01-02-2004, 06:57 PM
Interesting discussion. SSRamachandran, let me try to add or answer - all based on personal observation - sorry no link or URL to anywhere else.
I view Indian culture as a amalagmation of several things like Indian music, movies, clothes, religion, cuisine, literature etc. India culture has contributed a lot to this world while the most of world was still swinging from branches - Yoga, Ayurveda, Vedas, etc..come to mind. There's a renewed interest in west for these things - but conveniently the credits to the origins are misplaced. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
SSR:<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Are there no sophisticated indian ways of dressing up ?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
One has to only visit a Hindu marriage and see how sophisticated one can get. But your question seems to be more in tune with the Western definition of sophistication. People dress according to the local customs and traditions. You'll see even Bush trying to wear the Chinese dress when he's in China and lately we have seen Indian Govt Officals wear western dress when they visit US. It's very interesting to note how Indians adapt their dressing. I know of Indian women who'll walk around in US in say jeans without the customary dot or <i>tikli</i>, but in India the same person wouldn't dare.
SSR:<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->I have no problems with seeing a half naked woman on TV( as a matter of fact I like that kind of thing ) , but I want that woman to be naked in an Indian way. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Err........don't understand the last part <!--emo&:o--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ohmy.gif' /><!--endemo--> . But let's not go there.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->If you look at movies 90 % of them are shot abroad!!!!. You see these actors wrapping themselves around the american flag and dancing in LA or SF.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, it's a bit disappointing. I watch Indian movies to watch Indian sets/locations - not say Switzerland or NYC. I remember about 2 to 3 years ago, the Swiss Govt gave some kind of award to Hindi film industry for promoting their tourism! Is there reverse spreading of culture is also happening in Western nation?
I remember reading about Raj Kapoor, Nargis etc being a big hit in Russia. Also recall after the fall of Taliban, reading that Aurana Irani movies and Karishma's posters were selling like hot cakes in Afghanistan. I was pleasantly shocked couple years ago when couple Israeli ladies sang <i>'Eachka dana'</i> (old hindi songs from yesteryears) when we met them - apparently Hindi movies in Israel were a big thing in 60s. Not sure as to these days how much our hindi movies are watched by non-Indians.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->As economic progress comes to India there will be more and more people touched by the wealth sources. Does this mean that there will be a gradual erosion of what our core culture and values are ?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Good question. Answer will lie between yes and no IMHO. With globalization, people will start looking more towards cost and convenience as they start accepting bits and pieces of different culture. For example, as a resident of US, as a matter of convenience I enjoy the local cuisine of pizza, pasta, sandwiches etc as it's convenient and affordable. I have access to Indian restaurants but I can't afford it on a daily basis. On the other-hand, if I'm ever in Jackson Heights of NY or Oaktree Rd of NJ (huge Indian concentration of stores/hotels), I make it a point to relish every Indian dish that I can lay my hands on and I seriously envy some of my friends who live around there.
On the other hand, look at some of the progress made by Indians in US. From what I hear around 60s and 70s there were just a handful Indian hotels/stores/temples in US. But today almost every decent sized town has these store/restaurants/temples. So the Indian cluture is spreading out too.
I think this will be like a case where one will gain more by loosing or loose more by gaining - depending upon how one views it.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Why dont we see huge truck loads of "tender coconut water" being shipped all over india instead of pepsi and coke and Perrier.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think again, market demand more than cultural issues will dicate that. Pepsi/Coke were popular in India (or other places) but have you lately noticed the shelves of the local grocery stores in US being stacked with frozen 'Chicken Vinadaloos', 'Chicken Tikka Masalas' etc... <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Mudy: <!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Now Indians do more rituals than before<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Have you observed as to how jealosuly Jews stick to their religious rituals and ancient customs. I wish more and more Indian families start imbibing their own traditions/language/culture in their children. It's interesting to note how in some Indian families living in West, kids are more 'Indianized' than their counterparts in India.
I view Indian culture as a amalagmation of several things like Indian music, movies, clothes, religion, cuisine, literature etc. India culture has contributed a lot to this world while the most of world was still swinging from branches - Yoga, Ayurveda, Vedas, etc..come to mind. There's a renewed interest in west for these things - but conveniently the credits to the origins are misplaced. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
SSR:<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Are there no sophisticated indian ways of dressing up ?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
One has to only visit a Hindu marriage and see how sophisticated one can get. But your question seems to be more in tune with the Western definition of sophistication. People dress according to the local customs and traditions. You'll see even Bush trying to wear the Chinese dress when he's in China and lately we have seen Indian Govt Officals wear western dress when they visit US. It's very interesting to note how Indians adapt their dressing. I know of Indian women who'll walk around in US in say jeans without the customary dot or <i>tikli</i>, but in India the same person wouldn't dare.
SSR:<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->I have no problems with seeing a half naked woman on TV( as a matter of fact I like that kind of thing ) , but I want that woman to be naked in an Indian way. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Err........don't understand the last part <!--emo&:o--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ohmy.gif' /><!--endemo--> . But let's not go there.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->If you look at movies 90 % of them are shot abroad!!!!. You see these actors wrapping themselves around the american flag and dancing in LA or SF.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, it's a bit disappointing. I watch Indian movies to watch Indian sets/locations - not say Switzerland or NYC. I remember about 2 to 3 years ago, the Swiss Govt gave some kind of award to Hindi film industry for promoting their tourism! Is there reverse spreading of culture is also happening in Western nation?
I remember reading about Raj Kapoor, Nargis etc being a big hit in Russia. Also recall after the fall of Taliban, reading that Aurana Irani movies and Karishma's posters were selling like hot cakes in Afghanistan. I was pleasantly shocked couple years ago when couple Israeli ladies sang <i>'Eachka dana'</i> (old hindi songs from yesteryears) when we met them - apparently Hindi movies in Israel were a big thing in 60s. Not sure as to these days how much our hindi movies are watched by non-Indians.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->As economic progress comes to India there will be more and more people touched by the wealth sources. Does this mean that there will be a gradual erosion of what our core culture and values are ?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Good question. Answer will lie between yes and no IMHO. With globalization, people will start looking more towards cost and convenience as they start accepting bits and pieces of different culture. For example, as a resident of US, as a matter of convenience I enjoy the local cuisine of pizza, pasta, sandwiches etc as it's convenient and affordable. I have access to Indian restaurants but I can't afford it on a daily basis. On the other-hand, if I'm ever in Jackson Heights of NY or Oaktree Rd of NJ (huge Indian concentration of stores/hotels), I make it a point to relish every Indian dish that I can lay my hands on and I seriously envy some of my friends who live around there.
On the other hand, look at some of the progress made by Indians in US. From what I hear around 60s and 70s there were just a handful Indian hotels/stores/temples in US. But today almost every decent sized town has these store/restaurants/temples. So the Indian cluture is spreading out too.
I think this will be like a case where one will gain more by loosing or loose more by gaining - depending upon how one views it.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Why dont we see huge truck loads of "tender coconut water" being shipped all over india instead of pepsi and coke and Perrier.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think again, market demand more than cultural issues will dicate that. Pepsi/Coke were popular in India (or other places) but have you lately noticed the shelves of the local grocery stores in US being stacked with frozen 'Chicken Vinadaloos', 'Chicken Tikka Masalas' etc... <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Mudy: <!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Now Indians do more rituals than before<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Have you observed as to how jealosuly Jews stick to their religious rituals and ancient customs. I wish more and more Indian families start imbibing their own traditions/language/culture in their children. It's interesting to note how in some Indian families living in West, kids are more 'Indianized' than their counterparts in India.