Articles

The Silk Road: Connectivity of Culture

by Anantinee Mishra

There have been several instances, penned down by mankind and passed down from generation to generation, which serve as an example of how exemplary a unity between two heritages can be, and how much of a significant impact they have left imprinted upon the ages to come. Such has been the power of these tales, that even today, when the world stands impossibly poised and at a standstill, these very moments are the ones which ignite a candle of light in a dark room, a boat of hope in the sea of desolation.
The Silk Routes, or the Silk Road as it has come to be called, spanned the Asian Continent and represented a form of existing global economy when the known universe was much smaller and difficult to transverse, than its today. It was a network of land and sea routes both; though the better half of it remained firmly on the solid ground, as it connected China to Korea to Japan in the east, and China to India in the South, and China to Italy and Turkey in the west. For millennia, highly valued silk, cotton, wool, glass, jade, lapis lazuli, gold, silver, salt, spices, tea, herbal medicines, foods, fruits, flowers, horses and many more things beyond the unfathomable have travelled these routes.

It existed, not just as a medium of transportation of what is the best to offer between countries of the greatest dynamics, but an exchange of ideas philosophical and religious, of cultures rich and versatile, of hearts joined and indiscriminate, of minds open and curious, of people united and and amalgamated. They existed as a bind, as a link and as a promise, of the future to come.
Ask yourselves, if it hadn’t been for those millions of steps travelled across the two domains of nature, would we ever have had the chance to know and learn the pious teachings of Buddha? Would we ever have had the barest chance to come across the words which ring true in every mind they touch, every soul they cleanse?

In the times where the people were at a situation, so incredibly similar to the one we find ourselves in today, these were the roads that served the purpose of connectivity. In the ages where our smartphones and Skype didn’t exist even in the questions of uncertain possibilities, these roads fraught with blisters on the feet and seasickness in the stomachs were what kept some of the largest separate civilisations together.

There had been areas of grey in the midst of a plethora of colours too. The roads themselves were generally in poor condition. Travelers in caravans had to brave bleak deserts, high mountains, extreme heat and cold. They had to face bandits and raiders, imprisonment, starvation, and other forms of deprivation. Those going by sea braved the uncertainties of weather, poorly constructed ships, and pirates. Yet because the goods and ideas were in great demand and commanded high prices, courtly rewards, or spiritual benefits, they were worth the trouble of transporting great distances.

There has never been a time when the continuity of mankind has been guaranteed absolutely, when there has been no question of whether we may live to see the next week, or next year. At the same time, when the sweat clings to our eyebrows and our limbs ache, when all the mind longs to do is plop down and go to sleep, we have remained on our feet and fought back too. Every time, with the hope in our bodies a permanent carving on the sand, which no wave can wash away. Every time, with the energy higher than the last time’s, the power of commitment and determination in our veins even stronger.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

About the Author:

Anantinee ‘JHUMPA’ Mishra is a prodigy author, poet and TED speaker. She is twelve years old studying in std.8th at Apeejay School, Saket, New Delhi.  She has published two books and many stories and articles in magazines and journals. At the age of ten, she published a 21,000 worded anthology of stories called ‘Treasure of Short Stories’. Last year her debut Novel ‘Manhattan to Munnar’ got released. Recently she has been conferred with a title ‘PRODIGY AUTHOR’ and an ‘HONORARY DIPLOMA’ by the Hon’ble Vice President of  India Sh. M Venkaiah Naidu.

 

3 Comments

  1. It is a clear expression of ancient communication with its advantages and explanation with a comparative of modern times.In a way ,the little author made us realise its importance. Well done and good luck.

  2. NYC one……

  3. So well articulated thought on relevant topic.Great effort.