Celebrating diversity and inclusivity

As Indians battle it out in our nation's 18th general election, it is again time for voters to reflect on the "Idea of India"-or rather, on two duelling ideas of India that are now before us and between which the nation must choose at the ballot box.

- SHASHI THAROOR

They both date back to before independence, when our nationalist movement was divided between two sets of ideas, one held by those who saw religious identity as the determinant of their nationhood and the other by those who believed in an inclusive India for everyone, irrespective of faith. The former became the idea of Pakistan, the latter the idea of India. Pakistan was created as a state with a dominant religion, a state that discriminates against its minorities and denies them equal rights. But India never accepted the logic that had partitioned the country: our freedom struggle was for all, and independent India would also be for all.