Features of Indian Society
India is a vast country and has a long history. Its society has evolved through the ages and has also been affected by foreign influences giving it extreme diversity and made unity amidst diversity a characteristic of the Indian society. However, to understand the process, we need to understand the meaning of diversity, unity and pluralism as well as their relevance to the Indian society.
Diversity
In literary terms, diversity means differences. However in social context the meaning is more specific; it means collective differences among people, that is, those differences which mark off one group of people from another. These differences may be of any sort: biological, religious, linguistic etc. On the basis of biological differences, for example, we have racial diversity. On the basis of religious differences, similarly, we have religious diversity. The point to note is that diversity refers to collective differences.
Institutionalization
Indian society is institutionalized in nature in the form of well developed systems like Family, Marriage, Gotra and Caste System.
Multi-class
Indian society is a multi-class due to several classes exists in India. This Classification is based ones birth as well as his achievements.
Multi-ethnic Society
Indian society is multi-ethnic in nature due to various racial groups coexists in India. Almost all the races of the world can be seen in India.
Multi-Religious Society
Although Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism is the major Religion in India, there exist various other religions such as Islam, Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity, Bahai and Parsi etc.
Multi-Lingual Society
There exist more than 1600 languages in India. Major languages are Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Odia, Assamese etc
Unity
Unity means integration. It is a social psychological condition. It connotes a sense of one-ness, a sense of we-ness. It stands for the Bonds, which hold the members of a society together. There is a difference between unity and uniformity. Uniformity presupposes similarity, unity does not. Unity is of two types, first which may be born out of uniformity, and second which may arise despite differences. French sociologist has termed these two types as mechanical and organic solidarity respectively.
Unity in diversity
Inspite of diversities, Indian community Shares certain bonds of unity. The first bond of unity of India is found in its geo-political integration. India is known for its geographical unity marked by the Himalayas in the north and the Oceans on the other sides. Politically India is now a sovereign state. The same constitution and same parliament govern every part of it. We share the same political culture marked by the norms of Democracy and Secularism-2/”>Secularism. The geo-political unity of India was always visualized by our seers and rulers. The expressions of this consciousness of the geo-political unity of India are found in Rig-Veda, in Sanskrit literature, in the edicts of Asoka, in Buddhist 
monuments and in various other sources. The ideal of geo-political unity of India is also reflected in the concepts of Bharatvarsha (the old indigenous classic name for India), Chakravarti (emperor), and Ekchhatradhipatya (under one rule).
Another source of unity of India lies in what is known as temple culture, which is reflected in the Network of shrines and sacred places. From Badrinath and Kedarnath in the north to Rameshwaram in the south, Jagannath Puri in the east to Dwaraka in the west the religious shrines and holy rivers are spread throughout the length and breadth of the country. Closely related to them is the age-old culture of pilgrimage, which has always moved people to various parts of the country and fostered in them a sense of geo-cultural unity. As well as being an expression of religious sentiment, pilgrimage is also an expression of love for the motherland, a sort of mode of worship of the country. It has acted as an antithesis to the regional diversity and has played a significant part in promoting interaction and cultural affinity among the people living in different parts of India.
Indian culture, has a remarkable quality of accommodation and Tolerance. There is ample evidence of it. The first evidence of it lies in the elastic character of Hinduism, the majority religion of India. It is common knowledge that Hinduism is not a homogeneous religion, that is, a religion having one God, one Book and one Temple. Indeed, it can be best described as a federation of faiths. Polytheistic (having multiple deities) in character, it goes to the extent of accommodating village level deities and tribal faiths. For the same reason, sociologists have distinguished two broad forms of Hinduism: sanskritic and popular. Sanskritic is that which is found in the texts (religious books like Vedas, etc.) and popular is that which is found in the actual life situation of the vast masses. Robert Redfield has called these two forms as great tradition of Ramayana and Mahabharata and the little tradition of worship of the village deity. And everything passes for Hinduism. What it shows is that Hinduism has been an open religion, a receptive and absorbing religion, an encompassing religion. It is known for its quality of openness and accommodation. Another evidence of it lies in its apathy to conversion. Hinduism is not a proselytising religion. That is, it does not seek converts. Nor has it ordinarily resisted other religions to seek converts from within its fold. This quality of accommodation and tolerance has paved the way to the coexistence of several faiths in India.
