SOCIO-CULTURAL PROCESS OF CHANGE. — sociology STD 12 Arts — Question

• Dr. M.M. Srinivasa has for the first time explained the concept of westernization.
• According to him, "Westernization is a process in which Indian society and culture have undergone various changes at various levels, mechanical, institutional, ideological and value-related, due to 150 years of British rule in India."
• Dr. M.M. Srinivas explains the effects of Westernization on India through the following aspects:

1. Laws in Agriculture:

• During the British rule, some laws were enacted in the field of grace.
• In the late 18th century, landownership, ryotwari and Mahalwari systems of land ownership and revenue collection were introduced.
• The British government conducted a survey on land ownership and determined it as the base land revenue.
• Due to this new land relations were established in the rural areas of India.

2. Modern Judiciary:

• The British enforced the existing laws and regulations in India.
• The army and police forces were redesigned.
• The modern judiciary began with the establishment of new legal systems.
• This has had the opposite effect on traditional Indian law and order-based law.

3. Education system:

• The most widespread impact of Westernization has been on the education system.
• The British introduced a modern education system in India and made equal provision of education for all individuals.
• Schools and colleges were started in many places in India in the early 19th century.
• Over time, education was extended to the rural areas.
• As a result, new ideas and values ​​were propagated and disseminated.
• Higher education expanded in 1875 with the opening of universities in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

4. Printing Press:

• The British started printing press in India.
• Thus began the publication of newspapers, books and magazines.
• Different sections and groups of the society got an opportunity to express their views.
• As a result, new global ideas and values ​​spread in India.

5. New thinking:

• Westernization gave rise to new ideas and principles.
• Dr. Srinivas attaches the utmost importance to the ideas of 'humanism' in this context.
• The idea of ​​humanism speaks of the welfare of all individuals,
• This is the ideal of welfare of all without discrimination of caste, economic status, religion, age and caste.
• The concepts of equality, freedom and secularism played an important role in spreading humanitarian thinking in India.

6. Development of modernity:

• Westernization led to the development of trade and industry in India and the spread of education.
• The result was a new class, known as the 'middle class'.
• The educated class attached to the administration of the British government became the dominant class of modern India over time.
• Along with this an intellectual class of lawyers, doctors, professors, writers and artists also came into existence.
• These new classes embraced some elements of Western culture.
• The result was the development of modernity in the towns.

7. Development of Democracy:

• The independence movement that started during the British rule formed people's organizations inspired by Western democracy, liberalism and nationalism.
• As a result, every faith and belief in democracy developed among the people.
• The establishment of a democratic society in independent India can be clearly seen in the impact of Westernization.