Department of Sociology & Anthropology, GUB

(Student’s Term Paper as a Part of Final Evaluation)

Semester: Summer 2020, Date of Submission: 25 September 2020

Changes in Rural society (Bangladesh and India) in Relation to

Agriculture, Economy, Population, Rural-Urban Continuum, and
Patron-Client Relationships

Submitted by
Student ID: 192018004
Course Title: Rural Sociology
Course Code: SOC 1009
Course Teacher: Dr. Abul Hossain, Associate Professor

(For Teacher’s use only)

Marks Obtained (out of 15):

Final Term Paper, Summer 2020 SOC 1008: Rural Sociology
Department of Sociology & Anthropology

Introduction

In 1980s and early 1900s, in rural areas in Bangladesh, half of a laundry soap were sold. The
manufacturing company certainly did not produce half of the soap, the village shopkeepers sold
it cutting it in halves. Although the soap costed only 6/7 Taka, most of the villagers did not
have that amount in cash. It may sound imaginary nowadays as people economic capabilities
has increased a lot, but it was reality at that time. In villages, saree-wrapped rickshaws or boats
were very common. (Generally Muslim) Women travelled in those to maintain ‘Parda’. This
culture has gone away. Most of the houses were either huts or made of Aluminum tins. ‘Kachari
ghor’ was very common in most houses where male guests or visitors stay or had visited the
owner of the house. It is also seen very rarely today.

Rural Social Change

The above-mentioned pictures indicate some changes in Bangladeshi rural areas. It changed
economically as well culturally. Although it is told that Bangladeshi village society was stable
for thousand of years, it is impossible from sociological perspective. Social change is
inevitable, everywhere, at every age, and in every society. Bangladeshi village societies also
went through changes, but not drastically that we observed in the last hundred years, especially
in last 30-40 years.

In this study, we will try to focus on rural social change in the context of agriculture, economy,
population, rural-urban continuum, and patron client relationship. Our focus will be on how
these scales changed in recent years. Although I will be discussing in the context of
Bangladesh, these will equally be applicable for Indian rural societies as well.

Changes in Rural Agriculture and Economy

I combined these two aspects together as these intimately related to each other. Bangladesh
was a dominantly an agricultural country. About 95% of its population lived in rural areas in
1950s. Agriculture was the main economic driver then having lion’s share on the GDP.
Agriculture alone still holds the largest share in GDP, but other sectors are more dominant now.
Contribution of (in terms of amount) by agriculture in our GDP is still rising but the percentage
of contribution decreasing every year. For example, GDP from agriculture increased 1073.91
crore Taka in 2019 from 701.71 crore Taka in 2006. At the same years, the percentage of

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Final Term Paper, Summer 2020 SOC 1008: Rural Sociology
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contributions decreased to 12.68% from 18.03%. In 1975, the percentage was 61.95%! The
following charts will help us understand these changes.

Figure 1: Bangladesh GDP from Agriculture, 2006-2019

Figure 2: Bangladesh GDP share of Agriculture, 1960-2019

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Final Term Paper, Summer 2020 SOC 1008: Rural Sociology
Department of Sociology & Anthropology

These figures represent change of in agriculture in connection with economy. Other aspects of
agriculture have been changed a lot, too. Some of those changes are mentioned below –

• Agricultural production system has been changed due to introducing technologies, like
tractor for plow the land, irrigation, using artificial fertilizer, pesticides, etc.
• Cows are now rarely used for plowing lands and threshing crops. Machines took these
places. Dependency on nature or rain has been reduced. Irrigation is seen almost every
villages.
• Production of most crops have been increased on the same amount of land than earlier due
to using hybrid seeds and/or plants. Although the amount land for cultivating rice has been
decreased, the production increased remarkably. Irri, boro, etc. hybrid species took place
of traditional rice. It is true for other crops as well.
• Almost all the cultivable lands are beings used for producing crops. Fallow lands are rarely
seen now, rather same lands are used several times a year for producing different crops.
• A large amount of land is now being used for producing fruits like banana, plum, guava,
etc. Many orchards are now visible which did not exist earlier.

It is already mentioned that economic conditions of the villagers have been improved. People
are more engaged in economic activities. But the patterns have been changed. For example, in
villages many industries like jute mills, textiles, boutique house, etc. have been established.
Many rural people are working in those. Roads and highways have been established. Thousands
of local and inter district transport running on those transports. Obviously, thousands of rural
people are working in those transports. Population of Bangladesh increased more than double
in last 50 years. To meet the demand of necessities, millions of rural people got involved in
various types of business. Millions of Bangladeshi, mostly from villages, working abroad. They
are sending remittance, and thus improving their family’s economic conditions. Increased
education rate, expansion of technology, etc. made people involve in many new economic
activities. Even in remote villages, thousands of young adults are earning money by freelancing
online. These are some aspects of economic changes. Clearly, agriculture dependency
decreased remarkably.

