the importance of family values in indian culture essay

Indian Family Values: The Pillars of a Strong and Connected Society

The concept of Indian family values is deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of India. Family plays a central role in the lives of Indians, and these values guide their relationships, traditions, and way of life.

In this article, we will explore the significance of Indian family values, their impact on society, and how they have evolved over time.

From the close-knit bonds between family members to the emphasis on respect, compassion, and harmony, Indian family values offer a unique perspective on the importance of familial connections.

Indian Family Values: A Closer Look

Understanding the core principles.

Indian family values encompass a set of core principles that form the foundation of familial relationships.

These values emphasize the importance of unity, respect, compassion, and responsibility towards one’s family members.

They promote a sense of belonging and interconnectedness among family members, reinforcing the notion of collective well-being.

These principles have been passed down through generations and continue to shape the dynamics within Indian households.

The Significance of Elders in the Family

In Indian culture, respect for elders is deeply ingrained. The wisdom and experience of older family members are highly valued, and their guidance is sought in decision-making processes.

The role of grandparents, in particular, holds immense importance as they serve as the custodians of ancestral knowledge and traditions.

Their presence ensures the continuity of cultural practices and fosters a strong sense of identity among younger generations.

The Role of Women in Indian Families

The family highlight the role of women as the nurturers and caretakers of the family.

While the dynamics have evolved over time, with women taking on various roles in society, the importance of their contributions within the family remains significant.

Women are often regarded as the pillars of strength, providing emotional support and maintaining the harmony within the household.

Their dedication to the well-being of the family is revered and acknowledged.

Embracing Multigenerational Living

Unlike many Western societies, where individualism often takes precedence, Indian family values emphasize the importance of multigenerational living.

It is common for multiple generations to reside under one roof, fostering close bonds and a strong support system.

This arrangement allows for the transfer of knowledge, shared responsibilities, and mutual care among family members.

It also provides a sense of security and belonging, creating a nurturing environment for children and the elderly.

Maintaining Strong Sibling Bonds

Sibling relationships hold a special place in Indian families. Brothers and sisters are encouraged to support and care for each other, forming lifelong bonds of trust and friendship.

These relationships extend beyond childhood and play a crucial role in providing emotional support, guidance, and a sense of belonging.

Siblings often share a deep understanding and connection that contributes to the overall strength and cohesiveness of the family unit.

Evolution of Indian Family Values

Influences of modernization and globalization.

Indian family values have experienced changes and adaptations in response to modernization and globalization.

Urbanization, increased education levels, and exposure to different cultures have influenced the dynamics within Indian families.

While the core principles remain intact, there is a shift towards more egalitarian relationships, with a greater emphasis on individual aspirations and personal growth.

However, even with these changes, the importance of family remains deeply rooted in Indian society.

Balancing Tradition and Modernity

Indian families face the challenge of striking a balance between preserving traditional values and embracing modernity.

This delicate equilibrium requires navigating through changing social norms while upholding the fundamental principles that define Indian family values.

Families often find ways to incorporate contemporary practices while ensuring that the essence of their cultural heritage is not lost.

This adaptability allows Indian families to evolve without compromising the core values that bind them together.

Impact of Education and Empowerment

Education and empowerment have played a pivotal role in shaping Indian family values. With increased access to education, individuals, especially women, have gained more opportunities to pursue their aspirations and contribute to society.

Education fosters critical thinking, independence, and a broader perspective, enabling individuals to navigate traditional roles and expectations within the family while asserting their individuality.

This empowerment has led to a more inclusive and egalitarian approach to family dynamics.

Embracing Diversity and Interfaith Harmony

India is a diverse nation, with people belonging to various religions, castes, and ethnicities.

Indian family values promote tolerance, respect, and inclusivity, enabling families to embrace diversity and interfaith harmony.

Interfaith marriages, once seen as taboo, are now more accepted, reflecting the changing societal landscape.

Families are finding ways to adapt their traditions and celebrations to incorporate different cultural practices, fostering unity and understanding.

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Indian family values are a testament to the enduring strength of familial bonds and their impact on society.

With a focus on unity, respect, compassion, and multigenerational living, these values have stood the test of time, adapting to the evolving social landscape.

Indian families continue to nurture strong connections, embrace diversity, and navigate the delicate balance between tradition and modernity.

In a world that often prioritizes individualism, Indian family values remind us of the importance of collective well-being, love, and support within our own homes.

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What are the key characteristics of Indian family values?

Indian emphasize unity, respect for elders, compassion, responsibility, and the importance of multigenerational living. These values form the bedrock of strong familial relationships and contribute to the overall well-being of the family unit.

How have Indian family values evolved over time?

Indian family values have adapted to changing social norms and influences of modernization and globalization. While the core principles remain intact, there is a greater emphasis on individual aspirations, gender equality, and inclusivity. Families are finding ways to strike a balance between tradition and modernity.

How do Indian family values impact society?

Indian family play a crucial role in shaping the social fabric of Indian society. They promote strong interpersonal relationships, community bonds, and a sense of collective responsibility. These values contribute to social cohesion, stability, and the overall well-being of individuals and communities.

Are Indian family values applicable only to Indians?

While Indian family are deeply rooted in Indian culture, their principles of unity, respect, and compassion are universal. Families from different cultural backgrounds can draw inspiration from these values and adapt them to their own traditions and beliefs.

How do Indian family values contribute to the upbringing of children?

Indian family provide a nurturing environment for children, emphasizing the importance of respect, responsibility, and family bonds. They instill strong moral values, cultural awareness, and a sense of identity. Children raised within this framework often develop strong character and a deep appreciation for their heritage.

Are Indian family values still relevant in the modern world?

Absolutely! Indian provide a strong foundation for individuals in an ever-changing world. They offer a sense of belonging, emotional support, and a network of relationships that foster personal growth and well-being. These values continue to shape the lives of Indians, regardless of geographical location or cultural background.

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What are Indian family values?

This indian life by shoba narayan: .

Would individual principles work in a population that is largely contradictory, inconsistent, and boundary-free

To understand what constitutes Indian family values, we need to first define what constitutes the Indian family.

Is it the phrase that grandparents end their prayers with: Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu (let the whole world be happy)?

Or is it the phrase from the Maha Upanishad that is engraved at the entrance hall of the Indian parliament: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the whole world is my family)?

Is it the many legal definitions of the family that we have in India (unlike, I would wager, any other nation)? Nuclear family, joint family, undivided family, extended family…the list goes on.

Or is it how we print our wedding cards? Not only do we invite a specific person, couple, or indeed a family to a function, but we always add, “Please come with friends and family to bless the couple.” Who are these friends and family? It doesn’t matter. “All are welcome.”

Family is a nebulous concept in India. It implies community, caste, village and a wide spectrum of what constitutes a relative. Wedding caterers are told to expect “plus or minus 100 people” for the feast. In contrast, Western weddings expect an individual RSVP with military precision about numbers. Everyone gets a seat with a name tag on the plate. Extra guests are not accounted for or accommodated.

This then is the number one Indian value, which anyone who grows up in India intuits: boundaries between self and others are porous. Things are shared between cousins, ranging from saris to safety pins. Kids are hauled out of beds to make room for visiting elders or friends. Bedroom doors are not shut. Privacy and personal space are a Western concept. People pack themselves into autorickshaws, sitting atop each other without care for body odour. They walk in and out of homes without need for appointments or phone calls. Guests are accommodated even if they sometimes are not welcome (particularly in the evening when television serials take hold of even the most hospitable lady).

The number one Indian value: boundaries between self and others are porous

The second Indian value is epitomised by the act that all of us Indians joke and rue about: how we keep our houses clean and dump the garbage on the street or in our neighbour’s house. Call it hypocrisy or call it comfort with contradictions. Indians are two-faced. They can hold two contradictory thoughts, combining deep religious conviction and rational astronomy with insouciance as A P J Abdul Kalam did. We do this every day. We are nice to relatives, going to railway stations in the middle of the night carrying hot tea and tiffin for them. But ask us to read to the blind or volunteer at an old age home and the whole notion of “the world is my family” flies out of the door. Contradiction: thy name is India. Is this a good thing? I think so. Any child growing up in India develops a nimble mind that is flexible and able to process contradictions. We disdain systems and consistency. Then again, consistency, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, is the hobgoblin of little minds.

The third value that distinguishes India is something that A K Ramanujan has written about. We are a context-sensitive society. How we behave is not based on absolute ideas of honesty or ethics. It is entirely explainable by situation and circumstance. The same man who venerates goddesses can treat the women in his life like s*#t and see no inconsistency in this. We don’t understand absolutes, be it with respect to time or place. It all depends on who, what, where, when and why. I know an 80-year-old woman who travels the world in a sari and diamond nose rings, speaking at women’s conferences. She encourages, coaches and empowers her women colleagues. Yet, this same woman comes home and does not allow her husband or son into the kitchen; her behaviour entirely explainable by context. One is home, the other is work.

