Embracing Your Culture- How to Develop a Sense of Belonging

By Shreya Deo

 Today's topic is slightly different than what we have discussed in the past few articles. Usually, we talk about study tips to make student life a bit easier, but today, I wanted to talk about something that I consider an integral part of life- embracing your culture. You may think that this has nothing to do with study tips or tricks to make school easier, but somewhere, it links with your mental state and how you perceive the world around you.

Religion, culture, nationality, ethnicity. These are the terms people use to identify themselves, however, do we really stay true to our values and teachings? Or do we simply believe in something because we have to? Before I start today's article, I'd like to say that I am not at all religious or spiritual. I am also a teenager who has adapted to the modern world around me, just like the tons of other teens. However, the reason that I felt the need to write this article is because of the changes I have seen around me in regards to the attitude towards your culture, whether it be school, or a religious center. I truly think that it is important to know that your roots are the ultimate reason that you are where you are today.

The importance of culture

I myself am an Indian American, however, I can clearly differentiate myself from most teenagers like me because of one key reason- embracing our culture. As you all may know, the South Asian community is huge in the United States. We have constantly made it an effort to incorporate holidays such as Diwali, Holi, Eid, Raksha Bandhan, Ramadan, and Shivaratri into our lives. But more often than not, teenagers do not understand the true meaning of these festivals. I often hear them saying things along the lines of "Bro, we have like, a thousand Gods, and some of them have like 10 heads. They find these topics a matter of humor and fail to understand the true value of these beliefs. Even though I myself am not a concrete believer of all these rituals, I understand their value towards the Indian culture and how integral they were and continue to be for the world around us.

Language

Over anything, I thank my parents for teaching me how to read, write, speak, and understand both Hindi and Marathi. What is a language? It is simply the means of communicating with others around you- so why have Indian Americans today forgotten the importance of knowing their language? India is known for having 22 officially spoken languages, one of the most diverse in the world. Most immigrant-teens living in the United States have either forgotten or have never learnt their language. Knowing your mother tongue is something that will open a whole span of possibilities for you. When you travel to your home country, you won't feel like an outsider. When you communicate with your family back home, you will feel a connection with them, even if you haven't met them much. Aside from that, knowing a language will help you learn other languages with ease. Knowing Hindi and Marathi have helped me a ton in interpreting Spanish as a subject in school.

Pride

The United States is often called the boiling pot because of its many immigrants coming from different backgrounds. So why have so many Indian American teens forgotten the importance of knowing their history? India has been a key nation for the development of the world today. Aryabhatta's creation of the number 0, the spread of yoga to the western world, the herbal techniques of Ayurvedic treatments used in the medical field, and our rich history filled with Indian rebirth after the British Raj. India has a nation has made its presence known all around the world. Indian Americans today fail to understand how diverse we are as a nation and fail to appreciate the comebacks we have made from the toughest of situations. If we can take out even a bit of time to understand the rich history of our country, we can make a huge change in ourselves and our beliefs.

Parampara, Pratishtha, Anushaasan

This famous dialogue from Amitabh Bachchan in the Hindi-language film Mohabbatein has struck a chord in many Indian households. Translated, this phrase means 'Customs, rituals, discipline' and reflects the values and teachings we get from our culture. More often than not, kids living out of their ancestral country forget the true meaning of these words and view them as points of embarrassment in their lives. They feel that the traditions of their culture are not "American" enough to fit into today's society. Instead of succumbing to the external pressures to fit in from our society, if we can make an effort to appreciate the customs of our cultures, it will help us grow as a person.

Conclusion

Cultures and traditions are something that stick true to your identity, but do you really stick true to those cultures and traditions? If you find yourself feeling distanced from your culture, take some time out of your day to learn about the vast history and global presence of your culture. If you aren't a religious person, find something about your ancestry that you can pride upon. Ultimately, our goal is to carry forward the rich history and legacy of our ancestors, and connecting to your culture as an immigrant is just the right start.