NEETI AGARWAL: OPTIONAL answer copy

Importance of this concept -

(1) Dynamism of Caste system as the closed, rigid and static view held by Ghurye.

(2) Highlights how social change happens in response to urban forces.

(3) Argued that 'Sanskritisation' is the 'orthogenetic social force of change'.

(4) Held how Sanskritisation acts as precusor to Modernization and Westernization.

⑤ Argued how it leads to social mobility in villages.

⑥ Showcased how the cultural elements of upper castes in terms of food, clothing and ritualistic elements are adopted by lower castes.

Other dimensions :-

① Validated the upper castes values as the superior and appreciable ones.

② 'Desanskritisation' was ignored by him.

③ Presence of Persian influence on Punjab society.

Nevertheless, MNS theory gives the interesting dimension of social change through cultural diffusion.

Toxic masculinity as the concept refers to the presence of aggressive, dominant and patriarchal behaviour in males which are present in inter-personal relationships and transferred along the generations.

Toxic Masculinity, Sexism and Patriarchal system

Toxic Masculinity → Perpetuates Sexism → Aids in maintaining Patriarchal system

(1) Seen across the familial bonds in terms of misogyny and reduced bargaining power of women.

(2) Economic sphere → Sexual harassment at work.

(3) Forms of domination through Marital rape (Kate Millet)

④ Institutional cases - Judiciary → Where judge asked the rapist to marry the survivor

⑤ Highlighted in 'cultural notions'. Ex - Attatching notion of 'Honour' to women by Khap panchayats'

⑥ seeing women as 'weaker sex'. Ex - Wrestlers protests against sexual harassment.

⑦ 'Gaslighting' → Manipulating the women's behaviours. Thus, Toxic masculinity is manifested through violent behaviours and dominant mentality.

Ans 1: DP Mukherji was the Marxist scholar who gave sociological analysis of Urban growth in Marxian terms.

DP Mukherji on Rapid Urban growth

1. He Held that rapid growth is due to need of economically dominant classes to highlight their dominance over social sphere.
2. Argued that the role of 'welfare state' in arresting rural poverty failed, leading to rapid urban growth.
3. Held that urban growth dwells upon the resource extraction of dominant classes.
4. Showcased how there is positive nexus between caste and class and rural class are degraded.

However, he failed to grasp how urban growth is influenced by the situational demands and other pull and push factors.

Louis Dumont referred to the Structural-Cultural perspective of Caste System. He was influenced by the binary approach of Levistrauss to study Caste System.

Louis Dumont's approach -

(1) Held how Caste system is characterised by the notions of purity and pollution.

(2) Argued that against stratification in West, there is hierarchy in Caste system.

(3) Held that how Ritual hierarchy still remains superior to Secular hierarchy (opposite view to MNS view).

(4) Argued how there is change in society but not 'change of society'.

⑤ Held that ritualistic notions of purity and pollution influence the religious notions. → Eg- Ban on temple entry guided by purity & pollution.

⑥ Ritualistic notions guided the role of 'Brahmanas' in religious spheres.

Arguments against this theory: (1) Over-simplistic theory. (2) Did not take into account the dynamism and social mobility in caste (Sanskritisation Dominant Caste) (3) Held that caste system is integrative model.

Nevertheless, Louis Dumont's theory gave the cultural aspects of caste system.

Ans 1(e) MN Srinivas defined secularisation as the reducing role of religion in public life and differentiation of elements.

Religion and social life

1. Urbanization and Universal values such as Equality, Individualism over Religious values of collective orientation.

2. Religious Institutions getting secularised through spreading welfare values over Religious values. Ex - 'langars'

3. Globalization and homogenization and hybridisation of culture reducing role of religion.

4. Modernization and Role of social Media to spread values of Rationality.

Other dimensions

1. Religion as the base for political mobilisation. Ex - Communalisation.

2. Growth of 'private religion'. Ex - New religious movements.

3. Increasing sects and cults for community mobilisation based on religion Ex - Dera Sacha Sauda; etc

4. Thomas Luckmann argued how 'invisible religion' is present in private sphere of people.

Thus, 'Religion' presence is changed on 'form' and 'content' in recent years.

Ans 3(a). Caste system, as per Dipankar gupta is characterised by dynamism and fluidity against the singular hierarchical and ritualistic component.

