Modernization or Westernization - What should India target?
India should adopt modernization rather than westernization
India is changing rapidly. From last years it has accepted many different trends and systems of the western countries. Often people might hear each other saying India is under the westernization impact or you are getting modern. The term modernization and westernization are confused with each other. But in fact both are different. The question here arises is what should India opt for? Is modernization better than westernization?
Modernization
• Modernization affects a larger group of people. It has a deep impact on the public as well as private institutions.
• Modernization brings a deep change that makes people more rationalist and imbibes a positive spirit to change things for better.
• It affects the thought process of everyone. It has the power to change the perception, belief, opinions and attitude ultimately leading to action.
• It creates an environment where the people are known for their achievements and works rather than the class and society.
• The example of modernization can be seen in Panchayat Raj in rural India. It is a step encouraged from modernization.
Westernization
• To remove cultural differences and remove gender bias westernization is required, modernization ignores it.
• Westernization provides a common platform, a language as well as culture to unite the youth all over the world.
• With nuclear families on rise and the demanding life, Indian people need to change and westernize. It comes with customization like opting for Indo Chinese food.
• Western culture is about less formality and more fun. In this stressful life, you need some activities to relax.
• Dressing for Indian Women in western culture brings in more convenience for the women. It suits the modern pace of life.
Conclusion
If you see the larger picture, then you can notice that westernization is a sub part of modernization. Again, the good or bad depends upon how the concepts are implemented in practical life. There is no doubt that modernization is more important for India as it is about the development of economy and country, whereas westernization is more or less confined to the societies.
Discussion
- RE: Modernization or Westernization - What should India target? -Deepa Kaushik (05/13/14)
- India need to target on the positivity and better approach to step up the ladder of a tension free life for its citizens. Both modernization and westernization have their own pros and cons. Every culture has its special imprints. When we try to absorb any new thing, we should try to imbibe the positive notes.
Modernization will help us to stay in touch with the world. It is nothing but getting ourselves updated and well-verse with the latest developments in any field. Modernization in any field would definitely yield better results, but we need to check for its long lasting grave impacts, if any, before implementation of the same. The modernisation and development along those lines will definitely search better proposals for us.
Coming on to the westernization, this virtue is again wrapped up with a myth of a negativity. People refer westernization directly to the outward exposure and undue social behaviour especially between the two genders. But the westernization has helped us remove the gender bias and promoted in the development of women. Again the intermixing of both the sexes socially has helped to overcome the gap within the society.
To be precise, we need to search for the good things that come across our way to get that implemented in to our country. It doesn’t matter whether it be modernization or westernization; what people actually look forward to, is the peaceful life.
