Every society has its own values and cultural norms, which shape its identity. For example, Indian society emphasizes diversity, respect for elders, family ties, hospitality, cultural syncretism and spiritual beliefs, while Western societies often prioritize individualism, equality, rationality, human rights & freedom of expression. Societies and governments promote their core values through policies, educational systems, and cultural programs which includes national programs like Atithi Devo Bhava, which highlights Indian hospitality, and the NEP 2020 which integrates respect for diversity and heritage into the education system.
While societies should preserve their unique values, they should not be overly critical of others’ values. But there are societies which become critical of other values & try to strictly enforce their own values as seen in the following examples:
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- Some countries, like the UK, emphasize the importance of adopting local culture, as seen in policies that urge immigrants to integrate into British values.
- Similarly, Islamic nations like Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, enforce strict religious values that conflict with global human rights norms, particularly concerning gender rights and education.
| Recently, Taliban leaders in Afghanistan have issued a fresh decree imposing restrictions on women which are a part of a new so-called Vice and Virtue decree published by the Taliban’s Justice Ministry - first such formal declaration under the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law since they regained power in Afghanistan three years ago. |
| • The decree greatly restricts personal freedoms and religious practices, covering aspects of everyday life such as transportation, music, shaving, celebrations, and women’s behavior and appearance in public. • The rules explained that a woman’s voice is deemed intimate and should not be heard singing, reciting poetry or reading aloud in public. Women also are not allowed to look at men they are not related to by blood or marriage and vice versa. • Under the new law, females must cover their bodies and faces at all times in public to avoid temptation and to avoid tempting others. Their clothing should not be thin, short or tight, it emphasized. |
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- India is a triumph of the imagination: innumerable cultures, languages, and worldviews, often at odds with one other, loosely bound by a constitution that frames equal rights and common values for an impossibly diverse population. However, recently this principle has been challenged by an unprecedented rise of Islamophobia.
| • Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Protests (2019-2020): The CAA, which provided a path to citizenship for religious minorities from neighboring countries, specifically excluded Muslims. This led to widespread protests, including the Shaheen Bagh movement, where citizens voiced their concerns about discrimination against the Muslim community. • Mob Lynchings and Cow Vigilantism: Since 2015, there has been a rise in mob violence against Muslims under the pretext of cow protection. In several cases, individuals suspected of transporting or consuming beef have been attacked or lynched by vigilante groups, leading to heightened fear and tensions among Muslim communities. • ‘Love Jihad’ Laws: Several states in India, such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, have passed laws including Anti- conversion laws that aim to prevent ‘love jihad,’ a term used by right-wing groups to allege that Muslim men are luring Hindu women into marriage and converting them to Islam. These laws have been criticized for targeting interfaith marriages and reinforcing Islamophobic narratives. |
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- Honor killings in India reflect how a society becomes critical of values that differ from its own cultural norms. Honour killing is defined as killing for honour, a death that is awarded to the women or men by their own family members for marrying against their wishes or having a pre-marital relationship, marrying within the same gotra or marrying outside their caste. The main reason contributing to this heinous crime is the mentality of people ,that they are not ready to accept the fact their childrens can marry in accordance with their own choices be it in their own caste, religion or outside their caste or religion. These crimes for honour violates human rights, infringes the right to live with dignity as per article 21 of the Indian Constitution. It shows the lack of attributes of empathy, love, compassion, tolerance among fellow human beings. With such kind of acts the ethical values of a society such as tolerance, respect for diversity, self -determination etc are degraded.
- The growing linguistic tensions in Bengaluru highlight how societies can become critical of other people’s values, especially in the context of language and cultural identity. For instance, a recent incident where an auto driver was arrested for slapping a woman after she canceled a ride, and another case where a man was assaulted for asking workers to learn Kannada, illustrate a rising trend of “language militancy.” These confrontations between pro-Kannada and pro-Hindi groups reflect deeper societal issues where individuals or groups reject others’ linguistic and cultural values.
- The recent policies in Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, requiring restaurants to publicly display employee names, have been criticized for disproportionately targeting Muslim workers and businesses. Although the regulations are framed as health and safety measures, many view them as a form of discrimination, reflecting societal bias against Muslim values and practices.
Counterview
Indians, as a people, have an extraordinary ability to assimilate into new societies. Across the world, we see examples of Indians successfully blending into different cultures while retaining their own values. Whether it is former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US Vice President Kamala Harris, or US politician Vivek Ramaswamy, Indians have risen to the top of societies they have adopted. Indian-origin populations are among the most successful diaspora communities globally, due in no small part to their ability to integrate.
| Pros | Cons |
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| • Imbibes cultural pride. Helps preserve a society’s cultural identity, traditions, and values that may be at risk of erosion due to globalization or foreign influence. | • Overly critical attitudes can foster xenophobia, bigotry, and intolerance towards different cultures, increasing social tension and conflict. |
| • Promote indigenous aspect | • Criticism of other values can suppress cultural diversity. |
| • Instills confidence among the society | • Can hinder cooperation and collaboration on global challenges like climate change, economic stability, and peacekeeping. |
| • The philosophy of ‘Integral humanism’ by Deendayal Upadhyay stresses on the fact that unless we have our own distinctive identity, no progress can be made. • The doctrine of ‘integral humanism’ was born from the desire to have ‘uniquely Indian’ ideas guiding the journey of the newly independent nation, as opposed to the many Western ‘isms’ | • Intolerance towards different societal norms can escalate into hostility, leading to violence and social unrest, as seen in cultural or religious clashes. |
| • South India’s preservation of its own values, such as linguistic pride and cultural traditions, has helped it maintain a strong identity and achieve significant economic and social progress. By being critical of external values, the region has protected its rich heritage in fields like art, architecture, and education, resulting in high literacy rates and robust healthcare. | • It develops a superiority complex, amongst people believing its values are inherently better, leading to arrogance and exclusion. Ultimately, it can erode empathy, making it difficult for people to relate to others’ experiences. This lack of understanding can undermine equality & humanity. |
Instead of strictly enforcing values, societies should focus on social influence & persuasion to build mutual respect i.e using an indirect way of bringing change. This approach involves promoting values through dialogue and role models, rather than through coercion. Catalysts for this change can include Supreme Court, Civil society, Socio- Religious reform movements, Philosophers. This way is better than enforcing one’s values on others. Enforcing anything on others goes against moral & ethical standards. It should be more imbibed than imposed.
Mahatma Gandhi emphasized the importance of openness to other cultures and values, while remaining grounded in one’s own. One of his well-known quotes reflects this sentiment:
“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”
