The article substantiates and develops the idea that the reasons of the civilization “breakthrough” of India in the 20th century lie in relying on centuries-old cultural and spiritual traditions rather than in the modernization according to the Western patterns. The paper also covers the theoretical foundations of the great Indian philosophers and thinkers, e.g. Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi. In conclusion, a number of examples are presented, of traditions and modernity coexisting in today’s India.