Pakistan Culture

In popular parlance, the word "culture" evokes a variety of associations. If we speak of a per son as "cultured" we we may perhaps be referring to his scholarship, perceptiveness, good breeding or refinement. As used by social scientists, however, the term culture refers to considerably more than appreciation of classical music or awareness of the secrets of sartorial elegance. At times, it is even difficult to trace the lineaments of a particular culture. The most comprehensive characterization of culture comes to us from E. C. Taylor who identifies it as ""that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society." Viewed in this perspective, culture then consists of commonly accepted ideas, attitudes, values and habits which individuals display in connection with social living.

Culture is probably the greatest determinant of a nation. When the Muslims of the sub-continent realized that they "belonged" to a particular culture group and possessed an ethos distinct from that of the Hindus, they were already on their way to becoming a nation. They possessed the major ingredients that seemed to form the core the of modern nationalism. They had common moral, social, economic institutions, common customs, manners, literature, art, music, folklore, and common religion and history.

Quaid-i-Azam spelled out categorically the culture identity of the Muslims when he proclaimed that Islam and Hinduism were "different and distinct social orders." The Hindus and Muslims belonged to "two different religions, philosophies, social customs and literature", derived their inspiration from "different sources of history and had different epics, different heroes and different episodes." It was ethos which motivated the demand for  a separate homeland where Muslims could develop to the fullest their social-cultural life in consonance with their own ideals.