Varied attires, zillions of languages and trillion dialects, beaches with the golden sun on one hand and snow treated mountain ranges on the other, brown skins and blonde locks, recital of the Holy Quran, or the Bible, SareGaMa or DoReMiFa, Persian Poetry on the one hand, and Roman richness in the literature on the other...
But wait a second…means of expression, of communion with God, through prayers and Music, and through
the mighty word…
Well, if you are wondering why I have back-packed my article through the world, and spent quarter of a page trying to make sense, then it’s because, I have been just wondering about the myriad ways in which all of creation differs from one another, but wondering all the more about the obvious ways in which all of it
is one and the same!!
Since this edition of our newsletter has been dedicated to marvel at the multi cultural diversity that exists all around us, I would also like to take this opportunity to revel at how this diversity has been witnessed by all of us at junctures of all sorts (especially, since we have had the opportunity to work in such an environment here), and how it has always been a culturally stimulating and enriching experience.
If a vibrant ‘Hola!’ from a Spanish damsel can make your day, then it’s equally heartening to hear a ‘ohayoou gozaimasu’ in the land of the rising sun. And, while ‘Marhaban’ might sound like
the next farah-khan-choreographedkatrina-kaif-starring masquerade, it is also used to ‘hello’ each other in the Arab parts of the world!
Similarly, another aspect that inevitably comes to mind while talking about cultures is art, which spans the entire history of humankind, from prehistoric times to the twenty-first century. From Michel Angelo’s magnum opus ‘Sistine Chapel’ and Picasso’s masterpieces, to Waris Shah’s ‘Heer’ and Shakespeare’s
Macbeth, and to Cameron’s ‘Titanic’ and even the crudest version of ‘Ramleela’ staged by the street children in your locality, have all been uncountable means of fulfilling, drenched in their unique cultural colours, the most innate desire, to express and communicate.
And of course while pondering about all of this, how can we not gorge on juicy bytes of our favourite fetish called food! The truth of the matter is, that with every geographical boundary you cross in this (round) world, the distance between your taste buds and a truly gratifying meal can only get smaller (confusing..eh?). From pizzas and parathas to macaroons and macaroni, our love for a delicious meal surely goes a long way in helping us bridge the sometimes-a-tough cultural barrier.
And then, one thing that all this discussion would surely be incomplete without is the ultimate wonder, God. It is indeed fascinating to me (all of us, I believe) that irrespective of our coordinates on earth, the human race, out of the love of Him, has interpreted the Almighty in countless ways, through prayers, music, religion, hymns, and religious scriptures. But what remains absolutely wonderful is the oneness of God is then ultimately reflected in the inherent essence of all these different attempts to comprehend Him. Doesn’t
matter if you express it through the Gita, or through a Sufi whirl, through the Torah or through meditative sessions, God is one, incomprehensible, eternal, omni-present and a part of Him resides in all of us, no matter where we belong!
So, easy to conclude we guess, that no matter how much the diversity, the essence of all humanity has been
centred towards a common objective, and we being the different people we are, are a part of the same whole. So then, if you find yourself stranded one fine morning on a beautiful beach, with no language to speak, and no gestures to greet with, then just let a big genuine smile do all the talking :)
P.S. And while I was also wondering about how to make this article more interesting, a friend pointed this amazing fact out to me: our favourite happy birthday song is crooned in the same notes across all (almost) the languages and cultures! (Go you-tube it for yourself)
But wait a second…means of expression, of communion with God, through prayers and Music, and through
the mighty word…
Well, if you are wondering why I have back-packed my article through the world, and spent quarter of a page trying to make sense, then it’s because, I have been just wondering about the myriad ways in which all of creation differs from one another, but wondering all the more about the obvious ways in which all of it
is one and the same!!
Since this edition of our newsletter has been dedicated to marvel at the multi cultural diversity that exists all around us, I would also like to take this opportunity to revel at how this diversity has been witnessed by all of us at junctures of all sorts (especially, since we have had the opportunity to work in such an environment here), and how it has always been a culturally stimulating and enriching experience.
If a vibrant ‘Hola!’ from a Spanish damsel can make your day, then it’s equally heartening to hear a ‘ohayoou gozaimasu’ in the land of the rising sun. And, while ‘Marhaban’ might sound like
the next farah-khan-choreographedkatrina-kaif-starring masquerade, it is also used to ‘hello’ each other in the Arab parts of the world!
Similarly, another aspect that inevitably comes to mind while talking about cultures is art, which spans the entire history of humankind, from prehistoric times to the twenty-first century. From Michel Angelo’s magnum opus ‘Sistine Chapel’ and Picasso’s masterpieces, to Waris Shah’s ‘Heer’ and Shakespeare’s
Macbeth, and to Cameron’s ‘Titanic’ and even the crudest version of ‘Ramleela’ staged by the street children in your locality, have all been uncountable means of fulfilling, drenched in their unique cultural colours, the most innate desire, to express and communicate.
And of course while pondering about all of this, how can we not gorge on juicy bytes of our favourite fetish called food! The truth of the matter is, that with every geographical boundary you cross in this (round) world, the distance between your taste buds and a truly gratifying meal can only get smaller (confusing..eh?). From pizzas and parathas to macaroons and macaroni, our love for a delicious meal surely goes a long way in helping us bridge the sometimes-a-tough cultural barrier.
And then, one thing that all this discussion would surely be incomplete without is the ultimate wonder, God. It is indeed fascinating to me (all of us, I believe) that irrespective of our coordinates on earth, the human race, out of the love of Him, has interpreted the Almighty in countless ways, through prayers, music, religion, hymns, and religious scriptures. But what remains absolutely wonderful is the oneness of God is then ultimately reflected in the inherent essence of all these different attempts to comprehend Him. Doesn’t
matter if you express it through the Gita, or through a Sufi whirl, through the Torah or through meditative sessions, God is one, incomprehensible, eternal, omni-present and a part of Him resides in all of us, no matter where we belong!
So, easy to conclude we guess, that no matter how much the diversity, the essence of all humanity has been
centred towards a common objective, and we being the different people we are, are a part of the same whole. So then, if you find yourself stranded one fine morning on a beautiful beach, with no language to speak, and no gestures to greet with, then just let a big genuine smile do all the talking :)
P.S. And while I was also wondering about how to make this article more interesting, a friend pointed this amazing fact out to me: our favourite happy birthday song is crooned in the same notes across all (almost) the languages and cultures! (Go you-tube it for yourself)
1 comment:
A well prepared n informative post giving a sweet message "We all are same, only the way to express varies". So love everyone !!!"
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