India is a land of diversity and the citizens of this land hail from different ethnic backgrounds. Such is the integrity of this land that we, as a nation, have learned to respect ethnic different. It may not be fair to term these as differences as it is the amalgamation of all these different ethnicities that make up the rich culture of this country. On the grand scale of things, we seem to have one ethnicity. However, anyone who has lived in this country knows that each state has its ethnicity.
Different people think differently about the importance of ethnicity in their lives. While some say that their ethnicity is an integral part of who they are, there are others who feel that people should be judged only by who they are. They think that by being proud (or ashamed) of their ethnicity, they are giving their ancestors the respect that they deserve. For some others, there have been certain instances in life that has made them shift their preference on this subject.
In this article, we have collected the views of some people from different ethnicities and documented their take on the importance of ethnicity in their lives. Let us first begin by considering things on global scale.
Global Scale:-
People of Mongolian Descent
These people feel that the culture you grew up in is more important than the one you were born into. This is because these places have a culture that readily accepts immigrants as a part of their own. Thus, a Malaysian person who grew up in China would identify himself more with Chinese culture than with that of the Malaysian. In such a situation, the concept of ethnicity will not hold much relevance to him.
South Asian People
These people have a mixed take about ethnicity. Southeast Asian people are the drivers of the technological advancements of the West, and they are recognized for their contributions there. This makes the Southeast Asians proud of themselves and their ethnic origins. However, in individual spheres of life, they are deprived of job opportunities because of being non-native English speakers or due to their skin tone being darker than the rest. This makes them get upset over the fact that their ethnicity is proving to be a hindrance in their personal growth.
Finnish People
For the Finnish, their ethnicity is significant as it speaks volumes about their traditions. The cultural values of the Finnish are pretty different from the rest of the western world, and this is what makes them value their roots all the way more. Also, cases of international marriages are less among the Finnish as they are a tightly knitted society. It is their love for their cultural heritage that instills in them a sense of brotherhood, and they can do all of that without being xenophobic.
White American People
Most White Americans do not care about their ethnic identity. Logically speaking, there may be two possible reasons for this. Firstly, if we trace down the genetic pool of most white Americans, we will see that they come from various ethnicities of Western Europe. Over generations, marriages have so happened that it is impossible for most people to trace their origin to a single ethnicity. As they cannot pinpoint a single ethnicity, the importance of ethnicity is negligible to them.
Moreover, being one of the most privileged classes ensures that white Americans do not have to face any hassles owing to their ethnic origin and that is why they do not usually brood over it.
People From Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia
Islam preaches the concepts of universal brotherhood and linguistic and national barriers do not hold much significance to them. They identify their ethnic roots to that of their religion, and that carries a lot of importance to them. Moreover, on a global scale, Muslims are often being targeted or victimized because of their supposed association with terrorism. This has led them to come together as a community thereby strengthening their faith in ethnicity.
Having established the role and different importance of ethnicity in the lives of people on a global scale, we shall now have a look at this from national perspective.
National Perspective
Punjabis
Punjabis dress up in a specific manner that makes their ethnicity evident to the rest of the world. People from Punjab like to travel, and you will find them settling in different parts of the world. In all such cases, you will see them living as a close-knit community and helping the locals at the hour of need. The free langars that are served in gurdwara have proven to be solace in times of natural calamities and other disasters. This is because of the sense of ethnicity among the Punjabis.
Kannadigas
People from Karnataka are one group of people who are extremely conscious of their ethnicity. Karnataka has its flag and state anthem (the only state to do so). The people of this state are deeply rooted in their culture, and their ethnicity is significant to them.
Delhites
Delhites are the most welcoming sort, and they take in whoever wants to live in the city as someone of their own. Delhi has a very cosmopolitan setup, and a considerable proportion of Delhiites are people who are born from mixed ethnicities. The fact that this is the national capital has a significant role to play in instilling a sense of patriotism among the people, and they see people as individuals first and then as members of a particular ethnic group.
Bengalis
Bengalis are proud of ethnic heritage, and they take a lot of pride in their poetry, art, and music. Although they do travel the world, they like to do so in a herd of people from their ethnic background. Somehow Bengalis feel the most comfortable and perform to the best of their abilities when they are amongst their ethnic peers.
Tamilians
These people have a secure attachment to their linguistic and ethnic backgrounds. It is seen that even in countries where they settle (like the UK or Malaysia), they hold on to their ethnicity and do not mingle with other communities. It is this feeling that makes them one of the most self-sufficient communities to exist.
RELATED QUESTIONS
What Is The Difference Between Race And Ethnicity?
Ethnicity is the cultural, historical and genetic ties that bring a group of people together to have a collective identity as single people. A race is a much broader concept. We can say that people from many ethnic backgrounds come together to be a race. Asian, African, European are all races whereas Hindus, Gujratis, Malayalis, Sikhs are all ethnicities among Indians.
Is The Ethnicity Of An Interpreter Important?
The answer to this question lies in whether we are talking about physical ethnicity or the ethnicity that brings along cultural familiarity. The latter is essential in the case of an interpreter. The reason for this is because interpretation requires one to understand something well and grasp the central idea instead of translating things word by word. If this cultural familiarity is missing proper definition may not be achieved, and as a result, a lot of miscommunications may happen.
Is It Wrong To Be Attached To One’s Ethnicity?
A man is just like a tree, and he can grow tall only if his roots are firm. The ethnic ties of a person are the roots that hold him grounded, and there is nothing wrong in being proud of one’s ethnicity. However, the moment you start judging others based on their ethnicity or race and not on their abilities. when you cross the fine line and end up becoming something you should not be.
At Which Age Should Children Be Taught About Their Ethnicity?
A person’s ethnicity is an essential part of who they are as a person. Since it forms an integral part of their identity, it makes sense to teach children the value of the same early on in life. It will help them grow up as individuals with a strong sense of belonging which will, in turn, pave the way for the better upholding of cultural and traditional values. Although there is no exact age to pinpoint here. This should begin at approximately the time when the child starts attending school.
Should People Marry Within The Same Ethnicity?
Traditionally things have been such that marriages have happened within the same ethnic groups. The logic behind this was the fact that since people of the same ethnic group grew up in the same setup, post-marital adjustments will be more comfortable. However, these days thanks to globalization the world has become a small place. In such a public structure it doesn’t make much sense to hold on to one’s ethnicity while choosing a life partner. Moreover, when one looks beyond the narrow shackles of ethnicity, they will realize that there are many good life-partners out there waiting to start their journey with you.
