“Culture is the lifeblood of our identity both individual and collective “.
I am the third generation Poonchi refugee. My grandfather had to leave his hometown and resettled in a new land , the experience was hard but gradually like him most of poonchi refugees were able to get through it. Sometimes when i feel to trace back the essence of poonchi culture and traditions, most of it seems to be lost during their journey of resettlement . And till date except for the older generation i have rarely seen anyone who is interested to revive the loss of our culture , our language. This is the point that concerns me the most, today if we see the global scenario. Culture which must be at heart of community and it’s people , culture which permeates every facet of our day to day life and form the very basis of our civilisation is dying. Being born in a land known for it’s cultural diversity creates inside me the ability, tolerance , respect and love for all other people. I feel coexistence of multiple cultures will strengthen up the spirit of humanity, will add to richness and colours to the world . eventually contributing to peaceful society, reduced inequalities nd safe &sustainable cities. To me our cultural heritage – both tangible and intangible , creativity are resources that need to be protected and carefully managed.
Being global citizens we all respect the differences among ourselves that make us unique and enrich humanity and human interactions .I see Culture as a contributing factor to maintain a healthy society where people with unique backgrounds not only live together but also understand one another .By safeguarding cultures , we will surely contribute to the development of human brain beyond bookish knowledge as a source of innovation, a tool for intellectual and emotional expression. And apart for respecting the belief and admiring the traditions , cultures must be evolved with time as restrictions & set conventions tend to loose their enthusiasm in younger generations .Cultures have never been static, they shrink, grow, transform , merge and slowly die ,which i feel would lead humanity to a dark world. It’s upto us to break all stereotypes to make our culture more acceptable to coming generations. It’s now the responsibility of me , of you , of us , of all the young youth to step ahead and pass on this legacy to generations ahead.
India 