UNIT 1 INDIAN CULTURE·AND
CU~TURAL TRADITIONS
Structure
1.1 Introduction
Objectives
1.2 Meaning of Culture
1.3 Evolution of Culture
1.4 Indian Culture and Cultural Traditions
1.5 Cultural Interaction and Change
1.6 Sumrruuy
1.7 Questions
1.8 Answers
1.1 INTRODUCTION
When you visit a place for the first time you will see the people of that place
speak in a different language, dress differently, eating style is different and follow
certain ways and manners which may be different from yours. In order to survive
there you learn some of these ways. But all of us are born into cultures in terms
of family, community and society. There are certain ways we behave, think, dress,
understand the world around us, we follow the religion and caste, we speak the
language of the region. This may differ from region to region. All these influence
on us as we grow and we absorb these practices. Many of these practices have
been handed down for generations naturally. At the same time these cultural
practices are subject to change. In this lesson we will explore the expressions of
culture and cultural traditions of India.
Objectives
After studying this lesson you will be able to:
.• define culture;
• understand how culture is evolved; and
• explain Indian cultural traditions
1.2 MEANING OF CULTURE
Culture has been defined by many people in different ways. Culture can be
defined as a complex system of knowledge, belief, art, law, morals,customs and
many other habits acquired through traditions by a man as the member of a
particular society. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent
India, described culture as "the outcome and basis of training, establishment and
development of physical and mental potentials". Sri Rajagopalacharya, the first
Governor General of British India, defined culture as "the collective expression of 5
Introduction to Indian the thoughts, speeches and deeds of the learned, talented or creative members of
Culture a society or a nation". By these, we understand that culture is seen or felt through
our thought process, literature, language, arts, religion, customs, traditions and the
way we know the world around us.
1.3 EVOLUTION OF CULTURE
The most spectacular forms of Indian cultural expression are closely associated
with religion. Some of traditions are functional, practical and prescribed for keeping
clean. For example taking bath everyday and worship only after taking bath,
cleaning the house everyday, lighting the lamps in the evening without fail, not to
wear the used cloth etc. Later, these practices were associated with religion for
strict adherence. This is how most of our cultural traditions have been evolved.
Outstanding structures were created·for religious purposes. Temples were like the
centres of socio-culturallife of the society. All temple traditions have cultural
relevance and practiced in the context of social activities. For example, temples
generated employment opportunities for various sections of people like architects,
chariot makers, stone and wood cutters, sculptors, painters, priests, teachers,
accountants, epigraphers, dancers, musicians, garland makers, people who
participate in and execute processions, traders, cooks, guards, officers and many
more people.
Our religious beliefs also influence our daily lives. Marriage rituals, the food we
eat, the clothes we wear are governed by the religious rules and also it goes with
the region to which we belong. For example the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and
Sikh women of Punjab wear salwar khameze where as the all women irrespective
of religions wear saree in Tamilnadu. Thus, our cultural traditions are shaped by
many fa~tors other than religion.
1.4 INDIAN CULTUREAND CULTURAL
TRADmONS
Fine Arts
The arts are one of the important forms of cultural expression. Dance, music,
painting, sculpture, drama, architecture have evolved through centuries. There is
wide range of varieties in each of these because they have acquired changes
during historical period. Each of these communicates a message and signifies the
way the ideas and emotions were expressed through the means of artistic language.
You will study each of these forms of culture in the lessons later. For example,
the Buddha and Mahavira sculptures communicate the feelings and the state of
peace and tranquillity. The sculptures of dancing Shiva tells us how God's enjoyed
dancing, the Panchatantra stories are depicted on the walls of temples and also
paintings from Mughal period tells us the taste and interests of Mughal emperors.
If we take music we have classical traditions such as Hindusthani, Camatic,
popular traditions like Sufi, folk, bhajans, kirtanas, Bhakti sangeet, Rabindra
sangeet, film music etc. India is very rich in the development of all such traditions.
Literary Tradition
In the field of literature too the Vedic sources, Sanskrit works of Kalidasa and
others including Persian, Urdu and English and the regional literature show the
6 finer expression of Indian imagination, understanding life and philosophy. The
classical language like Sanskrit and local language like Prakrit and others have Indian Culture and
Cultural Traditions
simultaneously evolved. Indian cultural life is gloriously depicted in these various
forms of literature.