Earlier there were thousands of bakeries available everywhere in Bangladesh. Most of those
are closed now as ‘brand’ bakery products from Dhaka reached even in remote villages.
Thousands of people lived their lives by manufacturing bamboo-made crafts by generation.

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Final Term Paper, Summer 2020 SOC 1008: Rural Sociology
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Most of them had to change their profession as it became increasingly difficult to earn to live
from that. But newer businesses have been established creating more opportunities.

Change in Rural Politics

Rural societies changed a lot in political aspects, too. Earlier in village samaj or salish, there
were no involvement with political parties. It reaches there, too. Party political identities are
more visible in Matbors or village leaders today. Formal political institution, like union
parishad has become party-occupied parishad. Union parishad election always had been a
festive event in rural areas. Union chairman or ward members were the representative where
people put their faith on. Now with political parties participating directly in union parishad
election, that place has been demolished. The festivity is gone and, in most cases, getting
nomination from ruling party has become more important than being elected. Rural people used
to live in harmony despite having different political views. In recent years, that scenario has
been changed as well. Mutual respect between opposite political views is continually
decreasing keeping pace with the country’s political condition.

Change in Rural Population

Urbanization is taking place in a rapid pace in Bangladesh. The flow of people continually
moving or migrating towards urban areas. A drastic change in the percentage of rural

Figure 3: Percentage of rural population of total, Bangladesh 1960-2019, Source: The World Bank

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Final Term Paper, Summer 2020 SOC 1008: Rural Sociology
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population of total population had occurred in last few decades. The above chart show how
rural population percentage is reducing. In 1960, about 95% of total population lived in rural
areas which has been reduced to 62% in 2019. This trend of urban-centric migration is leaving
many villages as old homes. In those villages, including my one as well, brick-built building
houses replaced traditional rural houses, but only senior citizens are living there. By 2030, more
than half of the population will be urban habitants. Therefore, this scenario will be continuing.

Rural-Urban Continuum

Rural-urban continuum is the merging of town and village. It is one of the fields of biggest
change in rural areas in Bangladesh and India. The urban facilities are increasingly being
visible in rural areas. Even in the remote villages, satellite TV connection is easily available,
broadband internet connection reaches most villages. In villages, people are increasingly using
supplied water instead of using tube well. Many small and heavy industries are being settled in
rural areas. Health centers, agriculture offices, administrative offices, etc. are now more visible
in rural areas eliminating differences between urban and rural areas.

Rural Social Change in the Context of Patron-Client Relationship

B. K. Jahangir defined the ‘patron-client relationship’ as ‘a reciprocity of exchange based on

unequal rank’ with three important characteristics:

• Economic structures of exploitation.

• Political structures of domination; and,

• Ideological structures of consensus and control.

A huge change took place in all of these. Village societies increasingly becoming less
dependent on agriculture. Many traditional rural occupations eliminated completely, while
many new professions have been created. Rural people are continually choosing other
professions. Therefore, dependency on landlord is now shifting to owner of new positions.
Zamindary system gone away from Bangladesh long ago, large companies, from housing to
agro-business, are taking the place. Political leaders, both of formal and informal institutions,
earlier were loyal to people. They seemed to be more loyal to their political parties now. It
seems they represent their political party only, not the whole area. Instead of being people’s
representative, they sometimes behave like people’s master. Increasing literacy rate increased

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Final Term Paper, Summer 2020 SOC 1008: Rural Sociology
Department of Sociology & Anthropology

people’s knowledge and consciousness about religion. This reduced dependency on village
priests, monks, quacks.

Conclusion

Rural areas in Bangladesh and India is undergoing drastic changes in last few decades. Social
change takes place in all ages, in all societies. But due to expansion of education and
technology, its pace has become much faster in recent years. Rural areas are changing in the
ways it functioned earlier. Production mode, methods, economic system are changing. Huge
change is coming in the ways people used to interact with one another. I think, we should
embrace most of these changes. Two things I fear that this change is resulting in decreasing
familial and social bond and leaving negative consequence in political aspects. If these two can
be rectified according to our values and traditions, I believe these change will bring brighter
results, not only for rural areas but for whole Bangladesh.

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