Racial Linguistic & Ethnic Diversity | Geography Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

India's society and culture are characterized by plurality and multiplicity, having accommodated and assimilated various external elements throughout its history. However, India has never been a "melting pot" where all differences dissolve into a uniform identity. Instead, it is a "salad bowl" where different elements maintain their individual identities while forming a distinct combination. This unity in diversity is guided by the principles of tolerance (Sahishnuta) and mutual respect.

• Race is a biological concept related to the physical and genetic characteristics of humans, such as skin color, hair type, jaw structure, and eye shape. Ethnicity, on the other hand, refers to a group of people united by a common inherited culture, including language, music, food, dress, customs, and practices, as well as racial similarities, shared religion, and belief in a common history and ancestry. These groups often exhibit strong psychological sentiments of belonging.
• The physical characteristics of India's population vary greatly across regions. The present-day population is a mix of people from different racial groups and ethnic backgrounds. As a result, India has a diverse and varied ethnic composition.
• Societies continually redefine themselves through internal changes or external factors, resulting in changes in demography, material culture, values, norms, traditions, and behavioral patterns. Like a person who maintains their identity despite changes in appearance, society maintains its identity amid these changes. Indian society today is vastly different from what it was centuries ago, but its composite culture is made up of elements retained from the past and new elements added over time. The pace of change in a society can be slow or fast; when it is slow, the society is considered traditional, but this does not mean it is static. As one of the world's oldest civilizations, Indian society is an example of continuity and change.
• India's civilization is about 5,000 years old and has a rich history marked by several waves of migration. People from different corners of the world arrived with various intentions, interacted with the local population, and were eventually accepted. These interactions led to the exchange of traits and the continuous evolution and enrichment of Indian culture.
• Historians believe that around 2,500 years before Christ, a group of people called Aryans inhabited the Indus river valley. They were referred to as Aryans because they belonged to the same racial stock and spoke the same language, distinguishing them from the darker-skinned Dravidian language speakers. Ethnically, Aryans represented the Caucasoid race, while Dravidians represented the Proto-Australoid race. The Aryans dominated Northern India, while the Dravidians migrated south. This complex history of migration and interaction has contributed to the diverse and multifaceted nature of Indian society and culture today.

Racial Diversity

• Racial diversity is a prominent characteristic of human populations across the world. Although all humans belong to the same genus and species, Homo Sapiens, people living in different regions exhibit certain physical traits that differentiate them from other groups, forming what is known as races. These distinguishing features include hair color and texture, eye color, eyelid shape, nose shape, lip shape, skull shape, skin color, and body height. It is important to note that race is a biological concept and should not be equated with culture, language, religion, or intelligence.
• India, a vast and geographically diverse country, is home to a multitude of races due to its long history of migration and interaction with various population groups. Over time, intermarriages between individuals of different races have resulted in a great deal of racial mixing, making the concept of pure races largely theoretical.
• The racial profile of India is complex and difficult to determine due to the lack of fossil evidence from prehistoric times and the presence of diverse racial types in ancient civilizations, such as the Indus Valley civilization. Multiple waves of migration from different parts of the world have contributed to India's racial diversity.
• In 1891, Sir Herbert Hope Risley attempted the first classification of the Indian population into different racial types, identifying seven main categories. However, his classification was criticized for mixing linguistic and racial categories. Subsequently, in 1931, B.S. Guha conducted anthropometric measurements across the country and identified six main races with nine subtypes. Although the exact size of these racial groups in India cannot be determined, Guha's classification highlights the diverse racial makeup of the Indian population.

In conclusion, India is a multi-racial country with a complex history of migration, interaction, and mixing among various population groups. Understanding the country's racial diversity is essential for appreciating its rich cultural, linguistic, and religious tapestry. However, it is crucial to remember that race is a biological concept and should not be conflated with other aspects of human society, such as culture, language, or intelligence.

