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.