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Summary

Society Class 01

## Society: (1:06 PM)

- Generate awareness or sensitization of officials regarding **nuances/discourse** of Indian Society.
- To provide effective solutions to the problems of society.
- **Good governance**.
- **Approach to Indian society:**

## Terminologies: (1:24 PM)

- **Isolation:**
- It is often used in the context of tribals.
- It was introduced by **Verrier Elwin.**
- According to this policy, tribals must be kept separated to **conserve and preserve** their culture.

## Assimilation: (1:26 PM)

- The policy was suggested by **GS Ghurye** who considered tribals as backward Hindus.
- Assimilation is defined as a process by which individuals of different cultural groups are absorbed in the dominant culture of the society.
- For example: the **Hindu Code Bill.**
- Here the focus is on reducing the differences to ensure social cohesion.

## Integration:

- It was introduced by the then leadership, and it meant, **‘Tribals should progress but in their own way.’**
- And to give effect, to the **Panchsheel Policy of Tribals**, tribals should develop their own genius.
- Tribal rights in forests and land should be respected.
- No **over-administration.**
- Tribal assistance should be sought in managing polity and economy.
- Evaluation of development should not be on the basis of money spent but on the outcome of **human development.**
- Integration is defined as a **process of incorporation** of different cultures into mainstream society to the extent that individual cultures are redeemed.

## Decoding the Syllabus: (1:40 PM)

- Salient features of Indian Society.
- Role of women.
- Effects of Globalisation.
- Social empowerment.

## Salient features of a society:

- Caste system.
- **Diversity:** linguistic (linguistic chauvinism), religion (communalism, fundamentalism)
- Ethnic diversity,
- Racial and regional diversities.
- Racial intoleranc, regionalism.
- Ethno-nationalism.
- (Due to the heterogeneous nature of Indian society, there exist different manifestations of patriarchy).
- And it makes it a salient feature.

## Multiculturalism: (1:51 PM)

- It is referred to as the peaceful coexistence of diverse cultures.
- People have the tendency to celebrate, retain, and transmit their culture from one generation to another.
- There are **two schools of thought:**
- 1) Melting Pot.
- 2) Salad Bowl.

## Melting Pot:

- People of different cultures melt **together, deserting their cultures.**

## Salad Bowl:

- It describes a **heterogeneous society** where different cultures are brought together as ingredients of the salad, where individual flavor is retained.
- Often **multiculturalism and pluralism** are used synonymously, however, there is a **key difference.**
- There exists a dominant culture in pluralistic societies.

## Pluralism: (1:59 PM)

- Under this, the smaller groups retain their unique culture and identity.
- The **dominant culture** also accepts their values and practices as long as it is **consistent** with their ideology.

## Cultural Lag: (2:02 PM)

- The difference between the pace at which values, and norms of the society change, vis-a-vis the technological advancements, is referred to as Cultural Lag.
- **Example:**
- There is an advancement of technology to determine the health of the foetus, versus the misuse of technology for sex-selective abortion.
- There is technological advancement, w.r.t. waste management and recycling, versus, the government still struggling to change behavior under the **Swachh Bharat Mission.**
- **Passage of law** vs. **internalization of law.**
- Coexistence of tradition and modernity, for example, nuclear families with extended ties.
- Concept of  **E Darshan (E Aarti).**
- Hybrid Learning.

## Effect of Globalization on Indian Society: (2:11 AM)

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Effects of Globalisation on Indian Society: | |
| Structure | Culture |
| Institution:  Joint family,  Caste system,  Religion,  Marriage,  Media,  Education. | Homogenization.  Hybridisation.  Revival of local culture. |

## Social Empowerment: (2:18 PM)

- It refers to the ability of an individual to have autonomy in decision-making and confidence to bring changes in the structure that has **kept us marginalized** over a period of time.
- Political and economic empowerment is meaningless without social empowerment.
- **For example:**
- When working women do not have the autonomy, to spend what they are earning.
- Or the concept of ***Sarpanch Pati.***
- Or caste-based prejudices in educational institutions and workplaces.
- Hence, the topic of social empowerment is a concluding remark in most of the questions.

## Questions:

- Discuss the negative consequences of abolishing child labor.  (10 marks/ 150 words)
- Why do most of the prosperous regions of India have an adverse Sex Ratio? (10 marks/ 150 words)
- Why is the sex ratio among scheduled tribes more favorable for women as compared to scheduled caste? (10 marks / 150 words)
- Explain the paradox that on one hand, the sex ratio has improved, whereas, the sex ratio at birth is still a matter of concern. (10 marks / 150 words).

## Society: (2:53 PM)

- Concept of society.
- **Attributes of society:**
- Definite territory,
- Progeny,
- Common culture,
- Independence.
- Impact of British Rule on Indian society.
- **Salient features of Indian society:**
- Joint Family,
- Caste System,
- Patriarchy,
- Diversity.
- **Society:** Society is defined as a network of social relationships based on patterns of interaction between individual members.
- Based on the four attributes we can say, that **Indian society** is a collection of multiple societies.

## Impact of British Rule on Indian Society: (3:02 PM)

|  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Tradition: | Forces of change: | | Modern: |
| Ascriptive status.  Hierarchy.  Strong Religious orientation.  Collectivism.  Particularism. | New Social Change:  English language,  Secular education,  Printing technology,  Transport and communication.  Dissemination of ideas | New Social Order:  Industrialization.  Urbanization.  New indications of social status.  The emergence of a new elite class. | Achievement status.  Egalitarianism.  Rationality.  Individualism.  Universalism. |
|

## Ascribed Status: (3:14 PM)

- When status is ascribed to an individual by birth. For example, gender, caste, religion, etc. it is referred to as ascriptive status or ritual status.
- The status that has been achieved through social, political, and economic means, it is referred to as **achievement status or secular status.**

## Hierarchy:

- The arrangement of individuals in layers, one above the other, is referred as a hierarchy.
- Whereas egalitarianism is based on the belief that everyone is equal and deserves the same kind of opportunities.

## Strong Religious Orientation:

- When religion is not just a matter of faith, but also a way of life.
- Whereas rationality is driven by **logic, scientific temper, etc.**

## Particularism:

- When some people are more important than others.
- That is, relationship obligation is given primacy over law.
- It is characterized by the same **‘You show me the man, I show you the rule.’.**

## Universalism:

- Whereas in universalism, everyone is treated equally and rules are applied irrespective of the relationships.

## Topic for the next class: Westernisation and Modernisation.