Salient Features of Indian Society, Diversity of India

Previous Year Questions:

1. The life cycle of a joint family depends on economic factors rather than
social values. Discuss. 10 marks, 2014
2. Describe any four cultural elements of diversity in India and rate their
relative significance in building a national identity. 12.5 marks, 2015
3. Debate the issue whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of
Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste. 12.5 marks, 2015
4. In the context of the diversity of India, can it be said that the regions form
cultural units rather than the States? Give reasons with examples for your
view point. 10 marks, 2017
5. The spirit of tolerance and love is not only an interesting feature of Indian
society from very early times, but it is also playing an important part at the
present. Elaborate. 15 marks, 2017
6. “Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence,
caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment. 10 marks, 2018
7. What makes the Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss.
10 Marks, 2019

Introduction:
• Indian society is an exemplification of multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-ideological constructs, which
co-exist, at once striving to strike harmony and also to retain its individuality.
• Based on the generous concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam (the world is one family), Indian society
possess a great cultural heritage. During the course of its evolution, it has accommodated and
integrated many communities and their ways of life from time to time.

Characteristics of Indian Society:

1. Multi-ethnic society: Due to co-existence of wide variety of racial groups.
2. Multilingual society: More than 1600 languages are spoken
3. Multi-class society: Segmentation of classes based on birth, financial and social achievements.
4. Patriarchal society: very few tribal societies are matrilineal (Ex: Khasi in Meghalaya)
5. Unity in Diversity: Fundamental unity in social institutions and practices.
6. Co-existence of traditionalism and modernity: Due to the spread of education and technological
advances, modern thinking among Indians has increased. However, the family life is still bound by
traditional value and belief system.
7. Balance between spiritualism and materialism: Indian society largely possess spiritual orientations.
However due to increased Westernisation, materialistic tendencies have also become quite
visible.
8. Balance between individualism and collectivism
9. Blood and kinship ties: Stronghold over other social relationships. They continue to govern the
political and economic spheres of life.

Features of Indian Society:

1. Caste System: hereditary endogamous group, having a common name, common traditional
occupation, common culture, relatively rigid in matters of mobility, distinctiveness of status and
forming a single homogenous community.
Features of Caste System:
○ Segmental division of society.
○ Hierarchy organizes caste according to purity or impurity.
○ Civil and Religious disabilities. Ex: lower caste--> no access to wells, restricted temple entry.
○ Manual Scavenging was a caste based occupation.
○ Policy of caste based reservation
Changes in Caste System:
○ Inter-caste marriages
○ Challenge to orthodox practices of child marriage, ban on widow re-marriage,
insensitiveness of superior class towards the lower class in the wake of urbanization.
○ New food habits like accepting food from lower caste people etc
 ○ Changes in Occupation: Brahmins have become traders whereas Vaishyas have joined
teaching and so on.
Factors Affecting Changes in Caste System:
○ Sanskritization: positional change in caste system.
○ Westernization: Due to changes in the spheres of education, food habits, dressing sense,
style of eating, manners etc., westernization has brought occupational changes cutting
across the caste barriers.
○ Modernization: It is a process which primarily relies on scientific outlook, rational attitudes,
high social mobility, mass mobilisation and specialisation in work.
○ Industrialization and Urbanization
○ Democratic Decentralization: PRIs provided opportunities for lower classes to empower
themselves.
○ Legislative measures aimed at safeguarding interests of down trodden, facilitate social and
economic development of depressed classes. Ex: Untouchability (offences) Act, 1955.