Science and Technology
Science and technology have also evolved as part of Indian culture which is felt
in the use of metals, building forts, palaces, temples and other worshipping places,
building of tanks and cities. Metal craft, jewellery, bead making, boat making,
ceramics, which speak about the use of different metals and the progressive
stages of Indian material culture.
Religious Tradition
Indian religious tradition talks about 'vasudaiva kutumbakam', the entire universe
is one family of God. Through the ages the Vedic chants, Buddhist chants, Jaina
chants, sufi songs(Islamic-Hindu combination) , folk songs, poetic compositions
of saints from all over the country during Bhakti movement have made Indian
culture rich and deep-rooted. The women saints like Akka Mahadevi (Kamataka),
Meera Bai (Rajasthan), Andal (Tamilnadu), Lai Ded (Kashmir), have richly
contributed to the Indian literary and religious tradition.
Although, the Indian society was divided into many caste groups, harmony was
maintained between the people of different religions. Religious tolerance was the
basic principle of Indian culture. From such experience, spirituality and the science
of Yoga have emerged as cultural traditions. Indian spirituality and Yoga are the
great contributions to the world today. The folk traditions are known as living
traditions they are colourful, rich and closer to nature.
Epics and their Influence
Indian cultural values can be seen through the narration in our great epics like
Ramayana and Mahabharata. The story of these two epics is very familiar to
Indians as they like to watch these even now on television or through the enactment
of their episodes in classical arts or folk arts. The values upheld in these epics are
applicable to all times. The contents are so impressive that countries like Sri
Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, and Nepal have also imbibed these in their culture.
Fairs and Festivals
Indian culture is seen in the way festivals are celebrated in rural and urban places.
The customs followed in fairs, festivals show the beliefs such as the truth triumphs
the evil, the happiness and sorrow are to be seen complementing each other, the
elders are to be respected, the family tradition should be valued, peace has to
prevail, violence of any kind is to be avoided, dance, drama and music become
part of ceremonies symbolising life is a celebration.
Food and Dress Tradition
Our food tradition and dress tradition are very rich and vibrant. Each region
comes out with delicious and tasty dishes which are prepared according to the
availability of resources like milk, vegetables, greens, and grains. The dishes are
based on the availability of the resources found naturally in different seasons.
Fresh and natural food is preferred and is of good quality as tinned food is still
not desired in Indian traditional preparations. In temple, churches, mosques and
Gurudwaras culture food offerings are made with tasty dishes. 7
Introduction to Indian India has rich textile tradition in silk, cotton, woollen and raw fibre yarn. Each
Culture region has its own weave with typical way of weaving and design. For example
moonga silk from Assam, paithani sarees from Maharashtra, bandini from
Gujarat, kanjeeivarm silk from Tamilnadu and Mysore silk from Karnataka etc.
Kashmir shawls and carpets have great demand in other countries since many
centuries. In Indian tradition thetextile that is handmade are known as handlooms.
1.5 CULTURAL INTERACTION AND CHANGE
People from different cultures have been coming to India even before the Christian
era. Because of the contact with other cultures our culture goes through the
process of cultural interaction. Such contacts can take place due to trade - where
the merchants come and have exchange of goods, invasion - where the conquerors
invade the country, expedition - sea or land exploration. Cultural interaction takes
place when pilgrims or travellers visit distant lands, and also when the artists and
artisans move from place to place. Finally, people migrate in search of work and
establishment of settlements also cause cultural interaction. Those involved in such
interactions learn about practice of different peoples and carry their own ideas
and customs to the places they go. this will be a process in which the cultural
practices .of all those involved will alter or tend to change.
The food tradition and dress tradition have undergone much change. If we observe
what we eat today is an add mixture of older ones traditionally grown and
available in India and the most recent ones like Pizzas, pasta, noodles, ham
burgers, ice-cream etc. At the same time people in other countries like USA, UK
and Middle East have developed taste for Indian cuisine such as dosa, curries,
kababs and sweets. Even the dresses people wear in Indian cities have great
western influence. The effects of technology have brought many changes in our
day to day life. Even the remote villages have Television, mobiles, telephone and
internet. In this way people are connected and this has altered the socio-cultural
life of our people. You will come across more information on the changing trends
in the Indian cultural heritage in the lessons which follow.
1.6 SUMMARY
In this unit, we have tried to define what culture is and also the meaning of
culture. This has given us an understanding that culture is the integral part of our
everyday life. Every human being will evolve culturally in a society. So far we have
learnt,
• If we wish to answer questions arising from the interaction of our lives with
culture, we have to refer to our cultural heritage. This will help us to understand
our present life and situation better. .
