Back to Our Roots

How does the influence of a foreign culture hurt the sensibilities and traditions of a country?

Whenever, Valentines Day, comes around in India there are always news reports of local political groups kicking up a fuss that this new norm goes against traditional values, culture and religious beliefs. There is a belief among a section of the population that this trend of aping the West corrupts especially young minds and it is perceived that this will lead to a breakdown of centuries old traditions. Western infiltration and influence is thought to be evil and should be stopped at all cost to preserve family values and morality. Of course the ‘culprit’ tends to be the United States that has a powerful affect not just in India but globally. We can see it everywhere to Mcdonalds springing up all over China, to children in the UK now having a school prom. Language is also a key factor as all over the world we are literally invaded by American slang. The police are now cops and the currency is now termed as bucks. Whether it be Hollywood movies, MTV culture, clothes, music or food the influence of US culture is hard to ignore.

In the example of India, and China which have over 2 billion people between them representing over a third of the population, the perception that traditional culture is in danger may well not be justified. Yes, there is influence but the extent of that influence may be limited and not critical. These countries have a very solid foundation of influence that cannot be dissolved in an instant. Religion, clothes family values and food have in fact the counter effect of infiltrating Western culture. Curry has become the most popular food in the UK and Chinese in the US. Western people love the clothes, weddings, jewelry, Bollywood etc of these foreign countries and often cultural divides are merging. Values, tradition and culture of the oldest countries in the world cannot be easily changed by a country only a few hundred years old and there is no real evidence to suggest so. Minor influences are often marketed by foreign countries to make viable sales but both can live in harmony. A recent example is the new Oreo cookies ad which is iconic in the US and is always eaten with a glass of milk or the tradition of cereal for breakfast. Now while we can give an explanation that suggests many will be influenced, nothing suggests that traditional food such as spicy samosa for a snack or paranthas for breakfast can fully replace this. What is perceived as different or an invasion is simply a fear without hard core truth. Often emotions can over ride reason and logic and change can be difficult to accept among those of the older generation. But a large population of India is in fact under the age of twenty five and they are growing up willing to accept changes. Life for them represents a choice of picking and choosing the best and ignoring the worst, and this is certainly progress. While there are aspects of Western culture that may offend or be distasteful to Indian value system surely these will be ignored by many in favor of the traditional. However, the youth also recognize that there are certain aspects of Indian culture that may be distasteful to them, they question the system and demand these unsavory aspects be eliminated. In India these may include, child labor, child marriage, forced marriage or dowry, female abortions, caste discrimination or sati the tradition of burning a widow with her dead husband. In these case, surely it is true to say India can learn a lot from the West and be fearful of it based on popular misconception.

A child’s knowledge of his or her tradition, religion and culture begins early on in the family from parents, grandparents school etc. These core values and beliefs remain ingrained so any outside influence is superficial at best. So while politicos trying to throw their weight around will have protests, there will be little they can do. After all come Valentines day, people will shop for cards and buy roses and the like as a new tradition, but nothing can replace the traditions of weddings, and local customs. And it is this interpretation of knowledge and belief which should allow the spirit of foreign influence to prevail.