Indian culture is characterized by the heritage of rich cultural norms, ethical norms, moral values, ancient traditions, beliefs systems, technological systems, architectural artifacts and art which originated in and are related to the Indian subcontinent. The people of India have one of the oldest rich and varied, and a highly evolved history, which is also characterized by great literary works such as Upanishads, literary epic works like Ramayana Mahabharata, Puranas as the oldest in the world. It is a diversified and multicultural society with different languages, cultures and communities in India. The tremendous growth of the economic globalization and the rapid urbanization in India in the recent past have presented an opportunity to the people of India to express their own culture, language and traditions through literature to the western world in other languages.
The impact of the western literary world on the literature of India also can be said to have transformed the literature of India to an extent especially after the invasion of the Moghuls and later by the Europeans. Although Linguists and anthropologists have noted the parallel existence of Sanskrit and Arabic language in early Islamic writings it is now a known fact the Indian subcontinent had a history which dates back far earlier than any other civilizations. Many of the mythological stories in ancient India contain motifs and themes which have been fully assimilated by the present day society and being appreciated by western civilizations also. These ideas and inventions have travelled across from the East and particularly the Indian Sub Continent to the West over a period of centuries.
However the influence of the west upon the Indian society in the recent past has also resulted in the emergence of new and diverse cultures and traditions. There is a wide variety of authors who have contributed greatly to the literature of India. Marathi literature is also significant in this regard. Rabindranath Tagore and V.S. Naipaul wrote several novels based on Hindu philosophy and History. All this has deepened the appreciation of the Hindu perspective in the minds of the readers across the world.
The westerners too have also given a great deal of importance to Indian culture. You will find numerous Hollywood films and TV serials which have been based on stories which tell about the glorious past of the Indian people. These shows also reveal the fact that the Indian people have not only taken pride in their culture, but they have also enriched it in such a way that it can be appreciated by people around the world. This can be seen in some of the Hollywood movies of the past such as” OM”, “MacGyver” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. The greatness of Indian literature can also be seen in the works of J.K. Rowling, Charles Dickens and W.B. Yeats.
The above examples speak of the richness and diversity of Indian art over that of western art. The reality is that, there are numerous facets of Indian art which can lay claim to being of world class quality. Take for example the wonderful sculptures which adorn the entrance and the entire interiors of the many temples in south India. These sculptors had to make the statues and structures in such a way so that they did not fall over the parapets. There were also times when artists had to work with a scaffold so that they could create those magnificent works of art. There is simply no comparison between Indian and European art.
Another important aspect of Indian culture is its food. It has some of the most diverse gastronomic traditions in the world. Both vegetarian and Non-Vegetarians were found in the country in the past and the ones who are prevalent had a wide variety of various dishes. The people always maintain a healthy interest in the diet. They eat a varied menu every day and they rarely miss their favorite dishes. Some people might even take to non-vegetarian cooking occasionally, A significant feature of the Indian culture is its scientific spiritual approach. There are numerous religions which have gained entry into the country, mainly Islam and Christianity, during their rule. The two other major religions which have off shoot from Hinduism are- Jainism and Buddhism and veera shaivism or lingayat – have had quite an influence. Although there is a presence of some other religions. However the vast majority of the population adheres to only one religion. This is evident in the personification of the deities in various temples according to their conception. The creation of icons and the use of certain dance forms also reflect the influence of the Hindu and Jain faith.