New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to China after seven years has undoubtedly opened up new possibilities for economic cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping has given a message of friendship with India at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, and this is certainly a turning point in global politics, but we must also ensure that our cultural autonomy is not sacrificed in the name of trade.
We must not forget our past bitter experiences. China has tried to shake our roots not only through trade tactics but also through cultural infiltration. Today 70% of the toys sold in India come from China, and this figure has reached 80%. This is not just trade – it is a planned attack on the psyche of our children.
China is a big supporter of electronic toys and games because they offer new ways to teach children while entertaining them. But in reality this “education” is just a sham. Children who play with Chinese electronic toys get addicted to instant gratification, lose patience, and move away from traditional games that develop a sense of community and mental peace.
Our traditional games like Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Gilli-Danda taught collectivism, but Chinese games encourage children to play alone. The result is that children get engrossed in these games for hours and lose social skills.
China’s pawkiness is evident even in the case of Feng Shui. They have pitted their Feng Shui against our thousands of years old Vastu Shastra. Today, idols of our gods and goddesses are being made in China. Seeing the label ‘Made in China’ on the idols of Ganesh Ji, Lakshmi Mata, and Hanuman Ji is playing with our religious sentiments.
It is a matter of concern that in the name of economic cooperation, China is usurping our cultural freedom. China has hatched a conspiracy to get the idol of one of its fat men installed in our homes in the name of “Laughing Buddha”. This is a fraud with Mahatma Buddha and Ganesh Ji. Just look carefully at the Laughing Buddha – only Ganesh Ji’s head has been changed in it, everything else – fat belly, hand posture, expression of happiness, belief in good luck and problem solving – everything is the same as our Ganesh Ji.
Just imagine that Ganesha’s head was cut off during that period, and in the present, China has cut off Ganesha’s head again and put a Chinese man’s head on it.
Our festive decorations, Diwali diyas, Holi colours, and Durga Puja items – everything has become ‘Made in China’. Our holy festivals have been commercially adulterated.
Scientists have proven that Indian bells cure eye defects, ear problems and mental disorders, yet Chinese windchimes have tried to replace our traditional bells. China today is achieving a turnover of around Rs 20,000 crore through Feng Shui. On the other hand, the size of the Vastu consultant industry in India is around Rs 5,000-7,000 crore, and there are 47,000+ consulting firms working here, out of which thousands are Vastu experts. The difference is that while our Vastu experts are serving only the Indian market, Chinese Feng Shui is expanding globally.
Economic necessity is our compulsion, but cultural autonomy is our life breath. We have the world’s most ancient and scientific Vastushastra, we have Ganesha, Lakshmi, and Krishna, and we have a great tradition of yoga, Ayurveda and spirituality – then why do we need Chinese imitations?
This is not just an article but a cry of a mother who cries seeing her children adopting foreign culture. This is a plea of a child who is in agony seeing the heritage of his ancestors being erased.
Modi ji, you are the Buddha of our modern era; the welfare of the country is seen in every policy of yours. But please take care of one thing: our cultural life breath should not stop in the name of economic progress. There may be trade, there may be cooperation, but culture should not be touched – this is our call, this is our prayer. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat – but cultural India should also remain alive.
Author Manoj Jain
(Internationally renowned Vastu consultant, energy expert and social worker)
