Indian Culture: A Blend of Various Culture

Essay by shreepsUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, May 2006

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As a humble student when I sit down to think and write about Indian culture my mind goes back to 3000 or 2500 B.C. As I make a study of history and read some of the scriptures a question confronts me. How did the oldest Indian culture survive so long when so many great ancient cultures of Greece and Rome became museum pieces? What was the vitality of Indian culture that continued through the ages despite so many historical vicissitudes?

To start with we should be clear about the meaning of culture. It is difficult to define it in one word. Culture is not civilization; it is the material equipment of life. "It is the characteristic way of life inspired by fundamental values, in which people live. It is the sum total of values expressed through art, religion, literature, social institutions and behavior, the over act of individuals and mass action inspired by collective urges" (Luniya, 108).

It is important to know how Indian culture came to existence, the conditions that gave birth to its characteristics and its fundamental values, the forces that gave it the right direction and the central idea behind the vitality of its past. The most important characteristic of Indian culture is its continuity and blending of various cultures. "It comes from past and adjusts itself to the present and moves towards to shape the future"(Majumdar, 192). India is a land of migrants who came, and mingled their culture to have a common visual outlook and collective action. It starts from the time of Aryans and Dravidians and then the intermingling of their culture resulting in the creation of Hinduism (Dharma). After 600 years came the fusion of Muslim and Hindu culture. The American culture has always played its part in influencing the Indian culture and...