Sociology 4 Marks Question

Emancipation of women by the social reformers –

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy's campaign against sati, etc.
• Ranade's efforts for remarriage of widows.
• Jyotiba Phule attacked both caste and gender discrimination.
• Sir Syed Ahmed Khan wanted Muslim girls to be educated.
• Dayanand Saraswati stood for women's education.
• Tarabai Shinde through her writings attacked the double standards of male dominated society.
• Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain through her writing of Sultana's Dream.

1. The Chipko movement is a suitable of ecological or environmental movements. It is an appropriate example of intermingled interests and ideologies.
2. Ramchandra Guha says in his book unique woods that villagers came together to save the Oak and rhododendron forests near their villages. The government contractors came to fell the trees but the villagers having large number of woman, came forward to hug the trees to check their being felled.
3. For villagers, subsistence was the biggest question at stake: The villagers relied on the forest to get firewood, fodder and other daily requirements. It was a conflict between the livelihood needs of poor villagers and the government’s desire to make revenues from selling timber.
4. The Chipko Movement too raised the issue of ecological sustainability, feeling dawn natural forests was a farm of environmental destruction which had resulted in devastating floods and landslides in the area. Therefore, concerns about economy, ecology and political representation underlay the Chipko movement.

• Many of the tribal movements have been largely located in the so-called 'tribal belt' in middle India. Such as Santhals, Hos, Oraons, Mundas in Chota Nagpur and the Santhal Parganas.
• The social movements for Jharkhand had a charismatic leader in Birsa Munda who became an important icon of the movement.
• Literate Adivasis began to research and write about their history and myths. This helped create a unified ethnic consciousness and shared identity as Jharkhand.
• A middle-class Adivasi intellectual leadership emerged that formulated a demand for a separate state and lobbied for it.
• Within south Bihar, Adivasis shared a common hatred of dikus-migrant traders and money-lenders, alienation from land, loss of benefit from mining and industrial projects, experiences of marginalisation and their sense of injustice inspired collective action and eventually led to the formation of a separate state.
• The issues against which the leaders of the movement in Jharkhand agitated were acquisition of land for large irrigation projects and firing ranges, Survey and settlement operations which were held up, comps closed down, collection of loans, rent and cooperative dues which were resisted, nationalisation of forest produces which they boycotted.

The major issues taken up by the various reformers over the history are as follows:

1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy started anti sati campaign.
2. Ranade attempted for widow re-marriage movement.
3. Jyotiba Phule attacked on caste and gender oppression.
4. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan wanted girls to be educated but within their homes.
5. Dayanand Saraswati stood for women’s education.

Distinction between Old and New Social movements:Old Social movement:

• It functions within the frame of political parties.
• Role of political parties were central.
• Reorganisation of power relations.
• Restricted to certain regions/nations.

New Social movement:

• Were not about changing the distribution of power in society.
• Non-party political formations in order to put pressure on the state from outside.
• Quality of life issue such as having a clean environment.
• International in scope.

1. Certainly, new farmers’ movement can be seen as a part of the worldwide new social movements.
2. This movement started in 1970s in Panjab and Tamilnadu and were regionally organised.
3. These movements were non-party and participation was done by farmers rather than peasants.
4. The root of basic thinking of the movement was mainly anti-state and anti-urban. The main focus of demand were price and related issues. The novel methods that were used; blocking of roads and railways, denying politicians and officers entry to villages, etc.

1. Scholars and social reformers have shown that the inequalities between man and woman are social rather than natural. The women’s question became prominent during the 19th century. The reformed were inspired by the democratic ideals of the modern west.
2. The beginning to reform society, religion status of women was done by Raja Rammohan Roy in Bengal. He started the compaign against ‘Sati’ that was the first women’s issue to get public attention.
3. Jyotiba Phule was from a socially excluded Caste and he attacked both Caste and gender discrimination. He established the Satyashodak Samaj. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan made serious efforts to reform muslim society.
4. Tarabai Shinde, a Maharashtrian housewife, wrote ‘Stree Purush Tulana as a protest against the double standards of a male dominated society. The women’s issues emphatically surfaced in the 1970s. The burning issues were the rape of women in police custody, dowry murders and gender injustice, etc.

The new challenges have come in the form of social bias against the girl child sex ratio which is falling very sharp.

• Acquisition of land for large irrigation projects and firing ranges;
• Survey and settlement operations, which were held up, camps closed down, etc.
• Collections of loans, rent and cooperative dues; which were resisted.
• Nationalisation of forest produce which they boycotted.

