“The Prime Minister should first apologize to Bilkis Banu, to wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, to the girl in Unnao, to the child in Kathua, and to those whose lives were destroyed by Hindutva extremists.” — TPS Shyam Kumar
Culture is a mirror of human beings. And when I look around, I don’t see something to celebrate, but I see something deeply concerning. In everyday life, it shows up in the rush, the harsh behavior, the way people speak to each other, the lack of respect, the disregard for rules, and the ease with which rumours and hatred spread. At the same time, there is a loud pride in claiming an ancient, glorious culture .. thousands of years old. But culture is not what we say it is; it is what we live. Civilization is not about age or legacy—it is about progress, about holding on to basic human values while moving forward. From my own experience, especially coming from the South, much of what is presented as “culture” often feels like performance rather than reality, but something displayed, imposed, or reshaped, rather than genuinely lived. It can feel disconnected from the simple truth that culture should begin with respect: for people, for differences, for coexistence. In the end, cultur...