One Western diplomat commented whichever country he went on this subcontinent he felt as if He was still in India. This shows the depth to which this civlisation has had an impact on the lives of the people living on this subcontinent , be it Pakistan, Srilanka, Mynmaar, Bangladesh, Nepal etc.
It is important that we understand and learn about those aspects which have contributed towards making Bhartiya civilization so unique that it has been able to survive numerous invasions, conquer parochialism, dogmas and been able to retain its quintessential features and at the same time been able to have had such an impact across length and breath of the subcontinent.
Ostensibly, this was achieved because Bharatwasis worked with a missionary zeal and were assimilating .
The few aspects that stand out distinctively about the Bhartiya civilization are ; Assimilating, Peace Loving (Live & Let others Live), takes a Holistic View of Life, A Zeal to Explore.
It is here that some great philosphers of ancient times pondered over the questions that have been concerning the mankind since its birth. They were not bounded by any boundaries in their exploration which can be best testified by a Rigved hymn ;
Whence all creation had its origin,
the creator, whether he fashioned it or whether he did not,
the creator, who surveys it all from highest heaven,
he knows — or maybe even he does not know.
Max Muller a renowned German philosopher has beautifully described this endeavour of Indians while delivering a lecture in the University of Cambridge in 1882. He said ;
"If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered over the greatest problems of life and has found solutions of some of them which well deserve the attention even of those who have studied Plato and Kant – I should point towards India. And if I were to ask myself from what literature we here in Europe, we who have been nurtured almost exclusively on the thoughts of Greeks and Romans and of Semitic race, the Jewish, may draw the corrective which is most wanted in order to make our inner life more perfect, more comprehensive more universal infact more truly human not for this life but eternal life again I should point to India."
The Indians used to be Honest, Simple and Great Soldiers. John Murray in his Book - The History of India wrote ;
"The Greeks, have described Indians as tall and active. Their bravery was always spoken of as characteristic; their superiority in war to other Asiatics is repeatedly asserted and appears in more ways than one. They are said to be sober, moderate, peaceable, good soldiers, good farmers, remarkable for simplicity and integrity; so reasonable as never to have recourse to a law suit; and so honest as neither to require locks to their doors nor writings to bind their agreements. Above all no Indian was ever known to tell an untruth”.
It is for these reasons that a famous Poet Iqbal said ;
Kuch baat hai ki hasti mit-ti nahi hamari
sadiyon raha hai dushman daur-e-zamaN hamara