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Articles: My Thoughts | Adapting to a new culture
- Mrs. manjari
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I am in a foreign country for the past four and half years. Before that, we were in the capital of India. I spent half of my life in Delhi. But before coming to a foreign country, I had my apprehensions. So, my husband called my children who are just in their teens and explained them what is western society and how they should mould their lives to their best, leaving other extremeties in western culture and they should not forget their base and basic values. They promised and so far they are keeping it up. Again here it is not out of compulsion, it is because they believe in what they do.
But after coming here and seeing some Indians who really come from remote vilages, I started feeling 'how come they are so fast in changing their attitudes and age long beliefs and values just in no time'? I came across ladies who are married and having children seeking boy friends and finding whites as the most amicable partners and breaking their families. Naturally there is a saying 'kuturu chedugu ayina, mata tappu'. Children follow what elders do. It gives me pain to see innocent teenagers going astray and by the time they are just in early twenties, becoming frustrated with so many broken relationships. If they want to come back to normal, it is not easy. It was initially surprising for me parents allowing their teenagers to have boy friends or girl friends and supporting themselves by saying 'We have to come to another country and culture. If we still stick to our age long traditions and values, our children will become odd-man out in the society and they will have to face ridicule.' Here I want to say that it is not right to think in those lines. Let us all try to explain our strong family concepts to the western world. Americans after research were able to recognise the reasons for the intellectual brain power of Indians when they are so young is 1. their strong family concepts, values and the dedication and sincere hard work. So let us try to inculcate in the children that what we believe and practice in India is not rubbish. It has got lot of meaning. It paves way for betterment of individuals and society.
So I request all Indians who are living abroad, to strongly advocate the cause and effect of our family life, strong value system, attachments, relationships and the core standard of morals. I also see all westeners giving lot of respect to the family bondages and values of Indians. Giving respect to elders, teachers and believing in the super power is not ignorance. It lays strong foundation to the personality of individuals.
I also find the more positive side of Indians living abroad is we become much more stronger in our religious celebrations and fesitvals when we live away from India. The amount of time we spend in prayers and lalita, vishnu parayanas in temples, or community gatherings here, is realy good comparing to the time we spend in India. All the week ends are spent nicely with constructive programmes and it also has a positive impact on our younger generation.
Last but not lease, what I feel is that our Indian culture is very rich and it has got a lot to offer to anyone outside India. So let us try to create a global harmonious world by taking care of our younger generation and seeing that they do not stray away from our age long Indian beliefs and value systems and make them traditionally strong and they should be taught to imbibe in themselves the best out of both the cultures and make a stronger society.
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