Types of Diversity in India

India is a land of diversity in race, region, religion, caste, language, landforms, flora and fauna, etc. This causes types of diversity in India to occur in people throughout the country, making the it very unique and different from area to area. Mostly, the Types of diversity in India come from the following:

Geographical Diversity in India:

India is a vast country with great diversity in physical features. Certain parts in India are so fertile that they are counted amongst the most fertile regions of the world (the Northern plains) while others are so unproductive and barren that hardly anything can be grown there (the Thar desert). The Himalayan ranges which are always covered with snow are very cold while the deserts of Rajasthan are well known for their heat. There are certain areas like Cher punji in Assam which get almost 460cm of rainfall per year which is considered to be the world’s highest record, on the other hand, Sindh and Rajasthan get hardly 3 inches of rainfall per– year. The Indo-Gangetic planes are also one of the most fertile in the world. It receives moderate rainfall and is also one of the biggest commercial centers in India. This variety in climate has also contributed to a variety of flora and fauna. India possesses the richest variety of plants and animals known in the world.

Racial Diversity in India:

The vast population of India consists of the jungle tribe (Hence Bhils, Kols, Santhals), the Greeks, the Sakas, the Kushanas, the Hunas, the Mongolians, the Arabs, the Turks, the Afghans etc. The physical features and color of the Indian people also differ from region to region; While the people of Kashmir are handsome and fair in complexion, these qualities are missing among the habitants of Assam.

Linguistic Diversity in India:

India not only possesses racial diversity but also linguistic diversity. Some of the prominent language recognized by the constitution includes, Assamese Bengali, Gujrkti, Hindi, Kannad, Kashmiri, and Malayalam. Marathi, Or Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Terrill, Telegu and Urdu. There are not only variety of languages but also variety of scripts in India. Some of the popular scripts in ancient times were Pali, Kharosthi, Devanagari, etc. In total, there are 22 languages officially recognized by the Indian constitution with over 2,000 unofficial languages.

Religious and Social Diversity in India:

Religion in India is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. Almost all the principal religions of the world like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, and Christianity have blossomed on the lap of this country. The general customs and manners of the people greatly differ as per the region and religion. People of different regions use different types of dresses. Their eating habits and customs are also quite different.

Political Diversity in India:

The diversity in culture, races, language, religion etc. greatly stood in the way of political unity in India. India has been divided into several independent provinces whose rulers fought for supremacy. This conflict was exploited by the foreign invaders to bring India under their conquest. Certain rulers like Chandra Gupta Maurya, Ashoka, Samudra Gupta, Ala- ud- din Khilji and Akbar had established strong empire. However, for most of the time India presented the spectacle of a divided country.

Effects of Geographic Diversity

As we learned ealier in this article, geography affects the diversity of india a lot. It is very important as it is the very factor that affects every type of diversity and makes people of every different geographic region different. With this variety in climate, landforms, etc. people from different areas wear different clothes, eat different foods and have different kinds of occupations. Basis the geography, there are 5 different climatic and geographic condition that people live in and basis which people’s habits and types of diversity in India are determined by:

Upper Mountain:

In the upper mountain areas, where it is too cold, people wear heavy woolen clothes and thick jackets.They consume very high calorie foods such as full cream milk, butter, cheese, meat and eggs.Food dense in fat is needed for people in this climatic region so that much body heat is generated and they are able to survive the severe conditions. Their main occupation is herderers, army men, woolen cloth makers, etc.

Lower Mountain:

In the lower mountain areas, the climate is mild in the summers and cold in the winters. People wear light woollen clothes in the summers and heavy woollens in the winters. People here eat vegetarian or non-vegetarian food according to their religion. Hot soups, noodles and momos are quite famous in these regions.

Hot Dry Summer and Cold Winter Climate:

In the hot dry summer and cold winter climate, people mostly wear cotton clothes throughout the year with woolens in the winters. There is a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisines with plenty of spices. 

Extremely Hot Desert Climate:

In the hot desert climate, scarcity of water and fresh vegetables have influenced their cuisine. People eat vegetarian food items such as roti, daal, chutney, bhujia, kachori, laddu, mawa and churma. The women love to dress colourfully with lots of jewellery, while men prefer white dresses with colourful turbans on their heads. They mainly use cotton fabric as it lets them stay cool. The light vibrant colour helps them stay cool and does not absorb too much heat.

Warm and Humid Coastal Climate:

In the warm and humid coastal climate, people prefer soft cotton clothes throughout the year. Their food essentially comprises rice, vegetables, curd, sometimes with fish, chicken or mutton. Along with farming, fishing is a significant activity in this region.