Traditional versus Modern

Another aspect within the theme of Urbanization that I think needs to be looked at is the bipolar divide between traditional/ Métis versus modern (corporate versus local) and how it is effecting our city.
This has been buzzing in my head after I heard a world bank economist speak. He said they were measuring literacy in India. The subjects they based the measure of literacy was on English and Maths. So if a student had studied in a non-English medium school and is real smart is still an illiterate by the world bank standards.
We need to retain and encourage traditional knowledge, language, industries, culture and not let urbanization impede it. It is sad how the irani cafes are being replaced by coffee chains, Telugu and Urdu by American English (training courtesy call centres), local industries by MNCs. I dont know about do-ability or funding prospects of this aspect but it is important.