CELEBRATING LIFE IN THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURES
CELEBRATING LIFE IN THE DIVERSITY
OF CULTURES
Dr M. D. Thomas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 21st day of May is the ‘World Day of Cultural Diversity
for Dialogue and Development’. It is also called ‘world day of cultural
diversity’ or even more simply ‘diversity day’. The day
was declared by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2002, following the adoption of Universal
Declaration on ‘Cultural
Diversity’ by UNESCO in 2001.
‘Celebrating cultural diversity and harmony, along with helping people learn about its
importance in life’, was the purpose of declaring this day. Promoting
a culture of diversity is the significance of the day, too. Recognizing the need to
‘enhance the potential of culture’ as
a means of achieving ‘prosperity, sustainable development and peaceful
coexistence’ at the global level also was part of the rationale of the day.
Further, the Second Committee of the UN General
Assembly adopted a resolution on ‘Culture and Sustainable Development’. The
resolution affirmed the contribution of cultures and civilizations to the
various dimensions of sustainable development. No doubt, acceptance and
recognition of cultural diversity contribute to dialogue among civilizations
and cultures, along with mutual respect and understanding.
The ‘Sustainable Development Goals 2030
of the United Nations’ has a section on ‘culture and sustainable development’,
which emphasizes the importance of culture, all the more. The United Nations
avowed further that ‘drawing upon the creative potential of the diverse
cultures of the world’, along with engaging with them in a continuous dialogue,
is sure to ensure that people can benefit from all the 17 sustainable
development goals, as well.
Besides, UNESCO Convention on ‘Protection and Promotion of the
Diversity of Cultural Expressions’ also proposed ‘embracing other cultures for
leading more fulfilling lives’, which ensures an intellectual, spiritual and
moral fulfillment. Embracing other cultures would begin by having an open
interface between those who are different from us.
In addition, UNESCO encourages Member States and members of society
to engage with people of other cultures through events, like concerts,
seminars, workshops and exhibitions. Cultural expressions of the other are to
be explored through areas like museum, religion, film, music, sport, food,
traditional celebrations and language. Working with organizations committed to
diversity and inclusion can also help ice-breaking and cross-cultural
fellowship, in addition to the above exercises.
Accordingly,
the Council of Member States in Europe adopted a ‘White Paper’, in 2008, on
‘intercultural dialogue’ with the title, ‘Living Together as Equals in
Dignity’. It affirmed that our common future depends on our ability to
safeguard human rights, as enshrined in the European Convention on ‘human
rights, democracy and rule of law’, along with mutual understanding.
What’s
more, ‘Leave no one behind’ is at the heart of ‘Sustainable
Development Goals 2030 of the United Nations. It is the golden principle of
‘inclusiveness and equal footing’. It affirms the deep commitment of all UN
Member States to strongly stand by the small, the weak, the vulnerable, and the
like, of the world, whether individuals or groups. It also highlights the
advocacy against the social evils of discrimination, favouritism,
highhandedness, marginalization, etc. Well, leaving certain groups of people
further and further behind is nothing less than a crime against humanity and
divinity, in one shot.
‘Diversity’
is the central characteristic of the creation, of the human society, in
special. It is an agent of ‘inclusion and positive change’. ‘Diversity’ is the richness of the humanity. Cultural
expressions of the humans are diverse, too. Culture has manifold forms,
tangible and intangible. They have to contribute to creative industries,
dialogue, mutual understanding and development. Bridging the gap between
cultures is the focal point of cultural diversity.
Times
of crisis tend to concentrate and homogenize and such instances can cause major
damage to the diversity of cultures. Indeed, corona has affected cultural events, cultural institutions, cultural
practices, cultural sites, cultural persons, cultural tourism, and the like.
Therefore, the social, economic, political and spiritual implications of
culture are to be considered, in terms of the rights of artists and creative
professionals and the cultural expressions of diversity that was in the offing.
All
the same, the corona times of mass
confinement has inspired billions of people across the globe towards cultural
exposures through virtual means. Webinars, video talks, audio messages,
sessions of interactions, listening to music, viewing films, visiting museums
and galleries are some of these cultural engagements. A lot of cultural
interaction and sharing of events, along with innovative productions, are
taking place and are being shared on the social media, too.
Cultural diversity is a driving force for
development. Not only economic growth, but also a fulfilling intellectual,
emotional, moral and spiritual life requires cultural diversity. Cultural
diversity is helpful in reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development. Safeguarding the cultural heritage of
the humans and the richness of the cultures of the world is possible only
through inter-cultural dialogue. The humans can avail themselves of peace,
prosperity and sustainable development through cross-cultural relations, as
well.
The
question that arises is how cultural diversity could be used as a means to
achieving societal cohesion. Globalization has put us in an increasingly
heterogeneous society, where different religions, languages, lifestyles,
traditions and beliefs are necessarily present and therefore, at times social
tensions and conflicts emerge. Efforts for building bridges among groups and
communities have to be an on-going process.
Cultural
diversity is intensely ingrained in the idea of human rights, by way of freedom
of conscience, thought, choice, expression, opinion, faith, and the like.
Therefore, inter-cultural differences, social, religious, cultural, political
and whatever, have to be honoured, irrespective of considerations of minority
and majority as well as local, regional, national, continental and global entities.
Wellbeing of the smallest group is equally important for development and
prosperity.
The
World Day of Cultural Diversity for
Dialogue and Development 2022 is an occasion to promote diversity as an agent
of inclusion and positive change. It provides an opportunity to celebrate all
forms of cultural diversity and expression and to reflect on how these
contribute to dialogue and development. It is a
day for putting the heads together for addressing the concerns related to
diversity. Initiatives followed by coordinated action have to be envisaged.
Making a more ‘harmonious society’ is our target for life and the society.
Being ‘culturally inclusive and interactive’ is the high way towards such a
sublime destination, as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The author is Director, Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies, New Delhi, and has been committed to interfaith relations, national integration and social harmony, for the past over 40 years. He contributes to the above cause through lectures, articles, video messages, conferences, social interactions, views at TV channels, and the like.
He
could be viewed, listened to and
contacted at the following portals – websites ‘www.mdthomas.in’
(p), ‘https://mdthomas.academia.edu’ (p), ‘https://drmdthomas.blogspot.com’ (p) and ‘www.ihpsindia.org’
(o); social media ‘https://www.youtube.com/InstituteofHarmonyandPeaceStudies’ (o), ‘https://www.facebook.com/mdthomas53’
(p), and ‘https://twitter.com/mdthomas53’ (p); email ‘mdthomas53@gmail.com’ (p) and telephone 9810535378 (p).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published in ‘The Secular Citizen’ (Weekly Magazine), Mumbai, Vol. 31, Issue No.18, p.01,03 – on 02-17 May 2022
Comments
Post a Comment