Here we are providing Class 12 Sociology Important Extra Questions and Answers Chapter 2 Cultural Change. Sociology Class 12 Important Questions are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.
Class 12 Sociology Chapter 2 Important Extra Questions Cultural Change
Cultural Change Important Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type
Question 1.
Who founded Rama Krishan Mission?
Answer:
Rama Krishan Mission was founded by Swami Vivekanand in 1897 CE.
Question 2.
Who founded the Indian Brahmo Samaj?
Answer:
The Indian Brahmo Samaj was founded by Keshav Chandra Sen in 1866 CE.
Question 3.
Who started the Satya Shodhak Samaj?
Answer:
Satya Shodhak Samaj was started by Jotiba Phule against the Brahmins.
Question 4.
Where did Jotiba Phuley open the first school?
Answer:
Jotiba Pauley opened the first school at Pune.
Question 5.
Who founded the first school for girls?
Answer:
Jotiba Pauley founded the first school for girls in 1851 CE.
Question 6.
What is the full form of D.A.V.?
Answer:
The full form of D.A.V. is Dayanand Anglo Vedic.
Question 7.
Why were the tribal movements started?
Answer:
Tribal movements were started for the security of the tribal culture so that they could not be mixed with the other cultures.
Question 8.
Who is known as the father of Modern India?
Answer:
Raja Ram Mohun Roy is known as the father of Modern India.
Question 9.
What is a Social Reform?
Answer:
When any intellectual of the society, starts any movement against the existing evils of the society and tries to change these evils then this effort is known as social reform.
Question 10.
Why mobility is present in social reform?
Answer:
Mobility is present in social reform because the social reforms are not the same in all ages and all societies. That’s why it is mobile.
Question 11.
What is social welfare?
Answer:
All those organized social efforts are included in social welfare with the help of which all the members of society get some facilities to develop themselves in an efficient way. Lower and backward classes especially care in the works of social welfare so that all-round development and welfare of the whole of the society can take place.
Question 12.
What are the two objectives of social welfare?
Answer:
- the First objective of social welfare is that the needs of members of the society could be fulfilled.
- To establish social relations with which people should be able to develop their abilities.
Question 13.
What have we got from our freedom movement?
Answer:
We got independence from our freedom movement. The whole of the Indian population stood against the British. In this movement, the sentiments of nationalism were aroused. Lower castes also became conscious and they also stood with the upper castes against the Britishers.
Question 14.
Name any three social reformers.
Answer:
- Raja Ram Mohun Roy
- Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
- Swami Dayanand Saraswati
- Swami Vivekanand.
Question 15.
Who gave the concept of Basic Education?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi gave the concept of Basic Education in 1937.
Question 16.
What is the main difference between social welfare and social reform?
Answer:
Social welfare aims at the all-round development of lower castes and backward classes of the society but social reformers wanted to remove evils and bring changes in the society.
Question 17.
What were the main objectives of the Swadeshi Movement?
Answer:
- To clarify and to give importance to the heritage of India.
- To work for the structural development of the country.
Question 18.
What were the main objectives of Satya Shodhak Samaj?
Answer:
- To challenge the prevailing supremacy of the Brahmins.
- To work for education, freedom, and equality of women.
Question 19.
What is Political Movement?
Answer:
The movement started to achieve political objectives is known as a political movement. For example, the freedom movement of India.
Question 20.
What is a Cultural Movement?
Answer:
A movement that starts with an objective of protection of its own culture is known as a cultural movement. For example, a tribal movement.
Question 21.
Why caste-based movements were started before independence?
Answer:
- Before independence, caste-based movements were started to challenge the supremacy of the Brahmins and other upper castes.
- To uplift the social status of own caste in the social hierarchy.
Question 22.
What was the main objective of Swami Vivekanand?
Answer:
The main objective of the life of Swami Vivekanand was to encourage spiritualism and to fill the gap which exists in our daily life.
Question 23.
Give the two features of Arya Samaj.
Answer:
- Arya Samaj favored widow remarriage and opposed child marriage.
- Arya Samaj gave stress on the eradication of untouchability and reading of the Vedas.
Question 24.
What were the main objectives of the reform movement among the Parsis?
Answer:
- Parsis gave stress on women’s education.
- The main objective of the reform movement in Paris was to eradicate funda-mental rules of marriage.
Question 25.
Why are reform movements known as social movements?
Answer:
The main objective of reform movements was to remove religious and social evils prevailing in the society. That’s why these movements are known as social movements.
Question 26.
Who gave the word ‘Sarvodaya’?
Answer:
The word Sarvodaya was given by Mahatma Gandhi.
Question 27.
Why did the Sati system prevail in our society?
Answer:
- Sati system prevailed in our society because marriage was considered as the relation of many births. So the wife also had to die with the death of her husband.
- There was another assumption attached to this, that God will be happy with this and Sati will get salvation.
Question 28.
What were the main teachings of Vivekanand?
Answer:
- Life is a religion. So living life is considered a religion.
- The service of humans is equal to the service of Shiva.
- God resides within the humans.
- Modern techniques should be used to serve humans.
Question 29.
Which religious language was used in ancient times?
Answer:
Sanskrit was used as a religious language in ancient times.
Question 30.
What is a Secular country?
Answer:
That country is known as a secular country where any particular religion is not respected but all the religions are equally respected and that country does not have its own religion. All religions of the country are equal before it.
Question 31.
What is Sanskritisation?
Answer:
When people of lower castes start to imitate higher castes and try to mix themselves with the higher castes then this process is known as Sanskritisation.
Question 32.
What is Secularisation?