Risley’s Classification

He classified the people of India into seven different racial types–

• Turko-Iranian people are predominantly found in Afghanistan and Baluchistan, which are currently part of Pakistan. They are generally tall with fair complexions, dark eyes, and narrow noses.
• Indo-Aryan individuals mainly reside in Punjab, Rajasthan, and Kashmir, with Rajputs, Khatris, and Jats belonging to this category. They usually have long heads, prominent noses, and are tall with fair complexions and dark eyes.
• Scytho-Dravidian is a combined race of Scythians and Dravidians, found in places such as Saurashtra, Coorg, and Madhya Pradesh. The upper class belongs to the Scythian category, while the lower class falls under the Dravidian category. They have broad heads, fine noses, medium height, and fair complexions.
• Arya-Dravidian is a mixture of Indo-Aryan and Dravidian races, mainly concentrated in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The high caste, including Brahmins, falls under the Aryan category, while lower castes, such as Harijans, belong to the Dravidian category. They have long heads, and their complexions range from light brown to black.
• Mongol-Dravidian is a mixed race of Dravidian and Mongolian people, primarily living in West Bengal and Orissa. The Brahmins and Kshatriyas from these regions belong to this category. This racial type emerged from the intermixing of Mongolians and Dravidians, with some elements of the Indo-Aryan race also present. They are generally black and round-headed, with medium noses and heights.
• Mongoloids are mainly the tribal people of Assam and the North-Eastern frontier regions.
• Dravidian individuals are primarily concentrated in South India and Madhya Pradesh. The Santhals of Chotanagpur represent this type. They have dark complexions, dark eyes, long heads, and broad noses.

Risley's classification of race has faced criticism for several reasons. Firstly, he did not mention the presence of the Negrito race in India. Secondly, D.N. Mazumdar argued that this classification focuses more on linguistic divisions than racial divisions. Lastly, other scholars criticized Risley for mixing linguistic categories (Aryan and Dravidian) with racial categories.

B.S. Guha’s Classification

B.S. Guha took anthropogenic movements in different parts of the country to determine the physical characteristics of different groups and identified six main races with nine subtypes.

1. The Negrito

• The Negrito is a racial group characterized by short stature, frizzy hair, prominent forehead, flat nose, dark skin color, long arms, and other distinct features. The presence of the Negrito race in India has been a subject of controversy, as some argue that there is an element of Negrito ancestry in the Indian population. This claim is supported by the presence of Negrito elements in the blood of Andaman Islanders, as well as in some South Indian tribal groups such as the Kadar and the Nagas.
• However, others argue that there is not enough substantial evidence to conclusively prove the existence of Negrito elements in the Indian population. They believe that the available evidence is insufficient to establish the presence of this racial group in India. Despite the ongoing controversy, it can be said that the Negrito race may have existed in the past and left only a minimal trace in India.

2. The Proto – Australoid

• The Proto – Australoid is also known as the Pre – Dravidian race. Dr. Guha says that the tribal population of central India is fairly dominated by this racial element. The Santhals, the Mundas, the Juangas, the Soaras, the Kondhs are some of the many tribes belonging to this racial type. Their Common physical traits are dark brown to black brown complexion, broad nose, wavy to curly hair, short stature, and thick everted lips.

3. Mongoloid

• People of this racial ancestry are mainly found in North – Eastern India. Dr. Guha divides this race into two types, namely
  • The Palaeo – Mongoloid: – This racial type is further divided into two types, one the long headed type and the other broad headed type. The Angami Nagas are of the long headed type of the Palaeo – Mongoloid race. The people inhabiting in the Himalayan foot hills from Kashmir to Assam are said to be the broad headed type of the Palaeo – Mongoloid race. Medium statures, light brown colour, medium nose, scanty hairs on body are typical features of these race.
  • The Tibeto – Mongoloid: – The people of Sikkim and Bhutan are said to belong to the Tibeto – Mongoloid branch of Mongoloid race. Their typical features are long stature, light yellow colour, hairy body, oblique eyes, long nose, and flat face.

4. The Mediterranean

• This race is one of the dominated races in India. Mediterranean is divided into three types. They are:
  • The Palaeo – Mediterranean: – This racial type is represented by type Tamil and Telgu Brahmins of the south. They are characterised by medium stature, long and narrow head, long face, short and medium nose, brown complexion.
  • The Mediterranean: – People of this racial type are believed to be the builders of the Indus Valley Civilization. The Mediterranean’s have medium stature, olive brown complexion, long head and long broad open eyes. They are found in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala.
  • Oriental Mediterranean: – Oriental type is very much similar to the Mediterranean type. They are limited to Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Western UP and Southern Parts of Uttarakhand. They are distinguished by long and convex nose and fair complexion.

