Hindigenization of Bangladeshi Culture through the Penetration of Satellite TV: Paradigm of Modernization vs. Dependency Theory

Abstract

Globalization through free flow of information, free market economy, satellite channels, internet etc. has made the world global village on the other hand global pillage. Modernization thinkers argue People’s mind or thinking has been globalized through free flow of information; people’s taste, choice, habit, life style etc. have been globalized through satellite channels, newspapers, magazines, movies, serials etc. On the other hand dependency thinkers argue, globalization is a new form of exploitation like neoliberalization and neocolonization. In the colonial era, imperial countries directly accumulated from third world countries through colonization but globalization has brought neocolonialism causes developed western countries to be centre and rest of the world to be peripheries. According to Akande (2002), Globalization has resulted in the extinction of 22,000 indigenous cultures in the past decade and optimistic estimates suggests that as many as 90% of the world's languages will disappear in the next century.

Satellite Television is the powerful media to reach at the public audience regardless of age, sex, income or education level across nations. In addition, it presents sight and sound.  Due to availability of low price television and cable network, middle class and lower class peoples’ viewership have been rapidly increased in Bangladesh. Hindi serials are

mostly popular among girls and women. They eagerly wait to see the serials. Young people are mostly accustomed to see Hindi movies and Kolkata, Panjabi, Tamil movies too. They are preferring Hindi movies, serials etc. to Bangla movie, drama, serials etc. Children are seeing Hindi cartoon too. These Hindi movies, serials, cartoons have large impact to the human behavior, culture and language. People are viewing other world and other way of life. They are silently encompassing other behavior, language and overall culture.

Culture is the representation of the country’s identity. Satellite television undermines the national identity and overrides the local traditions. For Bangladesh, the significant cultural shift arises due to the impact of satellite TV. Indian channels like Zee TV, MTV, Star Plus, Sony TV serials are influencing the cultural sphere of Bangladesh. Through watching these channels, family ties and family values are getting threatened; specifically materials that favor divorce as a means to solve family problems or programming that includes obscenity, nudity, arousal of sexual instincts, or premarital sexual relations, extramarital affairs are completely destroying the cultural beliefs and values of Bangladesh.

Hindi movies and serials have impacts on fashion, clothing and fast food consumption. Labib (2001) stated that there is no solid evidence yet to prove the influence of satellite television, but he does not deny the anecdotal evidence to suggest an influence on women and girls in fields such as fashion, clothing as well as fast food consumption.

Kewwords: Hindi film, Hindi serial, Bangladeshi culture, Cultural aggression.