Many ask many a time,
"What is indian culture"?
"Is it food or clothing?"
"Religion or stories of war and torture?"

It is not easy to explain.
India is a vast land,
Impossible to contain,
In such limited definition of everyday existence.

Culture runs very deep,
Not limited to food and clothing.
It is the stories with which grandmothers put children to sleep,
It is our very way of thinking and emoting.

That which make mankind human,
That which uplifts the soul,
That which enshrines the equality of all men and women,
That idealism is my culture.

That which venerates every soul as God,
Be it animate or inanimate,
That which accepts all as family, Be they friend or foe,
That love is my culture.

That home where all are welcome,
That religion which accepts even atheists as its own,
That society which has a place for all,
That sea of diversity is my culture.

That aspiration to the highest ideal,
Inspite of the harsh truths one faces,
The value of integrity over even life,
That valour is my culture.

That respect of knowledge for its own sake,
That reverence for accomplishment,
That discernment of which teaching to take,
That clarity is my culture.

That which is not afraid,
Of war or human suffering,
That which aspires always to peace,
That compassion is my culture.



© All Rights Reserved