The Eastern culture is the setting sun while the Western culture is the horizon. Such is the situation today. But do we ever reflect on our glorious past or why our elders had these customs? We should eliminate the bias, prejudices, caste system and the superstition, but do we have to eliminate our respect for elders, our youngsters, people in the lower strata and respect for the girls of our society.

One may think that this is another rustic story from an old - fashioned person but "Alas, No !" I have been brought up in Westernised culture and now I see the Eastern one, the one I had rejected as primitive, old - fashioned and away from harsh reality. That was when in spite of an Indian, I was still an outsider. Now I see the beauty, the respect and the rich inheritance from which I deliberately kept myself aloof.

Never did I realise that just sitting in the temple with only the Lord and Bhajans being sung would cleanse my soul or twist it with such intensity that the outside world would look harsh and uncoordinated. People are heading towards a destination that even they don't realise. But it is not their fault. In today's life, there is no time for reflection, for thinking of other things other than work. It is also a mistake on the part of our elders to eliminate the youngsters as callous, incorrigible brats who just listen to loud music. Only if they showed us a better life would we be able to leave the present one.

Why are we burying those lovely invaluable treasures of our culture with our elder generation? It is time to wake up, my friends, to hybridise the present as well as the past. Without our past we are history - less wanderers without an identity. Why do we discard our own beautiful heritage, whilst the foreigners are so frustrated without it? A man without a background is like a tree without roots.

Take the example of Yoga. We discarded it for the westernised and trendy Aerobics. However it has been scientifically proved that Yoga is more beneficial to the health of an individual than is any amount of aerobics. This does not mean we have all beautiful things. Giving liberty of education to girls was out of question in the past but today girls are invading and capturing fields of medicine, engineering and flying to name a few. But why do we give them liberty and then forget to respect them? Equal rights does not mean that the past respect is lost for women.

It is possible to blend the past and the future to have a beautiful today. Come my friends, let us join our hands to bridge the ever - widening gap in these two worlds so part. It is all in the thoughts. If you think you can, then YOU WILL. Our elders will not be here forever, so let us turn back to out rich heritage, lest it gets buried and is lost forever.


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