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Summary
Society Class 08

DIVERSITY (01:07 PM)

  • Diversity is the collective differences with sets of one group different from another.
  • Every individual is impacted by two aspects - culture and livelihood and if either or both of them are discriminated against or dominated then it creates a situation of deprivation.
  • If there is a third-party intervention which gives the knowledge of subjective realisation of objective reality then it results in relative deprivation which results in the feeling of resentment.
  • An example of third-party intervention can be in the form of a Pressure group, Media intervention, JP Movement etc.
  • The mentioned framework (Refer to smart board) can be applied in the following context:
  • 1)Bofors scam and the role of media in exposing the scam.
  • 2)JP Movement which mobilised the masses against authoritarianism and corruption.
  • 3)Anti-corruption movement by Anna Hazare.
  • 4)The persistence of caste-based discrimination is considered to be the retribution of past karma. However, with the emergence of leaders such as Dr B.R. Ambedkar, there was the subjective realisation of objective reality.

LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY (01:44 PM)

  • STATUS
  • They are extremely linguistically diverse.
  • According to Census,2011 -121 major languages and 1599 other languages.
  • these language acts as an important indicator of cultural identity characterised by kos par badle paani char kos par Vaani.
  • ISSUES
  • This diversity has remained both the source of conflict and cohesion.
  • Two major issues which confronted India:
  • a)Official language issue.
  • At the time of independence adoption of an official language became a debatable issue as there were two contenders Hindi and English.
  • English was considered the language of international diplomacy, trade and commerce, exposure to Western thoughts and rich literary treasure. However, according to Mahatma Gandhi, the masses would not accept English due to unequal relations with the Britishers.
  • 1950 - Under Article 343 of the constitution, Hindi was declared as the official language and English will be the associate language till 1965.
  • 1956-60 - Since the purification of language was initiated, non-Hindi-speaking people started protesting against declaring Hindi as the sole official language. It was an example of supra-state regionalism 
  • 1963 - The Official Language Act was introduced to ensure the use of the English language beyond 1965. However, the text of the act was ambiguous and hence generated apprehension.
  • 1967 - The Official Language Amendment Act was passed which ensured an indefinite policy of bilingualism.
  • Post-1967 the problem gradually disappeared from the political scene demonstrating the capacity of the Indian political system to deal with the problem democratically and promote national consolidation.
  • b)Linguistic reorganization issue. (02:09 PM)
  • QUESTION: To what extent linguistic reorganisation of the state has contributed to Indian unity?
  • ANSWER
  • PROS
  • 1)Recognising cultural identities based on language helped in keeping political extremism at bay.
  • 2)According to Rajni Kothari, Linguistic reorganization was functional as it removed major sources of discord and created homogeneous political units which can be administered in a language that people can easily understand.
  • 3)Development of languages.
  • 4)Strengthening of democracy.
  • 5)Massive spread of education and literacy.
  • 6)Right to self-determination.
  • 7)Unity in diversity.
  • CONS
  • 1)Linguistic reorganization did not resolve all the problems as we are extremely linguistically diverse and It opened up Pandora's box, for example, demand for Mithilanchal, and Gorkhaland.
  • 2)It has aggravated the consciousness among the people with respect to their linguistic identity which has accelerated linguistic chauvinism. which further acts as a threat to unity in diversity.
  • 3)If the demands are not fulfilled then it creates grounds for the negative manifestation of regionalism.
  • 4)It had a spillover effect where the new basis of creation of small states started emerging. For example: Underdevelopment, administrative inconvenience etc.

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY (02:47 PM) 

  • SECT 
  • Sect is defined as an offshoot of existing religion due to disagreement over the core belief or different interpretations of the beliefs. For example: Shia or sunni in Islam.
  • A sect is a close-knit group which consists of deeply committed members. Any kind of dissent is not tolerated.
  • Examples: Christianity protestants, Catholics, Hindus- Shaivism, Viashnavites, Shaktas etc.
  • CULT
  • It is defined as a loose-knit organization which is the result of cultural innovation or importation. It is organized around a charismatic personality and it often does not challenge the mainstream religion.
  • It accommodates dissent and is a voluntary organization which is open to all. More than members it has a customer orientation.
  • According to Oleridge, the reasons for the growth of sects and cults are as follows :
  • a)Religion guarantees salvation in the afterlife whereas cult provides relief in this life.
  • b)Religion addresses spiritual needs, and Cult provides solutions to mundane problems.
  • c)Religion points out the challenges in direct communication with god, However, cult provides a medium where devotees can directly interact with the charismatic personality.
  • Sects largely emerge among those groups that are marginalised in society. For example: the Ravi Dasiya sect and Kabir Pant sect have promoted ideas against caste-based discrimination.
  • Hence we can say that sects also emerge to accommodate social change. For example, a sect may provide a new perspective to a youth who feels trapped due to social constructs such as the caste system and these sects donot follow any hierarchy and everyone is treated equally. Even if central authority exists it is with the charismatic leader.
  • Some sects may be revivalists. For example: the Dutta sect made varnashrama in its pure form.
  • Sects and cults can also emerge as a result of urbanisation and individualism. To access community living people are joining sects and cults.
  • The Middle class may feel relatively deprived concerning spiritual deprivation in the backdrop of capitalism and consumerism.
  • With modernisation and secularisation, The significance of the religion has declined. However, with growing uncertainty and challenges posed by modernity, there is religious revivalism and the manifestation is the growth of sects and cults.
  • According to post-modern scholars, Today's society is driven by media where the visibility of sects and cults has increased and therefore their proliferation.

The topic for the next class: Continuation of Religious Diversity.