GD 6: Indian culture is going to vultures

[Manish Salian]

Hi,

The second topic for Tue, 15-Apr is:

Indian culture is going to vultures

Just start the GD by replying to this post!

Just in case you have missed out on this important note in my previous GD post (at the cost of repeating myself):

One serious request to all of you, (especially Akhil, Harshil, Karishnma, Dhruvesh and Saurabh), please number your points and keep them short and to the point! Harshil seems to be copy pasting from some other source. Have pity on the people who are going through your content!! Spend some time in making the points crispier. After all, it will also help you in your actual GD as no one will allow to have such a long talk-time.

Thanks..

Deadline for this Topic: Tue, 15-Apr, 10.00 pm

All the Best.

Regards,

Manish sir

[BijoyShah]

Indian culture is going to vultures

1] Culture - Over a long period of time the practices, procedures, policies and guiding principles & values we follow.

(+1 mark : Definition of culture)

2] Indian culture is considered to be one of the very strong and richest in the world.

(+1 mark : From culture to Indian culture, a good way to make point)

3] Mass media invading our culture - because of globalization access to foreign channels and other medium.

(+1 mark : Relevant point but no examples or data to support)

4] Issues like imparting Sex education in schools facing oppsosition but it is the same India which has the Khajurao temples and Kamasutra.

(+3 mark : Yes a very common perspective, but new one in this GD at least)

5] Moral police, Valentine's day, smooching in public places - not considered good but at the same time our culture tells us to open the window and learn new things, so we have to decide for ourselves (wat is good/bad for us).

(+3 mark : Very good example of how we are contradicting our own culture)

6] Vulgar item numbers in movies (degrading our own culture), Mass media creating news and not depicting them

(0 mark : An extension of the idea intriduced in 3rd point)

7] As India becomes global and international, people require various things and interferences (+ve and -ve) in culture are bound to happen. Its our own view whether we want our culture to be strong and not want to go the other way round. We should stop fooling ourselves by looking everything with jaundice eyes.

(0 mark : Again this is a conclusion that can be easily drawn from your 3rd point)

[KarishmaSavla]

Influence of western culture has both positives and negatives:

1) To compete with ever changing world and be at the forefront in todays time, we need to adapt and not stick to our old believes, but we should know as to where we should draw the line.

(+1 mark : Though a take from Bijoy's last point, it culminates into a new idea that 'the onus is on us')

2) Argued that pornography culture adopted from west- but Kamasutra written in India.

(-1 mark : Also mentioned by Bijoy)

3) Multiple partners and Dating culture - Argued that Dropati had 5 husbands and all royal kings practised polygamy.

(+3 marks : Interesting example! Good point.)

4) Certain practices such as bal vivah(child marriage), sati, bias towards male child have changed due to western influence.

(+3 marks : A new perspective! Positive influence of western culture)

5) But todays youth spent time at pubs, discos, clubs (adapted frm western culture)

(0 mark : Though a take from Bijoy's 'Western Influence' point, I am not giving her negative because she has used new examples)

6) Knowledge and understanding of our rich sculptures and scripts like vedas, mahabharata, ramayan depleting.

(+3 marks : New perspective of how the importance of our mythologies have been restricted to a few TV serials, watched by a few)

7) " Atithi Devo Bhava", treating guest like God, - But with busy schedules, people today hate if their weekends are spoilt by univited guests.

(+3 marks : Very good Karishma. One more interesting aspect)

8) Joint Family and respect for elders - Today there are more nuclear families and old age homes fast filling.

(+3 marks : One more example of our culture decaying)

9) Feeling of National pride depleting- Students prefer going abroad , brain drain

(0 mark : I think this is an extension of the 'Western Influence' point. Putting it under 'National Pride' does not make it new one. For example, we can always say 'We are losing national pride because we are watching foreign channels more than Indian channels'. Now is this influence of west or lack of national pride)

[KrishnamurthyR]

Indian culture is going to vultures

1] Culture - Over a long period of time the practices, procedures, policies and guiding principles & values we follow.

2] Indian culture is considered to be one of the very strong and richest in the world.

3] Mass media invading our culture - because of globalization access to foreign channels and other medium.

4] Issues like imparting Sex education in schools facing oppsosition but it is the same India which has the Khajurao temples and Kamasutra.

5] Moral police, Valentine's day, smooching in public places - not considered good but at the same time our culture tells us to open the window and learn new things, so we have to decide for ourselves (wat is good/bad for us).

