Impact Of Western Culture On Indian Culture

The world, as of today, has become a “global village” where ideas and traditions are exchanged and appreciated among people from different nations. This can be termed as globalization which involves assimilation of social attitudes and culture through the advancement of technology, transport and communication.(citation 1) The food habits and culture of the western world has, to a great deal, affected the social demographics of India. In the colonial period, the British influenced us by introducing to the European cooking style. Today, urbanization, increasing incomes and foreign direct investments are the underlying forces behind the changing food culture in India.(citation 2)

The Western pattern diet includes the American and European cuisines.

English influence on Indian cuisine resulted in Anglo-Indian food. English pork chops marinated in spices and chillies, soups and salads became a part of the Indian menu under British influence. They initiated the consumption of curries that were more watered down and eaten with rice. English snacks such as sponge cake, cucumber sandwiches and lemon-curd tartlets became a part of Indian menu. The English also brought about changes in the Indian kitchen. The transformation can be seen as porcelain replaced the banana leaf/ brass plate as the utensil to eat and dining table replaced the kitchen floor as the place to eat. They introduced the concept of knives and forks as cutlery (citation

Major fast food joints such as McDonald’s , Pizza Hut and Dominos, are now present in almost every corner of the country. The sudden increase in demand for fast food is leading to the decrease of its opposite: slow-food. Slow-food is the traditional and cultural cuisine, which encourages farming of plants, seeds and livestock to supply society with food (citation 5). This will affect the Indian agriculture and the farmers that rely on this profession for their livelihood, as there will be no demand for the crops grown on the fields. India’s cuisine is being altered by the increased consumption of western fast food items. Traditional food markets and vendors selling street food cannot compete with the branded and easily available fast foods, causing a transformation in the food pattern. Eating out is more preferred against the healthy home cooked meals, ultimately contributing towards weight gain. If the consumption of the simple fast foods are not in control, the population will become overweight, which has a negative impact on the Indian economy. More the obese citizens, more is the need of treatment and health care, making them a liability for the economy.( citation 6) Unbalanced diets leads to various deficiencies and stunted growth .Over- consumption of junk food