Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation ? Elaborate with examples.

Question

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

India does have cultural pockets of small India, formed by migration to industrial townships, settler islands, metros, service institutions and pilgrim towns. Bhilai and the Andaman Islands, where settlers from many states share a link language and festivals, are the best-known examples.

**Introduction**

Articles 19(1)(d) and (e) let citizens move and settle anywhere, and migration for work, service and study has produced "small Indias" across the country, though their mixing is often thinner than it looks.

**Pockets of Small India Across the Nation**

SKETCH: flow | How a Small India Forms
- Inflow of migrants
- Shared workplace
- Link language
- Mixed festivals
- Composite identity

1. **Industrial townships**: Bhilai, built with Soviet help from 1955, drew workers from Kerala to Punjab and, like Jamshedpur and Bokaro, is still called a mini India where Onam and Chhath are celebrated alike.
2. **Islands of settlers**: The Andaman Islands, peopled by settlers from Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra, use Hindi as a link language.
3. **Metros and institutions**: Bengaluru's IT hub, cantonments and Kendriya Vidyalayas (1963) bring together families from every state.
4. **Pilgrim towns**: Varanasi's Bengali Tola and South Indian quarters near Kedar Ghat show pilgrimage built small Indias long before industry.

**Why These Pockets Remain Incomplete**

1. **Enclaves and nativism**: Migrants cluster by language or faith, and Haryana's 75% local-jobs law (2020), struck down in 2023, shows pressure on mixed spaces.
2. **Racial discrimination**: Nido Taniam's death in Delhi (2014) and the Bezbaruah Committee exposed exclusion of Northeastern citizens.

**Way Forward**

1. **Structured exchange**: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and the Kashi Tamil Sangamam (2022) revive cross-regional links.
2. **Portable welfare**: One Nation One Ration Card reduces the insecurity that pushes migrants into enclaves.

**Conclusion**

India does have small Indias, from Bhilai and Port Blair to Bengaluru and Varanasi, and they are living proof of unity in diversity once coexistence turns into exchange and fraternity becomes a daily, local habit.

Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation ? Elaborate with examples.

Model answer

Practise this question

Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India23 questions

Ghissu