• These movements were regionally organised, were non-party, and involved farmers rather than peasants.
• Began in 1970' in Punjab and Tamilnadu.
• The basic ideology of the movement was strongly anti-state and anti-urban.
• The focuses of demand were price and related issues example- Price, procurement, remuneration, prices for agricultural inputs, taxation nonpayment of loans, etc.
• Novel methods of agitation were used: Blocking of roads and railways, refusing politicians and bureaucrats entry in villages, etc.
• They broadened their agenda and ideology and include environment and women's issue.

• Counter movements sometimes arise in defence of status quo.
• When Raja Ram Mohan Roy campaigned against sati and formed the Brahmo Samaj, defenders of Sati formed Dharma Sabha.
• When reformers demanded education for girls, many protested that this would be disaster for Society.
• When Reformers campaigned for widow remarriage, they were socially boycotted.

In 1920 AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress) was formed in Bombay. It was a broad based organisation. It had diverse ideologies. The main ideological groups were the communists (S.A. Dange, M.N. Roy), moderates (M. Joshi, V.V. Giri) and nationalists (Lala Lajpat Rai, Jawahar Lal Nehru) too. Formation of AITUC made the colonial government more cautiousin dealing withlabour. By mid 1920's AITUC had 200 unions affiliated to it and its membership was around 2,50,000.

1. Over the decades there has been a great concern over the unchecked depletion of natural resources.
2. The impact of industrial pollution is yet another concern.
3. Chipko Movement- In the Himalayan foothills.
4. Villagers including women hugged the trees to prevent their being fell.
5. The economy of substance was pitted against the economy of profit.
6. Chipko movement also raised the issue of ecological sustainability.

1. Acquisition of land for large irrigation projects and firing ranges.
2. Survey and settlement operations.
3. Collection of loans, rent, and co-operative dues.
4. Nationalisation of forest produce.
5. Wanted a separate state for themselves- Political autonomy.
6. Revival of tribal customs and cultural practices.
7. Shared hatred towards “dikus”-migrant traders, outsiders.

Caste based social movements in India:

1. Against the dominance of upper castes.
2. Against the exploitation, discrimination and inhuman treatment.
3. Assertion of Dalit identity, common quest for equality and self dignity.
4. Any suitable movement can be taken as an example. (Satnami movement, Adi-dharma movement etc.)

The New farmer’s movement:

1. They were regionally organised were non-party and involved farmers rather than peasants.
2. The basic ideology of the movements was strongly anti-state and anti-urban.
3. Novel methods of agitation were used; blocking of roads and railways, refusing politicians and bureaucrats entries to villages and so on.
4. These movements have broadened their agenda and ideology and include environment and women’s issues.

Tribal Movement with special reference to Jharkhand:

1. Led by charismatic leader-Birsa Munda.
2. Literate Adivasis helped in unification and creating a shared identity.
3. Demanded separate statehood.
4. They were mainly against benefits being taken by non tribals. (dikkus)
5. Acquisition of land for large irrigation projects and firing ranges.
6. Survey and settlement operations, which were held up; camps closed down, etc.
7. Collection of loans, rent and cooperative dues which were resisted.
8. Nationalisation of forest produce which they boycotted.

Ecological Movement – Chipko Movement:

• Chipko Movement started in the Himalayan foothills; to stop exploitation/depletion of forests and consequent environmental degradation.
• Villagers rallied together to save the forests when contractors came to cut down the trees.
• Large number of women stepped forward to hug the trees to prevent their being felled as their source of subsistence was at stake. (They relied on the forests for firewood, fodder & daily necessities.)
• The movement focused on the economy, ecology, and political representation.

• In the mid 1970s there was a renewal of the women's movement In India.
• While many of the concerns remained same there were changes both in terms of or­ generational strategy as well as ideologies.
• There was growth in autonomous women's movements independent from political parties.
• Issues of violence against women, important legal changes. Land rights, employment, sexual harassment, dowry etc.
• There were new issues that were focused like violence against women.

• Social movements have shaped the world we live in and continue to do so.
• Social movements not only change societies. They also inspire other social movements.
• The Indian national movement shapes the making of the Indian Constitution. And how in turn the Indian Constitution played a major role in bringing about social be changes.
• The 19th century social reform movements, the struggles against caste and gender discrimination and the nationalist movement in India brought us independence to me from colonial rule in 1947.
• There were many nationalist movements around the world in Asia and Africa and Americas that put an end to colonial rule.
• The socialist movements world over, the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s that fought for equal rights for Blacks, the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa have all changed the world in fundamental ways.

