The structure and composition of Indian society
I. Village
Definition:
A village is a group of houses and associated buildings, larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town, situated in a rural area.
To a villager, their village is much more than a collection of houses, lanes and fields; it is a prime social reality.
The village is a clearly an important and viable social entity to its people, who also participate in the larger society and share in the pattern of civilisation.
As per the Census of India (2011), a village has a definite name and a surveyed boundary.
Significance of Villages:
India is a land of villages because the majority of the population lives in rural areas.
According to the 2011 Census, there are 640,887 villages in India, and most of these have less than 1000 residents.
Even in recent times, more than 69 per cent of people live in villages compared to 31% urban dwellers.
Villages are the biggest support for India from the past to future.
India is a country of ancient civilisation where rural and urban centres had co-existed since the Indus Valley Civilisation.
India's village can be traced far back in history, creating a sense of timelessness and continuity.
Evolution of Village Communities:
Primitive Village Community:
Very small in size, consisting of ten to twenty families.
Members were very close to each other.
A strong bond of kinship developed a high sense of community feeling.
Organised on a collectivist basis, and land was common property.
Medieval Village Community:
The feudal system came into existence.
Land belonged to a Lord, the king, or nobility.
Kinship no longer played a prominent part in binding people.
Land did not belong to the group as a whole.
Modern Village Community:
Stands in sharp contrast to the primitive village community.
Due to increased population size, kinship ties have weakened.
Land is no longer collectively cultivated.
Growth of Village Community:
Topographical factors: Land, Water, Climate.
Economic factors: Cottage industry, Agriculture, Rural economy.
Social factors: Peace, Security, Cooperation.
Salient Features of Indian Villages:
Faith in religion: Villagers are generally god-fearing and believe in mysterious powers as the cause of their joys and sorrows.
Neighbourly relations: Strong emphasis on neighbourly relations, with individuals personally knowing each other and sharing common customs and festivals.
Simplicity: Villagers typically live a very simple life with few and simple needs.
Group feeling/ unity: They work with a spirit of group feeling and give-and-take, respecting elders' judgement and obeying their orders.
Poverty and illiteracy: Generally poor with very low income, and illiteracy is a significant obstacle.
Conservatism: Villagers are often very conservative and resist adopting new ways and radical changes.
Joint family: A unique feature where individuals live under the same roof and cooperate with each other, often necessitated by agricultural occupation.
Self sufficiency: Mahatma Gandhi believed in a self-sufficient village economy, with each village tending to be self-contained and efficient.
Social Organisation of Villages:
Village council system: Each village has a council with representatives from important social groups to discuss village issues.
Caste system: Households of several castes live together, each occupying a particular space. Dominant castes are numerically large, enjoy high ritual status, and have political and economic strength.
Joint family system: More common in villages, with members living together or sharing a compound, often linked to the household economy and undivided landholding.
Jajmani system: Linked with the caste system, based on traditional occupational obligations. 'Jajman' is the ritual head and landowner, while 'kamins' are the service-providing castes (e.g., Brahmin, carpenter, washerman, barber) who offer standardised hereditary services to certain families.
Changes in Village Systems:
Caste system: Villagers are adopting non-traditional occupations, and untouchability has lost effectiveness.
Family system: Joint families are gradually disintegrating, and the control of senior members has declined.
Political system: The establishment of "panchayats" has increased political consciousness, and political parties divide people along party lines during elections.
Economic system: Use of better agricultural inputs and technology. Educated rural youth seek jobs in cities.
Marriage system: Increase in love marriages and inter-caste marriages, greater choice in mate selection, and abolition of child marriage.
Jajmani system: Weakened due to socio-economic changes and governmental efforts to raise the status of lower castes.
Views of Indian Sociologists on Village:
MN Srinivas: Villages were never self-sufficient and had regional economic, social, and political relationships. He considered the village as a microcosm of Indian society and civilisation and studied them through field studies. His study of Rampur (Mysore village) led to the concept of dominant caste.
AR Desai: Indian village is isolated, at least in economic terms, applying a Marxist perspective.
Dipankar Gupta: Agriculture is no longer the mainstay of the rural economy, and caste is not the only determinant of social status.
Andre Beteille: The idea of the village as a session unit is a stereotype. His study of Sripuram showed villages were conscious of caste, class, and gender.
II. Town
Comparison with Villages and Cities:
Smaller areas than cities but larger than villages.
Have a modest level of population density.
Semi-urban or rural in nature.
Areas around towns consist of agricultural land and a few factories.
Have fewer employment opportunities, with a large mass of the population being self-employed.
Have fewer schools and colleges.
Classification of Towns:
Can be based on income level, education level, per capita income, etc..
