INDIAN CULTURES AS HERITAGE

Every society has its
cultures: the patterns of how people live and express themselves and how they
value objects and thoughts. What constitutes Indian heritage and cultures has
been much discussed. Romila Thapar begins by explaining how the definitions of
the concept of culture have changed since the last three centuries and hence
require added attention. Cultures when defined by drawing on selected items
and thoughts from the past, remain relatively unknown, except to a few. Yet
each has a context and meaning relating them to the past and to their
significance as a contemporary presence. Contexts, often regarded as
unconnected to culture, can to the contrary, be quite illuminating. Thapar
touches on a few of these, ranging from objects that identify cultures, to
ideas that shape cultures, such as social discrimination, the role of women
and attitudes to science and knowledge. Thought-provoking books such as this
spark debate and the debate may lay to rest some current shibboleths about
India?s culture.