UPSC SOCIOLOGY MAINS SYLLABUS
Paper 2 – Indian Society Structure and Change
(ii) Impact of colonial rule on Indian society :
(a) Social background of Indian nationalism.
(b) Modernization of Indian tradition.
(c) Protests and movements during the colonial period.
(d) Social reforms.
INTRODUCTION
“Modernization” is understood as a process which indicates the adoption of the modern ways of life and values”. The term was being used previously to refer only “to change in economy and its related effect on social values and practices”.Today, the term, ‘Modernization’ is understood as an attempt, on the part of the people, particularly those who are custom-bound, to adapt themselves to the present time, conditions, styles, and ways in general. It indicates a change in people’s food habits, dress habits, speaking styles, tastes, choices, preferences, ideas, values, recreational facilities and so on.
DEFINITION
According to Daniel Lerner “Modernization is the current term for an old process of social change whereby less developed societies acquire the characteristics common to more developed societies”.
Smelser – Modernization refers to “a complex set of changes that take place almost in every part of society as it attempts to be industrialized. Modernization involves ongoing change in a society’s economy, politics, education, traditions, and religion”.
MODERNISATION IN INDIA – YOGENDRA SINGH
According to Yogendra Singh, Modernisation is a form of cultural response involving attributes which are basically universalistic and evolutionary; they are pan-humanistic, trans-ethnic and non-ideological.
His idea of modernisation is a combination of cultural as well as structural change.
Evolutionary Approach – He locates sources of social changes such as Sanskritisation, Islamic influence, Western influence which led to cultural change. At the structural level – institutions of bureaucracy, army, middle class, etc were results of modernisation of tradition in structural terms.
Micro changes in structure are analogous to Little tradition. Eg: Changes in caste, family, etc.
Macro Changes are analogous to the great tradition. Eg: Political, industrial, bureaucratic and urban structures.
CHANGES BROUGHT IN BY MODERNISATION
Introduction of new institutions like banking, mass media communication etc.
Introduction of new value systems such as equality, justice, individualism, secularism etc.
Acceptance of scientific innovation.
Increase in the standard of living.
Introduction of large scale industries.
Restructuring of the political system, i.e., the introduction of democracy.
Introduction of structural changes in social institutions like marriage, family, caste etc.
The emergence of the middle class.
There are some eliminative changes like the disappearance of cultural traits, behaviour pattern, values etc. For example, the abolition of feudal power.
There is a shifting of attitude from sacred to secular.
Emergence of new forms because of the synthesis of old and new elements. For example, nuclear family in structure but functioning as joint.
Adoption of new cultural traits such as a new election system.
INCONSISTENCIES OF MODERNISATION PROCESS
Modernization, in its initial stages in India, according to Eisenstadt, did not lead to any serious breakdown because of the peculiar structural characteristics of the Indian society. Here, cultural system was fairly independent of political system. Louis Dumont writes: “This domain (polity or artha) is, in the dominant tradition, relatively autonomous with regard to absolute values” there was also independence between the political system and the system of caste stratification.
The cultural pre-requisites of a comprehensive modernization necessitate adaptive changes m the system of values which come in direct confrontation with traditional cultural values and norms. For instance, secularism, untouchabiiity, non-parochialism are some cultural demands of modernization in contemporary India which its traditional value system continues to resist.
Inconsistencies are similarly there in structural changes that India has undergone during the post-colonial phase of modernization. Micro-structures like caste, family and village community have retained their traditional character; caste has shown unexpected elasticity and latent potential for adaptation with modern institutions, such as democratic participation, political party organization and trade unionism, and it persists, unabatedly Joint family loyalties and particularistic norms continue to prevail.
CONCLUSION
Modernization is a process associated with the sweeping changes that took place in the society, particularly social, economic, political and cultural changes. It represents substantial breaks with traditional society. Modernization is an idea before it is a process.
