Why Should I Be Proud of Indian Traditions?

All of us desire to be remembered after our time is done in this lifetime. It is a foremost desire to pass on a legacy to the next generation. Whether it's a family heirloom, knowledge, letters or for a selected few an institution or a trust. We've a desire to be remembered, whether through our photographs or through our deeds.

At a civilizational level the traditions pass on the legacy of previous generation to the generations to come. Traditions live among us in form of books of knowledge, prayers, general wisdom, and everything we do in our day to day live. At times new traditions are added which may or may not survive the test of time. 

David Frawley states in his foreword to Sandeep Balakrishna's book '70 Years of Secularism' that "Indian intellectual today dislikes his own country, does not study or honor its cultural traditions". But, what should I be proud of? 

It's a question we need to think sincerely and with utmost dignity. A question that begs us to go beyond the usual prejudices that taints our mind because of an ideology we might align ourselves to. Although, I don't intend to imply that as a country we've forgotten the ethos that brought us here but they do need our support and affection. 

Noted Indian archaeologist, B B Lal, in his book 'How Deep Are the Roots of Indian Civilization? Archaeology Answers' states that the spiritual foundation of Indian civilization has help it withstood all onslaughts, without losing the foundational ones. It is perhaps the most important aspect of Indian tradition that I personally am most proud of. These are just a few, and a lot others are for us all to find from archaeological, anthropological, musical, literary and other origins.

Hinduism - A Tradition of Striving for Self-knowledge & Enlightenment

India has been a land of philosophical treatises , the knowledge of self has been the sole purpose for thousands of years. Indian philosophy uses logic system as its foundation to understand the physical universe and the nature of self. For example, Vaisheshika Darshan (one of the six school of thoughts in Indian philosophy) strives to use knowledge of physical universe to elevate oneself in material (Abhyudaya = future prosperity ) and metaphysical (Nishreyas = ultimate bliss / mukti / nirvana) worlds. 

Vaisheshika states that dharma (often mistranslated as religion) leads to enlightenment and understanding. And before the journey to self-realization begins with the categorization of physical universe. And it's a beautiful journey that leads to classification of fundamental building blocks (paramanu), concept of motion, earliest definition of nothing (akasa), bring together time and direction under same umbrella as objects that are part of the physical world; eventually infer the self. 

While the world pursues binary logic which possesses two values, true and false (reference: Unbreaking India: Decisions on Article 370 and the CAA by Sanjay Dixit); which eventually is misconstrued to one of the most inferior human sentiment: us versus yours. 

While Indian philosophical schools for thousands of years debated Samkhya (rationalism and atheism), Yoga (focusing on mental as well as physical study) and Nyāya (logic/rules) as part of its six philosophies. It even created healthy debates and everlasting peaceful coexistence between other Indic 'religions' like Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism that rely on the law of Karma and other such concepts. And, Indic philosophies don't ask for blind faith in scriptures, but they ask us to listen (sravana), meditate (manana) and put it to test via self-realization (nididhyasana) until it becomes your own reality. Such a beautiful way to seek the purpose of life!

Continuity of Indic Traditions for Millenniums (Indus Valley Civilization)

Indus-Sarasvati Valley Civilization is mysterious culture that existed between c. 7000 - c. 600 BCE. It was a civilization that mastered city planning where the cities were laid out in a Manhattan-like grid, with an upper and a lower city, an advanced drainage system, and ports from where traders traveled as far as ancient Sumerian or Egyptian civilizations. It exported gold jewelry, ivory seals & boxes, timber, cotton textiles, copper & bronze fish-hooks, carnelian & precious stone beads, live chicken, shell & bone inlays, and even water buffaloes.

Is all of that lost in the sands of time? No, it still lives on. French Excavator, Jean-Francois Jarrige, in his excavation at Nashuro (now in Pakistan) found female figurines with vermillion at the parting of her hair, similar to sindhur used by married women in contemporary India still use as part of their make-up. Agricultural practices of Kalibangan are still alive in the fields of Punjab and Haryana. 1:2:3 ratio for brick dimensions not only survived in Indian subcontinent but is a standard all across the world. Figurines in yogic postures, fire altars, use of Swastika, cubical dices still survives in the contemporary India. (Source: How Deep are the Roots of Indian Civilization? Archaeology Answers by B B Lal)

And these are just few aspects of that not only enshrouds this ancient civilization but amazes us with its level of sophistication!

A Tradition of Education & Holistic Learning

Here I must heavily rely on the book 'The Educational Heritage of Ancient India: How an Ecosystem of Learning was Laid to Waste' by Sahana Singh. She describes the forest universities of ancient India head by Vyasa, Vasishtha, and Visvamitra. Archaeological ruins of Takshashila, Nalanda, Valabhi, Sharada Peeth etc. gave us a glimpse of education centers that kept the flames of curiosity alive in ancient Indian until some of these were lost to flames of marauders. 

Chanakya (often compared to Sun Tzu or Machiavelli), and Charaka (author of Charaka Samhita, most important ancient authoritative writing on Ayurveda) to name a couple that have their legacy not only survived but have become part of contemporary conversations in the circles of education & research. Xuanzang, the Chinese monk, documented the marvels of ancient Indian education during his sixteen year long traverse across India. 

Sushruta

India was called Yin-Tu by the Chinese, which means moon, because according to Xuanzang it was the only country, which illuminated the darkness into which the world had fallen after the passing of Buddha by providing a succession of learned sages. (Sahana Singh. The Educational Heritage of Ancient India : How an Ecosystem of Learning Was Laid to Waste (p. 20). Notion Press, Inc.. Kindle Edition. 

Side note: Some Indian news and opinion websites (wire.in, theprint.in) have tried to whitewash the impact of British Colonialism in crushing the education system in India to ensure it served its' colonial masters. However, any law (in this case Education Law of 1935) that buttresses itself using " I have never found one among them who could deny that a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia." is nothing but racial supremacism at its worst. [10]"  

A Tradition of Exploration & Assimilation

Indus-Sarasvati Valley Civilization had strong economic link with the Middle East (source: The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean changed Human History' by Sanjeev Sanyal). Harappan origin artifacts, seals, beads etc., have been found as far as Bahrain, ancient Mesopotamian cities like Kish, Nippur etc. In the southern India the influence of empires of Pallavas, Cholas is evident to this day in southeast Asian countries of Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Whether it's Songkran (Thai new year, with its origin in Samkranti), or Seven Lucky Gods of Japan with Daikokuten (God of Fortune with its origin in Hindu God Kubera) & Benzaiten (God of Art with its origin in Hindu Goddess Saraswati) etc. Till this day influences of Indian culture can bee seen across southeast Asian countries. 

Chinese traveler sculputure at Vaikuntha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

Even within India the assimilation of various cultures and religions continues today, whether it is quite modern migration of Parsis (Zoroastrians), Jews or Arabs. Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism originated in India in the last few thousand years and share an undeniable link to Hinduism. A common Indian don't see these as separate religions but considers it different paths to same truth with no need to force one over the other. 

Why should I be proud of these traditions?

Pride comes from considering oneself part of something bigger than just individual. As human beings we're bound to lead selfish lives that require survival skills to navigate challenges of life; whether it was hunting, farming, sailing to far-off lands for prosperity, discovering ways to ameliorate surrounding or as simple as finding a job. Yet, when we find an unbroken link from past, it gives us a sense of pride and perspective. And Indic traditions gives us so much to cherish for, with the above being just a few aspects of the vast riches.