Modernity in a wide definition can refer to a post-traditional, post-medieval, post-feudal system towards modern western definitions like capitalism, industrialization, secularization, rationalization. Or even the idea of the nation-state which with its own set of regulations and definition. Of course, this is a bias definition coming from a Western viewpoint. Therefore from our point of view, what is our assimilation of ‘Modernity’?
‘Westernization’ is a popular word-definition which can also be interpreted as coming under or adopting Western culture by other societies. Whether this is on industry, technology, law, politics, alphabet, language, economics, religion, philosophy etc. The definition of Westernization is broad and covers a wide field of influences, partly because of colonization or enculturation (where a person learns the requirements of the culture by which he or she is surrounded by). However with the influences of Globalization or a global market, Westernization can rapidly spread with now better technology and communication. While reading through the definition of westernization I was actually more struck by its conveniently opposite definition, popularly known as ‘Westoxication’. Here inhabiting western ideologies and examples to imbibe into society for better governance or even growth is not the ideal. Instead the definition is closer to an overt obsession of the western world. Without its ideologies. Perhaps it is another emasculation altogether; pronounced in traditionally non-western countries like Japan, China and India, etc. It would be wrong to say that the middle-east do not have a degree of westoxication because when you compare a relatively un-western society fighting against the western world, they are actually fighting against the influence of ‘Westoxication.’
For India it is not difficult to indulge in westoxication or even to emulate it because the society is divided whether on caste basis, or religion and other distinctions. India has done so to an unconscious degree while not addressing the different divisions in society. One can observe this by India going against discotheques, Valentine’s day or even the English language, or in the other opposite consuming all the above mentioned attributes voraciously without any indigenous mediation or consideration. Here, one can distinguish the differences between Westernization and Westoxication. We can even witness westoxication in the west itself.
What is happening in society is that a divide is being formed on the basis of class and accessibility to consumer items bought wholesale from the West. The deep chasm between people/ or privileges is widening more and more in Indian society while flaunting one’s social distance from the rest is the ideal epitome. The problems and its solutions are complex and complicated for India, one has to address it from many different points of view because caste system has been prevalent in India since Vedic times. Westoxication may not have any root, or strong basis to even define itself. Seen through a straightforward glass, it is what honesty would say- greed, identity-loss or more importantly a lunge at the West world with no depth.
India has adopted the western ideologies of Democracy (originated from Greece), Socialism (a social ownership of economy) and Secularism (prevention of religious philosophies to influence government and indifference to one’s faith) which have also contributed to some of its progress. Thank God for that, else we would have been stuck in one century or even worse regressed further back. In those ways, I really believe that Westernization may just have sustained India thus far.
Reflections
Coming back to our context, where do we find ourselves? The term with Superficial Modernity is defined along surface-contact. Superficial meaning lacking depth, swift, cursory; apparent, not real. And somewhere our mentality or mindset may need to be addressed or even questioned. It is not a question of sheltering oneself away but somewhere no middle-road has surfaced for anyone to take. In this consequence superficiality blossoms forth while intellectual processing of events and circumstances is deftly left out.
In a country like India, Modernity and Westernization has been acutely defined as gizmos and technology. Not a mindset or mentality. To adapt them that quickly upon ourselves would be unimaginable considering how different the cultures are and the different levels of processing one would need to go through to understand each other. Therefore acquiring them to up one’s status and to also obtain social distance in society is rather a means to an end. While beneath it, traditionalism, superimposition of conflicting ideas and mental backwardness defines its reality. In fact, one cannot consider these people ‘modern’ besides the superficial and surface-contact in your first-encounter. There will be no more depth in conversation, mentality or connection on any level unless a distant-observation. When this is just about material acquisition you will face a more dog-eat-dog world of opportunists whose mere definition would be opportunist; culture, ethics or any vague definition of those not quite able to embrace it.
I met a foreign social worker who had been in India since the 1970s and she describes how inextricably India has changed India over a mere span of ten to twenty years. She said, “Everyone expects something nowadays. When you walk into a store it isn’t the poor who push you but the middle-educated class of society. It was not like this before, people had simpler dreams then and aspirations. With this new mentality they are just eating up each other.” She had been to Nagaland in the 90’s too and come continually to document and record the ‘rich culture of the hills’.
What is our reality? What is the purpose of a future when it has no past or we’ve cancelled it out? Where is our reality in a globalizing world; reaping its curses across developing countries as they step along long trials of cultural heritage and the history of a people? I wonder what superficiality can do.
