Natural Abundance Shaped India's Thought Process

When we talk about India, Bharata, the first slogan that comes to mind is 'Unity in Diversity.' Unity in spite of diversity is a very difficult and rare thing to achieve. Is this a slogan that exists only as text, in books, or during campaigns?

The history we learn in schools and colleges is just one aspect of our past, centered around the rise and fall of empires. It is primarily political history. Even cultural history, which we sometimes come across, is more of a critical study. There is nothing in these narratives that inspires us or explains where this unity originated. This unity is not something that arose during our independence. It was already there, has always been there, got disturbed a bit, and is now back again.

This unity existed despite the multitude of kingdoms within Bharata Varsha. So, where did this unity come from? Unity is not something that is created; it is a truth that always existed. Our sages realized this through the Vedas. They practiced and propagated unity.

The Rigveda says: 'एकं सद्विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति'—'Whatever the scholars call by different names, it is the same. Only the names differ, not what they refer to.' This idea is deeply ingrained in Indian thought due to the vision and efforts of our sages.

The magnitude of this statement can assume any quantum—from 'आत्मा वै पुत्र नामासि' (Father himself is reborn as the son) to 'वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्' (The whole earth is one family). The magnitude depends on the circumstances and context. Just as a liquid can take the shape of its vessel, our concept of unity can assume any proportion.

Among these, the concept of Bharata as a unique identity has been long-standing. It has been there since time immemorial. If you read the Itihasas and Puranas, this fact becomes obvious. Instead of focusing on the rise and fall of empires, the number of rooms in a king's mansion, the taxes he introduced, or the tombs he built, it is high time we introduced children to our real history.

The Itihasas and Puranas are not stories or myths. They talk about our real past—our glorious past. The history taught now makes one feel like a bruised victim of assault. We should replace the dry content taught as history with these inspiring narratives.

Modern history, such as our freedom struggle and the events that followed, is, of course, important. Our children should understand the value of our freedom.

Many factors have contributed to the unity of Bharata. Let us start by looking at the geographical factors.

The Indian peninsula is a naturally protected geography. The Himalayan mountains in the north and water bodies on the east and west isolate it from the rest of the world. Due to the mountain barrier in the north, invasions have only been sporadic.

Consider what happened to the cultures of Egypt and Mesopotamia—they were wiped out because they had no such protection and were open to assaults from all sides. Our scriptures describe Bharata Varsha as the lap or womb of Mother Earth, sensitive and hence protected.

The climatic conditions vary across the subcontinent, and physical features differ depending on the area. We have Dravidian features in the south, Indo-Aryan features in the north, Mongoloid features in the northeast, and mixes such as Aryo-Dravidian and Mongo-Dravidian. Despite these differences, the tricolour flag evokes the same feeling in every heart.

The tricolour is a symbol of the unity that predated it. This unity has existed since the time of creation itself. Another factor that binds Bharata Varsha is the richness and fertility of its soil. Except for small patches, most of Bharata Varsha is fertile, irrigated, and enriched by numerous rivers, big and small.

The abundance of resources made peaceful livelihoods possible. Unlike Europeans, who were sea-oriented and looked outward for conquests, we were land-oriented. We focused on agriculture and peaceful coexistence. Simple practices like daily bathing, seen across Bharata, were possible because of abundant water and a warm climate.

Abundance in food—rice, wheat, and vegetarian options—shaped our thought processes and promoted a Satvik way of life. We had time to ponder over topics like God, Dharma, and spirituality. This blessed land enabled us to see divinity in everything—plants, trees, and animals.

Our sages taught restraint and wisdom to share resources. While others fought over scarce resources, we shared ours through Daanam. Our abundance allowed us to give and live harmoniously.

There are many more factors, and we will explore them as we proceed.

Knowledge Bank

Who was more powerful, Kans or Jarasandha?

Jarasandha was an emperor. Kans was the king of Mathura. Mahabharata says that Kans derived his power from Jarasandha. Kans was Jarasandha’s son-in-law. Krishna killed Kans but did not kill Jarasandha even after 18 battles. Krishna tells Yudhishtira that he, Balarama, and the eighteen clans of the Yadavas would not be able to defeat Jarasandha even if they fought for 300 years.

Who is the rishi connected to Vaimanika shatra?

Sage Bharadwaja is the author of the book on Vaimanika shastra.