The development scenario

India is experiencing several processes of change, such as demographic transition, industrialization and urbanization, skill development, social mobility, legal changes and greater assertion of autonomy. Glocalization, i.e., spread of the culture of globalization through local cultures has given rise to new meanings of tradition and modern. Although Lee (1994) defined glocalization as the simulation of modernity for the spread of commodity forms in local cultures, it cannot be separated from the replacement of thought categories: the process of spread of commodity forms has significant implications for change in the ideas and values. These processes of change have both functions and dysfunctions. Among the positive developments are: opening of demographic window (due to declining birth rate, lower life expectancy in old age, and progression of baby boom children); improvement in literacy rate; rapid expansion of education at all levels; greater flow of labor, capital and technology across international borders with emigrants sending a significant part of their remittances; increased productivity of service and industrial sectors; infrastructure development; promotion of tourism; new opportunities abroad due to aging of industrialized economies; empowerment of women; and new ideas of equality and justice. Among the dysfunctions are: environmental degradation; increasing marginalization among the agricultural laborers and artisans; rising disparities; religious and community bigotry promoted by political leaders, media and market; trafficking of women and children; a large number of cases of female feticide; violence against women; and at the root of many other dysfunctions, an idea that most the emergent problems of the country are due to a bad history.