Tradition and Modernity Essay: A hurricane of thoughts is troubling a young man as he is struggling to muster courage and refuses to join the family business. Another adolescent girl wants her parents to understand her priority of attending her friends’ birthday bash over attending some ceremony at the temple. Society is alarmed at the increasing incidences of attacks on women and moral policing. At several such crossroads, the individual or the society feels vulnerable and an uncertainty begins to cloud self belief. Decisions struggle to make their way through the maze as the guiding beacon of tradition finds dissenting voice of modernity.
Most of us have been through situations where our genuine queries have been snubbed by the otherwise encouraging elders. Every rational individual attempts to question the logic and reasons behind acts in the society. While most such queries find a reasonable response, some are brushed aside in name of tradition. Over years, we realize that certain thought patterns and actions forming part of our society are carried forward as inheritance. With further understanding, most of us absorb these traditions with ease and perform or subscribe to them with reverence.
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Long and Short Essays on Tradition and Modernity for Students and kids in English
Given below is a Tradition and Modernity essay of 400-500 words and is suitable for the students of Classes 7, 8, 9, and 10 and a short piece of nearly 100-150 words for the students of Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Long Essay on Tradition and Modernity 600 Words in English
Long Essay on Tradition and Modernity is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Traditions vary tremendously depending on the society. They vary from place to place, brewed intricately into the sensibilities of the region. At times, they may not have any superficial scientific rationale but the faith of people decides their longevity for ages. They are passed on from one generation to another and over a period of time they become a distinctive feature of a particular community. The strength of ages bestowed on the traditions gives them sanctity and the belongingness of an individual to the clan is often symptomized by his adherence to the traditions. It becomes a super-identity of the person, separate from his individual skills, achievements and recognitions.
These inherited patterns of thoughts and actions trace their origin to several ages back in the history of time. Any individual growing up in present times would naturally find many of them different from the other activities of his time. Each generation leaves the world as a different place than as they found it. The perceived idea of “modernity” simply arises from the fact that change is the only constant in this universe. Individuals’ sensibilities are linked to the society he grows up in and in the times when the pace of change has intensified by bounds, present day norms often clash with the demands of traditions.
“Modernity” is often perceived in a negative and vulgar fashion by traditionalists. The entire present generation is generalized as “rebels” who are? i “corrupted” under the influence of foreign exposure. They are tarnished with “lack of gravity” in their conduct and thoughts. T raditionalists brand them as free spirited individuals without any respect for tradition and leading a shallow existence under the fa9ade of modernity. With such popular gross generalization, the traditionalists hardly afford a chance to this generation to blend and strike “friendship” with traditions.
Home is the perfect location where friendship between tradition and modernity can seep into an individual. Most of the traditions of religions which survive till date can be traced back to our holy scriptures. They even have some or other scientific rationale mentioned therein. This fact is generally overlooked and the explanations hardly known by the ignorant elders to the querying minds. The very reason of survival of traditions has been their mass acceptance as nothing counterfeit can claim to have such survivability.
Traditions link us to our rich heritage. They involve generations into a big , family bound by an intangible emotional linkage. A set of traditions go on to define the way of life and this cultural connectedness provides a distinct flavor and identity. Every individual must be made aware of this belongingness to a fraternity, which must be a matter of pride and privilege. It is this valued belongingness which is recognized globally as the rich cultural heritage of our nation. It may not have tangible manifestations but the spiritual connectivity which blesses every soul is enlightening.
Traditions must be cherished and never forced upon an unwilling mind. The survival of traditions stands testimony to the feature of flexibility. It must grant freedom to the individual and a choice to disconnect oneself from the bigger identity it imparts. Some rituals associated with the traditions may appear time consuming and impractical to a “modern” mind. Tradition must grant space for every “modern” individual to exercise the choice of following or leaving certain rituals. Rigidity is stiffening. Rigidity breeds discontent.
Modernity is not designed as a natural friend of tradition. Beyond the perceived image of a modern individual created by traditionalists due to a different set of sensibilities of the growing up eras, lies the pragmatic individual. Modernity is reflected in an individual’s outlook. A modern person will have a outlook molded by the state of society he is witnessing. His ideas have been formed in a globalized world – a world which talks of gender equality, extremism and terrorism, nuclear states, electronics and IT sophistications and bridging the class-religion divides. The variations in his thought processes from the ones which are traditionally carried over are bound to exist, but they should not become the reasons of animosity. Rather a blend of traditional wisdom and modern outlook must be aspired for to dispel the anxieties created by any clash of ideas.
A modern individual’s outlook towards people should be free from any prejudice. He must be equipped with a progressive and development oriented attitude towards the challenges of the day like women empowerment, poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, human trafficking or racism. Blend with a scientific temper, “modernity” must attempt to find sustainable solutions to the issues rather than creating an issue in its clash with the traditions. Exercising a fine balance of judgment, “modernity” must use the wisdom and direction of the traditions and customize it to present times to deliver justice for the under privileged sections of the society.
Traditions form an inextricable part of our social fabric. They seep into an individual during his upbringing inadvertently. There are traditions which are specific to family or caste or even to the entire society. While some traditions die down silent death in face of changing times and their rigidity, others blossom and spread over larger domains. Instead of being skeptical, hesitant or ashamed in following norms of tradition, the trend to flaunt and promote the traditional values and customs is beckoning the present generation. Traditional folk music and classical dances are finding popular acceptance at the modern world stage, while traditional dishes of different regions are vetting appetites of communities globally. Ceremonies, like karvachauth, which were limited in their spread, have now been accepted across communities as the mobile present day population interacts with a larger segment of society.
