SOLUTIONS CLASS XII MID-TERM EXAMINATION SUBJECT: SOCIOLOGY SET B

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1 1 P age SOLUTIONS CLASS XII MID-TERM EXAMINATION SUBJECT: SOCIOLOGY SET B 1. Aggregate statistics offer a concrete and strong argument for the existence of social phenomenon. Explain the statement using an example. 2 Ans- Aggregate Statistics i.e. the numerical characteristics that refer to a large collectivity consisting of millions of people-offer a concrete and strong argument for the existence of Social phenomena. For example, even though country-level or state-level statistics of deaths per 1000 population or death rate are made up by aggregating individual deaths, the death rate itself is a social phenomena and must be explain at a social level. This is exactly what Durkheim has done in his study Suicide by collecting data about death rates across various countries. Durkheim argued that the rates of suicide (i.e. number of suicides per 100,000 population) had to be explained by social causes even though each particular instance of suicide may have involved reasons specific to that individual or his/her circumstances. 2. Emergence of demography can be attributed to two different processes that happened to take place roughly at the same time in Europe during the latter half of the 18 th century. Name these two processes. 2 Ans- 1. Formation of nation-states as the principle form of political organisation. 2. Beginning of modern science of statistics. 3. Point out one way in which caste has weakened in one sphere and remained strong in another. 2 Perhaps, the most eventful and important sphere of change has been that of politics. From its very beginnings in independent India, democratic politics has been deeply conditioned by caste. While its functioning has become more and more complex and hard to predict, it cannot be denied that caste remains central to electoral politics. Since the 1980s we have also seen the emergence of explicitly caste-based political parties. In the early general elections, it seemed as though caste solidarities were decisive in winning elections. But the situation soon got very complicated as parties competed with each other in utilising the same kind of caste calculus. Not surprisingly, it was in the cultural and domestic spheres that caste has proved strongest. Endogamy, or the practice of marrying within the caste, remained largely unaffected by modernisation and change. Even today, most marriages take place within caste boundaries, although there are more inter caste marriages. While some boundaries may have become more flexible or porous, the borders between groups of castes of similar socio-economic status are still heavily patrolled. For example, inter-caste marriages within the upper castes (eg., brahmin, bania,rajput) may be more likely now than before; but marriages between an upper caste and backward or scheduled caste person remain rare even today. Something similar may have occurred with regard to rules of food sharing.

2 (Any ONE point) Certainly for the third generations from the upper caste groups their economic and educational capital alone is quite sufficient to ensure that they will continue to get the best in terms of life chances. For this group, it now seems that caste plays no part in their public lives, being limited to the personal sphere of relgious practice or marriage and kinship. However, a further complication is introduced by the fact that this is a differentiated group. Although the privileged as a group are overwhelmingly upper caste, not all upper caste people are privileged, some being poor. 4. With the help of an example commodification. 2 Commofication or commoditization is the process by which something which was not a commodity is made into a commodity and becomes a part of the market economy. For instance, labour or skills become things that can be bought and sold. Human organs like kidneys have also become commodities. Earlier marriages were arranged by families, but now there are professional marriage bureaus and websites. There are many private institutes that offer courses in personality development, spoken English, that were earlier embedded in school education. Bottled drinking water is another example of commoditization. 5. Explain virtual market. 2 NASDAQ is the name of a major electronic stock exchange based in New York. It operates exclusively through computerize electronic communications. It allows stock brokers and investors from around the world to buy and sell shares in the companies it lists. These transactions are conducted in real time i.e., they take effect within seconds, and they involve no paper no paper documents or paper currency. The opening bell is a ceremonial event that representsthe essence of Nasdaq s virtual market model. Since Nasdaq s operations are entirelyelectronic, it can be opened from any location around the world, symbolically bringingtogether investors and market participants at the beginning of each trading day. 6. What are the two criteria used for defining the OBC? 2 The Constitution of India recognizes the possibility that there may be groups other than the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes who suffer from social disadvantages. These groupswhich need not be based on caste alone, but generally are identified by caste- were described as the socially and educationally backward classes. This is the constitutional basis of the popular term Other Backward Classes (OBCs) which is in common use today. They are neither part of the forward castes at the upper end of the status spectrum nor the Dalits at the lower end. Since caste has entered all major religions other than Hinduism there are also members who belong to the backward castes and share the same traditional occupational identification and similar or worse socio-economic status. 2 P age

