[Answered]To what extent globalization has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain.

 India is a diverse country and India’s greatness lies in its unique culture. Globalisation is the process of expanding and accelerating the movement of ideas, people, capital and exchange of commodities (goods and services) over vast distances. India has also faced a significant impact on Indian cultural diversity in both positive and negative ways.

Impact on core of cultural diversity:

1. Linguistic diversity: The influence of transnational corporations has resulted in a central common language mainly English, which dominates regional dialects, and minority languages. But it has a positive dimension, where it had lead to Indians excelling in the services sector of the economy. Also, technology has helped preserve some of the dying artefacts, document local languages and also exposed Indians to various global arts/movies etc. For example, Flipkart and amazon is selling tribal artefacts, Channapatna wooden toys etc.
2. Caste: Though globalization has led to decreased emphasis on localised castes. Globalisation has led to the rise of lower castes by making them aware of their rights. People eat together, increased instances of inter-caste marriages are seen in the urban areas. But the socio-economic disparities in societies continues to cause conflicts, which are dominated by caste hegemony.
3. Religious diversity: In a globalised world where increased prosperity and materialistic pursuits have decreased the religion based conflicts and superstition. It also had led to questioning the age old exploitative traditions like Devadasi and Triple-talaq. Also though India is multi-religious but was dominated by Hindu’s with globalization it has led to be polarised by few religions. Also, exposed India to religious fundamentalism.
4. Racial diversity: Globalisation to an extent has changed the racial demography to an extent with decreasing numbers of Mongoloid race. Migration within and outside India has to an extent changed the demography of Indian races.
5. Women empowerment: Globalisation has attacked the discriminatory tendencies and patriarchal mindset in India. It has helped in getting rid of practices derogatory to women and has helped in the rise of women and exposure of women related issues. E.g. globalisation has helped women to realise their rights and led to raise their voice against crime like dowry.

How this has diluted the diversity in India?

1. Unmonitored access to Western culture has led to increasing misrepresentation, stereotyping and the risk of loss of cultural and intellectual property rights.
2. Increased consumerism and availability of media has led to erosion of local cultural traits.
3. Under the influence of Western ideas of individualism there has been more homogenization of values and beliefs. Eg: Loss of local artefacts, promotion of western dressing, shift from local culinary habits etc.
4. English as a medium of mass communication has undermined the local languages. The development of literature is also impacted by this. Many tribal languages have been wiped out due to the use of a common tongue.
5. The globalisation generalised the taste and preferences of people relating to food, dance forms and Values. This undermines the peculiar features of various ethnicities like cuisines.
6. In the globalised and mechanised economy no art has remained local. Countries like China is flooding Indian market with the products which were local to India like toys making. This has impacted diversity in Art and handicraft as now we find the same kind of product all over India.
7. Increasing urbanization as a consequence of globalisation has resulted in migration of people from rural areas, resulting in the disintegration of the joint family system. A new trend of nuclear families with one or maximum two children has emerged in India.

India is a land of pluralism. The highly diverse nature of our culture is the uniting strength of India. As a result of globalization, women in India have become more aware of their rights and are now stepping out of homes to pursue not only schooling but higher education and jobs.  Globalisation to an extent acted as a unifying force but monitored access would help India preserve its multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-caste society. Thus, it has both positive and negative influence overall.