6] Vulgar item numbers in movies (degrading our own culture), Mass media creating news and not depicting them

7] As India becomes global and international, people require various things and interferences (+ve and -ve) in culture are bound to happen. Its our own view whether we want our culture to be strong and not want to go the other way round. We should stop fooling ourselves by looking everything with jaundice eyes.
well my friend we have the opinion that indian culture is rich in itself but at the same time we must also respect its values and abide ourselves to the culture

(0 mark : No fresh point made)

[KrishnamurthyR]

well my friend we have the opinion that indian culture is rich in itself but at the same time we must also respect its values and abide ourselves to the culture
i agree to what my friend said but the values of the culture shoulld be created by ourselves

(0 mark : No fresh point made, just agreeing to others points. In the actual GD you may end up getting a few points for being a team player, but this GD is all about content)

[KrishnamurthyR]

i to agree that the on going trend is spoiling the culture but it is the responsibility of the people to understand what is good or bad.
polygamy,gayism is not an part of our culture:eek: .but at the same time we must see that no harm is caused in the name of culture.
at the same time we must go long with the world but respecting the values also we must not forget our culture.

(-1 mark : A direct take from Karishma's point about the onus being on us)

e.g-many foreignres are adopting hinduism as they feel that it is what they need to have balanced life and to attain bliss

(+3 mark : Brilliant Krishna! Unknowingly you have made a killer point. If West can adopt our culture, why can't we ourselves adopt it?)

[AditiManjure]

1)Indian culture (Hindu culture,religion,society,civilization,Hindu way of life) are under threat of the ruthless forces of Globalization today.
What went by the name of Colonialism in history textbooks produced in the days of British has been replaced today by the synonym of Globalization. Expansion of western culture has continued at an accelerated rate along with decline of Hindu culture, civilization, religion, art, literature and customs. This new Colonialism has taken on several new faces or rather put on new masks.

(-1 mark : Though put in a different form, the point is about influence of western culture on us)

2)In name of modernization and pretence of uplifting people, the foreign ways and there influence are infact exploiting us economically and mentally too.
Example:Use of foreign goods and imports keep on rising..dressing sense and interests being influenced to great extent.

(0 mark : I think it is still the point on influence of western culture, though substantiated with new examples )

3)Social networking sites like Orkut, though being of foreign origin, have become more popular in India.The amount of time and resources youngters waste in this is endangering future India.

(0 mark : Again...India getting influenced by something that is foreign)

4)Mentality change: Every educated Indian seems to believe that nothing in Hindu India is to be approved unless recognized and recommended by an appropriate authority in the West.There is an all-pervading presence of a positive attitude towards everything in western society and culture, past as well as present in the name of progress, reason and science.

(0 mark : Where is Aditi who top scored in the last GD? These are repetitions of the same point)

5)Swamy Vivekananda foresaw the dangers of Globalization as early as in 1893 when he spoke at the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago.
He quoted the soul-stirring words: 'Shall India die? Then, from the world all spirituality will be extinct, all sweet-souled sympathy for religion will be extinct, all ideality will be extinct ; and in its place will reign the duality of lust and luxury as the male and female deities, with money as its priest, fraud, force, and competition its ceremonies, and human soul its sacrifice. Such a thing can never be'.

(+3 marks : Yes, here comes some facts and the new perspective that we saw long back that our culture would be influenced by the west)

6)No doubt that western influence has played a significant role for educational development and modern facilities in India but if its endngering Indian culture,we need to take steps to give a positive direction to this and not let our traditions and values degrade.
Steps like: Awareness drives in schools and colleges about this issue,keep intact the Celebrations of our festivals,to develop a sense of pride in the minds of children for our culture and that of responsibility towards protecting it,etc.

(+3 marks : Again a new perspective! Steps to be taken to save our culture)

7)Finally, unless we take this up seriously and try on individual basis to preserve our cuture as well as take advantage of mod
ern ways in right direction, we wont be able to save our culture.

(0 mark : These are only concluding remarks)

[KrishnamurthyR]

well my friend we have the opinion that indian culture is rich in itself but at the same time we must also respect its values and abide ourselves to the culture
1> well i agree to it that some things are spoiling our culture

(0 mark : No fresh point made)

[SaurabhP]

1. A few years back a Pulitzer award winning photograph showed a vulture waiting for a small kid to die in a place in Africa which was stuck by famine. The topic quite literally means that the Indian culture is in such a state that it could "die" anytime. It means that the Indian culture is decaying.

(+3 marks : Explains the topic with a brilliant example)

2. First and foremost, I believe that their are pros and cons to everything. Globalization, alongwith getting all the positives also creates a threat to our rich and varied culture.

(-1 marks : Accessive use of this idea about West influencing us)

3.India is one of the few countries which is known for high moral values amongst its people. History has showed that India is known to be a very hospitable nation. India is known for its cultural diversity with people from different regions, castes, religions, and languages staying amicably amongst each other.

