Jai Narain Vyas University,Jodhpur

INDIAN SOCIETY AND ITS

CHARACTERISTICS

Name :- PAWAN THANVI

Class :- BA LLB 4nd Sem
Subject :- SOCIOLOGY
ROLL NO. :- 19BAL50041

Submitted To:-
MISS SUMAN MA’AM
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I take this opportunity to express my profound
gratitude and deep regards to my guide MISS
SUMAN MA’AM for his exemplary guidance,
monitoring and constant encouragement throughout
the course of this Project. The blessing, help and
guidance given by him time to time shall carry me a
long way in the journey of life on which I am about to
embark.
 I also take this opportunity to express a deep sense
of gratitude to My friends and there support, valuable
information and guidance, which helped me in
completing this task through various stages.
Lastly, I thank almighty, my parents, brother, sisters
and friends for their constant encouragement
without which this assignment would not be possible.
 
 
 INDEX
Meaning of Society
Social Structure of Indian Society
Definitions of Social Structure
In nutshell it can be said that
Social System
Features of Social Structure of Indian
Society
Features:
1. Pluralistic Society:
2. Predominantly Rural Society:
3. Poverty:
4. Illiteracy and Ignorance:
5. Linguistic Diversity:
6. Racial Diversity:
7. Caste and Casteism:
8. Communalism:
9. Regionalism:
10. Tradition and Modernity:
11. Problem of Social Communication:

Meaning of Society
The term society refers not to group of people but to the complex
pattern of the norms of interaction that arise among and between
them. It consists of not only mutual interactions and mutual
interrelations of the individuals but it is also a structure formed by
these relations. According to Maclver society is— “A web of social
relationship.”

Just as life is not a thing but a process of living so society is not a thing
but a process of associating.

According to Ginsberg – “A society is a collection of individuals united

by certain relations or modes of behaviour which mark them off from
other who do not enter into these relations or who differ from them in
behaviour.”

According to Parsons – “Society may be defined as the total complex

of human relationships in so far as they grow out of action in terms of
mean-end relationships, intrinsic or symbolic.”

According to Prof. Wright – “Society is not a group of people. It is the

system of relationships that exist between the individuals of the
group.”

Society exists only when the members know each other and possess
common interest or objects. The members who constitute the society
must realise their likeness and their interdependence. They must have
a community of feeling. Society is the whole system of social
relationships and not a mere agency for the comfort of the beings.

Society is a permanent institution and is a kind of natural organisation

which has emerged out of natural instincts of man. The true nature of
society consists not in the external factors of interdependence or
likeness or authority but in the state of mind of the beings that
compose society. Three main types of society tribal, agrarian and
industrial have been marked out on this globe. The African society is
tribal, the Indian society is ‘agrarian’ (peasant) while the American
society is industrial.
Social Structure of Indian Society
In a social structure, human beings organise themselves into
associations for the pursuit of some object. The social structure of
Indian society is heterogeneous character.

Social structure refers to the network of social relationship which is

created among the human beings when they interact with each other
according to their statuses in accordance with the patterns of society.

Definitions of Social Structure

According to S. F. Nadel – “We arrive at the structure of a society
through abstracting from concrete population and its behaviour, the
pattern on network of relationships obtaining between actors in their
capacity of playing roles relative to one another.”

According to Ginsberg – “Social structure is concerned with the

principal forms of social organisation i.e., types of groups, associations
and institutions and complex of these which constitute societies.”

According to Radcliffe Brown – “The components of social structure

are human beings, the structure itself being an arrangement of
persons in relationship institutionally defined and regulated.”

According to Karl Mannheim – “Social structure is the web of

interacting social forces from which the various modes of observing
and thinking have arisen.”

According to Talcott Parsons – “Social structure is the term applied to

the particular arrangement of inter-related institutions, agencies and
social patterns, as well as the status and roles which each person
assumes in the groups.”

On the basis of above definitions we can see that social structure is an

abstract phenomenon. It refers to the external aspects of society. Each
society has a pattern of organization composed of the structures
resulting from associations of men with each other. It may be a group,
an association or an organization. Institutions, associations, groups,
organizations and community are parts of social structure—
instruments through which it functions. Social structure can be
explained with the help of organic structure where body is an
arrangement of different body parts like hands, legs, nose, ears, mouth
etc.

These parts are arranged in a particular & systematic way so as to

create a pattern and body works through these parts which are
interdependent and inter-related. Though parts of organic structure
are same in every case yet the form of organic structure of people
differs like long, short, fat, lean and thin. In the same way, parts of all
social structures are same—i.e. every social structure has a family,
religion, political organization, land areas etc. but the forms of social
structure like the form of family is not similar in all social structures.
Some families have one husband, one wife and their children. Some
have several wives one husband and their children.

