Good morning,

Respected judges, elders and dear friends!  I am Rajiv Das, a student of Class VII of XYZ Public School, Cuttack. It gives me immense pleasure to stand before you and express my views on the famous and highlighted topic “Tradition and Modernity: Friends or Foes?” It is just a golden opportunity for me and a matter of great pride and glory to justify my view whether tradition and modernity are friends or enemies. In my opinion tradition and modernity are friends, not foes at all.

Before elaborating my view point as to how both tradition and modernity are friends, it is most essential to define both tradition and modernity, in real sense. A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Modernity refers to a post-traditional era influenced by Western philosophy and culture. More specifically, the term encompasses the activities and output of those who feel that the traditional forms of art, culture, literature, social belief and daily life style are outdated in the new economic, social, and political conditions of an emerging fully globalized world.

But, tradition and modernity are not contradictory. They are merely two different classes of things which can however interact beneficially. Both tradition and modernity work in relation with each other. Another important point to be remembered is that modernity is based on the traditions. All things in the contemporary life are created on top of the past. Tradition functions as a cultural force with social, economic, and political correlatives, where as modernity is an economic force with social, cultural and political correlatives.

Modernity in the Indian sense is the influence of the West. The modernity, which is exploded upon us, is the moment of liberation in every sphere-social, political and cultural. But, our struggles for emancipation seem to have left us half-way, inviting degradation of social and ethical values, increasing inhuman activities, nasty politics, corruption, terrorism and the list is very long. China, Japan and Korea are now much advanced. But they have not sacrificed their long age-old noble values and great traditions.

No age or generation is fully static in thought and action. New ideas and concepts have to come with change and challenge of times. All traditional values are not evil. Only a few of them are. Therefore, an amalgam of virtues of both would help mankind to remain on track. The average man must become an active and purposeful moral force. Modernity must be marked by genuineness, sincerity and selflessness- the great traditional values. We can use the great modern triumphs of scientific knowledge for the true development of civilization based on ethical and spiritual ideals, and ordained by human tradition.

Lastly, I would like to conclude my view by saying that tradition and modernity are, thus, not foes, but friends. Together they help mankind. For mankind at the present scenario it is most essential to take benefit from both- to modernize tradition, to adapt the required good qualities of modernity. Unfortunately, however, some sections of society in almost every country have been creating a barrier between tradition and modernity, considering them inimical to each other.