Page 2 - Lessonnote_ Cultural Change

Modern Framework of Change in Colonial India

According to Sociologist Satish Saberwal elaborated three aspects to the
modern framework of change in colonial India
1) Modes of Communication-

New technologies speeded up various forms of communication.
E.g- Printing press, telegraph, microphone , movement of people
through steamship and railways helped quick movement of new ideas.
2) Forms of Organisation-

Modern Social organisation like Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj debated,
discussed held meetings, translations of religious writings were done.
3) Nature of new Ideas- Ideas of liberalism and freedom e.g – ideas of

home making , marriage, new roles for mothers and daughters, new
ideas of self- conscious pride in Culture and tradition emerged.
Sanskritisation:

M.N Srinivas explained the concept of Sanskritisation in his book
‘Religion and Society among the Coorgs of South India’ to describe the

cultural mobility in the traditional caste structure of Indian society.
Sanskritisation is defined as the process by which a ‘low caste’ or tribe or
other group takes over the customs, rituals, beliefs, ideology and style of
life of a high and in particular, a twice- born (dwija) caste. – Social

change in Modern India
Impact of Sanskritisation

➢ Its influence can be seen in language literature, ideology, music, dance,
drama, style of life and ritual.
➢ It is primarily a process that takes place within the Hindu space.

➢ In those regions where a highly sanskritised caste was dominant, the
culture of the entire region underwent a certain amount of
sanskritisation.

➢ In regions where the non-sanskritic castes were dominant . It was their
influence that was stronger. This can be termed the process of De-
Sanskritisation.
➢ Srinivas argued that ‘Sanskritisation of a group has usually the effect of

improving its position in the local caste hierarchy.’
➢ It normally presupposes either an improvement in the economic or
political position of the group concerned or a higher group self-

consciousness resulting from its contact with a source of the ‘Great