Indian Culture

Culture' has been defined in numerous ways and the one given by the British anthropologist, Sir Edward Burnett Tylor, seems to be the most satisfactory, being accepted by modern scientists. He defines it as `that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of the society'.

The units of culture, which include certain characteristic manners and practices of a group of people, go to form the `cultural pattern' of a society.

A set of cultural traits adopted by a group `to meet its needs and ensure its survival' constitutes its culture. In this sense, culture could be associated with a nation, town, village or a tribe.

In terms of Tylor's definition, man acquires culture or becomes cultured by being a member of a society or a group and there are various elements in that `complex whole' called culture.

Has India a culture of her own? Given the complexity introduced by differences of race, religion, language, customs and tradition, it is not easy to identify the elements of Indian culture.

Sardar K.M. Panikkar observes: "That India has a life view of her own, a special outlook on essential problems which has persisted throughout her history would hardly be denied by anyone..." T.S. Eliot, in his `Observation on culture', argues that the basis of culture is religious beliefs'. It is undeniably true that it is Christianity that forms the basis of European culture, in the same way that it is the pre-eminence of Hindu is in India that gives to Indian culture its special characteristics.

Sardar Panikkar identifies what he calls, `Outstanding Facts of Indian Culture'. These are:

1. Tradition of tolerance, adding to the richness and variety of Indian life.

2. Sense of synthesis reflected in racial harmony, the primary institutions of the village and the family, sculpture, architecture, music and painting, modes of worship, faith in democratic institutions etc.

3. Universal outlook as reflected in views such as `The world is one family, `the world is one nest'

4. Philosophical outlook with its basis in the belief in the unity of creation.

5. Respect for the individual based on the philosophical equation of Atman and Brahman, the soul and the Oversoul.

Three Fundamental Values

When the fundamental values of a culture cease to inspire the life of the dominant minority in a people, the culture dies. If the values persist from generation to generation, the culture continues to give vitality to social order and individual growth.

Indian culture has survived because in every generation, the best among us have lived by certain fundamental values. For instance, sensitive souls in each generation from Sankara in the 8th century to Gandhiji in the 20th century have found self-fulfilment in living up to the values taught in the Bhagavad Gita. If the day comes when the best spirits in the country do not or cannot find self-fulfilment in living upto these values, Indian culture would be reduced to a museum piece... no longer a stream of vitality and creativeness.

What are the Fundamental Values of our culture?

The first value which underlies our culture is the faith in the supremacy of the Moral and Spiritual Order. The Vedic sages called it Rita, later it was called Dharma. Age after age, refinements were made in the concept, but essentially the faith has persisted in our people.

Rta is the universal order, material, moral and spiritual, which unfolds life. Satya or truth is its personal aspect. To live up to it through knowledge, devotion and action, becomes a paramount demand on the sensitive individual who finds fulfilment by living up to it.

Satya in the sense of absolute sincerity, unity of thought, word and deed, is not to be cultivated in a cave or in a place of pilgrimage. It has to be lived in every action, in every relationship and on every occassion.

The other value is dedication, surrender of the ego to God (Samyama). By living a dedicated life, the individual recaptures the values for his own generation and passes them on as a legacy to the next one.

The third great value is the consecration of life (Samarpana). Rigid asceticism is not consecration. Giving up life to find personal salvation is not consecration. In order to realise consecration, we must live a full life in which every act comes to be consecrated as an offering to God.

In order to live up to these values in individual and collective life, desire, greed, malice and anger have to be transmitted into noble aspirations.

Our religious tolerance and love of peace have been the legacies of these values, upheld generation after generation.

Indian culture will live so long as they continue to inspire the life of the dominant minority.