In nutshell it can be said that

1. Social structure is an abstract and intangible phenomenon.

2. As individuals are the units of associations and institutions so these

associations and institutions are the units of social structure.

3. These institutions and associations are interrelated in a particular

arrangement and thus create the pattern of social structure.

4. It refers to the external aspect of society which is relatively stable as

compared to the functional or internal aspect of society.

5. Social structure is a ‘living’ structure which is created and

maintained for a time and changes.

Social System
Social structure is closely related to the concept of social system.
Social structure is the ‘means’ through which the social system
functions. Social system refers to – “Functional aspect of social
structure”

Talcott Parsons – “A social system consists in a plurality of individual

actors interacting with each other in a situation which has at least a
physical or environmental aspect.”
Social system is constituted by the actions of individuals. It involves
participation of an actor in a process of interactive relationship in
accordance with social norms. On the basis of their interaction and
inter-relationship they create a pattern which is called social system.

The social structure of Indian society is comprised of various socio-

religious institutions.

Features of Social Structure of Indian

Society
India has been a country where numerous groups migrated from Asia
and Europe. The social structure of Indian society is characterised by
diversities and unity. But over the time, culture of each group has
undergone changes and has become the part of Indian society culture.
Even the process of economic development has brought revolutionary
changes in the Indian pattern of social life.

Features:
1. Pluralistic Society:
Indian society is a pluralistic society with a complex social order
characterised by a multitude of ethnic, linguistic, religious and caste
divisions. Hindus constitute the majority community and comprise
about 82% of the population. They stand evenly distributed across
regions. The Muslims constitute 12% and the Sikhs 2% of the
population. Muslims are concentrated in J and K, Assam, Bihar, U.P.,
Kerala and West Bengal.

Christians are concentrated in the small states of Northeast-Nagaland,

Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and the Sikhs are
concentrated in Punjab. These distributions have an important
bearing upon the politics of these areas. The Muslim-concentrated
areas are communal riots areas; the concentration of Sikhs in Punjab
is a determinant of Politics in Punjab.

2. Predominantly Rural Society:

About 70% of the Indian people live in villages and Indian villages
continue to be under-developed even backward. Lack of civic
amenities, employment opportunities, roads, transport facilities,
electricity, hospitals and schools in rural areas is a hard reality. The
gains of industrialisation and development during the past 45 years
have mostly been cornered by the urban areas. On an average a city
dweller earns nearly 2.5 times more than a ruralite. The gains of
technological break-through and industrialisation are yet to reach the
villages. Urban-rural gap is a reality of our society.

The ruralites feel that though agriculture accounts for a major part of
India’s national income, the rural areas continue to lag behind
because of the governmental policies which favour the urbanites. In
the democratic political process, the rural people by virtue of their
large majority play an active and dominant role and yet the leadership
in India continues to be in the hands of the urban elite.

Of late, the government of India has started giving due importance to

the objective of rural development. IRDP, NREP, Panchyati Raj etc.
are all designed to achieve this objective. The growing awareness
among the rural people and their increasing participation in the
political process are healthy signs yet the process continues to be slow.

3. Poverty:
Poverty of the masses is an important feature of Indian social system.
Despite the fact of having made considerable progress in the fields of
agriculture and industrialisation, India continues to be an
economically backward country. It still remains world’s 15th, poorest
nation despite maintaining an overall industrial growth rate of 3 to 5%
and an agrarian growth rate of 2 to 3%.

The increase in GNP from 1.3% in 1947 to 3.6% in 1980 has failed to
match the growing number. A large number of Indians continue to live
below the poverty line. The economic development of the society
through organised plans and all round industrial and technological
development constitutes the biggest and most challenging objective of
the Indian polity. The objective of economic upliftment is of at least
90% of the people by the end of 8th. Five Year Plan period is indeed
laudable, yet chances of achieving it appears to be weak.

4. Illiteracy and Ignorance:

Illiterates constitute a major part of Indian social system. A large
number of Indians are still illiterate. Nearly 64% of the population
continues to be illiterate. Despite the spread of the educational
network and adoption of ideal like free and compulsory education for
children upto 14 years and the ideal of making 80 million adults
literate by 1995, India remains a state inhabited by a large majority of
illiterates. The population explosion and poverty combined with
inadequate resources and efforts have all combined to perpetuate the
problem.

The political process continues to be predominated by illiterate

masses who are exploited by literate and neo-literate leaders. Even
many political leaders have a vested interest in perpetuating illiteracy
and public ignorance because they use them as their vote bank and as
a means for maintaining their leadership. The faulty system of
education has further compounded the evils of illiteracy. Even the
literates have failed to keep away from casteism, communalism,
factionalism, regionalism, indiscipline and corruption.