• The ideas and theories prevailing in our social thought of today have a
cultural background.
1.7 SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
1) True or False
a) When you visit a place for the first time you will not see the people of
that place speak in a different language and dress differently & eating
in different manner.
b) Outstanding structures were not necessarily created for religious Indian Culture and
Cultural Traditions
purposes.
c) Paintings from Mughal period tells us the taste and interests of Mughal
emperors. •
d) Spirituality and the science of Yoga are not considered as cultural
traditions.
e) Drama and music do not become part of ceremonies symbolising life is
a celebration.
2) Match the following
1. Panchatantra a) Thailand and Indonesia
2. paithani sarees b) local language of ancient times
3. Lai Ded c) from Maharashtra
4. Ramayana is popular in d) Stories
5. Prakrit e) Kashmiri poetess
3) Fill in the blanks with th e words given in the list below
1. Many of these have ,. been handed down for
generations naturally.
2. Culture can be defined as a complex system of .
3. Indian reli~ous tradition talks about the entire universe
is one family of God.
4. Indian culture is seen in the way are celebrated in rural
and urban places
5. The food tradition and dress tradition have .
a) 'vasudaiva kutumbakam', b) practices, c) festivals, d) undergone
much change, e) knowledge, belief, art, etc.
Terminal Questions
1. How do you define culture?
2. In the space below, give short answers in about three or four lines to the
following questions.
a) What are the religious traditions that make Indian culture unique?
9
Introduction to Indian b) How festivals and fairs show our cultural traditions?
Culture
3. Write short notes on the following:
a) Cultural interaction b) Indian Scientific heritage
4. Make a list of all cultural expression mentioned in the lesson. Tick the one
you have seen and heard and mention which you like the most and why?
1.8 ANSWERS
1) a) F, (b) F, (c) T, (d) F, (e) F
2) 1 -- (d), 2 - (c), 3 - (e), 4 - (a), 5 - (b)
3) 1. (b), 2. (e), 3. (a), 4: (c), 5. (d)
Terminal Answers
1) Culture can be defined as a complex system of knowledge, belief, art, law,
morals, customs and many other habits acquired through traditions by a man
as the member of a particular society. Pandit lawaharlal Nehru, the first
Prime Minister of independent India, described culture as "the outcome and
basis of training, establishment and development of physical and mental
potentials". Sri Rajgopalacharya, the first Governor General of British India,
defined culture as "the collective expression of the thoughts, speeches and
deeds of the learned, talented or creative members of a society or a nation".
Thus culture is seen or felt through our thought process, literature, language,
arts, relizion. customs, traditions and the way we know the world around us.
2) The religious traditions that make Indian culture unique are that Indian religious
tradition talks about 'vasudaiva kutumbakam', the entire universe is one
family of God. Because of Vedic chants, Buddhist chants, laina chants, sufi
songs, folk songs, bhajans Indian culture rich and deep-rooted. Although the
Indian society was divided into many caste groups, harmony was maintained
and religious tolerance was the basic principle of Indian culture. From such
experience spirituality and the science of Yoga have emerged and contributed
to world cultural traditions.
Short Notes:
a) Cultural interaction: People from different cultures have been coming to
India even before the Christian era. Because of the contact with other cultures
our culture goes through the process of cultural interaction. Such contacts
can take place due to trade - where the merchants come and have exchange
of goods, invasion - where the conquerors invade the country, expedition -
sea or land exploration. The cultural interaction takes place when pilgrims or
travellers visit distant lands, and also when the artists and artisans move from
10
place to place. Finally, people migrate in search of work and establishment
of settlements also cause cultural interaction. Those involve in such interactions Indian Culture and
Cultural Traditions
learn about practice of different peoples and carry their own ideas and
customs to the places they go. This will be a process in which the cultural
practices of all those involved will alter or tend to change.
b) Indian Scientific Heritage: India is regarded one of the country having
advanced civilized life. Science and technology also have evolved as part of
Indian culture which is felt in the use of tools, metals, building forts, palaces.
temples and other worshipping places, building of tanks and cities. Metal
craft, jewellery, bead making, boat making, ceramics, advanced implements
speak:about the use of different metals and the progressive stages of Indian
material culture.
PS : Picture details on the page.
01 Map of India Showing important places of Cultural Heritage
hi
Unlversity
SU:lIeni ~~i1Rt SeIv~
iI
Head Quanen;
RiOGiona' Centres
* SIU4y Centres
11
