Where We Come From
Culture is a term intricately intertwined with the feeling of belonging, shared beliefs, and celebration. Traditions, language, & rituals – they bind us together under the same roof. They give us a way to think –
Beyond ourselves
Beyond our family, and
Beyond our loved ones
Culture gives rise to a form of unity within a community that is quite hard to put into words. It’s felt with every inch of our being. It’s a home that we never get tired of returning to. We accept it with open arms, just like it accepts us without question, without judgment.
Our archaic beliefs give rise to an unbreakable and invisible chain of commonality. One that holds us and accepts us even when we lose direction.
No matter where we are in life, no matter how many times we’ve left our home, our place, or our loved ones, this one word – culture – makes sure we never forget where we belong.
It never asks for any justification. It never makes us worry about who we’ve become over time.
When you knock on the door asking, “Can I join in?” the answer is always a “YES.”
Culture is never simply inherited. It forms inside us as we grow up, leaving imprints that never really fade away with time or experience. It lives in our gestures, silences, language, values, and instincts. And we unwittingly carry it without recognizing its origin.
Who are we if not fragments of who we used to be?
Cultural roots are similar to an underground network of thought. Like the underground roots of an old tree spread across centuries, gathering strength from tales, struggles, and experiences, cultural roots unite communities in a common understanding of the world.
What one culture calls dignity, another culture calls humility. What one culture calls independence, another culture calls isolation.
All mean the same – shared love for a way of life. One that makes us say, “I miss going home and celebrating our traditions” at the end of a hectic week.
However, cultural roots are not static entities. They change, they evolve, they reinterpret, and they alter themselves with each new generation. But the meaning of it stays the same.
As cultures face new challenges, new discoveries, new migrations, or new ideas, our cultural roots change almost imperceptibly. Some cultural roots become less important. But others become stronger. New roots grow out of the old ones. It is an unconscious process. An unconscious evolution that occurs over time.
But cultural roots remain important at all times because they provide continuity amidst change. They provide people with a reminder that their identity is not created out of nothing, but is grounded in history.
Cultural roots represent our intimate conversation with time. They give us the tools with which –
Our memories live on
Our values travel with us through time, and
Our existence remain meaningful despite the constant flux around us.
In knowing and understanding our cultural roots, we engage in a sentimental journey. We start a journey of discovery into our very foundations of perception, belonging, and importance in this world.