A3 World Studies

This is a picture of a modern temple in India.

It represents the struggle between traditional Indian

beliefs and modern technology and architecture.In this case, they complement each other instead of working in resistance.

http://www.boloji.com/opinion/0099.jpg

India is the seventh largest country in the world; and people have been in India since 2500 B.C.E. The Indian people have been through the Aryan government, Muslim invasions, imperialism from the British, and struggles to hold onto their religion. Most recently, the struggle is trying to find the balance between the material and spiritual worlds. The two major religions in India are Hinduism and Buddhism Hinduism and Buddhism both believe in detachment of worldly life, this allows you to enter the spiritual world. India has undergone a lot of change in the past few years. Major companies have started to send branches over to India; India has opened up to the rest of the world; and the Indian population is growing almost exponentially. With all this change, balance between religion and technology is hard to manage. For example, to complete moksha, the release from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth, you must be detached from worldly things. But with all this technology entering India, it is hard to ignore the new inventions that increase the standard of living. This new generation of people won’t have to deal with wars between countries, but a war between religion and material goods. Eleanor and I decided to choose this topic, because this topic is very relatable. Our generations also struggle to find balance between our parents, and their traditional values; and our modern values. This is a struggle that has been prevalent in history, and will continue to be prevalent in future generation. Without balance the “fabric” tears.

This picture captures the idea of tug of war between the spriritual

material worlds. The background is amodern, high tech airplane.

But the people are wearing traditional clothing.

http://www.thp.org/sai00/india/india2.jpg

IM Conversation

Sunita123: Hello granddaughter. How is my little sproutling? I am just getting used to this instant messaging process

Amazing_Aruka: Grandma, don’t call me little sproutling.

Sunita123: But that is what your name means, Aruka. You must embrace your traditional name. You generation does not appreciate traditional values.

Amazing_Aruka: Grandma, chillax would u?

Sunita123: What does “Chillax” happen to mean?

Amazing_Aruka: Haha, jk don’t worry about it.

Sunita123: I think my computer is broken, because the words you are sending are not spelled correctly.

Sunita123: Are you excited to go to temple tomorrow with your grandfather and I?

Amazing_Aruka: hmm…..yea…..i guess. Although I am going to my friends house and I have a lot of homework and I have to practice the piano and I have to do my chores.

Sunita123: You are very busy Aruka. However you must always find time for your religion. Worship is of utmost importance in your life. Every day you must worship the gods and make your offerings.

Amazing Aruka: yea…I was jk. But I thought we could just worship at the shrine at our house and that was enough…idk

Sunita123: It is true that many Hindu homes have a shrine where offerings can be made and prayers said. However it is also important to use your religion to come together and worship. That is why we are going to the temple tomorrow. Communal worship is also very important.

Amazing_Aruka: sure…hmmm…so anyway, have you been to that new McDonalds in the city?

Sunita123: No dear, I haven’t. You know I only eat the traditional thali. Has your mom prepared it for you recently?

Amazing_Aruka: ummm….not for a while. Actualy , now that I think about it, we haven’t had it since we were at your house..yea…we have been so busy. Normally we just get something fast on the way home. Ya know?

Sunita123: Oh dear Aruka, I must talk to your mother, it was I that taught her how to prepare the traditional thali and I hoped she would pass it along to you. Aruka, it is part of our culture and part of traditional Indian cuisine.

Amazing_Aruka: yea…for sure……but like I said….we are always busy. But..don’t worry, we’ll have it soon!

Sunita123: That’s better. I knew you would embrace the tradition.

Amazing_Aruka: yea no worries….anyway…I g2g….I have a friend coming over and we are going to the movies. Then I have to finish my homework so I will ttyl……..

Sunita123:what does g2g mean Aruka?

Sunita123: Aruka are you still there?

*****This IM conversation is a good dialogue to represent the tug of war between traditional and modern in India. The Instant Message forum is a medium that is representative of modern and technological ways. The character Aruka is a teenage girl in India who is struggling to find a balance between the exciting realms of the modern world and her ancestry’s traditional life. The character Sunita is Aruka’s grandmother and she is very immersed into the traditional Indian culture. The conversation above show how hard Sunita is trying to get Aruka to embrace her religion and culture. However Aruka is resisting because she enjoys her modern lifetyle.

This picture is an Indian family walking together.

They are in a modern environment, which is a good setting for our analysis because it shows the traditional spiritual Indians living in a world that is evolving technologically and advancing as far as construction, architecture, and general living enviroments. Therefore, this shows

the struggle between modern and traditionalism.

It also shows the struggle between generations. The

parents are wearing traditional Indian clothes.

But the child is wearing more modern clothes.

http://timesnews.typepad.com/news/images/indiagate

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