The Hindu : Karnataka News : Indians have rejected chauvinism: Guha

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 30, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Indians have rejected chauvinism: Guha

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JULY 29. Even though attempts have been made to impose the Hindi language and Hinduism upon Indians by some chauvinists, India has learnt to celebrate its linguistic and cultural differences, Ramachandra Guha, historian and writer, has said.

Speaking at the inauguration of the International Transactional Analysis (TA) Conference, organised by the International Transactional Analysis Association (ITAA) and the Centre for Holistic Integrated Learning and Development, Coimbatore, here on Thursday, Mr. Guha said the two nations that were culturally and ecologically diverse were India and the United States. If America was a "melting pot," India was like a "salad bowl," where the different ingredients retained their original flavour.

In America, there seemed to be some drive to impose English language and Christianity upon the citizens. It was for the nation to decide whether it should be a "melting pot" where all ingredients lose their identity or a "salad bowl," he said.

Equality

He said the idea embodied in the Indian Constitution rejected chauvinism and emphasised not only equality of religion and language but also of caste and gender.

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