(+1 mark : Looks like a take on Karishma's point on Atiti Devo Bhava! But some more obvious facts helped him get 1 mark instead of a negative)

4.Unfortunately, all these things are seen to be changing over the last few years owing to globalization. If we take a negative view on this, we could say that the Indian culture is decaying and we need to reviwe it.Looking at the optimistic side, we could say that Indians are adaptible people and they have taken in the western culture and its slowly assimilating in mainstream Indian culture. The positives are that Indians have become more open-minded which is very important for development of our country.

(+1 marks : Again repetition of idea on 'Western Influence', but culminates into a new idea of Indians being adaptable)

5. Also, looking at the past, we have to say that cross-cultural influences are but natural. Having said that, we have to see to it that we take the positives out of the western culture and leave out the negatives.

(-1 mark : Again, a take from Karishma's point on 'Onus on us')

6. Another point when we are talking about Indian culture going down the drains is the consumerist culture. The increase of MNCs in India have made Indians move toward the plastic-money culture. Indians are known to be people who are content with what they have. But,in recent times the paradigm has shifted. The consumerist culture coupled with fierce competition have made Indians more selfish by nature. This is not good for Indian society in general in the long-run.The ills to this are the increase in crime-rate,the increasing rift between the rich and the poor or the haves and the have-nots.

(0 mark : I don't know what you mean by consumerist culture? But the point is still linked to 'Western Influence')

7. Also not to forget, the institution of family and marriage has been affected badly. There is increase in divorce-rates. India, known to be a country with strong family ties historically has seen a downtrend due to various factors.

(+1 marks : Though close to Karishma's point about joint family, he adds a new dimension of marriage to it)

8. Unfortuantely, in today's day, the average Indian youth stands confused because he faces a dilemma to follow western culture or Indian tradition or a mix of both.

(0 mark : More of a concluding statement)

[BijoyShah]

well my friend we have the opinion that indian culture is rich in itself but at the same time we must also respect its values and abide ourselves to the culture

Hey krish that is wat precisely i meant to say, its an individual opinion ;). For me some things can be wrong whereas for you the same might be absolutely fine ...

[KrishnamurthyR]

as my friend bijoy said that smooching and other issues.but we have forgotten about the issue of women every culture has shown respect to women but at the same time we must not forget hte atrocities done on women:(

(-1 mark : Repetition of points made by others)

[DhruveshSanghvi]

Indian culture going to the vultures

-There are more people outside India (in USA) following YOGA than people in India.

(-1 mark : Repetition of Krishna's point about West following East)

-Bollywood movies and Songs one of the favorites in UK and many islamic countries like Pak, Afgha.

(+1 mark : A new example to his above point)

-Serials like Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi converted to other languages and shown in those countries.

(0 mark : Extension of the above idea)

This is how indian culture is spreading in each and every corner of the world...
This is how Indian culture is going to the vultures.
here vultures could be the countries like US UK PAK Afgha..

Extending my point..
Major US universities have Indian Professors and Students.
eg: Uni of Southern Cali ... have 70% of students as indian.

this leads to demand of indian food, clothes, etc ... Therefore there are ppl who open shops there and this is how there are many indian specific colonies in US and UK.

(+3 mark : Though a repetition of Karishma's national pride point, it culminates into a new point. It is a new perspective because Indian's abroad follow our customs and traditions, but we out here take it for granted)

Indian students going there indirectly advertise india ...
and make the foreigners understand that india is not to be depicted as a country with SNAKES and SNAKES CHARMERS who treats SNAKES as god and offers them millk .. [many foreigners have this idea of india]

(0 mark : An extension of the above idea)

All this is the effect if globalisation ... indian going to other countries is not to be termed as brain drain ... It would be brain drain if they did not go ...
imagine there would not be Amartya Sen whose ideas have shaped many indian policies if he would not have gone there for his higher studies

(0 mark : Extension of the previous idea)

Imagine there would not be Sam pitroda if he would not have gone to the US.... the telecom revolution in india would have never come..

(0 mark : Extension of the previous idea)

The indian culture is well recognised by the people outside india .. but how many indians (youth majorly) try and takes steps forward to learn what indian culture is?

(0 mark : Extension of the previous idea)

The indian culture is definately going to the the vultures outside.... hope we can also retain it.

(0 mark : Tries to conclude, not a new point)

[DhruveshSanghvi]

I understand that we are all preparing for GDPI of CET and its fine (as ppl say) if we donot have a good content but you should just through statistics with good communication skills ...

