Globalization Poses a Threat to the
Local Food Culture in India
The advancements in technology, transportation, and communication are used to integrate capitalist economies, assimilate societal attitudes, and incorporate global administration and systems. Globalization, to put it simply, is the growth and deepening of international connections and exchanges of people, goods, capital, ideas, and cultural expressions. No area is outside the scope of globalization, whether it be exposure to business, commerce, and employment opportunities or the nation's economic and financial situation (Lala 252). Globalization is an international initiative that aims to keep people's lifestyles uniform over the world, but this homogeneity is replacing local food culture with Westernized food culture.
India is a culmination of different religions, dialects, traditions, customs, music, art, and architecture, among other things, all bundled into one cohesive and nationalistic whole. When we examine this rich culture from the perspective of globalization, we can see numerous examples of westernization and the blending of different characteristics and civilizations into our exquisitely woven blanket. The Indian way of life has never been out of date; rather, it has changed with time (Dutt 2). Many believe that Indian culture's historical capacity for resiliency is currently progressively eroding. Globalization has contributed to speeding the formation of cultural identities and self-awareness in addition to homogenizing some parts of Indian culture. Diversity is also spread by the widening gaps between the various Indian demographic divisions and the ensuing unevenness in the diffusion of a global culture. Therefore, globalization is a much wider, more complicated, and more diverse process. Recognizing and valuing plurality and multiplicity as a better representation of modern, worldwide social life is our struggle today (Ghosh 1).
The most prominent change in Indian lifestyle which occurred due to Globalization is the shift from local food to fast food. As more and more fast-food outlets opened, people started gravitating toward them. As a result, “grab and go” culture originated which basically means placing an order at the outlet and receiving the food in a matter of 5-10 minutes. This culture is not just detrimental to people’s health but is also depriving them of proper eating habits. Populations all throughout the world modify their diets as a result of globalization. The modern nutrition transition in India entails a change from traditional diets rich in fiber and cereals to diets rich in sugar, processed carbs, fats, and animal products. This change frequently entails eating more foods that have been substantially processed and foods that are consumed away from home. The nutrition change is linked to growing chronic disease rates globally, along with the decreased physical activity (Maxfield 2).
With the advent of globalization and industrialization, the fast-food industry has grown substantially, and the nation's political economy has shifted to a structure more conducive to global capitalism. Consumers today are more sophisticated, have higher standards for food, are less concerned with quantity, and have varying expectations for both price and quality. When selecting from a market that offers a wide range of items, both innovative and not, with various criteria, complementary, and occasionally unconventional, an informed consumer frequently makes ideological decisions(Nesci 717).India is no stranger to fast food as delicacies like chole bhature, dahi bhalle, aloo tikki , gol gappe etc. dominate the diet of almost every Indian (Nandy 12). Since westernized companies have commenced their business in India, the presence of local food is declining.
The impact of the fast-food industry in India has been brutal and has resulted in a lack of authenticity but, is it worth it? Since fast food has become a part of our regular diets, we are quite accustomed to it. Being an international student in the United States of America has its challenges but adjusting to the food isn’t one of them. Due to globalization, most international students are already habitual to fast food, making it easier for them to fit in. As a result, international students feel at home.
Another positive outcome of globalization of the food industry is the competition that it brings in the local markets. Western companies have made their place in India and have tried to replace local vendors time and again. Consequently, local food vendors try to improve the quality and variety of their food items which in turn results in better service to customers. In conclusion, the local food culture of India is in dire need of a reformation to attain the level of authenticity it was previously known for.
Works Cited
Dutt, Triveni . "Globalization and its Impact on Indian Culture." Review Journal of Political Philosophy, 2017.
Ghosh, Biswajit. "Cultural changes and challenges in the era of globalization: The case of India." Journal of Developing Societies 27.2 (2011): 153-175.
Lala, Namrata Ms. "Globalization and its Impact on Indigenous Food Habits and Culture of the Khasi Community of the North East." International Journal of English Language, Literature and Humanities, 2014.
Maxfield, Amanda, Shailaja Patil, and Solveig A. Cunningham. "Globalization and food prestige among Indian adolescents." Ecology of food and nutrition 55.4 (2016): 341-364.
Nandy, A. (2004). The Changing Popular Culture of Indian Food: Preliminary Notes. South Asia
Research, 24(1), 9–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/0262728004042760
Privitera, Donatella, and Francesco Saverio Nesci. "Globalization vs. local. The role of street food in the urban food system." Procedia Economics and Finance 22 (2015): 716-722.
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