Exploring Social, Religious, and Ethical Dilemmas of Indian Culture and Society

Abstract

The Indian psyche is an amalgamation of several intellectual systems, civilizations, cultures, and traditions. It is embedded in a multitude of ideas and customs. These ideas and practices serve as tools for the construction of one’s mindset.  However, in the event of internal psychological conflict, an individual may exhibit a proclivity to adapt to or align with another cultural setting that is intricately connected to their identity.  In this process, such individuals find their customary understanding inadequate and therefore confront dilemmas and paradoxes within their societal setup. In light of this, the paper encompasses two primary goals. The first part explores several beliefs and ideas that help shaping the Indian psyche while, the second part explores its understanding of cultural paradoxes that are ingrained in it, leading to dilemmas that involve societal, moral, and ethical dimensions. In addition to this, three case studies are presented to illustrate these intricate predicaments.