Indian society was organized in such a way that various social groups were independent of each other. One manifestation of it is found in the form of Jajmani system, i.e., a system of functional interdependence of castes. The term “jajman” refers generally to the patron or recipient of specialised Services. The relations were traditionally between a food producing family and the families that supported them with goods and services. These came to be called the jajmani relations. Jajmani relations were conspicuous in village life, as they entailed ritual matters, social support as well as economic exchange. The whole of a local social order was involved (the people and their values) in such jajmani links. A patron had jajmani relations with members of a high caste (like a Brahmin priest whose services he needed for rituals). He also required the services of specialists from the lower jati to perform those necessary tasks like washing of dirty clothes, cutting of hair, cleaning the rooms and toilets, delivery of the child etc. Those associated in these interdependent relations were expected to be and were broadly supportive of each other with qualities of ready help that generally close kinsmen were expected to show.
Sociologist M.N.Srinivas has called this ‘vertical unity of castes’. The jajmani relations usually involved multiple kinds of payment and obligations as well as multiple functions. No caste was self-sufficient. If anything, it depended for many things on other castes. In a sense, each caste was a functional group in that it rendered a specified service to other caste groups. Jajmani system is that mechanism which has formalised and regulated this functional interdependence. Furthermore, castes cut across the boundaries of religious communities. We have earlier mentioned that notions of caste are found in all the religious communities in India. In its actual practice, thus, the institution of jajmani provides for inter linkages between people of different religious groups. Thus a Hindu may be dependent for the washing of his clothes on a Muslim washerman. Similarly, a Muslim may be dependent for the stitching of his clothes on a Hindu tailor, and vice-versa.
Efforts have been made from time to time by sensitive and sensible leaders of both the communities to synthesise Hindu and Muslim traditions so as to bring the two major communities closer to each other. Akbar, for example, founded a new religion, Din-e-Ilahi, combining best of both the religions. Some bhakti saints like Kabir-2/”>Kabir, Eknath/”>Eknath and Guru Nanak, as well as some sufi saints made important contributions in forging unity among to communities. At the time of independence struggle, Mahatama Gandhi laid extreme emphasis on Hindu Muslim unity which was instrumental in India becoming A Secular State and moving on the path of progress.
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India is a country with a rich and diverse history and culture. It is home to over 1.3 billion people, making it the second most populous country in the world. India is also a land of contrasts, with a wide range of social, economic, and political conditions.
One of the most striking features of Indian society is the caste system. The caste system is a social hierarchy that divides people into different groups based on their birth. The caste system is deeply rooted in Indian culture and has a significant impact on people’s lives.
Dowry is another practice that is common in India. Dowry is a payment that is made by the bride’s family to the groom’s family at the time of marriage. Dowry can be a significant financial burden for the bride’s family, and it has been linked to violence against Women.
Female infanticide is the practice of killing female babies. Female infanticide is a serious problem in India, and it is estimated that millions of girls have been killed in India since 1990. Female infanticide is often due to the preference for sons in Indian society.
Gender inequality is a major problem in India. Women in India face discrimination in Education, EMPLOYMENT, and healthcare. They are also more likely to be victims of violence than men.
Hinduism is the majority religion in India. Hinduism is a complex religion with a long history. It is based on the Vedas, a collection of sacred texts. Hinduism is a polytheistic religion, and it has a wide range of beliefs and practices.
Islam is the second largest religion in India. Islam came to India in the 7th century, and it has had a significant impact on Indian culture. Islam is a monotheistic religion, and it is based on the Quran, a sacred text.
Jainism is a minority religion in India. Jainism is a religion that emphasizes non-violence and vegetarianism. It is based on the teachings of Mahavira, a 6th century Indian prince.
Sikhism is a minority religion in India. Sikhism is a religion that emphasizes Equality and social Justice. It is based on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, a 15th century Indian saint.
India is a multilingual country. There are over 120 languages spoken in India. The Official Language of India is Hindi, but English is also widely spoken.
