Page 20 - DSOC201_SOCIAL_STRUCTURE_AND_SOCIAL_CHANGE_ENGLISH

Unit 1: Indian Society

through contact with the modern west that the process of modernization, both technological and Notes
cultural, was initiated into Indian society. The sociologists have described these changes as
heterogenetic process of change. Moreover, though the Portugese, the French and the Dutch, too,
had contacts with India but it is the British influence which had a profound impact on Indian
society.
In order to understand the socio-cultural dynamics with reference to the western impact, we must
know the nature of Indian society and the western tradition. Indian culture was highly traditional
while the western culture was a modernizing one in terms of Rationalism, Individualism and
Utilitarianism. It also contained the elements of Egalitarianism and Universalism unlike the
traditional Indian social system based on status and hierarchy with a strong religious orientation.
With the advent of British rule, new structures developed in India notable of which are educative,
legal and military and these along with other factors of change introduced new criteria for
stratification of which the criteria secular in nature played very important role in the coming
future. Some of the important criteria and factors of change are described below.
A very important aspect of western impact was the introduction of English language and secular
education Before the advent of British rule, the official and administrative work in India were
being carried out through Sanskrit, Persian and Urdu. They introduced English language and it
provided a window to the outside world. It also facilitated exposure to a new value system based
on egalitarianism, rationalism and secularism. Introduction of new and modern means of transport
and communication contributed to increase in spatial and social mobility. The new printing
technology, postal services and radio helped in the dissemination of ideas. At the level of ideas, a
new awakening began and it became harbinger of radical social change. The introduction of a new
penal code not only brought about changes in the legal system and distribution of justice, it
directly attacked the traditional discriminatory Hindu law which was highly discriminatory and
unjust especially for the dalit sections of Indian society. The principle of ‘equality before law’ was
established along with a uniform legal system throughout India. Industrialization and urbanization-
important factors of change-registered a sharp rise. The process of industrialization facilitated
new determinants of social status and secular indicators of social status such as material indicators
were introduced to the Indian society. The concept of ‘nationalism’ gradually emerged and it
played an important unifying role in Indian society.
Here, it is important to note that the impact of westernization, also facilitated the emergence of a
new westernized elite that replaced the traditional elite of Indian society. This new elite equipped
and inspired by a new ideology and value system looked at its own ‘society’ in a different way. It
re-interpreted Hinduism and caste system in a progressive and more humane way and became a
harbinger of a new social order. Thus, the impact of westernization, immensely contributed to the
technological and cultural modernization of India. Although ‘how modern the contemporary
India is’ has been a matter of debate and sociologists such as Deepankar Gupta (2001) have
expressed scepticism about India’s “mistaken modernity”, but the fact remains that the Indian
society could never be the same again after it came under the influence of the west. But at the same
time it is also true that these changes did not take place through the total replacement of traditional
structures. The traditional structures in India have also shown an amazing resilience and have
retained their basic features adapting to new roles. Caste and religion are two examples of this
adaptation. Perhaps, that is why Yogendra Singh chose the title of his very popular book as
‘Modernization of Indian Tradition’. This title may sound very unusual or even contradictory to
some people but those who understand the socio-cultural dynamics of Indian society shall agree
with it.
Continuity and Change
Any society and every society is a continuation of the past, but a range of continuity is maintained
even in the midst of change coming into the same society from time to time. This is how the
identity of a society is maintained over a period of time. Even otherwise some continuity is
essential because human nature is immutable. As S.C. Dube(1990) rightly suggests the notions of
ascribed status, hierarchy, ritual purity and impurity have been the basic ingredients of Hindu

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