Religious and Cultural Problems in India
Religious and linguistic diversity in India-although India embraces these-have still caused problems for the administration. Religious conflict involving Hindus and Muslims, for example, has resulted in violence, and cultural conflicts between Pakistan and Kashmir have caused some to believe that even nuclear war is a possibility. India has attempted to demonstrate respect for cultural diversity and support equality within its diverse communities by allowing everyone to live according to their own cultural practices; it does not even have a state religion. Nevertheless, despite its altruistic ideals, India has found itself struggling with its stance. In order to allow every group the liberty to live and worship as it chooses, it must grant special privileges at times, and this fuels controversy and resentment. In addition, trying to administer a multicultural, multireligious nation is a massive undertaking. While India's government encourages multiculturalism, the members of the different cultures within India are not so liberal; they take issue with each other. Added to this are massive problems such as the disparities that occur because of the caste system, which still operates, and the issue of massive poverty. With the many complications involved, India's religious and cultural problems add difficulties to what is already a tough situation for the nation's administration to resolve. The administration must often make "impossible" decisions that will disadvantage some group. This is all but inevitable in a country where there are so many groups and so many issues.
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