(2) Held that there is horizontal and vertical distribution of hierarchical powers.

(3) gave example of 'Amot caste' which solemnizes their festival by the sacrifice of pig and yet upper castes accept the food.

④ Argued that there is differences among the castes too.

⑤ Held that each caste, whether higher or lower tries to maintain their boundary and distance from other castes.

⑥ Argued that over the singular hierarchy; there are various and differential hierarchical patterns.

Importance of his views:

① Dynamism of the caste view.

② Incorporated the impact of Modernisation on caste structure.

③ Argued how mistaken modernity influences the caste structure.

④ Greater impact over the 'singular'.

and cultural view of caste given by Louis Dumont.

Flaws in his study:

1. Reliability and validity issues as the study can't be generalised.

2. Louis Dumont's cultural-structural approach → Ritual hierarchy over and alone the secular hierarchy.

3. Inter-caste conflicts due to the assertion of power by other castes(lower).

4. gs ghurye's approach on caste system which argued about the cultural significance of Brahmins in Indian society.

Nevertheless, Dipankar Gupta provided the alternate and intriguing view on caste system by taking the multidimensional view.

Social change refers to the change in structural components and cultural aspects of society in response to the orthogenetic and heterogenetic factors of change. (Yogendra singh).

Concept of Little and Great Tradition -

1. Concept given by Mckim Marriott in his study of Kishangarhi village.
2. The study was influenced by Redfield's study on Mexico communities.

④ In his study, Mariott argued how the festival's rituals of little tradition such as worshipping of cow and 'Govardhana' universalised to spread in metropolitan areas.

⑤ Further study analyses how the elements of great tradition are taken and incorporated by people of little tradition (villagers).

Significance of the study - ① Against the concept of MN srinivas's Sanskritisation, this concept highlights the inter dependence and interconnectedness of both the traditions.

② The concept highlights the influence of de sanskritisation and detribalization in cultural sphere.

③ The study further showcases how rural elements too influences the urban sphere.

④ GS Ghurye highlighted how little tradition of Islamic elements (Purdah system, holism) imparted the great tradition of Hinduism.

⑤ In the wake of globalisation, the concept holds importance as it analyses how cultural elements diffusion takes place.

Issues with the study ① Yogendra singh argued that there is biasness in study as the folke' traditions were termed 'little' against the "great tradition".

② K.L Sharma argues how there is 'selective Modernisation' against the binary concept of traditions.

③ Gail Omvedt argued how the cultural exchange is influenced by the intersectionality of gender, race, caste etc.

However, the study of little and great tradition provides an useful insights on the vision of social change in Indian context.

Societal transformation refers to the directed social change in terms of structural aspects and cultural norms.

Law, society and societal transformation

(1) Laws are the explicit notions to bring out social change via imposing sanctions (positive and negative).

(2) Laws → Social change

a) Laws to initiate social change → Prohibition of child marriage act to improve children's socio economic indicators

b) Laws to accept social change → Right to education to adopt universal values of egalitarianism, social justice.

c) Laws to prevent negative social change → NDPS act to resist drugs consumption in society.

Social change → Laws

↳ Acceptance of altruistic surrogacy led to surrogacy regulation law.

↳ Social Movement to recognize LGBTQIA+ persons as third gender led to Transgenders persons protections of rights act.

↳ Greater women presence in financial sphere but violence at workplace → Prevention of sexual harassment at workplace Act.

However, as Andre Beteille argued that law and Constitution provides the direction in which society moves but it's the culture which initiates the direction of this movement.

The recent SC's decision to recognize 'sex workers' as a profession highlights their greater societal acceptance, but there are various contradictions present.

Societal contradictions

1. Notions of 'purity and pollution' attached to the sex work.

2. Social factors such as religious notions Ex → Devadasi system in south India.

3. Material conditions such as greater prevalence of poverty leading to landing up in sex work.

4. Treated as 'underclass' due to associated social stigma and cultural taboo.

5. Children of sex workers often faces varied deprivations and social exclusion.

Intersectionality of factors such as Caste, race, ethnicity etc as the sex work is considered defiling.

Other dimensions -

1. Rights based approach due to greater mobilisation through CSOs, NGOs.
2. Media intervention to highlight their plight. Ex. 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' movie
3. Reducing 'caste stigma' attatched to them.

Thus, sex work notions are changing due to cultural changes and greater social acceptance.

Ethnicity refers to the shared and common characteristics among the members of a community . These characteristics ranges from physical to cultural elements.

Methodologies to comprehend ethnicity -

(1) During colonial times, the ethnicity was understood in terms of physical characteristics such as colour, biological features.

(2) Punekar considers ethnicity in four terms -

→ Caste → Religion → Region → Language

(3) Convergence of ethnicity with other Notions such as Nation-states, territories ex. Kurds, Nagas. etc

④ Ethnicity enlarging to incorporate secular elements such as Relative deprivation. ex - Punjab crisis (Khalistan demand).

⑤ Ethnicity in Post-Modern method responding to individualised differences.

⑥ Ethnicity influenced by globalised currents of multiple identities.

However, Ethnicity is neither uniform, nor static and responding to various social currents to mobilise people for material and non-material benefits.

Ans 5(c) Though, India is a secular country resting on the notion of 'Sarva Dharma Sambhava', communalism is present in varied forms.

Kommunalism and Pluralism

1. Communalism refers to the excessive allegiance over one's religious identity over the Nationalistic and plural identity.

2. Communalism leads to trust deficit between the various communities. Ex - Nuh violence.

3. Leads to perpetuation of social polarization and divisiveness in society. Ex - 'Economic boycott' of Muslims post gurgaon riots (2023)

4. Religious identity overlaps the National identity and spreads sectarian

values over collective consciousness.

Ex- Mirchpur incident (2010).

(5) Induces distress migration which leads to inadequate cultural adaptation of migrating communities to other place.

Ex- TN Madan study of Kashmiri Pandits.

(6) Arrests the process of 'secularism' and perpetuates the 'sectional identity' → Political mobilisation based on religious lines.

(7) The 'plural sentiments' are subdued under 'radical' communal identity. Ex- 'Khalistan demand'.

Thus, communalism is like a serious disease which negatively affects the plural identity and erodes the 'Ek Bharata Shreshtha Bharat' spirit.

The Pluralistic elite theory argued how democracies leads to diverse interest articulation and aggregation through the engagement with varied interests & groups.

Elite accomodation within political landscape

1. Krony capitalism - As per ADR report, 'capitalistic funding' forms the major political funding.

1. Diminishing role of state post LPG reforms due to decreasing bargaining power of Trade Unions etc.
2. Sectional interests of CSOs, NGOs further increasing elite role.
3. Non transparency in electoral funding. Ex - 'electoral bonds' scheme.

(5) Role of money and muscle power increased as highlighted by Vohra Committee.

(6) 'Caste mobilisation' in politics leading to proliferation of interests by 'social elite' in politics. Ex - 'Bihar politics'

(7) Role of 'Media' in the form of paid news, fake TRPs etc leads to elite accomodation

Thus political landscape should be guided by the values of inclusion and transparency.

Ans 5(e) As per NCRB report, there is increase in gender based violence (GBV) over the years. GBV refers to the acts of violence which are executed due to the prevalence of certain sexual/gendered construct.

Reasons behind GBV

1. Patriarchy → Sylvia Walby argued how patriarchal norms leads to domestic violence.
2. Forms of dominance → Marital rapes as the instrument to dominate over Women's sexuality (Kate Millet)

③ Presence of 'honour' linked to 'women' → Honour killings.

④ Convergence of issues such as 'ethnicity' and 'conflict' where harm to women seen as 'prize of war'. Ex. Manipur based women' rapes

⑤ Cyber threats and bullying as the emerging threats → 'Tech facilitated violence'

⑥ Exclusion from public space → ILO study showcased how forms of sexual violence at workplace leads to their exclusion from financial sphere.

Way forward → Socialization style changes. → Gender sensitization at all levels. → fast track courts for improved judicial help.

Thus, GBV highlights the presence of 'patriarchy' in entrenched form.

Ans 6(a) As per the NFHS-5 survey, the incidence of child marriage stands at 38%. This trend further varies across the regions and socio-economic profile.