Okay, so we are inconsistent, full of contradictions, context-sensitive and have a loose sense of boundaries. How now to translate these into the family? Are these the values you want to teach your children as unique to India and something to be proud of? Like it or not, I think these four values are something that every Indian family passes on to the next generation, simply by living in India. You may be in a posh Lutyens bungalow or a high-rise in Mumbai. But any child that lives through Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai or election campaigns in Delhi understands that living in India is like a dream where Gods can morph into floats and priests can openly ask for bribes in order to get close to an equal God.

The question then becomes: can each family have its own set of values on top of these Indian ones? Can you figure out values that family members can adhere to and practice?

More next time.

(This column addresses the issue of parenting our parents and other unique facets of This Indian Life and our culture. If you have stories about the weird and wonderful relationships that enrich or enervate your life, write in.)

This Indian Life appears every fortnight

From HT Brunch, October 13, 2019

BRUNCH Updated: Oct 13, 2019 00:00 IST

Shoba Narayan Hindustan Times

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Namaste Shobha! This article of yours is so so very precise in defining what Indian (भारतीय) family values are! Am speaking from my own upbringing which was not very typical in those days, much before inter-provincial marriages were even accepted (as my Father & Mother were like the two rivers Ganga & Kaveri merging – one from the South and the other from the North). And yes, over and above this we have individual family values that are also inculcated. What a multi-coloured ‘treasure-house of values’ we become by the time we reach a ripened age! Living in the West over a long period also makes one cling to our values more than in the மாற்றி भूमि! Yet I would never ever exchange this ‘inheritance’ for all the treasures of the world, however differently precious they may be! Waiting for the promised more… धन्यवाद:!

Namaste Shobaji as usual excellent article from you; yest i do agree ” living in India is like a dream where Gods can morph into floats and priests can openly ask for bribes in order to get close to an equal God.” enjoy reading your articles; please keep writing Lakshminarasimhan chennai

Thank you very much, Ji.

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Doing Sociology

The contemporary indian family: transitions and diversity edited by b devi prasad, srilatha juvva and mahima nayar (2020): a review by priyasha choudhary.

The Indian family has undergone considerable changes in structure and dynamics. From the traditional form of the joint family (D’cruz and Bharat, 2001) to the current diverse family forms, such as single-parent households, adoptive families, disabled families, and queer families (Chakravarti, 2008; Ghosh and Sanyal, 2015; Swaddle & Desai, 2019), the family unit has been witnessing a multitude of changes in different developmental stages. The pandemic has only accentuated such changes (Chowkhani, 2022). Any scholarly engagement with the family needs to highlight ‘family’ as not just a stable institution but a dynamic construct that is taken up in diverse ways depending on the context. The Contemporary Indian Family Transitions and Diversity , edited by B Devi Prasad, Srilatha Juvva and Mahima Nayar and published by Taylor and Francis in 2020 illuminates the shifting and fluid qualities of the concept of the family. It provides a glimpse of the changing practices in the family and highlights the gendered nature of oppression that shapes individual subjectivity in the Indian context.

It is an insightful collection of essays that explores the varied mechanisms through which family structures and dynamics have transitioned in the Indian context. The book has nine chapters, with an introduction and a concluding chapter. Following a historical tracing of the family from pre-modern to contemporary times, the book highlights the changing nature of the field of family studies in terms of its shift from macro-level patterns to micro-level dynamics. Various approaches to understanding this trajectory, along with policy and individual-level changes, are discussed in the book’s introduction, setting the background for subsequent chapters.

The first and second chapters depict how actual families often differ from normative depictions. These chapters also trace how development and state interaction shape family dynamics and emphasize that ‘the family, a kinship group, is not a static institution but rather, it plays itself out through the household as it goes through its developmental phases’ (Prasad et al., 2020, p.37). The second chapter traces the trajectories in the discipline of family studies in the Indian context, highlighting how culture gives new meanings and nuances to universal concepts. The third- and fourth chapters dwell on how media and technology shape family dynamics in the Indian context and use a structural perspective to understand the multifaceted impact of poverty on families in both rural and urban contexts, respectively. 

The fifth and sixth chapters unravel the experience of families and women living in conflict zones. The fifth chapter outlines how indigenous knowledge and subjectivities are impacted when families live in conflict zones. The tribal communities of India have been at the receiving end of violence and oppression since colonial times. The ever-growing need for the state to intervene in their affairs and the constant tussle between the two has had a long-lasting impact on the lifeworld of tribal people. The chapter examines the Adivasi community in the central Indian context, specifically Chhattisgarh. There is also a detailed discussion of the brutal and unjustified violence (state-led and otherwise) inflicted upon women, men, and children. The sixth chapter continues this discussion about conflict and family by shedding light on the gendered nature of the struggle in conflict areas, specifically Kashmir. Women have always been the first target and the worst affected community during the conflict. As witnessed during the partition between India and Pakistan in 1947, by inextricably linking virtue and honour to a woman and her body, mass abductions, rapes, and the killing of women took place on a colossal scale (Das and Singh, 1995). Violence of various kinds was inflicted upon them, and the brunt of sustenance and recovery also invariably fell on them. The chapter highlights how women cope with the stress of a lost husband and the challenges of raising children and sustaining the family and social fabric. An interesting observation in the chapter is that many women increasingly move into the public sphere through their activism and in search of ‘justice’. Many also take on additional responsibilities as their husbands are absent; however, this is not necessarily associated with increased autonomy or agency. The societal pressures and demands from the family make this increased participation a performative phenomenon, even though they are still associated with their primary role of caregivers/wives. It is also noted that women often negotiate public spaces and activist circles through their maternal location, as their participation in the public sphere constitutes a rupture in their traditional roles. (Prasad et al 2020, p.140)

The seventh chapter discusses how families make sense of queer family members, revolving around issues of acceptance, changing family dynamics, and new kinship relations. The LGBTQ+ community in India has faced and still faces a tremendous amount of stigma from the state and the family. It intersects with other systemic and structural issues that exacerbate their situation. It would have been good to see a discussion of the issues faced by the transgender community in this chapter. The eighth chapter explores disability as a lens to understand family dynamics in households with one or more deaf families. It sheds light on how disabled people challenge normative understandings about parenthood and disability, exploring issues around stigma, communication, difference, and social relations. The final chapter binds the entire text together and orients the reader to the bigger picture emanating from the book. The discipline of family studies has undergone various trends, gesturing towards the possibilities of new kinds of families, such as same-sex families and intentional families. [i]

In conclusion, the book sheds light on the dynamic and evolving nature of the Indian family. Over time, the traditional joint family has given way to diverse family structures. The chapters focusing on conflict zones bring attention to the struggles faced by indigenous communities and women, underscoring the intersectionality of violence and gender. Meanwhile, the discussion on queer family members highlights the challenges of acceptance and changing family dynamics within the LGBTQ+ community as they confront societal stigmas and discrimination. Furthermore, exploring disability as a lens to understand family dynamics presents a compelling perspective on how disabled individuals challenge societal norms and redefine parenthood and family roles. These transformations suggest that marginalized communities are forging new paths, striving for empowerment and inclusivity. 

The book provides a valuable contribution to family studies, offering fresh insights into the multifaceted and evolving nature of families in the Indian context. By understanding and embracing the fluidity of the family institution, society can better adapt to its members’ diverse needs and experiences, fostering a more inclusive and compassionate environment for all. A more nuanced consideration of other forms of families, for instance, adoptive families, or even single-parent-led families would have enriched the text even further. Moreover, a keen eye for the rural-urban divide and differences in the experiences is a must when looking at family structures which were missing in a few chapters. Nonetheless, the book is a significant resource for scholars and researchers from anthropology, sociology, feminist theory, family studies, gender studies, and psychology. It urges us to rethink and redefine the concept of family in the context of contemporary India and its rich tapestry of evolving family structures and dynamics.

[i] See, e.g. the emerging discourse of ‘single studies’ in India (Chowkhani, 2022).

References:

Chakravarti, U. (2008). Burden of Caring: Families of the Disabled in Urban India. Indian Journal of Gender Studies . 15(2): 341–363.

Chowkhani, K. (2022). Successfully Aging Alone: Long-Term Singlehood and Care during COVID-19 in India. Eldercare Issues in China and India . (pp. 145–154). Routledge.

Das, V., and Singh, B. (1995). Critical Events: An Anthropological Perspective on Contemporary India . New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

D’cruz, P., & Bharat, S. (2001). Beyond Joint and Nuclear: The Indian Family Revisited. Journal of Comparative Family Studies . 32(2): 167–194.

Desai, R. (2019). What It’s Like to Be Openly Queer and Exist Within an Indian Family. The Swaddle . https://theswaddle.com/what-its-like-to-be-openly-queer-and-exist-within-an-indian-family/

Sanyal, D and A. Ghosh. (2019). How Can Families Be Imagined Beyond Kinship and Marriage? Economic and Political Weekly . 54 (45).

