"Living with diversity, finding unity in diversity is practised in India over centuries. That is why many people wonder how is it possible in India, in one system of administration, in one Constitution, in one way of legal jurisprudence and functioning.
"Is it possible to accommodate, to absorb so much diversity. Many a time we are confronted with these questions," he asked and answered himself that "the answer lies in our civilisational values."
Mukherjee said that (civilisational values) is the reason why we live with 128 crores of people, the second largest population of the world, with almost all major religions.
Seven major religions are practised in India, more than 100 languages are spoken and over 1,600 dialects are used in India, he said.
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Ever since the Dadri lynching and subsequent events, Mukherjee has been appealing for tolerance and pluralism.
Citing teachings of various spiritual leaders and poets, he asked people to accept the message of great saints and "recharge our society, retransform ourselves with love and harmony".
He said India's civilisation is 5,000 years old. "It has been contributed by many saints various sages but all converge into one vast ocean of humanity," Mekherjee said.