• Different tribal groups spread across the country may share common issues. But the distinctions between them are equally significant.
• Jharkhand is one of the newly-formed states of India, carved out of south Bihar in the year 2000. Behind the formation of this state lies more than a century of resistance. The social movement for Jharkhand had a charismatic leader in Birsa Munda, an adivasi who led a major uprising against the British.
• Literate adivasis began to research and write about their history and myths. They documented and disseminated information about tribal customs and cultural practices. This helped create a unified ethnic consciousness and a shared identity as Jharkhandis.
• Adivasi experiences of marginalisation and their sense of injustice were mobilised to create a shared Jharkhandi identity and inspire collective action that eventually led to the formation of a separate state.
• The issues against which the leaders of the movement in Jharkand agitated were:

1. Acquisition of land for large irrigation projects and firing ranges;
2. Survey and settlement operations, which were held up, camps closed down, etc.
3. Collection of loans, rent and cooperative dues, which were resisted;
4. Nationalisation of forest produce which they boycotted

• The North East. The process of state formation initiated by the Indian government following the attainment of independence generated disquieting trends in all the major hill districts in the region. Conscious of their distinct identity and traditional autonomy the tribes were unsure of being incorporated within the administrative machinery of Assam.
• The rise of ethnicity in the region is thus a response to cope with the new situation which developed as a consequence of the tribe’s contact with a powerful alien system. Long isolated from the Indian mainstream the tribes were able to maintain their own worldview and social and cultural institutions with little external influence.
• While the earlier phase showed a tendency towards secessionism, this trend has been replaced by a search for autonomy within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
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• One of the key issues that bind tribal movements from different parts of the country is the alienation of tribals from forest lands. In this sense ecological issues are central to tribal movements just as cultural issues of identity and economic issues such as inequality are.

• Early 20th Century saw the growth of women's organisations such as 'Women’s India Association (WIA) (1917)' AII India Women's Conference (ARVC) (1926), 'National Council for Women in India (NEWI) (1925)'.
• While many of them began with a limited focus, their scope extended overtime. It is often assumed that only middle class educated women were involved in social movements.
• In the mid 1970s there was a renewal of the women’s movement in India. Some call it the second phase of the Indian women’s movement. While many of the concerns remained the same there were changes both in terms of organisational strategy as well as ideologies.
• There was the growth of what is termed as the autonomous women’s movements. The term ‘autonomy' referred to the fact that they were ‘autonomous' or independent from political parties as distinct from those women’s organisations that had links with political parties. It was felt that political parties tended to marginalise issues of women.
• There were new issues that were focused upon. For instance, violence against women. Over the years, important legal changes have taken place thanks to the campaign by the women’s movement. Issues of land rights, employment have been fought alongside rights against sexual harassment and dowry. There has also been greater recognition that both men and women are constrained by the dominant gender identities.

1. Peasant movements have taken place from pre-colonial days. The movement took place between 1858 and 1914 remained localised, disjointed and confined to particular grievances. The well known movement are:

• Bengal Revolt of 1859-62 against the indigo plantation system.
• Deccan Riots of l857 against money lenders.
• The Bardoli Satyagraha -1928 was a non tax campaign started by Gandhi.
• Champaran Satyagraha 1917-18. It was directed against indigo plantations.
• Tebhaga movement (1946-47)
• Telangana movement (1946-51)

2. New farmer's movement started in 1970s in Punjab and Tamil Nadu. Main Characteristics:

• Were regionally organised, non-party and involved farmers rather than peasants
• Basic ideology of the movement was anti-state and anti-urban
• The focus of demand were ‘price and related issues’ (for example price procurement, remunerative prices, prices for agricultural inputs, taxation, non-repayment of loans).
• Novel methods of agitation were used: blocking of roads and railways, refusing politicians and bureaucrats entry to villages, and so on.
• Broadened their agenda and ideology and include environment and women’s issues. Therefore, they can be seen as a part of the worldwide ‘new social movements’.

• Social movements cannot change society easily. Since it goes against both entrenched interests and values, there is bound to be opposition and resistance.
• But over a period changes do take place.
• Social movement activists hold meetings to mobilize people around the issues that concern them.
• Such movement activists hold meetings to mobilize people around the issues that concern them. Social movements also chart out campaigns that include lobbying with the government, media and other important makers of public opinion.
• Social movements also develop distinct modes of protest.

1. This could be candle and torch light processions, use of black cloth, street theatres, songs, poetry.
2. Gandhi adopted novel ways such as ahimsa, satyagraha and his use of the charkha in the freedom movement.
3. There were the innovative modes of protest such as picketing and the defying of the colonial ban on producing salt.

It is important to distinguish between social change in general and social movements.

• Social change is continuous and ongoing.
• The broad historical processes of social change are the sum total of countless individual and collective actions gathered across time and space.
• Social movements are directed towards some specific goals.
• It involves long and continuous social effort and action by people.
• We can view sanskritisation and westernization as social change and the 19th century social reformers' efforts to change society as social movements.