CULTURAL IDENTITY IN THE AGE OF MODERNIZATION – A STUDY OF SUBURBAN YOUTH IN 2047

Abstract

Investigating the relationship between the growing modern world and the explosion of new cultural trends, this paper signifies the context of VIKSIT BHARAT 2047. Citing our former president Mr A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM who gave an preview for the idea of developed India (2020), VIKSIT BHARAT aims to make our country a global power by 2047. 'Viksit Bharat 2047' leaves its footprint across numerous developed industries. However, our research paper focuses on the modernization of cultural identity from ancient to contemporary India. We explore the evolution, cultural hybridization, and culturalhomogenization by covering many aspects like education, migration, economic interdependence, globalization, culinary differences, etc. In this research paper, we explore our vision for 2047 within the context of cultural identity and modernization. For us, cultural development often seems like a leap from stage 1 to stage 5, where we disregard the processes and lessons from stages 1, 2, 3, and 4, believing stage 5 to be the most critical. This perspective prevents us from remembering the roots of our culture. Instead of focusing solely on industries and economic growth, we emphasize the field of culture and cultural modernization, which has undergone numerous evolutions from ancient times to the present.Globalization has widened cultural divides among people from diverse regions, paving the way for the hegemony of specific cultural practices and movements. To carry out this research, we have chosen a study that adopts a mixed-method approach, including quantitative methods and focus group discussions. We use youth as our primary source, along with a sample of the general public, to examine whether they are beginning to accept the cultural changes occurring in present society. Our sources come from suburban areas of four districts:Kanchipuram, Chennai, Sirkazhi, and Ramanathapuram.