As per the Census of India:
All places with a municipality, corporation, cantonment board/ notified town area committee, etc.. These are known as Statutory Towns and are notified under law by the State/UT Government, having local bodies irrespective of demographic characteristics (as of 31st December 2009). Example: Vadodara (M Corp.), Shimla (M Corp.).
All other places which satisfied the following criteria:
A minimum population of 5,000.
At least 75% of the male main working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits.
A density of population of at least 400 people per sq. km.
The Census of India also classifies towns into six categories based on their population:
Class I: More than 1,00,000 population.
Class II: 50,000 to 99,999 population.
Class Ill: 20,000 to 49,999 population.
Class IV: 10,000 to 19,999 population.
Class V: 5000 to 9,999 population.
Class VI: Less than 5,000 population.
III. City
Comparison with Villages and Towns:
Very large, extending over a large portion of land.
Population density is very high.
Urban with well-developed and planned roads, etc..
A number of industries are set up along the suburbs of cities.
Have massive employment opportunities in large metropolitan cities.
Have a large number of good educational institutions.
IV. Rural-Urban Linkages
Shared Facets and Interdependence: Rural and urban centres shared some common facets of life.
There is a shown interdependence especially in the sphere of economy.
Urbanward migration: Townsmen or city dwellers depend on villages for various products such as foodgrains, milk, vegetables, and raw materials for industry.
Increasing dependence of villagers on towns for manufactured goods and markets.
Ghurye believed urbanisation in India as an outcome of the need for markets felt in the rural hinterland. Agricultural surplus needed markets, leading to a part of the village functioning as a market, which ultimately became urban centres. He did not consider urbanisation solely as a result of industrial growth.
V. Unity and Diversity in Indian Society
Overview:
India is the oldest civilization in the world.
Over its long history, it has been ruled by many rulers from different religions and cultures.
A lot of people migrated from other countries, and India accepted them openly.
This exchange led to diversity in terms of religion, culture, race, and religion.
The word "diversity" emphasizes differences between groups of people marked by cultural characteristics such as castes, languages, races, regions, religions.
"Unity in Diversity":
Refers to harmony and peace.
Signifies unity among individuals who have certain differences.
The coexistence of people from many cultures, religious beliefs, and social statuses in peace and love is a prime illustration.
Has certainly resulted in the ethical and moral evolution of humanity.
Objectives of Unity in Diversity:
To ensure the nationâs growth.
To maintain national integration.
To contribute to global recognition.
To provide peaceful co-existence.
Types of Diversity in India:
Unity in racial diversity: Herbert Rinsley classified the people of India into 7 racial types: Turko-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Scytho-Dravadian, Aryo-Dravidian, Mongolo-Dravidian, Mongoloid, Dravidian. Intermarriages have made determining racial origins complex.
Unity in religious diversity: India is a union of all diverse religions, including Hinduism (dominant), Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and various sects within them.
Unity in caste diversity: There are more than 300 Jatis in India, hierarchically graded in different ways in different regions.
Unity in linguistic diversity: More than 200 local languages are spoken, with the Constitution recognizing 22 official languages. Multilingualism is a way of life. The Peoples Linguistic Survey of India identified 780 languages, with 50 becoming extinct recently.
Unity in cultural diversity: Large numbers of diverse cultural and ethnic groups are prevalent.
Unity in geographical diversity: Different mountains, rivers, deserts, etc.. India spans across a vast area with diverse physical features.
Advantages of Unity in Diversity:
Improves individuals' morale in various settings.
Aids in expanding collaboration, partnerships, and interpersonal interactions, boosting performance and productivity.
Allows communication to thrive in challenging situations.
Makes it easier to control conflicts.
Encourages good human connections and safeguards equal rights.
Benefits tourism by attracting people to diverse cultures and beliefs.
Results in the practice of national unity among the world's peoples.
Strengthens and enhances the country's rich and cultural heritage.
Provisions for Unity in Diversity in the Constitution:
Geographical Unity (Article 1): India is a Union of States, and state boundaries cannot be altered by states.
Religious Unity (Article 25): India is a secular country, protecting and respecting all religions, allowing people to preach and propagate any religion.
Economic integration (Article 19): Freedom of trade, commerce, and intercourse throughout the country for every person, irrespective of caste, religion, or culture.
Linguistic Unity (Schedule 8): Recognizes 22 languages without imposing any single national language.
Ethnic and Cultural Unity (Article 29): Obligation on the state to protect the distinct culture and tradition of various ethnic groups.
Obstacles in the Path of Unity in Diversity:
Religious enmity: The biggest challenge.
Ethical difference and caste discrimination: Lead to conflict between groups.
External groups (terrorists, extremists): Try to disrupt peace and incite violence.
Regionalism: A barrier to achieving unity.