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Cultural Change – Class 12 Sociology notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 12 Sociology, chapter 8. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Cultural change in modern India was shaped by social reform movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and by processes such as Sanskritisation, westernisation, modernisation and secularisation. Reformers used modern ideas, the printing press and associations to challenge practices such as sati, child marriage and caste discrimination. M. N. Srinivas described Sanskritisation and westernisation as key processes of cultural change.

Social reform movements

Reformers such as Raja Rammohun Roy (against sati), Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (widow remarriage), Jyotiba Phule (education of women and lower castes), Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (modern education for Muslims) and Pandita Ramabai worked for change.
Reform used new means: the printing press, newspapers, associations such as the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj and Satyashodhak Samaj, and appeals to both reason and reinterpreted tradition.
Reform led to laws such as the abolition of sati in 1829 and the Hindu Widow Remarriage Act, 1856.

Processes of cultural change

Sanskritisation is the process by which a lower caste adopts the customs, rituals and lifestyle of a higher caste to claim higher status.
Westernisation refers to changes brought by British rule in technology, institutions, ideology and values, such as dress, food habits and education.
Modernisation means a shift towards rationality, science, universal values and individual choice; secularisation means declining influence of religion over public life, though religion can also gain new forms, such as elaborate religious festivals.

Key terms

Sanskritisation: lower castes adopting customs of higher castes to claim higher status
Westernisation: changes in Indian society due to contact with the West, especially British rule
Modernisation: a shift towards rationality, science and individual choice
Secularisation: decline in the influence of religion over social and public life
Social reform: organised efforts to change harmful social practices

Important questions with answers

What is Sanskritisation?2 marks

Sanskritisation, a term given by M. N. Srinivas, is the process by which a lower caste or tribe adopts the customs, rituals, beliefs and lifestyle of a higher, often twice-born, caste in order to claim a higher position in the caste hierarchy.

How did social reformers bring change in the nineteenth century?3 marks

Reformers used new means such as the printing press, newspapers, pamphlets and associations like the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj and Satyashodhak Samaj; they argued using modern reason and reinterpreted religious texts; and they pressed for laws, such as the abolition of sati (1829) and the Widow Remarriage Act (1856).

Explain the processes of Sanskritisation and westernisation with their criticisms.5 marks

M. N. Srinivas used two concepts to explain cultural change in India. Sanskritisation is the process by which a lower caste or tribe adopts the customs, rituals, beliefs, ideology and lifestyle of a higher caste, often the dominant caste of the region, such as giving up meat and liquor, adopting vegetarianism and performing Sanskritic rituals, in order to claim a higher status. It usually occurs when a group gains economic or political power. Critics point out that Sanskritisation involves upward mobility of some castes but does not change the hierarchy; it accepts the idea that higher castes are superior and lower castes inferior; it can increase discrimination against women, for example by adopting dowry and restrictions on women; and it legitimises exclusionary practices. Dalit movements have rejected it and asserted their own culture. Westernisation refers to changes in Indian society brought about by British rule, at the levels of technology, institutions, ideology and values. It includes adopting Western dress, food habits, education, language, legal ideas and lifestyle, and new values such as humanitarianism and rationalism. It first influenced the educated elite and spread to other groups. Critics say westernisation was uneven, often superficial, and that Indians did not simply imitate the West but adapted and combined Western elements with Indian culture.

Quick revision

Reform movements and their new means.
Abolition of sati 1829; Widow Remarriage Act 1856.
Sanskritisation and westernisation.
Modernisation and secularisation.

Exam tips

Link each reformer with one cause.
Remember that M. N. Srinivas gave the concepts of Sanskritisation and westernisation.

Practice MCQs

Raja Rammohun Roy campaigned against
1. widow remarriage
2. sati
3. modern education
4. printing
Show answer
Answer: (b) sati. Sati was abolished in 1829.
The concept of Sanskritisation was given by
1. G. S. Ghurye
2. Andre Beteille
3. M. N. Srinivas
4. A. R. Desai
Show answer
Answer: (c) M. N. Srinivas. He studied Rampura village.
The Hindu Widow Remarriage Act was passed in
1. 1829
2. 1856
3. 1872
4. 1929
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1856. Vidyasagar campaigned for it.
Jyotiba Phule founded the
1. Brahmo Samaj
2. Satyashodhak Samaj
3. Arya Samaj
4. Prarthana Samaj
Show answer
Answer: (b) Satyashodhak Samaj. It fought caste discrimination.
Changes brought by British rule in dress, food and education are called
1. Sanskritisation
2. westernisation
3. secularisation
4. tribalisation
Show answer
Answer: (b) westernisation. Srinivas used this term.
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan promoted
1. sati
2. caste rigidity
3. modern education among Muslims
4. child marriage
Show answer
Answer: (c) modern education among Muslims. He founded the Aligarh college.
Why does Sanskritisation not end caste inequality
1. it abolishes caste
2. it makes all castes equal
3. it changes the position of a caste but leaves the hierarchy itself intact
4. it is a legal process
Show answer
Answer: (c) it changes the position of a caste but leaves the hierarchy itself intact. Hierarchy remains.
Reformers often argued in two ways, namely
1. through violence and war
2. only through folk songs
3. only through foreign rule
4. through modern reason and by reinterpreting religious texts
Show answer
Answer: (d) through modern reason and by reinterpreting religious texts. They combined both.

All chapters of Class 12 Sociology

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.