5. Western Brachycephals

• This race is of three types, namely
  • The Alpendoid: – They are characterized by medium stature, round face, prominent nose, straight long hair, and fair complexion. People belonging to this race are found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha.
  • The Dinaric: – They are characterized by long stature, brown complexion, long face, sharp nose. Their main representatives are the people of Kathiawar, Coorg.
  • The Armenoid: – They are characterized by medium Stature, broad head, long nose and hairy body. The Parsis of Mumbai and Gujarat are the representatives of this racial type.

6. Nordic Race

• People of this racial origin came to India from the North and South – East Asia spread all over Northern India during the 2nd millennium B.C. This race is mainly found in North India in a mixed form with the Mediterranean race. The people of this stock are believed to have greatly enriched Indian culture. Their main physical traits are tall stature, long head, long face, blue or black eyes, and blond hair.

A.C. Haddon Classification

• Haddon did not agree with the classification of races advanced by Herbert Risley. Thus, he put forward his own classification of races in India.
• According to him, the oldest existing stratum is represented by Pre–Dravidian Jungle tribes.
• The population of India, as said by him consists of
  • The Pre – Dravidian jungle tribes,
  • the Dravidian who are long headed and brunette,
  • the Indo – Aryan who are fair complexioned and long headed,
  • the Indo – Alpines who are broad headed and
  • the Mongolians.

J.H. Hutton Classification

• Hutton believed that the earliest occupants of India were probably the Negrito race who, however, has left little trace in India. They are followed by the Proto –Australoid. Next came an early branch of the Mediterranean race speaking an agglutinative tongue from which the present Austro – Asiatic languages are derived.
• These are credited with a crude knowledge of agriculture and a megalith cult. From Eastern Europe came a later wave of Mediterranean immigration, equipped with knowledge of metals and who developed the city-states.
• Hutton believed that the broad-headed elements in the population of India can be traced back to the Armenoid branch of the Alpine race. They spoke a Dravidian language.
• Hutton has written, “This civilization was flooded in the west during the third millennium B.C. by immigration form the Iranian plateau and the Pamirs, of a Brachyccphalic race perhaps an Indo – European language of the Pisacha or Dardic family”.
• The Mongolian element came from the East and moved towards the South. The Indo–Aryan race came to India in 1500 B.C. Hence, the population of India, according to Hutton, consists of the following races,
  • Negrito,
  • Proto-Australoid,
  • Mediterranean –
    (i) East Mediterranean
    (ii) Mediterranean,
  • Armenoid branch of Alpine,
  • Mongoloid
  • Indo–Aryan.

Conclusion

• Under the changed cultural milieu of the 21st century, there are hardly any isolated groups that are the true and typical representatives of their races and ethnic groups. The division of people in the racial, ethnic, and caste groups leads to sub-nationalism which may go against the national interest and may retard the process of national integration.
• Though there are debates about who entered India 1st – Dravidians or Aryans. Now it is mostly accepted Aryans followed Dravidian.

Linguistic Diversity

• India is a country with a rich linguistic diversity, boasting more than 1,572 languages and dialects, each spoken by less than 100,000 speakers, in addition to the 22 Scheduled languages. This variety can be attributed to the limited mobility of people in earlier times, as communities confined to small areas developed their own dialects. Despite the reorganization of Indian states based on language after independence, each state remains multilingual in terms of mother tongues spoken.
• It is important to note that many people in India speak more than one language, and some even speak languages other than their mother tongue, depending on the region they have settled in. For instance, Hindi is among the top three languages spoken as a mother tongue in most states. According to the 1991 Census, Hindi is the most prominent mother tongue spoken by 39.85% of the population. If Urdu, which shares the same grammar but uses a different script, is combined with Hindi, the percentage of speakers rises to 44.98%. However, the actual number of Hindi speakers is likely to be higher than this percentage, as it only includes those who reported Hindi or Urdu as their mother tongue.
• The linguistic diversity in India is also evident in the rich literature produced in each of the 18 major languages. Numerous Indian writers have gained international recognition for their works in both fiction and technical subjects, often written in English. This demonstrates the incredible linguistic variety that exists within each state of the Indian Union, despite the language-based reorganization of states after independence.

