What It's Like To Study In The Multicultural Land Of India
It’s common knowledge that India is one of the biggest melting pots of cultures, languages and backgrounds that the world has to offer. Each state has its own language, each city has its own monument, each town has its own method of recreation, each house has its own story. Wherever you travel in this vast land, you’re sure to find something that captivates the curious explorer in you. From the colourful deserts of Rajasthan to the snowy peaks of the Himalayas, India itself is a living, breathing world, full of wonder and distinct culture.
To me, India’s always represented ‘everything’, it represents ‘all.’ Everything is here. You can stay here forever, and you’ll never feel like you’ve missed out on life.
- Chris Martin
Think of it as your friend circle in school - each person comes from a different background culture, and each interaction allows you to experience so much more than you would otherwise. Now expand that to a nationwide scale and you’ve got yourself a country as culturally diverse as India.
There are a multitude of benefits to learning and exploring in a multicultural land like India. Let’s explore them, shall we?
Acceptance and Respect for different cultures
First and foremost, it’s important to recognise the fact that we live in a world of cultural diversity. Acceptance and understanding of another’s culture is the first step to peace and prosperity among you and the people around you. The moment you show respect for another’s culture, they will show their appreciation. This not only helps strengthen personal relationships but also helps the world come closer together.
Discovering new things
The aforementioned diverse friend circle is obviously an important and exciting part of your life. This is a chance to make that circle bigger and bigger, and fill it with people of different languages, music, and cuisines. Imagine trying a new dish every day, or listening to a song from an artist you have never heard of. We as humans are curious by nature and living in a multicultural land helps stimulate our need for discovery.
Recreation
No matter where you are in India, there’s always something new to discover that’s just around the corner. Be it a new hobby you pick up, a new art form to witness, a new story to tell, a new dish to cook, the list goes on and on. Street food stalls cook a hundred different dishes a day, including the extremely popular samosas and kachoris. Craftsmen in the local markets have honed their craft for many years, performers practice day and night to master their art forms like Kathak, Madhubani, and lots more. Living in a culture as diverse as this, you’re bound to pick up a hobby or two that you can brag about back home.
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Heritage
A historically rich land full of fascinating stories to tell, India is not short of its cultural heritage. From temples, monuments, and statues, to even full-blown ancient civilizations, India is brimming with things to discover. However, the story doesn’t just end at structures. Many historical people lived in India, and their stories reach far and wide. You’ll never find a single street that isn’t full of stories to tell.
Festivals
India celebrates its festivals with grandeur and colourful vigour. Make sure to experience them and know exactly how much fun they are. The best part? We have at the very least one every month! Although these festivals may originate from different religions and beliefs, they are celebrated with the same fervour and enthusiasm around the country. The nation comes together to celebrate everything from Holi to Eid, to Christmas, to Ganesh Chaturthi. During our festivals, we take pride in a friendly, welcoming nature, and a distinct sense of brotherhood.
Cuisine
India’s known as the land of spices, perfectly blending experiments and wonder in its cuisine. From traditional recipes being passed down for generations to modern adaptations of world-famous dishes, from Michelin-star dining to fast food and street food vendors, India has them all, and they’re all enchantingly delicious! There’s not a day that goes by without a new dish being invented somewhere in the country, and we’re extremely thankful for that.
A land as culturally diverse as India, it feels like the entire world is crammed into one country. There’s always so much to discover, learn, and create, that it might seem too good to be true. But we can assure you that it’s real, and it’s all waiting to be experienced!
