Anything as large, ancient, and multifaceted as India can have multiple takes. They can all be true and complex. At times, they may even seem self-contradictory. To develop a strategy, therefore, good enough to be valued at a pan-India level, becomes a challenge beyond the ordinary.
Take 1: India is ancient and has drawn people to its river valley cultures not only through the Khyber and the Bolan Pass but also the huge coastline on the western and eastern sides of its extensive coast line. Migrations have also taken place from the Thailand and Myanmar sides into what are considered today the ‘seven sister’ states of the Northeast. The whole subcontinent has a hoary past of cultural intermingling and the coexistence of different vantage points of perception. The result has been the emergence of a holistic vision and a way of life often referred to as the ‘Hindu way of life’. The connecting theme is ‘Akam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti’ (the truth is one; knowledgeable talks of it in different ways). That is the essence of Hinduism. Some...