Prohibition of Child Marriage (amendment) Bill and women empowerment and Gender equality:-

1. Delaying the age of marriage → leading to greater avenues for educational empowerment. (Improved enrolment in higher educational institutions)

2. Delayed teenage pregnancies - As per NFHS-5, there is 7% of teenage pregnancies leading to under-nutrition and higher IMR and child undernourishment.

(3) Challenging the glass ceiling and glass cliff effect - As per sylvia walby, early marriages leads to withdrawal from market economy.

(4) Financial empowerment and greater social status due to improved avenues in financial sphere.

(5) social mobility and reduced relation of self respect with husband's income.

(6) Addressing the feminization of poverty - Due to improved educational outcomes and financial empowerment.

(7) Exercising Right to choice to marry due to greater age maturity.

(8) Women led empowerment in social sphere

Issues with the bill

1. Structural issues such as Patriarchal mindset and entrenched 'lower status' of women.

2. Intersectionality of causes such as race, caste, ethnicity etc are other gaps in realising women empowerment.

3. Gender equality threatened by other factors → Violence at workplace → 'Curriculum' (hidden stereotypes) → 'glass cliff' effect.

4. Delaying marriageable age no guarantee to empowerment as these are other issues such as poverty, institutional barriers, cultural notions hindering the full participation of women in social sphere.

5. Exclusion from STEM sector another issue plaguing the women empowerment

Way forward-

① Addressing gender stereotypes through greater sensitization and role modeling effect.

② Addressing Institutional barriers through promoting and protective measures.

③ Socialization patterns should be changed in favour of the women.

Thus, the bill is not the panacea for women empowerment, however a positive step in right direction, but must be complemented with other measures.

Ans 6 (a). Environmental Movements arise in response to the unequal distribution of natural resources and their intersectionality with other factors such as gender, race, ethnicity etc.

Resistance by communities and environmental movements:-

1. Tribal communities such as Bishnois of Rajasthan spearheaded environmental movement to resist against the intrusion of outsiders in their territories.

2 Chipko Movement where economy of subsistence was pitched against economy of profit. (Uttarakhand's indigenous environmental movement)

3 Save Delhi Campaign → Against the community to achieve 'Right to breathe' (Clean Air) led by

4 Save Dehing-Patkai movement by North East community to resist against the government decision of encroaching upon the pristine forests.

5 'Save Sundarbans' campaign to resist against the destruction of 'Mangroves' which are vital for indigenous communities survival and livelihoods.

⑥ Convergence with other factors a) environment and gender rights → 'Save Narmada' (Narmada Bachao Andolan) by Medha Patkar. b) Dalit - Environmental movement by Kinkri Devi in HP against illegal mining and deprivation of Dalit Rights. c) Tribals - environment movements - Kalinganagar movement in Odisha in 2007 against exploitation of resource rich and tribals dominated area. ⑦ Impact of Globalisation → New issues, vision and 'ideology' Greater resource mobilisation Emergence of new leaders. Ex - 'Greta Thunberg' (Cyber - environmental movements)

8 Role of global NGOs such as Greenpeace, WWF etc are getting vital in mobilising the masses and interest articulation.

9 Urbanization and Environmental movement → 'Jiyo Yamuna' campaign by IFS officer - Manoj Mishra to reduce Delhi's dependence on Yamuna river.

Thus, Environment movements reflects the greater dependence of communities over the natural resources and their skewed distribution, leading to conflict and collective mobilization.

Ans 6(c). 'Care Economy' as defined by 'Sylvia Walby' refers to the services and provisions provided by women. They may vary from domestic chores to nursing, etc.

Employment and economic advantages of care economy :

(1) Women empowerment by including their hitherto unrecognised work. (2) Financial independence leading to higher social statue and social mobility.

1. Addressing the gender pay disparity by providing their work equal respect.

2. Reducing the institutional barriers via greater recognition to their work.

Concerns associated -

(1) Monetising the care economy → Restricting the women to hitherto defined stereotypical roles.

(2) Karuna Ahmad argued how this could lead to further informalization of economy.

(3) Thus, care economy though an 'empowering idea' for women, but must lead to erosion of stereotypical norms attached to women roles.

Ans 7(a). The recent International Organization of Migration report highlighted the impact of climate change, growing social disparities and conflict induced migration.

