Culture crossings.. enhancing the Indianness!

-Siddhi Somani  

 

Very often people use remarks like ‘This is not our culture..!’ or ‘Our culture is totally different..!’ or even they easily call someone uncultured. That eventually raises a simple question, what does culture actually mean? Is it all about what you wear? Is it all about how you talk, walk, behave, think and treat others? Is it respecting anything or anyone at first sight? What is it actually?

 

We live in a very diverse country called India, where people have different opinions and not one, but various perspectives to look at a particular aspect. Hence, this concept of understanding ‘CULTURE’ totally becomes subjective.

 

 

 

The typical definition of culture says,” It is sum total of attitudes, customs and beliefs that distinguishes one group of people from another and is transmitted through language, rituals, institutions and arts from one generation to other. Culture also refers to refined music, art and literature and one, who is well versed in these subjects is considered as ‘cultured’.” Now this definition can also be challenged. What about those people who are not at all good in arts? They may of course be excellent at something else! Does that mean that they are uncultured?

 

Ability, capacity, courtesy, education, beliefs, tradition, training, grace, elegance, mannerism, nobility, dignity, etc when combined together makes a person culturally rich. Anthropologists (one who studies human kind) consider that requirements for culture are essential features that distinguish humans from other animals. Culture includes behaviour and belief patterns of a particular society, ethnic or age group and can be built easily by improving one’s mind in education and training.

 

In our motherland, various people have variety of rituals, traditions, legacies which they erroneously consider as their ‘Culture’. These all are part of their culture and not culture in itself. Masses should make an attempt to understand and adopt the appropriate INDIAN culture. The age old eating habits, the old musical tastes, the old dancing traditions, etc have all wiped out. All understood that along with the changing world, one must move on, but that does not mean to cross out our originality!!

 

The real magic lies in respecting our culture and being modern at the same time, which is not difficult, if supposed! In this ‘so-called’ modern India, there still exist modern people tagging legitimate school of thoughts which is highly appreciated. All you need is to think and act absolute.