Modernization of Indian Tradition | Sociology Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Modernization: A Process of Change

• Definition: Modernization refers to the significant changes in society, especially in social, economic, political, and cultural aspects. It signifies a major departure from traditional ways of life.
• Idea vs. Process: Modernization is both an idea and a process. As an idea, there is no consensus among social scientists about its exact meaning and interpretation.
• Historical Context: The concept of modernization originated as an explanation for the development of Western countries through capitalism.
• Technological Emphasis: Modernization is seen as dependent on the introduction of technology and the knowledge required to utilize it effectively.
• Social and Political Prerequisites:Certain social and political conditions are necessary for modernization to occur. These prerequisites include:
  • Increased levels of education
  • Development of mass media
  • Accessible transport and communication
  • Democratic political institutions
  • More urban and mobile population
  • Nuclear family structures replacing extended families
  • Complex division of labor
  • Declining public influence of religion
  • Developed markets for the exchange of goods and services
• Broad Scope: The term modernization is used in a broad sense, leading to various interpretations about its scope and areas of application.

Tradition: The Foundation of Indian Society

Definition: Tradition, as described by Yogendra Singh, refers to the core 'value-themes' that characterized Indian society before the onset of modernization. These themes were deeply embedded in the social fabric and influenced various aspects of life.

• Value Themes: The four key value themes of tradition are:
• Hierarchy: Hierarchy was a fundamental aspect of Indian society, evident in the caste and subcaste system. It was also reflected in Hindu concepts such as occupational lifecycles (Ashramas) and moral duties (Dharmas).
• Holism: Holism emphasized the relationship between the individual and the group, where the community (sangha) took precedence over the individual. This principle was evident in various social structures such as the family, village community, caste, and nation.
• Continuity: Continuity in Hinduism was symbolized by concepts like karma, transmigration of the soul, and a cyclical view of change. The value system of continuity reinforced communalism in the traditional social structure.
• Transcendence: Transcendence involved the legitimization of traditional values beyond rational evaluation. It contributed to the integration and rationalization of the other value themes.
• Interconnection: These value themes were interlinked with other elements of Indian social structure, shaping the society's beliefs and practices.

In summary, modernization represents a shift towards technology and new social structures, while tradition embodies the deep-rooted values and hierarchies of pre-modern Indian society.

Modernization of Indian Tradition

Modernization of Indian tradition refers to the process of adapting and transforming traditional Indian practices, beliefs, and institutions in response to contemporary changes and influences. This process has been shaped by various factors, including colonial rule, social reform movements, political changes, and economic development.

Historical Context

• The contact with the British during the seventeenth century in regions like Bengal, Madras, and Bombay led to the emergence of a modernizing sub-culture or Little tradition of Westernization.
• A small group of interpreters and trader-cum-middlemen began to adopt Western ways, paving the way for a broader societal shift.
• During this period, sects such as the Brahmo Samaj and Prarthana Samaj emerged, advocating for the assimilation of Western cultural norms and modes of learning while opposing obscurantism in Hindu traditions.
• The consolidation of British power in the mid-nineteenth century further contributed to the establishment of a modernizing Great tradition.

Components of Modernization

• The contact with the West brought about significant changes in social structure and cultural institutions. The British administration introduced new arrangements in legal, agrarian, educational, and administrative domains, leading to structural modernization.
• The bureaucratic system of administration and judiciary introduced by the British replaced traditional Indian legal norms based on hierarchy and ascription with modern rational norms.
• Western education was introduced and expanded significantly, transforming the system of education.
• New patterns of land settlements, such as Zamindari, Ryotwari, and Mahalwari, systematized revenue administration across British India.
• Other areas experiencing modernizing trends included industrialization, urbanization, transport and communication, and the emergence of an industrial working class.
• The emergence and growth of nationalist political leadership were also a result of the growing modernization of Indian society. The nationalist leadership became a powerful force, generating a new culture of modernization.
• After independence, the process of modernization underwent fundamental changes. It became an integral part of the developmental strategy, envisioned for all levels of cultural and structural systems.
• The political system underwent significant transformation with the adoption of a parliamentary form of government based on adult franchise. Political parties emerged as powerful organs of the system, contributing to increasing political consciousness among the people.
• Legal reforms in marriage and inheritance influenced the traditional family structure, introducing equalitarian norms and raising the status of women.
• Community Development Projects disseminated cultural norms and role structures of modernity to every village in India. Land reforms and elective village panchayats initiated villagers into bureaucratic participation in local-level management and administration of justice.
• Caste assumed new functional roles, acquiring an associational character. New consciousness among dalits and the increasing role of caste in politics reflected this trend.
• Land reforms brought structural transformation in agrarian social structure.

