The
culture of India is very distinctive and unique. Its uniqueness lies in its
strong social system and family values. The Indian way of living, eating,
dressing is inimitable. We consider our elders as the driving force and so we
respect and love them. Indian food, rituals, festivals, costumes, literature,
music and dance are intrinsic part of its culture and Hinduism is the oldest
surviving religion of the world.
They say that ‘change
is the only permanent thing’ and the changing world at a very fast pace has
become a part and parcel of our lives too. Technology has made it possible for
us to get first-hand information about things happening in any part of the
globe and our children get influenced by these incidents very easily. They
interact with their friends through a myriad of social media like Facebook,
Whatsapp etc, which shape their thoughts, opinions and values.
Change is inevitable and the new generation has to keep
pace with it. Though, to adapt to the latest technology is seen as a signifier
of development, at the same time one should not forget our roots. It is said
that ‘only when the roots run deep do the
branches grow tall’. It is the duty of all parents to make their children
aware about the deep rooted, rich cultural and traditional heritage of India so
that the future generations are also benefited.
The change in the education system encourages free
thinking and questioning and so mere lecturing will not make them understand
these values. One has to be careful while inculcating the right values in a
right manner among the children. The way they dress, eat and behave should not
be ridiculed upon rather understood and modified in a subtle manner.
Indeed, the parents and the educators face
tremendous challenge of preserving the age old custom and traditions and
educate them to follow the right path. Patience and perseverance is the need of
the hour and to emulate these here are some ideas on how to help them change
with the time and be rooted at the same time:
1. Share some good examples of our culture with the
children through stories, movies, songs and poems so that they will come to
know how rich our culture is and they have to carry the baton forward.
2. Celebrate and enjoy all the festivals and explain
to them the significance of each one of them. Involve them in organising the festivals.
2. Have them witness a variety of cultural programs
like dance, drama, music etc. This will develop an interest in the rich
heritage.
3. Encourage the children to wear ethnic dress while
going to some friend’s place or any restaurant and make them eat healthy
traditional food.
Indian culture is one of oldest and unique cultures
of the world and many a historians and explorers have been awed by its
uniqueness. At present the entire world is embracing the age old systems like ‘Yoga
and Ayurveda’ to their benefit. The fact that the foreigners hold us in high
esteem fills our hearts with pride. The Indian customs being respected by the
world at large invokes in the children a spirit of
confidence and self-respect. It is through this fine blend of the past with the
present, the extracting of the goodness of the years gone by for a better
future can the children benefit and the purpose of education be fulfilled.