Priyasha Choudhary is a MA in Development Studies from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad.

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The Importance of Traditional Family Values

This essay about traditional family values examines the core principles that have guided family dynamics across various cultures. It discusses the importance of the family unit, the roles within a family, respect for elders, and how these values are transmitted across generations. It highlights how traditional values like family unity, the sanctity of marriage, and filial responsibilities provide stability and structure. The essay also explores how these values have evolved in response to modern societal changes such as increased individualism and economic shifts, which challenge and reshape traditional roles and expectations. Despite these transformations, traditional family values continue to influence and provide a sense of continuity and moral guidance in contemporary society, adapting to new realities while maintaining their importance in fostering community and interpersonal relationships.

How it works

Conventional familial ethics frequently function as the ethical compass guiding the actions and judgments of individuals within the kinship collective. These ethics, ancestral legacies handed down through generations, wield substantial influence in configuring familial dynamics across diverse cultural milieus. They encompass a wide array of precepts, spanning deference toward elders, fealty to kin, and the paramountcy of familial solidarity. This treatise delves into the enduring import of conventional familial ethics, their manifestations in varied cultures, and their ramifications on contemporary society.

At the nucleus of conventional familial ethics resides the conviction in the sanctity and primacy of the kinship collective. This often entails placing robust emphasis on familial bonds as the preeminent wellspring of identity and succor. Across myriad societies, this ethos manifests in the convention of multigenerational households, wherein grandparents, parents, and offspring cohabit under one roof, mutually sharing duties and bolstering one another. This domestic arrangement not only underscores the valorization of kinship bonds but also facilitates the transmission of cultural legacy and ethics from one progeny to the succeeding.

Another pivotal facet of conventional familial ethics is the accentuation on matrimonial and parental roles. Matrimony is frequently envisaged as an enduring covenant that constitutes the bedrock of a family. Within this schema, roles are often meticulously demarcated, with each member contributing to the family’s welfare in distinctive capacities. For instance, in myriad traditional societies, the patriarch is typically expected to be the sustainer of the family’s financial well-being, while the matriarch is conventionally perceived as the principal nurturer. These roles engender stability and framework within the familial unit, notwithstanding their adaptation across cultures to harmonize with contemporary socioeconomic exigencies, including the burgeoning involvement of women in the labor force.

Deference toward elders constitutes yet another hallmark of conventional familial ethics. Elders are frequently venerated for their sagacity and lived experiences, assuming pivotal roles in familial decision-making processes. Across diverse cultural contexts, the caretaking of aged kin members is regarded as a solemn obligation, emblematic of moral rectitude. This veneration for the elderly fortifies values such as appreciation, veneration, and filial piety, integral to the cohesiveness and tenacity of the familial collective.

Nevertheless, the pertinence and applicability of conventional familial ethics have encountered mutation and contention in contemporary society. The ascent of individualism, metamorphosing economic paradigms, and the evolution of societal mores have all impugned the orthodox apprehension of these ethics. Numerous modern families now traverse a labyrinthine terrain wherein traditional roles and expectations intersect with contemporary aspirations and dilemmas. For instance, the equipoise between vocational ambitions and familial obligations frequently necessitates a redefinition of roles within the familial realm, provoking a more pliable and adaptable approach to conventional ethics.

Despite these metamorphoses, conventional familial ethics endure to wield substantial sway over myriad lives. They furnish a sense of continuity and linkage to one’s ancestry and are frequently extolled for nurturing resilience amidst adversities. Furthermore, these ethics can serve as a stabilizing impetus, furnishing counsel and a schema for existence that prioritizes interpersonal bonds and communal well-being over individual triumph.

In summation, notwithstanding the metamorphosis of familial existence in myriad respects, conventional familial ethics persist in exercising substantial influence in configuring familial modus operandi and interrelations. Whether these ethics persist in an unaltered state or adapt to assimilate novel societal actualities, their fundamental significance in engendering a sense of affiliation, obligation, and reciprocal esteem within the familial sphere is liable to endure as a pivotal facet of societal evolution. As families persist in their evolution, so too will the interpretation and amalgamation of these enduring ethics into quotidian existence, assuring their enduring relevance in an expeditiously changing milieu.

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INDIAN FAMILY VALUES

Indian culture is considered the oldest in the world dating back to 5,000 years. India being predominantly a Hindu land, the culture of India is synonymous with Hindu culture. Such is the reverence of this culture that it is described as ‘Sa Prathama Sanskrati Vishvavara’ in ancient Sanskrit literature. The best of all Vedic philosophies has been distinctively incorporated in the Indian culture and these remain relevant in the world even today.

Our culture always believed in encompassing the entire world in its embrace. ‘Vasudhaive Kutumbhakam ’ , the entire world is one family. It does not differentiate between man and man and all such distinctions based on caste, creed, region crept in much later. Samasta loka sukhinoh bhavanthu – may beings in all the worlds be happy is our prayer. The traditional Indian family has a set of values that is passed on from one generation to another. Indian family value system is unique, as it is intertwined with our rich cultural history.

One of the longest surviving institutions of India, ‘Indian Family’ represents the three pillars of Loyalty, Integrity and Unity. The first lessons of collectivism and sacrificing individualism are learned from the family. Extended family and kinship are the major aspects of the Indian family system. In India, both patriarchal families as well as mother-centric families are found. Respect to the elder members of the family, especially taking care of the parents in their old age is considered as the utmost duty of every son and daughter.  Our culture has strong belief in the law of karma. ‘As you sow so shall you reap.’ Hence it is ingrained from a very young age that if we do not take care of our parents when they are old we would be left in the cold during our twilight years. Also it is a great way to express our gratitude to our parents for all that they have done when we were young.

Family always takes a prime focus in the Hindu cosmology. Members are always bound by the fair name of the family, family honor, family tree etc. One’s individual wants and needs are always kept in check and can be sacrificed for the larger interest of the family. Anecdotes abound in our Scriptures about a truant son or king who met with destruction as he tried to transgress age old customs and code of conduct. The Ramayana and Mahabharata abound with tales of sons, kings and young men and women like Rama, Yudhishtra, Bharata etc who followed family values and those that didn’t like Sakuni, Duryodhana and other evil men who ultimately faced ruin because of such transgressions.

It is to be noted that there are few rituals and codes of conduct that fulfill the scope of Indian heritage, culture and its family system. Some of the salient aspects of Indian family value system are as follows:

• A young person should always respect elders and touch their feet
• One should never speak in a rude manner or in a high tone to their elders
• One should abstain from smoking and consumption of alcohol
• One must always try to speak the truth and be non-violent in temperament
• One must always wear decent clothing in public places
• One must always try to maintain a good bond with his family and relatives
• One must always try to welcome guests i.e. ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’
• One must be hospitable to anyone who visits his home, irrespective of caste, creed and color
• One must always consult elders before taking any important decisions

A family is a wonderful place for each individual to grow and evolve as a person. It is the older members of the family who sow noble thoughts and ideals which become the norm later on. Children observe and imbibe these ideals sub consciously and fashion their later years to a large extent based on the experiences they have received in their childhood. Overtime these bind the members of the family together and in times of distress these values help one another to tide over the crisis. The family as a solid unit is a bedrock of support and helps each one to find his or her moorings eventually.

Observing our ancient customs and traditions is a great way to foster family values. As we observe the customs and traditions of our religion our children also learn to respect our priceless heritage and inheritance. Indian ethos stresses on the joy of giving. Thena thyakthena bhunjeetha – Enjoy thy wealth by renouncing it exhorts the Isa vasya Upanishad. Indian family values stress on this aspect of dana or practicing charity believing that we are mere custodians of our wealth. Compassion or daya is also another great value that has to be fostered.

Our culture speaks of the four stages of life every man must pass through, Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprstha and Sanyasa. Every man has to go these stages diligently and the ultimate goal of life is moksha. The four Purusharthas or goals of life mentioned in the scriptures are Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. At every stage atma vichara or self-enquiry is stressed. It is only a man who has the immense thirst for knowledge who can improve towards achieving his goals successfully. This is also a family value that is practiced in India.

Prayer is another great value that is stressed. Every action is an offering and this bhava or attitude helps us to do things in a spirit of supplication to the almighty and also have a degree of detachment to all things as we feel the lord is the real doer and we are merely his instruments. These are values passed on to us by our ancients so that we can lead a stress free life. Even mundane everyday activities like cooking, eating are sanctified when we perform them in a spirit of surrender. There are slokas for every act, be it bathing, cooking, eating or the like. Eventually our life itself becomes a beautiful offering.

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While most Indians say that men and women should share some family responsibilities, many still support traditional, patriarchal values. For example, a slim majority of Indians (54%) say that both the men and the women in a family should be responsible for earning money. But 43% instead take the view that men should be the primary earners. Moreover, nearly two-thirds of Indians (64%) – including 61% of women – express complete agreement with the idea that a wife always is obligated to obey her husband.

