& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

CULTURAL FRAMEWORK

Needed Tolerance to Cope with Differences

by N Shams Chowdhury
***Despite numerous definitions and their differences, many would agree that culture of a society or nation, in general, represents a shared way of being, evaluating, and doing or practicing; encompasses ideology, social life, and economics and technology; is embodied in people, processes, and products; circulates through various institutional channels, and mechanisms; perpetuates its unique value system over the years from one generation to another.
CONCERN about erosion oi traditional culture and discussions on national cultural identity appear to be common in Bangladesh The former centres round the^ alien practices that are making inroads into various spheres of life Many tend to blame, as a possible cause to the issue, the increasing interactions with people of diverse cultures Modern communication developments, especially advent of television and dish antenna, have also added fuel to the Are (issue). People in Bangladesh find the world and people of diverse cultures at their doorsteps. The other people do not only speak different language but also have lifestyles and other cultural manifestations differing from our own. such as dresses, manners, food and eating habits, music and dance, recreation styles, customs and traditions. The young generation appears to be increasingly influenced by many of the practices; while to many, the ageing generation tn particular, this departure from tradition is undesirable and causes concern. Discussions on national cultural identity stem from cultural loyalty: where to lay the cultural loyalty?
While many hold the strong nationalistic sentiment that Bangladesh is the fruition of freedom struggle shared by its people of airreligions. creed and diverse background, and thus It needs to have a common cultural pattern and tradition. without dominance of any group, and distinct and unique identity as a cohesive force to unite diverse groups in the greater Interest of the nation; others view people of Bangladesh as sharing indivisible cultural Identity based on common origin as well as distinct cultural traits with those separated by arbitrary boundary. Culture is very important for a society that forms the very basis for a common way of life with p' particular pattern, regularity, and meaning; and stimulates national progress and devel-
opment Its ramifications and implications are comprehen save and vast
Culture
What is really meant bv culture? A universally accepted definition that satisfies everyone is impos sible to appear. Researchers collected 164 definitions of culture and concluded that most scientists have not formulated the central concept behind the term culture'.
Despite numerous definitions and their differences, many would agree thaf culture of a society or nation, in general, represents a shared way of being, evaluating, and doing or practicing; encompasses ideology, social life, and economics and technology; is embodied in people, processes, and products: circulates through various institutional channels, and mechanisms; perpetuates its unique value system over the
years from one generation to another.
It Is apparent that beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviour are the common cultural constructs. Belief orients an individual to his environment like person, group, institution, behaviour, policy, event, and so ont defining it and identifying for him its salient characteristics e.g.. attribute, quality, outcome, event, etc. Attitude toward any object is a function of beliefs about the object Attrac tion. sentiment, valence, and utility can all constitute attitude. Values may be considered as intervening between beliefs and attitudes. For example. the belief that Election Commission is or is not Strong enough to conduct fair polls may lead to respectively favourable or unfavourable attitude toward Election Com-
mission by someone who values democracy.
Whereas a belief may change with new information values are relatively resistant to change, ano depend upon various factors. Behaviour is the response or action manifested in specific mode of conducts or means chosen to satisfy a given need. Communication pattern. that transmits meaning through language, gesture, posture, etc., is also a significant cultural construct, and considered by some anthropologists as synonymous to culture Different communication practices will generate different meanings for same message. Communication practices vary when culture vary.
Diversity and Tolerance
Why there is- diversity of culture? Or why culture differs? Anthropologists differ
to explaining cultural diversity or differences; and a number of views are available, . like, renaissance, human evolution. cultural diffusion and cultural ecology. Renaissance view presents two opposing views that there were many distinct and separate species of humans, rather than only one. each following its particular way of life; and that some species have fallen from a higher sate of cultural development. Evolutionary view suggests cultures developing from a single primordial beginning became more complex and refined with human progress, and followed certain common cultural changes. Diffusion view attributed cultural changes to borrowing, or transmission of cultural traits from one society to another. Cultural ecology espouses similarities among groups living in similar means of dealing with these environments.
All these views, however, are not mutually exclusive, but rather complement to the understanding of cultures. and factors that shape or 'mould people's perceptions of reality and environment. beliefs, attitudes, values and behaviour. The factors. to name a few. are geographical location that Influences settlement pattern: religion. political systems, such as monarchy, democracy, communism, etc.; economy and technology e.g.. market, command, and mixed economy. level of industrialisation. and so on: kinship favouring individualism or collectivism, etc; education system either forma), informal and content level, etc.; and are regularly interactive or interdependent.
Within a culture of a society or nation It is not neces-
sary that all members share all understandings but only that some people tend to share closely some understandings. beliefs, attitudes, values, etc. This Is apparent ■ when a society or a nation is aggregated to smaller or subgroups with respect to. not exhaustive, age such as young and old; regionality such as rural and urban; economy like income distribution, estate. status, etc; religious and ethnic groups.
