Tolerance is recognizing and respecting other’s beliefs and practices without sharing in them. It can also be described as “a respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world’s cultures, our forms of expressions (speech, religion etc.) and ways of being human. Tolerance is harmony in difference” . If we consider tolerance as the midpoint on a spectrum ranging between prohibition at one end to acceptance at the other:

The Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle called this middle point of the spectrum, the golden mean. Approaching tolerance this way, makes it what philosophers call a virtue – the characteristic between two vices.

Tolerance is restraint from reacting to unpleasing or unfavourable happenings. It requires high moral, forbearance, patience and a large heart to tolerate. Tolerance is fundamental for forgiveness and respect for contradictory views and practices.

Its importance in contemporary world is manifold

• Individual level
• Tolerance teaches one to be respect others and not impose our will on others.
• It helps us to broaden our perspective and thinking.
• E g.:A certain food may be religiously proscribed for an individual, but it may be part of someone’s culture. Acceptance and respecting other’s views is developed due to tolerance.
• Societal level
• Tolerance is vital because it promotes the receiving or acknowledging of new ideas and this helps to break the status quo mentality.
• Tolerance is particularly needed in large and complex societies comprising people with varied beliefs, as in India.
• This is because readiness to tolerate views other than one’s own facilitates harmonious coexistence.
• Tolerance respects context.
• Eg.:Tolerance towards various linguistic groups have cemented India’s unity whereas its absence led to division of Pakistan and civil war in Sri Lanka.
• Government level
• Helps increase its legitimacy and inspire confidence even among the dissidents.
• Eg.:The accommodative policies of Patel and Nehru has helped shape India into a political union that it is today.
• Toleration promotes the free exchange of ideas, including criticism and debate of public policy in the interest of the people.
• International relations
• Tolerance is the virtue that makes peace possible and in turn security of nations and neighbours.
• Eg.: The global initiatives like WTO are a result of Vigorous deliberation of disagreement and moral evaluation. Issues such as refugee crisis can be solved as a result of tolerance.
• Tolerance provides the space for a culture of dialogue, where we can all benefit.

The Ethics of tolerance reinforces many values useful in today’s world such as

• Mutual Respect to others.
• Strengthening one’s own resilience.
• Acting as a moral force of change and acceptance of alternative views.
• Harmonious and peaceful co-existence.

Conclusion:

The spirit of tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian society from very early times, but it is also playing an important part at the present. Being tolerant of each other and caring for each other is what makes us human.  By teaching tolerance, we allow individuality and diversity while promoting peace and a civil society.  Our success in the struggle of intolerance depends on the effort we make to educate ourselves and our children.