True, young people are exposed to many more strains and stratas of influcences these days. TV can bring some aspects of the USA, UK, Japan and China into your lounge. True, living in other countries alters your perceptions of cultures in general. But it should NOT turn you against your own culture. Never disown your parents. Argue with them, if you must, but do not disown them. Indian culture is our parent.
INDIANS as people of an old culture and religion, can be, should be supported by their own roots - no matter where they live. Surely, we cannot be like straws tossing about in the changing winds. By all means learn to observe and appreciate other cultures but maintain your value system and retain your closenes to Indian culture. I am relieved to read that Pallavi Iyer is Hindu by culture. Western "cultures" have become "rootless". Their young people are into a culture of cannabis and alcohol. Dear Raj Arora, Some aspects of India you have mentioned are NOT the whole of Indian culture. Within a generation these can change. In the West people use paper to clean themselves after using the toilet. Many Indians find this revolting. But we do not condemn Western culture because of some aspects we do not like. See Raj, Indian culture is like a huge tree. The branches may extend several metres away but the root must hold firm. I do not see value in all this "jugalbandhi" people who claim they are quarter of this, quarter of that, one-eigth of this DNA and so on.
RE:Moorings Are Needed in Choppy Waters
by Kris iyer on Aug 08, 2008 04:39 PM Permalink
Bhel Puri tastes good with all the different ingredients. But it cannot be the main meal. You still need good old subzi, prata and dhahi. So, the "fusion" people can be interesting up to a point. But they cannot taken seriously to learn any deep culture from. It is in "choppy waters" that a ship needs strong moorings. In a globalised world, Indians must retain an appreciation of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Upanishads, the music and dance schools of India, the great Yoga and Pranayam practices of India. Raj, eating Paan worries you when there are so many more important positive things in Indian culture?
Every NRI should ask: "What is my unique and new contribution to this country I am living in? Speaking with an American accent, well, millions of people in USA do that. Showing my mastery of American history? Okay, but that is still not an unique contribution. Telling the USA and the world about Vedic Maths? YES, that is unusual and new. Every NRI can become a brown copy of an American or British person. Okay, up to a point. But if the NRE wishes to be more than average, he or she needs to dig into Indian culture. See, appreciation of Jewish culture has enabled jews to re-create their culture in Israel after a gap of 1700 years. Do NOT ignore India's cultural history of 9,000 years. Proven. Some "rigs" of the Veda were composed around 6,500 before christian era. Dig into India's antiquity, Sanskrit literature. Gems of the purest ray serene hide there.
RE:Moorings Are Needed in Choppy Waters
by raj arora on Aug 08, 2008 09:37 PM Permalink
lol reverse pscychology ah ,wont work my friend lol ,open ur eyes how ever much u wanna belive wat im sayin is curse and abuse ,deep within u know tats trhe real truth which will never change ,i hope idnians can learn some manners
RE:Moorings Are Needed in Choppy Waters
by Devavrata Satya on Aug 09, 2008 12:43 PM Permalink
It is not something I want to believe - what you are saying IS curse and abuse. To say that many Indians spit on the roads is fact, to say that India will always be filthy is indeed curse and abuse, born of your own shame at being an Indian, when you went abroad.
I stand by my statement - I believe that someday you will clean your own mind of the prejudice and bigotry it is now exhibiting.
RE:Moorings Are Needed in Choppy Waters
by R R on Aug 08, 2008 09:53 PM Permalink
How is telling people about vedic maths unusual and new? Someone has obviously done it before. What's wrong in showing mastery in American history? Just because someone has done it before doesn't mean that you can't try to do it better. Isn't that the basis for innovation?
Who are you to say that Indian culture helps a person anyway? It may work for you but may not work for someone else. It's up to each person to decide what is best for him/her. It makes more sense to pick the best parts of every culture. Darwin.. survival of the fittest, evolutionary theory. Someone has found a better way to do something, you learn from it and evolve to survive.
Also, Indian culture has changed immensely over time.. Vedic teachings is a part of our history and isn't so much a part of our current culture anymore. Another obvious example is our sexual morality. Our current morality is based on the British morality when they colonized India. Before that Indians' were very open about sex (Kamasutra came from? Sexual statues on our temples?). Even the clothes were more scandalous then. It distracted the British soldiers, hence they enforced a dress code.
