Of the "cultured" and the "mockers"!

In a rapidly globalising world, cultures are transcending its previously established borders and boundaries. Traditional customs and lifestyles of one are traveling and merging with its counterparts across the world. It is, in every respect an extremely healthy exercise with its subtle impacts on human behaviour. People across the world are consciously or otherwise inculcating the principle of tolerance and respect for others into them. However, what are the implications of this on a society like India which is undergoing a massive transformation. How and when does one start to differentiate that line between being "a person of culture" and "a idiotic mocker"?

It was Halloween and almost every 'Hip' clubs and lounges in New Delhi had a massively marketed "Halloween Bash" on their cards. The marketing strategists did a splendid job; almost every bash had active participation in spite of it being a weekday. What was interesting is the fact that a majority of the people had nothing to do with Halloween; a significant number did not even know what it was all about. Among these 'Hip' New Delhi crowd, Halloween was a mere excuse to party hard and get sloshed. All is fair when it comes to love and war and these days it seems to have extended into hardcore partying as well. In all fairness to the fun lovers; who cares what the occassion is as long as one gets to grind their asses and act crazy? Any excuse is good enough!

Going through a blog, it seemed really weird to hear a 20 something Mumbaikar ridicule her co-workers for not knowing about Halloween. An extract:

" I always cherished the thought of Halloween and desired to set out around my neighborhood trick-or-treating! But alas the concept is far too lost in this country!

Hello-ween? Woh kya hota kai? (What is that?)

Bastid (Bastard), it's me saying "Hello Wieners" to all those who don't know what Halloween really is!"

Does knowing about a festival which have no connotations in ones culture make a person better than someone who is ignorant about it? Or is this ridicule coming from a misplaced arrogance? Arrogance groomed out of an attitude where one is considered 'cooler' or 'happening' if they follow cultures other than ones own. In the Indian context, the term 'Western' or 'American' would suffice.

On multiple occasions, this misplaced notion of 'coolness' have lead to extreme situations where people shun their traditions and cultures to embrace others. There is no harm in celebrating other cultures; we are a global world and all cultures should be embraced open handedly, but not at the cost of ones own. One must learn to respect and embrace ones own culture before going berserk on others and this is where the "mockers" are weeded out.

So the next time you head out to celebrate something; think about why you want to celebrate it. For this world is of the "cultured" and of the "mockers"!