
The 21st century with its waves of globalization and liberalization, is also witnessing growing tensions-political, social, economic and cultural, in several parts of the world. Ethnicity and nationalism, interethnic conflicts, and secessionist movements have been major forces shaping the modern world and the structure and stability of contemporary states. Today, this is evident from a wide variety of multiethnic situations around the world, particularly in South Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Russia. Most states, marked by high level of diversities and differences based on race, religion, culture are facing the growing threats of ethnicity. States try to resolve this crisis as per their own socio-economic and political setup. Therefore it becomes all the more important to understand the term ethnicity, and the reasons for growing ethnic violence and movements of self-assertion. This paper is an attempt to highlight on these growing concerns of ethnic identity and violence with special reference to India.