Or
What is the meaning of Secularisation in the Western context? (C.B.S.E.2011)
Answer:
The meaning of Secularisation is that whatever was religious earlier now hardly remains religious. Now, all religions are equal and no religion is superior or inferior. It has tried to bring science and reasoning in ideas, traditions, religion, etc. to secularism.
Question 33.
What is Westernisation?
Or
What do you understand by the term Westernization? (C.B.S.E. 2017 (D))
Answer:
When the views, ways of living, and habits of western countries are being adopted in our country then it is known as westernization.
Question 34.
Give four features of Sanskritisation.
Answer:
- Lower castes try to imitate higher castes in Sanskritisation.
- This is a continuous process.
- Social change takes place in the status of lower castes.
- People of lower castes try to imitate the living style, habits, traditions, etc. of higher castes.
Question 35.
How has westernization affected our society?
Answer:
- The caste system has weakened due to westernization.
- Separation in marriages and the number of divorces increased due to westernization.
- Females have come out to work in offices.
- Joint families started to change into nuclear families.
Question 36.
What is Cultural Change?
Answer:
When changes start to occur in the culture of any society or country then it is known as cultural change.
Question 37.
What is Culture?
Answer:
Whatever humans have achieved, till today, with their intelligence is called culture. It is a collection of views, ideas, ways, material things that are transmitted from one generation to another. Culture is a learned behavior.
Question 38.
What was the impact of Islam on our society?
Answer:
- The Purdah system came into our society due to Islam.
- Islam has affected the caste system and the restrictions of the caste system became more rigid.
- Many Hindus converted into Muslims due to Islam.
Question 39.
What is a Dominant Caste?
Answer:
That caste that has more cultivable land and which is imitated by lower castes is known as the dominant caste.
Question 40.
What is the relationship between modernization and secularisation? (C.B.S.E. 2017 (OD))
Answer:
Relationship between Modernization and Secularization :
- The two are together for they are linked.
- They are both parts of a set of modern ideas.
- Change in attitude towards religion.
- Change in ceremonies, rituals, taboos, festivals, sacrifices, social networking etc.
Cultural Change Important Extra Questions Short Answer Type
Question 1.
What changes were brought with the help of socio-reform movements?
Answer:
India is a welfare state, in which everyone gets equal opportunities. The main objective of a welfare state is to make the life of the people happy. But this could be possible if all the existing beliefs and evils of society are removed. Only socio-reforms movements can remove them. Nothing can be obtained only by making laws. For this, reforms are necessary for society. For example, laws are present for child marriage, dowry system, child labor, etc., but these things are common in our country. All these things are obstacles to the development of our country. If we want to develop our society then socio-reform movements are necessary. That’s why socio-reform movements are necessary to bring about changes in society.
Question 2.
Give four features of social movements.
Answer:
- Social movements are always anti-social.
- Social movements are always planned and deliberate efforts.
- Their main objectives are to bring reforms in the society.
- Collective efforts are required because one person cannot bring changes in society.
Question 3.
What is the nature of social movements?
Answer:
- Social movements are not institutions because institutions are permanent and traditional and are considered as a necessary aspect of the culture. These movements come to an end themselves after the achievement of their objective.
- Social movements are not associations as well because associations have their own constitutions. The movement is generally informal, unorganized, and is against traditions.
- Social movements are neither pressure nor sectional groups because these movements demand changes in social norms.
Question 4.
Why were socio-reform movements started in India?
Or
State the main concerns of 19th century’s social reforms? (C.B.S.E. 2017 (D))
Answer:
Socio-reform movements were started in India due to the following reasons:-
- Social evils of Indian society were attached to religion.
- Society was divided on the basis of caste and caste was made on the basis of religion. Breaking caste rules was considered a sin.
- The status of women was very low because of which they had no importance in society.
- The Indian society was full of illiterate people.
- Many social evils were present in the Indian society like caste system, Sati system, child marriage, child infanticide, restrictions on widow remarriage, etc.
That’s why social reformers decided to bring reforms in the society and social reform movements were started in India.
Question 5.
What were the main objectives of Brahmo Samaj?
Answer:
Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Ram Mohun Roy in 1828 CE. with the following objectives :
- It is the main objective was to remove certain social evils from the society like Sati Pratha, child marriage, caste system, restriction on widow remarriage, etc.
- This Samaj was in favor of giving education to women so that they could uplift their social status.
- Brahmo Samaj was also in favor of inter-caste marriages.
- Sati Prohibition Act, 1829 and Widow Remarriage Act, 1856 were passed because of the efforts of Brahmo Samaj.
Question 6.
Write the names of a few of the organizations of the 19th and 20th century who initiated the socio-reform works.
Answer:
- Arya Samaj
- Brahmo Samaj
- Prarthna Samaj
- Sangat Sabha
- Rama Krishna Mission
- Harijan Sewak Sangha
- Vidhva Vivaha Sangh
- Arya Mahila Samaj.
Question 7.
Explain the reform works done among Muslims.
Answer:
The main contribution was given by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan for initiating the reform movement among Muslims. After 1857 CE., he observed that Muslims were against the British and were suppressed. So he initiated reform works to uplift the status of Muslims. He tried to remove many social evils prevailing in the Muslim society. He published a magazine and encouraged the Muslims to adopt new techniques. One school at Aligarh was founded in 1875 CE., because of his efforts, which later on became Aligarh Muslim University in 1918 CE. He propagated against Polygamy, the Purdah system, Child marriage, etc. He was in favor of women’s education. In the same way, many other social reformers tried to bring consciousness among Muslims. In 1906 CE. the Muslim League was founded which was mainly responsible for the creation of Pakistan.
Question 8.
What do you know about the Swadeshi Movement?