3 7. Social inequality is based on three forms of capital. Name them. 2 The social resources can be divided into three forms of capital- economic capital in the form of material assets and income, cultural capital such as educational qualifications and status, and social capital in the form of networks of contacts and social associations. 8. Discuss the sociological sense of the term minority. 2 The notion of minority groups is widely used in sociology and is more than a merely numerical distinction-it usually involves some sense of relative disadvantage. The sociological sense of minority also implies that the members of the minority form a collectivity. They may have a strong sense of group solidarity, a feeling of togetherness and belonging. These heighten the feelings of intra-group loyalty and interests. 9. Describe the model of the South Asian colonial city. 2 The South Asian colonial city had European towns that comprised of spacious bungalows, elegant apartment houses, planned streets, trees on both sides of the street, clubs for afternoon and evening get togethers. The open space was reserved for Western recreational facilities such as race and golf courses, soccer and cricket. When domestic water supply, electric connections and sewage links were available or technically possible, the European towns utilised them fully, whereas their use was restricted to the native town. 10. What does the principle of nationalism assume? 2 The principle of nationalism assumes that any set of people have a right to be free and exercise sovereign power. 11. Elucidate on how urbanization and industrialization are linked processes. 2 Industrialization refers to the emergence of machine production based on the use of inanimate power resources. Hence in an industrial society a large majority of the employed population work in factories, offices or shops rather than agriculture. From the end of 19 th century with the installation of mechanized factory industries, some towns became much more populated. Hence people moved to these places where there were job opportunities. Industrialization and urbanization implies not just changes in production systems, technological innovations, density of settlements but also a way of life. 12. Analyse the relation between rituals and secular goals. 2 Secularisation has usually meant a process of decline in the influence of religion. With the advent of modernisation attitude have changed to religion and to the celebration of festivals. As a result of the mushrooming of urban areas and lifestyles, celebration of festivals and following rituals has become a necessary part of one s identity. Thus, the emphasis on rituals is to attain the secular goal of asserting one s cultural identity. Rituals also provide men and women with occasions for socialising with their peers and for showing family wealth. Thus, apart from one s identity, the status, political and economic dimensions of rituals has become increasingly important. 3 P age

4 13. What arguments were given by Dr. Ambedkar and by Mahatma Gandhi for constituting local governments? 2 When the constitution was being drafted, panchayats did not find a mention in it. This disappointed a number of members. Grassroot democracy would have ensured a functioning and vibrant democracy at the village or grass root level. Gandhiji also envisaged each village as a self-sufficient unit conducting its own affairs and saw gram-swarajya to be an ideal model to be continued after independence. Drawing on his own rural experience, Dr Ambedkar argued that local elites and upper castes were so well entrenced in society that local self government only meant a continuing exploitation of the downtrodden masses of Indian society. This model was ushered in 1992 by the 73 rd Constitutional Amendment. This act provided constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). It is compulsory for local selfgovernment bodies in rural and municipal areas to be elected every five years. 14. Constitution has the capacity to help people because it is based on basic norms of social justice. Explain how using an example. 2 Constitution has the capacity to help people because it is based on basic norms of social justice. It has the potential for the meaning of social justice to be extended. Social movements have also aided the Courts and authorities to interpret the contents of rights and principles in keeping with the contemporary understanding social justice. For instance, the Directive Principle on village panchayats was moved as an amendment in the Constituent Assembly. After forty years it became a Constitutional imperative after 73rd Amendment in Despite the decline in birth rate, the growth rate of India s population is increasing. Explain the reason. 4 Unlike the death rate, the birth rate has not registered a sharp fall. This isbecause the birth rate is a socio-cultural phenomenon that is relatively slow tochange. By and large, increased levels of prosperity exert a strong downwardpull on the birthrate. Once infant mortality rates decline, and there is an overallincrease in levels of education and awareness, family size begins to fall. Thereare very wide variations in the fertility rates across the states of India, as can beseen in Chart 2. Some states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have managed tobring down their total fertility rates (TFR) to 2.1 and 1.8 respectively. Thismeans that the average woman in Tamil Nadu produces only 2.1 children,which is the replacement level (required to replace herself and her spouse).kerala s TFR is actually below the replacement level, which means that thepopulation is going to decline in the future. Many other states (like HimachalPradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra) have fairly low TFRs. Butthere are some states, notably Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and UttarPradesh, which still have very high TFRs of 4 or more. These few states alreadyaccounted for almost 45% of the total population as of 2001, and they will alsoaccount for about half (50%) of the additions to the Indian population upto theyear Uttar Pradesh alone is expected to account for a little less than one-quarter (22%) of this increase. 4 P age