Indian attitudes about gender roles within family settings vary widely across religious groups. In general, Sikhs and Buddhists are the most likely to support an equal distribution of family responsibilities, while Muslims are often the least egalitarian in their attitudes. For example, a large majority of Sikhs say both men and women should earn money in a family (80%) and that both sons and daughters should tend to their parents’ funeral rituals (69%). But Muslims are much less likely to view these as shared responsibilities (37% and 24%, respectively); most Indian Muslims say these roles should fall to men and sons.

Younger Indian adults typically are no less traditional than their elders in their views on family gender roles, and these attitudes do not vary much between men and women. For instance, 33% of Indian women (along with 34% of men) say that sons should have greater rights than daughters to inherit from parents. But college graduates often are more likely than other Indians to support gender equality in the family. College-educated Muslims, for example, are much more inclined than Muslims with less education to say that sons and daughters should have equal inheritance rights (83% vs. 55%).

Gender attitudes also differ greatly depending on where people live within India. For example, survey respondents in the country’s Southern region generally are less likely than those living in the country’s Hindi Belt to say that a wife always must obey her husband. But Indians in Southern states don’t necessarily go so far as to support egalitarian gender roles in a family – in fact, people in the South are less likely than those in the Hindi Belt to say responsibilities like caring for children or earning money should be shared between men and women.

These broad regional differences often are accompanied by large variations between bordering states. For instance, people in two Southern states, Karnataka and Kerala, have widely different views about family roles. Karnataka residents, for example, are more than twice as likely as people in Kerala to say sons should have the primary responsibility to care for their parents as they age (60% vs. 25%) – part of a broader pattern in which Karnataka consistently stands out as having conservative attitudes on gender roles, while Kerala typically is much less traditional.

Indians tend to say men and women should share family responsibilities

Most Indians say that both women and men should be responsible for earning money (54%), caring for children (62%) and making family financial decisions (73%). Still, substantial minorities have traditional views when it comes to family responsibilities, saying men should be the primary money earners in a family (43%) and women should be the primary caregivers for children (34%). And one-in-five adults say men should be the primary decision-makers about family expenses.

Some religious groups are more traditional than others when it comes to gender roles in a family. For example, Muslims are more inclined to say men should be the primary earners in a family and make family financial decisions, while women should mainly be responsible for the children. Sikhs and Buddhists, meanwhile, are the most likely to say men and women should share equally in these family responsibilities.

Education also makes a big difference in how Indians think family responsibilities should be distributed. College graduates are more likely than other Indians to say men and women should share family duties. For example, roughly three-quarters of college graduates say both men and women in a family should care for children (73%), compared with about six-in-ten among all other Indians (61%).

Indian attitudes about family gender roles greatly depend on where people live. Generally, Southern Indians are more likely than Indians living in the country’s Hindi Belt  – defined as 11 states and union territories including Jharkhand, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Chhattisgarh – to have traditional attitudes about family responsibilities. For instance, people in the Southern state of Tamil Nadu are more than twice as likely as people in Jharkhand to say men should earn money in a family (55% vs. 24%) and women should care for children (57% vs. 26%).

Attitudes on these issues also vary greatly within certain regions of the country. Among Southern states, for example, Kerala and Telangana stand out as having less conservative views on gender than some of their neighbors. For instance, one-in-five people or fewer in Kerala (19%) and Telangana (16%) say men should make family financial decisions, compared with roughly four-in-ten in Karnataka (39%).

Vast majority of Indians agree that a wife must always obey her husband

Even though most Indians think men and women should share in family responsibilities, nearly nine-in-ten Indians (87%) completely or mostly agree with the notion that “a wife must always obey her husband.” This includes a majority of Indians (64%) who completely agree with this sentiment.

About six-in-ten or more Sikhs (61%), Buddhists (62%), Hindus (64%) and Muslims (67%) express complete agreement that a wife should be subservient, although fewer Jains (52%) and Christians (44%) feel this way.

Women are only modestly less likely than men to say that wives should obey their husbands in all situations, and most women agree completely with this sentiment (61% vs. 67% among men).

Indians without a college education, those from Other Backwards Classes and those who live in rural areas are more inclined than other Indians to completely agree that wives must be obedient. For example, most Indians without a college degree (65%) completely agree that a wife must always obey her husband, compared with roughly half of college graduates who say the same (52%). Religious commitment also factors into this traditional attitude about marriage: People who say religion is very important in their lives are much more likely than other Indians to completely agree that a wife should obey her husband (67% vs. 44%).

Indians who currently live in a joint family – single households that include extended family members, such as when three generations of grandparents, parents and children live under the same roof – also are more likely than others to express complete agreement with the idea that wives should obey their husbands in all situations (69% vs. 57%).

Even though people in the Southern states of India are more inclined than people in the Hindi Belt to support traditional family responsibilities, they generally are less likely to see wives as obligated to obey their husbands. Roughly a third in Tamil Nadu (36%) and Karnataka (34%) completely agree that a wife should always obey her husband, compared with vast majorities in Hindi Belt states such as Himachal Pradesh (90%), Uttar Pradesh (82%) and Bihar (81%).

Many Indians say sons should have prominent place in caring for elderly parents

Respecting elders is a core value in India , and most Indians (58%) say that both sons and daughters should be responsible for caring for parents as they age. But four-in-ten Indian adults (39%) say this responsibility should fall primarily to sons, while very few (2%) think daughters should be mainly responsible.

Across India’s major religious groups, most people say both sons and daughters should care for parents as they age, including the vast majority of Sikhs (80%). But Muslims generally are less inclined than others to say children of both genders should share the responsibility to care for aging parents (54%), while many Muslims (43%) say sons should carry the bulk of responsibility for elderly parents.

Attitudes about who should tend to aging parents do not vary much by caste, except in some religious groups. Among Hindus, for example, caste isn’t correlated with attitudes on whether sons or daughters should care for aging parents. But Christians from higher castes are more likely than Christians from lower castes to say both sons and daughters should care for parents in their elderly years (75% vs. 61%).

While most Indians say both sons and daughters should care for their aging parents, this is a minority opinion in several, mostly Southern, states. Instead, majorities in Telangana (61%) and Karnataka (60%) say sons should tend to their parents’ needs, with far fewer in these states saying that sons and daughters should share the responsibility.

But much smaller shares in neighboring Southern states favor sons taking on the bulk of the responsibility for elderly parents. Only about a quarter of Indians in Kerala (25%) and Tamil Nadu (27%) say sons primarily should care for their aging parents.

Majority of Indians say sons should be responsible for parents’ last rites

One area where most Indians do not see room for gender equality involves the last rites or burial rituals for deceased parents. Nearly two-thirds of Indians (63%) say sons should have primary responsibility over parents’ last rites or burial rituals, although attitudes differ significantly on this across religious groups.

Most Muslims (74%), Jains (67%) and Hindus (63%) say sons should be primarily responsible for last rites or burial rituals, but far fewer Sikhs (29%), Christians (44%) and Buddhists (46%) expect this from sons. Instead, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists are more likely to say that both sons and daughters should be responsible for their parents’ last rites. (Very few Indians, regardless of religion, say daughters should be primarily responsible for funeral rituals.)

Indians without a college degree are more likely than college graduates to say sons should primarily tend to parents’ last rites or burial rituals (64% vs. 53%). Indians from Other Backwards Classes (69%) also are more inclined than those in other castes to say this (60% among General Category, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe members).

Those who say religion is very important in their lives are considerably more likely than other Indians to say sons alone should be responsible for funeral rituals (65% vs. 49%). And this is true even among Sikhs, who are less inclined in general to support the view that sons bear primary responsibility for funeral rites. For instance, highly religious Sikhs are nearly twice as likely as those who say religion is not very important in their lives to say sons should shoulder the responsibility for their parents’ last rites (31% vs. 17%).

In India, politics also are linked with views on this question. Those who express a favorable view of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are somewhat more likely than other Indians to say sons should be primarily responsible for their parents’ last rites and burial rituals (67% vs. 60%).

Attitudes on this issue also vary greatly by state. The vast majority of people in Uttar Pradesh (84%) and Gujarat (80%), for example, say sons should be responsible, while about three-in-ten in Sikh-majority Punjab (29%) agree.

Southern states are especially varied in their views. About eight-in-ten people in the Southern state of Karnataka (81%) say sons should tend to their parents’ funeral rituals, while just three-in-ten in Kerala take this stance.

Most Indians say both sons and daughters should have equal rights to inheritance

Nearly two-thirds of Indians (64%) say sons and daughters should have equal inheritance rights from parents, including majorities across all religious groups.

But some religious groups are more egalitarian than others when it comes to inheritance. Sikhs (84%) and Buddhists (81%), for example, are more likely than Hindus (64%), Christians (63%) and Muslims (56%) to say sons and daughters should have equal inheritance rights. About a third of Hindus (34%) and an even larger share of Muslims (42%) say that sons should have greater rights to inheritance.