Answer:
The meaning of the Swadeshi movement is to encourage the people to use things made in our country, to propagate the culture of our own country, to encourage national education, and to establish local industries. It also meant to boycott foreign goods, educational institutions, banks, shops, etc. It was started after 1905 when the British divided Bengal. That’s why the people of Bengal started the Swadeshi Movement, which very quickly spread to all parts of the country. Locally made goods were encouraged in this and foreign-made goods were boycotted. General masses largely partici¬pated in it. As a result, consumption of local goods increased. Indian industries were developed, national education was encouraged and people started to work against the foreign government.
Question 9.
What do you know about the reform movement among the Parsis?
Answer:
Different communities and classes of Indian society initiated the Socio Reform Movements for their people in the 19th century. It was also started among Parsis. In 1851, few Parsi leaders like Dada Bhai Naoroji, Naoroji Furodonji, and J.B. Bacha, started a religious reform organization called ‘Rehnumai Majdyasan Sabha’. The main objective of this Sabha was to bring reforms among Parsis and to connect Parsis with the process of modernization.
Parsis organized a religious conference in 1900 CE. Except for all these, Parsi leaders motivated the followers of the Parsi religion to leave their religious superstitions through magazines, newspapers, essays, lectures, etc. They also initiated some works for women’s education and to uplift their social status. Just because of their efforts, Parsis became one of the most westernized classes in Indian Society.
Question 10.
Why were the Tribal Movements started?
Answer:
People belonging to hundreds of tribes live in different parts of India. They have their specific way of living. They have very limited needs. They are very conscious as to maintain their culture and tribal identity. If tribal people observe that their culture is being interfered with and efforts are made to change it or their demands are overlooked or if there is any danger in maintaining their tribal identity, then they generally take the path of movements.
For example, a movement was initiated for Jharkhand to be declared as a separate state and they succeeded in it. Birsa Munda started a movement of the Munda tribe against Christianity. First was called as ‘Birsa God’ by his tribe. Because of his efforts, many converted tribal people rejoined the Hindu religion. So tribal movements were started to maintain their culture and tribal identity.
Question 11.
What was the contribution of Raja Ram Mohun Roy to the social reforms of India?
Answer:
Raja Ram Mohun Roy is also known as the ‘father of modern India’. He gave a great contribution in initiating the socio-reform movement in India whose description is given below:
- Just because of his efforts, the British government declared, one of the most dangerous social evil of Indian Society, Sati Pratha as illegal in 1829 by enacting a law against it.
- Raja Ram Mohun Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 which worked for a long time in removing social evils from Indian society.
- Raja Ram Mohun Roy advocated western education because he himself was a western educated intellectual and he motivated young Indians to receive western education.
- He raised his voice against the caste system prevalent in Indian Society.
- He also raised his voice against Sati Pratha, child marriage, girl education, and widow remarriage.
Question 12.
What were Gandhiji’s views about the prevailing evils of society?
Answer:
Following are the views of Gandhiji’s about the prevailing evils of society:
- According to Gandhiji, lower castes should be given equal status as compared to upper castes. That’s why he gave them the name of ‘Harijan’ and worked a lot for their upliftment.
- According to him, females are equal to males. That’s why he invited them to join in the national movement and lakhs of women joined him.
- Gandhiji was against alcoholism. That’s why he started a movement against it in 1926.
- According to him, freedom of the country is of no use unless untouchability could not be removed from society.
Question 13.
What were the main features of social movements which were started before independence?
Answer:
Following were the main features of social movements started before the independence:
- The main feature of these movements was to reestablish Hinduism because it was severely attacked by Muslim rulers and Britishers.
- To uplift the social status of females, Harijans and exploited classes so that they could also live a better life.
- These movements wanted to remove traditional fundamental ideas and to establish new social systems in the society.
- These movements wanted to remove the inequality of the caste system and wanted to establish the feeling of equality and fraternity in the society.
- These movements wanted to develop feelings of love, fraternity, tolerance, sacrifice, etc. among the Indian masses.
Question 14.
What were the main features of the Revolutionary movement?
Answer:
Following were the main features of the revolutionary movement:
- The revolutionary movement wanted to throw away the existing system and wanted to establish a new social system.
- Violent and repressive measures are used in the revolutionary movement.
- These were initiated at a time when the masses wanted to remove social evils.
- These are always initiated to remove the autocratic rule and its ruler.
- It is always quick and spontaneous.
Question 15.
What are the main features of Reformist Movements?
Answer:
Following are the main features of reformist movements :
- The reformist movement always wants to bring reforms to the old social system.
- The speed of the reformist movement is always slow.
- Peaceful methods are always used in reformist movements and these are initiated for a peaceful change of society.
- These generally exist in democratic countries.
Question 16.
What were the main objectives of the Singh Sabha Movement?
Answer:
Following were the main objectives of the Singh Sabha Movement:
- To re-establish the sacredness of Sikhism.
- To develop Sikh religion and cultural literature.
- To bring back converted Sikhs into Sikhism.
- To remove the prevailing superstitions and evils from Sikhism.
- To spread and propagate education.
- To work for the equal rights of males and females.
- To work for the propaganda of Sikhism.
Question 17.
State the main differences between the Brahmo Samaj and the Arya Samaj.
Answer:
- The sacred scripture of Arya Samaj is ‘Satyarth Prakash’ but there is no religious scripture of Brahmo Samaj.
- In Arya Samaj, Vedas are considered as the base of everything but no such thing is prevalent in Brahmo Samaj.
- Arya Samaj gave stress on reading the local language but the founder of Brahmo Samaj gave stress on reading the English language.
- Arya Samaj gave specific stress on women’s education but Raja Ram Mohan Roy founder of Brahmo Samaj gave stress on the eradication of Sati Pratha.
- Founder of Arya Samaj Swami Dayanand Saraswati gave stress on adopting Vedic culture but Raja Ram Mohan Roy has no hesitation in adopting western culture.
