JKBOSE/CBSE Class 12th Sociology Notes | Introducing Indian Society Chapter 1 | jkboseclassnotes.blogspot.com
JKBOSE Class 12th Sociology Notes | Introducing Indian Society Chapter 1
Entomological meaning of the word Sociology
The sociology has been derived from a French word “Sociologie” a hybrid
combined in 1830 by a French Philosopher Isadore Auguste Comte (1798-1857).
The word has also been derived from Latin words “Socius” meaning “Companion”
and the “Ology” meaning “the study of” from Greek “Logos” meaning “knowledge”.
The English word Sociology appeared in the year 1843 on the scene.
Thus entomologically sociology means the study of companion and knowledge.
What is Sociology?
Ans: Sociology is the scientific study of social behavior or society, including its
origins, development, organization, networks, and institutions. It is a social science that uses various methods of empirical investigations and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about social order social disorder and social change.
OR
The science of society, social institutions, and social relationships. It is the
systematic study of the developments structure, interaction and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings.
OR
The scientific analysis of a social institution as a functioning whole as it
relates to the rest of society.
Chapter No: I | Introducing Indian Society (Non-Evaluative)
Q1: Explain the main features or characteristics of urban society?
1. Large population: The cities have a vast majority of population and is very
dense. Density means how many people live in per square kilometer. Cities
can be divided in different classes like, small, medium and metropolitan cities.
Population of metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata etc. is more
than on crore but population of 13 states of India is less than one crore.
2. Less place of living: Due to the density of population in cities there is very
less place of living for the people and that’s why people have to live in flats.
Façade system is the main system of shopping complexes, houses, public and
private buildings etc.
3. Secondary and formal relations: Here due to large population people do not
have direct or face to face relations. But have formal relations with each other
and are temporary in nature. A person establishes a relation with anyone
whenever a need arises and after the fulfillment of need the relationship comes
to an end.
4. Different occupations: In villages people are predominantly occupied with
agriculture whereas there are various occupations for the urban community to
choose from. In cities members of the same family have different professions,
whereas people in villages have same kind of occupation for all the members
of family.
5. Division in economic class: Here not much importance is given to class,
caste, religion or occupation but people here differ economically, culturally,
religiously etc. Population in cities is not divided only in two classes of
capitalists and laborers but many other small classes and sub classes exist in
cities on the basis of their economic status. Higher and lower class differences
exist.
6. Competition: There is competition in every walk of the life in cities and
people try their level best to beat the others and grab the opportunity whenever
they get a chance.
Features of rural society:
1. Agriculture as the main occupation: Agriculture is the dominant mode of
production. It is not just a mode of production but a way of life. It influences
the entire gamut of relationships in rural setting. Although a small section of
the people earn their livelihood from non-agricultural occupations, their
occupations are indirectly connected with agriculture. More than 70% of
India’s population is connected with agriculture directly or indirectly.
2. Simple life: People in villages live a simple life and pay very less attention to
the modern modes of the life found in cities. The people of villages eat simple
food, wear simple clothes and always talk in a simple way.
3. Lac of specialization in occupation: The Indian farmer is a jack of all trades
and master of none. Given the substitute for a blacksmith, a laborer, a
visionary doctor or a carpenter, but he is a farmer who has picked up the knack from his ancestors. Hence he lacks the technical know-how and expertise,
which is the main cause of poverty in the villages.
4. Dominance of joint family: One of the most remarkable features of village
life in India is the existence of a joint family. Because agriculture is the main
source of income and for that greater numbers are useful; hence all the
members of the family live together in a joint family.
5. Direct relation to nature: Village life is totally dependent on nature. The
villager, who is predominantly a framer, depends on the clouds for rain, and
on the sun for the crops to ripen and prays for clear days when he has to harvest
the crops. Their very existence is at the mercy of nature.
6. Less density of population: The area of the villages is more expansive
because of the fields and the density of population is much less. Hence rural
life is very different from urban life where the density of population is
extremely high.
7. Homogeneity: There is a remarkable homogeneity in the villages. In fact it
would not be an exaggeration to say that the people of a village live like one
family. They have similar life styles, eating habits, customs and traditions,
religious faiths, occupations and socio-cultural habits. On special occasions
they assemble as one groups to celebrate or mourn as the occasion may be.
8. More stable life: Rural life is more stable in comparison with urban life.
Because of traditional values, superstitions and predominance of religion, the effect of social changes is minimal. There is no place for modernity in village life. Hence, life style of the villages remains the same for centuries and
generations.
9. Lack of social mobility: Because the profession is adopted generation after
generation, there is no possibility of social mobility in rural life. Another reason for lack of social mobility is lack of education also.
10. Importance of caste system: Even today the dominance of caste system is
visible in village life. Hard and fast rules of caste system are followed in occupational, sociological, economic, and religious and other fields.
11. Low status of women: Due to lack of education, economic and social freedom, the status of women in Indian villages is pathetic. They are bound to the four walls of their homes and within these walls they are treated no better than bonded slaves.
What is a Class?
A group of people sharing same economic or social status is called a class.
The base of every social relationship is a class. Status of person in a class depends
upon his role.
Position of all the individuals is not the same in societies. Some type of
inequality is always there in every class, and due to this inequality classes come into being. Because of westernization, industrialization, educational system,
modernization etc. classes have come into being in India.
Western societies are even based on this class system. Many classes India are
teachers’ class, doctors’ class, workers class etc. Every society is divided into classes and every class is having different status in society one the basis of class a person’s status is high or low. In this way when different persons achieve social status in society, then it is known as a class system.