And what specifically is Indian culture? As far as I know, India only became one country under British rule, until then we were just various regions fighting against each other (hmm... I guess thats one thing that really hasn't changed much). If you're from Tamil Nadu, you follow one culture, Kerala another.. Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese, Gujrat
RE:RE:Moorings Are Needed in Choppy Waters
by R R on Aug 08, 2008 09:54 PM Permalink
If you're from Tamil Nadu, you follow one culture, Kerala another.. Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese, Gujrati... Each state has it's own traditions, languages... why should we follow yours. Culture is determined by the current prevailing behaviour, not 9000 years ago. Open your eyes and see what Indian culture is today.
RE:Moorings Are Needed in Choppy Waters
by Vijay on Aug 09, 2008 02:34 AM Permalink
So what do you mean to say? That there is no Indian culture? Don't deny something just because you are ignorant. Make an effort to find out. Its just stupidity to reject something just because you are ignorant. So what existed before the America of today before 300 years? Just because you people do not believe in an India culture doesn't mean it never existed. And may I ask what efforts you made to understand it, before saying it never existed? Yes, there are different cultures in India, but there is a common thread to it. We may speak different languages, but the spirit of existence is the same. And Raj, show some humility. And what is the discipline you are talking about, showing your underwear with your pants worn down when walking on the streets, is that your idea of discipline? What is the family value system in America? Is that the discipline you want to follow? How about taking to drugs when you are a child? Is this the discipline you want to follow? And stop the stupidity of comparing two cultures. Cultures and practices are born out of ones own response and interaction with his own environment. There is nothing wrong in sticking to your core values, identify with it, be proud of it and give back something. Any more abuses will just show expose your lack of intellectual depth and down right ignorance. Thanks Jai hind!
Re: Moorings Are Needed in Choppy Waters
by R R on Oct 08, 2008 12:19 PM Permalink
You missed the point of my post... The point has nothing to do with whether Indian culture exists.. The point was that there isn't just one 'Indian culture' and that your version isn't better than mine. Like you mentioned.. there is no way to compare cultures. We both are saying the same thing.
My family may believe that eating meat is ok, someone else may believe you should be vegetarian. One may believe that enlightment can only be found by accepting the word of God, Someone else might believe that you should find your own way to enlightment.
By the way.. showing your underwear isn't part of the general American culture... just because a few ppl do it. Drugs as well... if that's your case, then people in India have been doing drugs long before America existed. There is a family value system in America... strong family value system.. do some research on that.
RE:Moorings Are Needed in Choppy Waters
by Vijay on Aug 09, 2008 02:44 AM Permalink
And Raj....nobody expects you to get convinced of Indian culture here, i guess that's just impossible. But show some humility and restraint when calling people filty in a public forum. Or is it too much to ask of your disciplined "American" brain? Jai hind
RE:Moorings Are Needed in Choppy Waters
by Kris iyer on Aug 09, 2008 08:32 AM Permalink
RR, 1) Progressive people emphasise common ground. If focus is only on DIFFERENCES, then even between brother and brother and sisters and parents of the SAME FAMILY, there are differences. Why go for Tamilian, Gujarathi etcetera. Within one family we can quarrel. Abroad, Indians come together to celebrate Diwali, Independence Day - no Tamil, Gujarathi etcetera. I appreciate Bengali culture, although I am not Bengali. Rabindra Songeeth I love, lose myself in it. That is because I see authentic Indian vibs in it. 2) Culture has roots in history. The efforts of our ancestors come into it, their ideas on health, marriage, wealth and behaviour the works they penned and even how they grew their crops. 3) Indian culture helps many NRIs in Houston. Under Swami Ramdev Maharaj's guidance, they have collected 20 Million US dollars to establish a PATANJALI YOG CENTRE. The NRIs in Vancouver are also doing the same. Indian culture works not just for me. Two Crores of people have been CURED of serious diseases through Pranayam. 4) The desire to get educated to high level is part of Indian culture. 5) Contribute to US culture in ways you are good at.
Raj Arora, 1) I have not said that Indians have impeccable manner always. Are you sure that in the USA you get it right? Why are so many instances of gunmen, often school boys, shooting dead innocent people at School, at restaurants and offices. I would rather put up with a little "Paan Juice" in the corner of my office!!
Re: RE:Moorings Are Needed in Choppy Waters
by R R on Oct 08, 2008 12:27 PM Permalink
I said (in reference to an earlier post), what may work for you may not necessarily work for others. It works for you.. great. Don't force it on others or belittle someone elses choice.
