Day 38 – Q 1.How do you differentiate between ‘modernisation’ and ‘westernisation’? What exactly is India witnessing- modernisation of thoughts or westernisation of culture? Critically examine.
1. How do you differentiate between ‘modernisation’ and ‘westernisation’? What exactly is India witnessing- modernisation of thoughts or westernisation of culture? Critically examine.
आप ‘आधुनिकीकरण’ और ‘पश्चिमीकरण’ के बीच अंतर कैसे करते हैं? भारत वास्तव में विचारों का आधुनिकीकरण या संस्कृति का पश्चिमीकरण देख रहा है? समालोचनात्मक जांच करें।
Approach:
- Introduction- Define modernisation and westernisation in few lines.
- Differentiate the two.
- Modernisation of thoughts versus westernisation of culture in India- Analysis.
- Conclusion.
Introduction:
In simple terms, Westernization is a process of imitation of western countries by non-western countries, whereby societies come under or adopt the western culture. Westernization is about the adoption of “Western” values. On the other hand, accepting or adopting the modern style or modern ways and ideas of thinking, living, etc is ‘Modernization’.
Difference between modernization and westernization:
- Westernization is not important but modernisation is. We need to modernize so that we are able to compete and can keep pace with the fast-moving world of the present 21st century.
- Modernization involves changes not only at the institutional level but also a fundamental change at the personal level. It involves a change in modes of thinking, beliefs, opinions, attitudes, actions and also a change in the social structure from a closed conservative society to a classless, casteless society. Westernation on the other hand is all about external manifestations.
- Modernization has a wider connotation. In fact, Westernization may a sub-process of Modernization.
Modernisation of thoughts versus westernisation of culture in India:
The above is an ongoing development in India. What most people in India call Modernization is actually Westernization.
- Of course, culture isn’t a stagnant thing.
But westernisation of culture- Examples like- a) old aged people complaining of ill-treatment at the hands of their own relatives, old age homes springing up, b) Women wearing western clothes while the society hasn’t modernised its thinking with regards to it- is creating unrest in society. - Modernisation of thoughts is still to be witnessed- Mob lynching, comments by known personalities against women clothing, atrocities against vulnerable groups like women and dalits shows how Indians are yet to modernise their thinking.
Conclusion:
In a nutshell, Westernization is living by analogy, doing something that a set of people do. Being modern by definition is thinking primarily by principles rather than by analogy.
Blind adoption of values/attitudes and adopt the lifestyle of the West in order to modernize and develop must be avoided.
Best answer: m@ddy
