Indian youth need to know about Indian culture

what perhaps it is more pertinent to ask ‘what do Indian youth know about Indian culture today?’ The typical response to this question would be ‘very little’ or ‘nothing.’
An undergraduate student at a school where I offer course on Indian Culture, shared this new finding about Swami Vivekananda: ‘Swami Vivekananda spoke in Tamil at the World Parliament of Religions held in South Africa!’ (sic)
Perhaps, I might across as a bit cynical, but having taught Indian Culture to undergraduate students for ten years now, I have learnt to be not just optimistic but more realistic in my assessment of where the younger generation stands today vis-a-vis Indian Culture.
The current situation or problem is simply born out of choice. There are many lifestyle choices available to Indian youth today. A hundred years ago, Indians did not have to make cultural and lifestyle choices like we do today.
Added to this problem of choice, is the handicap of ignorance. Today’s youth are not making a well- informed choice. It is not that they have examined the pros and cons of the lifestyles they choose or reject, it is simply a herd mentality which we all grow up with. We follow blindly whatever our peers do.
The young Indian is obsessed with the latest trends of globalization, to him what is new is cool and fashionable and all that is old is not even worth trying. Whether it is the latest fashion in clothing, be it a low rise jeans or a trendy jacket, or a major lifestyle choice such as a ‘live-in’ relationship, the young Indian says newest is the best.
Therefore, it is important that we create a system within the family, in the schools and colleges and in our local societies, which can impart knowledge of the foundations of Indian culture to the youth and engage them in a dialogue to address their doubts, so that they can make a wise choice based on a clear understanding of the stakes involved.

Let us examine some ‘frequently asked questions’ about Indian culture with the hope that the resolution provided to these FAQs will help the readers to engage the younger generation in a fruitful dialogue.