How does westernization have an impact on India and it's culture?
Westernization is a process in which societies adopt western cultures in areas such as industry, technology, law, politics, economies and lifestyles, clothing, language etc. Today, there are many people who are westernizing themselves among many cultures. Westernization has become common in the world especially in India. People normally get a plastic surgery to look western is because it gives the back a round and a perkier shape, it also straightens hair. People want to change themselves like this because they are not satisfied of the way they are. They also think that being western is superior, and because they have a dominant history. Westernization does not only include plastic surgery, but people also change their lifestyles to become like a western person.
The Indian culture
The Indian culture is one of the oldest and richest cultures, it has a long shaped history and an ancient heritage. There are many festivals and celebrations which happen in India every year. This country has a population of more than 1 billion and is a culture in which there are more than 700 languages spoken. This culture however, is now being impacted by westernization and everything is slowly changing and is becoming western.
Westernization impact on the Indian culture.
Westernization is a kind of globalization which is spreading throughout Asian countries especially in India. The Indian culture is ones of the oldest and the richest cultures however, now that the western culture is kicking in, e.g. goods, festivals, dressings, foods etc., it is impacting on the Indian culture in many ways. The western culture is that it is replacing itself with the Indian culture.
Negative impacts of westernization on the Indian culture.
Dressings.
Westernization is ruining the traditional clothing of the Indian culture. For example, in India, the traditional dressing is sari, dhoti and kurta however, today there are lots of people wearing more of a western clothing like jeans, tee-shirts and girls are wearing short skirts tops etc. In India, there is approximately 25% of western clothing. The change of fashion in India is now leading to reduction of the importance of the Indian culture to many people.
Festivals.
The western culture is impacting on the Indian festivals in may ways too. All Indians greatly celebrate their festivals every year and enjoy them very much. Today, large numbers of people in India are not celebrating their own festivals like Holi or Diwali, but instead, they are celebrating more of western cultures like Christmas or Halloween. Also, in the Indian religion, no boy or girl are allowed to date each other however, today in India, many youngsters are breaking these laws and are celebrating valentines day and are not alert of their religion and this is reducing the value of the Indian religion for them.
Foods
The Indian plate has welcomed many western foods (e.g pizza, burgers, steak tacos etc.), and Indian foods like Golgapa, curry etc., are being less popular in India, however are becoming common in Europe while the western foods are growing stronger and are becoming more popular in India. Western foods contain too much fat and this causing the obesity rate in India to increase. In the Indian religion, you are not allowed to eat pork or meat however, since the western foods have kicked in, many Indians are no longer respecting their religion and are eating things against their religion. This is causing the value of the Indian religion to decrease and is changing many people's lifestyles. Today in India, there are more western restaurants like KFC, or Mac Donald's compared to the Indian restaurants there are.
Language
In India, there are more than 700 languages spoken. However, many of these mother tongue languages are beginning to fade away. As usual, to get a good job, you must know the basic language (English) or other additional ones. So many many people today are focusing on these languages and are forgetting about their mother tongue thus, this is making their religion less important.
Lifestyles and People
Westernization has changed many peoples lifestyles. Now, there is no particular lifestyle that is Indian. Most things have changed like respect to the young ones and elders, importance of a family, marriage making, clothing, festivals, foods, names, languages and even getting a plastic surgery to look more western. People are changing themselves and are trying to adapt like western people. Westernization is also reducing the equality of lifestyles in India. In the Indian culture, in order to visit a temple, you must have the right clothing although, it is shocking to see that today, there are many teenagers who are dressing as modern people e.g stylish haircuts, jeans, tee-shirts etc., when entering a temple. In the Indian culture, people had respect for the young and elders however, since the western culture has arrived, the respect had gone and now the behaviors of many people have changed.
Music
The Indian music has changed greatly due to in taking of the western culture. Indians have their own traditional music and instruments like flute, drums, etc., however, today they are using different instruments like guitars to make their music and now, Indian songs sound completely different and are nothing like what they sounded before.
Positive Impacts of westernization on the Indian culture.
Modernization
The western culture has impacted on India in many negative ways however, it has also influenced India in many ways too. For example, it is making India more modern. The Indian culture is a very old culture and is staying the same however, now the western culture is changing it to become more modern. Today, the western media is now making many people in India especially teenagers dressing more modernly like jeans, tee shirts etc. Modernization has also enabled to increase the economic growth of India.
Public Health
Due to westernization influence, sanitation and public health has improved greatly in India. Many western doctors have immigrated into India and have made medicines which have helped reduce sicknesses, diseases in large parts because health care has become accessible.
Labor
The presence of western traders in India have increased the demands for goods and services in India. As a result of that, Indian artisans, craftsmen and weavers have employed. These artisans and craftsmen have grown in numbers and now the Indian labor force and become more skilled and handy.
Education
Westernization has also benefited areas of education in India. When the British occupied India, they build many schools throughout the country and this made the literacy increase and the poorest class of society had access to knowledge.
Films and movies
Westernization has brought media as well in India. For example, in America, India now has a famous movie making media called ‘Bollywood’ which came from Hollywood in America. Bollywood’s films now traditionally feature India, its culture, tradition and religion. Bollywood is now quiet popular in India and many people know about it. So media in India has also improved due to the western culture.
So is westernization a good thing or a bad thing?
Westernization has brought many negative impacts on India however, it has also brought many benefits as well although, there are more advantages of westernization compared to the disadvantages. Still, India should take care of this globalization because in the future, it will change India and destroy it's religion, culture and tradition.
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