Sociology 2 Marks Question

Reformative movement:

• Reformist social movements strive to change the existing social and political arrangements through gradual, incremental steps.

Examples: The reorganization of Indian states on the basis of language.

• Right to Information campaign.

Revolutionary movement:

• Revolutionary social movements attempt to radically transform social relations, often by capturing state power.

Example: The Bolshevik revolution in Russia that deposed the Tsar to create a communist state.

• Naxalite movement in India that seeks to remove oppressive landlords and state officials.
• French Revolution aimed at overthrowing the monarchy.
• In Britain, the industrial revolution brought about social upheaval.

As we have learned, by studying ‘traditional merchant communities’ or castes such as the Nakarattars, that there is a close connection between the caste system and the economy. This is also true in the case of trade and markets. In fact, ‘Vaisyas’ constitute one of the four varnas- an indication of the importance of the merchant and of trade or business in Indian society since ancient times.

Difference between social change and social movements-

• Social change is continuous and on going.
• Sum total of countless individual and collective action gathered across time and space.
• Social movements are directed towards some specific goals.
• Involves long and continuous social effort and action by people.

Issues against which the leaders of Jharkhand movement agitated:-

• Acquisition of land for larger irrigation projects and firing ranges.
• Survey and settlement operations which were held up, camps closed down etc.
• Collection of loans, rent and cooperative dues which were resisted.
• Nationalisation of forest produce which they boycotted.
• Most of the benefits from mining, industry etc went to the non-tribals.

Features of New farmer’s movements–

• Movements were regionally organised.
• Involved farmer rather than peasants.
• Non-party.
• Basic ideology of the movements was strongly “anti-state and anti-urban”.
• Demands were “price and related” issues.
• Novel methods of agitation were usedeg, road & railway blocks, refusing entry of Politicians/bureaucrats etc.

Basis for Dalit Social Movements –

1. Quest for equality, self-dignity.
2. Eradication of untouchability.
3. Struggle for abolishment of stigmatisation.

Difference between Social Movement & Social Change -

• Social change is continuous and ongoing whereas social movements are directed towards some specific goals.
• Social change involves collective actions gathered across time and space whereas social movements involve long and continuous social effort and action by people.

Elements for creating new social movements –
Identity politics, cultural anxieties & aspirations are essential elements in creating social movements.
Unite participants across class boundaries.

The tribal movements have been largely located in the tribal belt in middle India, such as the Santhals, Oraons, Hos, Mundas.
Following are the main issues against which the leaders of the movement in Jharkhand agitated:

1. Acquisition of land for mega irrigation projects and firing ranges.
2. Collection of loans, rent and cooperative dues, which were resisted.
3. Nationalisation of forest produce which they boycotted.

1. Reformist social movements strive to change the existing social and political movements through gradual incremental steps.
2. Whereas revolutionary social movements attempt to radically transform social relations often by capturing state power.

Sati, Child Marriage, Ill-treatment of widows, Dowry murders, Representation of women in popular media and the gendered consequences of unequal development, domestic violence, rape, equal wages, agricultural issues, tribal and rural issues.

According to this theory, social conflict arises when a social group feels that it is worse off than others around it. It also emphasises the role of psychological factors such as resentment and rage in inciting social movements.

1. Satnami movement in Chattisgarh.
2. Adi Dharam movement in Punjab.
3. Mahar movement in Maharashtra.
4. Jatavas of Agra.

1. Social change is continuous and ongoing.
2. Social movements are directed towards some specific goals.

Tebhaga movement was a struggle of sharecroppers in Bengal and North Bihar for two third share of the produce instead of customary half.

• Reformist social movements strive to change the existing social and political arrangements through gradual steps.
• Revolutionary social movements attempt to radically transform social relations, often by capturing state power.

Social movements of Dalit show a particular character because it is a struggle for recognition as fellow human beings, for self-confidence, for self determination and also for abolition of untouchability. It has been called a struggle “to be touched.”

1. The Women’s India Association.
2. All India Women’s Conference.
3. National Council for Women in India.

Social movements are different from social change in general because-
They are directed towards specific goals and involve social efforts and action by people. whereas general processes of social change are continuous and do not necessarily involve deliberate action by the people.

Distinct modes of protest:

• Candlelight and torchlight processions.
• Use of black cloth. (flags, bands etc)
• Street theaters.
• Songs and poetry.
• Ahimsa.
• Satyagraha.

Counter Movements-

• Counter movements arise in defence of status–quo when a social movement seeks to bring in a social change.

Example-

• The role of Dharma Sabha as a counter to Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s campaign against Sati.
• Education for girls.
• Widow remarriage.
• Enrolling of so called lower caste children in school.

Peasant movements -

1. Tebhaga Movement.
2. Telangana Movement.
3. Bengal Revolt.
4. Deccan Riots.
5. Bardoli Satyagraha.
6. Non-cooperation Movement.
7. Champaran Satyagraha.

Reasons for an Environmental Movement -
To protest against/to show concern about -

1. Exploitation of the already depleting natural resource.
2. In the name of "development," habitat of people is forcibly changed - They are displaced.

