ABSTRACT
A prominent Indian states that "there is an urgent need for India to look at its tradition or rather its traditions".l What are the Indian values that have survived till our day?2 Mulk Raj Anand indicates "universalism" as the first value. In spite of social compartments based primarily on the caste system, the universalist outlook, fed by constant intermixture, has been the dominant traditional trend. There have even been successful attempts to transform this all-embracing perspective into religions. It is natural that the value of tolerance, at times co-existing with intolerance, should accompany universalism. The Hindu god Krishna says in the Bhagavadgita: "I give to everyone according to his worship". And the Islam's Holy Book states: "Unto you your religion and unto me my religion". But there is also the bitter history of HinduMuslim rivalry and atrocities during the partition of the Sub-continent. Moreover, India has gone through macabre phases ofterrorism, not only in J&K, but also in the NE, Punjab and various other corners of India.
