UNDERSTANDING CULTURE
What is 'culture'? Though we use the term quite often and in various contexts, we use it quite loosely, for it ia a complex word meaning several things. The Dictionary gives its meaning as the 'Training and refinement of mind, Tastes and manners; the intellectual side of civilization." According to UNESCO, culture is usually "interpreted as art. We speak of culture in connection with the behaviour of people in the moral values and human relations. We denote it by action, behaviour and attitudes considered useful for the interests of society or of a certain social group. We mean standard of living, of habitation and clothing, of physical culture. We appraise by it the culture of language, of thought, of work ...."
In Broad sense, culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by a human being as a member of society. The basic elements of culture are Values, Norms, Symbols, Folklore, Religions and Ideas.
