Culture is the soul of any nation and the countrymen are its body. Without culture, a country is merely a colossal group of human beings tied together due to geographical constraints. It is the culture of a nation that truly binds the individuals together like pearls in a garland. As US President Donald Trump said in his recent speech at the United Nations, each nation has a cherished history, culture, and heritage that is worth defending and celebrating, and which gives us our singular potential and strength.
India is one of the richest countries in terms of cultural heritage. The larger than life monuments, exuberant festivals, diverse coexisting religions, numerous languages, and a plethora of food choices are enough to emphasise that India breathes cultural richness. India the land of one of the oldest civilizations on the planet and it is important that we preserve the greatness of it. The best way to preserve a country's historical and cultural heritage is art. Art reflects as well as influences society. In this era of Artificial Intelligence and Globalisation, where almost everything is automated and the "vibe" is cosmopolitan, we still feel equally proud of Bhagat Singh's martyrdom as our grandparents did because we know his story, be it through a book or a movie. Epics such as Mahabharata and Ramayana are still as relevant as they were before. Patriotic poetry sung in the praise of the greatness of India paints the picture of historical India very vividly. Retro music is being remade and loved by the youth. Another means of preserving culture is clothing -- even though we prefer the comfort of jeans over everything else, we still choose to wear Indian clothes on special occasions such as Diwali and Eid, or while going to a place of worship, and we do so with a lot of love and happiness. Festivals also are a big reason that our culture is preserved. Educating children about the culture of India in schools is a great way of inculcating it.
The best way to ensure that our culture is preserved is by teaching our children about it at our homes by spending quality time with them and bonding over such topics. It is rightly said, "It is in the roots, not the branches, that a tree's greatest strength lies". Thus, to grow into a strong individual and live a happy and fulfiled life, it is crucial that one is connected to their roots, for that is where their true strength lies.
-Sneha Mishra
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