Page 249 - DSOC202_SOCIAL_STRATIFICATION_ENGLISH

Social Stratification

Notes 1. Social Mobility in Agrarian Classes : Agrarian societies are experiencing mobility continuously
since the very beginning of agriculture. British rule made the land a private property. That
brought significant changes in the agrarian class. After independence, introduction of land
reforms and abolition of intermediaries, there occurred both upward and downward mobility.
The landless labour could get land and the Zamindars lost control over their vast landed
properties further in 1960’s.
The introduction of green revolution brought mobility in class structure. As a result of this the
big farmers could gain more profit and small landholders lost their land. The pauperization of
poor farmers in agrarian society generated conflict and all this resulted in agrarian movements.
This continues even today.
2. Social Mobility in Urban Classes : In India, there are four major classes in the urban centres.
British rule and rapid industrialization in post- independence period affected these social
classes largely. These classes include the following :
(a) Capitalists : With industrialization and free trade, wealthier people started their industries.
Traditional merchant class was the first who become capitalist. Even today, a large number
of industrialists are from trading castes like Marwaris of Rajasthan. The expansion of
industries of diverse fields generated an observable capitalist class in urban India.
(b) Traders and shopkeepers : As a result of urbanization, demand of goods and services
increased in urban areas. So, a new service providing entrepreneurs class emerged to
meet the increasing demand. This class included property dealers, dry cleaners, vegetable
vendors, parlours, restaurateurs etc.
(c) Professional class : British rule introduced modern education in India to get group of
professionals to be employed in various jobs. Thus emerged a professional class that
included doctors, lawyers, managers, bureaucrats, technocrats etc., With expansion of
service sector, the size of this class enlarged. All of them are the salaried employee. Today
they constitute the largest class in urban areas.
(d) Working class : Working class population is comprised of landless agricultural labourers,
seasonal workers, industrial workers, plantation workers etc. In urban areas these people
are found in slums. They are mobilized by the trade union. Both vertical and horizontal
mobility can be observed in this working class.
Self-Assessment
Fill in the blanks
1. The principal forms of social mobility are .............and .............
2. The talent and ability are very important factors of social mobility according to .............
3. The book ‘The Theory of Leisure Class’ written by .............
4. Vertical mobility exists in the form of ascending and .............currents.

11.4 Summary

• “Mobility is measured as that of a family or that of an individual.” In the case of a family,
it is intergenerational mobility. In the case of an individual, it is intragenerational mobility.
Stratum mobility remains generally neglected.
• Democratic societies have more intensive vertical mobility compared to autocratic, and
dogmatic societies. Birth-based ascriptive status does not find a place of significance in a
democratic society. There is openness and equality of opportunities. There are more holes
and elevators to go up and down.
• Vertical mobility exists in the form of ascending and descending currents. Both have individual
infiltration and collective ascent or descent of the whole group within the system of other

244 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY