Why I Deserve The Freedom To Love Another Culture Without Being Judged

Swami Vivekananda once said, "Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you cannot, fold your hands, bless your brothers, and let them go their own way."

In those true words of wisdom, may I come out of the closet a second time. I am a Japanophile. I have always loved Japanese culture and in return I have only been criticized for it.

Frankly, I don't care. Call me 'japaani' if you like, I personally prefer to be called Japanese. My fascination with all things originating from the land of the rising sun stems from my childhood in the 1990s when India - Nippon relations were at a height. Both countries had several cultural exchanges and Calcutta was the centre for several Japanese artists showcasing their national culture from music to food. Perhaps it's the eye to detail and their obsession with perfection that strikes a chord in me.

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A study done by the World Value Survey found that India is one of the most xenophobic countries in the world. It's not surprising given the way people from the North East and students from Africa are treated on a daily basis. Is it because Indians think their culture is the most superior in all the world or are they still suffering from a major ongoing inferiority complex?

If there is one person who criticizes India, the entire nation is outraged. If there is a person who likes another culture better than the Indian culture he belongs to, society will go as far as questioning and mocking his upbringing.

My folks have blamed globalization while people (who don't matter) have always criticized my parents for blessing me with western education, morals and ideals. They have gone as far as labeling television and pop culture as a corrupting influence.

For those of you opposed to globalization and firmly believe how it is corrupting Indian society, let me be the first to tell you, it's been happening here since the beginning of civilization in the subcontinent.

India traded immensely with its neighbours in the Middle East, China and South East Asia, thereby influencing their local cultures tremendously. The ancient temples of Angkor Wat (Cambodia) and Borobudur (Indonesia) are heavily influenced by Indian architecture. Even today, several ways of life in South East Asian countries from food to language, are influenced by India.

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If Indian culture influenced other countries in the past (which was gratefully acknowledged and appreciated) why can¡¯t foreign cultures influence India in a positive way?

After all, isn¡¯t that how some Asian countries made their economies strong by having other countries as role models?

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Coming back to my issue of loving a foreign culture, I believe it is my business and personal freedom. I cannot simply explain why I am fond of a foreign culture rather than my own. So if my answer to your question, ¡°But why do you like Japan of all places?¡±, sounds pretty stupid, be warned, you asked a stupid question.

In my ideal world, no matter how dumb that might sound to you, I dream of an India that rises from the ashes like Japan to modernize and become an industrialized superpower while spreading goodwill and harmony across the globe. It begins with disciplined people with who fear karma (ironically, karma is an Indian belief) and respect one another as human beings without thinking solely about themselves all time.

"What does Japan have that India lacks? Does that mean you hate India?"

I don¡¯t hate Indian culture; I only hate the negative aspects of it such as the caste system, corruption, racism and sexism.

The absence of Indian creations like Yoga, Buddhism, the Bhagvad Geeta, nature worship, The Mahabharata and Mathematics would not have had a strong impact on the development of Japanese culture as we know of it today. For this, I love India for contributing to the development of other cultures around the world and the birth of free thinkers.

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I'm not saying this is an issue for people who only love Japanese culture, but it applies to anybody who might have a larger appreciation for foreign cultures more than their own. I do not need anybody else's approval to admire another country.

If you know nothing about other cultures, why not take the time out to learn? You might just contribute to the enlightenment that this country so desperately needs.

Note: The views expressed in the article are writer's own