Comparing two cultures familiar to me—Indian culture and Western culture—reveals distinct values and practices. Indian culture, with traditions like those of eighteenth century Lucknow, emphasises hospitality and rituals. Western culture, often contrasted with Indian culture, has different norms and values regarding social behaviour.

When cultures come into contact, the question of ethnocentrism arises. Ethnocentrism is the application of one's own cultural values in evaluating the behaviour and beliefs of people from other cultures. The cultural values projected as the standard are considered superior to the beliefs and values of other cultures.

It is difficult not to be ethnocentric because we naturally view other cultures through our own cultural lens. A sense of cultural superiority often underlies ethnocentric comparisons, as demonstrated in colonial situations. Thomas Babbington Macaulay's Minute on Education (1835) exemplifies this when he speaks of forming persons "Indian in blood and colour but English in tastes, in opinions, morals and intellect."

The opposite of ethnocentrism is cosmopolitanism, which values other cultures for their difference. It does not evaluate other people's values according to one's own but celebrates different cultural propensities. English emerged as a vehicle of international communication through foreign word inclusion, and Hindi film music gained popularity through borrowings from western pop music.

Thus, while avoiding ethnocentrism is challenging, developing a cosmopolitan outlook helps appreciate cultural diversity.