Westernization has managed to penetrate through various cultural spheres, worldwide
and its influence can be felt to a great extent. However, it has been observed that people
tend to use the terms modernization and westernization synonymously, which actually
differ greatly. Modernization refers to a progress from a ‘traditional’ society to a ‘modern’
one, and is based on scientific approaches. On the other hand, westernization refers to
the adoption of the culture and practices of western Europe. The fundamental difference
between modernization and westernization is that the former is indispensable but the
latter is not. Modernization is required to keep up with the rapidly progressing world of
the 21st century but westernization assists only in a negligible manner. Additionally, the
essence of modernization must also be present at a personal level. Modernization can
only occur when people modernize their thoughts, beliefs and way of living etc. In
contrast, westernization is primarily about external actions and manifestations.
The concerning issue regarding this is that majority of people perceive westernization as
modernization itself. They feel that through adopting western traditions, they will be able
to modernize their society. It must be noted that the flourishing of a civilization takes
place with the advancement of science and technology. Westernization has little to
nothing to do with modernization. Japan serves as an excellent example of this. Japan
retains the richness of its culture despite westernization. At the same time, Japan has
advanced greatly in the field of science and technology and today, it is a highly developed
nation. But we must also keep in mind that Japan made several attempts to westernize
itself and introduced great reforms to do so. From this, we can easily observe that most
nations were not spared from westernization.
Additionally, it must also be understood that the road to modernization does not entail
dressing a certain way or holding certain beliefs. It is exceedingly upsetting to observe
people who still believe that if they speak English and follow English etiquette, they will
become more civilized and modernized. Such perceptions were very common amongst
the citizens of countries colonized or imperialized by Europeans. Since the Industrial
Revolution began from Britain, and progressed through Europe and the US first, people
began to admire western culture. They assumed that if they followed western culture
and traditions, they would be able to industrialize and modernize their society. Owing to
this, Indians too, began to lose pride in their own culture. Therefore, during the Indian
Independence movement, any sort of industrial goods or traditions were boycotted. This
was not solely due to their British roots but also because any sort of industrialization or
modernization was seen as westernization. Despite that, Independent India never
entirely gave up on western ideas. The effects of the British colonization are visible even
today. Indians still wrongly believe that modernization is equivalent to westernization.
The notion that westernization is vital for modernization has proved to be immensely
detrimental. This idea has led to the unnecessary adoption of western practices and
values. As a result, it has begun to demeaning or even wiping out Indian customs and
sentiments. Hence, if we wish to preserve our culture, we must erase this notion from
our heads entirely and once more embrace the glory of our own way of living.
About the Author:
Alvina Parvez is an immensely motivated and dedicated student with an unmatched inclination towards efficient work. She has attained several accolades for her writing and extra-curricular endeavors. Alvina has also consistently scored top grades in all her academic years. She is keen to learn from new experiences and utilize her potential in different ways.
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