India's people are divided by centrifugal forces which drive people apart (South). The caste system of the Hindus is a rigid system which ranks people based on ancestries, family ties and occupations. Another divisive problem is the Sikh population who adhere to a religion that combines aspects of Hinduism and Islam and rejects the negative aspects of both, and is demanding autonomy. The Dravidians in the south are another centrifugal force, with over 100 million people speaking Dravidian languages such as Tamil, Malayalan, Telugu and Karaese. A fourth and major centrifugal force is the Hindu/Muslim religious division, which is a contentious one, and the Muslims, who represent 14 percent of the Indian population are the fastest growing population in India. A fifth form of centrifugal force has been brought about by technological advances which have increased personal conflicts, wars between neighbors, wars fought by civilians and paramilitaries, and atrocities committed against former friends (The Challenge).
Centripetal forces which bring people together include reforms in Hinduism which have resulted in a binding cultural force; a strong communications network left behind by the British; and India's democratic government which has been willing to change state boundaries to achieved peace and security (South). A fourth centripetal force is the fact that the advances in travel and communication have brought people closer together (The Challenge). The internet has facilitated communication between people all over the world, and offers instantaneous communications.