GROUP DISCUSSION ON CULTURE

CULTURE – CHANGE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

 

 

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.

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

 

 

Culture is undergoing change. The change is due to impact of western culture. It is not that western cutlreu is bad or that Indian culture is sacrosanct  - but the crucial issues is whether Indian culture is changing in positive direction or not. To what extent we are able to undertand that the change in culture will affect our future. Are we able to understand the silent revolutions going on which will unroot 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 culure. 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 chnge our culture. Traditional cutlture is also very rich, but it also has 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 shold 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 celecial 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 culture 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 frestivals – we lead a life of hopes and we are morall, and principally stronger due to our culture. Our culture also give us entertainment. 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 culturefor development. We are also able to globalize due to these practices There are soe peope, who get burden from cutlrue – as they are not abel to pay attention to their work.

 

We must make a balance between tradition and moder practice

P: According to scientific notions, marrage 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 as compulsion.

 

P2: cusoms 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.

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 Tody 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.

 

 

SHOULD THERE BE CHECK ON FREE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES?

SHOULD THERE BE CHECK ON FREE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES?

There are a number of natural resources, which are freely available to everyone. For example: air, water, earth, basic mineral resources – free available etc. Should there be a check on their utse? There are also other resources, which are charged by the government. These resources play an important role in economic development of a country. The country must take up a model of sustainable development.


P : there are several natural resources like minerals etc. we have a need of all such material. There must be a check on their use. Our economy depends on resources. Some countries have lot of resources. If we have checks / controls, there will be no progress.
In some industries, people over-exploit natural resources. Due to mining and other such activies.

P2: nature give us many resources. We must use these in decent manner. We have to look at they use. There maybe abundance of resources in one area and there may be paucity of the same in other areas. There is a need of mutual collaboration.

P: It is not important how much are we using – but it is important that we should maintain natural composition. We have to try to maintain the natural ecoogy and balance. For example, we should not do something which my cause loss to our economic systel. Air and water are available in plenty, but the challenge is regarding mineral resources like petroleum, copper, and other resources. We should get united and use these resources properly. Due to excessive mining of gypsum, many parts of rajasthan have become unlivable. Due to excess mining, marble is now very deep in Makarana (in rajasthan).

on population

POPULATION PROBLEM V/S HUMAN RESOURCE STRENGTH
Population is truly the base of any country. India certainly has excess population. The chanllenge is to convert this population into a strength – but converting them into knowledge workers. Converting them into knowledge workers is not easy – it requires excellent infrastructure – for education, for development, for computer literacy, for over development. We already have limited resource – like land, forests, natural resources etc. If population continues to grow like this – we will be in crisie. We are already facing so many problems like shortage of drinking water, shortage of space, shortage of cultivable land and land for forests. We need have planning regaridn our population and should have check on its fast growth. At the same time – we have make plans for development of our existing population. We have to train them, prepare them and equip them so that they are more entrepreneurial, more literate, aware, and competent to lead a better life. India is shining due to its middle class – which is considered as very hardworking, enterprising, and has good purchasing power also. It is the true shine of our country. We have to continueulsly raise opportunities for the poor so that they are able to come up to middle class. Charity will not help – nor will reservation – the real benefit will come if there are oppoorutnite sof competenecy development. Consider population as a major resource – and let us work for the development of this resource. We must work hard to bring properity in our country and let us work for proper distribution of economic and natural resources.




D: Population is a very big problem in front of us. There are many types of pollution due to this problem. This problem is the root cause of many other problem. Excessive densitiy results in

P: Population is the power of our country. The main problem is the ratio of working population per population. We have high population density. Increase in population is very high - we should check it. Population is the only reason – why India is a big market – large MNC s are investing in India due to its attractive market – large MNCs find lower manpower cost – as an advantage of India

R : cutting of trees, deforestation and all such issues are due to large population.

P2: living world consists of living beings and others – population of any country is very much important for building that country – so

P : population means people present in a region – but it doesn’t include animal population – human population always helps us in production. There are also illiterate people – they are not good for a country. So we should develop them and they sould lead a respectable life.
P2: after some time - there are always negative consequences of increased population – there is a law of production – increasing returns, constant returns and decereasing returns. – there are always negative erturns aafter some time. To a certain extent – this is a problem

R: competition is not a problem – it gives better products and services – if increasing population generates competition – it is good

P2: we have limited natural resources – like food water, fresh air, forests etc. if population crosses, it affects life negatively.

P: India is growing at a very fast rate – it si only due to its increasing population – it is able to attract large number of MNCs as it has an attractive market. We hav to focus on their development – it is our power , it is the face of our country. We can make our forces, and our working force out of population only. WE HAVE a lot of resources, but we have not used them properly. We have to manage our resources and use them in the development of the people. We have to consider them as human resources – not just as masses –

R: No country grows from population – only 20% of our population are really working populations – 80% people are living in abject poverty or unhealthy conditions - this cannot take us to growth.

P2: there is unequal density of population all over the world – this is a global problem. Some countries are facing problems due to lack fo manpower – but some countries have excessive people – there is lack of proper utilization of manpower.
P: there should be proper balance of every kind of person. Only 20% people are in upper middle class – 30% people are living below the poverty line.
R: Crores are living in slums – lacks are living in bunglows - this situation is not comfortable.
P: We need every type of persons – every person has some or other role – there are some people who work in factories – there are some who work as workers – the workers are equally important – we must recoginse their importance.