Politics in India continues to operate in an environment of illiteracy

and ignorance. Nevertheless, with the passage of time the people of
India are learning through formal and informal means of education,
gaining experience and becoming more and more mature. Illiteracy
creates so many social problems. The need is for more determined
governmental action and strong social support in this respect.

5. Linguistic Diversity:
Communalisation of language is another factor which is polluting the
social environment of India. On the basis of language, Indian society
stands’ divided into linguistic groups. The constitution of India
recognises as many as 15 languages as the major languages which are
spoken by 87% of population. There are as many as 1652 ‘mother
tongues’ in India. In the North-east region alone, which constitutes
just 8% of the Indian Territory and 4% of the population, there are
432 languages.

Hindi is spoken by nearly 31% of the people followed by Telegu which

is spoken by nearly 9% of the population. Linguistic diversity and
emotional and parochial love of people for their regional languages
have forced the government to accept and follow the principle of re-
organisation of Indian States on the basis of languages i.e. the creation
of linguistic states. This feature has, further, hindered the recognition
and use of Hindi as the official language of the Union.

The Southern States are not prepared to accept Hindi as the national
language and instead are prepared to retain English as the medium of
communication with the centre and other states. Language has
emerged as a key factor of social and political tension in India.

Hindi has failed to get support as the National Language and attempts
to popularise it as regarded by the people of the South, particularly in
Tamil Nadu, as ‘impositions’ and they oppose it through aggressive
and violent protests. In some states like Punjab, which is a bilingual
state, the three language formula stands implemented but it has
unduly burdened the educational system and within the state has
divided the people on language basis.

6. Racial Diversity:
India is inhabited by people of different racial connections. People of
the North are of Aryan race whereas the people of South represent the
Dravidian race. In the Eastern States people have affinity with
Mongolian race. The racial inter-mixing has taken place but only in a
limited way.

The principle of unity in diversity is accepted and yet diversities are

many times allowed to dominate the objective of unity. The
constitution categorically ends racial discrimination and provides for
secularism as the best way, yet in actual operation of socio-political
processes, racial factor plays a role in India.

7. Caste and Casteism:

Caste and casteism has been the pre-dominant feature of Indian social
system. It is an ancient evil which continues to influence India’s social,
economic, cultural and political life. The constitution in abolishing
untouchability and in providing for no discrimination on the basis of
caste and creed has taken a great step towards their dilution, if not
elimination of caste and casteism. But in the actual process of Indian
society, caste and casteism continue to be major factors.
An attempt is on to limit their role. Increased social mobility and
inter-mixing of people living in various parts of the country continues
to be a major factor in the political processes like political
socialisation, leadership recruitment, political communication,
political participation and voting behaviour.

Caste membership and caste loyalties continue to influence the

popular participation in politics. Even the constitution provisions for
reservation of seats and jobs for the people belonging to Scheduled
Castes and Tribes have failed to produce the desired integrative effect.

Caste system has deep historical roots and hence cannot be abolished.
It has been playing an integrative role but only at the group level. It
has helped the formation of social groupings in an otherwise vast and
heterogeneous population. Hence what is needed is not its abolition
but the cultivation of the ability to limit its role and prevent it from
acting as a source of communalism, regionalism and parochialism.

8. Communalism:
The presence of communal tension and the periodic outbreak of
communal riots have been the bone of Indian social system. Even after
50 years of independence these continue to strain the socio-political
system. The existence of some regional and communal political parties
adds fuel to the fire. Exploitation in the name of religion, election
campaigns based on communal lines and use of religion as a pressure
group are practised by political parties, which prefers secularism and
also those which are based on a particular religion.

Communalism remains a big strain on India’s efforts towards

nationalism. The menace of communalism constitutes a big danger to
the unity and integrity of the nation. Even the spread of literacy and
operationalisation of several control mechanism have produced little
success towards the elimination of this menace.

The rejection of communal electorates and the implementation of a

communal electrode too have failed to produce the desired results.
Each year the state has to spread a huge amount of money for
preventing and controlling riots and providing assistance to riot
affected people. All this seriously limits the capabilities of Indian
social system.

9. Regionalism:
Religious, linguistic, cultural and caste diversities prevailing in the
Indian society have together strengthened the forces of regionalism.
Love and concern for one’s local area of inhabitation is something
natural. The adoption of federal structure presupposes the existence of
some regionalism due to which the division of powers is done between
the federal government and the federating units. India is not an
exception to generalisation.

But unfortunately, regionalism in India often takes the form of sub-

nationalism or even anti- nationalism. The sons of the soil principle
and the existence of several regional political parties with narrowly
conceived regional goals have aggravated the problem. People
belonging to a particular region or state regard fellow citizens who
belong to other areas/regions/states as outsiders. People of Haryana
regard Punjabis outsiders and even raise such slogans as Haryana for
Haryanavis.

