India has prided itself on its originality of ideas, simplicity of lifestyle and ability of thinking high. Greatest philosophers, educationists and religious leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda and many more have not only preached simple lifestyle, they have lived the same as well. They have exemplified hardship, devotion and dedication for a greater cause. Simple living, high thinking and spiritual profoundness have been three pillars and corner stones of power of influence. Historically strength of India has never been her top-class infrastructure or technology, it has rather been the people, the beautiful minds, the deepest hearts, profound spirituality and endless warmth of relationships which have been the combining force Indians.
Different religions that stemmed out of beliefs were mere manifestations of different ways of believing in the Devine truth, different routes for journey within. They were never designed to fall prey to motive mongering people to move clusters of societies for their selfish good. Different communities and cultures have cultivated different traditions which have bestowed India with cultural variety of a class that any country could barely imagine to possess. India has never been known for homogeneity in her food, festivals and dressing, it has always been the fragrance of localized essence and culture which has created the magnificent collage known as Indian Culture, we proudly project through the tourism advertisements of ‘Incredible India’.
They say, ‘time has changed’, true that, but I wonder why did we? Why the variety of food that would be served with love and care at various festivals and at different places have now been reduced to a few scrolls down options of fast food sold by multinationals through their semi trusted franchisees? Why did sarees and dhotis give away to computer aided designed outfits? Why does a kid feel lonely at home while we would have exponential extended families named neighborhoods?
Unlike India and its quest for spiritual wellbeing, West has been a place which was long married to materialistic wellbeing. Uniformity of culture and homogeneity of habits have rather been there for much longer time.
While in India we would teach our children to respect (thereby giving way to develop humility) they would often teach to question (habit of questioning without a well-developed and analytical brain may lead to a sense of audacity). Indian education system has contributed immensely towards intellectual capital of the world in all spheres ranging from science (Satyendra Nath Bose), literature (Tagore) and to modern day CEOs like Sundar Pichai or Satya Nadella. India has never been backward they have rather been more down to earth, much more rooted to life and nature.
With the advent of misleading modernization, which is characterized by aggressive consumerism, fueled by end used convenience in supply chain, we are making unconscious choices. Such choices are speedily eroding our culture and taking away our pride in our heritage. What may appear to be “cool” as they are packaged to be so, may be our impromptu choice but may not be a conscious one, rapidity of frequency of such impromptu choice making is speedily eroding our culture. Before we realise, it may be too late to reverse. After ‘Green Revolution’ and ‘White Revolution’, what India needs now is a cultural revolution. Our schools and colleges need to thrust upon such values and cultural practices. Not superficially to celebrate through a post in social media, but as a matter of process, as a step towards correction.
In the run for being critical about misleading modernization we must not undermine true nature of progressive modernization of values and culture. Progressive modernization of culture like abolishing dowry, combatting ‘sati’, technological innovations in education, healthcare and communications etc are obvious developments created through questioning status quo or through technological and scientific developments. However, aggressive consumerism, and undermining Indian-ism is a choice.
Choice making can be taught in two ways, by preaching and by practicing what is preached. Learners may not do as they are asked to but will certainly do what they see being done. We need to create a new picture for the learners. We need to give them a curriculum which mandates such requirements and re-glorifies Indian culture to Indians and to the world.
There was a time, when we needed to free our nation from different rules. Now the war is more within than anywhere. We need to free our mind from captivating impacts of misleading modernization, fill it instead with progressive India-ni-zation.
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