SOCIAL CHANGES IN INDIA

-- VISHWARAJ ANAND (0901CS35)

India is moving at fast pace towards development. The country has changed upside down in last few years. Growth is almost twice every year. Today, Indians are leading in almost every field. Leaders from India are getting top positions in companies and even companies of Indian origin are growing. There is no doubt that India has what it needs to lead the world. If things go on at the present pace, I am pretty sure that India would take over a leader of this world in a decade or so... But this was not the scene earlier. It all changed in due course of time and as a result of the socio-economic reforms that were introduced in the society. Back to the British rule, the condition was very miserable and people were oppressed. But later on the condition became better and the conditions became somewhat better. The patriarchal society that existed from the historic times had become dominant on the people and it had resulted too many orthodoxies and superstitions. Women were not given that much freedom and they were common hunts for the sati prathas and other sins. Religious beliefs were also dominant. Untouchability and caste systems prevailed at that time. And all these made the life of common people a living hell. British rule also introduced some impacts on the society. English flourished during British time and it gave Indians to go to foreign countries and learn how they live a better life and a better social system prevailed there. Brahmo samaj, Arya samaj and the pradhana samaj was introduced. Many religious thoughts were being challenged like the widow remarriage, caste system and untouchablity, etc and the reforms continued till the 20th century. Women emancipation was done and many people came forward to openly talk and work for their miserable condition. These social reforms were supported a lot by the economic changes that were taking place. People became more rationally thinking. At the same time Indian economy was also growing up. With many British based industries and Indian agro industries, Indian economy started to

germinate. After independence, traders were free of the over charged taxes. Many laws were formulated to protect local industries and the local market from being flooded by foreign goods. These policies helped to make Indian market a sable one and gave a lot of support to the Indian traders. Laws were made to support lower castes and the oppressed ones in the society. In different fields they were allotted reservations and minority quotas were incorporated in it. Parliamentary reservations were added for women. Government worked a lot on literacy and development of the people. Many institutions such as IITs, NITs, IIMs and many others have been established to promote higher studies and research works. Much of the focus was given to primary education as a result literacy rate grew all the way from 16.67% in 1951 to 65.38% in 2001. Literacy further added a speed to the development of India. The new economic policy was launched and then new definitions were laid down for the development of trade in the country. It accelerated the pace of development of Indian economy and new terms of globalization and consumerism came to the market. Well all this was for the economic changes that affected the social changes in India. People became rich and the society proceeded to development. If we say about the social changes in India that took place then, yes India has changed a lot in these years but still some problems are there. Besides this there are also some problems that have come forward for the society and the common people. For instance, the naxalites, the Maoists and the terrorists are the common problems faced by the society today. People are harassed by the extreme bureaucracy prevalent in the nation. Corruption has increased a lot. Unemployment and child labour has also an increasing impact on the Indian society. Population is the biggest problem of India and government is also trying to control it and its side factors such as unemployment and others. People have been more environment conscious in a past few years and government is also planning to control population. The social changes are also reflected in the family system. People dont like a joint family system now and rather prefer a nuclear family. This has created an increasing problem of old age in India. Elders are no more considered a part of

family but a family burden. Sex determination has increased a lot in recent years. So, some evils have been eradicated and some have been added too in these years. Although, it is true that the society can never be a perfect one. But one cant stop trying for it saying that. Social changes are not instantaneous rather it comes in due course of time and the correct sociological imagination of people is required for it. At last I will say that India is in a better position from any of its situations in past from the sociological point of view. But there is a lot to change in the Indian society.