Canonization refers to the process by which certain works, individuals, or ideas are officially recognized as being of the highest importance or value within a particular domain. The term is used in various contexts, including literature, religion, and culture.

🔴 1. Literary Canonization  
In literature, canonization is the process of designating certain texts as part of the "literary canon," which represents the most influential, enduring, and studied works within a tradition.  
- Selection: Works are chosen for their artistic, cultural, or historical significance.  
- Authority: Canonical works often reflect the dominant cultural or ideological values of their time.  
- Exclusion: Canonization can marginalize or exclude voices, especially those from underrepresented groups such as women, Dalits, Adivasis, or non-Western writers.  

Examples:  
- Western Canon: Works by Shakespeare, Milton, and Jane Austen.  
- Indian Canon: Works by Kalidasa, Premchand, and R.K. Narayan.  

🔴 2. Religious Canonization  
In religion, canonization refers to the formal declaration of a person as a saint or the recognition of texts as sacred.  
- In Christianity: A process by which the Catholic Church declares someone a saint, involving steps like beatification and recognition of miracles.  
- In Texts: Defining sacred scriptures (e.g., the Bible in Christianity, the Vedas in Hinduism).  

🔴 3. Cultural Canonization  
In a broader sense, canonization applies to cultural artifacts such as films, music, or art that are deemed classics.  
Examples:  
- Films like Pather Panchali (India) or The Godfather (USA).  
- Art by Van Gogh or Raja Ravi Varma.  

🔴 Criticism of Canonization  
- Bias: Reflects the dominant ideologies of those in power.  
- Exclusion: Marginalized voices and perspectives often remain outside the canon.  
- Evolution: Canons are not static; they evolve as societies reconsider their values and priorities.  

Canonization remains a dynamic process, shaping how cultures remember, value, and transmit their heritage.