Question 18.
What are the results of westernization?
Answer:
- Change in Institutions: Many changes took place in the institutions of our society due to westernization. The strictness of marriage, family, caste system, and religion no longer prevails in our modern society.
- Change in Values: Values of society are also changing due to this. Everyone came to know about the right to equality after receiving education. Individualism and formal relations are increasing day by day.
- Change in the importance of religion: The importance of religion has also decreased due to this. In earlier times, people were afraid of religion but now they use only that part of the religion that is required.
- The spread of education: Education in our country is spreading day by day. The literacy rate of our country is 74% and it is increasing day by day.
Question 19.
Mention something about the process of Sanskritisation.
Answer:
According to M.N. Srinivas, “Sanskritisation means not only the adoption of new customs and habits but also the exposure to new ideas and values which have been frequently expressed in the vast body of Sanskrit literature, sacred as well as secular, karma, dharma, Paap, Maya, Sansar and moksha are examples of some of the most common Sanskrit theological ideas and when people become Sanskritised these words are used frequently.
Question 20.
Explain the meaning of Westernisation.
Or
Define Westernisation. (C.B.S.E. 2011)
Answer:
According to M.N. Srinivas, “I have used the term westernization to characterize the changes brought about in Indian society and culture as a result of over 150 years of British rule and the term subsuming changes occurring at different levels technology, institutions, ideology, and values.” So from this, it is clear that the concept of westernization includes the changes which came in institutions, ideology, etc. of Indian Society and which took place due to political and cultural contacts with western countries.
Question 21.
What is meant by Secularism? (C.B.S.E. 2010)
Answer:
M.N. Srinivas says that “The term secularisation implies that what was previously regarded as religious now ceasing to be such, and it also implies the process of differentiation which results in the various aspects of society, economic, political, legal and moral becoming increasingly discrete in relation to each other.” So secularisation is that process in which explanation of human behavior is done on the basis of religion, but is based upon rationalism. The effect of religion is decreasing in daily life and the impact of science and objectivity is increasing day by day.
Question 22.
Give differences between Sanskritisation and Westernisation.
Answer:
| Sanskritisation | Westernization |
| (i) Many restrictions are being kept on the eating habits in this. | (i) No such restrictions are being kept in this process. |
| (ii) Process of Sanskritisatiion is internal and purely Indian. | (ii) Process of westernization is external and foreign. |
| (ii) This process is going on from the early ages. | (iii) This process started when Britishers came to India. |
| (iv) Sanskritised caste gets higher status with mobility. | (iv) There is no change in the status of caste in westernization. |
Question 23.
Give two characteristics of modernization.
Answer:
- Social Differentiation: Many sectors of society became complex due to the process of modernization. Because of this, the process of differentiation has been fastened.
- Social Mobility: Ancient social, economic elements are changed because of modernization and new values of human ideals are established.
Question 24.
Which two changes come due to modernization?
Answer:
- Secularisation: The ideal of secularisation has been established in Indian society. Members of any religious group can achieve the highest or higher post of the country. Qualities of cooperation, love, and patience create equality in society. This is because of Modernization.
- Industrialization: With the advent of industrialization, the growing demands of the increasing population of India were fulfilled. On one side, large scale industries came into being and on the other side, domestic industries and joint families came to an end.
Question 25.
How modernization increases social mobility?
Answer:
Social mobility is the main characteristic of modern societies. Division of labor, specialization, different occupations, industries, business, means of communication, and transportation in urban society have increased social mobility. Every person can succeed with his intelligence and capabilities. He can adopt that occupation which is more suitable for him. He can even change his place of residence with the occupation. In this way, with social mobility, new values are developed in place of old traditional values. So from this, we can say that modernization increases social mobility.
Question 26.
The establishment of new classes takes place with modernization. How?
Answer:
The process of modernization gives enough opportunities to a person. That is why new classes are established in society. If there is only one class in society, then that society will be known as a classless society. That is why new classes came into being in the modem society. Another reason for new classes came into being because different persons have different abilities because of which they are different from each other from the point of view of money, occupation, and education. That is why new classes are emerging. Money is important in our modern society. That is why people are divided into different classes on a political and religious basis. Labour unions are using the warpath to achieve their goals. Even people of different occupations have made their own unions.
Question 27.
State the important elements of secularisation.
Answer:
- Lack of Religiousness:-Changes took place in religious beliefs. Importance was given to practical profits. It means that anybody can be influenced without region.
- Rationality:-In this, every work and problem is discussed on the basis of rationals with which faith in old superstitions has been reduced.
- Differentiation:-Different aspects of society like economic, political, social, etc. are differentiated from each other and the effect of religion in these areas has been reduced.
Question 28.
Mention two factors of secularisation.
Answer:
- Modern Education:-With modem education, the sense of high and low comes to an end and the person attains his position on the basis of his ability. Knowledge of people has increased.
- Development of means of Transport and Communication:- With the development of means of transport and communication, people have come closer to each other. The sense of untouchability and high-low discrimination has been reduced and equal relations have been established.
Question 29.
Write any two changes due to secularisation.
Answer:
- Change in the concept of pollution and purity:-Ancient views of pollution and purity have been reduced. Now food of every caste is known as pure. Equal relations have been established in different religions.
- Change in rituals:-Most of the rituals related to Hinduism, for example, rituals related to the birth of a child or widow, come to an end. Individual capabilities have become important.
Question 30.
What is the effect of secularisation on the family?
Answer:
The joint family system was very important in Indian society right from the beginning, because most of the people depend upon agriculture and they need manpower for agriculture. India is far behind from the development point of view. But under the influence of Secularisation, the outlook of the people towards old traditions has changed. Most of the functions of the family have been taken away by other institutions. The joint family system has weakened.
