Tradition can be both useful and harmful. Consider some of the ways in which it is an obstacle to progress.
Tradition is some ancient practice built into the fabric of any society. Every nation and every society has got its tradition. Thus when a Westerner shakes hands with a friend or an acquaintance, or a musalman says ‘salam’ it is in the best of traditions. Traditions may speak of good breeding. Tradition is reflected in one’s manners. Traditions help in the free and unobstructed flow of life. Traditions are almost an unwritten code of life. Thus if a good Christian family says the Lord’s Prayer before taking food, it is a good and fine tradition.
Tradition is found in all walks of life. It is found in the market, in the assemblies of people, in the councils of governments, and so on. Traditions are carried down from generation to generation. The mother or the mother-in-law is the jealous keeper of the tradition at home. We speak of parliamentary tradition and every parliament has set up very healthy traditions.
To keep up traditions means following rituals which have become part and parcel of life. Rituals make life more meaningful. There is no human activity without rituals. People guard rituals very jealousy. Some rituals may be meaningless but they make life enjoyable. Even putting on a button or combing one’s hair has been reduced to a ritual.
Traditions and rituals are very common among the militia. Every regiment, every rank in the army has some tradition. What is common in the navy may not be there in the army. The traditions of the Air Force are different from those of other wings of the defense forces. Traditions help to identify people. Thus one can easily identify if a man is a Hindu, a Muslim, and so on since beliefs and traditions go together. But there is no denying the fact that these traditions are slowly disappearing with the advance of civilization, modem modes of travel, and life in flats.
There are some good traditions which should be saved on all accounts. For instance, the Hindus have the tradition of decorating their houses with beautiful designs and it may make others jealous of them. Observing Sabbath among the pious is a very good tradition though one should not confine to observe only Sabbath. Any discerning man can see and observe good traditions among others. For example, a pious Muslim who has returned from Mecca would never lend money on interest.
Not all traditions are good. For instance, attributing chickenpox; measles and smallpox to evil spirits is to be condemned. Very often traditions smack of superstition. Walking under a ladder, spilling of salt from a jug, and throwing shoes for luck are all meaningless. Even discerning people carry mascots as a protective force. Where traditions verge on superstition, they must be done away with. But those who help in the upkeep of beauty or any significant culture must be preserved. Traditions of honesty, truthfulness, straightforwardness, and integrity will have to be built and cherished. Traditions are like the colour and fragrance of a flower. They either attract or repel people. However traditions keep coming and going through, good traditions may stick on. After all, when all has been said and done, traditions are essentially a human institution.
