5 Ways Colonialism Turned Indian Culture Into White Innovation

Photo via OX Magazine

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Growing up as an Indian child in a predominantly white neighborhood often made embracing my culture feel embarrassing or isolating. I spent much of my younger life trying to suppress my cultural identity, but as I got older I recognized a pattern: the same culture that made me feel unaccepted as a child is now innovative and trendy for the American people, but only when it’s rebranded and stripped of the people who actually lived it. Although the list is infinite, here are the 5 things I feel are most commonly seen as American innovation/open-mindness—all of which originated in Indian culture first and were taken to be profitable by Britain. 

1. Yoga

Yoga is an obvious addition to this list, as it’s fully rooted in Indian tradition as a spiritual and philosophical practice. Its origins are dated back to Lord Shiva, or Adiyogi (the first yogi), who taught the science of yoga to early civilizations in the Himalayas. Under British rule, India’s practice of yoga became dismissed as superstition and as overly sexual. Over time, Britain (and later America) created profitable labels of “hot yoga” and “power yoga,” which educated people on yoga practices that once made India alienated and inferior. The cultural appropriation reached such levels that the Indian government created the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, filled with thousands of yoga postures and medicinal remedies native to the Indian subcontinent to prevent foreign companies from patenting them. As we continue to feed this billion-dollar industry, it’s crucial to remember the Indian science it imitates without accrediting.

2. Turmeric + Ayurvedic Skincare

As we discuss the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, this haven also includes a vast number of native health/skin care products that were appropriated by other countries, such as turmeric. Growing up, my grandmother mixed turmeric into everything—milk during breakfast each morning, face masks, even hair care. When American researchers secured a U.S. patent for using turmeric for wound healing in the 1990s, India challenged and revoked it. They argued that this was not a “new invention,” but rather a remedy that’s recognized as common knowledge among Indian civilians. Beyond turmeric, India has built its ancient medicinal practices around Ayurvedic systems, which emphasize a natural, holistic approach to healing. Colonial rule deemed these systems unscientific and instead focused on Western biomedical studies; now, many Ayurvedic characteristics are reflected in herbal wellness markets in the U.S., marketed as “ancient Indian secrets” at luxury prices, while the communities that keep these practices alive barely reap the benefits. 

3. Fashion

South Asian fashion has always been the star of the show. Indian culture goes maximalist, filled with different patterns, colors, and styles. Although British rule did not remove fashion from the Indian identity, it did enforce modesty and Western tailoring techniques, reducing what makes the clothing truly authentic. It also became a tool to enforce inequality, as only Indian elites were able to wear Western fashion during the time of British rule. After progressive movements like Gandhi’s Khadi movement, which promoted handspun, handwoven clothing to foster self-reliance, India finally regained control of its fashion industry post-colonization. Fast forward to now, when traditional Mehndi (henna) is “boho tattoos” at a Coachella pop-up and Indian dupattas (scarves) are worn by Bella Hadid at the Oscars. In fact, many other celebrities, like Kendall Jenner and Gracia Abrams, have imitated early-2000s Bollywood styles without crediting any Indian designers. As the pattern repeats, Prada and Chanel receive paychecks while the Indian fashion community that built these innovations goes unnoticed.  

Gracies Abrams in a sequined Chanel two-piece and a wrapped dupatta.

Photo via The Nod Magazine

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4. Women’s Suffrage 

This one is quite interesting because, even as an Indian myself, I don’t always perceive that India often respects women and their autonomy. Although they did grant a lot of political respect to women in South Asia, only to have this direction dismantled by Colonialism. In Sri Lanka, women gained the right to vote in 1931. As soon as India became independent from the British monarchy in 1947, women were granted the right to vote on an equal footing with men from the very beginning. Today, Western governments like to position themselves as the exemplar of feminist values to the Global South, but let’s not forget that women had the right to vote far sooner than most Western nations. 

5. Homosexuality 

It would be impossible for me to say that the LGBTQ+ community has a safe place in 

India, because I cannot deny that rampant homophobia does still exist. Although with my research, I can confidently say that India was not originally this way, and current homophobic practices are just remnants of old British practices. In the 12th-century  Khajuraho temples, many same-sex erotic scenes were integrated into sacred architecture. The Kama Sutra includes an entire chapter on same-sex relationships, recognizing categories like swarinis (women who love women) and referring to same-sex relationships as “a union of love and cohabitation.” When the British arrived, the Kama Sutra was translated and published by a British Orientalist, and the colonial government introduced the Indian Penal Code, criminalizing “carnal intercourse against the order of nature.” This rule was weaponized against the LGBTQ+ community for almost 150 years, until India ultimately regained independence. After being disconnected from the true ancestral values of Hinduism, Indian communities echoed these homosexual perceptions that the British strictly emphasized. Although (most) developed countries can hold their head high when it comes to LGBTQ+ legislation, it’s important to note that India’s attitudes are a reflection of years of colonization and destruction of their culture. 

What happened to India is a pattern we continuously see: the white supremacy vindicator degrades living cultures, extracts what’s profitable, and then sells it back to them as their own. This systematically degrading practice removes the true ownership of ethnic communities and makes that very community feel ashamed and isolated, only to make it trendy the next day. The beauty of South Asian culture should be brought into conversations about fashion, wellness, and politics in our country, but only by giving credit where credit is due. 

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This article was edited by Abigail D’Angelo.