Traditional & Modern: Same?

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” – Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr. 

I am participating in a Tablog organized by CBC (Chennai Bloggers Club) where many bloggers come together and write on a topic. The topic this time is: “Chennai – A blend of Traditional and Modern.”

We think traditional and modern are different. Yes – they are, but is there a common thread connecting the two? Are traditional and modern systems designed to achieve the same?

Traditional systems may change to modern ones, the old-order maybe replaced by the new-order, but the ‘order’ remains constant!

Here are five examples to illustrate my point. This is not specific to Chennai.

Schools: There maybe more schools and more course options now, but the only purpose of education (then, now) is to imbibe discipline into kids, not educate them. We believe discipline is important to maintain an order in the society?

Movies: Traditional movies have emphasized the importance of relationships; Modern movies also emphasize the importance of relationships. Maybe relationships are important for maintaining the order?

Comedy: Traditional comedy scenes showed a self-depreciating comedian; modern comedy scenes also show self-depreciating comedians. Self-depreciation is important to avoid excesses and hence maintain order in the society?

Socializing: Socializing has shifted from the Temple/community to the Internet, but what people do in social situations remains the same. We encourage people who have similar thoughts, and discourage people who deviate from the established order?

Religion/Work: Earlier, religion was used to keep people engaged/occupied, and now work is used for the same. Keeping people occupied leaves no time to disturb the order?

So what has changed? A lot! What difference has the change resulted in? Not much!

This is my perspective. I maybe wrong – I hope I am!

Destination Infinity

The previous entry for this tablog was by Umasree Raghunath. The next entry will be by Sulaiman Sait.

23 thoughts on “Traditional & Modern: Same?

  1. KP

    You have very smartly used examples to buttress your view.You would say traditionally a sari was worn as against the jeans the modern woman wears and that both serve the object of covering the body.Such links can be found for everything but would not abridge the gap between tradition and modern!

    1. Rajesh K

      If we consider your saree vs jeans example, I feel the dress in itself doesn’t matter. What people want to achieve (if any) with whatever dress they wear, matters more, and that pretty much stays the same.

      Destination Infinity

  2. Sandhya Kumar

    Today’s modern things are tomorrow’s tradition!

    1. Rajesh K

      Yes, this, like everything else in life, is relative.

      Destination Infinity

  3. Locomente

    I dont think you are wrong…
    I completely agree with you…
    And there can be no objections for your perspective on Schools!

    1. Rajesh K

      I guess many will identify with the ‘schools’ thing 🙂

      Destination Infinity

  4. Kirtivasan

    Order remains constant.
    But can we comment on St.Thomas life in Kerala and death in Madras?

    1. Kirtivasan

      Maybe a weak comment. But valid, I think.

    2. Rajesh K

      Not sure I know much about his life. Will try to learn more and reply to this comment!

      Destination Infinity

      1. Kirtivasan

        We can study. But Jesus life already explained in Amar Chitra Katha comics.

        1. Rajesh K

          I should read Amar Chitra Katha comics, then.

          Destination Infinity

  5. Nandhini

    I am surprised that you did not talk about Chennai here. When compared to other fast moving metros, Chennai has managed to protect the traditions and pick up sensible modernity as well.

    1. Rajesh K

      I am saying both traditions and modernity achieve the same, in different ways. Irrespective of the city.

      Destination Infinity

      1. Nandhini

        That’s quite a unique thought!

        1. Rajesh K

          You can disagree, if you want to. I myself want to disagree to this post!

          Destination Infinity

  6. Bikram

    You are not wrong DI.. although i think it is sad that inspite of so much modernisation etc etc we still lack the basic human common sense and still do all wrong always

    the Tradition of doing that is still there 🙂

    Bikram’s

    1. Rajesh K

      I sometimes think if there is a reason behind even the silly things people do.

      Destination Infinity

  7. sm

    Thoughtful article.
    Nothing is static, things keeps changing.

    1. Rajesh K

      Yes, but is there some level of consistency in spite of the change, is what I am trying to explore.

      Destination Infinity

  8. Jeevan

    I think certain things remain same, however things change. Modern or tradition, the purpose of vehicle is to travel, whether it is old or new doesn’t matter.

    1. Rajesh K

      Yes, generalizations, like the one done in this post, can never be accurate. It’s only an observation, and I maybe wrong.

      Destination Infinity

  9. Manogna

    Like you said, so much has changed, but there is so little improvement.

    1. Rajesh K

      I think improvement in one area is balanced out by worsening in another area. But these are vague generalizations and you (or I) should not take them seriously!

      Destination Infinity

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