Globalization

There are many stories that try to bring out the spirit of Globalization. Though listening to them helps you understand its meaning, the true feeling underlying this world is something to be experienced. I had such an experience first-hand in California. How you would you feel when you are sitting in an "Indian" restaurant in "USA" when a "Mexican" comes to you and serves you"Sambar Vada" while actually pronouncing it properly (better than the westernized teenage Indian girls :P)..!! It wasn't the first time I was seeing a person from a foreign land in such a situation, but, it was the first time I had this kind of realization strike me..

While dining in another Indian restaurant, I was helping an American choose his dishes, since he was a bit confused with non-familiar words such as 'Kofta', 'Panneer', etc. We soon struck up a conversation and he was recollecting his recent visit to India which happened to be his 2nd trip there, after 20 years. He sounded astonished at the development and westernization of the country and felt that India in the 90s was nicer. Now, many of us confuse ourselves between the development of a country and getting westernized. Westernizing our culture and thoughts does not make us a developed country. Similarly, the inverse need not be true either. But its a very fast ride, and all of us seem to be just about holding on to see where it leads us..

About 100 years ago, the country with the largest conquered land was the world's superpower - and Britain was the best player. Then came the age of Information and the US has taken a strong stance there. But no nation has remained at the top for long. So who is going to be next? Can India overcome looking up to the western world and take its own stance? Would China make the steady progress they have been doing with an intelligent and hard-working workforce? Or would it be a totally unnoticed player who would make a sudden leap into the race? Globalization has more often been looked upon as "westernization" of the world. The West has given us good and bad times. And its time to learn from them. Would we see an age where this buzz word represents its true meaning? Or are we heading towards adopting an existing set of streamlined ideas?