Impact Of Westernization On Indian Society.docx

Impact of Westernization on Indian Society Epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana are the real evidences that depict the strong Indian Culture. Since ages it has been a land of Saints and various renowned people. It was the same going on till few decades back. Indian Culture, which is one of the oldest & richest cultures, which is now under serious threat as western culture is making its strong impact in India and slowly and gradually reducing the impact of Indian culture .westernization is basically adopting culture, behaviour and ideas of other country`s culture rather than following their own culture. It had already made its presence in Metro’s cities and is now slowly heading towards other parts of India. Westernization has greatly affected our traditions, customs, our family and our respect and love for others. The concept of joint families is deteriorating quickly, and everyone wants to remain alone. Now nobody is interested in other’s person`s affairs and only cares for himself which is totally contradictory and opposite to our Indian culture that teaches us to be a part and parcel of the society, to be united , sharing each other’s Joys and sorrows . All our rich values and traditions are slowly fading away . Western Culture is taking its place. People are blindly following it without knowing their consequences. Westernization has given rise to single families. Marriages are breaking & our tolerance and patience has exhausted. Divorce rate has rise in last few years and is a common thing in today`s society. Marriage is considered as the “JAMNO JANMANTAN KA BANDHAN”, according to the Indian culture , but westernization has resulted in youth deteriorating the value of the marriage. Indian culture is always prone to the outside challenges from European and especially American culture, This is more in the last decade because of the emergence of social media which has made world a small place. Everyone is connected to each other, no matter how far they are in the world .There is no bad thing in adopting things from the western culture, but it should not be completely adopted and should not overshadow our own Indian cultural identity. Westernization has resulted in lack of “SANSKARS” in today`s generation, they are forgetting traditions like touching elders feet, wishing and respecting elders.

REVIEW OF LITEREATURE M.N SRINIVAS defined westernization as “the changes brought about in Indian society and culture as a result of over 150 years of British rule, the term subsuming change occurring at different levels say technology, institutions, ideology and values”. Under the Western influence many vernacular printing press were established and many newspapers on Indian languages were published. In 1780 hicky commenced the publication of the “Bengal Gazette” in English. This was followed by the publication of the first vernacular newspapers “Bengal samachar” in 1816 and the “Bombay Samachar” in 1822. The first Hindi newspaper “Banaras Akhbar” was published in 1845. Prof. Bipan Chandra opines that “India was transferred by the end of 19th century into a classic colony – Indian economy and social development were completely subordinated to British economy and social development. Indian economy was integrated into the world capitalist economy in a subordinate position and with a peculiar international division of labour.” Western culture thus touched and influenced every walk of Indian life “Western influence created a class of Indent’s who were neither Hindu nor British in their outlook – a class of which Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was perhaps the outstanding example” commented by Percival spear.