Conclusion
This chapter has sought to show the distinct ways that social change has taken place in India. The colonial experience had lasting consequences. Many of these were unintended and paradoxical. Western ideas of modernity shaped the imagination of Indian nationalists. It also prompted a fresh look at traditional texts by some. It led to a rejection of these by others. Western cultural forms found their place in spheres ranging from how families lived to what codes of conduct men, women, and children had to follow as artistic expressions. The ideas of equality and democracy had a significant impact, as evident in both the reform movements and the nationalist movement. This led not just to the adoption of Western ideas but also to an active questioning and reinterpretation of tradition.