Ch 7Cultural Change — Class 12 Sociology, concept-first.

The last chapter traced how colonial rule restructured Indian society — factories displacing fields, cities displacing villages, as the places where people lived and worked.

The social reform movements of the 19th and early 20th century were India’s response to the deep challenges thrown up by colonial rule.

Sociologists study social change through several key concepts. In this chapter, four are examined in detail: sanskritisation, modernisation, secularisation, and westernisation.

The term sanskritisation was coined by sociologist M.N. Srinivas. It refers to the process by which a 'low' caste, tribe, or other group adopts the customs, rituals, beliefs, ideology, and style of li…

The term Sanskritisation was coined by the sociologist M.N. Srinivas. It refers to the process by which a ‘low’ caste, tribe, or other group adopts the customs, rituals, beliefs, ideology, and lifesty…

Westernisation is the set of changes that British colonial rule brought to Indian society and culture over more than 150 years. The sociologist M.N.

The term modernisation has a long history. From the 19th and more so the 20th century, it became associated with positive and desirable values — people and societies wanted to be modern.

The chapter concludes by drawing together the key argument: social change in India has followed distinct paths, shaped most powerfully by the colonial encounter.