Term Paper on "Sikhism: The Effect on Indian Culture"

Term Paper 5 pages (1579 words) Sources: 5 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Sikhism: THE EFFECT ON INDIAN CULTURE

From ancient times to the present, religion and one's personal beliefs have influenced the culture and society of the followers of that particular religion. Sikhism, although not a new religion, has recently received recognition as a world religion. As a result of this recognition, researchers have studied the effects Sikhism has on Indian culture and society. Its followers, called Sikhs believe that there is only God, and his or her creation is real and not illusory, and everything works according to his or her will. The Sikh scripture recognizes five root problems, which are lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride; if these problems are eliminated, then the experience of suffering is eliminated as well. These core beliefs of Sikhism have affected Indian culture in several ways, as followers strive to live by these rules and their society reflects these beliefs. This paper will analyze Sikhism and the effect that it has on Indian culture and society.

The religious philosophy of Sikhism has its roots in the religious traditions of northern India, and it combines some elements of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. The underlying belief of Sikhism is that one's goal is the attainment of salvation, which is prevented by social conflicts and worldly pursuits. As a result, followers of Sikhism strongly believe in karma, or an endless cycle of birth. The quality of each particular life depends in the manner in which you conducted yourself in your last life. This aspect of karma is governed by the principle that Sikhs should balance work, worship, and charity, and should defend the rights of all creatures and fellow human beings. These concepts are illustrated as having an effect on Indian culture and society, in the peaceful manner in which Indian culture is notable for. Additionally, Sikhs also believe strongly in the concept of sharing, through the distribution of free food at rituals, giving charitable donations, and working toward the betterment of society. Sikhs look for God both inside themselves and in the world around them; they do this to help themselves achieve liberation and union with God (BBC Team, 2006).

The aspect of family is an important belief of Sikhism, and effects Indian culture. Within Indian society, extended family members usually live together as a single-family unit which includes grandparents, parents, children, as well as the families of parental uncles (Bhungalia et.al., 2006). This importance on family can be seen in Indian society in the manner in which the husband's parents move in with the family after they have retired or when the family decides to have children or if there is an illness and help is needed. Additionally, the grandparent's role in raising the children is highly valued, as they are the link to the Indian culture, religion, and heritage (Bhungalia et.al., 2006). Family is so important in Sikhism that in Indian culture, major decisions are not made without first consulting the family and healthcare decisions may go beyond the expectations and expertise of those in the medical profession. As a result of value placed on independence and privacy in Indian culture and the desire to save face, family issues, including healthcare decisions, are frequently discussed within the immediate family before seeking outside help, such as a medical specialist (Bhungalia et.al., 2006).

In Indian culture, the belief of symbolism in hair can be seen as an effect on this culture. Throughout history, one's hair has been regarded as a symbol of both holiness and strength (BBC Team, 2006). As a result, many Indians keep their hair long, as keeping hair uncut indicates that one is willing to accept God's gift as God intended it. This is reflected in Indian society as Indian women do not shave their under arms or legs, and do not wax their eyebrows. Men are affected by this belief as they are not allowed to trim their beards. Indian culture also reflects Sikh beliefs regarding sexual relations. Homosexuality is not addressed in scripture, but is believed to be a part of one's karma. As a result, homosexuality in the Indian population is very minimal, as it is believed that homosexuality subjects the person to a psychic imbalance between male and female energies, which could lead to self-destructive behaviors (Beliefnet.com, 2006). As a result, homosexuality is stifled in Indian culture.

One common Sikh belief is equal rights for women, as Indian women can be seen in numerous colleges and post-graduate institutions everywhere. However, this belief of Sikhism does not appear to be reflected in Indian society or culture. This is because in Indian society, the roles of men and women are distinct; women manage the home by keeping all finances, family, and social issues in order (Bhungalia et.al., 2006). Women are more passive in the Indian culture and men typically are the bread-winners and managers of issues requiring interaction with individuals in the community (Bhungalia et.al., 2006). This does not follow the thought that women are equal in Sikhism because Indian men seem to have a dominant and authoritative role because they are the primary point of contact with society. Researchers such as Bhungalia (2006) note that these traditional roles of the male and female are changing as the Indian culture becomes modernized as a result of living in countries such as the United States for a number of years.

Many Indians become successful doctors or are prevalent in the higher professions that necessitate years of schooling. This is because education is second only to respect. This is reflected in Indian culture where many families have migrated from India to America for better education for their children, and in the high number of Indian students enrolled in higher education universities. Unfortunately, this is reflected in Indian society where parents sometimes encourage their children to excel beyond their capabilities, and some children are pressured to the extent that psychological problems, such as depression and suicide result (Bhungalia et.al., 2006). Other psychological problems caused as a result of Sikhism can be seen in the Indian culture. Arranged marriages are an example of one, since an individual that does not follow the Sikh religion cannot marry a Sikh. As a result, couples are more likely to remain in an abusive or violent relationship to save family face, and in the Indian community, domestic violence is hidden to a greater extent (Bhungalia et.al., 2006). More than many others, Indian women are not willing to bring shame upon the family by talking about family violence, and are willing to suffer if they feel as though their family will benefit from their suffering. This is clearly reflected in the Indian society where domestic violence statistics for this population are very low.

The effects of Sikhism on Indian culture are reflected on the festivals that Indians have that are different from other cultures. For example, their New Year festival usually falls on April 13th, and is marked by the replacement of the Sikh flag by a new one. On this day, competitions are held in sports, martial arts, poetry and essay writing on festival themes. There are also special ceremonies to mark events such as the birth of a child. Sikhism affects the names that are given to children when they are born and baptized. For Indians following the Sikh religion, the title of "Singh," or lion, is given to the first male child, and "Kaur," meaning princess is given to the female child (Infoaboutsikhs.com, 2006). A clear reflection of this in Indian society is that many males have the last name of Singh, and not many use a surname because it is discouraged.

Under Sikhism, death is considered to be a natural process and God's will; any public displays of grief at a funeral such as crying are discouraged (Infoaboutskhs.com, 2006). This is reflected in Indian wakes and… READ MORE

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