Modernization of Indian Tradition (Yogendra Singh)
Urbanization, Industrialization and Modernization
The relationship between urbanization, industrialization, and cultural modernization in India is complex and cannot be understood through simple dichotomies often emphasized in classical sociological literature. While theories such as those of Tönnies (Gemeinschaft vs. Gesellschaft), Durkheim (mechanical vs. organic solidarity), and Weber (sacred vs. secular) assume a linear progression from traditional to modern, the Indian experience challenges these assumptions due to its unique historical and cultural context.
Key Observations on Urbanization and Cultural Modernization in India:
Traditional Urban Culture in India:
Urbanization in India has deep historical roots, evident in cities that were structured hierarchically according to caste and social rank, such as those outlined in ancient Hindu texts.
Traditional cities were centres of caste-based organization, with rigid spatial segregation reflecting the social hierarchy.
Urbanization in the pre-industrial era reinforced traditional cultural patterns rather than modernizing them.
Urbanization and Modernization:
Modern urbanization in India does not exhibit a clear break from traditional structures. Many cities maintain caste-based neighbourhoods and kinship ties, which resemble rural village organization.
Studies (e.g., by Milton Singer and G.R. Gadgil) highlight the resilience of traditional culture in urban settings, where modern technologies like media are employed to perpetuate age-old practices.
Urbanization Without Breakdown of Tradition:
Indian cities often show continuity between rural and urban cultures, with rural migrants maintaining kinship ties and family-centric migration patterns. Lambert's term, "family-centered associational migration," captures this phenomenon.
Urbanization in India often involves the blending of traditional and modern cultural elements, creating syncretic subcultures rather than a complete transition to "modernity."
Cultural Diffusion:
Urbanization fosters cultural diffusion, as urban elites introduce modern values and practices into rural areas. Urban returnees often bring back elements of modernity, blending them with traditional lifestyles.
Industrialization and Modernization:
Industrialization has been slower in India compared to other nations due to factors like colonial legacies, demographic pressures, and social structures.
Despite this, it has contributed to material and cultural modernization through monetization of relationships, increased factory employment, and the spread of mass media.
However, industrialization often reinforces traditional values and hierarchies rather than displacing them completely.
Regional Variations:
Acceptance of modernization varies across regions, influenced by local structural and institutional factors rather than uniform cultural values like Hinduism. For instance, agricultural innovations are adopted in some areas but not in others.
Challenges to Classical Models:
The persistence of traditional values in Indian urbanization contradicts the classical sociological models of modernization, which often assume a linear and inevitable progression toward secular and rational norms.
Cultural modernization in India is incremental, involving compromises between traditional practices and modern demands.
Unique Features of Indian Urbanization:
Kingsley Davis and others note that India's urbanization rate is slower than in Western nations but still significant, with urbanization increasing steadily since the late 19th century.
Unlike in the West, urbanization in India is not synonymous with industrialization, as many urban residents continue to work in primary sectors.
Conclusion:
Urbanization and industrialization in India contribute to modernization but not in the linear, universal sense assumed by classical theories. Instead, they lead to a nuanced interplay of tradition and modernity, fostering hybrid cultural forms. This process, marked by regional diversity, reinforces the need for a contextual and empirical approach to studying cultural change in Indian society.