5 16. Using the isolation-integration debate, should caste be treated as fundamentally different from the caste peasant society or as a part of it? Justify the statement. 4 Isolation: The isolationist side argued that tribals needed protection from traders, moneylenders and Hindu and Christain missionaries, all of whom were intent on reducing tribals to detribalised landless labour. Integration- This side argued that tribes were essentially backward Hindus and their problems had to be addressed within the same framework as other backward classes. This led to debates and deliberations which resulted in various welfare schemes for the tribes such as tribal welfare blocks, five year plans, tribal sub-plans, tribal welfare blocks, special multipurpose area schemes. Thus, tribes needed to be looked at in the same framework as the Hindus. This is because there have been various instances where tribes, since times immemorial, have been in contact with the mainstream. -Gond kingdoms in central India such as that of Garha Mandia or Chanda. -Many of the Rajput kingdoms of central and western India emerged through a process of stratification among adivasi communities themselves. -Adivasis often exercised dominance over the plains people through their capacity to raid them and through their services as local militias. -They also occupied a special trade niche, trading forest produce, salts and elephants. -The capitalist economy s drive to exploit forest resources and minerals and to recruit cheap labour has brought tribal societies in contact with mainstream society a long time ago. But integration in this manner neglects the desires and wishes of the tribes and puts the agenda of development ahead of their needs. Thus, this kind of integration happens at the cost of the interest of the tribes. 17. Examine the ways that strengthened the institution of caste in India under colonial rule. 4 As a result of 1901 Herbert Risley conducted Census on the social hierarchy of caste, there was a huge impact on the perceptions of caste and hundreds of petitions were addressed by representatives of different caste claiming a higher position in the social scale. This changed the institution of caste itself because before this caste identities had been much more fluid and less rigid. The land revenue settlements and related arrangements and laws served to give legal recognition to the customary rights of the upper castes. These castes now became land owners in modern sense rather than feudal classes with claims on the produce of the land or claims on the revenue or tribute of various kinds. There was also a caste dimension when efforts were made to settle large population in the Punjab due to the introduction of large scale irrigation schemes. Towards the end of the colonial rule, the administration took interest in the welfare of the downtrodden depressed castes. Hence the Government of India Act 1935 was passed to give legal recognition to the lists or schedules of castes and tribes marked out for special treatment by the state. This is how the terms Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes came into being. 5 P age