Climate change, social disparities and marginalised population -

1. Uneven climate change → Increased extreme events (Monsoon vagaries, El Nino) leading to deprivation of resources. Ex - UNICEF report → 75% of population migrated → Asia, Africa.

2. Unequal Resource distribution due to poor bargaining power and political mobilisation. Ex - Inadequate compensation to migrants of Cyclone Amphan.

③ Intersectionality of causes - Gender, elderly, disabled etc are the most vulnerable sections.

Ex - UNDP report → Climate change led to increased vulnerability on women, children.

④ Urbanisation and resource conflict → Brazil's mining and illegal timber industry led to loss of livelihoods of indigenous communities.

⑤ Food security and Climate change - FAO report highlighted how 1/3 children and 385 Mn women suffer from 'Malnutrition', further climate change leading to 'resource disparity'.

⑥ Climate change → Increased vulnerability of marginalised sections → Hightened disparities. Ex - Joshimath land subsidence and distress migration.

⑦ geographical factors → As per WMO, with increased sea level rise, there is risk of coastal communities to fall in the trap of poverty, unequal resource distribution.

⑧ Conflict induced migration and associated violation of gender rights. Ex - Drying of lake chad and women migration.

⑨ Reduced income and job security due to diversion of state resources to disaster mitigation and rehabilitation.

Way forward -

(1) Social Impact assessment of the policies.

(2) Addressing the social factors behind the developmental projects.

(3) Capacity enhancement of the masses.

Thus, climate change poses the dual burden of reduced incapacity and increased vulnerability on marginalised sections.

The low rank of India on Global Hunger Index (107/121) highlights how nutritional security goal is still a distant dream. The launch of POSHAN abhiyan aims to address the social constructs to further the nutritional security.

Aims of POSHAN Abhiyan

1. Reducing the child stunting and wasting → stunting (35.1%) and wasting (19.2%) as recorded in NFHS-5.

2. Life cycle approach - Through convergence of goals.

• ICDS → child Nutrition
• MDM → Mid age child food security.
• Addressing the anaemic condition of adolescent girls and women (52%)

1. Addressing the structural constraints via intervening in the critical times such as Puberty and Pregnancy.

2. Community mobilization via use of CSOs, NGOs for better targetting of welfare beneficiaries and reach of the program.

3. Local contextual solutions through data based policy making.

4. 'POSHAN Tracker' → Real time monitoring would help in inclusion of all sections.

1. Child and Maternal nutritional security through taking an integrated approach.

2. Enhancing the role of local leaders via participation of PRIs and other local bodies.

3. Nutritional decentralization through use of 'kitchen gardens' in schools.

4. Reaping the demographic dividend via increasing the nutritional productivity. Ex - ASER report → Nutritionally high children fared better in educational outcomes.

Issues →

1. Structural issues such as Patriarchal norms due to which women eat the 'least' and 'at last'.

2. Early marriages and teenage pregnancies are the major cause behind poor

nutritional profile.

3 Poverty, multiple deprivations leading to hunger and Malnutrition.

Ex - Niti Aayog's Multidimensional poverty index → 1/7 Indian is poor.

Suggested measures

→ Addressing the underlying social causes.

→ Improving WASH services for food utilization.

→ Targetted interventions through data based policy making.

Thus, POSHAN Abhiyan though a well devised step, needs to dig deeper to cure the social ills behind poor nutritional security.

Ans 7(c). Louis Wirth helds that Urbanization is the 'way of life'. As per UN-Habitat, around 31% of Indian population resides in cities which will rise to 50% by 2050.

Urbanisation and societal structure

(1) Rationality of public life as argued by Max Weber.

Ex - Bureaucratic institutions.

(2) Diminishing caste identity and presence of universal values such as individual-ism, formality, impersonation etc.

(3) Improved geographic mobility of families leading to changed 'kin relationships' (Parsons Theory).

(4) Improved women social status due to increased social mobility - → Financial independence → Delaying of marriage

‘Civic Religion’ as the new form of collective consciousness (Nisbet Theory)

Other dimensions

(1) ‘Urbanization of Poverty’ as highlighted by Niti Aayog report.

(2) ‘Caste in new form’ → Harold gould study about caste remains present ‘in private sphere’.

(3) Violence and ‘Delinquency’ due to degrading moral fabric.

(4) ‘Slums’ → About 17% of urban people lives in slums.