Culture as it Relates to Outside Influences

By James M. Perry

By one definition: ‘Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving.’ 

With this definition in mind one could easily say that any state of a people, no matter what the influence, is the culture of that group at that time.  Some may say that if a group converts to another religion they are just acquiring a wider part of culture and expanding on what they already have, or if children are taught one aspect of life by their parents it is just an evolution of their culture that is past on from that generation, even though some aspects are not taught.  It might be considered an evolutionary process.

However by the very nature and definition, Evolutionary processes are usually for the positive and the next generation adapts and expands its base to better deal with things. Just as an animal adapts to new environments so human being may in their cultural attitudes adapt to changing times.

There is no denying that all parts of the world are changing, some for good and some for bad.  Societies in the North East have gone through massive changes over the years, not withstanding Christianity and Education and western influences being the most substantial in that change.

I personally am not one to say something is right or wrong, however one only needs to look at oneself and realize the loss.  The separation of Culture and Religion, values and traditions is a very difficult thing. Is it possible to convert to another religion and still hold on to a culture? 

If the definition above is to be followed one might say, Yes, as that is just an aspect being passed on to the next generation, however what was the conversion process – in early days it was from outside influences.  And to me ‘outside influences’ is the largest aspect of loss of Culture, whether it be religion, attitude or other aspects.  When the outside influences told the people in a place what they were practicing was wrong, pagan or backward, those people put a judgement on a culture that had been passed through many generations. Thus the people who followed and believed these words lost a large portion of their culture and assimilated themselves into another.

I was deeply touched by a long coverstation I had with a gentleman in a town in Mizram.  Mizoram would be considered by most to be basically all Christian.  Even the young people who know little of their own culture, use references like:  we were barbarians till the missionaries came.  And in many books many wrote of the barbarians.  My discussion with this gentlemen left me more with an impression that the outsiders misinterpreted the local people out of ignorance.  Historically the society was well organized, had rules, and had morals which may have differed but they were there.  The fact that they had enemies and killed their enemies was and is no different than many areas in history and even the bible has loads of examples of God commanding the people to go and kill their enemies. 

I am not one to judge conversions or outside influences, I don’t believe there is anything inherently wrong with any new thing if it is found by ones own will to search and discover his or her own core.  However it is my feeling that many who have taken on outside influences do so with out full knowledge and without any sense of deep searching, they have just accepted what is told to them because it supposedly will make their immediate life better. 

Some may ask who am I: a white westerner to discuss Culture in the North East, I certainly don’t consider myself an expert; however myself who may be termed a ‘cultural nomad’ have no specific base of culture because most of westerners have lost a sense of tradition and believe system because of long term disintegration of values and believes.  I am in a unique position having had a chance in my life time to view much North East Culture and specifically of Khasi Culture and debate Culture in General in North East India than most who reside here.  I have taken people to places in their own hill land that they have never been and helped them see aspects of their wonderful culture that they have not seen.  It is often when we are the closest to something that we fail to see it, so many in this area look in jealousy to the west and want to be there, yet they don’t see what is in their own back yard.

In conclusion:  whether Christian or other, lets do our best to search discover and not judge, learn from history and see what has been lost and what could be lost.  Let’s learn from the mistakes of others and ourselves and make for a better and deeper Culture for the future.