India has undergone many changes since gaining independence from the British in 1947. One example is the growing influence of Westernization, which has weakened the country’s nationalism. As a result, the rich culture and traditions that have defined India for millennia have slowly eroded, transforming into their Western counterparts.
One of the most noticeable shifts has been in the Indian food industry. It has always been dominated by family-owned businesses that mainly served Indian food, thus Indian cuisine remained the standard choice for most people. Furthermore, for most of its history, India’s trade revolved around spices, such as cumin, turmeric, and chilies, which is why classic Indian cuisine famously contains an abundance of spice and flavor. However, in recent years, the popularity of Western foods has surged in India, leading to a shift in dietary habits. Take pizza, for example, a food entirely unknown in India until the 1990s, it is now a staple for many and is served by large corporate chains like Domino’s, which surfaced around the same time. Unlike traditional family-run restaurants, these chains care less about maintaining the authenticity of Indian food and more about profitability. Moreover, the spiciness that once characterized traditional Indian food has now been lessened by restaurants that cater to younger generations and international tourists.
Another example is the prominence of traditional attire in Indian fashion. At home, at school, and in the workplace, I remember everyone would wear clothes native to and unique to India, crafted and perfected by their ancestors. Moreover, each region in India has its distinct style and materials for clothes because of the rich array of textiles found across India, such as silk, cotton, and wool, and the different techniques used to make clothing. In the past decades, however, Western fashion has stormed the scene, leading to a shift in dressing habits, especially among younger generations. Take jeans, for example: once uncommon in India, they are now worn by a significant amount of the populace, largely promoted by global fast fashion brands like H&M and Zara. These mass-produced clothes of the West prioritize trends overshadowing cultural significance and local craftsmanship. Many younger Indians now view traditional clothing as outdated or embarrassing, reserving it only for special occasions or wearing it at the urging of their elders. As a result, the common reality of traditional Indian clothing has diminished, eroding a key visual marker of India’s rich cultural heritage.
India is home to 22 official languages, around 19,500 total dialects, and the oldest language in the world, Tamil. Though 41 percent of India’s population speaks Hindi, languages and dialects vary greatly by region, reflecting the myriad of identities within India and highlighting the many vibrant heritages both shared between and unique to each of these communities. This diversity is increasingly at risk due to the rise of English; younger generations prefer to speak English rather than their native tongues. There has been a growing obsession and belief that being fluent in English shows status and knowledge. Now, despite living in India all their lives and being surrounded by Indian languages, some younger individuals may not even be able to speak the language of their community; instead, they only speak English. This is highly detrimental because language is tied to cultural identity and heritage, and in a country where there are so many languages, each tied to a rich and unique culture, the loss would mean losing a piece of the community itself. With the rise of English, India is losing its linguistic diversity, putting many languages at risk of extinction — which is irreversible.
The strong national and cultural identity that was prevalent in India is now facing a test in the wake of British rule. Westernization has now asserted itself in every aspect of Indian culture, posing an imminent threat to the country. If India hopes to preserve its distinctive and irreplaceable culture, it must not let Westernization overshadow its identity.
