2022-08-25 10:40:15
Acculturation The concept of acculturation was
coined in 1880 by American geologist John Wesley Powel in a report for the U.S. Bureau of Ethnology.
He defined it as the
psychological changes induced in people due to cross-cultural imitation, resulting from the
interaction with different cultures. Acculturation, in present days, is defined as the process in which a person or group from one culture comes in contact with another culture,
adopting the values and practices of the other while still
retaining their own distinct identity. A suitable example would be the
integration of Black Americans within the white American society. Sociologists understand acculturation as a
two-way process, wherein the
minority culture adopts aspects of the majority to fit in and the culture of the
majority is also influenced by that of the minority.How Relevant is Acculturation in India’s Context? India’s distinctive fusion of various cultures helps significantly in understanding the concept of acculturation and its outcomes.
Persian culture has influenced almost all aspects of Indian society; the origins of popular
food items like biriyanis and faloodas and spices like saffron, and cumin seeds trace back to Persian origins. The Urdu language a blend of Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Hindi, is an example of the
amalgamation and transmutation of cultures. The architectures of Christian churches in kerala like the Cheriapally (small church) in Kottayam or the Pazhaya Suriyani Pally (old Syrian church) in Chengannur have marks of hindu temple Architecture styles
Sculptures of Christian deities inside a lotus similar to that of Hindu deities, and
sculptures of animals like cows, elephants, and monkeys carved onto the church walls are excellent examples of the
integration of Hindu and Christian traditions and cultures in Indian society.
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