While India continues to run into the world ahead, into the future times where things keep getting better in all respects, our culture is one thing that may stand out to be a defining parameter that should never be replaced. But looking around us, one is forced to ask if the youth is forgetting our Indian culture in the name of modernization?

Everyone talks about “the change” but how many of us have taken a step forward to bring that change? The number is very very less. Fact is, we are afraid of being tagged as outdated – some by the modern camps they want to join and others by the roots that they are bound with.

Some say that the traditions are changing, because CHANGE IS LAW OF LIFE. So does that mean that what was once seen as right by one era may not be so right (or at least ‘not binding’) by another one? And so that puts the question to our value-system that has existed since ages.

Let’s talk about the increasing practise of live-ins. The Hindu culture forbids any physical association before the bond of marriage. However, today it is believed to be a practical thing to do to know a person before marriage to decide well enough if the person is compatible or not. And sex is seen as something biological rather than relationship-making/breaking. And why just talk about live-ins? Why don’t we get inspired by the good qualities from the western countries rather than the objectionable ones? Why don’t we bring up our children the way they do – with parenting schools etc.?

Is the west is so bad and is it really a threat to our culture? Or can we really learn certain things from them? Why cannot we stay as hygienic as them? Why don’t we follow traffic rules as they do? Why don’t we Indians have a sense of traffic and lane-system? Why do we not keep our streets clean? Why don’t we better our system by replicating their good policies, if we really have to get “modern” like them?

The answer, I believe, is in a deeper understanding of culture and modernisation.

West is not just about UK and USA. Those countries may well be the fulcrum of these ideologies. But do not forget Eastern “modernising” influences from Korea, Japan, Australia etc, besides that of entire Europe and all. Some of these named countries have risen to modern levels without any sacrifice to their cultural values.

Secondly, our culture is not getting invaded. It is getting replaced. There is no harm at all to get modernised or upgraded socially and in terms of lifestyle. However, the problem arise when your own culture gets compromised in the name of modernisation. So become modern and broad-minded is no harm, given you manage to preserve the values of your own culture. Look at Japan and Korea for example. These countries did not even need to adopt English to be where they are now. And though they wear suits and lead the world in terms of technology, their basic cultural foundation is as strong as it ever was.

Moreover, culture is not something that has been carved in stone. It can also evolve with time. This is where it separates from ‘tradition’. And so a few things that a later society – collectively, intellectually and morally – decided to incorporate and discard a few things, then so be it.

However, such things can only be justified if the alarm bells were not ringing as loud as they are. To answer the question above: Yes, the youth IS forgetting the cultural ethics and values in the name of modernisation.

We have stopped visiting our places of worship and prefer going to discos and pubs instead. People who still do are often mocked! The size of our clothes has gone down simultaneously with our acknowledgement to our elders. We do not take our moral education as seriously as we do the work-out in the gymnasium. The list goes on.