Culture

Culture By P.R. Sarkar Culture is a vague term. It is the collective name for different expressions of life. People eat, enjoy hospitality, laugh on some occasions and shed tears on others, and thereby express life through various actions. The collective name of all these actions is culture. The particular expressions of life that are not considered beneficial to others are called crude culture, a part of popular culture. To take a very common example, an English family, out of hospitality, may offer beef to an Indian guest who may not like it. The term culture can also be used in good sense and is that which is beneficial for all. According to Prout all of society has the same culture. There are local variations in the mode or state of cultural expression, but the expression is universal. While everybody eats, some eat by hand, others by stick and still others by spoon. Indian dance is based on mudra' dance postures, and European dance is based on rhythm, but they do not represent two different cultures. They represent different refined expressions of humanity - part of the human culture. Local variations will diminish if there is a close blending between different groups of people, because this will create common customs. In Nepal there is a blending of Hindu and Buddhist customs. In Bengal there is a blending of Aryan and Dravidian customs. These local variations are called customs. Thus local modes of expression bearing local or group specialties are customs, but the expression itself is culture. Therefore it is a mistake to readjust boundaries on the basis of language and culture. Indian culture and the culture of the world are one and the same. Readjusting boundaries on the basis of customs is not possible for customs may differ within the same locality. From "Talks on Prout" (1961) Prout in a Nutshell Part 15