Across groups, college graduates are more likely than Indians with less education to say sons and daughters should have equal rights to inheritance from their parents (77% vs. 63%). The gap is especially pronounced among Muslims – the vast majority of college-educated Muslims (83%) say sons and daughters should have equal inheritance rights, while just a slim majority of less-educated Muslims (55%) support equal inheritance rights for both genders.

While women and men nationally are about equally likely to say sons and daughters should have equal rights of inheritance (65% vs. 63%, respectively), this opinion is a bit more common among Muslim women than Muslim men (60% vs. 53%). Still, among Indian women overall, a third say that sons should have greater rights to inheritance, compared with just 2% who say the same about daughters.

Once again, Indians in different states vary considerably in their support for sons having greater rights to inheritance from their parents – from roughly six-in-ten in Telangana (62%) to one-in-ten in Chhattisgarh (10%).

Sikh-majority Punjab ranks among the states with the smallest shares of Indians who say inheritance rights should belong disproportionately to sons. But while there is a gap of 22 percentage points between Sikhs and Hindus at the national level on this question, similarly small shares of Punjabi Hindus (15%) and Punjabi Sikhs (11%) say sons should have greater rights to inheritance from parents.

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Essay on Values of Indian Culture

Students are often asked to write an essay on Values of Indian Culture in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Values of Indian Culture

Introduction.

Indian culture, rich and diverse, is renowned worldwide. It is a unique blend of various customs, traditions, and rituals which have been passed down from generation to generation.

Respect for All

A key value of Indian culture is respect for all. This includes not only elders and teachers, but also all forms of life. It is ingrained from an early age.

Unity in Diversity

Despite numerous languages, religions, and cuisines, Indians are united by a common thread of cultural values. This unity in diversity is a remarkable feature of Indian culture.

Indian culture, with its values, forms the backbone of the Indian society, promoting harmony and peace.

250 Words Essay on Values of Indian Culture

The essence of indian culture.

Indian culture, one of the oldest and richest in the world, is a testament to the country’s historical evolution and philosophical ethos. It is a vibrant amalgamation of various customs, traditions, and values that have been passed down through generations.

Perhaps the most striking feature of Indian culture is its diversity. The country’s vast geographical expanse and historical influences have given rise to a multitude of languages, religions, and cuisines. Yet, amidst this diversity, there exists an underlying unity, as the values of tolerance, respect, and harmony are deeply ingrained in the Indian psyche.

The Spirit of Non-violence

Non-violence, a value propagated by Mahatma Gandhi, is deeply rooted in Indian culture. It is not just about abstaining from physical violence, but also encompasses mental and emotional non-violence. This principle is reflected in the Indian way of life, where respect for all living beings is emphasized.

Holistic Living

Indian culture promotes a holistic approach to life, integrating physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Practices like Yoga and Ayurveda, which originated in India, embody this philosophy. They advocate for a balanced lifestyle, focusing on the symbiosis of mind, body, and spirit.

Respect for Nature

Indian culture reveres nature and considers it sacred. This value is evident in the traditional practices and folklore, which often revolve around nature and its elements. The belief in sustainable living and coexistence is a crucial aspect of Indian culture.

In conclusion, the values of Indian culture are not just philosophical concepts but practical guidelines for leading a harmonious life. They are the pillars that have sustained the culture’s vitality through millennia, making it a beacon of wisdom and resilience.

500 Words Essay on Values of Indian Culture

Indian culture, often referred to as the cradle of human civilization, is one of the oldest and richest cultures in the world. It is a unique amalgamation of diverse customs, traditions, and rituals, all of which have been passed down from generation to generation. The values of Indian culture are deeply rooted in its philosophy and spirituality, which have guided the moral, ethical, and social conduct of its people for centuries.

Harmony in Diversity

One of the most significant values of Indian culture is its acceptance and celebration of diversity. India is a land of multiple religions, languages, cuisines, and art forms. Yet, it has always fostered a sense of unity in diversity, promoting mutual respect and tolerance. This value of coexistence has not only enabled India to maintain its cultural diversity but also helped in fostering a harmonious society.

Respect for Nature and All Life Forms

Indian culture places great emphasis on the respect for nature and all life forms. This is reflected in the concept of ‘Ahimsa’ or non-violence, which extends beyond humans to animals and the environment. The reverence for rivers, mountains, plants, and animals as sacred entities is a testament to this value. The tradition of Yoga and Ayurveda, which promote holistic well-being, also exemplify this deep-rooted respect for nature.

Emphasis on Family and Community

Indian culture highly values the family and community system. The concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which translates to ‘the world is one family’, underlines the importance given to relationships and social responsibilities. The joint family system, where multiple generations live together, fosters a sense of unity, cooperation, and mutual respect among family members.

Spirituality and Philosophical Depth

Indian culture is known for its spiritual depth and philosophical insights. The teachings of Vedanta, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita have provided profound wisdom about life, death, karma, and dharma. The value of seeking inner peace and liberation (Moksha) from the cycle of birth and death is a central theme in Indian philosophy.

Artistic and Intellectual Contributions

Indian culture has made significant artistic and intellectual contributions. The classical dance forms, music, literature, and architectural marvels like the Taj Mahal are a reflection of India’s rich cultural heritage. The ancient universities of Nalanda and Takshashila, the mathematical concept of zero, and the medical science of Ayurveda showcase the intellectual prowess of ancient India.

The values of Indian culture have withstood the test of time and continue to guide the lives of millions. They not only reflect the country’s rich cultural heritage but also offer a unique perspective on life. The values of harmony, respect for nature, emphasis on family and community, spiritual depth, and intellectual contributions are the pillars of Indian culture. As we move forward, it is crucial to preserve and uphold these values, for they form the essence of India’s cultural identity.

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Indian Culture

Core concepts.

• Innovativeness
• Adaptability
• Light-heartedness

India is home to over a billion people, accommodating incredible cultural diversity between languages, geographic regions, religious traditions and social stratifications. In recognition of this large demographic diversity, the following descriptions are not intended to represent every Indian person. However, there are common themes and principles that contribute to the values, attitudes, beliefs and norms of the dominant society. Generally speaking, Indians tend to have a strong sense of pride in the distinctiveness and diversity of their culture. For example, the country’s agricultural expansions and technological advancements in infrastructure, science and engineering are sources of pride. Moreover, a considerable amount of pride stems from India's rich artistic cultural exports of music, fine arts, literature and spirituality (especially the practice of yoga ).

Geography and Space

India’s geography and climate is incredibly diverse. Northern India is characterised by the snowy mountain range of the Himalayas and the Great Indian (Thar) Desert. Meanwhile, tropical jungles, rainforests, coastal plains, islands and beaches distinguish the south. Nature plays a vital role in India – especially rivers such as the Ganga (or ‘Ganges’) in the north and Godavari in the central and southeast. Both provide irrigation for farmlands, a method of transportation and are considered sacred to many followers of Hinduism.

As India has one of the largest populations in the world, public and private spaces are often densely populated. This influences how the idea of privacy is understood, as it is rarely available, sought after or indulged in. Generally, there is a very large cultural tolerance for crowding. For example, several generations often live under one roof, and it is not uncommon to find animals such as cows or dogs freely roaming public streets and villages.

The buzzing cities of Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi contain a melting pot of rapid economic development and technological innovation, with a notable example being the continually expanding telecommunications sector. Such cities demonstrate India's rise as an economic and political powerhouse on the world stage. This is also represented by the diaspora of Indian people throughout the globe. The large metropolitan cities stand in contrast to the hundreds of thousands of villages and small towns, each containing distinctive microsocieties. Indians can often determine where someone is from based on their accent, language, style of dress and mannerisms. Indeed, it is common to find people having a sense of regional pride and identity towards their place of origin.

Ethnic and Linguistic Composition

Although India does not officially recognise racial or ethnic categories in the national census, it continues to be one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world. Broadly, the ethnicities of India can be broken down into main groups on the basis of their linguistic backgrounds, the two largest being Indo-Aryan and Dravidian. For example, many people belonging to Indo-Aryan ethnicities live in the northern half of the country. Indo-Aryan languages commonly spoken include Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, Marathi, Urdu, Odia and Punjabi. Meanwhile, people belonging to Dravidian ethnicities generally live in the southern half of the country. Dravidian languages commonly spoken include Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam. These labels of ‘Indo-Aryan’ and ‘Dravidian’ usually serve as a helpful way to categorise the origins of Indian ethnic diversity, although they don’t necessarily reflect people’s personal identity. For example, people are unlikely to describe themselves as ‘Indo-Aryan’ or ‘Dravidian’.

Within these broad language groups, there is vast linguistic diversity accounting for 22 major languages and hundreds of regional or local languages. Most Indians tend to be bilingual or multilingual, speaking an official language along with their regional language(s). English is considered to be a subsidiary official language that is often reserved for governmental and commercial purposes. People who do not share a common first or native language will generally communicate in either Hindi or English. It is important to be considerate of the linguistic diversity of India as many Indians consider their language (particularly their regional or local language) to be a source of identity.

