Promod Puri: Culture supersedes religion in establishing national identity

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      Culture is a distinctive feature of one group of people comprising of several aspects. One of them is religion, and the others are language, cuisine, social habits, music, and arts. Obviously, one aspect of a culture does not represent the totality of it.

      The expression “Hindu culture” is as vague as saying Hindu cuisine (except by airlines referring to “Hindu meal”). And it is as much blurred as trying to contrive a language, music, arts, customs, etc. with suffix of Hindu. This applies to all other religions as well that try to create a culture exclusively linked to their faiths.

      Culture in most cases is secular in nature.

      When we talk about a cultural community, we mean an all-inclusive explicit way of life. It represents all of the group of people sharing common identities despite belonging to different religious denominations. But all speaking the same language and sharing the same social and cultural traits.

      Often people of one cultural community have several religions. These sub-differentiations are covered by conventions and customs. Together these are represented by the sanctified rituals on which Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, or Christian traditions establish their respective identities.

      The unity of India lies in its cultural plurality. This factor was the basis of states’ reorganization at the time of India’s independence in 1947. Each state was constituted representing the cultural homogeneity of that region. And wherever there were more than one homogeneity, states split respectively. Thus the cultural aspirations of people have been adequately addressed.

      “India is a colourful country” mainly because of the exuberant nature of its diverse cultures. The cultural sameness in each Indian state along with the religious diversity is the accepted model for both political and administrative purposes.

      Whereas each Indian state mostly represent one single cultural distinctiveness, it is the state of Jammu and Kashmir which within itself does carry more than one identity. The state has three regions, namely Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. And each one of them is culturally, religiously, geographically, and even climatically different. Azad Kashmir under Pakistan domain has its own identity which is again quiet varied from rest of Jammu and Kashmir state.

      The Kashmir problem has never been examined and tackled from its diversity aspect. The politics of the state has always been dominated, controlled, and represented by the Muslim leadership of the Valley from the Kashmir region. The multi-facet and heterogeneous character of the state is the undetermined reality which otherwise can play a dominant role in resolving the Kashmir problem. Aligning the issue only on religious basis because about 64 percent of the state’s population is Muslim is a futile exercise to determine its fate. But not allowing the diversity factor in the Kashmir debate results in the suppression of its other identities as well.

      In a democratic setup, regions or nations which play only the religious factor in politics and governance always have a cultural identity crisis.

      That has been the fate of Pakistan. It does not recognize and accept that the country’s cultural affinity lies with India which it can’t shake off. Both the political and military leaderships of the country in their hatred toward India try to establish a religious-based Arabic identity. Naturally, this is not working.

      Pakistan must realize that cultural-based identities cut across religious-based identities. And the former can play more decisive and healthier roles in determining a cohesive and stable future for the country.

      Pakistan may find some motivation from the Canadian society, not from its mostly racist governments, as to how this multi-ethnic nation is establishing its national identity.

      In a diverse Canadian society, there are a multitude of cultures, traditions, and religions, with lot more sub-banners within each group. It is a myriad and diversified web which gives Canada an image of acceptance and tolerance.

      This evolutionary trend is being established despite the known retrogressive and discriminatory policies embraced by most Canadian governments over the years particularly toward the First Nations and visible minorities.

      The Canadian cultural plurality is a unique experience in human social history which is trying to weave a frictionless social fabric from its distinct and assorted fibers. This multi-faceted aspect gives Canada the colour and character of being ever involving and exciting.

      Promod Puri is a former editor and publisher of South Asian Canadian weekly newspaper The Link, retired and residing in Vancouver, Canada.

      Comments

      6 Comments

      Yeesh

      Oct 25, 2014 at 4:31pm

      This is utter rot. "Culture" has not existed for anywhere near as long as religion. Until the industrial period, the dominant culture in every society was a religion of some sort. The English had their Church of England, Catholic nations had the Roman Church, Japan had whatever their Imperial religion was, China had something, Tibet still does, etc. etc.

      Simply repeating secular bullshit doesn't make it true.
      Religion is the traditional wellspring of all human culture. The secular appropriation of culture is appalling. Hip religious people already know that "secular" is a codeword for "worships corporations and universities", but we don't talk about that yet because most secular people are too unhip to understand what that means.

      OMG

      Oct 26, 2014 at 7:56am

      @Yeesh

      How many wars have been fought over music? How about food? Entertainment?

      9 14Rating: -5

      Mr. Woman

      Oct 26, 2014 at 10:34am

      @Yeesh Hahaha! Secularists "worship corporations and universities"? Worship is a rather strong word for attending quasi-boring lectures at school and going to Save on Foods to buy lettuce!

      Yeesh is an idiot

      Oct 26, 2014 at 12:15pm

      Durr durr durr

      12 9Rating: +3

      RUK

      Oct 27, 2014 at 9:14am

      No one worships at Save On. We worship at Whole Paycheque!

      Think about it:

      Is sanctimonious
      Ritualized accoutrements
      Many taboos
      Costs more than you'd think
      You kinda wonder why you are there
      People brag that they go there

      RUK

      Oct 27, 2014 at 9:19am

      As for this commentary, it is of course possible to separate culture from religion in technical ways. The analogy has been made to the wheel and the tire; they are distinct, but together they run over your foot. Or something.

      I find that this distinction between religion and culture is usually made by those who which to exculpate religion and immunize it from criticism. I find that hilarious. Atheists cannot possibly damage religion as much as an apologist whose defence of poor pwecious wittle wewigion indicates that it cannot live under the harsh glare of examination. The problems, to the apologist, therefore must come from....YOU! SECULAR! CULTURISTS!!!

      20 7Rating: +13