Should India push forward for modernization and lose many cultural values?
India is a country with very many cultural assets and values. Much of this culture such as relgion and clothing representing the rural part of India has remained present in the country until the country has started to become more urban with technology and modenization.India is becoming more and more urban and less and less rural. Every day India and its people are forced to with the decision of should we modernize and lose much of your culutre or should we keep our culture and fall behind in the world? A reason for modenizing the nation is if India decides to stay underdeveloped they will find themselves lagging behind the world and in economic trouble. A reason not to modernize is to keep Indian the way it has always been being culturaly centered. This site is based on that decision faced by the Indian people every day. We decided on this topic because we thought that it would be both intresting and informative to research about this tug of war decision India faces.
Both Rural and Urban have their merits. If India stays rural, then one can expect a closely kint society that makes gricultural products and watches the televised Ramayana on small T.V.s. This society might have another "Colonization" pulled on them when the rest of the world creates better technology. On the other hand, If India chooses to become predominantly urban, there might be more thing like there in New Dehli, where there is a phone being sold for $39,000, specially made for rich Indians who "need" to be culturally advantaged over the rest of the Indian population.
URBAN
The extremely crowded streets of New Delhi represent the urban aspect of India with all of the modern things.
The following dialogue is between a traditional indian farmer and a cell phone salesperson
Salesperson: Hello sir, would you like to buy a cell phone? It will help you with all of your day-to-day needs!
Farmer: I do not need this useless peice of equipment.
Salesperson: Think of all the helpful things you will be able to do with this cell phone.
Farmer: Like what? I have no one to call, since I live so far away from anyone else. Anyway, I have lived fine without this cell phone and I think that I am fine without it.
Salesperson: Yes but with this modern cell phone you can be like the urban people of New Delhi with few communication complications in their life. And also, you can send pictures to your loved ones,so they will remember you.
Farmer: I guess that would be nice.... alright I will take one.
Salseperson: Great! Just sign here, and it will be delivered within the week.
The above conversation represents very many of the situations that are occuring in India. The urban people are coming out to the rural people and in a sence 'urbanizing' them. This is what is happeneing, the urban salseperon is helping the farmer to become more modern with the cell phone and turning the traditional farmer into a more urban peron.
Below is a slide show representing the urban and rural sides of India.
Please hover your mouse over the picture to see it's title, and what it represents.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.