Question 31.
Define the term assimilation. (C.B.S.E. 2010)
Answer:
Assimilation is a process of cultural unification and homogenization with which newly entering or subordinate groups lose their distinctive culture and adopt the culture of the dominant majority. This process could be forced or voluntary and generally is incomplete because the subordinate group is never given the complete membership on equal terms.
Cultural Change Important Extra Questions Essay Answer Type
Question 1.
What were the conditions required in India to start a social reform movement?
Answer:
1. Western Education: When the British started to rule over India, then they started to spread western education here. When Indians came in contact with western education, they came to know about science and reasoning. They came to know that the prevailing customs of Indian society are useless and baseless. That’s why enlightened Indians started social movements here.
2. Development of means of transport: The British developed means of transport for their own convenience, but Indians took the maximum advantage of these means. With the advent of means of transport, Indians came in contact with each other. Enlightened and educated Indians reached different parts of the country and explained to the people that the prevailing customs are useless. People were already fed up with these customs. They responded well to these calls and conditions became conducive with the development of means of transport.
3. Advent of Indian Press: Press started in India after the advent of the British. Organizers of movements started to publish small newspapers and magazines so that Indians could read them and should understand that these evils are very harmful to society. It was necessary for them to throw these evils out of society. In this way, Indians came to know that it was necessary for them to remove these social evils.
4. Increasing impact of Missionaries: When the British came to India, Christian Missionaries also came with them. They were given help by the British. The main function of these missionaries was to propagate Christianity, but their way of propagating was somewhat different. First, they used to work for social welfare. They solved the problems of the people and then they propagated their religion. Gradually people started to adopt Christianity. When Indian social reformers came to know about this, then they also started reform movements in India. In this way, these movements were started due to the impact of Christian missionaries.
5. Evils of Indian Society: Most of the social reform movements were started to remove the social evils of the society. Sati Pratha, child marriage, restriction on widow remarriage, dowry system, untouchability, etc. are examples of some of the social evils of Indian society. People were fed up with the prevailing social evils. When these movements started to take place they were welcomed with both hands by the people. That’s why these movements got a conducive environment and social reform movements became successful.
Question 2.
What changes came in Indian society due to social movements? Explain them.
Answer:
1. End of Sati Pratha: Sati Pratha (system) prevailed in Indian society from the very beginning. Widows had to die with the death of her husband. She had to sit alive on the funeral pyre of her husband. This inhuman custom was started by higher castes. Due to social movements, the British government started to oppose this system and it passed a law called ‘Sati Prohibition Act’ in 1829. This law declared Sati Pratha as illegal. In this way, the custom of ancient times came to an end. All this happened due to social movements.
2. End of Child Marriage: Child marriages were taking place in Indian society. Due to child marriage, parents used to marry off their children at the age of 4-5 years. The parents gave no consideration if their child even knew the meaning of marriage. The British government fixed a minimum age of child marriage due to social movements. The British Government made a law in 1860 and fixed a minimum age of 10 years for marriage.
3. Widow Remarriage: Widows in our society were not allowed to remarry and this custom was going on from the very beginning. They were not allowed to take part in family functions. They had no right to live a happy life. Due to the efforts of
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, the British Government passed an act in 1856 called “Widow Remarriage Act, 1856’ with which widows got permission to remarry. In this way, they got the legal right to remarry and to live a happy life.
4. End of Purdah System: Purdah system prevailed among the Muslims. Females always had to live behind purdahs. They were not allowed to move anywhere without a Purdah. Gradually, this system spread all over the country. Social reformers raised their voice against the purdah system. Even Sir Syed Ahmed Khan raised his voice against this system. In this way, this system started to decrease and with the passage of time, it came to an end.
5. Change in Custom of Dowry System: Dowry is the gift that the father of the bride gives the groom at the time of her marriage. But many problems also came along with it. Parents of bridegrooms started to demand dowry because of which parents of the girls had to face a number of problems. Many movements were started against this. That’s why the British government and later on in 1961, the Indian Government declared it illegal.
6. End of Untouchability: The custom of untouchability was prevalent in Indian society from the very beginning. In this, lower castes were not allowed to touch the people of higher castes. So voices were raised in social movements against untouchability. That’s why an atmosphere was created for declaring it illegal. After independence, the Indian government passed an act with which it was declared illegal.
Question 3.
Describe the women’s movements that were started in India.
Answer:
Many movements, in the Indian Society, were initiated with the objective to improve the status of women. Indian Society is basically a male-dominated society and that’s why Indian women raised their voices against their exploitation. Women, from ancient times, were the victims of many social evils like Child marriage, Sati system, Purdah system, restrictions on widow remarriage, etc. To remove all these social evils, many social reformers initiated movements from time to time. Social reformers of these movements have done a commendable job.
These were started in the early 19th century. Raja Ram Mohun Roy, Dayanand Saraswati, Kashavehandra Sen, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Annie Besant, etc. have done a remarkable job. Raja Ram Mohun Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 and ‘the Sati Prohibition Act, 1829 was made just because of his efforts. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar helped the British to pass the Widow Remarriage Act, 1856. In the same way, reformers also convinced the British to pass a ‘Child Marriage Restraint Act’. Similarly, many efforts were made by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Mahatma Gandhi, etc. which positively affected the lives of the Indian women.
Maharishi Karve was in favor of women’s education and widow remarriage. In the same way ‘The special Marriage Act 1872, was passed because of the efforts of Keshav Chandra Sen, and intercaste marriages were sanctioned by this law. With this, many women organizations also started many movements for the security of women. Annie Besant, Madam Kama, Ramabai Ranade, Margret Nobel, etc. played a great role in it. Ahilyabai and Laxmibai started a movement to organize the women of their respective areas. Pandita Ramabai started a movement in 1878 in Karnataka and Saroj Nalini also played a great role in it.
