India as a Cradle of Civilizations and Faiths

By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam 27 September 2025 Abstract: India is a unique country where many religions, cultures, and beliefs have grown together for thousands of years. People with different ideas have lived side by side in peace and harmony. Ancient texts, spiritual leaders, and many religions like Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and others have shaped its rich culture. India’s true strength is in its unity in diversity. Even today, people respect each other’s faiths and live together peacefully. This open-mindedness makes India special in the world. It is important to protect this cultural richness to ensure a better, united, and peaceful future for everyone. Main Points: 1. India welcomes all beliefs, thoughts, and spiritual traditions equally. 2. Religious and cultural diversity is India’s greatest national strength. 3. People live peacefully despite different faiths and philosophies. 4. India promotes tolerance, unity, and mutual respect among citizens. 5. Protecting this diversity is vital for India’s future success. ----- India is considered one of the oldest lands in the world, where civilisation, religion, spirituality, and human thought began to grow from very early times. Historically, geographically, and culturally, India has always been a land that has welcomed and nurtured different nations, races, religions, and ideas. That is why India is often called the “cradle of civilisations and faiths.” The ancient Vedic civilisation, which was the early form of Hinduism, began on this land. Later, religions like Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism also originated in India. These faiths not only shaped the social, moral, and intellectual life of the Indian subcontinent but also spread their teachings to different parts of the world. At the same time, religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam also entered India in their early periods and played an important role in shaping the country’s spiritual and cultural life. One of the most important features of India is its pluralism — its ability to include many languages, cultures, beliefs, and communities. History shows that India never allowed one religion or culture to dominate completely. Instead, it followed a tradition of respecting all beliefs and ways of life. Concepts like Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one family) and Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah (May all be happy) were born in this land and are still part of India’s cultural thinking today. A clear proof of India’s religious tolerance and cultural harmony is that, in many parts of the country, people from different faiths live together peacefully in the same neighbourhoods and villages. This peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among religions make India different from many other countries in the world. Today, when many parts of the world face problems like religious extremism, cultural conflict, and intolerance, India sets an example of how different communities can live together with peace and respect. It is important to protect and preserve this rich and diverse heritage of India and to pass it on to the next generation. In short, India has not only been the birthplace of great civilisations and religions in the past, but even today it stands as a shining example of religious harmony, tolerance, and diversity for the entire world. It is an undeniable fact that in Indian society today, one of the most widely discussed topics is: What is Hindutva? What are the teachings of Hinduism? The way certain ideologically driven individuals are interpreting and presenting Hindu Dharma today raises the question — is that the real essence of Hinduism? Similarly, it is also valid to ask whether Hindu Dharma and Hindutva are synonymous, or whether there are significant differences between the two. It is important to discuss these sensitive issues in a balanced and impartial manner. India – A Cradle of Religions Before delving into these issues, it is essential to understand that our motherland, India, has historically been a magnificent centre of religions, civilisations, and diverse cultures. In his well-known and widely read book "Zehni o Fikri Hum Aahangi: Aarzu o Justuju" Dr Khwaja Iftikhar writes: “We are not an ordinary country like many others in the world. The evolution of India is the result of centuries of interaction and amalgamation between numerous cultures. It is the land of great rishis, munis, Sufis, saints, religious and spiritual leaders, and those who believed in action and movement. Its origins go back thousands of years. On one hand, the four Vedas, Puranas, the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, and Mahabharata indicate our spiritual and cultural roots; on the other, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism are essential components of this evolution. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam also entered India very early on. Therefore, these religions also contributed greatly to enriching Indian traditions, ethics, and values. This enriched civilization has naturally made India a composite whole. From here, the idea of a cosmopolitan culture began to emerge and, after developing robustly, it spread beyond our borders. Arabs, Greeks, Europeans, Africans, and other peoples of the world have either directly or indirectly associated themselves with this great land and its culture with pride. In fact, we are geographically broader and more significant than an entire subcontinent. Hence, our identity has extended across the globe. The Indian worldview is so expansive that it cannot be confined within four walls. The Vedic principles of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The world is one family) and ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’ (May all be happy) reflect the wide-ranging cultural vision of India. Our constitutional context aims for consensus by upholding principles of coexistence and shared identity. In this context, the bond between patriotism and nationalism plays a key role. As a result, from common people to elites, all become an integral part of a continuous process. This very process has shaped today’s India — and both its collective identity and the values of Indian citizenship are defined by it.” (Khwaja, Iftikhar Ahmed (Dr), Zehni o Fikri Hum Aahangi: Aarzu o Justuju, Manak Publication, 2020, pp. 402–403) From this excerpt, it can be confidently stated that Indian society is one of the greatest examples of plurality and diversity. This diversity is what makes India unique among the civilisations and societies of the world. The multiplicity of religions, languages, and cultures in India reflects the principle of unity in diversity. There is an urgent need to preserve and protect this rich national heritage. Safeguarding the shared traditions and values of our beloved nation becomes even more critical in today’s context, where some short-sighted individuals may attempt to tarnish our cultural legacy. A Cultural Legacy of Tolerance and Harmony Historians and chroniclers have described the Indian society, culture, and its shared values in the following terms: “India has always been a global hub of religion, spirituality, and ethics — a place where every ideology, school of thought, and movement has been not only welcomed but also nurtured. This land has offered space and opportunity for sages, saints, Sufis, spiritual guides, social reformers, monotheists, polytheists, atheists, and everyone else to grow according to their capabilities and potentials. Despite the visible and hidden tensions in various sectors of life and the existence of differing ways of living and philosophies, the living truth remains that a population of around 1.3 billion — nearly one-sixth of the world — takes pride in our collective achievements and successes. We are not a materialistic nation. Can anyone deny the fact that India has always provided space for every colour, scent, and form to bloom and flourish? Despite natural differences, our philosophy of life has always demonstrated broad-mindedness and generosity. Our history, civilization, lifestyle, social structure, ideological directions, intellectual foundations, and human values are a mirror and custodian of our magnificent shared cultural legacy, which spans centuries. This is the beautiful reality that makes India — a country of over 1.3 billion people — unique and distinguished in the global community. It is this national charm and beauty that introduces us to the world as a civilised, peaceful, and dignified society. Our uniqueness lies in the fact that the global community naturally sees our successes as their own.” (ibid., p. 481) We can proudly say that India is a special and respected country where all kinds of thoughts, ideas, and beliefs have had the chance to grow. Even when some of these ideas are very different from one another — or even in disagreement — they have still survived and lived together. In many other parts of the world, stronger cultures or beliefs often try to dominate or erase the weaker ones. But in India, every belief system and philosophy has had space to grow and move forward. What makes this even more special is that the people of India, no matter what religion they follow, have usually shown respect and kindness towards others’ religions and beliefs. Throughout history, India has shown tolerance, open-mindedness, and generosity. We can still see this today in many neighbourhoods across the country, where people from different religions, beliefs, and ways of thinking live together peacefully. They do not let their differences affect their daily lives. They live side by side with mutual respect and in harmony. India is truly a land where many religions, philosophies, and cultures have grown together. This ability to live with diversity peacefully is what makes India stand out in the world. That is why protecting this diversity is not just important for our culture, but also necessary for our society and future. This unity in diversity has already brought many good things for our country, and if we keep it alive, it will bring even more success and peace in the future. ----- Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi is an author and a New Age Islam Regular Columnist URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/india-cradle-civilizations-faiths/d/136997 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism