Social Unity: A Unique Framework for a Diverse Society

Abstract

This article explores the evolving ecosystem of social unity in contemporary India grounded on two interlinked pillars: social justice and fraternity. Moving beyond the narrow view of social justice as only reservation, which often entrenches cleavages of caste, gender, or religion, the current governance approach emphasizes improving lives across identities, treating citizens as equal rather than segmented groups. This reorientation reframes social justice as a path of upliftment, where progress for one does not threaten another. Complementing this is the renewed centrality of fraternity, the moral and emotional glue of society emphasized by the Constitution and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar but long neglected in governance practice. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the idea of social justice and fraternity has been actively invoked through symbols, gestures, and policies, encouraging reciprocal participation from citizens. This article argues that these two forces, social justice beyond divisions and fraternity as a lived experience, interact to produce a larger, exponential outcome i.e., a framework of social unity that binds diversity into a consolidated national identity.