Staying true to one’s roots is a phrase that has been done
to death by every brand that ever was. With international brands capsizing the
local markets, the tagline has assumed relevance in marketing more than ever. It
got me wondering whether we, as consumers/individuals were even attracted to
the actual concept rather than the mere show of words.
As a Gen Y kid I, like many others in my generation, have been
witness to the Internet boom. The repercussions of the same were felt
differently across the various parts of the world. America became the technical
hub and the dream locale to provide just that push to any fledgling career.
Every middle-class Indian, who had only heard about the country till then,
started nurturing hopes of living the Great Dream abroad. The same trend
continued into the new millennium and changed the dynamics of not only the
market but also pseudo-westernized our country.
Don’t get me wrong here. This is
not a hate rant on how Big Bad America capsized Culturally Rich India and
brought us all to the wrong side of morality. I love my shows on the tube and
everything else that western culture has ushered in. It would have been great
if our country was truly following the new age ideals while sticking to our
roots. While we busy slog away at perfecting our English grammar and the American
accent, here’s a thought – How about we learn to read, write and speak in our
mother tongue? I would be a hypocrite, if I’d say that we should learn all the Indian
languages with their different dialects. But it is not a matter of pride that
we cannot communicate in our own mother tongue, in the age of free web
tutorials and Ebooks. As a matter of fact, it is pretty shameful that we’re
drawn towards learning foreign languages like Chinese, French and Italian
because of the sheer monetary profit associated.
The scenario gets worse when it
boils down to the historical and civilian details of our country. History is
taught so blandly, that it is hard to feel an inkling of liking for the
subject. Pre and post-struggle details are breezed through concisely in a
chapter or two. Beyond Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and a few others, we don’t even
remember the names of other patriots who participated in the freedom struggle. On
the other hand, civics is hardly taught. It’s more of a rushed primer for
everything else we need to expect later on, as citizens of this country. In
this age of technology, it is truly sad to realize that as citizens we know more
about American and Egyptian history than our own. And why? Because they’re more
mystical and interesting, according to our textbooks.
By all of this, I don’t mean to
say that all Indians should go back to primitive living and start adhering to
Panchayat rules. Saving our culture
doesn’t entail bidding goodbye to luxury or your pair of jeans. You could very
well be all you want and still in tune with our heritage. It is, as simple as,
getting to know your own country a little better. Because if we don’t respect
and treasure our own legacy, chances are that nobody else will.
Till next time,
Divya
