What were the key issues in India's identity at the end of the Essay

What were the key issues in India's identity at the end of the twentieth century How did they compare with the key issues a century before - Essay Example What is also significant to note that there are other smaller and fragmented groups within the majority population of the country thus making it more difficult to carve out a different and unique identity for all? During last century, India witnessed significant conflict between different groups and identity crisis was one of the main elements of concern for the country. Religious and ethnic conflicts, Hindu caste system as well as developing a unique cultural identity were some of the issues which India dealt with during last century and will probably continue to deal with in future also. This paper will therefore discuss some of the key issues faced by India during last century and how they were different from the India of 19th Century. In a sense this paper will provide a comprehensive analysis of how India dealt with some of its critical issues during twentieth century. Though on paper India is a secular country with no official religion however, almost every area of life is dominated by Hindus as they are in the majority there. India has been ruled by Muslims for hundred of years and it’s because of this reason that the Indian Muslims have a very strong inclination and tendency towards maintaining their separate identity. Over the period of time, different religious and ethnic groups such as Sikhs have been merged with the Hindu majority however, Muslims have probably struggled hard to keep their separate identity. It is because of this reason that the India has remained a religiously volatile country as religious conflicts were common during last century. The ethnic violence in Mumbai during 1990s and the Babri Mosque incidents were some of the glaring examples of India’s fragility in terms of achieving religious harmony and peace. (Mahurkar). Similarly, Hindu majority was at odds with Sikhs and Christian minorities also and there w ere