Chapter 2: Cultural Change - Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation
1. Introduction: What is Cultural Change?
Culture refers to the shared way of life of a group of people – their norms,
values, beliefs, practices, symbols, language, and material objects.
Cultural Change involves alterations in these elements over time.
In India, cultural change has been profoundly influenced by historical processes
like colonialism, nationalism, and post-independence development initiatives.
This chapter primarily focuses on the impact of colonialism and the key
processes of change it triggered or intensified: Social Reform Movements,
Sanskritization, Westernization, Modernization, and Secularization.
2. Impact of Colonialism on Indian Culture
Colonial rule wasn't just political; it deeply impacted India's economy, society,
and culture.
Introduction of New Technologies: Printing press (facilitated spread of ideas,
newspapers, reformist literature), railways & telegraph (connected different
parts of India, enabling faster communication and mobilisation).
Western Education: Introduced by the British (Macaulay's Minute, 1835)
primarily to create clerks but inadvertently exposed Indians to Western liberal
ideas (democracy, liberty, individualism, rationality). This created a new,
educated middle class.
Rise of Nationalism: Colonial domination and exposure to Western ideas
paradoxically fuelled Indian nationalism. Culture became a key domain for
asserting identity and resisting colonial power.
Changes in Social Structures: Colonial administration and laws impacted caste
system, family structures, and religious practices, sometimes directly (e.g.,
banning Sati) and sometimes indirectly.
3. Social Reform Movements in the 19th and early 20th Centuries
These movements emerged in response to the challenges posed by colonial
rule and internal social evils. They aimed to reform Indian society and culture.
Context: Influenced by both Western liberal ideas (rationality, humanism) and a
reinterpretation of traditional Indian scriptures.
Key Issues Addressed:
Sati: Abolition led by Raja Rammohun Roy (Brahmo Samaj); officially banned in
1829.
Widow Remarriage: Advocated by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar; Hindu Widows'
Remarriage Act passed in 1856.
Child Marriage: Efforts to raise the age of consent.
Caste Discrimination: Movements led by Jyotiba Phule (Satyashodhak Samaj) in
Maharashtra, Sri Narayana Guru in Kerala, challenging Brahmanical dominance
and advocating education and rights for lower castes and untouchables.
Women's Education: Pioneers like Pandita Ramabai, Savitribai Phule worked
tirelessly to establish schools for girls.
Nature of Movements: Varied across regions and communities. Some focused
on reforming Hinduism from within (e.g., Arya Samaj founded by Dayanand
Saraswati - 'Go back to the Vedas'), while others challenged the existing
structures more radically.
Significance: Contributed significantly to cultural awakening, laid the
groundwork for later nationalist and social justice movements, initiated
debates on tradition vs. modernity.
4. Key Processes of Cultural Change (Post-Independence Focus)
a) Sanskritization:
Concept Coined by: M.N. Srinivas.
Definition: The process by which a 'low' Hindu caste, or tribal or other group,
changes its customs, rituals, ideology, and way of life in the direction of a high,
and frequently, 'twice-born' (dwija) caste.
Mechanism: Imitation of the lifestyle, dietary habits (vegetarianism), religious
rituals, dress, and social practices of dominant upper castes in a particular
region.
Goal: To achieve a higher status within the existing caste hierarchy.
Key Features:
It represents positional change (moving up within the hierarchy) rather than
structural change (abolishing the hierarchy itself).
The model for imitation is often the locally dominant caste, which may not
always be Brahmins (could be Kshatriyas or Vaishyas).
It often involves adopting practices like vegetarianism, teetotalism, observing
elaborate rituals, and sometimes even dowry.
Critiques:
It reinforces the legitimacy of the caste system and its hierarchical values.
It often leads to the adoption of patriarchal norms (e.g., stricter controls on
women) prevalent in upper castes.
It neglects non-Sanskritic traditions and paths of mobility (e.g., conversion,
economic development, political mobilisation).
Actual upward mobility through Sanskritization alone is difficult and often
contested by upper castes.
b) Westernization:
Concept Coined by: M.N. Srinivas.
Definition: Changes brought about in Indian society and culture as a result of
over 150 years of British rule, covering changes occurring at different levels:
technology, institutions, ideology, and values.
Aspects:
Behavioural: Adoption of Western dress, food habits, manners, use of English
language.
Knowledge: Spread of Western science, literature, history through the
education system.
Values: Adoption of Western values like humanitarianism, egalitarianism,
secularism, rationality (though often selectively).
Institutions: Establishment of Western administrative, legal, and educational
systems.
Complexity:
Not a simple process; Indians often adopted Western elements selectively.
Different groups adopted Westernization to different degrees.
Led to internal contradictions (e.g., adopting Western education but critiquing
Western materialism).
Often associated with the urban, educated middle and upper classes.
Impact: Facilitated the rise of nationalism, influenced social reforms, altered
lifestyles and consumption patterns.
c) Modernization:
Broader Concept: While often overlapping with Westernization in the Indian
context, Modernization is a more general term referring to the transition from
'traditional' to 'modern' societies.
Characteristics: Emphasis on rationality, scientific temper, universalism
(applying the same rules to everyone), achievement-based status (rather than
ascribed status like caste), technological advancement, belief in progress.
In India: Often seen through the lens of planned development,
industrialization, spread of education, and adoption of democratic institutions.
Relationship with Tradition: Modernity in India doesn't necessarily mean a
complete break from tradition; often, there's a complex interplay and
adaptation.
d) Secularization:
Western Definition: Decline in the influence of religion in public life,
differentiation of secular spheres (state, economy, science) from religious
institutions, and rationalization of individual worldviews.
Indian Context: More complex. Religion continues to play a significant role in
public and private life.
Indian Secularism: Primarily means:
The state maintains neutrality and equal distance from all religions ('Sarva
Dharma Sama Bhava').
Freedom of religion for individuals and communities.
State intervention is possible for social reform purposes (e.g., laws regarding
marriage, inheritance, temple entry).
Challenges: Rise of communalism (political mobilization based on religious
identity), tensions between religious communities, debates over the extent of
state intervention in religious affairs. The process is often contested.
5. Interplay and Conclusion
These processes (Sanskritization, Westernization, Modernization,
Secularization) are not mutually exclusive. They often occur simultaneously and
influence each other.
Example: A lower caste group might undergo Sanskritization (adopting upper-
caste rituals) while also embracing Western education and modern occupations
(Westernization/Modernization).
Cultural change in India is dynamic, complex, and often contradictory, reflecting
the country's diverse social fabric and historical experiences. Understanding
these processes is key to analysing contemporary Indian society