Traditional Values in the Time of Globalization

Abstract

The tension between the traditional and modern got new dimensions by the beginning of the twenty-first century due to unexpected before prospects of globalization when it became apparent that the uni-polar world is unrealistic. However, the multi-polar world cannot emerge only due to economic and military powerfulness. One needs to possess and to disclose a certain set of values. These values are to be grounded on one’s cultural heritage so that to be capable to safeguard an internal unity and mobilization of a nation for achieving high goals. – In this article the attention is paid to those features of Indian culture which might promote its modernization: “inclusiveness,” i.e., the ability to include other cultural patterns through assimilation; the system of varna-ashrama-dharma which paradoxically proves not only to provide stability, but can also contribute to “mobilization” for the active action of human activities. – Flexibility of Eastern traditions allows believing that there is a possibility of modernization without loss of cultural identity. This scenario is pursued for almost the whole of the twentieth century. The debate between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore makes clear that to include the present and in particular the past in our future means to take tradition as “a very important thing in the life of a nation”. Yet, it does not mean that tradition should be perpetuated or prolonged beyond a point of time since it would inhibit freedom and creativity genius of the people concerned.