SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL CHANGE DSOC201 Edited by Dr. Sukanya Das SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL CHANGE Edited By: Dr. Sukanya Das Printed by USI PUBLICATIONS 2/31, Nehru Enclave, Kalkaji Ext., New Delhi-110019 for Directorate of Distance Education Lovely Professional University Phagwara SYLLABUS Social Structure and Social Change Objectives 1. To familiarize the students about the Structural aspects of Sociology. 2. To make students understand how economic factors and demographic change are causing significant social change in various societies. Sr. No. Description 1 Indian Society: Unity and diversity in India; Religious, Linguistic, Cultural and Regional diversities of Indian society; Evolution of Indian society- socio-cultural dimensions 2 Major Segments of Indian Society: Tribal life in India, Village and urban communities in India 3 Marriage, Family and Kinship: Forms of Marriage, Family and Kinship among Hindus, Muslims and Christians and their changing trends; Decline of joint family: causes and consequences 4 Caste System in India: Characteristics, Power Dimensions of Caste in India, Pollution and Purity, Dominant Caste, Inter-Caste Relations, Jajmani system, Changing trends and Future of caste system 5 Status of Women: Gender discrimination, violence against women, quest for equality, changing status of women 6 Social Change: Meaning, nature and forms of social change- Evolution, Progress, Diffusion, Transformation, Revolution 7 Theories of Social Change: Linear, cyclical and curvilinear. 8 Processes of Change: Change in structure and change of structure, Sanskritisation, Westernisation, Modernisation, Secularization and globalisation 9 Factors of Social Change: Demographic, economic, religious, technological bio-tech, infotech and media 10 Social Change in Contemporary India: Trends of change, Economic development and social change- Industrialisation, urbanisation. CONTENT Unit 1: Indian Society 1 Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Unit 2: Major Segments of Indian Society 20 Rosy Hastir, Lovely Professional University Kirandeep Singh, Lovely Professional University Unit 3: Marriage 65 Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Unit 4: Family 87 Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Unit 5: Kinship 119 Rosy Hastir, Lovely Professional University Sonia Sharma, Lovely Professional Universit Unit 6: Caste System in India 131 Satyabrata Kar, Lovely Professional University Ripudaman Singh, Lovely Professional University Unit 7: Jajmani System 166 Rosy Hastir, Lovely Professional University Ripudaman Singh, Lovely Professional University Unit 8: Changing Trends and Future of Caste System 176 Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Ripudaman Singh, Lovely Professional University Unit 9: Status of Women 198 Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Unit 10: Social Change 225 Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Unit 11: Theories of Social Change 238 Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Unit 12: Processes of Change 246 Rosy Hastir, Lovely Professional University Kirandeep Singh, Lovely Professional University Unit 13: Factors of Social Change 282 Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Unit 14: Social Change in Contemporary India 291 Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Unit 1: Indian Society Unit 1: Indian Society Notes CONTENTS Objectives Introduction 1.1 Unity in Diversity in India 1.2 Cultural and Regional Diversities of Indian Society 1.3 Evolution of Indian Society: Socio-Cultural Dimensions 1.4 Socio-cultural Dynamics through the Ages 1.5 Impact of Modern West on Indian Society 1.6 Summary 1.7 Key-Words 1.8 Review Questions 1.9 Further Readings Objectives After studying this unit students will be able to: • Understand Unity in Diversity in India. • Explain Cultural and Regional diversities of Indian Society. • Discuss the evolution of Indian Society Socio-cultural dimensions. Introduction India is a country of many ethnic groups, over 1,650 spoken languages, dialects, regional variations—a land of myriad tongues—numerous modes of apparel and countless mannerisms. For the most part, the continental size of the country accounts for the variations and diversities. Besides, there are many religions, sects and beliefs. At times the wide differences seem to predominate, and the resultant disharmony is regarded by many as irremediable, a phenomenon that the 100 crore people (ours is the second most populous country) have to live with, whether they like it or not. The cynics even regard the Indian people as quarrelsome, often at each other’s throat, denouncing others as if they were inveterate enemies holding irreconcilable ideas and subscribing to ideals totally different from theirs. But those who stick to this impression ignore a vital factor there is a basic unity which runs through the Indian mainstream of life and thought. There is a traditional culture which is truly oriental and which conforms to the teachings and precepts of our saints and sages. Culture and civilisation are admittedly difficult to define, though both these signify certain identifiable trends and traits of character, especially restraint, consideration for others and a high degree of tolerance. The lack of culture becomes evident even from the language and the dialect one uses, the conduct and manner of living, one’s gestures in social life, the tendency to have a closed mind, with doors and windows shut as if to disallow the inflow of fresh ideas and other viewpoints. Every process of exclusion betrays lack of culture, just as every trend indicating a willingness to broaden one’s outlook shows a commendable cultural trait. The same idea is often put in different words: static culture envisages decay, just as dynamism ensures survival. It is the dynamism and the flexibility that have enabled Indian culture to survive despite its many diversities and heavy odds. Through these diversities runs a common stream, as it were, and the LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 1 Social Structure and Social Change Notes similarity and unity of outlook can be noticed from North to South and East to West. Indian culture is actually a continuous synthesis, and has absorbed many external influences in the course of history. A significant recognition of the fusion of cultural trends comes through the Constitution (Article 51-A), which says, interalia, that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. Among the other Fundamental Duties mentioned in that Article is “to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India, transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities, to renounce practices derogatory to women...” All these are indicative of cultural development. Calm reflection will show that attempts to enforce complete unity and disallow any differences of thought and approach in a large country like India would prove counter-productive and self-defeating. People can hold different views on life, religion, social, economic and political systems and yet they can be cultured. Who, can deny that the people of India have throughout history honoured saints, sages, religious preachers and philosophers, seldom showing veneration for military heroes, triumphant warriors and commanders, except transitory praise and adulation. Those who have fought for cultural freedoms and political independence, which ensures such freedom and the implicit liberties to pursue cultural pursuits, have commanded large and loyal following. Had it not been for the tolerance shown by the people of India during the rule of the Mughals and other outsiders, who brought in their own traditions and sought to impose them on this country, the amorphous, flexible Indian culture would have lost its moorings. The Indian mind has assimilated much of the thinking of other cultures, thus enriching itself and making itself durable and virtually indestructible. The Western concepts and modes of dress, the English language, the study of English classics and European philosophers’ works, even though they emphasised thoughts and beliefs different from those of the Indian people, have not been spurned. Rather, a good part of these has become almost a part of the Indian way of living and thinking, especially in the urban areas. The English-knowing elite exist alongside the Indian language enthusiasts, without tensions. The Western culture has always laid stress on materialism, while the Eastern, especially Indian, culture has been closely linked with spiritualism, simplicity, filial duty and affection, austerity, tolerance and harmony. Both are tolerated in this country. It is, however, a pity that in recent years the communal clashes, the increasing evidence of intolerance and disharmony, the apparently endless discord, the open clashes at public meetings, and the all-too-frequent denunciation of each other have increased so much as to indicate that the people are forgetting their, true culture, and are allowing themselves to be exploited by selfish, uncultured people who seek to disrupt and destroy rather than build and consolidate. The real strength of Indian culture lies in basic unity, vigour and the ability to contain an amazing diversity within itself. In this country there are people who belong to opposite schools of thought and who never seem to agree on anything. And yet, the concepts of one basic culture and one nation have continued. Another notable characteristic of Indian culture is that it