Reason for rise of Dalit Movements -

1. Common quest for equality, self-dignity.
2. Eradication of untouchability.
3. Abolishment of stigmatisation-struggle to be touched.
4. Recognition as fellow human beings.
5. Struggle for self-confidence.
6. Require a space for self-determination.
7. Economic & Political exploitation.

Colonial Govt. was cautious -

1. It attempted to grant workers some concession in order to contain unrest.
2. Reduced the working day to 10 hours.
3. A Trade Unions Act was passed.

Difference between Reformist & Redemptive Movements:Reformist -
Change the existing social and political arrangement through gradual, incremental steps e.g. RTI campaign.Redemptive -
Bring about a change in the personal consciousness and action of its individual members e.g. people in the Ezhava Community in Kerala were led by Narayana Guru to change their social practices.

Difference between social change & social movement -

1. Social Movement -

1. Social movements are directed towards the specific goals.
2. These movements involve long and continuous social efforts & action of the people.

2. Social Change -

1. It is continuous & ongoing.
2. It is the sum total of countless individuals & collective action gathered across time & space.

Social Change Continuously proceeds ahead whereas social movement are distracted towards specific social aim.

To remove social evils like Sati, child marriage, widow remarriage and caste discrimination, education for women and deprived groups.

• Candle and torch light processions, use of black cloth, street theatres, songs, poetries.
• Ahimsa, satyagraha, and use of charkha in the freedom movement.

1. Sustained collective action overtime.
2. Some degree of organisation.
3. Leadership and structure.
4. Shared objectives and ideologies.
5. General orientation to bring about change.

The theory of resource mobilisation explains that if a movement can mobilise the resources such as leadership, organisational capacity, communication facilities and can use them within the available political opportunity structure, it is more likely to be effective.

Difference between New Social Movements and Old Social Movements are-

• Old Social Movement functioned within the frame of political parties (e.g.) Trade Unions or Indian National Congress led Indian National Movement whereas new social movement were not about changing the distribution of power in society but about quality of life such as clean environment.
• Role of political parties was central in old whereas new social movements are non-party political formations in order to put pressure on the state from outside.
• Old social movements focused on Reorganisation of power relations as a central goal whereas new social movements involved quality of life issues.
• Old Social Movements were restricted to certain regions/nations whereas new social movements are often international in scope.

Two examples of Dalit social movements are -

• Satnami movement of chamars in eastern MP.
• Adi Dharma Movement in Punjab.
• Mahar Movement in Maharashtra.
• Satya Shodhak Movement.
• SNDP Movement.

Difference between Social Movement & Social Change:

• Social change is continuous and ongoing whereas social movements are directed towards some specific goals.
• Social change involves collective actions gathered across time and space whereas social movements involve long and continuous social effort and action by people.

• It attempted to grant workers some concessions in order to contain unrest.
• The government passed the Factories Act which reduced the working day to 10 hours.
• The Trade Unions Act was passed, providing for the registration of trade unions and proposed some regulations.

• The basic ideology of the movement was strongly anti state and anti-urban.
• The focus was on price and related issues.

• Satnami Movement of the Chamars.
• Adi Dharma Movement in Punjab.
• The Mahar Movement in Maharashtra.
• The socio-political mobilisation among the Jatavas of Agra.
• The Anti-Brahman Movement in south India (SNDP).

Social movements also develop distinct modes of protest. This could be:

• Candle march.
• Torch light processions.
• Use of black cloth.
• Theatres/ Nukkad Natak.
• Songs, poetries.
• Ahimsa.
• Satayagraha.

• Acquisition of land for large irrigation projects and firing ranges.
• Survey and settlement operations, which were held up, camps closed down, etc.
• Collection of loans, rent and cooperative dues, which were resisted.
• Nationalisation of forest produce which they boycotted.
• Issues relating to matters of ethnic-cultural identity.
• Common hatred of dikus–migrant traders and moneylenders.

1. Jharkhand movement and.
2. North-east movement.

The relative deprivation theory highlights the state of deprivation of people. Social conflict arises when a social group feels that it is worse off than others around it. Their resentment and rage can incite social movements.

On 12th March, 1930, Gandhiji along with his 79 companions marched from his Sabarmati Ashram towards Dandi to break the salt laws. After walking for 24 days he broke the salt law on 6th April, 1930.

Social change is continuous and ongoing; it reflects the difference between a situation as it was in the past to what it is in the present whereas social movements are generally started to make definite changes in, society or protest against social changes.

The theory of resource mobilization refers to the method by which a social movement utilizes resources that help it succeed.

The main concerns of social reformers in the 19th century were to give equal rights to women. It was called feminism.

Transformatory movement aims to bring about a change in the personal consciousness and actions of its individual members.

Class based movements are generally local, regional or national. They are a kind of pressure group against a system, policy or programme.

A social movement essentially involves sustained collective mobilization through either informal or formal organization and is generally oriented towards bringing about change in the existing system of relationships ideology is an important component of a social movement.