Challenges and Inconsistencies

• Modernization in India has not been a uniformly progressive movement. Traditional institutions and activities have been reinforced in some cases. For example, religious preachers now use modern media to spread their ideas, and caste associations employ new modes of communication to consolidate their positions.
• Inconsistencies are visible in patterns of modernization. While structural changes are evident in the family system, joint family loyalties and norms still persist. Democratic participation is increasing despite rising caste conflicts.

Rusto’s Approach to Modernity

W.W. Rustow, in his book "Economic Development – A Non-Communist Manifesto," presents a market capitalism-based approach to modernity. He dismisses any ideological underpinnings in the modernization process, arguing that all nations in the globalized era will follow similar developmental trajectories.

Rustow outlines five stages of development:

1. Primitive Stage: This stage is marked by a society steeped in theological beliefs, superstitions, and backwardness.
2. Pre-Take Off Stage: In this phase, societies begin to change due to exposure to colonialism, trade, and modern education, laying the groundwork for modernity.
3. Take Off: This stage witnesses national aspirations manifesting in protests against outsiders, with independence becoming a key objective.
4. Drive Towards Maturity: Here, nations embrace rationality, technology, and a multipronged approach to development, often through state power and policies.
5. Stage of Mass Consumption: In this final stage, countries achieve development, with increased mobility and heightened civic consciousness.

Rustow’s ideas have influenced some sociologists in India, reflecting a unidirectional approach to modernity.

Structural-Functionalist View - M.N. Srinivas
M.N. Srinivas views modernity as a value-laden concept that establishes a superior-inferior stereotype between the modern and traditional. He critiques the notion that everything modern is necessarily good, arguing that modernity is not a valid concept in the Indian context. To address this, he developed concepts like westernization and Sanskritization, which reflect both continuity and change.

Concluding Analysis

• The tensions arising from the modernization process in India highlight the need for better coordination in change strategies. Contradictions are emerging due to uncoordinated institutional reforms and economic measures implemented for modernization post-Independence.
• These contradictions also represent the upward movement of previously suppressed aspirations and interests. Protest movements, whether subtle (like Sanskritization, Islamization, or the formation of parochial associations based on caste, language, and regional culture) or overt (such as Centre-State tensions), are inevitable in the democratic transition to modernization.
• Modernization should progress through conciliatory steps and a mobilization strategy. Strengthening democratic values and institutions is crucial. The democratic framework has an inherent mechanism to address inconsistencies arising from uncoordinated changes in the conditions of modernization, unlike totalitarian systems.
• Despite ongoing tensions and contradictions, the likelihood of institutional breakdown is minimal. Democratic values are well established in the political system, and the widening cultural gap among elites is not significant enough to cause major conflicts over modernization ideology.
• Caste, as an institutionalized form of inequality, is now engaged in battles against inequality and inegalitarianism through its own rational self-transformation into associations. Many independent or categorical values of tradition have shown remarkable adaptability to the cultural system of modernization.
• Some traditions even thrive as modernization accelerates, without major contradictions. The recent agricultural revolution has fostered a new atmosphere of optimism for future progress, along with the increasing public awareness about curbing birth rates. This indicates hopeful signs of modernization without breakdown. A continuous coordination of mobilization and conciliation is essential for democratic modernization in India.