OR
Social class is generally defined as a social position in terms of wealth,
income, occupation and factors like education. Classes are related to one another in terms of inequality or hierarchy.
Class is a system of stratification in which a person’s social status depends upon her or his achievements. It permits an individual to strive for and attain a change in her or his status. It encourages individuals to select their occupations.
Membership of a class is not inherited as in the case of the caste system. Social
status in the caste system is ascribed to a person at the time of his or her birth and
this status the child bears for life. The boundaries between classes are never rigid.
There are no formal rest reactions on inter-marriage between people from different classes. A social class is a cultural group sharing a particular way of life. Thus, it is related to the life-chances available for the group.
Definitions of a class:
1. MacIver: “A social class is any position of community marked off from the
rest by social status”.
Characteristics of a class system:
1. Feeling of superiority and inferiority: Members of one social class consider
themselves to be inferior or superior to the other social class. For examplepeople of rich class consider theemselves to be superior to the other social classes.
2. Ascending and descending order: Social life follows the general trend of
life itself, which moves like a wheel. That which was on the top at one time
moves to the bottom, and vice versa. Thus the classes keep moving from high
to low, though it may take centuries to complete a cycle.
3. Social mobility: Class system is not definite for a person. It keeps on
changing, one can achieve higher status with hard work and can go to lower
status with work less. For example if a person, who is working as a clerk in
any office, does a lot of hard work and passes the I.A.S exams then his status
and position will be completely changed because he was a clerk that’s why
was at the lowest position in his office but now he is an I.A.S officer that’s
why he is the top most person in his office.
4. Openness: Everyone is free to do anything. He is free to adopt any occupation and even anyone can become a member of any class, on the basis of his ability.
That is why there is no value of birth of any person in any class.
5. Limited social relations: Here everyone wants to make relations with the
members of his own class and not with other people so relations are limited.
6. Development of sub classes: There are 3 sub classes viz. Upper class, middle
class and lower class.
7. Different basis: According to Karl Marks the main base of a class system is
economic structure. He said that there are 2 classes the capitalists and the
workers class. But Ogburn, Nimkoff, MacIver and Gilberg say that social base
is important for class. But Ginsberg and Lapire have accepted cultural base as
the main base of class system.
Classes in rural India:
1. The owners or money lender class: The upper class in the villages is known
as the land owners or zamindars or money pen-dens. These people own most
of the land; they are the zamindars of the past and belong to the higher castes,
such as, Brahmans, Thakurs or Vaishyas. Some backward clasts, like Yadavs,
Bhumihars or Jaats also represent this class. The standard of living of this
class is high. They are educated and rich in respect of economic, political and
social point of view. They get their land cultivated by laborers; they have an
access to political leaders. Actually they are the most powerful people in the
villages.
2. The farmers: This is the class of people who have small holdings of land.
They till their own land and sometimes take some land on hire from the land
owners and cultivate it. Their standard of living is much lower than the
landowners, but better than the landless class.
3. Landless farmers or laborers: In the rural social system their place is the
lowest. They work on other people’s land and earn wages. They are large in
numbers and their income is very low.
Classes in urban India:
1. The upper class: The people of this class are economically, socially and
political most powerful and in the social stratification their place is the
highest. This class comprises properties of big firms, factories and industries
and they enjoy the luxuries of life; a very large portion of the national is with
them; moreover it has influence on the ruling party also and manages to
extract a lot of facilities from the government.
2. The middle class: This class includes the intelligentsia of the country viz.
doctors, engineers, teachers, traders etc. These people come in contact with
the upper class. This class of people works in government or private sector on
the basis of their capabilities. They respect social, religious and moral values
according to their convenience. After fulfilling their financial requirements
they think of saving for the future.
3. The labor class: The people of this class earn their livelihood by sheer labor.
This includes the workers in factories, workshops and industries. They live on
limited means and barely manage to fulfil their basic necessities. They are
uneducated or semi-educated and follow the rituals and religious beliefs with
dedication. According to Karl Marks, they are the “have nots” and sell their
labor to earn bread.
Colonialism:
The process of winning over the Asian and African countries by the Western
countries and establishing their rule in these countries, is known as colonialism.
It started in 18th century and went over till the end of first half of the 20th century.
Major imperialist countries, were England, France, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Italy
etc. Then later on countries like Russia, America, and Japan also joined the race.
Reasons for the advent of nationalism in India:
1. Political unification of the country: The first reason was British Imperialism
that brought all the Indian states together. The British Imperialism gave
political unity to India with one-set of administration and law. The anti-
imperialist feelings of the people throughout the country created a common
national outlook.
2. Economic exploitation of the people: The East India Company and even
under the Crown the foreign government followed a policy of economic
exploitation in India. Indian wealth was drained to England and economic
upliftment of India was completely subordinated. The result was
unemployment, poverty and famines all round the country. This process
promoted the people to revolt against the British Government.
3. Western education and thought: In 19th century national movement’s were3
going on in the European countries. It had its impact upon the Indians too.
Indians got western education and studied the western literature. The western
ideas of equality, liberty and brotherhood influenced India too. It awakened
the people about the ill effects of Imperialism.
4. Press: Both the English and the Indian Press did a lot of infuse nationalism
among the people newspapers like Kesari, Bombay Samachar, Hindu and Amrit Bazar Patrika played a significant part.
5. Contribution of literature: Indians read western literature. They studied the
writing of great western thinkers and revolutionaries like Burke, Mill, Milton,
Rousseau, Montesquieu, Voltaire etc. Many poets and writers in Indian tried
too their best to infuse national feelings and awakening among the people.
Annand Math written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee brought a new awakening among the people.
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