Societies and nations face the same basic problems — social and physical —to survive and respond in their own ways and develop differing cultural patterns. The responses or practices in solving these problems In the best possible manner, in terms of economics and technological, social structural ana ideological aspects, can be groupW together under (i) distributive dimension
on the basis of demographic traits or patterns, i.e.. Income. education, settlement pattern, etc., (li) organisational dimension with cultural participation patterns, such as, family relationship, association, institution, etc., and (iii) normative dimension that are of behavioural patterns, i.e.. attitudes; values, norms, etc. Because manifestations of traifS or patterns are due to responses essentially to the same problems, a discerning eye can compare cultures, find similarities between them on the basis of one or a combination of the above three dimensions, and assert accordingly that there are cultures that are similar or dissimilar; and accordingly group together societies and nations.
Cultural patterns of normative dimension are more notable than those of distributive and organisational dimensions at low levels of economics and technology or industrialisation, or. the contrary is true with high level of economics and technology. Cultural patterns of distributive and organisational dimensions Influenced by economics and technology are tending to become more similar across various cultures. while that of normative dimension though tend to maintain their cultural distinctiveness. however, do change. Economic and technological aspect is fundamental to and foundation to understand the other two cultural aspects, i.e.? social structure and Ideology
Cultures differ from place to place and among smaller groups within a society or nation. Cultural disagreements and misunderstand Ings arise from the fact that culture conditions thoroughly
people's perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, attribution, communication and behaviour that lead to ethnocentric of prejudiced thinking. Depending upon differing back ground people perceive their own cufture as superior to others, what they do is appropriate. and incline to attribute meanings to what others do as irrational or unsophisticated. or both. Ignorance of cultural differences and influences that give a particular group of people identity or uniqueness is the chief cause of misunderstandings among cultures and sub-cultures. What IS needed Is cultural empathy and tolerance to cope with cultural differences, establish fruitful cultural relations that will reduce conflict and clashes, stress and strain, and encourage cooperation among nations as well as subgroups of a nation.
Historically same racial background and language, or
definable geographical boundaries, or religious homogeneity do commonly contribute to a nation-building and determine a national cultural identity. However, the meanings of culture and nation are different. In general, a nation is considerable group of people of common origin or history inhabiting a country under one government.' and a culture is the customary beliefs, social forms and material traits of a Soup’. There is no reason ‘ at a nation and a culture
should coincide. A nation may contain several cultures, and a culture may be present in many nations. Building nations out of racially, linguistically. culturally, heterogeneous elements; or arbitrary boundaries are not. also, short, of examples. Super-ordinate goal, not a traditional ingredient, is the key In such cases to national feelings or sentiment that stimulates tolerance for diversity and crystalises common cultural understandings and practices among heterogeneous elements
Bangladesh Cortot
Conflict with alien practices. clashes between ageing generation clinging tenaciously to traditions and the young imbued with contemporary development and aspirations, and controversies on cultural identity, are phenomena not new in this part of the world. The history the people have shared with the others of various races, creeds and regions who came with motivations like empire-building. exploration, and business and fortune-seeking, since the period predating even the Moghul till the recent past of the British bears the testimony of cultural con-
flicts and changes from time to time and between generations. Ancient Invasion or dominance of various forms have introduced new cultures that accumulated over and blended to original cultures of this region. Technological Inventions and western changes In the 19th century, such as but not the least, railways and steam engines, air planes, factories, education and the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, propelled them from simple agricultural ways of life to complex industrial orientation with infiltration of Western values. Today's world of satellites, computers, and media Impact; interdependence in economics, communication. ‘ and development; and increased Interactions with foreigners, strong cultures, etc., have influenced their aspirations and changed profoundly ways and patterns of every aspect of
Western orientation is conspicuous in their dresses, fashions, food habits, education, and social greetings, behaviour and communication at work place and various gatherings, etc., especially in the urban setting. Skilled workers like operators. typists, electricians, mechanics. plumbers, drivers, and many others are increasingly growing over that of traditional vocations, artisanships and crafts. People are more inclined to work In factories, mills, etc., than agriculture for their livelihood. There are increasing number of modern schools, factories; high-rise and skyscraper buildings; facilities and modes of transportation and communication; health, recreation and sports facilities; and banks and financial system. Women especially have emerged. Many women work in shops, garment factories, attend universities, practice professions. sit in parliaments and have become ministers. Most important of all are the changing social ideas and outlook of life. Democracy is burgeoning, the leftist doctrines like socialism and communism have many adherents.
Bangladesh, though Inhabited by people who predominantly use a common language and are Muslim, also cradles groups of other reil-gions. creeds, castes, communication patterns, and other traits and background; and has nourished them all through common historical past, physical environment, etc. Its need is to utilise the people constructively and satisfactorily to ensure national development and prosperity and cope with the fast-moving world. There is no way other than to motivate its people to culture a common way of life with a sense of belonging and an attitude of mutual respect to and/or learning best practices of other cultures. Indigenous and alien, for harmonious and effective relationships.