Acharya Prashant addresses the question of why Indians, especially the youth, do not feel pride in their culture and heritage, and sometimes even feel a sense of disdain. He begins by questioning the very understanding of the terms 'culture' and 'heritage'. He asks, "What are this culture and this heritage? What have you received from the past as a legacy? What is your culture?" He explains that one cannot feel pride in something one does not know deeply. Pride can only be felt for something of value, and to know its value, one must first know the thing itself. He questions how much the average Indian, particularly the youth, knows about their heritage, past, and culture. Without this knowledge, one cannot even feel a sense of belonging, let alone pride. He points out that the global perception of Indian culture is often reduced to "caste, cow, and curry." When asked, an average Indian might mention Holi, Diwali, or saying "Namaste," which he finds to be vague and superficial answers. He questions if these things have any clarity or a solid center. He notes that people often say their culture is that of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. He clarifies that these are historical epics (Itihasa Kavya) created to convey profound messages to the common people through stories. For instance, the Ramcharitmanas states, "The whole world is pervaded by Sita and Ram," which cannot refer to an ordinary man and woman. Similarly, Shri Ram is described as one who hears without ears and sees without eyes, indicating he is not just a physical person. These characters are symbols representing certain principles. A great tragedy has befallen India: we have the stories, but the key to unlock their deeper meaning, which is Vedanta, has been lost. Without understanding Vedanta, the Puranas and epics become meaningless, reduced to mere stories about conduct. This leads to the literal interpretation of events like Hanuman being a monkey or Sita's fire ordeal, which makes Indian culture a subject of ridicule for rational people. The purpose of culture is to refine a person and lead them toward Truth. If a culture fails to do this, it is questionable. Indian culture is not separate from Indian Dharma (spirituality). The purpose of culture is to civilize, to turn a human from an animal-like state into a truly human one. He concludes that Indians will only feel genuine pride in their culture when they understand its core, which is Vedanta. Without the key of Vedanta, the stories and traditions become hollow, leading to either blind faith or disdain. The disconnect between culture and its spiritual essence (Truth) is the reason for the lack of pride. When one understands the profound spiritual meaning behind the symbols and stories, one will be filled with awe and pride for this rich heritage.