Print, electronic, social and e-media have also contributed to viral spread of traditional customs and values. Bhangra and Dandiya are no more confined to a particular region. Similarly, modernity can never come in the way of us forsaking the celebration of our festivals. Festivals are the celebration of our traditional values and customs. The scale of display and extravagance related to most festivals might change in sync with times but the core ethos of tradition imparts them with the real glow. Modernity has lent festivals a commercial touch but the joy and togetherness associated with them is a blessing of traditions.
Families may spend excessively on decorations and fireworks, in differing capacities, on a Diwali night, but the common thread of family puj a joins them all to the richness of inherited traditions. Without the traditional family rituals, every festival would appear hollow. Modernity has lent a different flavor to the manner of celebration of these festivals but tradition keeps their soul alive. They will continue to symbolize the beautiful blend of these concepts.
The clashes with the modern pattern of approach to the issues have often turned violent and ugly. Traditional wisdom must be a guiding light for the generations and not become suffocating for the individual’s existence at any time. The free spirit of humanity must be respected and individual’s choice to chart his own destiny, even to violation of tradition, must be upheld. In the tradition of following a particular family business, an individual’s passion for some other profession should not be stifled. His “modernity” in this case is his talent or belief in charting his own destiny which must be given a chance.
In case of failure, tradition must welcome back to the folds with open arms and heart. The “youth” like exuberance of “modernity” has to be tempered by sagacity and serenity of “grand father” like tradition. Traditional thoughts or manner of approach to the problems of society will have to be tweaked to suit the present world realities. It must not be taken as blasphemous, rather as a necessity of evolution. Modernity is all about being in step with the changing times constantly evolving and adapting. Traditional authoritarian styles of leadership have evolved to modern participative approach in domain of management styles.
Traditional roles of women in most societies have changed as they begin to take bigger responsibilities and contribute financially for the family. Issues like the same gotra marriages invoking diktats from khap panchayats or the dressing sensibilities of women should not be commanded over individuals in these changing times. Rather, through debates and discussions between generations, a mature consensual social understanding must be sought on these issues. The structure of relationships has also undergone changes. Countries have legalized same sex marriages and societies are becoming more expressive about intricacies of relationships.
Civil societies are becoming more vibrant globally as greater number of people joins the bandwagon of adult citizenry. All these changes are ensuring that the clashes with the traditional structural order and thought pattern are bound to occur. It is the mature manner in which the people and the politicians deal with such clashes that determines the levels of friendship or animosity between tradition and modernity. This phase of societal transition, whereby the pace of change has amplified, demands heightened levels of caution.
Scholars, intellectuals and academicians will have to proactively debate on various burning issues where traditional thinking is at loggerheads with the modern sensibilities. School and universities will have to emphasize on the relevance of respect for tradition along with creating progressive modern individuals. The policy framers and implementers have the biggest challenge on their hands. They have to uphold the traditional wisdom of ages and mould it into a binding factor rather than them becoming a divisive issue. More intellectual churning in society before framing of policies and a transparent democratic implementation of sensitive issues will become a grave challenge. Instances of moral policing by self appointed messiahs of righteousness have to be dealt tyith an iron hand. Also the strength of tradition in imparting spiritual growth and Instilling discipline must be acknowledged and highlighted from diverse platforms.
The need to develop friendship between tradition and modernity is paramount. It will be in interest of individuals, society and the entire nation. As friends, the present generation would be able to carry forward the baton of traditional thought and wisdom to the coming generations. It is a part of inherited responsibility which each of us must undertake with reverence. Also, the present constraints of reality have to be taken into account by smart incorporation of modern variations. Various traditional arts and crafts of our nation provide suitable example highlighting prosperity achievable by this collaboration. They have to be protected from dying a silent death and need the onslaught of neglect in this age of modernity.
Short Essay on Tradition and Modernity 150 Words in English
Short Essay on Tradition and Modernity is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Craft works like silk work of Kanchipuram, patacharita paintings of Odisha, kagzi pottery of Alwar, Jamdani saris of Bengal, bandhini work of Gujarat and numerous others in different parts of the nation are rich embodiments of traditional heritage needing space and platform to prosper. The traditional skill and mannerism of their development is valued globally but only modern means of marketing and financial support can ensure their survival against the reality of globalization.
The traditional silk saris of Varanasi will continue to hold relevance but their market acceptability can be enriched manifold if they incorporate the designs prevalent in contemporary market. Though modernity appears at odds with tradition, it also becomes the vehicle to keep the traditional arts and crafts in commercial demand.
The foundation of traditions lends the much vaunted stability to the edifice, but the design built must be in sync with the present day living requirements. In every domain, whether sports, politics, religion, business or conduct of life, the blend would create a dynamic attitude capable of weathering the strongest of the tempest. As friends who are open to suggestions and correct each other’s mistakes, good points from traditional wisdom can be grasped and inculcated. This will also prevent the repetition of the past blunders and sieve out the possibilities of failure in any venture. With the contours of tradition acting as guidelines, sufficient space for innovation by modernity must be ensured by governance and society for a peaceful, healthy and inclusive development to materialize.