Elegant looks may be a mark of
westernization; elegant outlook is the mark of modern life.
Elegant outfits, fashionable hairstyles,
pop music and ultramodern amenities have become a common attribute
of the modern man. There is a – craze for Western lifestyle, music, food
habits, culture-in shortly, anything bearing the epithet of ‘Western’ finds a ready market even in
remote areas. In all this humdrum do we ever pause to reflect over the evil
effects of adopting an alien lifestyle? We
often forget that one man’s meat can be another’s poison.
What constitutes modernization is often
confused with westernization. Modernization and Westernization - are often
assumed to be synonymous. Understanding the difference is vital. In fact, modernization does not entail
Westernization. Whereas modernization entails a change in belief about the way
the material world operates, Westernization entails a change in cosmological beliefs about the way that one
should live. In present scenario it has been seen that modernization is leading
to Westernization effecting the Indian society at large. True that “In order to
make any country developed it is very essential for it to be modernized”, but in order to develop at a rate much
faster than today’s we should adopt certain good things of western countries by
holding our own culture and tradition. Therefore, it is must for India to
strive for Modernization, preserving its rich heritage, culture, customs and
tradition.
Modernization implies an improvement in
the standards of living, marching towards progress and aspiring for the very
best in every department of human activity. It means reaching the higher plane
in thoughts, words and deeds. Winds of change are sweeping every sphere of
activity and have revolutionized the life of man today. One can be modern
without necessarily adopting the false values of the western culture. In a
truly modern society, material and moral progress go hand in hand.
Charming looks and narrow-minded outlook
are not compatible; they lead us nowhere. Modernization consists in shedding
the insular beliefs of caste, creed sex, and status. Social evils such as the
dowry system, bridge-burning, drug addiction and eve-teasing beckon a segment
of our society; but one who truly discards them is modern-in the real sense of the term.
In the West the cup of materialism is
full to the brim and overflowing, but the cup of spiritual pleasure is sadly
empty. Broken homes, ruined lives and an insecure existence remind us of our
failures as human beings as we boast of our conquest over the material world.
Children in the West are exposed very’ early to obscenity, vulgarity, drugs and
sexual abuse.
This half-baked knowledge proves to be
dangerous and youngsters try to fill the void caused by lack of affection and
understanding at home by obtaining devious pleasures from dating, drugs and
drinks. At the end of the road, frustration stares them in the face and the
realization dawns on them that crowd is not company, faces are but a gallery of
pictures and lust has taken the place of love. The institution of marriage is
no longer respected. Leave aside a marriage of the true minds where “love alters not with the brief hours and
weeks”; for them it is a favorite pastime sans meaning, sans sanctity,
sans commitment. Western culture does not regard women as companions and
helpmates in life; but as means of satisfying only the carnal desires. While
the children are engrossed in movies, music, parties and dates, the parents are
busy pursuing their materialistic goals.
Where, then, is the time to sit together
and discuss or imbibe spiritual values? Emotional void, neurosis, disintegrated
personalities are the outcome of the empty cultural values of these people.
However, there is no denying-the fact that there is much that is good in the
West: there spirit of adventure, the policy of earning while learning, their
sense of time, sophisticated technologies and scientific adventure. There is no
harm in accepting the good and discarding the evil in the West. Who will deny
that Gandhi was a modern man? He lived and died for his lofty ideal and
believed in simple living and high thinking.
We must follow in the footprints of such modern men and women, who
possess tremendous courage, confidence and strength of character to ring out
the old and the false, and bring in new and the noble modes of life.
~ Anilesh Tiwari
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