Cultural pluralism is a pattern or a system in which people of different faiths, religions, castes, creeds can all work and live together, retaining proudly their own faith and identity and sharing the common bond of being, either by birth or choice. Plural culture means the co-existence of several sub-cultures within a given society on equal terms. In such a pluralistic culture, the validity of various sub-cultures is recognized. Indian society is pluralistic in nature. Pluralism refers to the existence within a nation or society of groups distinctive in ethnic origin, cultural patterns, language, religion etc. The Indian culture followed the concept of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam” (The world is one family) resulting in a great cultural heritage.

The Indian Constitution declare India a secular state: that is a state in which all religions and citizens irrespective of their faith would be treated without bias. Thus India has no official religion. As per 2011 census, 80.5% of India’s population follows Hinduism, followed by Islam (13.4%) and 6.1% of the population follow other religions. 

Often cultural pluralism and multiculturalism are used interchangeably, however, there is one difference. In multiculturalist societies, there is no dominant culture. It is the peaceful coexistence of various small cultures. India has always been proud of its culturally plural society. India has a dominant North Indian, Hindu, Hindi speaking culture however cultures from the south and northeast India like the cuisines (Idli, Vada, Uttapam), dance forms (Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Bihu), literature (Sangam literature) are not only respected in the rest of the country but gets an equal space in the cultural display on Republic Day. Religious pluralism in the form of the prevalence of mosques, gurudwara, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi temples and their open religious celebration often joined in by their Hindu friends is a testament to India’s religious pluralism. Pluralism cannot be forced by the government through laws, it gets incorporated in societies as they learn to accommodate and respect new cultures. India’s long historical tradition of welcoming cultures that land at its shores allows for the presence of today’s culturally plural society. The difference between India’s and America’s cultural pluralism is evident. America calls itself the ‘Melting Pot’ of cultures where all cultures melt to form a common American identity. Cultures are secondary to the preeminence of national identity. However, India does not force one unitary idea of an’ Indian identity’ because there is no one definition of what it means to be an Indian.  Because of its respect for cultures, India allow citizens to openly practice their culture and come up with their own definition of India. One dominant idea of India is not imposed upon others to follow. Thus the west follows a “negative” idea of cultural pluralism i.e. it relegates culture to the private realm so one person’s culture does not interfere with another person’s culture and multiple cultures can coexist peacefully. However, India has a “positive” idea of cultural pluralism where it allows for full expression of culture in the public realm and instead fosters an idea of respect for different cultures. It is this culturally plural India that we take pride in and seek to protect for ages to come.

The cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity in India is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the country. The diversity has a profound impact on the social fabric of the country and shapes its national identity, creating a unique and vibrant society. The diversity has helped to foster a sense of unity and cooperation among the different cultural, linguistic, and religious groups in India, creating a strong and vibrant social fabric. The cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity in India will continue to play a significant role in shaping the national identity of the country for generations to come.