Westernization is the actual imitation of Western civilization, namely its culture, norms, and ideals. It has radically changed the face of Indian society, whose impact started only three hundred years ago with British intervention in Indian soil. These changes have been predominantly positive, but some of the changes caused by this westernization have been negative, and therefore studying the effects of westernization on the society of India is a very comprehensive topic.
Positive Impact:
Another aspect in which westernization has positively affected Indian society is education and modernization. The British occupation of India also resulted in the establishment of various schools and colleges that provided western scientific temper, technical knowledge, and education to the Indians. Education has remained a key factor, as this has made people more knowledgeable to fit in with the modern world.
Westernization was also seen in the Indian independence movement because many Indians were inspired by enforced Western democratic principles, freedom, and human rights. Taking over from the western way of thinking and believing has defined and constructed contemporary Indian subjectivity and, therefore, heralded independence and the democratic structure in the nation.
Negative Impact:
But Westernisation has also had bad effects on Indian society. Thus, the most crucial social effect has been the loss of Indian cultural identification and ethos. There is a marked shift among many Indians, and that shift is in favor of the Western way of life instead of the traditionally accepted way of life. As a result of the change, pressure has shifted, and traditions in the arts, music, and literature are some of the impacts that have been experienced.
The western culture has also influenced the aspect of materialism since the Indian population has adopted the western way of life and thus would prefer to possess material items they associate with the western way of life. This has resulted in social injustice or marginalization and an increase in the gap between the two, leading to a loss of cultural characteristics, arts, music, and literature.
Westernization has also encouraged materialism and consumerism in India, where people’s aims are to gain material possessions and lead a Western-like life. This has resulted in social injustice and massive differences between the poor and the affluent in Indian society.
Furthermore, by westernizing their society, they deprive women of their rights and destroy families and relationships in general. Another difference in the cultures of the two regions is that the western part has higher individualism and personal freedom as compared to the eastern part, where community values are of low concern. This has exposed society to several vices, such as drug and substance abuse, alcoholism, and crimes, among others.
Conclusion
Thus, Westernization influenced Indian society in many ways, and it is possible to note that this process had both positive and negative effects. On the positive note, it has ushered in education and the modernization of societies, while on the negative note, it has dismissed traditional culture and beliefs, created a new culture of materialism and consumerism, and disrupted family bonds and relationships. Since the process of India’s transformation into a post-industrial, post-modern society and integration into the world economy is ongoing, it is crucial to find a proper syncretism between the Indian tradition and the Western mode of thinking and behavior.
