Ekam Sad Vipra Bahudhā Vadanti

The word Bahudhā is derived from the word bahu, and dha is suffixed to it to make it an adverb. ‘Bahu’ denotes many ways or directions. It is used to express manifoldness, much, and repeatedly. Bahudhā is also used as an expression of intermittent continuity in various time frames. It is used to express frequency, as in ‘time and again’. Bahudhā suggests an eternal reality or continuum, a dialogue of harmony, and peaceful living in society. “Bahuda” is an Indian approach to reality and various aspects of human life which draws its conclusion from Vedas and Upanishads. The vedic sages explicitely state that reality is one and gives the concept of absolute existence. This comes from view: ‘respect for another person’s view of truth with hope and belief that he or she may be right’. This is best expressed in the Rigvedic hymn that enjoins:

Ekam Sad Vipra Bahudhā Vadanti (The Real is one, the learned speak of it variously)

The Bahudha approach is both a celebration of diversity and an attitude of mind that respects another person’s point of view. It also promotes a feeling that the world would be a dull and over-uniform place if there was only one religion, one God, one language, one folklore and one folk tale. It recognises that Pluralism is an inevitable ingredient of democratic societies and to attain self sufficiency and enlightment of goal realization everyone should respect the other one’s plural characteristics or religion or caste etc. Bahudha Approach is making rounds in India since 2004, to tackle issues of conflicts due to name or religion, region, community and caste. The Ministry of Culture started an ambitious project “Bahudha: Framework of Public Policy of Harmony” in 2004.