Bengali Artifacts: Exploring Identity Building through Howrah Bridge and Durga Puja
Added on 2023-04-25
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Running head: BENGALI ARTIFACTS AND IDENTITY BUILDING
Bengali Artifacts and Identity Building
Name of the Student
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Author Note
Bengali Artifacts and Identity Building
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
BENGALI ARTIFACTS AND IDENTITY BUILDING
The personal identity of the individual refers to the interpersonal style that is developed
by the actual life experiences and the structural forces that provide the context for these
experiences (Côté, 1996). Identity gets constructed by an individual as a way of life, where a
study on the cultural artifacts can provide a better understanding of the cultural change.
Howrah Bridge was built in the colonial era of India. It was constructed by the British to
connect two cities namely Howrah and Kolkata. This bridge also looks like it is hanging and
handles 150,000 pedestrians every day. Apart from its grandeur, it also homes the county’s
oldest railway station. Thus it has become the iconic heritage site of Kolkata and it also reflects
the pulse the city dwellers residing in it. It has also becomes an emblem that blends the modern
India with it spiritual past. The image of Howrah Bridge has become a powerful reference point
to people irrespective of their caste, class or creed. This is mainly due to rich historical and
cultural past. When one move from their native place to an alien land, she or he may face
discomfort in the new environment. However, it does not imply that there is cultural anxiety
against the other culture. In my initial days, there was some kind of discomfort but slowly with
time, my ethnicity was just not representing the iconic structure. Even though I am living in a
foreign land, the emblem of Howrah Bridge provides me with the home feeling and makes sure
that there is a common reference point to my identity.
Similarly, Durga puja, which is actually a celebration of women empowerment, helps to
build my self-esteem and has become a constant source of power and strength to me. Though this
kind of celebration shares a common religious platform, the notion around celebration varies
from place to place. According to my insights, the celebration of this festival in foreign land
lacks the collective solidarity aspect. This is because festivals are mostly seen as a holiday from
The personal identity of the individual refers to the interpersonal style that is developed
by the actual life experiences and the structural forces that provide the context for these
experiences (Côté, 1996). Identity gets constructed by an individual as a way of life, where a
study on the cultural artifacts can provide a better understanding of the cultural change.
Howrah Bridge was built in the colonial era of India. It was constructed by the British to
connect two cities namely Howrah and Kolkata. This bridge also looks like it is hanging and
handles 150,000 pedestrians every day. Apart from its grandeur, it also homes the county’s
oldest railway station. Thus it has become the iconic heritage site of Kolkata and it also reflects
the pulse the city dwellers residing in it. It has also becomes an emblem that blends the modern
India with it spiritual past. The image of Howrah Bridge has become a powerful reference point
to people irrespective of their caste, class or creed. This is mainly due to rich historical and
cultural past. When one move from their native place to an alien land, she or he may face
discomfort in the new environment. However, it does not imply that there is cultural anxiety
against the other culture. In my initial days, there was some kind of discomfort but slowly with
time, my ethnicity was just not representing the iconic structure. Even though I am living in a
foreign land, the emblem of Howrah Bridge provides me with the home feeling and makes sure
that there is a common reference point to my identity.
Similarly, Durga puja, which is actually a celebration of women empowerment, helps to
build my self-esteem and has become a constant source of power and strength to me. Though this
kind of celebration shares a common religious platform, the notion around celebration varies
from place to place. According to my insights, the celebration of this festival in foreign land
lacks the collective solidarity aspect. This is because festivals are mostly seen as a holiday from
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