Ethnic Diversity

• India is an incredibly ethnically diverse country, with a rich history of syncretism and shared ways of life. This diversity has been shaped by different racial and regional origins, as well as geographical factors that have provided a variety of ecological environments for communities to evolve and interact. In political and anthropological terms, this makes India a unique nation globally.
• Ethnic diversity in India is characterized by a range of factors, including racial origin, religion, caste, and language. Throughout history, migration has led to a mix of human genes and cultures, and today, the majority of the Indian population represents varying degrees of racial and cultural admixture. The Anthropological Survey of India (1996) recorded 17,096 entries of castes, communities, sub-groups, and surnames. In 2011, 1,241 individual ethnic groups were identified among scheduled castes, and 705 were classified as scheduled tribes. India is home to 325 languages, 25 scripts, and thousands of dialects, representing a wide range of linguistic families.
• Despite this rich tapestry of diversity, there have been forces and ideas that have sought to divide the Indian people based on religious, caste, linguistic, racial, and regional identities. For example, the division of the country in 1947 along religious lines was a significant setback for Indian unity. Even after this event, there have been attempts to exploit different religious and ethnic identities for political or social gain.
• However, India has largely managed to maintain its identity as a "honeycomb" of communities, where different groups engage in vibrant interaction and share cultural traits. Many communities define themselves in terms of dual religious configurations, such as Hindu-Sikh or Hindu-Muslim. All religious and tribal communities have multiple sub-sects and groups, displaying the diversity and complexity of religious and cultural adoptions.
• Over the centuries, Bhakti and Sufi saints have played a critical role in promoting syncretism between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs by emphasizing the fundamental equality of mankind. As a result, Sufis are revered by both Muslims and Hindus, and temples and mosques are places of equal respect. The pluralistic traditions, beliefs, and practices found across India serve to reinforce the idea that, despite their different identities, the people of India belong to one nation.
• The Indian Constitution recognizes and upholds this diversity, with secularism as the state ideology to preserve and celebrate the nation's "unity in diversity." However, it is important to be aware of the ongoing attempts to divide people and disrupt their organic connections, forcing them to live as parallel entities. In contrast to Western countries, where diversity has emerged due to immigration, India's challenge is to prevent the separation of its diverse communities and maintain their historical interconnectedness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, India is a land of immense diversity, characterized by its rich racial, linguistic, and ethnic variety. This diversity has been shaped by the country's complex history of migration, interaction, and mixing among various population groups. Despite efforts to divide people based on their different identities, India has largely managed to maintain its interconnectedness and unity in diversity. The Indian Constitution upholds this diversity, emphasizing secularism as the state ideology. As a nation, India must continue to cherish and preserve its unique tapestry of cultures and identities while promoting tolerance, mutual respect, and national integration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Racial Linguistic & Ethnic Diversity

What is the difference between race and ethnicity in the context of India?

Race is a biological concept related to physical and genetic characteristics such as skin color, hair type, and facial structure, while ethnicity refers to a group of people united by a common inherited culture, language, customs, and beliefs in a shared ancestry. India's population is a mix of different racial groups and ethnic backgrounds, resulting in a diverse and varied ethnic composition.

What are some of the main racial groups found in India?

India is home to a multitude of races, including the Negrito, Proto-Australoid, Mongoloid, Mediterranean, Western Brachycephals, and Nordic races. However, due to intermarriages and migration over time, the concept of pure races in India is largely theoretical.

How many languages are spoken in India?

India is known for its linguistic diversity, with more than 1,572 languages and dialects spoken across the country. In addition, there are 22 Scheduled languages recognized by the Indian Constitution. Many people in India speak more than one language and may speak languages other than their mother tongue depending on their region.

How has India's history of migration contributed to its ethnic and racial diversity?

India's rich history of migration and interaction with various population groups has led to a complex and diverse society. People from different corners of the world arrived in India with various intentions, eventually being accepted and assimilated into the local population. These interactions led to the exchange of traits and the continuous evolution and enrichment of Indian culture.

How does the Indian Constitution address the country's ethnic and linguistic diversity?

The Indian Constitution recognizes and upholds the country's diversity by promoting secularism as the state ideology to preserve and celebrate the nation's "unity in diversity." It also recognizes 22 Scheduled languages, ensuring that linguistic diversity is acknowledged and protected.