write to me how to help you...
to start with i will write you an article about indian culture...just check if you like it..
Nearly five months ago I was talking about India with a group of Americans when one of them asked me. Amura, how has the Indian civilization survived for thousands of years unlike the Greek or Roman ones. Silence!
I found an answer by reading a book “Foundations of Indian Culture 1962” by K.M. Munshi and thereafter decided to share learning’s with you. This essay is based on the book. Where ever appropriate I have chipped in with my own analysis.
Significance of Culture
The last fifteen years or so have thrown up many questions. Where do Indians come from? Why is family such an important part of our social structure? Why are we a non-violent country? And so on. Unless we have roots in the soil, knowledge about Indian culture, we will not be able to understand who our people are, why do they behave in a certain way and what they want. Instead of letting them blossom we will try and impose our ideas on them. Ironically foreigners find our culture fascinating often asking us questions that compel us to think.
What is Culture?
‘It is the sum total of values expressed through art, religion, literature, social institutions and behavior, the overt acts of individuals and mass action inspired by collective urges.’ Its first characteristic is Continuity.
A distinctive culture comes into existence when people develop a continuos way of life. This is expressed in many ways like common traditions and norms of conduct, common institutions (marriage, family), common memory of triumphs achieved (Bharata war fought at Kurushetra between the Pandavas and Kauravas). Example where ever we go in India there are certain accepted norms of conduct.
The most important characteristic of a vital culture is a common outlook among the people, who when faced with adversity, difficulty can generate a collective will to action. However, when the collective will to resist adverse circumstances is weak the culture starts decaying (do you think it is happening today, since a common will to tackle the country’s problems seems to be lacking).
You might realize that that this is what is lacking in India today. We have the Hindus who look up to say Rana Pratap or Guru Gobind Singh for inspiration while Muslims look up to Akbar and Aurangzeb. How then can there be a collective will to face the problems that India is facing today unless common heroes bind us together. Nations are formed through amalgamation of identities and not by harping upon differences continuously.
With the passage of time the environment changes, society-culture come under pressure to respond. When this happens it is up to the best among the dominant minority to adjust their outlook, institutions but under inspiration of its Central Idea. When this does not happen the culture dies and with it the people.
Take the case of a modern Greek or Roman. Both these cultures have been overwhelmed by the West and are now where near the culture of their ancient civilizations.
The vitality of a culture cannot be passed down from father to son through a Will. Its values have to be recaptured afresh by every generation and would be subject to constant reinterpretation. If a culture is living the young would be impacted by it.
6:58 ICT
this is a long essay and it will need more time to send you the complete one...before that pls write me if at all you like it...
if not i shall write to you in areas of your intrest...if i know the subject...
write to me how to help you...
to start with i will write you an article about indian culture...just check if you like it..
Nearly five months ago I was talking about India with a group of Americans when one of them asked me. Amura, how has the Indian civilization survived for thousands of years unlike the Greek or Roman ones. Silence!
I found an answer by reading a book “Foundations of Indian Culture 1962” by K.M. Munshi and thereafter decided to share learning’s with you. This essay is based on the book. Where ever appropriate I have chipped in with my own analysis.
Significance of Culture
The last fifteen years or so have thrown up many questions. Where do Indians come from? Why is family such an important part of our social structure? Why are we a non-violent country? And so on. Unless we have roots in the soil, knowledge about Indian culture, we will not be able to understand who our people are, why do they behave in a certain way and what they want. Instead of letting them blossom we will try and impose our ideas on them. Ironically foreigners find our culture fascinating often asking us questions that compel us to think.
What is Culture?
‘It is the sum total of values expressed through art, religion, literature, social institutions and behavior, the overt acts of individuals and mass action inspired by collective urges.’ Its first characteristic is Continuity.
A distinctive culture comes into existence when people develop a continuos way of life. This is expressed in many ways like common traditions and norms of conduct, common institutions (marriage, family), common memory of triumphs achieved (Bharata war fought at Kurushetra between the Pandavas and Kauravas). Example where ever we go in India there are certain accepted norms of conduct.
The most important characteristic of a vital culture is a common outlook among the people, who when faced with adversity, difficulty can generate a collective will to action. However, when the collective will to resist adverse circumstances is weak the culture starts decaying (do you think it is happening today, since a common will to tackle the country’s problems seems to be lacking).
You might realize that that this is what is lacking in India today. We have the Hindus who look up to say Rana Pratap or Guru Gobind Singh for inspiration while Muslims look up to Akbar and Aurangzeb. How then can there be a collective will to face the problems that India is facing today unless common heroes bind us together. Nations are formed through amalgamation of identities and not by harping upon differences continuously.
With the passage of time the environment changes, society-culture come under pressure to respond. When this happens it is up to the best among the dominant minority to adjust their outlook, institutions but under inspiration of its Central Idea. When this does not happen the culture dies and with it the people.
Take the case of a modern Greek or Roman. Both these cultures have been overwhelmed by the West and are now where near the culture of their ancient civilizations.
The vitality of a culture cannot be passed down from father to son through a Will. Its values have to be recaptured afresh by every generation and would be subject to constant reinterpretation. If a culture is living the young would be impacted by it.
6:58 ICT
this is a long essay and it will need more time to send you the complete one...before that pls write me if at all you like it...
if not i shall write to you in areas of your intrest...if i know the subject...
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