As we begin the new year, we delve into a topic that is now increasingly occupying the centre stage of public discourse since the new government took over in New Delhi. Since our schooldays, we have often come across the term "idea of India", never knowing fully well what it means or what it represents. Does it refer to our civilisational construct or to the broad Nehruvian consensus on which the founding fathers of our Constitution reposed their faith in the 'Idea of India' as a nation state? Are some of those basic tenets of the 'idea' – pluralism and diversity - under threat or are they being challenged by an idea of singular culture, homogeneity Watch the debate on The Big Fight.
