| Abstract: :: Title: Youth, Technology and Culture Change in India: A Sociological Perspective Author: Ellina Samantroy * Abstract: “Youth culture” is explained as a transdisciplinary category by which theorists and policy analysts attempt to understand the changing cultural values among the modern youth in the period of global generations, defined by electronic communications technology, which is characterised, uniquely, by increased interactivity to understand the emergence of the complex forms of hybrid culture and identity that increasingly occur amongst youth throughout the world due to proliferation of media, the internet and other information communication technologies in their everyday lives. In a country like India where the whole population is steadily getting younger, we have found ourselves absorbed with the concerns and interest, the aspirations and frustrations of youth in whatever situation they find themselves. Changing social circumstances with the advent of technology have transformed the pattern of earlier relationship and disturbed the orderly progression of youth. With heightened consumerism, the spread of youth's lure for western lifestyle is incrementally gaining ground. A question arises whether the changing circumstances have led to the transformation of their world view or identity thereby creating a separate cultural pattern. The youth today are seeking a universal identity; they are a new kind of population, who are more resilient and adaptable than the elders, ready for change, open to new ideas. In this context, it is not possible to speak with detachment of 'youth' a rather minor problem apart. Contemporary youth are in a particularly strategic situation while trying to adjust themselves to the "multiple realities" of the post -modern world. With tremendous growth in youth's commitment to cosmopolitan values, and yet the hold of tradition, caste and religion remaining intact a situation of cultural dilemma does exist. One natural result of this uncertainty and confusion is that there is an increasing concern about, interest in, and a searching for, sound or meaningful value approach which can hold its own in a post-modern world. In recent times, because of increasing confusion evident in educational, political and social thinking surrounding youth, their transition to adulthood, there is a need to handle the "crisis" which has engulfed the future torch-bearers of our country. So the present paper tries to unravel the emerging cultural traits and values with regard to the major social institutions like family and marriage among the Indian youth under diversified social situations and cultural contexts. | |
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