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?
KOLPITA: Yes. Cultural heritage has a role to
play because that keeps your identity intact when everything falls apart.
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?
KOLPITA: Culture heritage is tangible and
intangible at the same time. Our food habits, history, literature, art &
architecture and science shape us and the society we live in. These things are
highly tangible. But the way we perceive them individually is intangible. Both
co-exist.
SONGSOPTOK: In the country and the society you live
in, do you think culture and cultural heritage are important? In what way?
KOLPITA: India is a land of rich cultural
heritage and traditions. It is a land of 33 million gods and goddesses. It is a
land of multiple faiths and traditions.
So each person or a community practices his/her faith and maintains the
tradition as per the community he or she belongs to. Likewise, India has see an
influx of rulers from all parts of the world. This has given rise to multiple
cultures and has ornamented the country with a rich heritage. This has over the
time defined the cultural heritage of India.
SONGSOPTOK: What, if any, are the outward manifestations
of this heritage in the day to day life of the society you live in?
KOLPITA: Of late, we are getting to see
of a dominant culture pervading Indian society. I am talking of the Hindutva
culture that essentially has its roots in RSS, the cultural organisation of the
ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. This culture believes in vegetarianism and maintaining some regressive
traditions. This is most unfortunate since India is a land of multiple cultural
heritage and faiths. Our constitution allows all religions and cultures to
co-exist peacefully. It's not that the people of our country openly accepted
other faiths and cultures. But no other ruling party so openly endorsed a tradition in the name of culture. This is most unfortunate.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you believe that culture, in its
different components, is 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?
KOLPITA: There are two ways of teaching children.
One is through assimilation and the other is through forced methods. The first
one is a more successful approach as it slowly influences a child who learns
while watching his/her environment. The other is through
coercion where a child is forced to learn. S/he grows up learning things and
assimilating culture in a tough way, thinking this to be a natural way of life.
This is predominant in militant cultures.
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?
KOLPITA: Culture keeps evolving with time. This
evolution keeps it vivid. Culture is a manifestation of a human being's
intellect. Tradition tends to be regressive.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that the increasing
importance of technology and mechanization of the 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?
KOLPITA: Heritage always plays a key role in any
society. Mechanisation and scientific evolution of society and the modern man
and woman have given a new vent to
culture. For instance, cinema in the
late 19th and the beginning of the 20th century gave a new meaning to culture.
It created a new form of art. Internet has created a new culture of social
media interaction which is also giving vent to new thoughts and ideas. All
these are cultural manifestations.
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?
KOLPITA: In a multi-cultural society such as
ours, we have always mingled and intermingled. We have taken and imbibed things that have shaped our culture and society. The way
we dress today, our eating habits, our languages are a big example of how we
have imbibed other cultures. For instance, Bengal ---
the state I belong to, has seen the amalgamation of several cultures and
languages. The modern Bengali language is laced with Portuguese words.
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?
KOLPITA: I have said that tradition is
regressive while culture is a manifestation of the intellect. What you are
calling tradition is also a manifestation of culture. I essentially practice
what I believe in. That is my culture. And I believe in peaceful co-existence
of all.
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?
KOLPITA: No I don't believe in cultural
imperialism. There can never be a dominant culture. Every time some one tries
to dominate, it will lead to unrest and revolution.
KOLPITA believes
in freedom and freedom of expression. She believes that every culture is unique, special and
important. Culture, like beauty, lies in the eyes of the beholder.
We
sincerely thank you for your time and hope we shall have your continued support.
Aparajita Sen
(EDITOR: SONGSOPTOK)
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