THE IMPACT OF WEST OF INDIAN CULTURE ( Western civilization and Indian society, Indian religion, philosophy and the western culture and civilization, Indian fine arts and the west)

(I)            Western civilization and Indian society

We are witnessing a silent revolution in Indian society due to the impact of the west. On one side there ws a group of conservatives and reactionaries who warned the people of the insidious encroachments by the west. This group of conservatives and reactionaries also persuaded the people loudly to follow old traditions and customs and maintain social solidity. On the other side there was the group of progressive. They focused the attention of the people on the major social evils like the untounchability, inequality, backwardness of women, child=-marriage, parda system, illiteracy, polygamy, divas system, etc. and induced people to accept good thing of the west. This has aroused our social consciousness and helped in the growth of middle classes.

On account of the impact of the western civilization and cultural our moral ideas are changed beyond recognition. Our manners and methods, dress and diet, modes of though and ways of living reveal western traces. The caste system which has been the bed rock of Hindu society for centuries together is itself collapsing; its rigidity is slackened. Many social evils are disappearing fast. A new view of life and conduct has b.een introduced in India by the west.

(II)          Indian religion, philosophy and the western culture and civilization

The impact of western civilization and culture in reduced radical changes in the realm of our religion., Superstation was replaced by reason and conservatism yielded to independent thinking. The traditional explanations of the Shasta’s were subjected to critical scientific examination. Old beliefs, habits and traditions wren critically and rationally examined. In the realm of philosophy we received the western philosophies of materialism, realism and idealism. It created intellectual ferment in the educated classes.

In the modern age contact with the west made Indians realize that scientific inventions lie at the root of the marvelous progress of the west. The west has given us a spirit of inquiry, lure our exploration, method of scientific experiment and invention and holiness of enterprise.

(III)        Indian fine arts and the west

It is the west which has restored to us our ancient fine arts and made us know the glories of our past. European scholars like sister Nivedita, Haveli, Ferguson, Hindu Stuart etc., have revealed to the world the salient features of the fine arts of India. Gunning ham, coomarswamy, Marshal, Percy Brown, Smith, Tied, Max Muller and other have written monumental works on the greatness and glories of our past. Thus the successful efforts of the west enabled us to regain our cultural heritage.