But let us also try to put opinions. They will matter someday (if not for CET GDPI)

[RahulPL]

1) Culture the word implies “to cultivate”. To cultivate human activity, his thought process, his behavior and manifest itself through mannerism.

(+1 mark : Even Bijoy defined culture, but Rahul's definition is more cultured :) Hence he gets point as well)

2) The foundation of Indian culture is not based on the pillar of a single religion but is supported by pillars of many religions; hence to think and accept that Indian culture is going to vultures would be a pessimistic view.
Against the topic:

(+1 mark : A new point not mentioned by others)

3) Tolerance & acceptance: A virtue still practiced to the greatest extent by Indian when they celebrate Diwali and Eid together.
I bet it is tolerance and acceptance which doesn’t differentiate a Hindu from a Muslim or a Christian from a Sikh when they have their faces painted with Holi color.

(+3 marks : Buck up Rahul! What a point!)

4) Respect: We still don’t call our father “old man”.
When we apologize a person after accidentally touching him by our feet indicates that we believe that god resides in everybody. These things although so minute show how deeply the culture is rooted in us to even take notice.

(+3 marks : Another interesting point)

For the topic:
5) Although we have opened up economically we are yet to open up mentally as talking about an important issue like sex ed is still a taboo issue.

(-1 mark : A direct take from Bijoy's 4th point)

6) Instead of constructive opposition to an issue the trend shows a more violent side eg valentine’s day celebration….extreme form of cultural adherence

(-1 mark : Direct take on Bijoy's 5th point)

7) The recent opposition to inter state migration and sharing of natural resources (Hogenakkal issue) demonstrates a growing disconnect between states led by few leaders with vested interest….Indicates we are going away from our culture of Unity in Diversity.

(+3 marks : A very good perspective! Suggests, even though we are bound by the same culture, still there are differences)

8) In terms of our beliefs and preference (eg: dressing sense) we are blindly aping the west. It is a more “in” thing these days to know about the 50 states in US of A rather than the 28 states of India.

(-1 mark : repetition of idea made by others)

PS: Consciously I have tried not to repeat points already made by other in their posts.

(Nice to see you admitting to theft! Seems you are culturally sound :) )

[ViralVora]

1. In today's world, it is important that Indians become globally culturally competent citizens. This means that we have a knowledge of and appreciate the nuances of other world cultures. This will be a great help going forward as we are now tightly integrated with the rest of the world in terms of business, education, etc.

2. While we evolve to this global culture, we should also make sure that we instill in our children the basic values, traditions of our culture and make them aware of our rich heritage. We cannot police them and the choice will be theirs to strike a balance between Indian Culture and western culture.

3. Wherever Indians go across the world for education or business, they always long to come back to their homeland. They also end up spreading our culture to the world. e.g., Yoga, Indian food, etc.

Sorry Viral, cannot evaluate you as your post came after the deadline. Thanks for the valuable points. Keep up the good work!

[VikrantBawkar]

I do agree with Aditi and Karishma.

1. The youth in the country follow the fashion trends that are shown in the bollywood movies.

2. Its a shame for country like India where, many foreigners are coming to learn Yoga and also to learn languages like Sanskrit. And people in India are going very fast towards Foreign Culture.

3. One of the best example of changing culture in India is shown in the movie "Life- In a Metro".

Sorry Vikrant, cannot evaluate you as your post came after the deadline. Thanks for the valuable points. Keep up the good work!

[ViralVora]

4. On the other hand, there has been a decay in our moral values and culture over the years. For e.g.,
b) recently there was an underground mall to be created right near Jama Masjid which is a heritage site.
a)more and more dependent senior citizens are being abandoned by their children.


5. Today, there are some people who are claiming to be protectors of the culture while there are others who are unaware of their culture and are aping the West just because it is the in-thing to do. Both these parties have a narrow view of reality.

6. In the yester-years Indian culture was one of the most open cultures in the world (my friends here have pointed out that khajuraho, kamasutra have been of Indian origin). However, it is now that we are becoming increasingly narrow and intolerant (e.g., what has happened to M.F. Hussain).

7. I don't think Indian culture is so weak that it cannot withstand winds of change. Infact, Indian culture's speciality has been that it has evolved and changed over time. Trees that have flexible trunks survive the storm. In the same way, Indian culture is not decaying but it is becoming more flexible so that it does not vanish altogether.

[Manish Salian]

Hi,

Here is how all of you have fared in GD 5: India culture is going to vultures

Karishma Savla: 15 marks

Bijoy Shah: 9 marks

Rahul P L: 8 mark

Aditi Manjure: 5 marks

Saurabh P: 4 mark

Dhruvesh Sanghvi: 3 mark

Krishnamurthy Raju: 2 mark

Regards,

Manish sir