Globalization and Cultural Identity in Modern India
Anam Fathima
Research Scholar, Sunrise University, Rajasthan
Keywords: Globalization, Cultural Hybridity, Glocalization, Consumerism, National Identity, Westernization, Traditional Values
Abstract
This research paper studies the many-sided impact of globalization on India’s socio-cultural fabric after the 1991 economic liberalization, as we all know it was a turning point in our country. While some critics say that the “McDonaldization” of society is causing cultural sameness and slowly reducing our local traditions, this study suggests something slightly different. It says that when global and local forces meet, they create a more complex and meaningful “Hybrid Identity.” Using a qualitative and descriptive method, and taking ideas from Arjun Appadurai’s “Scapes” and M.N. Srinivas’s concepts of “Sanskritization” and “Westernization,” the paper looks at changes in language, buying habits, family life, and religious practices, which are commonly seen among Indian people today. The findings show that even though economic life and lifestyle dreams are becoming more global in nature, our deeper values and social traditions are still strong, which we can clearly see in our daily lives. The growth of “Hinglish,” the way multinational companies adjust to local culture, and the rise of “Indigenous Modernity”—where modern technology is used to promote traditional knowledge like Yoga and Ayurveda—are clear examples of this mix. The study finally says that the “Global Indian” identity is able to balance modern technology with ancient traditions in a smooth way, and in our country this is becoming more common now. So, globalization is not only destroying culture but also helping it grow and change. In the end, the paper suggests that proper policies are needed to protect our languages and traditional crafts from the pressure of global mass production.
References
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