South Asian societies...

South Asian Societies are a unique blend of countries that share similar values and cultures. South Asian Societies are represented by people belonging to Pakistan, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Afghanistan etc. The countries form a part of the orient and have been seen as exotic by the westerners who wished to inundate western culture into such societies. The South Asian Society is now also found in various parts of the world, upholding their traditions within Western strongholds. Student organizations promote South Asian blend of culture in amalgamation with Western culture. The South Asian culture has with held its originality.

 The culture with its various values, clothing, food, and tradition is now a celebrated one all over the world. The people of this society are relatively dark skinned and share a similar mind set as set by the central values within the culture. South Asian Societies boast a family based upbringing where the head of the family is the oldest living member. Also, values such as obedience, simplicity and devotion also envelopes South Asian Societies. Each society has its different blend of culture. For e.g. the Pakistani society dons the national dress of Shalwar Kameez while the Indian’s are inclined towards the Saari.

The umbrella factor in South Asian Society is religion. South Asians may not be staunch observers of their faith, but faith keeps the family together and promotes a sense of community. This sense of community is what keeps south asian society together even in the western hemisphere. Loosely termed as Desi’s, South Asians are a large part of the cultural melting pot of the world.

Though the South Asian Society has received a backlash from the world for being rigid and disunited, the culture itself does not promote such values. South Asia is full of art, music and dance. Their culture inspires the world and their hardworking attitude makes them the backbone of western industry. Though people fall to corruption and other social evils, the society itself does not retain these values as part of their image. It is something that has become part of the people due to capitalism and poverty.

South Asian culture is evolving to accept a broader horizon and outlook on various things. Being a society of such flavor and artistic talent, the society has great potential to storm the world with its diversity. Bollywood today is at par with Hollywood and just as western society influenced us in the time of colonization, South Asian culture has also become a part of the Western World through the very same factors of culture, food, religion, clothing and values.

Sarrah Millwala