SONGSOPTOK: We would like to start this
interview with your opinion on the theme of our current issue. Do you think
that cultural heritage has a role to play in modern society? Why?
ANINDA: Modernity is a dichotomy
& dialectics of current social environment, heritage enshrined & the past
upbringing of a human being. Both are indispensible. Conflicts occur / emerge, when both differ in
approach.
SONGSOPTOK: How would you define cultural heritage? In
your opinion, is it something tangible or intangible? Or is it a combination of
both? If so, in what way?
ANINDA: Cultural Heritage’s ambit is too big. The whole factor of rationality &
tolerance revolves around it. To
tolerate Mr Gajendra Chouhan or not, to allow a TMC candidate as VC in JU
, to tolerate a Rajakar to survive or
to hang him & finally, the beef
/ tolerance debate of India
& Bangladesh all
emanate from our faiths, beliefs & cultural heritage infused. In film NH10,
the murderers in the name of Goth
believed it their sacred duty to
uphold societal & cultural values
n heritage to slaughter
lover couples from so called same
goth & this is going on in India .
Mukhtar mai of Pakistan is also a live example & we have already
discussed Afgan, Irani & Saudi issues, where hibernation n subjugation of
women is a heritage asset. For ages,
lower castes remain untouchable; this is also a cultural heritage. Renaissance
could not end Satidaho in Rajasthan, nor Sahamaran / Jaharbrata completely.
Maybe, religious & ritual angles dominate heredity of culture n cultural
heritage. Even dowry deaths are common but
people feel proud of giving n taking dowry as a heritage and Borkha / Purdah / gunghat traditional
rituals of torturing ladies dominate
and minor girls & even boys are married off incl
Balvivaha showcased as prize
heritage. So, for me, the manifestation of all these is cultural heritage , too
tangible.
SONGSOPTOK: In the country and the society you live in,
do you think culture and cultural heritage are important? In what way?
ANINDA: Even in Europe & US, blacks are
subjugated & Hispanics. Why? There are traditional heritage tags. Christianity
is more equal as a religion than others, in written / unwritten laws &
customs of lands. In Ireland, no abortion is allowed & in likewise
countries no divorce is allowed too. 3 Talaqs & 3 marriages as per Shariat fetch
too much turmoil n trauma for ladies. In
my society, simply going by attire a woman is judged as unethnic / post-modern &
even immoral tag is attached. Females
participate in such subjugation process of women more than males. I reside in
an industrial (steel) township in Karnataka & I had lived in Jamshedpur n
Durgapur. Industrial & academic progress
does not necessarily denote cultural emancipation. Hatred & criticism &
mudslinging remain part of cultural heritage & right of heritage keepers of
society. But , yes, freedom of speech is
more in my society, as fear of loss of
life/ property/ relations / fame is a
bit lesser in my immediate society compared
to my permanent society in Kolkata
SONGSOPTOK: What, if any, are the outward manifestations
of this heritage in the day to day life of the society you live in?
ANINDA: The way
we believe, a child is brought up, a
person is taught up to think &
conceive & a young / adolescent person’s perception of good, bad n ugly are
framed by the family, the teacher, the elders, the friends & the
society as a whole.
SONGSOPTOK: Is culture, in its different components,
taught or learnt? Should it, for example, be taught to children? Or is there a
different way of transmission of cultural values to future generations?
ANINDA: As on date, culture is mostly transmitted
thru educational / academic or some other (in kind) modes of Imposition. Being impatient / intolerant, the current
genre does not have time to imbibe anything thru strenuous research n practice.
From PM to man / lady on street, Man ki baat is a package to show off / sell n market
ideas. Gandhigiri in Anna Hazare days became a fad n fashion. May be return of
awards was also, over & above political factors, a trend / a practice just
taught / imitated. Hindu / Muslim
fundamentalism is also growing thru such teachings in the name of Heritage.
SONGSOPTOK: In your opinion, can culture be equated to
tradition? Or do you believe culture is actually a living thing that tends to
evolve over time?
ANINDA: Culture should not be equated to
tradition. Not that whatever is
traditional is not bad, but everything is not too good as well. Unfortunately, it
becomes culture to wear suit & tie in an office / party / social club &
it becomes culture for a politician to wear a kurta & dhoti / payjama. Hardly any politician lady would be seen in
western attire. Is it culture or is it tradition? Tradition takes form of culture
& any lady of middle class drinking in a party is considered bad / outcast.
