Module: General Practice
Q39: Consider the following statements regarding the paradox of cultural validation:
1. Mr. Shamnath only recognizes the aesthetic and cultural value of his mother's Phulkari and folk songs after they are explicitly validated by the American Boss.
2. The narrative suggests that the post-colonial Indian middle class often relied heavily on Western approval to appreciate its own indigenous heritage.
3. The American Boss actively attempts to persuade Shamnath to completely abandon his Western customs and permanently return to his village roots.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
2. The narrative suggests that the post-colonial Indian middle class often relied heavily on Western approval to appreciate its own indigenous heritage.
3. The American Boss actively attempts to persuade Shamnath to completely abandon his Western customs and permanently return to his village roots.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
✅ Correct Answer: A
The correct combination is statements 1 and 2. The core concept here is the colonial hangover regarding cultural worth.
Structurally, Shamnath views the Phulkari as a piece of trash and the folk songs as an embarrassment right up until the exact moment the American Boss claps and expresses admiration (Statement 1). Historically, this reflects a pervasive post-colonial insecurity, where indigenous art, textiles, and traditions were often discarded by the native elite until Western markets or authorities deemed them exotic or valuable (Statement 2). Statement 3 is incorrect because the American Boss is simply a tourist enjoying a brief cultural display; he has no intention or desire to persuade Shamnath to change his entire lifestyle or return to a village.
The causal irony is that Shamnath requires the oppressor's gaze to find value in his own mother.
Structurally, Shamnath views the Phulkari as a piece of trash and the folk songs as an embarrassment right up until the exact moment the American Boss claps and expresses admiration (Statement 1). Historically, this reflects a pervasive post-colonial insecurity, where indigenous art, textiles, and traditions were often discarded by the native elite until Western markets or authorities deemed them exotic or valuable (Statement 2). Statement 3 is incorrect because the American Boss is simply a tourist enjoying a brief cultural display; he has no intention or desire to persuade Shamnath to change his entire lifestyle or return to a village.
The causal irony is that Shamnath requires the oppressor's gaze to find value in his own mother.