The Globe Inside NCT
by: David Rajesh
It was a truly happy day at NCT. It was the ELC Cultural day!
Meeting many cultures at the same time during the cultural day celebration of our college was like seeing the rainbow. Many colors making one beautiful sight. Different in parts yet united as a whole.
A few of my reflections on the observations made on that eventful day:
India and Pakistan enjoyed strategic locations that even the non-intentional tourist went inside thinking they were the halls where everything was happening. And both of them did not fail. The Indian group had done a fabulous job of trying to reflect the true India. However, as a native, it was easy to observe that most of the things reflected the south more than the north. If one decides the prize based on articles and symbols, the Indian room would win with distinction.
The Pakistan room had special attention to clothing and apparels. The decorations in colors were truly special. One missed though, the pictures of the scenic beauty of the country's landscape.
The America room was simply simple. The brains that conceived the display had done a great job. In fact, it introduced America in its totality. The food, the clothing, the literature, the social trends, everything was there. The poetry and proverbs were indeed very special. However, all the articles in the room were quite known (maybe, America is very famous that it leaves very few things new to tourists) The brilliant brains though, should have brought the part of America that is not generally known. However, if the prize is decided based on achieving the result of imparting the country’s culture through display, the America room is my choice.
Why there were two Oman rooms is nobody's guess. These were the crowd pullers with their special halva and haris. The articles displayed in one of the rooms traced back centuries. The painting showing an old man with a camel was spectacular. In the other room (the women's), one had the second serving of the delicious haris. The different dresses of all gulf countries showed brilliance in their arrangement. (India missed to show the different dress culture in the country). How many watched the pictures of olden day Omani women preparing food? The choice of pictures had been made with so much insight. If the prize is based on food then the Oman rooms win it with no second opinion.
Another spectacular room was the South Africans. One wondered how someone was able to bring all those things that reflect the great country. The red bush tea and the careful and patient explanation of the representatives were very warm. Many students captured the splendors of South Africa in their cameras, especially the photograph that showed a beautiful lady. If the prize depends on professional room management, then South Africa would share it with the Pakistan room.
The Filipino room is where all action was! The showcase of the geographical diversity of the nation was a special attraction. The pictures of dancers and the fauna and flora of the country were distinctive. The most distinguishing of all was of course, the hospitality, including the presentation and the famous Filipino dance. They won everybody's heart by their smiles, joyful charades and bubbling energy. The Filipino room is the hands down choice if team work is the basis.
The Morocco and the Canadian rooms initially looked as if they were executed at the last minute after some second thoughts and lot of hesitation. However, it then becomes apparent that to see the similarity of Oman and Moroccan culture is quite amazing. Moreover, one will quickly learn that Canada, after all, has invented most of the gadgets we use. The quiz at the Canada room was special, to say the least.
Since the classroom activities have to go on despite such great amusement at the ELC, I had to leave before seeing a bit more of the occasion; perhaps, due to pressing time, I missed some rooms. Anyways, I am looking forward to seeing them first in next year's cultural day presentation.
On a closer and a more analytical look of all the cultures in display; many a question swirl in my mind. In case someone is listening, the questions are:
1. The culture (of the past) appear very unique and original and ethnic in every country but the present and the trend (future) culture appear to be so similar, so common and so predictable and not at all original in almost all countries:
- Are the countries losing their originalities?
- Is this the prize/price of globalization?
- Or is a world culture evolving instead of nations?
2. Why in certain cases, (Indian, Omani, South African, Filipino etc) one was able to witness centuries of cultural evolution and in others like, Canada and America, nothing of the ancient was traced. Was it just a miss or is it non traceable?
The success of the function was that it made you wonder, appreciate, feel nostalgic and also ponder and reflect. It would take a long time when the scenes finally fade out from my memory. Yet the impact of the day would remain flashing in my 'inward eye' forever. Congratulations, ELC Team!