National Identity

The ‘Indian identity’ has evolved continuously over the country’s history as political and religious institutions have changed within and outside of India. For example, the British Raj (1858-1947) brought about vast changes in the country’s economic, political and cultural spheres. India’s independence from the British in 1947 was accompanied by the partition of India and Pakistan into the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan respectively. This led to mass violence that continues to be a source of trauma and sadness for many Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus that reside in the Punjab region in northwestern India.

Partition reflects the complexities in Indian identity with respect to religion. One temptation is to correlate Hindu identity and values with the Indian national identity. This correlation has been made since British colonisation . However, such a view tends to misrepresent the religious and cultural diversity of India. While it may seem like a useful device for describing a unified national identity, such generalisations perpetuate significant tensions among various groups in Indian society.

Earnest efforts have been made throughout the 20th and 21st century to instil a sense of nationhood and move beyond deep tensions and inequalities. Although tensions occasionally surface and at times have resulted in violence, social legislation has sought to empower traditionally disadvantaged segments of society such as ‘Untouchable' castes (see Social Structure and Stratification below), tribal populations, women and people with disabilities through affirmative action programs.

Social Structure and Stratification

India has a highly stratified traditional social structure, often referred to as the ‘caste’ system. The term ‘caste’ comes from the word ‘ casta ’, which was used by Portuguese observers to describe the social stratification of Indian society. The caste system is an ancient institution that is generally believed to be unique to the Indian subcontinent. Although often classified under one term, the caste system actually represents two different overlapping systems of stratification.

The large-scale caste system is known as the ‘ varna ’ system. This classifies society into four broad categories; brahmin (priestly caste), kshatriya (nobility caste), vaishya (merchant caste) and shudra (artisan or labourer caste). 1 The varna system was viewed by some members of society as the ideal social structure. Over time, particular castes in the bottom tier became stigmatised as ‘less pure’ compared to higher castes, and interactions between them were limited. The idea of the ‘ dalits ’ (‘untouchables’) was a modern addition. This category, thought to be outside of the caste system , was understood as the lowest rank and ‘least pure’ members of Indian society.

The small-scale caste system , known as the ‘ jati ' system, comprises over 2,000 jati categories that determine one’s occupation or vocation based on their family of birth. These occupations or jatis are ranked, with some considered to be caste-neutral (such as agriculture or non-traditional civil service). The jati system is particularly noticeable in the daily social organisation of Indian culture. For example, it explains why it is common to find people following the professions of their parents, grandparents and so on.

Intercaste Interactions

The caste system (s) is no longer legally enforced, and discrimination based on caste is outlawed. In the latter half of the 20th century, Indian governments have assigned jati categories into one of four general classes based on economic, social and historical criteria. To address inequalities among jatis, the government has established affirmative action programs, which reserve jobs, education scholarships and other benefits for historically disadvantaged or persecuted castes.

Many people do not explicitly adhere to the caste system , particularly in urban areas and large cities. However, social assumptions of the caste remain influential on certain aspects of Indian life. For example, the caste system continues to inform marriage through the practice of arranged marriages, which are usually carried out through existing (often caste-based) networks (see Relationships and Marriage in Family ). The caste system is more strictly adhered to in rural areas.

Although upward mobility within the caste system remains difficult, efforts have been made by various jatis to alter the social order and challenge the system itself. The social order is continuously under negotiation, and people from ‘lower' jatis have been known to challenge the social structure by adopting certain elements of the lifestyles of those in more ‘pure' castes. Some examples include abstaining from ‘polluting' or ‘demeaning' occupations, following vegetarianism and avoiding alcohol. Meanwhile, some jatis have been known to emphasise that caste position should be determined by other factors such as economic status, land ownership and political power.

Although open discrimination based on caste is extremely uncommon, everyone maintains a subtle awareness of the social structure. People continue to be conscious of the social position of themselves and those around them. Questioning or deviating from one’s expected role is still relatively rare. Thus, when interacting with someone from India, it is worth bearing in mind that the caste structure often systematically determines one's occupation and social standing from birth. While it may be inappropriate to inquire into a person’s caste (in the sense of the large-scale varna system), it is socially acceptable to ask about one’s occupation or vocation.

Collectivism and Harmony

Indians generally place a high value on harmony and unity with others, keeping a strong nexus with their community and relatives. A unified and interdependent community or family provides a support system that an individual can rely on daily. Community groups are often informed by one’s jati. Many community groups, especially in rural areas in the north, have their own regulating system of self-imposed rules to help maintain order and harmony . Such systems are often seen as necessary due to economic hardship or the unreliability of official services. The regulation of rules does not necessarily come from the upper caste; in some cases, lower caste members may lead the community depending on the area.

Indians can almost always trust in their social ties for assistance in virtually any activity. Isolation or seclusion can seem daunting, as group loyalty and assurance of inseparability provides security and confidence. Indians tend to be conscious of how their behaviour may reflect on their family or community. Many tend to emphasise humility and the preservation of their own and collective reputation, dignity and honour. For example, Indians may speak indirectly to avoid conflict and maintain social harmony . People are also expected to uphold their duties, responsibilities and obligations. Indeed, it is common to find Indians abroad sending remittances back to their family in India to provide financial support.

Karma, Acceptance and Personal Choice

Many Indians tend to have a sense of acceptance towards one’s life position or a belief that, due to actions in one’s past life, good or bad personal circumstances are deserved. This attitude partly stems from religious ideas such as ‘ karma ’ (the idea that one’s actions will affect their current or future life) and ‘ samsara ’ (the cycle of rebirth).

The interplay of these social, cultural and religious factors allows people to be accepting of life events and trajectories. However, this is not to be interpreted as Indians being unwilling to take responsibility for life circumstances. Many often contemplate how their actions may impact their future and make decisions accordingly. Some of India's youth are challenging a fatalistic perspective by asserting their free will to choose their vocation, spouse and other life factors. Indeed, as social mobility becomes more common, there is a growing belief that one can change their circumstances.

Modesty and Conservativeness

Indians tend to be quite conservative in most aspects of life, particularly in rural areas. This is especially noticeable in people’s behaviour and dress. Many will avoid speaking loudly or using excessive hand gestures, and it is not uncommon for strangers, friends and some family members of opposite genders to avoid physical contact. It is also preferable to wear clothing that covers the arms and legs; very few people wear revealing clothing. Clothing is usually traditional, but it is common to see Western-style clothing throughout the country for men and in urban areas for women.

Adaptability and Light-Heartedness

The large population size of India has not led average Indians to think of themselves as ‘one among many’ and certainly has not diminished their aspirations. Instead, diversity is celebrated alongside an inventive and entrepreneurial spirit. In this sense, many Indians are very adaptive and creative, often visualising big possibilities for themselves, their people and country. Problems are usually managed in a cheerful, cooperative and innovative manner, along with a light-heartedness towards situations that might otherwise be understood as frustrating. For example, strangers readily help others during mundane tasks such as looking for directions or parking a vehicle.

_____________________

1 See Hinduism in the Religion section for more information about the varna caste system.

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Essay on Indian Culture for Students and Children

500+ words essay on indian culture.

India is a country that boasts of a rich culture. The culture of India refers to a collection of minor unique cultures. The culture of India comprises of clothing, festivals, languages, religions, music, dance, architecture, food, and art in India. Most noteworthy, Indian culture has been influenced by several foreign cultures throughout its history. Also, the history of India’s culture is several millennia old.

Components of Indian Culture

First of all, Indian origin religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism . All of these religions are based on karma and dharma. Furthermore, these four are called as Indian religions. Indian religions are a major category of world religions along with Abrahamic religions.

Also, many foreign religions are present in India as well. These foreign religions include Abrahamic religions. The Abrahamic religions in India certainly are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Besides Abrahamic religions, Zoroastrianism and Bahá’í Faith are the other foreign religions which exist in India. Consequently, the presence of so many diverse religions has given rise to tolerance and secularism in Indian culture.

The Joint family system is the prevailing system of Indian culture . Most noteworthy, the family members consist of parents, children, children’s spouses, and offspring. All of these family members live together. Furthermore, the eldest male member is the head of the family.

Arranged marriages are the norm in Indian culture. Probably most Indians have their marriages planned by their parents. In almost all Indian marriages, the bride’s family gives dowry to bridegroom. Weddings are certainly festive occasions in Indian culture. There is involvement of striking decorations, clothing, music, dance, rituals in Indian weddings. Most noteworthy, the divorce rates in India are very low.

India celebrates a huge number of festivals. These festivals are very diverse due to multi-religious and multi-cultural Indian society. Indians greatly value festive occasions. Above all, the whole country joins in the celebrations irrespective of the differences.

Traditional Indian food, arts, music, sports, clothing, and architecture vary significantly across different regions. These components are influenced by various factors. Above all, these factors are geography, climate, culture, and rural/urban setting.