Similar cries are also heard from other parts of the country. Inter-
State boundary disputes, Punjab and Haryana Inter-State river water
disputes, Kaveri water dispute, demand for more and more autonomy
for the states, separate states and independent states are
manifestations of regionalism which characterise Indian society and
which keep the political system under stress. The need to channelise
‘regionalism’ and make it a contributing part of nationalism is one of
the biggest tasks before the Indian socio-political system.

10. Tradition and Modernity:

Tradition and modernity exist side by side in the Indian society. The
attempts of modernisation of tradition as well as traditionalisation of
modernity are simultaneously present. Tradition is clearly being
affected by modern trends and pressures like politicisation of caste,
lessening of caste consciousness among the urban elites,
operationalism of modern western tools of administration and
government etc. but at the same time modernity after gets coloured
with traditionalism when the social and political elites talk in terms of
age old glorious traditions of India.

The Indian approach towards development reflects both tradition and

modernity. As Rajni Kothari writes, “The Indian approach to
development may be characterised as one in which the exposure to
modernity led to a renewed awareness and quickening of traditional
identity; its reinterpretation, rejuvenation and its consolidation in the
framework of new institutions and ideas. The Indian response to
modern stimuli consisted of asserting the Indianness of India,
reformulating this Indianness and giving it a modern character. The
model of those who conceive modernisation as a rejection of
traditionality and transformation on modern lines does not apply to
India nor does the opposite model of those who deny potency to
modern institutions and values and simply assert the durability and
re-silence of traditionalism.” What is happening in India can be
described as an attempt as a synthesis of tradition and modernity for
achieving a new identity without destroying its rich diversity and
cultural heritage.

11. Problem of Social Communication:

The environment of Indian social system also reflects a problem of
social communication. Social structure of Indian society is based on
the factors of illiteracy and backwardness of a large section of
population. Linguistic diversity greatly aggravates this problem. This
has tended to maintain or even increase the gap between the elites and
the masses. This problem is clearly reflected between high and low
castes, illiterates and literates, urbanites and ruralites etc.

All these social factors are the determining factors of the environment
of Indian social structure, social system and political system. These
are mostly problematic factors. Indian political system is a developing
democratic system operating within an environment characterised by
over-population, poverty, underdevelopment, casteism,
communalism, regionalism, linguism, terrorism and violence. Despite
these constraints, India’s socio-political system has been successfully
maintaining its stability as a system.
It has been engaged in the process of securing development through
control over these limitations by making and implementing desired
authoritative values as well as through the spread of literacy, direct
political socialisation, organised economic planning and policies and
above all through active involvement of the people in the process of
socio-economic development. After independence, the process of all-
round socio-economic political-cultural development has been
initiated through several well-conceived policies and Five Year Plans.

The progress has been slow, the problems have been many and
restraints have been big, yet the people of India are on the march of
social change. The political system has been leading, guiding,
directing, coordinating and controlling this march.

It is harnessing the resources of the country and channelising the

socio-economic-cultural factors for ushering India towards the
developmental goal. It has successfully exhibited its ability in the
sphere of crisis management and in maintaining progress on the road
towards peace, security and prosperity. The need of the hour is to put
in more vigorous and determined efforts towards state-building,
nation-building, citizen-building and system-building.

Social structure of Indian society is, therefore, characterised by

religious, regional, linguistic and caste diversities. There are social
conflicts among the various institutions of Indian society. Social
institutions are closely related to each other. All institutions face the
problem of continuously adjusting themselves to a changing society.
Changes in the social environment may bring changes in all the
institutions. Inflation may have a radical influence on marriage, death,
crime and education.

Breakdown of economic institutions may have great effects upon

political institutions. Any change in an institution may lead to a
change in the other institutions. No institution can avoid affecting
other institutions or avoid being affected by others. All the social
institutions of Indian society are affecting the political and cultural
institutions.
Political system, being a part of social system, is working under the
influence of social environment. Although there is diversity and
conflict in the social structure of Indian society yet these diversities
and conflicts have become unique features of Indian social system.
They are on the path of adjusting themselves to the social
environment keeping in view the unity and integrity of the nation. The
contemporary presence of conflict in the society is a sign of increased
and increasing awareness.

Indians have a firm belief in unity in diversity, toleration and peaceful

conflict-resolution. The people of India are fully alive to the problems
and strains that affect their society and the political system. They are
conscious of their glorious traditions and the inner unity of the people
of India as Indians. Modernisation of tradition and all-round
development, social, economic, cultural, scientific, industrial, and
technological are bound to integrate Indians into a strong united and
developed nation.
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