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CULTURE – CHANGE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

BY: DR. T.K. JAIN
AFTERSCHO?i OL

What is culture – it is sum total of

belief system, values, and ideas. It is
much broader then just a dress / food /
show piece. Many people confuse
culture to dress style or some similar
practices. Culture is not limited to
narrow issues – it is a very broad

understanding. You may change your

ideas, and change the culture. You may
change the dress, but retain the ideas,
and retain the culture.

Broadly speaking there are following differences between traditional Indian

v/s modern (American) culture.

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Issue Traditional American Modern Japanese

Indian
Respect / Hierarchical Egalitarian Mixed Hierarchical
source of
power
Relationship Long, based Pragmatic, Changing Changing
on long practical and
associations short term
oriented
Values Religious and Economic Economic Group and
cultural activities and pseudo- family
practices given top social given practices
given top priority top priority given top
priority priority.

Culture is undergoing change. The change is due to impact of western

culture. It is not that western culture is bad or that Indian culture is
sacrosanct - but the crucial issues are whether Indian culture is changing in
positive direction or not. To what extent we are able to understand that the
change in culture will affect our future. Are we able to understand the silent
revolutions going on which will uproot us from our culture? Culture also
includes beliefs, rituals, practices, stories, norms. Many of these are
changing faster than what we can expect. The impact will be visible after a
few years only, when we find that many of these have become extinct. Are
we aware of these?

P: culture is a pattern followed by a group of people living in a particular

area. The culture must change according to time. This is a time of
globalization; we are accepting many things from other culture. Culture is
made by us and therefore we have to update and develop our culture

P2: it is a time specific activities being followed by people. It is dependent

on situation, time and other aspects. If there is any change in time, we must
also change our culture. Traditional culture is also very rich, but it also has

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some limitations, which restrict people to open up and give their best in their
respective fields.
P: Culture is made by the masses – it is prepared on the basis of what should
be done and what should not be done. The rules and norms of the society are
framed depending on suitability. In the traditional culture, we had dowry
system – it was a good system for some people – people used to save
something and give it to their daughter – however, this system has become a
problem for very rich people – they are forced to give dowry.
P2: Indian culture is very attractive to others due to many reasons. Marriage
system and all types of chores are very attractive to others and they are
specific to our culture. These are practices which are very good – and should
be followed. These practices create interaction among people and unite
them.
P: culture is also related to social taboos. There are some taboos, we have
taboo like – don’t cut trees – etc. these taboos help us in our development –
however, there are also evil practices like Mrityubhoj – which are not good
for society.
R: Culture connects us to our moral values – let us discuss the world
scenario – the most important issue today is global recession – India has not
bee affected much by world recession due to our systems of joint family and
our culture of frugalism. We have the culture of saving and promoting
savings and investments. Thus Indian culture is very useful in the world in
the modern context. Culture also instills moral values
P2: Indian culture talks about celestial powers – it connects us to spirituality.
It connects us to the super-beings – we celebrate each stage of life – from
birth to death. This builds our moral strength. However, there are also
practices which become burden for poor people. These cultures should not
be as a binding – if you can afford- follow, otherwise leave it.
P Indian people are more social in comparison to others. We don’t need
psychiatrists – due to our cultural practices. In India there are a large number
of festivals – we lead a life of hopes and we are moral and principally
stronger due to our culture. Our culture also gives us entertainment.

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However, there are also practices like caste based system, caste based
marriage etc.
P3: there are many festivals that we follow = these festivals enable people to
gather and discus the events. These aspects of our culture are for
development. We are also able to globalize due to these practices there are
some people, who get burden from culture – as they are not able to pay
attention to their work.
We must make a balance between tradition and modern practice
P: According to scientific notions, marriage should not take place in the
same caste. Our culture prevents this – thus there is a positive impact of
culture. There are many such practices, which help us.
P: it is the time of globalization. We should encourage exchange of ideas,
people and culture. We should encourage marriage between Indians with
others – so that we are able to develop global approach.
R: Today there is a lack of moral values. There is one example – of Satyam.
It is a question mark on our culture and values. If we continue to promote it-
what will happen.
P: culture is important = it gives us a pattern – which gives us flexibility and
opportunity for our development.
It should not be done as compulsion.
P2: customs and practices are based on time – but poor people follow them
blindly – whether they are relevant or not.
P: If we are going to Himachal – we find that many people throw away
currency in the river – it is just a ritual – I believe that there are many such
practices.
P2: there are systems where people do many things as just rituals (following
them blindly) there are cases of stampede – when we are doing something
just as a blind followership.
P: there should be small patterns of culture – we should not search for a big
culture and we should have flexibility to us so that we can adjust as per our
situation. Ultimately culture has to help us in our development.

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P2: Indians are considered as very emotional people – they are emotionally
attached to culture – but there are many things which we can avoid – but we
are not able to avoid these – as we are not able to leave them due our bad
practices – we will lose.
P: we should make alternate arrangements for solving world problem.
P2: there are practices like Parda system – which don’t permit women to
contribute.
R: there will be some plus points and some demerits – we have adopt the
positive aspects Today every person is trying to do something – we should
ensure that there is adequate flexibility.
R: if we start from ourselves – we can change culture.
P: our some years – we will be facing another transition.
R: there are so many persons - who are doing inter-caste marriages and other
practices, which were not permitted by our culture till now.
P2: we have a great culture – but culture is made for us. We have to improve
it. Culture is for our development.
P: we should take a commitment that we shall remove the deficiencies of the
culture. Future of our country is in our hand – If we do something – we will
be able to bring improvement. When we try to do something – there will be
opposition. When Einstein started research, people opposed – and called him
a mad person – today he is well recognized as a great scientist
R: if any part of culture adds value to the society, we must accept it and
otherwise, we can stop it / abandon it.

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