Against the backdrop of the seminar on the theme ‘Modernization without Westernization’ organized by the Janjati Vikas Samiti Nagaland on August 25, an attempt is being made to raise certain points in the ongoing debate on this very pertinent theme. It will be only fair to mention right at the outset that the theme under discussion is both sensitive and certainly not an easy topic to comment on in the limited space of this column. To begin with, the terms ‘modernization’ and ‘westernization’ are loaded with meaning with regard to the economic, political, religious and cultural change in the non-western world. In Naga society, it is particularly relevant with the coming of colonialism and Christianity at the beginning of the 20th century. The perception is that with Christianity came westernization and that the two are intertwined to the extent that it is difficult now to separate one from the other. The theme of the seminar therefore, is a relevant one in the context of modern Naga society. Hopefully the outcome of the seminar will merit greater attention to be given on this issue even in the days to come.
In a sense, westernization is ubiquitous. Turn on the Television, browse the Internet, go shopping, eat out at McDonalds or drink coffee at Starbucks. We no longer, as the saying goes, go to the world, but rather the world comes to us. These signs of the modern world are all around us and they shape our livelihoods. Modernization meanwhile is seen as a process, an evolution from archaic society to a more evolved one where people have better standards of living, more liberty and are better educated. However this has been criticized because it views modernization with western values and that western values are needed to civilize society and make it modern.
Coming to the central theme of the seminar, there is indeed the viewpoint that modernization can exist without westernization. Take Japan for example. Their slogan in the 19th century was to modernize industrially but to remain Japanese culturally; and in a way it worked for them as they surged ahead into the 20th century conquering the world of electronics and automobiles. Did they completely reject western values and ideals to reach their goals? This is a tricky equation: some argue that in the process of modernization, Japanese culture has indeed undergone westernization. Similarly, Turkey in the 1920 and 30s under Kemal Ataturk has shown us that to modernize a country industrially, one must westernize culturally. Ataturk may have destroyed ‘traditional culture’ in an effort to modernize and effectively westernize Turkish society, but in the process, others would say, he brought to light women’s rights under rigid social structures and gave them more representation. This is also the position of those who believe that the coming of Christianity and westernization is good for Naga society.
The question however is whether such a dichotomy between modernization and westernization is helpful at all and whether we can instead look at a practical alternative? Globalization can help us to a great extend in finding solutions in an otherwise hopeless divide. Globalization champions the exchange of the free flow of ideas from one continent to the other, from one culture to another. If Indian food or yoga can help galvanize western society, why should we, in the East, be averse to western values? Is it that one is better than the other? Or has the world become so black and white that one has to inadvertently choose sides? Hopefully a via media can be found to put an end to this acrimonious debate.
