Chapter 2 Cultural Change

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS SOLVED

[Link] a critical essay on sanskritisation.
Ans. •The term ‘sanskritisation’ was coined by M.N. Srinivas. It may be defined as the
process by which a low caste or tribe or other group takes over the customs, ritual,
beliefs, ideology and style of life of a high and, in particular, a ‘twice-born(dwija) caste’.
•Its influence can be seen in language, literature, ideology, music, dance, drama, style
of life and ritual.
•It is primarily a process that takes place in the Hindu space though Srinavas argued
that it was visible even in sects and religious groups outside Hinduism.
•It operated differently in different regions. In those areas where a highly sanskritised
caste was dominant, the entire region underwent a certain amount of Sanskritisation. In
those areas, where non-sanskritic castes were dominant, it was their influence that was
stronger, this can be termed as the process of ‘de- sanskritisation’.
•Srinivas argued that, ‘the sanskritisation of a group has usually the effect of improving
its position in the local caste hierarchy. It normally presupposes either an improvement
in the economic or political position of the group concerned or a higher group self-
consciousness resulting from its contact with a source of the ‘Great Tradition’ of
Hinduism such as a pilgrim centre or a monastery or a proselytizing sect.”
•But in India, there are many obstacles to any easy taking over of the customs of the
higher caste by the lower. Traditionally, the dominant castes punished those low castes,
which was audacious enough to attempt it.
•Sanskritisation refers to a process whereby people want to improve their status through
adoption of names and customs of culturally high-placed groups. The “reference model’
is usually financially better off. In both, the aspiration to be like the higher placed group
occurs only when people become wealthier.
CRITICISMS OF SANSKRITISATION
•It has been criticized for exaggerating social mobility or the scope of lower castes to
move up the social ladder. For it leads to no structural change but only positional
change of some individuals. Inequality continues to persist though some individuals may
be able to improve their position within the unequal structure.
•The ideology of sanskritisation accepts the ways of the upper caste as superior and
that of the lower caste as inferior. Thus, the desire to imitate the upper caste is seen as
natural and desirable.
•Sanskritisation seems to justify a model that rests on inequality and exclusion. It
appears to suggest that to believe in pollution and purity of groups of people is
justifiable or all right. Therefore, to be able to look down on some groups of people just
as the upper caste looked down on the lower castes, is a mark of privilege. It shows
how such discriminatory ideas become a way of life. Instead of aspiring for an equal
society, the exclusion and discrimination seek to give their own meaning to their
excluded status. This gives rise to an undemocratic society.
•Since sanskritisation results in the adoption of upper caste rites and rituals it leads to
practices of secluding girls and women, adopting dowry practices instead of bride-price
and practising caste-discrimination against other groups.
•The effect of such a culture is that it erodes characteristics of dalit culture and society.
For example, the very worth of labour which lower castes degraded and rendered
shameful. Identities based on the basis of work, crafts, artisanal ability are regarded
useless.

2. Westernisation is often just about adoption of western attire and life style. Are
there other aspects to being westernised or Is that about modernisation?
Discuss.
Ans. • M.N. Srinivas defines westernisation as “the changes brought about in Indian
society and culture as a result of over 150 years of British rule, the term subsuming
changes occurring at different levels…. technology, institutions, ideology and values.”
•There were different kinds of westernisation:
— One kind refers to the emergence of a westernised sub-cultural pattern through a
minority section of Indian who first came in contact with the western culture. This
included the sub-culture of Indian intellectuals who not only adopted many cognitive
patterns or ways of thinking but also styles of life and supported its expansion,
— There has been a general spread of western cultural traits such as the use of new
technology, dress, food and changes in general.
•Westernisation does involve the imitation of external forms of culture. It does not
necessarily mean that people adopt modem values of democracy and equality.
•Apart from western ways of life and thinking, the west influenced Indian art and
literature. The painting of Krishna Menon family in matrilineal community in Kerala but it
reflects the very typical patrilineal nuclear family of the modern west consisting of the
mother, father and children.
•Srinivas suggested that while lower castes’ sought to be sanskritised the “upper caste’
sought to be westernized. But this generalization is difficult to maintain. For example,
the Thiyyas (by no means considered an upper caste) in Kerala show conscious efforts
to westernize. Elite Thiyyas appropriated British culture as a move towards a more
cosmopolitan life that criticised caste. Also, western education opens up new
opportunities for different groups of people.
MODERNISATION
•Modernity assumes that local ties and parochial perspectives give way to universal
commitments and cosmopolitan attitudes;
•That the truths of utility, calculation, and science takes precedence over those of the
emotions, the sacred, and the non-rational;
•That the individual rather that the group be the primary unity of society and politics;
•That the associations in which men live and work be based on choice and not birth;
•That mastery rather than fatalism orient their attitude toward the material and human
environment;
•That the identity be chosen and achieved, not ascribed and affirmed;
•That work be separated from family, residence, and community in bureaucratic
organization.
It would be simplistic to state that complex combinations are just a mix of tradition and
modernity as though tradition and modernity themselves are fixed entities. Or as though
India has or had only one set of traditions. Modernity and tradition are constantly being
modified and redefined.

[Link] short notes on:

(a)Rites and secularisation
(b)Caste and secularisation
(c)Gender and sanskritisation
Ans.(a) Rites and secularisation:
•It usually means a process of decline in the influence of religion.
•Indicators of secularisation have referred to levels of involvement with religious
organisations (like church attendance), the social and material influence of religious
organization, and the degree to which people hold religious beliefs.
•But the general assumption that modem societies are increasingly becoming secular
may not entirely be hue.
•A considerable part of ritual in India has direct reference to the pursuit of secular ends.
•Rituals have secular dimensions i.e. they provide men and women occasions for
socializing with their peers and superiors.
•They get an opportunity to show off family’s wealth, clothing and jewellery.
•During the last few decades in particular, the economic, political and status dimensions
of ritual have become increasingly conspicuous.
(b)Caste and Secularisation:
•In traditional India, caste system operated within the religious framework.
•Belief systems of purity and pollution were centred to its practice. India has seen such
formation of caste associations and caste based political parties. They seem to press
upon the state their demands.
•Such a changed role of caste has been described as secularisation of caste.
•The traditional social system in India was organised around caste structures and caste
identities. In dealing with the relationship between caste and politics, however the
doctrinaire moderniser suffers from a serious xenophobia.
•Politicians mobilise caste groupings and identities in order to organise their power….
where there are other types of groups and other bases of association, politicians
approach them as well. And as they everywhere change the form of such organizations,
they change the form of caste as well.
(c)Gender and Sanskritisation:
•Sanskritisation supports traditional way of life for women and it is more liberal for
modernization or westernization for men.
•Most of the supporters of Sanskritisation support the women life within the four walls of
the houses. They support or prefer the role of women as a mother, a sister and a
daughter.
•They like women to follow the traditional way of marriage with the consent of parents.
Kumud Pawade as a student could enable her to read in the original what the texts have
to say about women and the Dalits. As she proceeds with her studies, she meets with
varied reactions ranging from surprise to hostility, from guarded acceptance to brutal
rejection. As she says “I remember an expression I heard somewhere: “What comes by
birth, but can’t be cast off by dying—that is caste?”