Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss.

India has a plethora of local cultures that combine to present us with a local identity. Globalisation, which is the free movement of people, ideas, goods etc between countries has created a global Identity. There is a perception that our local identity is under threat due to the overarching influence of the new found global

identity.

Arguments supporting the above-mentioned perception:

• People preferring English over indigenous languages.
• Substitution of local entertainment like theatres, puppetry with Netflix.
• Loss of the joint family structure for the nuclear family system of west.
• Changing family structure with emergence of live-in, same sex relationships, etc.
• Changing in dressing and eating habits called McDonaldization.
• Conflict of values: Freedom of speech against respect for elders, moral decency.

Arguments opposing the above-mentioned perception:

• Indian cultural practises now celebrated globally: Yoga Day.
• Indian Music, cinema finding global recognition.
• Glocalization/Incorporation of global into local: for e.g.: No beef products in Dominos Pizza, Foreign movies dubbed in regional languages.
• Continued tradition of celebration of festivals and occasions with family, touching elder’s feet.
• Except in pockets of urban areas, modern ideas haven’t taken a concrete shape in large parts of India, which continues to be traditional.

As the world continues to come closer under the forces of globalisation, it is imperative of us to not ape the west blindly, but to draw the best aspects of every culture and develop and identity that is local and better. This has been iterated by Gandhiji - I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house freely. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.