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SOCIETY AND MODERNISATIONThe diverse social structure in India is getting weakened with increasingmodernisation. Give arguments For and Against this view.

Indian society is unique in many ways. It has several races, religions and culturalamalgamations. That is why it is said that India has unity in diversity. In addition to peoplerom different castes living peacefully in this country, people belonging to three great

religions of the world, the Hinduism, Christianity and Islam, are found in large numbers in India. Indian society, traditionally, follows a caste system under which the profession of a person was guided by the caste in which he was born. Caste system to a significant extent was also found among Indian Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Bodhs. In addition, Indiansociety and culture have been greatly enriched by various immigrants and invaders over thecenturies. Besides, religions like Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated from India. Theramers of Indian Constitution upheld the unique diversity of Indian society by opting for a

secular State where all the religions are equally important and the citizens are free to practice any religion of their choice, without any interference from any quarter. It is said that the social structure in India is under the influence of modernisation, which is beingexperienced by the Indian society and economy.

Arguments For the View (a) One of the causes of modernisation is globalisation. With more frequent global contactand communication, Indian values and culture are getting greatly influenced by the West.

(b) Electronic media has come up in a big way during the past about a decade. SatelliteTelevision channels have unleashed a host of western programmes and serials, themes of which are alien to composite Indian society. The social, moral and ethical values are alsoundergoing change, which has threatened the very composition of Indian society.

(c) As compared to western and Islamic societies, Indian society is far more tolerant. Racistwestern societies and fundamentalist Islamic countries have also influenced Indian societyand if increasing fundamentalist incidents in India in the recent years are any indication, Indiais also getting influenced to a great extent.

(d) One of the latest vehicles of modernisation is the Information Technology (IT). As IT wasfirst perfected in the USA and the West, most of the IT tools have the western bias which isinfluencing the impressionable minds of Indian youth.

(e) Among important fallouts of modernisation are industrialisation and urbanisation. Thesetwo have already influenced the tradition of joint family in India and the social changes mayinfluence the traditional social fibre of Indian society in the coming years.

Arguments Against the View (a) Indian Constitution is the highest law of the land. It outlines various social strengths of India, including the abolition of untouchability, equality before law, reservation for women inthe Panchayati Raj Institutions, freedom of religion, protection for weaker sections andminorities, etc. These basic strengths of Indian socio-political system have been

institutionalised and cannot be taken away by any amount of modernisation.

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(b) Indian society and culture have the strength to enrich themselves with various othercultures that they encounter. Considering this, modernisation is no threat to Indian culture. Itmay rather benefit the Indian culture.

(c) Indian society is too diverse and broad to be affected by modernisation. It has deep roots

in the minds of people. Western influence on a handful of people living in the urban areasdoes not mean that urbanisation has affected the entire Indian society.

(d) India lives in villages, with almost two-third of her population residing in rural areas.Economic and cultural influence of modernisation is limited to big cities. Hence, it would bewrong to say that Indian society as a whole has been affected by modernisation.

(e) Even people living in urban areas are Indians at heart. Deep-rooted social values of Indiansociety are not easy to shun. Modernisation is an ongoing process and Indian society hascoped up with it. There is nothing that has altered the position significantly in the recentyears.