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Perceptions of Indian Culture

Indian culture has been an inspiration to many writers. India is certainly a symbol of unity around the world. Indian culture is certainly very complex. Furthermore, the conception of Indian identity poses certain difficulties. However, despite this, a typical Indian culture does exist. The creation of this typical Indian culture results from some internal forces. Above all, these forces are a robust Constitution, universal adult franchise, secular policy , flexible federal structure, etc.

Indian culture is characterized by a strict social hierarchy. Furthermore, Indian children are taught their roles and place in society from an early age. Probably, many Indians believe that gods and spirits have a role in determining their life. Earlier, traditional Hindus were divided into polluting and non-polluting occupations. Now, this difference is declining.

Indian culture is certainly very diverse. Also, Indian children learn and assimilate in the differences. In recent decades, huge changes have taken place in Indian culture. Above all, these changes are female empowerment , westernization, a decline of superstition, higher literacy , improved education, etc.

To sum it up, the culture of India is one of the oldest cultures in the World. Above all, many Indians till stick to the traditional Indian culture in spite of rapid westernization. Indians have demonstrated strong unity irrespective of the diversity among them. Unity in Diversity is the ultimate mantra of Indian culture.

FAQs on Indian Culture

Q1 What are the Indian religions?

A1 Indian religions refer to a major category of religion. Most noteworthy, these religions have their origin in India. Furthermore, the major Indian religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.

Q2 What are changes that have taken place in Indian culture in recent decades?

A2 Certainly, many changes have taken place in Indian culture in recent decades. Above all, these changes are female empowerment, westernization, a decline of superstition, higher literacy, improved education, etc.

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• Indian Culture and Tradition Essay

Essay on Indian Culture and Tradition

As students grow older, it is important for them to improve their understanding and hold over the language. This can be done only through consistent reading and writing. Writing an essay is a task that involves cooperation and coordination of both the mind and body. Students must be able to think as well reproduce their thoughts effectively without any confusion. This is important when it comes to writing answers and other important documents as ones go to higher classes. The art of writing effectively and efficiently can be improved by students through writing essays. To help students in this domain, Vedantu provides students with numerous essays. Students can go through the same and learn the correct manner of writing the essay. 

Indian Culture and Tradition

India enjoys a wide variety of cultural and traditional presence amongst the 28 states. Indian origin religions Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism are all based on dharma and karma. Even, India is a blessed holy place which is also a native place for most of the religions. Recently, Muslim and Christianity also practised working amongst the whole India population. The pledge also added the line, ‘India is my country, and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage.’  

Indians are great with cooking; their spices are special for medicinal purposes, so visitors are difficult to adjust to with such heavy spices. The cricketers touring Indian pitches are out due to such food. Frequently, it's been observed that the sportsperson arrived in India either with cooking skills or with a cook. Spices such as cumin, turmeric and cardamom have been used for a long period, to make the dishes more delicious and nutritional. Wheat, rice and pulses help to complete the meal. The majority of the population is a vegetarian one due to their religious aspects.

Talking about the language, India is blessed with a wide range of languages used. Each state has its own language. A major part of the state is unable to speak other languages than the native one. Gujrathi, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Punjabi, Telugu and many more are the representative languages of the respective state. It's easy to recognize the person with the language he spoke. There are 15 regional languages but almost all of them Hindi is the national language of the country. Sanskrit is considered an ancient and respected language. And most of the legendary holy texts are found in Sanskrit only. Along with these, most of the people are aware of plenty of foreign languages. 

Indian clothing is adorable to most of the foreigners. Woman wearing a sari is the pride of a nation. These create a pleasant effect and she looks so beautiful that a majority of foreign country’s female want to be like her. The origin of the sari is from the temple dancers in ancient times. Sari allows them to maintain modesty and freedom of movement. On the other hand, men traditionally wear a dhoti and kurta. Actually, Dhoti is a type of cloth without any further attached work done on it. The great Mahatma Gandhi was very fond of it and in their dignity, most of the people used to wear the same. 

Apart from all the above facts, Indians are legends with arts and studious material. Shah-rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, Dhirubhai Ambani, Amitabh Bachchan Rajnikant, Sundar Pichai are many more faces of India who are shining and representing India on a global scale. There are 20-30 grand festivals celebrated every year in which every festival pops up with history and respect to the respective religion. Even in terms of business, India is not behind. Agriculture is the best occupation of 70% of people in India. It’s our duty to protect the wonderful culture that we have. 

Indian culture is one of the oldest and most unique cultures known across the globe. It has various kinds of traditional values, religion, dance, festivals, music, and cloth, which varies from each state or town even. Indian art, cuisine, religion, Literature, Education, Heritage, Clothes etc has a huge impact on the whole world where everyone admires and follows it. It is known as the land of cultural diversity.  India thrives on a variety of languages, religions, and cultures due to the diverse race of people living in the country. It can be referred to as one of the world’s most culturally enriched countries. When one thinks of India, they picture colors, smiling faces of children running in the streets, bangle vendors, street food, music, religious festivals etc. 

Religion 

India is a land where different religious beliefs are followed. It is the land of many religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism.  Four Indian religions namely Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism were born in India while others are not of Indian origin but have people following those faiths. The people of India keep a solid belief in religion as they believe that following a faith adds meaning and purpose to their lives as it is the way of life. The religions here are not only confined to beliefs but also include ethics, rituals, ceremonies, life philosophies and many more.

Families 

Family plays a vital role in every Indian household. Indians are known to live together as a joint family with their grandparents, uncles and aunts, and the next generation of offspring as well. The house gets passed down from family to family throughout the generations. But with the new modern age, nuclear families are starting to become more common as children go out of town into cities for work or studies and get settled there, also everyone now prefers to have their own private life without any interference. But still, the concept of family get together and family gatherings are not lost as everyone does come together frequently. 

Indian Festivals

India is well known for its traditional festivals all over the world. As it is a secular country with diversity in religions, every month some festival celebration happens. These festivals can be religious, seasonal or are of national importance. Every festival is celebrated uniquely in different ways according to their ritual as each of them has its unique importance. National festivals such as Gandhi Jayanti, Independence Day and Republic Day are celebrated by the people of India across the entire nation. Religious festivals include Diwali, Dussehra, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Zuha, Christmas, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc. All the seasonal festivals such as Baisakhi, Onam, Pongal, Bihu etc are celebrated to mark the season of harvest during two harvesting seasons, Rabi and Kharif. 

Festivals bring love, bond, cross-cultural exchange and moments of happiness among people.

Indian cuisine is known for a variety of spicy dishes, curry, rice items, sweets etc. Each cuisine includes a wide range of dishes and cooking techniques as it varies from region to region. Each region of India cooks different types of dishes using different ingredients, also food varies from every festival and culture as well. Hindus eat mostly vegetarian food items such as pulao, vegetables, daal, rajma etc whereas people from Islamic cultural backgrounds eat meat, kebabs, haleem etc. In the southernmost part of India, you will find people use a lot of coconut oil for cooking purposes, they eat a lot of rice items such as Dosa, Idli, Appam etc with Coconut chutney, sambhar.

Indian Clothing is considered to be the epitome of modesty and every style is very different in each region and state. But the two pieces of clothing that represent Indian culture are dhoti for men and saree for women. Women adorn themselves with a lot of bangles and Payal that goes around their ankles. Even clothing styles varied from different religions to regions to cultures. Muslim women preferred to wear salwar kameez whereas Christian women preferred gowns. Men mostly stuck to dhoti, lungi, shalwar and kurta.In modern days, people have changed their sense of style, men and women now wear more modern western clothes. Indian clothes are still valued but are now in more trendy and fashionable styles. 

There is no single language that is spoken all over India; however , Hindi is one common language most Indians know and can speak or understand. Every region has a different language or dialect. As per the official language act, Hindi and English are the official languages in India. Other regions or state wise languages include- Gujarati, Marathi, Bangla, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Kashmiri, Punjabi etc. 

FAQs on Indian Culture and Tradition Essay

1. What are the Popular Spices in India?

Popular spices in India include - Haldi(Turmeric), Chakri Phool(Star Anise), Til (Sesame seeds/ Gingili seeds), Saunf(Fennel Seeds), Kesar(Saffron), Laal Mirch(Red chilli), Khas(Poppy seeds), Jayphal(Nutmeg), Kalonji(Nigella Seeds), Rai/Sarson(Mustard Seeds), Pudina(Mint), Javitri(Mace), Patthar ke Phool​(Kalpasi), Kala Namak/ Sanchal/ Sanchar powder(Black salt/ Himalayan rock salt/ Pink salt), Sonth(Dry ginger powder), Methi dana(Fenugreek seeds), Suva Bhaji/ Sua Saag(Dill)

Kadi Patta(Curry Leaves), Sukha dhania(Coriander seeds), Laung(Cloves), Dalchini(Cinnamon), Sabza(Chia seeds), Chironji(Charoli), Ajwain(Carom seeds, thymol or celery seeds), Elaichi(Cardamom), Kali Mirch(Black Pepper (or White Pepper), Tej Patta(Bay Leaf), Hing(Asafoetida), Anardana(Pomegranate seeds), Amchoor(Dry mango powder)

2. What is the Language Diversity Available in India?

The Indian constitution has 22 officially recognized languages. Apart from it, there are around 60 languages that are recognized as smother tongue with more than one million speakers. India also has around 28 minor languages spoken by over one hundred thousand and one million people. Apart from these, there are numerous dialects spoken by a various sect of people based on their region of origin. 