6 18. Discuss the ways in which caste and kin networks contribute to the success of a business. 4 Pre-colonial India had well organized manufacturing centres as well as indigenous merchant groups, trading networks and banking systems that enabled trade to take place within India and between India and the rest of the world. The traditional trading communities or castes had their own systems of banking and credit. For instance an important instrument of exchange and credit was the hundi, or bill of exchange, which is like a credit note, which allowed merchants to engage in long distance trade. Because trade took place primarily within the caste and kinship networks of these communities, a merchant in one part of the country could issue a hundi that would be honoured by a merchant in another place. The Nattukottai Chettiars of Tamil Nadu provide an interesting illustration of trading networks. The banking and trading activities were deeply embedded in the social organization of the community. The structures of caste, kinship and family were oriented towards commercial activity and business activity was carried out within these social structures. The banks were joint family firms and trading and banking activities were organized through caste and kinship relationships. This kind of represented a kind of indigenous capitalism. 19. Would it be appropriate to say that democratic values and institutions are purely western? Comment in the context of the values of Indian democracy. 4 Democratic traditions, values and institutions are not purely western. Our ancient epics, our diverse folk tales from one corner of the country to another are full of dialogues, discussions and contrasting positions. The dialogue in Mahabharata between Bhrigu and Bharadvaja relating to caste division talks about how all humans get affected by emotions of the likes of sorrow, fear, anger and still divide ourselves on the basis of caste. Thus, social change in modern India is not just about Indian or Western ideas. It is a combination as well as reinterpretation of western and Indian ideas. We have seen the use of both modern ideas of equality and traditional ideas of justice. In colonial India the undemocratic and discriminatory administrative practice of British colonialism contrasted sharply with the vision of freedom which western theories espoused and which the western educated Indians read about. Thus, the scale of poverty and intensity of social discrimination led to deeper questioning of what is democracy. 20. In what ways has colonialism brought about a social, economic and political influence on the Indian society to promote urbanization? 4 Urbanisation in the colonial period saw the decline of some earlier urban centres and the emergence of new colonial cities. Kolkata was one of the first of such cities. In 1690, an English merchant named Job Charnock arranged to lease three villages (named Kolikata, Gobindapur, and Sutanuti) by the river Hugli in order to set up a trading post. In 1698, Fort William was established by the river for defensive purposes, and a large open area was cleared around the fort for military engagements. The fort and the open area (called Maidan) formed the core of the city that emerged rather rapidly. British colonialism which was based on a capitalist system directly interfered to ensure greatest profit and benefit to British capitalism. Every policy was geared towards the strengthening and expansion of British capitalism. 6 P age

7 Colonialism also led to considerable movement of people from one part to another within India. For instance, people from present day Jharkhand moved to work in tea plantations in Assam. The newly emerging middle class moved as government employees and professionals between the Presidencies. People were carted in ships from India to work on other colonized lands in distant Asia, Africa and Americas. To facilitate the smooth functioning of its rule, colonialism introduced a wide array of changes in every sphere be it legal, cultural or architectural. Some of these changes were deliberate while some took place in an unintended fashion. For example we saw how western education was introduced to create Indians who would manage British colonialism. Instead it led to the growth of a nationalist and anti-colonial consciousness. 21. Define westernization. What was its impact? M.N. Srinivas defines westernisation as the changes brought about in Indian society and culture as a result of over 150 years of British rule, the term subsuming changes occurring at different levels technology, institutions, ideology and values. There were different kinds of westernisation. One kind refers to the emergence of a westernised sub-cultural pattern through a minority section of Indians who first came in contact with Western culture. This included the sub culture of Indian intellectuals who not only adopted many cognitive patterns, or ways of thinking, and styles of life, but supported its expansion. Many of the early 19th century reformers were of this kind. Second, there has been also the general spread of Western cultural traits, such as the use of new technology, dress, food, and changes in the habits and styles of people in general. Across the country a very wide section of middle class homes have a television set, a fridge, some kind of sofa set, a dining table and chair in the living room. Apart from ways of life and thinking the west influenced Indian art and literature. Artists like Ravi Varma, Abanindranath Tagore, Chandu Menon and Bankimchandra Chattopadhya were all grappling with the colonial encounter. In the contemporary context often conflicts between generations are seen as cultural conflicts resulting from westernization. Likewise, Western education often implied opening up to new opportunities for different groups of people, giving way to cosmopolitan way of life. A new form of westernisation in the contemporary period like Americanization is increasing becoming popular. For example there is a preference for American English than British English. 22. Elucidate on the three key principles of social stratification with examples. 6 Social stratification refers to a system by which categories of people in a society are ranked in a hierarchy. This hierarchy then shapes people s identity and experiences, their relations with others as well as their access to resources and opportunities. They key principles of social stratification are: 7 P age

