HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 17: Model Answer

Question: What are the key characteristics and salient features of Indian society? 8 Marks

Answer: 

A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. 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.

SALIENT FEATURES OF INDIAN SOCIETY

1. Unity in Diversity
2. Social Institutions – Family
3. Caste and Class Divide
4. Patriarchy
5. Co-existence of Traditionalism and Modernity

1. Unity in Diversity: When India got independent many political thinker had commented that number of days of Indian democracy are numbered since society as diverse as India will ultimately have to make way for small homogeneous independent states. But Indian society not only survived but flourished by showing its strength of unity in diversity. Indian society is an exemplification of multicultural, multi-ethnic, Multilingual and multi-ideological constructs, which co-exist in harmony.

There are various elements of diversity in India like-

• About 6 major religions of the world – Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism etc.
• More than 1500 languages are spoken in India.
• 6 major racial groups of the world – Negrito, Mongoloids etc.

There are many factors that have helped in the unity of India despite vast diversity like-

1. Historically, empires like Mauryan, Gupta, and Mughal etc. have created a fusion and co-existence between inhabitants of different parts of India.
2. The Indian national movement, especially major movements like Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement promoted mixing of people across different regions of India. This phenomenon led to the development of Indian identity.
3. Railways, Indian Post, Indian Defence Forces, Indian press etc. also played an important role as amalgamating crucible for intermixing of people.
4. Further, Constitutional Values, State reorganization based on language and efforts of government to protect the interest of minorities have bound the nation by a strong thread of unity.

 Caste and Class Divide: The Indian society mostly Hindus (80%) divided under the rigid caste system based on the traditional norms, a system which has permeated even in other religions like Islam as well. The system originated from the ‘Varna System’ has created social stratification a major source of privileges and disabilities. At the same time economic reforms have created flourishing urban areas (31% population) where people are stratified based on class (income) rather than their social identity. The emerging class system though closely resembles the caste hierarchy, has actually provided downtrodden section opportunities for upward social mobility.

 Patriarchy: Patriarchy is family or social system where final decision making power vests in the male head. As a result of it women usually are relegate to the status of second class citizens are subjected to various disabilities.

Co-existence of Traditionalism with modernity: While after globalization a visible shift can be seen towards modern values but Indian society has not failed to protect and preserve its traditional values and norms. It has even endeavoured to spread Indian traditional values across the world.

 Balance between Spiritualism and Materialism: Spiritualism’s main focus is to promote an individual’s experience with God, whereas materialism is a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values. Indian society largely possesses spiritual orientations. However under the influence of Westernisation, materialistic tendencies have also become visible.