2. Religious Pluralism: Secular country, various religions, further subdivided into several sects and
cults.
3. Kinship: includes society recognized relationships based on supposed as well as well actual
genealogical ties. These relationships are the result of social interaction and are recognized by
society.
Types : Affinal- bond of marriage; Consanguineous- bond of blood.
4. Marriage: Set of cultural mechanisms which ensure the continuation of family.
Structural and Functional Changes in Marriage system:
○ Changes in the aim and purpose of marriage: Traditional society objective --> Dharma.
Modern society objective --> life long companionship
○ Changes in the form of marriage: Polygamy, polygyny --> Monogamous
○ Changes in the age of marriage
○ Increase in divorce and desertion rates: Relaxed legislative provisions for divorce, Internet
has exposed people to the different social trends prevalent across the world and has
revolutionized the institution in an otherwise conservative Indian society.
○ Live-in-relationships: The institution also has legal recognition as a three judge bench of SC
in 2010 observed that a man and a woman living together without marriage cannot be
construed as an offence and held that living together is a Right to Life and Liberty (Article
21)
5. Family: basic unit of society. First and most immediate social environment to which child is
exposed.
Characteristics of Family:
○ Family is a basic, definite and enduring group.
○ Family is formed by the relatively durable companionship of husband, wife who procreate
children.
○ Family may be limited to husband, wife or only the father and his children or only the
mother and her children.
○ Family is generally smaller in size companied to other social groups, organizations and
associations.
○ Family can also be large in size in which persons belonging to several generations may live
together.
Functions of Family:
○ Primary function- Some of the functions of family are basic to its continued existence. o
Production and rearing of the child
o Provision of home
o Instrument of culture transmission.
o Agent of socialization
o Status ascribing function
○ Secondary function
o Economic functions: With economic advancements, family has become more
consuming unit than a producing one. Members are engaged in earning wages for
ensuring socio-economic well-being of the family.
o Educationalfunctions:Familyprovidesthebasisforthechild’sformallearning.Inspite
of great changes, the family still gives the child his basic training in the social attitudes
 and habits important to adult participation in social life
o Religious functions: Family is a center for the religious training of the children. The
children learn from their parents various religious virtues.
o Recreational functions: Family provides the opportunities to parents and children for
engaging in various recreational activities such as playing indoor games, dancing, singing,
reading etc
Changes in Family System:
○ Changes in Family: production unit --> consumption unit
○ Changes in Employment: Youth can now think of new opportunities beyond traditional
family business.
○ Influence of urbanization: Urban city life is more favourable to small nuclear families.
○ Changes in marriage system: Modern marriage does not symbolize the superior authority of
the family head over other members.
○ Influence of western values: Values relating to modern science, rationalism, individualism,
equality, free life, democracy, freedom of women etc. have exerted a tremendous change
on the joint family system in India.
Current Status:
○ 2011 census: 52.1% nuclear households.
6. Diversity : India is a plural society both in letter and spirit. It is rightly characterized by its unity and
diversity. A grand synthesis of cultures, religions and languages of the people belonging to
different castes and communities has upheld its unity and cohesiveness despite multiple foreign
invasions.
Forms of Diversity: Religious, Linguistic, Racial, Caste, Cultural, Geographical
Factors leading to unity amidst diversity in India:
○ Constitutional Identity: one single constitution.
○ Religious co-existence: Freedom of religion and religious practice is guaranteed by the
Constitution itself. Moreover, there is no state religion and all religions are given equal
preference by the state.
○ Inter-state mobility
○ Economic Integration
○ Institution of pilgrimage and Religious practices
Factors Threatening India's Unity:
○ Regionalism: Law and order situation is hampered due to regional demands and ensuing
agitation.
○ Divisive politics: Sometimes, ascriptive identities such as caste, religion etc. are evoked by
politicians in order to garner votes. This type of divisive politics can result in violence, feeling
of mistrust and suspicion among minorities.
○ Development imbalance: Uneven pattern of socio-economic development, inadequate
economic policies and consequent economic disparities can lead to backwardness of a
region.
○ Ethnic differentiation and nativism: clashes due to factors such as job competiton, limited
resources etc. Ex: Frequent clashes between Bodos and Bengali speaking Muslims in Assam.
○ Geographical Isolation: NE witnesses several instances of separatism, cross-border
terrorism
○ Inter-religious conflicts: spreading fear and mistrust, hinder secular fabric of the country.
○ Inter-state Conflicts: regionalism, affect trade and communication. Ex: Cauvery river dispute
between Karnataka and Kerala.
○ Influence of external factors: foreign organizations, terrorist groups, extremists groups incite
violence and sow feelings of separatism.