Section 1: The World

The Indian sub-continent could be considered one of the most diverse regions in the world through a variety of metrics. Climates are plentiful in such a large land mass with tropical, temperate, alpine, and desert climates. Parts of the country experience the frigid cold of the Himalayas while others experience the monsoons that have the potential to stimulate or wipe out the agricultural endeavors of a great many people. The religion of the country is as varying as the climates and to say that there is any one unifying belief among the people would be untruthful. To say that two unspecified Hindus are alike in beliefs would be akin to comparing a Baptist and a Catholic in some circumstances. They may reflect the same overarching beliefs and the differences would be trivial to an outsider, but they are apparent nonetheless to the practitioners. The land is home to the Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Muslims as well. Throughout history, there has been foreign presence that has influenced the growth of India from a home to diversity and coexistence to a unified nation. Wolpert touches on the development of culture and attitudes of the Indian people as reactionary to an environment. The extreme variance in what an Indian refers to as home leads to his statement that “nor is anything ‘Indian’ ever quite as simple as it seems. Each reality is but a facet of India’s infinity of experience,” (Wolpert 2). He describes the country as having a “coexistence of contradiction” with the many religions, each with their own sectarian beliefs, castes, and languages (Wolpert 3). The unification of such a large and spread out group of people from very different backgrounds is impressive to say the least. Perhaps it is important to find a reoccurring trend that helps such a range of different people reconcile views to come together and establish a nation.

The influence of the British and European people in India dates to the 1600s, with a desire for exotic goods, spices, and luxury items being reason for establishment of trade routes and the Dutch East India Company (Wikipedia). The presence of the British and European traders and their exploitation of the Indian peoples goes relatively unchallenged until as late as the late 1800s when means of communication and distribution of ideas improves. It is then that the motions of independence are put into effect with the creation of the Indian National Congress in 1885. In 1920 Gandhi leads the congress and this is the real beginning of prominence of independence through non-cooperation. This starts the era of resistance both through actions and passive means and it isn’t for another 27 years that India finally reaches her goal of being a self-ruled nation (British Library). Although the Indian people faced the subjugation by the hands of the British crown, the existence of a common enemy so different than all inhabitants of the land was enough to unify such a heterogenous civilization.

Section 2: My World

  • Examining Tryst with Destiny – background of Nehru
    • What is Nehru’s outlook based upon the language of the speech
      • Reflection on the means of arrival to the current state of a free India
      • History of India long and filled with struggles success and failures
      • Focused on reaching this goal of free India
      • Solemn reminder to keep focus on what free India means
        • Taking responsibility to ensure that there is a bright future for India
        • Not to forget or become complacent and lose sight of the dream of a unified country
        • To continue working to realize the goals of the visionaries that led to this achievement, diligence to those suffering and to eliminate that suffering
      • Emphasis on buying into this dream and working to better India and in doing so the world as a whole
        • No place for those who have ill sentiments or aim to hinder this dream
        • Build India for all her children

Section 3: Clear Light of Day and Partition Archives

  • Clear light of day messages
    • The view of the tale of Indian independence and partition
      • Smaller scope of the process
      • View from a few individuals’ experiences rather than an overarching national scale of events
      • The effects of these events on these people
        • What affects them and what events happen that demonstrate that life continues outside of the political climate of India
        • What is life caused by Indian political events and what is just regular life
      • Partition Archives
        • Story of one or two people to highlight the effects of partition on individuals
        • Give a face to an abstract historical event
          • Understanding through retelling of personal accounts
          • Difference between reading about the battles and political struggles of a nation vs the people who took part (i.e. studying WW2 vs hearing a holocaust survivor speak)