인도의 문화와 종교

Indian Culture and Religion: Its diversity and Unity

India has a long history, and its culture and social structure is very complex. According to a popular estimate it has covered a span of five thousand years since the period of its first known civilization, that is Indus Valley Civilization. One feature that is most often noticed about India is its diversity and unity. Several different levels of social strains coexist in contemporary India, from primitive hunters and gathers to IT specialists. The Indian social system is often described as bounded and rigid. But there have been many exceptions. The broad divisions and sub-divisions, or castes and sub-castes in Indian society are complex and confusing. Most of the major religions of the world-Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism-are found here. Religious boundaries are more clearly drawn. The Hindus and the Muslims are the major religious communities in India. Culturally, however, the Hindus are not homogeneous, nor are the Muslims. Contemporary Indian society is undergoing a trauma of change and is confronting a series of dilemmas and paradoxes, in terms of castes and religions.