Question

Which one of the following is not a process to bring about change in Indian cultural structure ?

• A. Sanskritization
• B. Industrialization
• C. Westernization
• D. Secularization

Hint:

When analyzing social change, differentiate between the primary nature of a process. Industrialization is economic, democratization is political, and secularization is cultural. While they are all interconnected, their core focus differs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify which of the given options is not primarily a process of cultural change in the Indian context. Cultural structure refers to the patterned way of life of a society, including its norms, values, beliefs, and practices.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
(A) Sanskritization: This is a socio-cultural process defined by M.N. Srinivas, where lower castes emulate the rituals and practices of higher castes to improve their social status. This is a direct process of cultural change.
(C) Westernization: This refers to the adoption of Western cultural norms, values, and lifestyles, leading to significant changes in Indian culture.
(D) Secularization: This is the process where religious institutions and symbols lose their social significance, which is a fundamental shift in the cultural fabric of a society.
(B) Industrialization: This is primarily an economic process involving the shift from an agrarian to an industrial economy. While industrialization has massive cultural consequences (like urbanization, changes in family structure, and the rise of new values), it is, at its core, a change in the mode of production, not a cultural process itself in the same way as the others. The other three are inherently processes of cultural and normative change.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Industrialization is an economic process, whereas Sanskritization, Westernization, and Secularization are primarily socio-cultural processes. Therefore, industrialization is the correct answer.