Xournals

Academic Journal of Arts and Humanities

ISSN UA | Volume 01 | Issue 01 | May-2018

Impact of Western Culture on Indian Culture

Manoj Prakesh1
Available online at: www.xournals.com
Received 17 February 2017 | Revised 22th February 2018 | Accepted 13th April 2018
th

Abstract:

Indian culture is consider as one of the oldest and richest culture and western culture is
considered as the most advanced culture in the world. Both are different types of culture and
followed in different part of the world. Both the cultures differ from each other in the traditional
mindset, however, in today’s world both the cultures are coming to a mix. But the most common
and genuine fear among conservative Indians (specially the elders) is that the widespread of
westernization amongst Indians. They suspect that Western goods, clothes, foods, festivals,
style, language, and moreover Western thought is spreading and shows negative impact across
the populace. The purpose of this paper is to look at the many reasons that cause such fears
and analyze them by comparing with reality and discuss about the impact of westernization.
Keywords: Culture, westernization, India, Heritage

Authors:
1. Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak, INDIA

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 Xournals Academic Journal of Arts and Humanities

Introduction treating their grandparents like guests or visitors,

Culture and tradition can be supposed to be made up which is the main reason of increasing old age homes.
of the following: celebration of festivals and religious Because the upbringing of children was like that they
practices, clothing, foods, arts, traditional sciences, consider their own parents as burden in their state of
language, and lifestyle. Indian Culture, which is one of adulthood.
the oldest & richest cultures in the world with varied
languages, customs, beliefs, ideas, taboos, codes, Social Values: our culture treat guests as God as
instructions, works of art, architecture, rituals, ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’. Elders have the incorporated
ceremonies etc. The history of India’s cultural is values of treating the guests as God, warm-hearted
several thousand years old and it shows a continuity welcoming, greeting elders with due respect. The
and delicate change with strong thread of continuity, celebration of every small festival with togetherness
characterized in the assimilative power of culture and and lots of enjoyment, such a wide gathering with full
unique display of ‘unity in diversity’. These are not hue and light can hardly be seen today. People lost the
just words, but something that are highly applicable to value of festivals and cheerful blessing of
a country like India that is incredibly rich in culture togetherness. The interaction in present generation is
and heritage. highly diplomatic considering the financial status and
The oldest and unique culture of India shows an wealth. The present generation celebrates Valentine’s
amazing cultural diversity throughout the country. Day happier rather than Holi and Diwali. Indian
The South, North, and Northeast have their own culture which teaches to be a part of each other Joys
distinct cultures and almost every state has carved out and Sorrows to celebrate the moments together and
its own cultural place. India is a vast country and the share the grief together. But slowly all our value for
culture of India is unique in the world. The variety of which India has the pride is vanishing & western
geographical features and climatic conditions also culture is taking its place.
make Indian culture unique.
Marriage Values: Similarly, marriages have also lost
Westernization of Indian Culture their values. Marriages are fatly breaking & our
The roots of westernization started in Great Britain in tolerance and patience has given the answer. It is very
17th and 18th century, and later on the process begun much evident from the increasing number of divorce
in America, France and Japan, as a pattern of social cases and the extra-marital affairs reported every now
change which have influenced each and every sphere and then. Marriage used to be considered as bonding
of life over the human beings. Westernization is of the souls which will be linked even after the death;
defined as combination of the customs, values and but today marriage is like a professional bond or a so-
culture of the west into our culture. Western culture called commitment to share life without compromising
greatly affected our traditions, customs, and our their self-interests. The most affected are our new
lifestyle. The major transformation of lifestyle and blooms, which have sprouted they find themselves
living standard of people not changed only in India but stressed and isolated in this new atmosphere as there
the interchange of world views and ideas has resulted is no one to take care of them. The ego factor into the
major change globally. Indian youth is again a product of westernization.
In the process of transformation Indian culture has no
bar. Our deep rooted traditions and customs have Food and Clothing: In India different state have their
loosened up their hold with the emergence of own tradition in which food and clothes shows various
westernization. India has a rich cultural background variety and importance. The food varies in its taste, but
and pride of its culture is famous throughout the world. the importance of its own nutrient value and every
In every segment of society westernization came with region is specified and rich in its medicinal
changes. It has both positive and negative impact on preparations with the home remedies. But still the
Indian society. popularity of junk food are too high which cause the
health disorder in country. On the other side the variety
Families: the concept of joint families is decreasing, of beautiful clothes which varies in different states and
Indians which are living in metropolitan cities in the very much particular in maintaining the dignity of
small flat culture for them the joint families have woman. On other side the dressing like the suiting’s
become a strange surprise. Everyone wants to remain for the males are an inappropriate match for the Indian
aloof from others and given rise to single families. type of climate.
Today people easily lost their patience to get adjusted
into the joint family, imbibing the values of the elders Language: Indian youth consider it shameful to be
and getting the young ones brought up under the speak in their national and local languages. Even the
shadow of their grandparents. Children have started Indians are not very much in favor of promoting their