Just because of the efforts of all these movements, the Indian government passed certain laws to improve the status of women. Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, Dowry Prohibition
Act, 1961 and others are prominent laws that were made to achieve this objective. Under these Acts, women are given equal rights with males, the right of separation and divorce, right of inheritance, etc. By this, many social movements were started from time to time, which aimed at the security of women from this exploitation.
Question 4.
What was the impact of westernization on Indian Society? Explain them.
Or
What changes took place in Indian Society due to Westernisation? Explain them in detail.
Answer:
1. Impact on Family: Traditionally, joint families exist in our country in which three to four generations were living with each other. But westernization has encouraged individualism and materialism in our country. It has reduced the community feeling and the sense of sacrifice among the members of the family. Educated youth became conscious about their rights. They started to disobey their elders. Females became conscious to maintain their identity. Joint families started to disintegrate very quickly due to this consciousness among females and young people. Nuclear families started to replace joint families.
2. Impact on Marriage: The Indian marriage system also came under the influence of westernization. Before the British, many traditional customs prevailed in the Indian society like marriage within the caste, restriction on widow remarriage, child marriage, hypergamy, etc. Marriage was considered a religious sacrament. Rules of Spinda, Gotra, and Sparvara were obeyed by the people in marriage and there was no concept of divorce. But many changes came in the institution of marriage due to western culture, ideas, views, etc. Child marriages were legally stopped, late marriages started, widow remarriages started, love marriages and court marriages started divorces increased and polygamy was stopped.
3. Impact on Caste System: The caste system is one of the important bases of Indian society but it has also changed due to westernization. The British established large scale industries in India and developed means of transport and communication. With this, they made the Indians familiar with facilities like a post, telegraph, television, newspapers, press, roads, planes, railways, etc. Large scale industries were established and people of different castes started to work with each other in these industries. They started to use means of transport to move from one place to another. This development reduced the sense of superiority and inferiority. People of one caste started to adopt occupations of other castes as well.
4. Impact on untouchability: Untouchability was an indispensable part of the Indian, caste system. But caste discriminations were reduced due to the spread of western values of equality, liberty, and fraternity. Untouchability declined due to a number of reasons like permission to take admission in educational institutions, same educational system for everyone, same job for similar capable persons, etc. Britishers encouraged industrialization and urbanization. People of different castes started to use all the public places. So untouchability was reduced due to westernization.
5. Impact on religious life: Many religious beliefs, superstitions prevailed in Indian society before the advent of the British. But many religious and reformist movements were started in India due to the impact of western education and Christian missionaries. That’s why many religious evils and superstitions came to an end. Many people changed their religion and became Christians. Elements of equalitarianism and humanism were encouraged in the Hindu religion. Many evils came to an end due to this western impact. With this, religious beliefs and their impact were also decreased. Fundamentalism of the Hindu religion declined and the Indianisation of Christianity took place.
6. Change in status of women: The status of women was very low when the Britishers came to India. Their status was very pitiable due to the Sati System, Purdah System, Child Marriage, restriction on widow remarriage, etc. The British declared Sati System illegal and gave permission for widow remarriage. The Purdah system also declined due to the spread of western education. Westernized women started to wear formed attain like shirts and trousers. Lakhs of women became conscious about their rights and they started to work in offices by leaving their traditional work of taking care of the house.
Question 5.
What is the meaning of Secularisation? Explain its different elements.
Answer:
Srinivas has defined the term Secularisation in this way, “The term secularisation implies that what was previously regarded as religious is now ceasing to be such, and it also implies as a process of differentiation which results in the various aspects of society, economic, political, legal and moral becoming increasingly discrete in relation to each other.”
In this way, on the basis of the given definition, we can say that secularisation is that process in which the explanation of human behavior is not done on the basis of religion but is based upon rationalism. Phenomena are understood on the basis of their reason with function. The effect of religion is decreasing in our daily life. Now the impact of science and objectivity has increased.
Essential elements of secularisation
M.N. Srinivas gave three essential elements of secularisation which are given below:
1. Lack of religiousness: First and the important element of secularisation is the decline in the importance of religion. An increase in secularisation will automatically bring change in religious beliefs. A person starts to feel that those religious beliefs or traditions in which he believes, are unable to fulfill any one of his needs. People start to create an atmosphere of pomp and show while performing religious activities. Now humans don’t have any internal religious feelings. In this way, religious views start to decline. Now every person wants to take advantage of even religious activities.
2. Rationality: Through rationality, humans start to examine every type of superstitions, beliefs, etc. on the basis of rationality. According to Srinivas, “In rationality, with other things traditional beliefs and views were changed into modern knowledge.” In this way, rationality increased in humans with the development of modern ideas and values.
3. Process of differentiation: The process of differentiation is also related to the process of secularisation. Every sector of society i.e. social, moral, political, etc. is different from each other. Occupation of the person, in modern society, is not decided on the basis of religion but is determined on the basis of his/her ability. Now everyone is equal before the law. The impact of religion has decreased in every sector of society. A person started to get everything on the basis of his ability, not on the basis of religion.
Question 6.
Which factors affected the process of Secularisation? ,
Answer:
(a) Modern Education: With modern education, traditional ideas started to decline. That’s why people started to accept new values of society. Rationalism started to develop in society. Modern education started to be given to both boys and girls. Earlier females were confined to the four walls of the house and they had to spend their whole life in the house. But with modem education, females started to get education and jobs in every sphere. In this way, the discrimination of untouchability came to an end because everyone started to get an education.
