Sociology II · 15 marks

"India needs modernization and not westernization". Is one possible without the other? Comment

Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2016–2020

Modernisation of Indian Tradition

Syllabus: Impact of colonial rule on Indian society: (a) Social background of Indian nationalism. (b) Modernization of Indian tradition. (c) Protests and movements during the colonial period. (d) Social reforms.

How toppers approached it

From all 3 answers · about 290 words · 33% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening2 of 3
  • A definition1 of 3

Body

  • Points and prose2 of 3
  • Points1 of 3

Close

  • No separate close1 of 3
  • A summary1 of 3
  • A way forward1 of 3

The toppers’ answers

CATHERINE SARANYA AAIR 157 · CSE 2020 · 107 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Yogendra Singh argues on the need for modernization and rejects westernization.

Body · points and prose

Diagram
+------------------+ | Great tradition | +------------------+ ^ | universaliza- | | parochializa- tion | | tion | v +------------------+ | Little tradition | +------------------+

Fig: Robert Redfield and Milton Singer's little and great tradition:

Westernization is a result of heterogenetic factors which gives rise to little tradition Great tradition - elite circulation.

However, India is a country where tradition and modernity coexists according to Rajeev Bhargava.

Diagram
Tradition ----+--> collectivity +--> continuation +--> transcendence +--> hierarchy (All the above point towards modernization)

Fig: Features of tradition and the path towards modernization

Modernization will help break from the traditional elements of caste, radical thinking, promote social mobility, fight deprivation. Westernization will become a mere duplication of western culture according to Gandhi.

Close

Indian society is diverse, modernization will help celebrate this diversity in the words of Jawaharlal Nehru.

More on Modernisation of Indian Tradition

Modernisation, westernisation and the persistence of tradition, as in Yogendra Singh.

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