“Mankind never entirely lives in the present. The past, the tradition of the race and of the people, lives in the ideologies of the superego, and yields only slowly to the influences of the present and to new changes, and as long as it lives it plays a powerful part in human life, independent of economic conditions” – Freud
When you attempt at defining your identity you invariable delve into the deepest construct of culture, that is rooted in your early experiences. You are perpetually a sum of – the stories you heard, the legends you modelled growing up, the cultural cuisine that made its way into your soul, the smells you stumbled upon while you were in your garden, the aroma of the curry that brewed in the kitchen, the unconditional hug from your grandma, the religious festivities that you witnessed that laid the foundation of your faith, the music your ears long and emote to, and most importantly the sense of community and belonging that has been passed on from generation to generation.
Hailing from an Indian heritage, and working in two culturally distinct workspaces, I was urged to look deeper into the cultural conflicts that are implicated in one’s well-being both psychologically and socially. An individualistic culture operates quite differently from a collectivistic one. In collectivistic societies, there is a sense of solidarity, and yet a longing to be free and be liberated, to stay within the limits of the traditions and yet individuate. Individualistic cultures swear by self-reliance and assertion.
I often ponder on questions such as – how do people within a particular culture communicate? what is deemed ‘acceptable’ within the culture? How do people relate to one another in their society? What cultural traditions limited or enriched that individual’s development? What is the story behind their current suffering? This awareness allows me to construct cultural bridges, opening avenues to connect to the uniqueness but also illuminate the universality of human experiences.
This very exclusive narrative that conceptualizes your inner world is what I long to make sense of through your stories within the room…