In fact, by tradition no drinks are
generally served in a social party / gathering to any lady, because it is assumed
that they won’t take hard drinks. Some tableaus & totems get enshrined in
our culture in the name of tradition.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that the increasing importance
of technology and mechanization of modern society play a significant role as
far as cultural heritage is concerned? Does the word ‘heritage’ have any
relevance to the society you live in? Can you please give us some examples to
illustrate your answer?
ANINDA: Progress is breaking joint
families into nuclear ones. And it is
true that modern men n women are
breaking shackles more today than in the past
, when marriages are not working.
Protests are happening more today against atrocities in the name of
culture / tradition. But in US, New
Jersey & others, you would find Begalee youth/ children / adolescents of
this genre learning Bengali excellence much more than their counterparts in India
outside Bengal. The Durgapujas of today’s
Bengal are much more ethnic, traditional & heritage-linked than 20-30 years
back, when we grew up. So, technology
has made us more impatient n less tolerant, but heritage is very much there. Even
rock n blues culture or pop n disco culture is not devoid of heritage values. Well,
if you feel, these new age
lifestyles are not heritage linked, then , well, tradition n
heritage are fading in places where even
western cultures are post modern and
even sex change, gay / lesbianism/ live together are
untraditional creation of new
heritage values for coming centuries.
SONGSOPTOK: What, if any, are the impacts of your own
cultural heritage in your very personal sphere? If you live in a multicultural
society, how would you analyze the interaction between different cultures?
ANINDA: In my society, I , as a rationalist, do not value heritage & tradition above
everything, but yes, people of all
faiths , lingua & castes live in
this township of Karnataka , and
social mixing , parties, picnics , fests are also language based . Cultural integrity & hatred /
superiority/ isolation are very much there.
It is hard to break them. But, again, we all mix; children are more
matured & are half Bengalee, not knowing Bengali reading n writing; they
are more cosmopolitan. In Andhra, in a
Rayalseema small town, I had to learn Telegu; we shifted as Telegu was 2nd
language in school & this is a practice in Andhra & Tamilnadu &
even Kerala. In my current society since
2008, I am not obliged to learn Kannada. But our off springs learn all South
Indian languages naturally. In songs, dances etc, there is more admixture of
classical & hip hop, vernacular n Hindi n English.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you believe that you have to stop being
traditional – that is, give up some of your beliefs and practices in order to
be ‘modern’? Or do you think that there is no incompatibility between the two?
What is your personal experience?
ANINDA: Modernity is not in dress code &
cosmetic. I feel, scientific reason
analysis should be the basis. To me,
Pramod Dasgupta / Saroj Dutta/ Anile Devi were much more modern than us. Commune
live together aspect was practiced by Azizur & Manideepa. They were too
progressive. Not that I have to
leave sacred thread or stop worship / namaj just like that , or a lady should
go without her vermillion /
sankha / pola etc. But I must be able to
justify my action. I asked my wife,
whether she believed in wearing these as proofs of marriage & she said,
no. I asked her never to put on these unless
she believes & she has not done so.
I have asked my daughter to marry any guy she likes, from any lingua /
religion / no religion. Even, I asked her to marry a girl if she likes it
better. Question is what I can
rightfully justify as correct & not what my dad/mom taught me. NOTA were not practiced in elections earlier,
but nowadays many practice it. Are they all Maoists? Certainly not. Whatever
traditional must be reasoned by us & if justified, must continue. My wife wears saris & westerns alike
irrespective of social / family gatherings.
One should not fear, who shall censor what.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you believe in ‘cultural imperialism’?
What is your personal experience? In this context, do you believe that the
world is increasingly becoming mono cultural based on the principles of the
modern society?
ANINDA: World is not mono cultural, or at least I
could not understand the query. Cultural imperialism may be tried by Hindu radicals
& Muslim radicals. But, like Hippi culture did not embrace the world, neither
a typically 100% western culture could convert the whole of Indian youth. All
faiths, art, cinema, drama, songs, music, dance & all forms shall
flourish. History has to inculcate Hindu
thoughts but cannot be rewritten by a BJP govt. That shall not succeed / work. Cultural
Revolution of China has not been a resounding success, follies are out.
Churches are back in Russia, but no imposition on rational thinking must
happen. Plurality shall definitely persist and flourish.
Aninda ghosh: is an aca,
brought up in a ghoti family, where father’s side tree is too little known but
his mother’s side is from Sushovan Sarkar heredity. He leaned to leftism in
youth & after so many years of corporate life, still remains a staunch
believer in rationalism. To him, pujas are social functions in heritage &
temples, architectural wonders. His wife; a famous poet of Bengal, according to
him- is more spiritual & less religious than him &
too modern but lover of heritage
art , culture & the traditional values.
We sincerely thank you for your time and hope we shall have your
continued support.
Aparajita Sen
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