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mother tongue or our national language and the way westernization the youth of India do not believe in the
the foreign languages are getting prevalent in India traditional aspects, the culture will vary with time and
like the French, German and Spanish, right from the will not be traditional anymore. India becoming a truly
school level, is the example of how much Indian global environment in terms of economy, food and
provide importance to Indian languages in comparison culture but what does it take to make sure our youth do
to the foreign ones. not forget the richness of being Indian is a serious
matter of question.
Review of Literature:
Gupta and Bajpai, (2016) The Western impact Conclusion
produced radical and lasting changes in Indian society
and culture. Westernization buried Indianans to a great Indian and western both are different types of culture
extent as it introduced sophistication in food, dress and representing their own tradition and values. Indian
manners. The new technologies, institutions, Culture refers to the customs, traditions, religions and
knowledge, values and temper which the British set of rules that are followed in India, while the
people had brought with them, transformed the Indian Western Culture most commonly refers to culture that
society and culture a lot. Due to Western impact, India is followed in America and Europe. But today both the
was more progressive in out-look and attitude. culture are going to be mixed especially in India. India
Sinha and Kumar, (2004) understanding of Indian got major transformation under westernization but
culture requires a holistic and multi-method approach, forgetting our traditional values is also a matter of
integrating both morals and secretes. Outside India are concern. The western culture has both positive and
most likely to adopt an etic approach by they compare negative impact on Indian culture.
and contrast according to the Indian culture
Consequences of westernization:
dimensions, concepts and theories.
 Westernization of Indian culture directly
Kaur, (2015) the growth of information technology affects the caste, joint family, marriage and
has made a drastic change in the on India. The other social structures.
information shared across the world through the web,
Skype, Twitter, and Face book have helped to make  Modern values like humanism,
the absorption of different cultures. Indian culture and egalitarianism, secularism have entered in
Western culture have embraced a sort of cultural Indian value systems. Our criminal law has
exchange with one another, whereby both have been reformed. Evil customs like sati ended,
absorbed aspects of each. Taking of good things from Untouchability abolished.
other is good but it does not mean we completely
forget our values. According to the present scenario  Concept of welfare state was introduced and
Indian society has been declined religiously and thus Governmental activities on welfare
adopting Western culture. measures have expanded.
 The political system, which developed during
Chuchra and Kaur, (2016) Indian youth are spoiled the British rule, gave increasing opportunities
by the greater involvement of western culture in Indian for political articulation to the people of
culture. In twenty first century Indian youth has been India, especially those who acquired western
continuously dishonored. Because of the structure of
education.
true love in lover’s relationship is not defined clearly.
Both positive and negative impact is seen from the  The use of English words came to be
westernization of Indian culture. commonly like Daddy, mummy, cutting the
cake which contrast the Indian custom.
Bhoje (2015) Indian Culture is a very unique culture
and has various practices. But because of

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References:
Amritpal Kaur. “THE IMPACT OF WESTERN CULTURE ON INDIAN WOMEN.” Indian Streams
Research Journal, vol. 5, no. 10, Nov. 2015.
Ashish Gupta, and Shweta S. Bajpai. “IMPACT OF WESTERN CULTURE AND ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ON INDIAN CULTURE AND SOCIETY.” NEW MAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES, vol. 3, no. 3, Mar. 2016, pp. 38–43.
Chuchra, Rimmy, and Navreet Kaur. “Effect of Western Culture on Indian Culture.” International
Journal of Computer Applications, vol. 136, no. 5, 2016, pp. 5–12.,
Eckersley, Richard. “Is Modern Western Culture a Health Hazard?” International Journal of
Epidemiology, vol. 35, no. 2, 2005, pp. 252–258., doi:10.1093/ije/dyi235.
Gazala Bhoje. “INDIAN CULTURE AND GLOBALIZATION.” International Journal of Research in
Engineering and Social Sciences, vol. 5, no. 5, May 2015, pp. 50–64.
Kulkarni, Atul. “Influence of Western Culture on Indian Society.” Atul Kulkarni's Blog, 28 June 2015,
atulkulkarni123.wordpress.com/2015/06/28/influence-of-western-culture-on-indian-society/.
Sinha, Jai B.P, and Rajesh kumar. “Methodology for Understanding Indian Culture.” The Copenhagen
Journal of Asian Studies.

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