(b) Development in the means of transportation and communication: British government started to develop means of transport and communication to develop mutual contacts in the Indian states. With this development, people started to come in contact with each other. People of higher and lower castes started to travel with each other in buses and rails. With this, the feeling of sacredness and non-sacredness, and untouchability started to decline.
(c) Westernization: With the advent of the Britishers in India, Indian people started to come in contact with the western culture and it has encouraged values like materialism and individualism. Restrictions of the caste system started to decline. The supremacy of Brahmins declined because the British started to treat everyone on equal terms. Western culture has developed the process of secularisation. In this way, the process of secularism was greatly affected by the factors of westernization.
(d) Urbanisation and Industrialisation: The process of secularisation has also been greatly affected by the process of urbanization and industrialization. People had to emerge out of their houses in search of work. Domestic production came to an end. The population of cities started to increase. People of every caste started to five in cities and started to work together in factories. In this way, at this type of place, it was very difficult to work according to the rules of the caste system. Occupation in cities is given not on the basis of caste but on the basis of ability.
(e) Governmental Efforts: The Indian Constitution was implemented in the Indian society after Independence. The Indian government made a new legal system. The Constitution tried to remove the discriminations on the basis of religion, color, caste, creed, etc. New laws were implemented, some of which are given below:
- Special Marriage Act:-1954
- Hindu Marriage and Divorce Act:-1955
- Hindu Succession Act:-1956
- Dowry Prohibition Act:-1961
- Widow Remarriage Act:-1856.
In this way, many laws have been passed to remove the social problems of society. Inter caste marriages have been accepted. Now everyone is being treated equally before the law. In this way, the process of secularisation was encouraged by the policies of secularism.
Question 7.
What changes came in the Indian society due to secularisation?
Answer:
1. Change in the concept of purity and impurity: In ancient Hindu society, different castes were given respect according to their high or low position in the society. There were no social relations among the people of higher and lower castes. People of lower castes were considered as impure and the occupation of the Shudras was to serve the people of the higher three castes. A person had to live in that caste in which he was born. They had to adopt the occupation of their own caste, even against their wish.
But the process of Secularisation has tried to remove the concept of pure and impure. Now people are taking the concept of pure and impure by cleanliness and non-cleanliness. If the house of people of higher caste is not clean then he is known as impure. Every type of utensil is considered pure. Brahmins have also changed themselves according to western culture. Restrictions of occupation no more remain in the society. Today, brahmins have adopted other occupations under the effect of secularisation. It means that today no occupation is considered as low or high. They are adopting that occupation in which they see more profit. The widow is no more considered as impure. Even widow remarriage is completely approved by society and is legally sanctioned.
2. Change in the Status of Women: The status of women has been changed completely. Nowadays, the impure word is not used for a literate woman. This type of view has been changed completely. Now everyone can go to the kitchen with shoes on and they take their meals while sitting at the dining table. In this way, we can see that the concept of purity and impurity has been completely changed with the process of secularisation.
3. Changes in life cycles and rituals: With the process of secularisation, the rituals of the Hindu Society have completely changed. Many rituals like upanayana, Namkarna, challah, etc. were popular in Indian society. Some of these rituals were completely wiped out. Some rituals like Sharadha, Namkarna, etc. still exist in our society. In earlier times, marriage was a religious sacrament. Although the people have become modem in their outlook, they are still traditional in their thoughts. Marriage is still considered as sacred. With the development in the field of education, the outlook of people towards marriage has changed completely. Now they want to get married according to their own wish and are opposing the dowry system. Now educated woman considers herself as a dowry.
Literate and employed females even think of not getting married for the sake of their poor parents. Sometimes after the death of her father, a literate female takes the responsibility of her family members.
4. Effect on Dowry System: Under the effect of secularisation, the importance of the dowry system has decreased. Now all sections of society are working against this. Even many institutions have been made against the caste system. Now marriage is a social and religious sacrament. Intercaste marriages are now common. The government has made laws against the Dowry System to eradicate this social evil from society.
Question 8.
What is Sanskritisation? Give some of its main features.
Answer:
Prof. Srinivas gave the name of Sanskritisation to the process of changes that comes with indefinite aspects of human life in Indian Society. He wrote a book named ‘Social Change in Modern India’ and in this book he wrote that the process of Sanskritisation in the Indian Society is going on from the very beginning and is still going on. In his book, he wrote about this process and explained, “Sanskritisation means not only the adoption of new customs and habits but also the exposure to new ideas and values which have been frequently expressed in the vast body of Sanskrit literature, sacred as well as secular. Karma, Dharma, Paap, Maya, Sansar, and Moksha are examples of some of the most common Sanskrit theological ideas, and when people become Sanskritised these words are used frequently.”
In another context, M.N. Srinivas wrote, “Sanskritisation is the process by which a low Hindu caste or group changes its customs, rituals, ideology, and ways of life in the direction of a higher and frequently twice-born caste.”
In this way, the process of Sanskritisation remained in the caste system and through this process, people of lower castes try to adopt and imitate the lifestyle, habits, ways of living, etc. of higher castes and were able to do so. After one or two generations they mixed among the people of higher castes. In this way, people of lower castes try to uplift their social status through this process.
Features of Sanskritisation
1. Sanskritisation is a universal process: This process has influenced the whole Indian Society. This process was not only related to the caste system but this process has exerted its impact even on Muslims and Jains. Even tribal society is very influenced by this. Generally, tribal people and Shudras are given the lowest place in the hierarchy of Indian society. That’s why many tribal groups have adopted the lifestyles of different Hindu castes.
2. Sanskritisation is not merely Brahmanisation: Srinivas and Yogendra Singh both have accepted that Sanskritisation is not merely Brahmanisation. People of lower castes not only adopt the living styles of Brahmins, but they adopt the living styles of Kshatriya and Vaishyas as well. Actually, they adopt living styles and habits of that caste which has more influence in that particular society.
