To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to the Editor of The Phillipian regarding the article “The Cultural Erosion of India,” dated February 21, authored by Vedant Bajaj ’28.
While Bajaj, in his article, seems to regard Westernization as an “imminent threat” to India, I respectfully propose a view in opposition.
India is a global leader in the Information Technology (IT) sector. It is estimated by the World Bank that the Indian IT sector generated approximately 245 billion U.S. dollars in revenue for 2023. This represents approximately seven percent of the total GDP of the country.
Given that the IT industry depends on the existence of advancements in modern computing and the internet, the positive role of globalization in every economy, including that of India, must not be overlooked.
For instance, the first computer was invented by Charles Babbage and the internet protocol was developed by Sir Tim Berners-Lee.
Both inventors are British nationals, so I would assume this would fall into the realms of “Westernization” as defined by Bajaj. Yet, had India failed to embrace these innovations under the raison d’être of cultural preservation, the nation may not have evolved into the IT powerhouse of today.
I come into agreement with the statement by Bajaj that globalization does result in certain challenges, in particular to matters of heritage and culture. However, I believe that it is still correct to note that globalization has engendered significant cultural benefits to every country. For the case of India, globalization has allowed for the export of Indian identity and culture to a global audience.
Notably, Indian cinema, colloquially defined as “Bollywood” due to its likeness to Hollywood, has captivated audiences across the world. The film RRR, for instance, has garnered accolades from distinguished institutions of film such as in the 80th Golden Globe Awards.
Moreover, private companies like that of T-Series have successfully introduced products of the Indian entertainment industry to millions of international fans.
To conclude my letter, I would regard that this article in question fails to provide readers with adequate and comprehensive context by neglecting the beneficial impacts of globalization.
While globalization does have deep and intrinsic links to the dark legacy of imperialism and colonialism, thereby leading to the creation of the word “Westernization” to describe a cultural outcome of contemporary globalization, I believe that the readers should also be well-noted in its benefits.
It is my opinion that the perspective presented in the aforementioned writing of Bajaj is narrow and fragmented, overlooking the indispensable role of globalization in creating a more connected, and thereby a more prosperous world for all.
I believe that no country can thrive under a policy of isolation: history itself has proven that such doctrine of governance is ineffective. Globalization is simply the sine qua non for the nations of today to achieve success and ensure the prosperity for its people.
Signed,
Jaewon Choi ’28
