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Civilization and Culture-1
- Mr. Vachaspati Velavartipati

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Civilization has a precise standard of measurement, but not culture. Civilization is always advancing but not culture. Civilization is passed on without effort, but not culture. The works of civilization can be improved by anybody, but that is not possible in case of culture. A tough job it is. Civilization is external and mechanical, while culture is internal and organic. Civilization is borrowed without change or loss, but not culture. Here some people may get confused culture with civilization vice versa. But the culture can be defined as ‘culture or civilisation is that complex whole that includes knowledge, art, customs, traditions and other habits acquired by man as member of society’. Hence both are same, it can be said. Nature and characteristics or attributes of culture: 1. Culture is man-made. 2. Culture is learned. 3. Culture is transmitted. 4. Culture is social, not individualistic. 5. Culture is ideal for a social group. 6. Culture has adaptability. 7. Culture has integrative quality. 8. Culture shapes human personality. Components of culture: In each culture, we come across a structure and organization. This structure of culture comes into existence due to organization of different small units or traits or elements or section or sub-sections. Culture trait or elements: Culture traits or elements are smallest and indivisible unit of the culture. They cannot be divided further. It does not mean that they are not subject of further division, but their further division becomes meaningless. As culture is material and non-material both, therefore, culture traits are also material and non-material. For instance, material traits of culture are radio, watch, television, house, furniture, dress, ornament etc., non-material traits of culture are symbol, word, view, custom, tradition etc. any culture can be seen as to include thousands of such traits. Thus, shaking hand, touching the feet, tipping hats, the kiss on the cheeks as gesture of affection, giving seats to ladies first, saluting the flag, wearing white Sari at mourning, eating vegetarian food, walking bare-footed, sprinkling water on idols, carrying kirpans, growing beard and hair, eating in brass utensils, are cultural traits. These traits are elemental units of a culture. It is these traits, which distinguish one culture from another. A trait found in one culture may not have significance in another culture. Thus, offering water to sun may have significance in Hindu culture, but not in the western culture. Culture-Complex: As a part of body is composed of organization of different cells, a community is composed of organization of different families, in the same way organisation of different cultural traits gives rise to cultural complex. The importance of a single trait is indicated, when it fits into a cluster of traits, each one that performs a significant role in the total complex. Thus, kneeling before idol, sprinkling sacred water over it, putting some food in its mouth, folding hands, singing Arati or Kirtan, performing the ritual of Hawan, taking Prasad from the priest and distributing Prasad among the others, etc., form a religious complex. Culture pattern: A culture pattern is formed when traits and complexes become related to each other in functional roles. Each culture complex has to pay a role in society. The culture pattern of society consists of a number of culture complexes, thus, the Indian cultural pattern consists of Gandhism, spiritualism, joint family system, caste system, jajmani system and ruralism, preference of rituals etc. each of these culture complex consisting of numerous culture traits. Hence, any trait or complex is unequal in nature, is will result in cultural lag. Cultural lag means, all the remaining cultural traits or complex advances except one or two. These one or two will be static through time and space. This uneven growth could result in friction or violence among consisting complexes or groups.

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