musings

A relative was recently granted an MBE (I have already written on the British Honours System) and my family and I had the pleasure of attending a party to celebrate their achievement. One striking, and refreshing, aspect of the party was the level of multiculturalism apparent in the guests invited. One of several conversations I remember from the night was with an aunt about the relative loss of Indian cultural values in her family, and how these might be infused into her teenage daughter’s upbringing. As a second generation Asian brought up in the UK, I have been through all this myself, and have also observed a wide “scale” of adherence to cultural or religious values in family and friends. Lifestyle choices such as drinking, smoking and eating meat must, I have come to realise, be treated as such. You don’t have to be cultural or religious to understand the danger in being addicted to any of these, and for this reason I personally believe there is more advantage to abstaining than indulging. Even the mother tongue, a few generations down the line, may unfortunately disappear from everyday conversation; I note here that fluency in an Asian language does not necessarily give one a better understanding of a culture, Bollywood being a case in point. From my own experiences, what I think matters most is understanding of one’s philosophical heritage, and the rationale behind certain actions or beliefs. The meaning behind specific rituals, why certain ways of living are prescribed in scriptures, tales demonstrating virtues to which one should aspire.

My discussion with this aunt spurred me to think about how second, or third, generation Hindus can access their rich background when this is not being achieved at home or in their schooling. I believe there are a few ways one can learn about such aspects of Hindu culture, and for many they may beneficially affect lifestyle choices, the way they perceive the world, and the decisions they make. Some may favour the scholastic route, reading books by revered pandits, learning about historical struggles of Hindu leaders, or studying the Vedas. Others, just as admirably, may follow a devotional path, following a guru and learning through their teachings, or focusing on a religious path which brings them peace. A third, more casual but equally valid, method is learning about the stories which underpin the cultural heritage of a nation. The Ramayana and Mahabharata, considered as scriptures, are also phenomenal, accessible stories. Popular video adaptations are available and cater for any audience, regardless of age. These are by no means mutually exclusive routes, but highlight the fact that different routes appeal to different types of people.

It is the third for which I showed my enthusiasm while I conversed with the aunt. The idea isn’t to “convert” anyone (in this case, even if they have the same background!), but to inspire some curiosity into one’s cultural and religious heritage. At worst, it will give access to intriguing, if not delightful, tales of battles between good and evil. In any case, it may help redress an imbalance by placing these epics in modern thought alongside western masterpieces such as the Odyssey, the Iliad and the Aeneid.