2. Cultural Change
The chapter explores the impact of colonialism on Indian society and culture, highlighting the social reform movements of the 19th and early 20th centuries aimed at addressing issues like caste discrimination and gender inequalities. It discusses various processes of social change including sanskritisation, modernisation, secularisation, and westernisation, illustrating how these processes both coexist and sometimes contradict one another in contemporary India. The chapter emphasizes the intertwined relationship between social change and cultural transformation, showcasing reactions to colonial influence.
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What we have learnt
- Colonialism initiated significant structural changes in Indian society and culture.
- Social reform movements emerged to address traditional evils like sati and gender discrimination.
- Processes like sanskritisation and westernisation illustrate the complex responses of Indians to modernization.
Key Concepts
- -- Sanskritisation
- A process by which lower castes adopt the customs and practices of higher castes, often in an effort to improve their social standing.
- -- Modernisation
- Refers to the changes associated with contemporary society that include shifts in technology, economy, and social structures aimed at improvement and advancement.
- -- Westernisation
- The adoption of Western ideas, culture, and practices by non-Western societies, often marked by changes in lifestyle, technology, and values.
- -- Secularisation
- The process by which religious institutions, practices, and beliefs lose their social significance, leading to a more secular public sphere.
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