The question of “What we ‘are’” refers to which type of identity?

Community identity

The correct answer is Option 1: Community identity.

Option 1: Community identity — Correct. The question of “What we ‘are’” refers to identities that are linked with our belonging to a particular community, such as language, religion, caste, ethnicity or region. These identities are generally inherited or given through social belonging rather than achieved through personal effort.

Option 2: Achieved identity — Incorrect. Achieved identity is based on individual choices, efforts and accomplishments, such as profession, education or achievements.

Option 3: Political identity — Incorrect. Political identity develops through political beliefs, participation or association with political groups, not simply through who we are by birth.

Option 4: Class identity — Incorrect. Class identity is related to economic position and social status, whereas “what we are” broadly refers to community-based belonging.

NCERT: Community identity is based on birth and ‘belonging’ rather than on some 98 form of acquired qualifications or ‘accomplishment’. It is what we ‘are’ rather than what we have ‘become’. We don’t have to do anything to be born into a community – in fact, no one has any choice about which family or community or country they are born into. These kinds of identities are called ‘ascriptive’ – that is, they are determined by the birth and do not involve any choice on the part of the individuals concerned.