3. Sanskritisation has many models: Varna is not the only model of Sanskritisation but it has many models. Milton Singer says that Sanskritisation does not have one or two models but has three or four models.
4. Imitation of High Castes: People of lower castes, tribes, and other groups adopt the traditions, folkways, ideology, and ways of behavior of Hindu castes. They also perform the rituals done by ‘DWIJAS’, yet this thing is restricted for lower castes. Sanskritisation is a process of imitation of the lifestyle of higher castes by the lower castes.
5. Sanskritisation is related to the group: The status of the group changes through Sanskritisation. It is not related only to a person or family because if any person or family of the lower family tries to say that he belongs to a higher caste then it is quite possible that he might be opposed by that particular caste.
Question 9.
What was the impact of Sanskritisation on lower castes?
Answer:
The process of Sanskritisation has greatly affected the caste system of Indian society. This process has reduced the impact of the caste system and lower castes tried to uplift their social status with this process. Sanskritisation has greatly affected lower castes because of which many changes took place in their status and this is given below:
1. The process of Sanskritisation has increased mobility among lower castes. Census report of 1921 says that Ahirs of North India put sacred thread (Upnayaha) and started to call themselves Kshatriyas.
2. This process has improved the status of lower castes. People of lower castes adopt the traditions, rituals, ideals, and lifestyle of higher castes and start to call themselves members of higher castes. When they are able to achieve the desired place in the local caste hierarchy then their position changes automatically.
3. This process has brought about many changes in the occupational status of lower castes. They started to leave those occupations which were considered impure and started to adopt pure occupations. Yet they were not allowed to adopt pure occupations but due to increasing consciousness towards purity, they started to adopt occupations of higher castes.
4. The process of Sanskritisation also brought about many changes in their culture – folkways, traditions, customs, beliefs, values, behavior, and mannerism. They started to imitate the lifestyle of upper castes due to which their lifestyle also changed.
5. Sanskritisation has also affected the religious life of the lower caste. They started to adopt religious rituals of higher castes. They started to do Yagyas, puja, etc. They left the impure occupations and adopted pure occupations. They started to celebrate Hindu festivals as well.
6. Their economic status was also affected by this. They entered the industrial sector and government jobs with which their income improved. They started to receive technical and occupational education and achieved higher posts. Their incomes increased due to modem occupations with which their economic status improved.
7. Social life of lower castes also changed with this. Members of lower castes started to receive education to improve their status. They got jobs in industries, offices, administration, etc. They started to interact with people of higher castes which resulted in the reduction of caste differences.
8. Their ways of living also changed with the improvement of economic status, education, use of means of transport, jobs, etc. They started to make concrete houses. They started to use means of leisure like furniture, chairs, table, TV, Fridge, Fans, Kitchen Gas, A.C., etc.
Question 10.
What is westernization? State some of its features.
Or
What is meant by westernization? Describe its different aspects. (C.B.S.E. 2010)
Answer:
Generally, the meaning of westernization is taken by the impact of western countries on India. England, France, Germany, and U.S.A. are those western countries that greatly influenced our Indian Society. The educated class of India tried to imitate the lifestyle of the people of these countries. Prof. M.N. Srinivas gave a detailed description of westernization.
Other sociologists also tried to explain westernization but they mainly concentrated on giving an explanation of the impacts of westernization on Indian Society. Srinivas wrote a book called ‘Social Change in Modern India’ and in this book he wrote, ‘1 have used the term westernization to characterize the changes brought about in the Indian Society and culture as a result of over 150 years of British rule and the term subsume changes occurring at different levels, technology, institutions, ideology, and values.”
So from this definition, it is clear that the concept of westernization includes the changes which came in institutions and ideology of our Indian Society and which took place due to political and cultural contacts with the western countries. Westernization can have many ideals like England, U.S.A., or another European country.
Characteristics of westernization
1. Continue after Independence: The process of westernization hardly came to an end even when the British left our country. This process is continuously evolving even after independence. From modern Indian Culture, ways of living, eating habits, new ways of mannerism, the spread of western education, etc. We can tell that India is westernizing even in today’s age.
2. Westernisation is different from modernization: Yet the process of modernization is encouraged by westernization but both concepts are different from each other. Westernization is related to all good or bad effects over the Indian society which were exerted due to the British contacts but the process of Modernisation includes positive impacts of western and other countries like England, Germany, France, Russia, U.S.A., Japan, China, etc. over the Indian Society. Except this, the impact of modern science and technology, information, and science on Indian Society is also known as modernization.
3. Impact of the British culture on Indian Society: Westernisation is the impact of the British culture over Indian Society. India is also influenced by other western countries but the process of westernization does not include the impact of other western countries. To clarify this statement Srinivas wrote that, “I have used the term westernization to characterize the changes brought about in our Indian society and culture as a result of over 150 years of British rule.”
4. Westernisation is not confined to urbanites: The impact of westernization was not confined only to urban areas during the British empire. Whoever came in their contact like rural farmers, smaller officials, military men, etc. became westernized. It was spread even in rural areas as well.
5. Conscious and Unconscious process: The process of westernization is a conscious as well as an unconscious process. Some of the aspects of culture, like language, technology, etc. were consciously adopted by the Indians. But many westernized ideas, values, eating habits, and living habits were unconsciously adopted by the Indians. Eating on a dining table, saying good morning or good night, etc. are some of its examples.
6. Ethically Neutral: Many good, bad, positive, negative, organizational, and disorganization changes came in our Indian Society through westernization. Westernization is not related to positive and negative aspects of change. All the changes taking place under this concept means ethically westernization is a neutral concept.
