It is critical for non-native people to possess some knowledge of the past and traditions of the nation they reside in. There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, being familiar with the history and culture of a place helps in integrating with its society and people immensely. This is because elements like language, food, and clothing constitute the core of the social fabric, and can help in gaining acceptance of the native people. For example, when I shifted to Vellore in South India for my engineering, I learned about their festivals and food habits, which helped me make many new friends quickly and gain exposure to several new cultural aspects. Today, food items like “Dosa” and festivals like “Pongal” have become an inseparable part of my life and celebrations.
Furthermore, reading about the past events of a country can lead to a deeper understanding of subtle elements like philosophy and religion, and develop one’s overall personality. For instance, Steve Jobs, the former CEO of “Apple”, confirms in his biography that his mindset transformed after his stay in India where he learned about the philosophical and spiritual heritage of the country. He even applied these newly adopted principles to his business in the USA, helping it flourish tremendously.
In conclusion, it is key for people of foreign origin to have some familiarity with the historical and cultural aspects of their country of residence as it leads to societal integration and personality development. As a cherry on the cake, it even has the potential to translate into disruptive business ideas through knowledge transfer.