8 First, social stratification is a characteristic of society not simply a function of individual differences. Social stratification is a society-wide system that unequally distributes social resources among categories of people. For instance, in a primitive simple society only a rudimentary form of social stratification could exist whereas in a modern complex society, social resources are unequally distributed to various social categories regardless of people s innate individual abilities. Second, social stratification persists over generations. It is closely linked to the family and to the inheritance of social resources from one generation to the next. A Dalit is likely to be confined to traditional occupations such as agricultural labour, scavenging or leather work. A person s social position is ascribed. The ascribed aspect of social inequality is reinforced by the practice of endogamy. Third, social stratification is supported by patterns of belief or ideology. No system of social stratification is likely to persist over generations unless it is widely viewed as being as either fair or inevitable. Typically, people with the greatest social privileges express the strongest support for systems of stratification such as caste and race. Those who have experienced the exploitation and humiliation of being at the bottom of the hierarchy are most likely to challenge it. 23. Comment on the relevance of civil society organizations today. 6 Civil society is the name given to the broad arena which lies beyond the private domain of the family but outside the domain of both state and market. It is that part of the public domain in which individuals get together voluntarily to create institutions and organizations. It is the sphere of active citizenship. Individuals take up social issues, try to influence the state or make demands on it, pursue their collective interests or seek support for a variety of causes. It includes political parties, media institutions, trade unions, non-governmental organizations, religious organizations and other collective entities. For example, Doordarshan is not part of civil society though private television channels are and a car manufacturing company is not part of civil society but the trade unions to which its workers belong are. Likewise, a newspaper may be run like a purely commercial enterprise or an NGO may be supported by government funds. Today the activities of civil society organizations have a wider range, including advocacy and lobbying activity with national and international agencies as well as active participation in various movements. The issues taken up are diverse, ranging from tribal struggles for land rights, devolution in urban governance, campaigns against rape and violence women, rehabilitation of those displaced by dams and other developmental projects, rehabilitation of hawkers and pavement dwellers, campaign against slum demolitions and for housing rights, primary education reform. Civil liberties organizations have been particularly important in keeping a watch on the state and forcing it to obey law. The media, too has taken an increasingly active role specially its emergent visual and electronic segments. Among the most significant initiatives is the campaign for the Right to Information. Beginning with an agitation in rural Rajasthan for the release of information on government funds spent on village development, this effort grew into a nationwide campaign. Despite the resistance of the bureaucracy the government was forced to respond to the campaign and pass a new law acknowledging the citizens right to information. 8 P age

9 24. Discuss the three aspects to the modern framework of change in colonial India as propounded by Satish Saberwal. 6 New modes of communication speeded up by new technologies like the printing press, telegraph, the microphone, steam ship and railways. Various nationalist leaders moved from one part of the country to other and exchanged ideas. Christian missionaries reached remote corners of present day Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya. Modern social organizations like the Brahmo Samajin Bengal and Arya Samaj in Punjab were set up. The All India Muslim Ladies Conference (Anjuman-E-Khawatn-E-Islam) was founded in Indian reformers also used the public media like newspapers and journals to express and exchange ideas. Literary works were translated to other Indian languages. New ideas of liberalism and freedom, new ideas of homemaking and marriage, new roles for mothers and daughters, new ideas of self conscious pride in culture and tradition emerged. The value of education became important. The importance of women education was debated with the help of recourse of both modern and traditional ideas. The meaning of tradition and modernity was actively debated. Hence this marked a period of questioning, reinterpretations and both intellectual and social growth. 25. a. Name such a council formed by the Khasi tribe. 2 Durbar Kur b. Discuss the relevance of such a council with reference to the above paragraph. 4 Many tribal areas have had a rich tradition of grassroot democratic functioning. In Meghalaya, all the three major ethnic tribal groups namely, the Khasis, Jaintias and the Garos have their own traditional political institutions that have existed for hundred of years. These institutions were fairly well developed and functioned at various tiers, such as the village level, clan level and state level. For instance, in the traditional political system of the Khasis each clan had its own council known as the Durbar Kur which was presided over by the clan headman. Though there is a long tradition of grassroot political institutions in Meghalaya, a large chunk of tribal areas lie outside the provisions of the 73 rd Amendment. 9 P age