| While talking about cultures of a particular nation - | | | | Keralite or Tamilian will forbid it as a sin. Thus you can |
| anyone outside the country will not, in the normal | | | | see diverse cultures region-wise, broadly separated |
| course, be able to distinguish them by the location. | | | | as North India and South India, where a total of |
| For example, viewing from outside, all Americans will | | | | 1,139,964,932 Indian population lives together. |
| be classified as one to follow "American Culture" | | | | Taking for review the South Indian culture, it is |
| although the people belong to different parts of | | | | preserving the traditions left as a legacy from |
| America – like Texans, Californians or Georgians- | | | | generations, dating back to thousands of years. |
| and there may be slight differences in culture. | | | | Indian civilization history starts hundreds of thousands |
| Similarly, all the people living in the United Kingdom are | | | | years old from the Sind Plateau, on the banks of |
| "British" for the outsiders, irrespective of their place | | | | River Ganges. While North India was invaded and |
| of origin in England. | | | | captured by foreigners, including Alexander the Great, |
| As for languages spoken – all Americans and | | | | and then by the Moguls centuries back, South India |
| British – speak English, of course with the slang | | | | escaped the wrath of foreign invasions |
| of nativity specific to the region they live. Therefore | | | | comparatively. |
| if you ask anyone what is the language spoken in | | | | Ancient South India – particularly Tamilnadu, which |
| America, invariably they will answer as "English". | | | | consisted the present Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra |
| This is not the case with India. Indian citizens spread | | | | States within its embrace earlier, was ruled by Kings |
| over the wide land areas and regions of India, speak | | | | and Emperors of Hindu Religious faith. Hence there is |
| multiple languages – Hindi, Bhojpuri, Urdu, Marathi, | | | | a distinct Hindu religion-based culture most prevalent |
| Bengali, Oriyan, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, | | | | in all South Indian States. |
| Tulu etc. - just to name a few. In spite of these | | | | Habits and life-styles as also literature of the region's |
| language differences, India has been a country, | | | | language form the basics of any culture. An example |
| reckoned as one of prestige and an ancient civilization | | | | can be cited here that the British Culture is born out |
| in the world arena. | | | | of social norms prescribed by English Literature, |
| Owing to the 300 years of British Rule, India is still | | | | especially Shakespearean works of art. Likewise, |
| keeping English as the National and link language, not | | | | South Indian culture is refined by the rule of Hindu |
| only among the people of India, but also other | | | | Kings for centuries and the literary works like |
| countries of the entire world. This enables the State | | | | Thirukkural, Silapathikaram etc. in Tamil language, |
| Governments of South India – Tamilnadu; Kerala, | | | | dating back to 2000 years from now. People revere |
| Karnatka, Andhra and the Union Territory of | | | | these literary works in adopting the vices and social |
| Puduchery – that are not having Hindi as the | | | | behavior embodied in them for day-to-day life. The |
| official language, to interact with other Hindi-speaking | | | | derivatives of age-old Tamil like Telugu, Kannada and |
| North Indian States, including the National Capital New | | | | Malayalam languages have great literary works |
| Delhi. | | | | adored by the respective people and followed in their |
| But foreigners are thinking that all Indians speak Hindi | | | | cultures ardently. |
| since they do not have the inside info. The screening | | | | True the impact of 300 years of British Rule, which |
| of only Hindi films mostly across the world countries | | | | starts from the era of Robert Clive landing in Madras |
| of America, Russia, U.K. and Europe contribute to this | | | | Port (presently Chennai) to form the East India |
| notion generously. | | | | Company of Great Britain and extending it all over |
| Thus the variety of languages spoken in India | | | | India, has its adverse and also appreciable effects in |
| differentiates the cultures to a certain extent, | | | | South Indian culture. But the traditional South Indian |
| prevalent in the said region. For example, among the | | | | culture, preserved over generations, certainly still |
| masses of North Indian population of Bihar, or | | | | holds well on a majority South Indians. |
| Madhya Pradesh, entering a temple for worship, | | | | We will see more on this subject later. |
| without taking bath is not a matter at all, whereas a | | | | |