BETA

I have read many articles and witnessed several discussions lamenting the apparent erosion of Tamil culture, but I believe such arguments to be irrelevant because, in my opinion, they are founded upon a myth. It is heartening to know that Miss Sivanantharajah has managed to discover the value of her roots and the morals which they dictate. I am in agreement with many of her messages, especially that we should keep our culture alive for generations to come. However, the idea that we Londoners lose our roots due to long working hours is one that I find ridiculous. I also find the suggestion that the vast majority of us are at a disadvantage without the influence of grandparents, frankly, insulting. Yes, our parents do work long and hard, and I agree that life is probably much more relaxed in Toronto, but one must balance this with the fact that we live in London which comes with a much higher cost of living. However, this drawback is definitely cancelled out by the culturally rich and varied lifestyle we enjoy.

The reality is that London is “not like Sri Lanka”, it is a melting pot of cultures and so the loss of certain aspects of our tradition is inevitable. Although some would argue that these factors will lead to the gradual wearing away of our roots, the communal activities of Tamils in London would prove otherwise. Tamil Schools, where fine arts are generally taught in their most traditional form, are loaded with waiting lists for their classes and new schools are frequently being established. There are also various youth groups and all of London’s major universities have established Tamil societies which hold regular social and cultural events. Indeed, such shows are a testament to the success of our integration, as we can watch a Bharathanatyam act followed directly by a Hip-Hop act and be equally entertained by both.

In all of this, we must acknowledge the important role our allegedly “work-obsessed” parents play in cultivating such talent. The cultural vibrancy of our community would not exist if our parents had not taken the initiative and spent time to create such insititutions, and then enrol their children, and drop them off and pick them up from several classes every week. Even at programmes, it is the parents who do all the behind-the-scenes work and preparation needed to ensure success. Admittedly, this only really happens with young children but it is the hard work that parents put in at a young age which provides a foundation for the enthusiasm that the older youth exhibit.

I am aware that this argument can easily be countered with the fact that cultural awareness does not necessarily equate to the understanding of our moral values. However, the point I am trying to make is that neglect is not a familiar notion in the lives of Tamils. If Tamil parents make so much effort to get their children involved with cultural activities, they rarely fail to instil discipline into their children. The writer of the previous article is certainly lucky to be in the presence of both her grandparents, especially ones that are presumably independent enough to look after her in the absence of her parents. However, a lot of grandparents in this country are extremely dependant upon their children and oblivious to the outside world. Although they may have important responsibilities such as looking after grandchildren when parents are at work, their role is generally limited to one of sentimental guidance. The wisdom they impart upon us is based on their experience and I agree that this is valuable but we cannot take it on board without narrowing their messages down to very broad principles which fit our own lives. In this respect I believe that our parents, the breadwinners who are more adapted to the society we live in, are the best role models we have.

It is also true that “the surrounding environment has an impact on you”. Considering that most Tamils live in areas where there is a high concentration of Tamils, we are generally weary of the constraints of Tamil society. Anyone that grows up in this kind of society will know that if a Tamil girl grows up unconscious of these constraints and leads a reckless youth, early 20s is far too late to realise the importance of our traditional values. Most of us cannot deny that we have acted in ways which hurt or anger our parents and we have all been through difficult phases but ultimately we have an innate sense of duty, and community, which will usually prevent us from straying from our morals to a point of no return.

Finally, this admittedly long-winded (apologies!) rant leads me to this: although they are subject to the natural process of change and adaptation, there is no threat of the decline of our traditions, morals or values. The Tamil community and its culture is one that flourishes in London. Instead of criticising, it is more productive to acknowledge and appreciate the vast majority of youth who uphold our values, so that those who are not so in tune with their identity are encouraged to be more active and understanding in their approach to our culture.

Abinaya Kumarakurunathan