Unity in diversity is magic. The greater the diversity, the greater the perfection,” once said Thomas Berry, an American cultural historian. I too believe that for us, unity can lead to mutual cooperation and harmony among all kinds of people.

There is great strength and power in unity. Nepal is a diverse country, with more than 125 ethnic groups speaking more than 100 languages. But we have unity.

Nepal was once scattered into several tiny states. There were 24 states in the Gandaki region and 22 states in the Karnali region. But due to the efforts of Prithvi Narayan Shah, these scattered states were unified into one and we got a new country.

Similarly, the second People’s Movement removed monarchy from the country. In this movement, people from all castes, religions and classes were involved. We all came together for a single purpose.

Along with these advantages, there are disadvantages too. One such example is federalism. Nepal currently is a federal country. But there is also a fear that federalism could lead to more crisis and conflict. The experiences of many African countries like Nigeria, Sudan and Ethiopia show that if there is no unity among diverse cultures, there could be conflict.

In order to promote unity in diversity, we should consider a number of steps. First, there needs to be proportionate development. Second, we should respect the will, aspirations and needs of the people. Third, we should identify genuine problems, ascertain their root causes and address them appropriately. Fourth, we should make people aware of the importance of each other’s social, cultural and religious heritages. And finally, we should recognise the fact that each culture, religion, language and ethnic group is equally important.

Every ethnic group should have equal rights to discuss the welfare of the country. They should not be discriminated against in any aspect. Every group should come together to promote unity among different people. We should remember that people can be united with feelings of love, care, humanity and affection, so that welfare, satisfaction and happiness will be shared among all.

Alin Lamichhane

Lamichhane is a grade nine student at East Pole Higher Secondary School