WHAT IS CULTURE?Culture is everywhere but can be defined by the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. The culture of past and present shapes us and our surroundings accordingly.ORCulture can be defined as product of cultivating ones mind and its consequent ability to shape ones mind.

WHY IS CULTURE IMPORTANT?

Culture tells us who we are, where we have come from thereby providing every individual an identity and every society a character of its own. Moreover, Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat the mistakes thereby emphasising the ability of past to provide solutions to present problems and simultaneously providing a framework for the future.

What is Indian culture?According to Amartya Sen, the culture of modern India is a complex blend of its historical traditions, influences from the effects of colonialism over centuries and current Western culture - both collaterally and dialectically.Indian Culture is like an expression of multifarious and multi-dimensional internal and external factors be it geographical, political, socio-economic that have shaped the individual and his surroundings eventually giving us a plural society that seems same and different, both at the same time.

Focus on specific aspects of culture? Clothing- dhoti, kurta, salwaar kameez, Kanchivaram sarees etc Food- bengali, gujrati, south indian, rajasthan , mughlai, punjabi. Its shaped by geographical, physiological, religious and economic aspects. Architecture- Its been shaped over the centuries by socio-economic and geographical conditions. There have been distinct styles along with an element of continuity e.g.: Ajanta caves. South Indian school- developed with establishments of hindu kingdom in india and developed into dravidian style+ North India- Nagara style + Central India- vesara style -> Muslim invasions led to Indo-Islamic architecture -> Colonial rule led to Indo-Sarcenic agriculture Jewellery- India and jewelry, jewelry and Indian women - the terms are linked inherently. At the time of wedding as well as numerous other occasions, a woman is gifted jewelry by her parents and relatives. The styles of jewellery have evolved with time. Forts- Most of the Indian forts were built as a defense mechanism to keep the enemy away and were also symbols of might. Indian Pilgrimage- In India we find the oldest pilgrimage tradition in the whole world. The practice of pilgrimage in India is deeply embedded in the cultural psyche. Following the Vedic period the practice of pilgrimage seems to have become quite common, Hindus call the sacred places tirthas and the action of going on a pilgrimage is called tirtha-yatra. Religion-India is a land of diversities. This diversity is also visible in the spheres of religion. The major religions of India are Hinduism (majority religion), Islam (largest minority religion), Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and the Bah' Faith. India is a land where people of different religions and cultures live in harmony. This harmony is seen in the celebration of festivals. The message of love and brotherhood is expressed by all the religions and cultures of India. Monuments-With their elaborate superfluities and wonderful architecture, Indian monuments represent one of the most outstanding facets of the multi-faceted Indian culture. They were often associated with religions e.g.: Char Minar, Gateway of India, Buland Darwaza , sancho stupa etc. Temples- Strong mythological believes have rendered these places as the religious hubs of the country eg: Iskon, jain temples of gajakbetaka , mans devi etc. Paintings- Paintings are a expression of creativity and reality of the times.The tradition of painting has been carried on in the Indian subcontinent since the ancient times. Standing as a testimony to this fact are the exquisite murals of Ajanta and Ellora, Buddhist palm leaf manuscripts, Mughal and Kangra schools of miniature Indian paintings, Rangolis and their subtypes etc. Dances- Dances are a form of coherent expression of human feelings. Like the Indian culture, Indian classical dances are equally diverse in nature. The Indian dances are broadly divided into Classical dances and folk dances. The Classical dances of India are usually spiritual in content. Though the folk dances of India are also spiritual and religious in content but the main force behind the folk dances of India is the celebratory mood. Each form represents the culture and ethos of a particular region or a group of people The most popular classical dance styles of India are Bharatnatyam of Tamil Nadu, Kathakali and Mohiniattam of Kerala, Odissi of Orissa, Kathak of Uttar Pradesh, Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh and Manipuri of Manipur. Music- India has a deep and one of the most well- developed "systems" of classical music in the world. There have been references to music in Vedas but some date the advent of the system of classical Indian music to Amir Khusro. Muslim rulers and noblemen freely extended their patronage to music. The Bhakti tradition with its use of vernacular brought forth a musical revolution. And By the sixteenth century, the division between North Indian (Hindustani) and South Indian (Carnatic) music was also being more sharply delineated.

Q. Impact of Globalisation on Indian Culture?A- Globalisation at the cultural level, leads to both the universalisation and the fragmentation and multiplication of identities with addition of new elements . Globalization has not only inculcated the westernization in India, but conversely the Indian culture has also spread its impact globally(The concept glocalization emerged ). The impact can be profoundly seen in greeting( from namaste to Hi)Family structure( nuclear, abandonment of old without structures to support it), marriage values( equal status), social values( secondary rships, live-in relations etc), loss of primacy of agriculture , primacy of economics, status of women, migration( within and outside country) religion( increasing agnosticism, atheism with rise of fundamentalism)festivals( we celebrate all of them even halloween)ClothingMusic( indian and western music becoming popular in west and india + rise of fusion)food habits

Q DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDIAN AND WESTERN CULTURE?

Origin:Indian culture is one of the oldest cultures in the world. The traditions are several millennia old.Though according to historical records ,western culture began with Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, it is considered as a modern culture to many peopleReligions :India-Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhismwest-Christianity, JudaismCuisine:Indian food is heavily spiced and is rich in flavor. Major emphasis is put on having lunch but in west Basis of food is meat; it is an essential part of every meal. More emphasis is placed on have dinnerFamily :In india, Traditional people usually prefer joint-families, while modern people are now living in nuclear-like families but in west Most people believe in nuclear familiesMarriages: In IndiaArranged Marriages are more common compared to love marriages But there Love marriages are more commonSociety: Indian society is collectivist whereas their society is individualistic.Gender Equality:In India Women are still considered unequal to men though acceptance of westernization is changing this idea whereas in west,Women are equal to men in societyMusic :India-Religious, classical, folk, popular, bollywood and pop musicWest-Is a melting pot and mix of all kinds of music from all over the world; includes rap, hip hop, pop, metal, rock, soft rock, alternate, etc.

HOW TO PRESERVE INDIAN CULTURE?

India is going through a period of rapid socio-cultural transformation. I believe emphasis should be laid on learning from the past while marching towards a more modern and constantly evolving heterogenous society. For this effective education , Political & administrative initiative is needed to ensure that an ecosystem whereby west and east collude and don't collide. Further, specific and targeted steps to preserve remnants and reminders of the past need to be taken.