3. Who are Some of the Most Famous Indian Celebrities Popular Across the Globe? 

India has people excelling in all aspects of art and activities. Few prominent celebrities to garner global fame include - Sudha Murthy, Amitabh Bacchan, Virat Kohli, Saina Nehwal, Sania Mirza, Priyanka Chopra, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohanlal, A R Rehman, Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata, Narayana Murthy, Kiran Majumdar Shah, Narendra Modi, Amith Shah. all these people have received great accolades in their respective area of expertise globally and getting recognition to India on a global level. 

4. How to Improve Writing and Reading Skills for Producing Good Essays?

Writing an essay becomes a tedious task when the mind and hand do not coordinate. It is important for you to be able to harness your mental ability to think clearly and reproduce the same on paper for a good essay. Always remember the first few thoughts that you get as soon as you see an essay topic is your best and purest thoughts. Ensure to note them down. Later you can develop your essay around these points. Make sure your essay has an introduction, body and the final conclusion. This will make the reader understand the topic clearly along with your ability to convey the any information without any hesitation or mistake. 

5. How many religions are there in India? 

As of now, there are a total of 9 major religions in India with Hinduism being the majority. The remaining religion includes- Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and the Baha'i Faith. 

6. Which is the oldest language in India? 

Indian classical oldest language is Sanskrit, it belongs to the Indo- Aryan branch of Indo- European languages. 

7. What are the few famous folk dances of India? 

Folk dances are the representation of a particular culture from where they are known to originate. Eight famous classical dances are- Bharatnatyam from Tamil Nadu, Kathakali from Kerala, Kathak from North, West and Central India, Mohiniyattam from Kerala, Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh, Odissi from Odisha, Manipuri from Manipur, Sattriya from Assam. 

8. How many languages are spoken in India? 

Other than Hindi and English there are 22 languages recognised by the constitution of India. However, more than 400 languages and dialects in India are still not known as they change after every town. Over the years, about 190 languages have become endangered due to very few surviving speakers. 

9. Describe the Indian Culture. 

Indian culture is very diverse and the people of India are very warm and welcoming. They have a strong sense of family and firmly believe in unity in diversity. In India, there's a saying saying 'Atithi Devo Bhava'  means 'the guest is equivalent to god'. So if one visits India, they will never feel unwanted.

Indian Horse

Richard wagamese, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse takes its title from the protagonist Saul Indian Horse ’s family name, so it’s no surprise that family (and the traditions that families preserve) is one of the book’s central themes. Saul Indian Horse is a member of the Fish Clan, an Indigenous Canadian tribe that lives near the Winnipeg River. Saul’s family has always been influential in the Fish Clan. Saul’s great-grandfather, Slanting Sky , was a shaman—an important healer and religious figure in his community. The novel takes place during the 1960s and ‘70s, at a time when Indigenous Canadian traditions were under attack in Canada. Laws—for example, the Indian Act of 1876 (and its amendment in 1884)—required Indigenous Canadian children to attend Christian, English-speaking schools, where they were separated from their families and forced to un-learn their tribe’s traditions. Wagamese shows Saul Indian Horse struggling to maintain ties to his family and his culture, even after he’s taken away from his family and sent to school. In some ways, Saul embraces his longstanding family traditions, but in other ways he embraces new customs and even new family.

While Wagamese doesn’t go into a tremendous amount of detail about Fish Clan culture, he does suggest that the Fish Clan has strong beliefs about the importance and structure of family, as well as strong traditions that sometimes conflict with those of the white Canadian population. One of the first things Saul writes about his culture is that it places a lot of emphasis on respect for elders, especially women. Indeed, the de facto leader of Saul’s family isn’t his father (as is often the case in societies of European heritage), but rather his grandmother, Naomi . In the first part of the book, Naomi leads her family in search of food and safety, and also is a spiritual leader of the family, often overruling the younger, less experienced people in her family. Saul’s family and culture also place a lot of emphasis on respecting and living in harmony with the natural world. The family believes that there are forests and lakes in Canada that offer spiritual enlightenment that no manmade community can match. But furthermore, these sites only offer enlightenment to certain families and certain people—they’re not for everyone.

Perhaps the most important aspect of Fish Clan tradition in Indian Horse (and the biggest difference between Fish Clan culture and white Canadian culture as Wagamese depicts it) is the way tradition itself is conceptualized. To Saul and his family, tradition isn’t a vague, wishy-washy concept—it’s a real, tangible thing that can be experienced through visions and dreams. Over the course of the book, Saul has visions in which he sees his distant ancestors and receives advice from them, based on their own wisdom and experiences. In this way, Wagamese seems to see tradition and family as two sides of the same coin: families are the bearers and inheritors of traditions, and many of the most important traditions concern the structure of the family.

Family and tradition play an important role in Saul’s coming-of-age. They give him a sense of higher purpose and remind him that he’s not alone in the world—that, on the contrary, he’s connected to his family members, both living and dead. During the long middle section of the book, when Saul is feeling depressed and lonely, he seems to lose touch with his family and traditions. As he explains in the first chapter, he loses the ability to have mystical visions, which causes him great sadness. By the same token, Saul seems to regain his confidence and sense of purpose following a vision he has at the end of the book. During this vision, his great-grandfather, Slanting Sky , tells him to keep Gods Lake (a place where, according to tradition, only Saul’s family may live) within himself. As Wagamese sees it, Saul attains enlightenment when he accepts that he is a member of the Fish Clan tribe, the descendant of countless ancestors, and the bearer of proud traditions.

At the same time, Wagamese makes it clear that Saul is not just the bearer of the traditions of the past. As a young man growing up in a tumultuous time, Saul discovers new customs and cultures and incorporates them into his identity. He plays hockey , speaks and reads English, and embraces many other aspects of white Canadian culture, balancing Fish Clan tradition with the culture of a changing world. Balancing Indigenous tradition with white culture—in other words, living one’s life in the present without losing touch with the past—is the crux of Wagamese’s point about family and tradition. Doing so gives Saul the resilience and sense of community that he needs to live a happy life.

Family and Tradition ThemeTracker

Family and Tradition Quotes in Indian Horse

Our people have rituals and ceremonies meant to bring us vision. I have never participated in any of them, but I have seen things. I have been lifted up and out of this physical world into a place where time and space have a different rhythm. I always remained within the borders of this world, yet I had the eyes of one born to a different plane. Our medicine people would call me a seer. But I was in the thrall of a power I never understood. It left me years ago, and the loss of that gift has been my greatest sorrow.

I wondered what would become of us there. I wondered if the spirit, the monitous , of Gods Lake would look upon us with pity and compassion, if we would flourish on this land that was ours alone.

I crept to the edge of the ridge and looked over. The face of the cliff had collapsed, and the camp was gone. Vanished. Even the trees had been scraped away and the beach was strewn with boulders. The chalky smell of rock dust brought tears to my eyes and I stood there weeping, my shoulders shaking at the thought of those people buried under all that stone.

No one said a word. They didn't have to. I stripped off my jersey and sat there breathing in the atmosphere of that small wooden shack. I was a Moose.

When we walked into the lobby the first thing we saw were glass cabinets along the walls filled with trophies and photographs. It was like a shrine to their home team. We stood there with our gear bags in our hands, studying the display. There were no awards in our bush league. The winners were celebrated with feasts and parties but there was no money for trophies.

There were moments when you'd catch another boy's eye and know that you were both thinking about it. Everything was contained in that glance. All the hurt. All the shame. All the rage. The white people thought it was their game. They thought it was their world.

"The journey you make is good." "What am I to learn here?" He swept his arm to take in the lake, the shore and the cliff behind us. "You've come to learn to carry this place within you. This place of beginnings and endings."

"Did they rape everyone?" I asked. There was a long silence. In the distance I could hear the sounds of the mill and a train. I waited and they both looked at the floor. "It doesn't have to be sexual to be rape, Saul," Martha said. "When they invade your spirit, it's rape too," Fred said.

"They scooped out our insides, Saul. We're not responsible for that. We're not responsible for what happened to us. None of us are." Fred said. "But our healing-that's up to us. That's what saved me. Knowing it was my game." "Could be a long game," I said. "So what if it is?" he said. "Just keep your stick on the ice and your feet moving. Time will take care of itself."

"Even up here in the sticks, we like to use a hockey puck to play hockey," Virgil said and pushed out onto the ice. "Old habits," I said when he reached me. "New days," he said. "The guys here?" "Them and more," he said.