My Thought on Degradation of Culture in Bhutan
Until lately I haven’t given a thought about culture. I didn’t care what culture is. Oxford dictionary defines culture as ‘the customs and beliefs, art, ways of life and social organization of particular country or group’. By this definition, it includes our thought, music, literatures, language, customs etc. In Bhutanese context, it should include our diverse languages and dialects, our various arts and customs, our oral and written literatures and so on. By ‘our’ it should include way of life of all citizens of Bhutan be they are Ngalong, sharchop, Nepali or other sub-groups. Culture is also not restricted to all things that are ancient like boedra, Zhungdra, masks dances or folk tales. Culture is not static as we believe it. Culture is dynamic forces compatible with change. Thus, even wearing pants and shirts can be called as culture though this culture originated from west. By same measure, even our so-called ancient cultures originated either from India or Tibet as all of us k