Industrialization • Industrialization is the process by which an economy is transformed

from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods. Individual

manual labour is often replaced by mechanized mass production, and craftsmen are
replaced by assembly lines. INDUSTRIALIZATION is a world-wide phenomenon that has
markedly affected all societies during the past two hundred years. Populations have come
to be concentrated in cities, where factories are located. The accompanying shift from
rural to urban residence has brought with it many changes in the social structure. The
one aspect of the Indian social system that has set it markedly apart from western society
has been the strong emphasis on the immutable social position of the individual in the
caste system. And although there are rigid class systems known else-where, the
complexity, elaboration, and rigidity of caste in India make it an almost unique system.
The process of industrialization has transformed the entire old socio-economic
structure which was founded on traditional feudal and pre-feudal principles of birth
and status. It has brought about changes in property system and in division of labour,
and has given rise to new social strata and classes which stand above the traditional
division of region and religion. In this system industries are dominant.
With the growth of industrial towns and cities, migration to these areas has gone up.
In these areas following strict caste rules are not possible. There are public places like
parks, restaurants, canteens, hotels, offices and communication systems like buses
and trains etc. where inter-dinning and sharing places are essential. Hence, a flexible
approach has been adapted.
 The ascriptive status loses its importance: In the industrial urban sector,
the low caste people hold higher positions and vice versa. Thus, people
belonging to the high castes work under them and accept the supremacy of the
lower castes.
 The frequent mixing of a large number: of people inside and outside the
factory broadens their outlook and develops a rational approach towards the
social issues. They also question the validity of caste system itself.
Impact of industrialization Impact upon caste and class: • Social life in ancient India
revolved around caste. People worked, lived and married people of their own caste.
Young people chose professions based upon their caste and class. With the coming of
industrialization, however, things have changed. People are working, living and
marrying outside their caste and religion. Children of lower-class parents are
attending prestigious colleges and choosing high paying professions, thus, moving up
in the social ladder. Hence, India is becoming an open-minded society, and caste and
creed are slowly melting away and losing importance.
Impact of industrialization Impact upon stratification: • Industry has been stratified
based upon occupation, education, income, and birth. In the olden days, a son of a
Brahmin would grow up to enjoy the prestige of his parents. In the industry, however,
a son of a manager would not grow up to become a manager but must first get all the
education and training. In a survey conducted in Bengal in 1946-1947, by Indian
statistical institute, the change in occupational activities has been unmistakably
indicated. it was found that 69% of the families surveyed are working in occupations
not traditionally prescribed by caste, but the changes are greater in some caste than
others. In the area of education, science and technology-based degrees are considered
more superior to literary degrees. A person's social status is measured in terms of
his/her income, and now by what social class they were born into. Furthermore,
people of the lower class are rising higher and higher in the social ladder, and person's
birth can no longer determine his/her caste or social class, only his/her education and
income can determine those factors.

It is evident that that the social system and industrial organization interact upon each
other. The caste system among workers has been affected in the direction of providing
more scope for individual action and independence. The low castes particularly have
shown a great deal of independence in this new environment with its new
employment opportunities. Factory workers have been shown to be less interested in
the niceties of caste protocol. On the other hand, traditional Indian beliefs have
affected industry, particularly in the matter of job choice, where pollution taboos
make it very difficult or almost impossible for large segments of the labour force to
take certain jobs. Some problems still arise from the mixture of caste groups in the
industrial environment, particularly in the factory settlements. It would appear that
the mixture of castes within the factories has presented few problems because of the
shortage of jobs and the tremendous social distance between management and
worker.