India Shows the Way to the World

Dr.S.Elangovan, Prof/English, Lord Venkateswara College of Engineering, Walajabad, Kanchipuram.

Relevance of Global Practices to Indian Contexts

Introduction: India is basically a spiritual country and have a tradition of spirituality. Here from the morning till bedtime people dedicate their all actions to God. Indians see God in everything whether animate or inanimate, Here people worship moon, mountain and even they see God in everyone.

An Indian Greets his friend with a ‘ Namaste” meaning “Praise”. In fact he praises the God dwelling within everybody’s heart. Thus Indians just joining the individual with God. Globally people wish you with you “Good Morning “, “ Good evening” or “Good after noon” and son on. Here the individual who is greeted only comes into the picture.

Similarly the Global practice in almost all the countries except in some Muslim countries, is to give a “Hand-Shake”. The Indian shows his warm welcome. But in India, People pay their respects to one another with both their hands folded. From hygienic point of view this is a good practice. Orthodox family woman is not inclined to give her hands to another strange man who is not her husband. But may be in the cloak of modernization slowly Indian society to some extent changing., What is good in our society must be fostered and to be transferred to next generation.

Globally people are bound by either by their religion or language. But in Indian context, people are divided by castes and other considerations.

Let us put in to reality our Tagore’s ambition “where the world is not broken in to narrow fragments of domestic walls”

Food Practices : Globally the fashion is to take food by sitting on chairs with dining tables. Even in Muslim countries , they use ‘Diwans” (cushioned sofas) for this purpose. But in India, people sit on the floor or they use small mat or flat wooden seat when they take their food. More so they use broad leaves like Lotus-leaves, Banana leaves. Food served and eaten on Lotus leaves and Banana leaves will improve longevity of man. Similarly, globally people use spoons, forks and chop sticks. But in Orthodox Indian families these things are taboos.

Conclusion: Rudyard Kipling remarks “ Everyman completes the other and is completed by the other “Global society gives something to improve the standard of our living. We must try to adopt within the frame work of Indian tradition and improve our society. Like wise other parts of international society gains a lot from Indian practices like Yoga, Siddha, and spiritual wisdom.