Culture can be a tool to empower communities
A country as diverse as India requires an interdisciplinary and crosscultural approach to social change
Whether it is the beats of a pakhawaj, the intensity of a theatrical act, or the beauty of a brush stroke, art in all its forms inspires thought, motivates action, harmonises ideology and uplifts the soul. The promotion of intercultural dialogue fosters authentic cross-border relationships. Artistic initiatives often provide a counter-narrative to social prejudices. In a society replete with conflict, the arts can be instrumental in creating a more peaceful world.
Culture plays a big role in the nation-building process. India has a unique pluralistic heritage of indigenous art forms. Amid this lies the potential of using art for forging an inclusive development discourse. Here we may refer to Amartya Sen’s multidisciplinary allinclusive growth model and its relevance in the heritage-driven Indian context. To improve growth parameters in rural economies, engagement with people at the grassroots and creation of livelihoods becomes pertinent. One example is promoting local craft production and supporting performing art innovations with viable business models. This can be intermeshed with the goals of poverty alleviation and gender justice.
Policy makers, the private sector, develop- ment agencies and artisans must come together and revive the ethos of cultural expression. This entails sustained efforts at reinforcing institutional infrastructure, financial support, capacity building of cultural entrepreneurs, creation of executable cultural industry policies and increasing value-based art literacy. Civil society participation in policy advocacy, academic research and start-ups in the cultural sector should be encouraged. Doing so can go a long way in achieving the goals of social justice and strengthening governance. Moreover, India is yet to fully harness the power of cultural tourism. What we need is an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach to social change. Cultural development is vital to empowering communities and the society in general.
The youngsters of today want to make a difference. This raw energy must be channelised towards positive value creation. The promotion of young talent coupled with skill development can further the larger goals of socioeconomic development. At the core of any development agenda should be an educated citizenry. Art as an extension of freedom of speech plays a pivotal role in creating spaces which nurture free thought and expression. It is high time we started accepting the agency in individuals and respecting it.
One can’t undermine the potential of cultural economics in creating a more liberal and equitable society. A life without culture is nothing more than a meaningless existence.