Page 5 - Lessonnote_ Cultural Change
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associations in which men live and work be based on choice not birth;
that mastery rather than fatalism orient their attitude toward the
material and human environment, that identity be chosen and
achieved, not ascribed and affirmed that work be separated from
family , residence and community in bureaucratic organisation
…(Rudolph and Rudolph, 1967)
➢ Achieved/Acquired status is more important than ascribed status.
➢ When people pick up work and communicate with people, they
associate with those who are, associated with their achieved status
(colleagues, boss etc) than with those from ascribed status.
➢ The attitudes of people towards the human environment and natural
environment has, changed for the better as the circumstances have
changed.
➢ We don’t associate nature with religion. We are actually concurred
with the environment.
➢ But In India often the job we do is not by choice.
➢ A scavenger does not choose his/her job.
➢ We often marry within a caste or community.
➢ Religious beliefs continue to dominate our lives.
➢ But at the same time we do have a scientific tradition. We also have
vibrant secular and democratic political system.
➢ At the same time we have caste and community based mobilisation.
Secularisation:
o Secularisation meant a process of decline in the influence of religion
o It has been an assumption of all theorists of modernisation that
modern societies become increasingly secular.
o A view that assured that modern ways would necessarily lead to
decline in religious ways has not been entirely true.
o How western and modern forms of communication, organisation and
ideas led to the emergence of new kinds of religious reform
organisations.
o A considered part of ritual in India has direct reference to the pursuit of
secular ends.
➢ Rituals have also secular dimensions as distincts from secular goals. They
provide men and women with occassions for socialising with their peers
and superiors and for showing off the family’s wealth, clothing and
jewellery.
