Globalization and Its Positive and Negative Sides for India

Introduction

This essay will focus on globalization and its impact on India. Globalization is the new reality. It’s not a rigid force but an evolving set of consequences. Some of them are good, some are bad, and some are unintended. In simple terms, globalization means the process through which societies and economies are integrated through cross-border flows of ideas, communication, technology, capital, people, finance, goods, services, and information. Globalization is generally referred to as a modern concept, but it is hardly new for India. India played a distinct role in the world economy during the beginning of the Christian era. A form of globalization in India was in existence during the Indus Valley Civilization. The trade links between Sumer and the Indus Valley Civilization are examples that show the existence of globalization in the third millennium BC. India was the world’s largest economy during the historic period, accounting for around 32.9% share in global GDP, but the arrival of the British isolated India from the world markets (Maddison, 2001). India was intentionally isolated from the world economy, which ruined the basic economic structure of India. After independence, India was left with a disturbed economy and scarce financial resources. That is when globalization was reintroduced in India in 1991 through the New Economic Policy. Globalization was one of the branches of the New Economic Policy. Liberalization and privatization were also part of the New Economic Policy. This introduction made a huge impact on the social, cultural, political, communal, and monetary life of India (Bhagwati, 2004).

Economic and Cultural Aspects

Cross-country integration has several aspects, such as social, political, and/or economic, but the most common of all is the financial aspect. The economic aspect refers to the development and integration of a country’s economy with another country’s economy, which will automatically lead to the integration of the social and cultural aspects of the respective countries. The socio-cultural impact of globalization is both negative and positive. As we know, Indian cuisine is considered one of the popular cuisines across the globe. Historically, Indian spices were among the most sought-after trade items. However, after independence and the application of the economic policy, western foods such as Chinese, pizza, burgers, etc., have become quite popular in our country, and the youth are very much fascinated by these kinds of foods. Indian cuisine has become world-famous, but the youth of our country are shifting from their roots (Nandy, 2005).

If we look at the clothing trends, we see a drastic change in the fashion industry. The traditional Indian clothes for women are sarees, kurtis, cholis, and ghaghras, and for men, it is kurta, pajama, and dhoti, but after globalization, western clothes such as jeans, t-shirts, skirts, etc., are more preferred by the people of our country. Indian performing arts include multiple varieties of religious, folk, cultural, and classical forms and are popular worldwide, but hip hop and western dance forms are liked by the people of our country. The increasing migration rate and financial independence have led to the breaking of joint families into nuclear families. Concepts of national identity, family planning, jobs, and tradition are changing rapidly. The rise in the trend of nuclear families has reduced the social security for senior citizens (Chakrabarti, 2006).

Education and Employment

As we know, getting information about something today is very easy, which has led to specialization and the promotion of higher education in the country. On the flip side, the disadvantage of private education, coaching classes, and paid study material is that it has created a gap between the haves and have-nots. It has become very difficult for an individual to obtain higher education. Research suggests that by 2050, more than 50% of India’s population will live in cities because the boom of the service sector and city-centric job creation has led to increasing rural to urban migration (Desai, 2010). The biggest problem in our country is unemployment, and to some extent, globalization has helped our country cope with this problem. Foreign Direct Investment has led to economic growth and job creation. However, the jobs are concentrated more in the service sector, leading to a rapid growth of the service sector (Kumar, 2005).

Agriculture and Health

Globalization has led to a boom period in the consumer market. Today, a consumer has a large number of products, unlike the times when there were only a few manufacturers. The rise in the service sector has led to a downfall in the agricultural sector. Greater integration of global commodities markets has led to constant fluctuation of prices. This has increased the vulnerability of Indian farmers. Farmers are increasingly becoming dependent on seeds and fertilizers sold by Multi-National Corporations. Globalization has not made any positive impact on the agricultural sector; rather, it has had a few detrimental effects as the government is always willing to import food grains, sugar, etc. Greater integration with the outer world and different people has also led to increasing susceptibility to diseases. The diseases have taken a global turn, which has led to greater investment in the healthcare system (Shiva, 2000).

Psychological Impact

Globalization has made a strong psychological impact on Indian society. The first one is the development of bicultural identity/hybrid identity, which means a part of one’s identity is rooted in his/her local culture, and another part is rooted in the awareness of one’s relation to the outer world. The development of global identities is not just merely to immigrants. People today, especially youngsters, develop an identity that gives them a sense of belonging to a global culture, which generally includes awareness of events, practices, styles, and information that are part of the global culture. We cannot say that the impact of globalization is entirely positive or negative. It has been both, and it is continuing; each of the consequences mentioned above can be seen in both ways. However, it becomes a matter of concern when a negative impact is observed on our Indian culture and heritage. The western influence on the youth has become alarmingly high. Every individual in India seems to believe that anything that happened in India or is going to happen in our country is recognized as appropriate until and unless recognized by the West (Sen, 2006).

Conclusion

In conclusion, globalization has deeply influenced various facets of Indian society, from economic growth to cultural shifts and psychological perceptions. While it has facilitated economic development and global integration, it has also posed significant challenges, particularly in preserving cultural heritage and addressing inequalities. As India continues to navigate this complex landscape, it remains crucial to balance embracing global influences while cherishing and protecting its unique cultural identity.

References:

• Bhagwati, J. (2004). In Defense of Globalization. Oxford University Press.
• Chakrabarti, R. (2006). Globalization, Democratization and Radicalization in the Muslim World. SAGE Publications.
• Desai, M. (2010). Globalization and Economic Development. Springer.
• Kumar, R. (2005). Globalization and India: Prospects and Perspectives. Gyan Publishing House.
• Maddison, A. (2001). The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective. OECD Publishing.
• Nandy, A. (2005). The Romance of the State: And the Fate of Dissent in the Tropics. Oxford University Press.
• Sen, A. (2006). Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny. Penguin Books.
• Shiva, V. (2000). Stolen Harvest: The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply. South End Press.