UPSC (IAS): Ignited Minds Academy.: Art and Culture for UPSC

Art and Culture Lecture 1- IAS

What is Culture?

Culture is the way of life. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the language we speak and the God we worship. According to UNESCO, “We speak of culture in connection with the behavior of the people, the morals and the human relations.

Material culture: Technology, art forms, architecture, material goods, sculpture, etc.

Non-material culture: customs, traditions, philosophy, religion, festivals, beliefs, etc.

Indian Values:

The diversity of the Indian society and the culture is stupendous.

· Principle of hierarchy: Caste system.

· Theory of karma and rebirth:

· Various castes and ethnic groups got assimilated in Indian Society: (Due to tolerance of Hinduism).

· Joint Family:

· Dharma: Living according to the codes of conduct.

Continuity in Indian Culture:

Question in UPSC 2015 Paper 1:

The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present day. Comment.

The ancient past of Egypt, Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and Greece ( Europe) had a complete break with the past, as evident with the changes seen in terms of religion, culture, values, etc examples.
In Egypt, construction of large structures called ‘pyramids’ have now almost disappeared. It has now got Islamized while in the past it was dominated by varying polytheistic beliefs and Christianity.
Mesopotamia produced multiple empires and civilizations rather than any single civilization.
The ancient Greeks were a deeply religious people. They worshipped many gods in human form eg Zeus, Athena, but Religion in modern Greece is dominated by Greek Orthodox Church (role of Church).

Ancient Indian Civilization ( Harappan and Vedic) – continuity in modern times.

Religion- mother goddess, fertility cult, proto-shiva, worship of trees(pipal) Fire altars found at lothal and Kalibangan during Harappan Civilization and increasing significance of ‘yajnas’ or sacrifices from Vedic age till today.
Cultural life and dressing styles- pottery , game of dice, chess, comb, beaded necklaces, saree type clothing, bangles, etc.
Agriculture- wheels, bullock cart, grains( barley, wheat, rice, etc)
Urban towns- harappan times- citadel, granary, streets, weights and measures, etc.- house plans, drainage system came to be followed in later times as well.
Social inequality existed in towns – in Vedic pd- inequalities reinforced- Varna system. Family system- patriarchal values,etc.
knowledge of vedas , Upanishads, etc transmitted from generation to generation.
Significance of ‘ritual bathing’ and holy bath traced back to Harrapan times ( ‘Great Bath- Mohenjodaro) is continued till today eg taking dip in Holy Ganges, Yamuna, etc is still practiced by people.