CULTURE AND MODERNIZATION IN INDIAN SOCIETY - A

SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY

SUBMITTED BY
MANISH CHOUDHARY
Roll No-222
IVth SEMESTER
NUSRL, RANCHI

SUBMITTED TO
Dr. JISUKETAN PATTANAIK
ASSITANT PROFESSOR
SOCIOLOGY
NUSRL, RANCHI

National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi

Polytechnic Campus, BIT Mesra
Ranchi (Jharkhand)
India
2012-2017

Introduction:
Culture is a fuzzy set of basic assumptions and values, orientations to life, beliefs, policies,
procedures and behavioral conventions that are shared by a group of people, and that
influence (but do not determine) each members behavior and his/her interpretations of the
meaning of other peoples behaviour. (Spencer-Oatey 2008)
Culture is associated with particular group or society. It varies from place to place. It shows
the collective sentiments of a particular group i.e, religious beliefs, ceremonies, social values,
norms and attitude. It is a process of learning. It is associated with social environment.
Human being learns from surrounding.
Culture is associated with heredity but still it is subject to change. Culture of an individual
can be changed with time. Individual adopts traditions and norms of other group. The process
of cultural change is known as acculturation.
Modernization originally referred to the contrast and transition between a traditional agrarian
society and the kind of modern society that is based on trade and industry. For example
traditional and modern would describe the difference between medieval England and lateVictorian Britain.
Traditional societies consist of a single, unified system with a single center of power; while a
modern society is composed of a plurality of autonomous systems which interact with each
other, influence each other, but do not absorb each other. Modern societies are fundamentally
heterogeneous with multiple centers of power; and this is not accident but intrinsic to their
nature. Indeed, the continued process of modernization tends to break down any remaining
vestiges of hierarchy and centralized domination of social functions. The object of paper to
examine relationship of culture and modernization as well as impact of modernization on
culture.
Literature Review
Their cultural meaning ... lies precisely and only in the way these practices are interpreted
by the insiders. (Hofstede, 1991)
Culture is shared by at least two or more people, and of course real, live societies are always
larger than that. There is, in other words, no such thing as the culture of a hermit. If a solitary
individual thinks and behaves in a certain way, that thought or action is idiosyncratic, not
cultural. For an idea, a thing, or a behavior to be considered cultural, it must be shared by
some type of social group or society. [Ferraro, 1998]

As a constructive element of each culture, as a human spiritual heritage, as a "cultural

pedigree" of each nation, tradition is unavoidable in understanding the present and giving
vision to the future. So, it is not a question of some stony, static spiritual horizon because "the
germ of the new can often be found in the most courageous forebodings and predictions from
the past, and the value of the past is presented in the possibility of its projection into the
future" (Boilovi 2004).
Only in that way can that state be overcome in which relation towards tradition does not
overstep borders of simple commemorative honors granted to the previous, conditioned with
the commonest politeness, and only in that way will the search for the truth not separate us
from the search for significance and meaning of human existence." (Tripkovi 1998:)

Theoretical Perspective

Conflict Theory:- This theory is propounded by Karl Marx (1818-1883). It is often

argued that Marxs view of history is based on the idea of the dialectic. From this
viewpoint any process of change involves change between incompatible forces.
Dialectical movement therefore represents a struggle of opposites, conflicts of
contradictions. Conflicts provide the dynamic principle, the source of change.
Suppressed class and high class are two classes in conflict theory. It can be said that
one is ruling class and other class is ruled by ruling class. It can be said that it is
society of haves and havent. Now, when suppressed class mental status reaches upto
the level of frustration than they will be deviated from their path. This deviance leads
to development in the society.
Culture represents traditional values as well as economical resources of a particular
group. Modernization represents the urban and industrial society. Here if we see there
is a conflict of values between two theories. It leads to frustration. This frustration
leads to cultural change. He will accept either traditional way of living or modern way
of living. This is how the conflict will come to end.

Objective

To study role of culture in human life

To study reasons of modernization
To explore the problems arose due to modernization
To study change in socio-economic condition of society due to modernization
To study impact of modernization on religion

Hypothesis:

Modernization leads to acculturation and cultural diffusion.

Urbanization is result of modernization.
Modernization affects life style of human being.
Modernization affects religious belief of human being.
Modernization is result of industrialization.

Methodology:
The research methodology adopted in the study is primarily the Doctrinal method of
research. This doctrinal work adopted is both analytical and descriptive. The data will be
collected from various sources and analyzed to explore the desired objective Most of the data
were collected from secondary sources i.e. books, articles, journals, internet etc. Opinions of
research scholars, academicians, and other experts who have dealt with this subject are used
as a real contribution to this work.
Proposed Chapterization

Introduction

Culture: Role in Human life

Evolution of Modernization

Relation between Modernization and Culture

Effect of Modernization on Culture

Theoretical framework

Conclusion

References

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England, The Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Vol. 3,

Przeworski, Adam and Limongi, Fernando (1997). Modernization: Theories and Facts,

World Politics, Vol. 49,

Tilly , Charles (1973). Does Modernization Breed Revolution?, Comparative Politics, Vol.

5,
Arat, Zehra F (1988). Democracy and Economic Development: Modernization Theory

Revisited, Comparative Politics, Vol. 21,

Wissler, Clark (1912). The Psychological Aspects of the Culture - Environment Relation,
American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 14
Ronald Inglehart and Wayne E. Baker (2000). Modernization, Cultural Change, and the

Persistence of Traditional Values, American Sociological Review, Vol. 65,

Munakata, Iwao (1976). The Ambivalent Effects of Modernization on the Traditional Folk

Religion of Japan, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Vol. 3

Zhongyun, Zi (1987). The Relationship of Chinese Traditional Culture to the Modernization

of China: An Introduction to the Current Discussion Source, Asian Survey, Vol. 27,