INDIAN SOCIAL STRUCTURE: ITS NATURE :- C-2 : contemporary India and education Notes in hindi and English , B.Ed first year

 ★ 1.3 INDIAN SOCIAL STRUCTURE: ITS NATURE :- 

The Indian society is composite of different races, cultures, religions and faiths. Seemingly, it is a society with many-sided diversities. But unity is integral. There is some underlying power which keeps us as a whole and binds us in continuity. It has its own conflicts, dissensions and differences. Yet it remains combined as a unit. What are the problems and obstacles which weaken it?

Professor Kabir has mentioned, “Throughout Indian history, we find on the one hand a tendency towards unification on the basis of religion and culture and on the other fragmentation due to differences in language, customs, economic and political interests.”

In modern Indian society, the Indian Constitution upholds the democratic principles of social organisation. Education is the weapon of democracy to bring social justice by emphasising equality of opportunities, accepting the social changes and to create a society above the basis of caste, colour and creed. Each individual should be respected irrespective of their caste, class, colour, religion, region and faith.

 

★ 1.3.1 The Caste System :- 

Caste can be defined as a hierarchy of intermarrying group which determines the individual’s status in the social stratification of his/her occupations etc. In defining caste, it is necessary to highlight its characteristic features. Intermarriage is an essential feature, for its members cannot marry outside their group. There are similar, though less rigid limitations and restrictions on the dietary habits of the members of a caste.

The occupations of most of the castes are determined, and it is not possible to move from one caste to another. The Brahmin has the highest place in the social stratification of castes. Membership of the caste is determined by birth. Members of the caste do not necessarily have any caste consciousness. Caste system is like a hurdle in democracy.

In the medieval period, the caste played an important role in the organisation of Hindu society. It maintained social and political stability, looked after social and mental security of the members, functioned as a trade union, determined laws about education, provided technical training maintained and transmitted hereditary knowledge of mechanical and technical processes, maintained the religious life etc.

The caste system continued to exist due to certain factors like religious influence, static society, rural social structure, Nature of Indian Society geographic division, differences among tribes, absence of education etc. But this is being weakened in the present society by many factors like: education, social reform movements, political movements, industrialisation, modernisation means of communication and transport, monetary influence, emergence of new social classes, new law system etc. Caste system is harmful for society. It brings social disorganisation which results into many fragmented groups. It brings inequality in the distribution of wealth. Caste system is an obstacle in the social progress too. 

★ 1.3.2 The Class System :- 

In a class, stratification is free, not rigid. Membership of the class is based on status, standard of living and other objective factors. Members of a class have a class consciousness. Class is more flexible than caste. In the words of Maciver, “A social class is any portion of community marked off from the rest by social status”. Class consciousness also hinders the growth of democratic values. For this, schools should encourage the sense of equality and brotherhood. But class consciousness cannot be eliminated without putting an end to economic disparity and other inequalities. For this, social and economic reforms are essential. 

★ 1.3.3 The Family and the Community - 1 :- 

♦ The Family In the education of a child, the family plays the most important role. The family is the primary social group. Whatever, social experiences the child gets in the family, lays the foundation of his/her personality. In the ancient times, family was the most vital unit of social structure but in present times, the structure of the society has undergone a change and its way of life in the economic sense has been revolutionized.

There are two systems of family (i) Extended family and (ii) Nuclear family. The Extended family unit is that in which the adults and children of more than two generations live together. The Nuclear family is a small unit consisting of parents and children. The nuclear family has more geographical and social mobility.

Basically family nurtures help the child for their grooming practicing healthy habits, exhibit love and affection among the members of the family and spread it for a wider social living. It also helps the child to understand the economic, educational, and recreational, responsibilities of the family .

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★ 1.3.3 The Family and the Community - 2 :- 

♦ The Community

Community has got its own role in the education of the child. Commnity is a group of families settled in a village or town and bound together with common practices, ideals, values and culture. Each such community is a part of a larger community called the State or Nation.

According to Bogardus, “A community is a social group with some degree of “We” feeling and living in a given area” . According to Maciver and Page, “Whenever the members of any group, small or large live together in such a way that they share, not this or that particular interest, but the basis and conditions of a common life, we call the group a community”. Characteristics of a community are:

a) The sense of belongingness or loyalties of the residents.

b) Common social heritage.

c) Relative economic self-sufficiency.

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★ 1.3.3 The Family and the Community - 3 :- 

♦ Community as an agency of education :

➤ Potentially, community as an active agency of education. It functions as a formal or informal agency for education for the members of the community. The School, media, library, etc. in the community acts as formal or informal agencies of education. The community has a rich tradition and culture which are spread in order to educate its members.

