VI Law of Pan-Subcontinentalism: Protect Cultural Wealth

Protect Cultural Wealth


The Subcontinent has played the stage for the birth and growth of a very rich culture and civilization. It has been the cradle of many Empires, much Spiritual Exploration, many Scientific Advancements and an enormous amount of Cultural Diversity.

It is this cultural wealth that gives new generations their anchor, their moorings. It is not only our inheritance from our forefathers, but also out debt to our progeny. The cultural heritage of the whole Subcontinent regardless of era it came up in, regardless of religious background in which it developed, regardless of region it was born in, belongs to all Subcontinentals. For the Pan-Subcontinentalist this is more precious than his personal wealth.

Time, poverty, neglect, greed and robbery have been ravaging much of our cultural heritage. This is in fact a matter of utmost shame for the whole subcontinent, because it is happening before our very eyes and we are acting indifferent to it.
It is imperative on Pan-Nationalists to show care for our heritage, by increasing awareness about it, by taking their families around to see the old splendor, by mobilizing their neighborhoods to establish perimeters around various cultural sites, by assisting Archeological Survey of India and other bodies in caring for the treasure, by banning people from taking these treasures abroad.

There have of course been cases, where some groups have deliberately destroyed our cultural heritage – the Bamiyan Buddhas come to mind. Perhaps that what cannot be left alone in its original location due to prevalent political and security conditions, can be moved to a more safer and less controversial location. Accepted, that it would have been difficult moving the Buddhas, but where possible, the option should be availed of. Anyway those whose agenda it is to destroy culture and sometimes even remove all traces of it, should be crushed without mercy, for they attack the very core of the soul of the Subcontinent.

Culture however lives not only in old buildings. Culture is everywhere in diverse forms – music, singing, dancing, films, cartoons, festivals, etc. Culture is the creative expression of people. However culture in general has come under attack by several religious minded groups - be it banning music or be it vandalizing shops selling Valentine cards. Culture cannot be suppressed. Pan-Subcontinentalists swear to put a stop to any intimidation of Subcontinental society by such groups.

It is not just high-culture that needs protecting. In the Subcontinent we also have a multitude of languages, tribes with their own peculiar customs and beliefs. Due to homegenization, these cultures are dying off. It is imperative, that these cultures be protected, that tribes should be able to pass on their customs and workmanship to the next generation, and the state should support this. One needs to give the smaller cultures the necessary Lebensraum to survive and prosper. The more diversity there is, the richer are the Subcontinentals. Those cultures, which cannot be saved, they should be recorded, and the cultural wealth passed on to and integrated into the mainstream.

The Pan-Subcontinentalist swears to pass on his own family-specific culture but also the general Subcontinental culture on to his progeny and those under his guardianship and responsibility.