1) are basic qualities expected in a decent human being - there is nothing uniquely Indian or heritage about it.
Yes exactly my point. Were you expecting rocket science?
The best parts of heritage come from doing the right thing. And doing the right thing is often hard and stark. Today is one of those junctures.
Heritage is not just historic, its being built right now. Your heritage today includes a grand ability to argue, and to mistake articulation for action. You didn't come across as someone who wanted to leave it at that.
Re: mysticism.
> I believed a relation between me and god is personal, and priests, temples, rituals have no business being there. Eventually, I became an atheist.
AFAIK, the personal, as opposed to institution driven, connection to 'God' lands under the penumbra of mysticism.
I am glad you have those answers, but those are your personal answers.
The answer to your question i.e. common heritage, is linked to 'Indian' history, which in turn is inextricably linked to religion.
For example : When the Mughals first came here, (and ironically displaced the previous Nawabs), they said that they found so many things different between the cultures that they could never foresee common ground being reached.
It was when the Sufi saints came though, and discussed their take on religion, that they found a lot in common with the cultures already here.
> I am saying it isn't and there isn't an authority which decides the Indian heritage.
I am not providing authority, I am providing history. You had a question, you got an answer. If you want your answer to be something else, well read through Indian history.
If anything, the history of India gives space for almost everything, be it a Fakir who wants to be close to gods by being close to the ashes of the departed, or someone who is an atheist and appreciates the logic of code.
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Your final para is about having normal standards to deal with people. Its a great system, stick to it. But again, your question was about heritage not common sense behavior.
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I am not sure what you were aiming for in your response. You've been able to point out that India is very diverse, which I agree. I am pointing out as well, that the way that melting pot was bound together was often through mysticism.
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Here,
The west had its progression from the Greek states, their fall, the dark ages, the renissance, the enlightenment, the reformation, along the way including things like the french revolution, women's suffrage and civil liberties.
India followed another path altogether. Indian heritage is defined by that path.