part of a group, one is responsible to respect the values that each one in the group holds dear, irrespective of whether one agrees with them or not. It is basic human behaviour, in my opinion, to respect other human beings and their beliefs.


Different species, traits, costumes, foods, climates, opinions, values, beliefs balance each other, complement each other. Their co-existence is life.
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