Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

When you Google diversity it says it is “the wide variety of something.” Now, Google has left us on the fence by not explicitly mentioning this ‘something’. However, if we go by the works of renowned scholars, they define diversity as being composed of differing elements such as race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity etc. Now that we have found this ‘something’ things become easier for us to understand.

Is India a diverse country?

Well, obviously yes! It’s no rocket science. India does have religious diversity, gender diversity, cultural diversity, age diversity, language diversity. In fact, India is one of the most diverse nation in the world. You will find different languages, costumes, eating habits, dialects, complexion, and even different myths and superstitions with every walking distance in India.

When our beloved country India was in its ‘history in the making’ stage it did have problem of female foeticide, which was hampering our gender diversity and sex ratio. However, I must mention due to education and government’s initiatives like ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ we have come a lot across that dark phase of our history.

But does it mean we have solved the problems associated with gender diversity altogether?

Well, definitely not! Mother India has been waiting for its second woman prime minister. Mother India was rejoiced at the sight of madam Droupadi Murmu taking oath as second woman president of the country. However, the politics around women’s participation and representation in politics, businesses, equal pay to her hardworking and resolute daughters leave her with torrent of grief.

India never hesitates to flex its language diversity but does it really respect all the languages equally? If yes, then why the Hindi imposition? Every other day we come across news about Karnataka and Tamil Nadu resisting this linguistic imperialism. Why are these southern states bludgeoned to have Hindi as their official working language or teach Hindi in their schools? And if you’re someone living inside your bubble and saying Hindi imposition is a myth then why did the central government recently rechristen ‘Indian Penal Code’ as ‘Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill’, ‘Code of Criminal Procedure’ as ‘Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill’ and ‘Indian Evidence Act’ as ‘Bhartiya Sakshya Bill’?

Religious diversity of India is also at stake with the venture, of our present government and sanatani people, of making India a Hindu republic. No doubt the notion of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ is at odds with the constitution but who cares about constitution? No one! Hoisting of saffron flag on mosques and churches have become a mundane sight for most of us. From Gujarat riots 2002, Delhi riots 2020, Nuh riots 2023 to Haldwani violence 2023 all these instances exemplify the curtailing religious diversity.

Speaking of equity, I’m invariably reminded of the image wherein the shortest boy is given two boxes to stand on and the middle heighted one is given one box to reach the level of the tallest guy. Equity and equality are two different terms however inextricable. I’d say equity is the pathway to equality. Equity simply means acknowledging the fact that inequalities exist, every individual is exposed to different circumstances and working towards eradication of those inequalities to promote equality, social justice and fairness.

In Indian context caste-based reservation is the epitome of an application of equity. Reservation in jobs and education is given to marginalised, socially backward and so called ‘lower castes’ community of SC, ST and OBC. These communities have a long and dark history of persecution and tormentation by Brahmins, Rajputs and other communities who invented ‘varna system’ to create this division and relegated Dalits to untouchables and subhuman conditions.

Caste based reservation was the brainchild of ‘the Father of Indian Constitution’ Dr.BR Ambedkar for social representation and upliftment of previously persecuted communities of SC, ST and OBC.

However, it saddens me to say even after seventy-seven years of independence we haven’t had a single chief justice of India from any of these communities. Neither have there been any Dalit Prime Minister hitherto. Even the chief ministers of most states come only from the so called ‘upper-castes’.

The violence against these communities have escalated rapidly in recent years. Indians are hellbent on abrogation of caste-based reservation. They abhor it with every fibre of their being. They despise it to the extent that they don’t even hesitate in abusing BR Ambedkar for this. It shows how Indians don’t care about equity at all!

Now, that I’ve already talked about the lack of two things called diversity and equity among Indians the fact that there won’t be any inclusion becomes quite clear. India is a country still bounded by the social evil of caste. People proudly flaunt their surnames, sacred threads and other things which are a reminder of caste hierarchy.

Americans are taught ‘critical race theory’ in schools to address the heinous crimes against blacks in America. They feel ashamed of their ancestors’ deeds and promote equality and fraternity by teaching CRT. Furthermore, blacks also get huge representation in American movies. This is their way of effacing their ancestors’ deeds.

Likewise, German students are taught about holocaust. They are taught about the atrocities done by Hitler and how race is a social construct.

Both these countries have their way of atoning for their inhumane past.

In contrast SC, ST and OBC have no representation in any movies. All the movies’ characters are Sharma, Kapoor, Dubey, Chopra, Rajput, Singh, Malhotra etc. Neither do we have any ‘critical caste theory’ in our schools.

C'mon what did I do? I just urinated on a poor Adivasi guy. 

Rape? Of a Dalit woman? Ahh, simply burn her body, no?

So, what if he's the president of the country? He's a Dalit after all.

How dare you ride a horse you untouchable? 

I don't believe in caste, I even have a Dalit friend you know. It's just that I can't remove my sacred thread and my surname and I hate reservation but I'm not casteist.