Today, across its streets and institutions, in its villages and cities, anchored in equal respect for all faiths; and in the melody of hundreds of its languages and dialects - India lives as one; India grows as one; India celebrates as one.

Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.

If God had so wished, he would have made all Indians speak with one language ... the unity of India has been and shall always be a unity in diversity.

The diversity of India, of our civilization, is actually a thing of beauty, which is something we are extremely proud of.

We may not always agree with every one of our neighbors. That's life. And it's part of living in such a diverse and dense city. But we also recognize that part of being a New Yorker is living with your neighbors in mutual respect and tolerance. It was exactly that spirit of openness and acceptance that was attacked on 9/11, 2001.

Discrimination still exists. Some people feel that their own beliefs are being threatened. Some are unhappy about unfamiliar cultures. They all need to be reassured that there is so much to be gained by reaching out to others; that diversity is indeed a strength and not a threat.