India is One

This book is an expression of this belief of this certitude in the destiny of a united India. It is an attempt to see to feel and experience the deep unity in the rich diversity that is India.

A nation like an individual has several aspects on outer body a life a mind and deep within the psychic being or the soul. Only when we know it in all these aspects can we know a nation fully and integrally. Therefore this book seeks to find the unity of India at all the levels the geographical the cultural the religious the political and the spiritual to find it through the mountains the seas and the rivers of India; its peoples and customs their hopes and aspirations their fillings and their through; the myths and legends of India its literature its philosophy its festivals its arts; its religions its pilgrim centre its devotees its kingdoms its rulers and administrator even its map its national flag all of them expressions of India deepest soul the divine shakti that is mother India. It tries to understand the very special nature of India unity the power which has sustained it in the past the direction it must take in the future and its implication for India and the world.

But these are however things of the depths and they are hidden from our eyes that see only the outer forms and our mind that can explore only the surfaces of things. Therefore we exclaim where, where is the unity of India? A similar question was once asked of Majnu: “where’ where do you find any beauty in the dark Laila?” Majnu replied, “if you want to see the beauty of Laila look through the eyes of Majnu. “Indeed if we want to see the unity of India we must first love India.

This book is neither for the sceptic nor for the scholar. It does must not give a reasoned and developed argument to present the historical foundation of the unity of India. It is rather an attempt to see through the eyes of those who have loved India each in his own way but deeply and intensely the historians the poets the patriots the prophets and the rishis.

We can only hope that this book will help us the people of India to catch a true glimpse of our Mother to love her to understand her and to awaken to her great mission.

In a book of this nature which is a compilation from several authors there is bound to be a great variety in vision in vision style and presentation. It might be that some points are repeated other are not fully developed while some are left out altogether. The excerpts taken from larger writings stretch over such a vast span of time that some things may appear a bit outdated or not as valid in the present circumstances as when they were first written. But on the whole we believe that they draw their inspiration from the deeper truths of the spirit and are therefore eternally true.

If this book can help us to have this deeper vision and conviction about the unity of India if it can inspire us to play our part in the future it would have served its purpose. We are grateful to all the writers published artists photographers and so many other who have made this book possible.

A nation is building in India today before the eyes of the world so swiftly so palpably that all can watch the process and those the lines of the divine architecture…. One of the oldest races and greatest civilizations on this earth the most indomitable in vitality the most fecund in greatness the deepest in life the most wonderful in potentiality after taking into human civilization is now seeking to lift itself for good into an organized national unity. Formerly a congeries of kindred nations with a single life and a single culture always by the law of this essential oneness tending to unity always by its excess of fecundity engendering fresh diversities and division it has never yet been able to overcome permanently the almost insuperable obstacle to the organization of a continent. The time has now come when those obstacles can be overcome. The attempt which our race has been making throughout its long history it will now make under entirely new circumstances…. We believe that it is sure to succeed because the freedom unity and greatness of India have now become necessary to the world.