Who is destroying the Indian Culture ? – Lets hear them both

Probably one of the most discussed and debated topic in these days.  And most of the times the accused side will be filled with the youngsters – the so called modern guyz and gals. Yesterday we saw the hippie culture and today we are hearing the Pub and the IT culture. We can see different voices around, some supporting the new trend and some others opposing the change. Let’s try to see various perspectives. 

An incident which triggered it …

One of the main incidents that ignited the discussion recently is the Mangalore pub incident. A group of ‘Moral police’ attacked a pub or in other words aimed their attack at the women folks out there. And of course when some men folks came in between their business they gave them their share too. Well let’s try to figure out what each side would have to say, 

Note: The below conversations is a pure work of fiction and imagination. This is derived purely based on what a normal person might feel from what he/she see around them.

Interview 1 :  Moral Protector's version 

(Q) Why were you targeting the women folks?

Moral protectors (MP): We attacked the women because they are not supposed to come to the pub and drink along with their men folks. This is against the Indian culture 

(Q) Then according to Indian culture what is the role of women?

(MP): (Looking at the interviewer with a sarcastic smile as if “u doesn’t know it yet??”) Indian women are supposed to sit inside home, prepare the food and wait for their men late at night. 

(Q) Then what about the men? Are they allowed to go to the pub and drink?

(MP): Well men are the one who is working hard and earning the daily bread for the family. So there is no fault if they relax a bit at the end of the day. Even in purana’s you can see the divine men drinking Surapanam, which can be considered as alcohol. But we can’t see any where any divine women drinking any think like that!!! 

(Q)But beating women in front of TV camera’s … is it a right thing according to Indian culture?

(MP): Ofcourse its right. For us aim is important and path is always insignificant. You know what happened to Shoorpanaka in Ramayana. This is not even close to that. TV camera was used so that we don’t need to repeat it every where. Now every one know what we can do (A smile on his face , more like a grin) 

(Q) So according to you who is actually responsible for destroying the culture here?

(MP): These youngsters who thinks this is America. Just because they have money or job in some big IT company does not mean they can do what ever they want. This is our country and our culture and we have our own rules here. We have some family values and moral systems here. We won’t allow these freaks to destroy the age old system and values here. (temperature raising) 

(Q) But what about the fundamental civilian rights? This a democratic country, isn’t it?

(MP): We have a war out here man. And we don’t need to tell you that at the times of war civilian rights are insignificant. We are having a broader outlook and individual freedom is our least priority.

Interview 2: Youngster's version 

(Q): Do you think the pub culture is suitable for our country?

Youngster(Y): Why not??? It’s a matter of individual right. This is not any Taliban. We have a constitution and we have our rights. If pub culture is against the Indian culture then let the government have the balls to stop all the pubs here. (follows up with naughty smile)

 (Q): But is it right for the women also to follow this culture?

(Y): Which year are you living dude. (a little sarcasm) Women sitting inside house and cooking food can only be seen in old movies nowadays. If you say going to the pub is bad I can understand, but if you say just woman going to the pub is bad…..Then I would say you are not defending a culture, but you are defending your petty complex. 

(Q) But what if I say that today’s generation is blindly following the American culture?

(Y) So what’s new in that? We always did just that. Every fashion and every life style here were influenced by foreign countries. Let it be the European style brought here by British, or the hippie culture from US or even the Elvis Presley’s style. It’s a global village now and we have the right and we have the sense to know what is good for us. 

(Q) So does that mean the future family system and values in India will also be similar to what we see in US?

(Y) Look buddy, a family is ultimately built by persons. We youngster’s following western style does not mean we are all turning ourselves to a westerner. A civilization is like a river, which is not built by staying where it is. But it will grow by moving and accepting different cultures and different civilizations along the way. A change of lifestyle is a part of life. If we were not doing it, we will still be living inside the caves. 

(Q) So what do you want to say about the attacks aimed at you people?

(Y) We believe it’s nothing but some dirty politics. It is an attack of some organised people against the unorganised. People who have nothing to loose against the ones who have every thing to loose. This is a slap on the face of the democratic India. (Hmmm a little rush of adrenalin !!!) 

******

Hmm so you have seen both sides of the story. I might be no one to decide who is right and who is wrong here. We got our freedom some 60 years back from the British. It’s been a long journey since then with a lot of changes. When we look at this whole thing the question is not about who is right and who is wrong. But the real question is whether you can say YES when you look around and ask yourself the question “Am I really free?”