India has always set an example making a virtue out of necessity. The countrymen with intrinsic differences of religion, language, culture, etc., are tolerant. India’s people are its strength – they coexist peacefully, prosper collectively and help in nation building. No other nation in the world can boast of the diversity that exists in India, observes Neeti Prakash.
India’s strength lies in its diversity, derived from various geographical landscapes, languages, cultures, cuisine, handicrafts, natural resources, ethnicities, etc. India’s states and union territories are diligently contributing towards nation building in unique ways and helping prepare India for the challenges of the future.
In the year 2011, the massive state of Uttar Pradesh emerged as an incredible testament to human habitation, housing a staggering population of around 200 million people. To fully appreciate the magnitude of this, it’s important to envision for a moment that Uttar Pradesh, in all its magnificence, stood alone as an independent nation – an impressive feat!
In this alternate reality, it would have boldly claimed the title of the fifth most populous country on the planet, surpassing the populous land of Brazil (with 195 million people). The sheer weight of this demographic truth is both captivating and thought-provoking, beckoning us to explore further.
The demographics
After the latest Census was conducted in 2011, a highly enlightening demographic map of the country was unveiled that offered a fascinating insight into the population dynamics of India and its relevance in the ‘global’ world. The astonishing revelation was that the most populous state of India surpassed the entire population of another nation, serving as a powerful testament to the immense size and scale of India’s demographic strength.
It also disclosed that even the least populous demographic entity of India boasted figures equivalent to the serene and picturesque island of Bermuda, for example, showcasing the remarkable diversity within the country.
India’s southern archipelago of Lakshadweep gracefully emerged as the least populous territory of India, serving as a home to approximately 60,000 inhabitants. India’s vast population diversity is a reflection of the intricate tapestry of its states.
The same demographic map reflected a significant Hindu majority, with Hindus comprising the largest religious group among all Indian states and union territories. With an impressive 966 million adherents, India housed approximately 94 per cent of the world’s Hindu population during that period.
The sheer scale of Hindu residents in just four Indian states – namely Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh – far surpassed the combined numbers of Hindus residing outside of India, underscoring the significance of these regions in shaping the global Hindu community and presenting India as a leader on global fora. Kerala emerged as the most religiously-diverse state with a large population of Hindus, Muslims and Christians.
Located on the western coast of India, Maharashtra boasts several significant attributes. Notably, it encompasses Mumbai, the financial hub and largest metropolis of the country, rendering it an influential powerhouse. However, Maharashtra’s prominence extends beyond economic prowess. This state is also home to the largest numbers of Jains and Buddhists in India.
On the other hand, the Northern state of Punjab, nestled on India-Pakistan border, claims a distinctive identity with its concentration of Sikhs. In fact, with approximately 58 per cent of Punjab’s 28 million residents identifying as Sikh in 2011, this state serves as the primary abode for the majority of the world’s Sikhs.
States contribute
India’s diverse landscape of states and territories presents a marked contrast in terms of wealth, as evident from the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) figures registered in 2019 and 2020.
Situated along the breathtaking Arabian Sea on India’s western coast, the enchanting region of Goa, and India’s smallest state, mesmerises visitors with its extraordinary natural beauty and landscapes. Goa surpasses the lowest per capita GDP by a staggering tenfold.
Accustomed to opulence, Goa boasts the highest per capita GDP in all of India, firmly establishing itself at a remarkable USD 22,000, akin to some of the most prosperous nations in the world.
Notably, literacy rates in India vary greatly among states, revealing a stark disparity. Bihar recorded a distressingly low literacy rate of only 64 per cent among individuals aged seven and above, as illustrated by the Indian Census of 2011.
Conversely, Kerala proudly claims the highest proportion of literate residents, with an impressive literacy rate reaching a staggering 94 per cent. The literacy rates in India as per the 2011 Census were quite commendable, with around three-quarters of the Indian population being able to read and write.
According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21, male literacy in India stands at 84.4 per cent and female literacy stands at 71.5 per cent. The Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has a literacy rate of 66.4 per cent, making it the lowest among all states in India, and Kerala still ranked highest in the list with 96.2 per cent.
Economic growth
India’s southern states have some of the largest economies in the country and are contributing in a big way in India’s growth story. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana are the major contributors to India’s GDP – they account for more than 30 per cent of India’s economic output.
Estimates reveal that the southern states will contribute 35 per cent to India’s seven trillion-dollar economy that the nation is expected to achieve by 2030. The primary contributors will be Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as the latter is estimated to emerge as a one trillion-dollar economy by the same time. So, the southern states will be the growth engine for India, providing a strong support to India’s goal of becoming a 35 trillion-dollar economy by 2047.
Maharashtra, with a diverse economy and a strong focus on manufacturing, finance and services sectors, has the highest GDP among all Indian states. Culturally-rich Maharashtra contributes about 14 per cent to the overall GDP of India.
There are several reasons for Maharashtra’s success – a sustained focus on infrastructure development, a booming IT sector that has lucrative returns, a focus on setting up Special Economic Zones or SEZs to provide infrastructure incentives and other ease of business to industries, initiatives to boost the services sector, increased investments in upgrading, education, upskilling, training and a strong focus on initiatives to improve agricultural productivity.
India’s Information Technology (IT) sector or the IT Industry is the largest contributor in terms of the total exports of India. For many years now, the IT sector in India has been contributing significantly to economic growth and prosperity. The largest IT hubs in India are located in three states, namely Haryana, Karnataka and Telangana, and the combined contribution to the Indian GDP of these three states is a significant 17 per cent.
Gujarat is one of the richest states in India. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Gujarat is over 150 billion dollars with well-established textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals industries. One of the primary reasons for the economic prosperity in the state is the presence of a strong industrial base. Over the years, Gujarat has focused on facilitating businesses and industries by improving infrastructure such as airports, ports, railways and roadways and that has worked greatly to its advantage.
India is a country of diversity and has always been known so. Indians with intrinsic differences of religion, language, culture, etc., are tolerant. India’s people are its strength – they coexist peacefully, prosper collectively and help in nation building. No other nation is the world can boast of the diversity that exists in India.
Neeti Prakash is a media researcher with The History and Heritage Project – A DraftCraft International Initiative to document details, analyse facts and plug lacunae generated by oversight or to further national or foreign agenda in History and Heritage Across India and Beyond Borders.