Marriage in India is a complex and important event. Marriage is often seen as a way to unite two families, and it is a major social event. There are many different customs and traditions associated with marriage in India.
Religion is an important part of Indian society. Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, and Sikhism are the four major religions in India. There are also many other religions practiced in India, including Christianity, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism.
Social stratification is a system in which people are ranked in a hierarchy based on their social status. Social stratification is a common feature of many societies, and it is particularly pronounced in India. There are four main social groups in India: the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras. The Brahmins are the highest social group, and the Shudras are the lowest social group.
Tribes are indigenous peoples who live in India. There are over 500 tribes in India, and they make up about 8% of the Population. Tribes have their own unique cultures and languages.
Urbanization is the process of people moving from rural areas to urban areas. Urbanization is a major trend in India, and it is estimated that by 2050, more than half of the population of India will live in urban areas.
Women in India face many challenges. They are often discriminated against in education, employment, and healthcare. They are also more likely to be victims of violence than men. However, there are many women in India who are working to improve the lives of women in India. They are working to increase access to education and healthcare, and they are working to combat violence against women.
India is a complex and diverse country. It is a land of contrasts, with a wide range of social, economic, and political conditions. India is a country with a rich and vibrant history and culture. It is a country that is constantly changing and evolving.
Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about Indian society:
- What is the population of India?
India has a population of over 1.3 billion people, making it the second most populous country in the world. - What is the official language of India?
The official language of India is Hindi, but there are over 200 other languages spoken in the country. - What is the religion of India?
The majority of Indians are Hindu, but there are also large Muslim, Christian, Sikh, and Buddhist populations. - What is the currency of India?
The currency of India is the Indian rupee. - What is the capital of India?
The capital of India is New Delhi. - What is the flag of India?
The flag of India is a tricolor flag with three horizontal bands of saffron, white, and green. The saffron band represents courage, the white band represents peace, and the green band represents faith. - What is the National Anthem of India?
The national anthem of India is “Jana Gana Mana.” - What is the national animal of India?
The national animal of India is the tiger. - What is the national bird of India?
The national bird of India is the peacock. - What is the national flower of India?
The national flower of India is the lotus.
Here are some additional facts about Indian society:
- India is a democracy with a parliamentary System of Government.
- The president of India is the head of state, and the prime minister is the head of government.
- India is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
- India is a nuclear power.
- India is a major economic power, with a GDP of over $2 trillion.
- India is a diverse country with a rich culture and history.
- India is a land of contrasts, with both modern cities and traditional villages.
- India is a country of opportunity, with a young population and a growing economy.
- India is a country of challenges, with POVERTY, illiteracy, and Corruption.
- India is a country of hope, with a bright future ahead.
Sure, here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic Indian Society:
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Which of the following is not a feature of a caste system?
(A) Social stratification based on birth
(B) Endogamy
(C) Social mobility
(D) Ascription -
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a traditional society?
(A) A strong sense of community
(B) A high level of social cohesion
(C) A slow pace of Social Change
(D) A high level of individualism -
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a modern society?
(A) A high level of social differentiation
(B) A high level of social mobility
(C) A high level of social change
(D) A strong sense of community -
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a post-industrial society?
(A) A knowledge-based economy
(B) A service-based economy
(C) A high level of economic inequality
(D) A high level of social mobility -
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a globalized society?
(A) The free flow of goods and services
(B) The free flow of capital
(C) The free flow of people
(D) The free flow of ideas -
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a sustainable society?
(A) Economic Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
(B) Social development that promotes Equity and social justice
(C) Environmental protection that conserves natural Resources and protects the Environment
(D) Political development that promotes democracy and Good Governance -
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a just society?
(A) Equality of opportunity
(B) Equality of outcome
(C) Social justice
(D) Economic justice -
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a peaceful society?
(A) The absence of war
(B) The absence of violence
(C) The absence of conflict
(D) The absence of poverty -
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a healthy society?
(A) A low level of crime
(B) A low level of disease
(C) A high level of physical and mental Health
(D) A high level of social well-being -
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a happy society?
(A) A high level of life satisfaction
(B) A low level of Stress
(C) A high level of social support
(D) A high level of income