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Unit 14: Social Change in Contemporary India

and between brothers and brothers, and (iv) a value system where authority of the elders and Notes
the sanctity of tradition were both supported as against the criterion of ‘rationality’. But
industrialisation has brought about economic and socio-cultural changes in our society. In the
economic field, it has resulted in specialisation in work, occupational mobility, monetisation of
economy, and a breakdown of link between kinship and occupational structures; in the social
field, it has resulted in the migration of people from rural to urban areas, spread of education,
and a strong centralised political structure; in the cultural field, it has brought secularisation of
beliefs.
• Urbanisation is the physical growth of urban areas from rural areas as a result of population
immigration to an existing urban area. Effects include change in density and administration
services. While the exact definition and population size of urbanised areas varies among different
countries, urbanisation is attributed to growth of cities. Urbanisation is also defined by the
United Nations as movement of people from rural to urban areas with population growth
equating to urban migration. The UN projects half the world population will live in urban
areas at the end of 2008. In order to explain the process of urbanisation we can discuss the
following three aspects:
(i) The demographic and spatial aspects
(ii) Economic aspects and
(iii) Socio-cultural aspects

14.7 Key-Words

1. Social Change : Change in the social structure and relationships of a social which in
oftem inter changeably used with cultural change.
2. Progress : Social or cultural change that are considered desirable according to
some set of values.
3. Social Movement : A Collective out to promote or resist change.

14.8 Review Questions

1. What do you mean by trends of change? Discuss.
2. Write a note on the “Contemporary social change”.
3. Discuss the role of Industrialisation in social change.
4. What is urbanization? Discuss.
5. Explain the economic development and social change in India.
Answers: Self - Assessment

1. (i) 23.3% (ii) partition (iii) 1961 (iv) Punjab (v) 55%
14.9 Further Readings

1. Ahuja, Ram, 1994: Indian Social System, Rawat Publication.
2. Srinivas, M.N., 1963: Social Change in Modern India, University of California
Press.
3. Sharma, K.L., 2007: Indian Social Structure and Change, Rawat Publication.

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