➤ The educational role of the community is in many folds. It finances for educating the members, keeps control of formal education, helps in the process of selecting school personnel, motivates for using informal sources of educating the members and also spreads the morals and values for better living in the society.

➤ Specifically, community works cooperatively with the educational institutions like the Schools and the Colleges. They involve themselves in the human and material development of educational institutions as well as their academic activities.

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★ 1.3.3 The Family and the Community - 4 :- 

♦ Functions of Indian Community

The relationship between Community and Education is very significant. Since every community wants that the coming generation should grow into competent citizens who can shoulder the burden of society, so it makes the arrangement for that. If people are educated, they are able to solve the problems of the society. Through Education, the community is able to make the future generation conscious of its cultural heritage. Thus community must undertake the responsibility of educating its citizens.

One of the striking features in the Indian society has been an almost universal demand for education. The influence of community in the development of primary and pre-primary education has been tremendous. Community has also an influence on the development of secondary education.

Education should be in accordance with the objectives, ideals and values of the society. Social changes must be reflected in the educational changes. Preservation of cultural heritage is also one of the important functions of the community.

It can be said that the community is a potential educational force along with the administrators and teachers. They should not work in subordination to it, but should understand and work with it. Some disagreement may arise on certain points, but the same can be minimized or resolved through the cooperation and sincere efforts at both the ends. 

★ 1.3.4 The Religion :- 

There has always been a close relationship between religion and education. The religious viewpoint at a particular time and age has always influenced the educational thoughts.

All religions say that God is omnipotent, omnipresent and all mighty. Through Nature of Indian Society religious practice, the human soul makes effort to attain such experiences which may bring it nearer to the Almighty. The religious practices are considered to be in keeping with the supreme will so they bind all those who are believers. So it can be said that “Religion points towards the spiritual experience in human life through religious practice and of the relationship between individual personality and the God.”

Religion and education are related deeply, but in imparting education we keep this broad view point about religion before us and do not give any importance to the narrow outlook towards religion or provide the norms of conduct. Education seeks the path and teaches the new generation that how the path can be traversed. Religion tells us that why we are born and what we have to do to attain everlasting peace.

India is a secular Country. Here, the followers of all the faiths or religions have equal rights to worship, preach for their faith and establish their own institutions or places of worship without any interference from the government. The religious freedom is to respect the freedom of all the individuals.

The religious freedom is to encourage people to give more emphasis on truth, beauty and goodness. Radha Krishnan Commission emphasized on the importance of the need of religion in secular India. The Commission was of the opinion that the State should not give undue patronage to anyone’s religion. 

★ 1.3.5 Changing Social Fabric :- 

It can be defined as the composite demographics of a defined area, which consists of its ethnic composition, wealth, educational level, employment and regional values.

Change is the law of nature. This is true about the education as well. Change is the result of the progress and dynamism. Sometimes the change takes place on a vast scope and other times, it becomes slow. According to Ogborn and Nimkoff, “There are forces which work in every community leading to the breakdown of the established organisation and to the disruption of their functions what are known as social problems”.

By social fabric we mean variation in or movement of any aspect of social process, social interaction or social organization.

It is a change in social structure, e.g. the size of society, the composition or balance of its parts or the type of its organisation.

On the basis of the modification in the status and role of the individuals, there comes the change in the social fabric. Sometimes, the individuals are not able to adjust to changing roles which results in a process of disorganization.

Human being by its action and interaction on the environment has accumulated through ages a rich heritage which goes by the name of culture. Thus, culture consists of the knowledge and experiences and which have moulded human’s life and is manifested in ways of life of the people.

The needs of the society are ever changing. Every successive generation aims at making improvements in the existing pattern. Education helps in reconstructing and reorganizing the experiences of the needs of the society and thus eliminates the unworthy features of the society and builds up a happier and better world. 

★ 1.3.6 Pluralism :- 

Pluralism refers to a society, system of government or organisation that has different groups which keep their identities while existing with other groups or a more dominant group. Pluralism serves as a model of democracy where different groups can voice their opinions and ideas.

It denotes a diversity of views and stands rather than a single approach or method of interpretation. Cultural pluralism means when small groups within a large society maintain their unique cultural identities. It is a situation in which people of different social classes, religions, races, etc. live together in a society, but continue to have different traditions while living together.

For more clarity, it can be said that pluralism is the value of adjustment to the reality.

In India, Hindus and Hindi speaking people are in majority, but the people of other religions and languages also live here.

For example, Indonesia is a pluralistic society where people of different background (religion, caste, culture, language, ethnicity) live side by side.

Check Your Progress 1

Note: a) Write your answers in the space given below:

b) Compare your answers with those given at the end of the Unit.

1. Define the term ‘class system’. 

2. What are the main aspects of the social structure of Indian society?

3. What is the role of community?

4. Define the concept of Pluralism.