Eportfolio by Ryan Wilson

When faced with the question “what does it mean to be Indian?” in the early stages of the term, an image of what daily life must be like for Indians instantly came to mind. The response then was descriptive of what is portrayed in the American media as well as a few instances of Indian media such as music and filmmaking. This response centered on population centers and the growth of industry and technology companies in an environment where massive population density and the large proportion of people still living in poverty come in to play. The initial perspective, then, only took into consideration the headlines and provided only a very superficial glimpse of what it means to be an Indian.

Returning to the original question in the final days of the term and having a broader knowledge of the events and people that comprise the history of the Indian subcontinent, I now possess the ability to produce a more precise answer to the question of what it means to be Indian from a third party viewpoint, but it also raises new questions. The extremely high emphasis placed on the disunity of the inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent over the centuries leads one to ponder which parts of India’s history really apply to which people when trying to discern what it means to be the average Indian today. Regional, religious, and economic differences have separated and defined groups in India since the earliest civilizations arose in roughly 5000 B.C., and are critical dimensions that each hold a piece of the answer of the meaning of being Indian.

Regional identity for Indians may not be as large a proportion of an Indian’s identity today, but people are able to draw on the regional differences that were experienced by the generations before them. Certain geographic areas of the subcontinent possess means by which the topographical features of the landscape either limit or enhance the ability of cultural changes to be assimilated into the native tradition. One example is the Northwestern region, specifically Rajasthan, which, today, encompasses portions of the primary channel of foreign incursion into India since the Aryans began to filter into the subcontinent, and lent itself to numerous exchanges of culture with empires and people to the west. Although not officially formed till India gained independence from Britain in 1947, Rajasthan is an area greatly affected by foreign culture and ideals. For example, the caste system still in use was introduced by the Aryans, Buddhist ideals inscribed in Ashoka’s Rock Edicts dot the landscape, Islam and Hinduism both have large followings, and society is turning more and more towards opportunities in large cities that follow a Western style of government and economic policy. Further, the southern portion of the subcontinent is separated from the North by the Deccan Plateau, thereby preventing the realistic expansion of people and ideas from the empires of the North from reaching those living in the South for centuries. It was not until the appearance of European traders and the British colonization of India that a practical form of infrastructure could be constructed to overcome these regional limitations and boundaries. Then it became British culture that was spreading to the native people rather than that of another group of Indians.

Religion also plays a key role in what it means to be an Indian. Indians today are subjects of thousands of years of religious changes from the introduction of the Caste System and gods of the Vedas associated with the Aryans, to the creation of Hinduism during the Pre- Mauryan Age, to the spread of Islam during the rise and reign of the Delhi Sultanate, and despite being very different fundamentally, each religion has maintained a large following and have been able to largely coexist peacefully. Additionally, the caste system has largely survived due to how deeply imbedded the ideology has become within the cultures of Indians over time. The Hindu religion places high value on individually, and the opportunity for people to make their own choices is one of the driving forces behind its popularity and is reflected in modern society by the prevalence of the religion among Indians. As evidence to this assertion, a brief study of the transportation system in India revealed that everyone travels their own way. No traffic laws are abided by, and little regard is given to which direction or what lane is being travelled in. Overladen motorcycles, trucks, cars, and busses speed towards each other on extremely crowded streets with only the destination in mind as people go about their daily business.

The final component that contributes to the identity of Indians today is the influence of economics. Over the course of history, empires have appeared and have been able to succeed in India largely thanks to their ability to conduct trade. Early Harrappans left evidence of a sophisticated trading system which would have allowed their civilizations to thrive. Additionally, empires such as the Mauryan, and Gupta were able to capitalize on trade partnerships forged between Asia and the territories west of the subcontinent via the Silk Road and several ports. The great wealth gleaned from this trade is what enabled these great Indian Empires to extend their control and actually unite substantial portions of India through the maintaining of large armies, and the production of large public works. The desire for trade with India produced one of the most influential time periods for modern India: the British Raj. It was during this time period in the 1800s that one of the largest modern companies in India was founded. The Tata Group was formed in the late 1800s and would grow throughout the 1900’s under the control of JRD Tata. Although born in Europe, he arrived in India to run his father’s company and is revered for representing the ideals Indians today: progressiveness, benevolence, ethical treatment of all people, and compassion for humanity.

Throughout India’s complex history, the answer to the question “what does it mean to be Indian?” has surely changed. Indians today can trace their heritage back thousands of years to many powerful empires and dynasties that grew, thrived, and faded away because of the disunited nature of separate kingdoms and peoples. One can suppose, then, that the meaning of being Indian is similar to the meaning of being an American in that they are one people forged in a melting pot that has overcome challenges such as a slew of religious ideologies, regional differences, and influence from foreign nations to develop a system which allows for people to determine their own way and do so alongside fellow countrymen in peace.