Globalisation and Social Transformation in India

Globalisation has generated a new discourse in India with regard to the nature of social and cultural change. This paper focuses on the concept of globalisation, the problems of social transformation, socio-cultural fallouts of globalisation and its potential for social transformation. Globalisation has brought about advances in information and communication technology (ICT) and unification of the world by market integration. However, globalisation has not been a uniform process of social transformation because of its differentiated spread and impact. Hegemony and hierarchy among nations vis-à-vis globalisation are felt across the world. Globalisation is a mixed reality having both fallouts and outcomes. It is an outcome of liberalisation and its unavoidable company is of privatisation, and the two are not without their negative effects on Indian society and culture. Besides the rise of a new middle class, mainly in terms of consumerism, peasants, Dalits and poor have not been benefited by globalisation. Even institutions like marriage, family and age-old traditions and customs are under threat. State as an institution is becoming weak and soft. Far more inequality has been ushered in and as such the process helps urban educated people such as engineers, managers, doctors and tradesmen a lot. However, the fact is that globalisation has become a reality and it is going to stay for a long time in India.