Sunteți pe pagina 1din 24

Indian Society-Historical Evolution

Introduction A strange, rigid social structure is inflicting Indians and the Indian Society even today despite the start of a social revolution that was ignited by the British rule. The social evolution of India is following different paths in different regions of the country. The resistance to the change is also in operation.

The process of the social evolution of India can be engineered to achieve the much needed change by improving the socio political awareness of the people and by devising methods to break the rigid social system called caste system.

Marx saw Indian society as stagnant and predicted a social revolution due to the British rule that introduced European Science, Railways and Telegraph which improved the mobility of the masses and communication among them.

Dr. BR Ambedkar single handedly mobilized Dalit communities throughout India and led the social revolution that is an on going process even till today.

Stagnant Society

The observations [1857-1859] of Karl Marx on the Indian society are reproduced1 here: We must not forget that this undignified, stagnatory and vegetative life, that this passive sort of existence evoked on the other part, in contradiction, wild, aimless, unbound forces of destruction, and rendered murder itself a religious rite in Hindustan.

We must not forget that these little communities were contaminated by distinctions of caste and by slavery that they subjugated man to external circumstances instead of elevating man to be the sovereign of circumstances that they transformed a self developing social state into never changing natural destiny and brought about a brutalizing worship of nature, ."

"India is held in English thralldom by an Indian army maintained at the cost of India? India then could not escape the fate of being conquered and the whole of her past history, if it be any thing, is the history of the successive conquests she has undergone. Indian society has no history at all, at least no known history.

What we call its history is but the history of the successive intruders who founded their empires on the passive basis of that unresisting and unchanging society. Marx further observes a population of 200 million was thus kept in submission by a native army of 200000 officered by Englishmen and kept in check by an English force of 40000. Of the whole- a native Bengal army mustering about 80000 men, composed of about 28000 Rajputs, 23000 Brahmins, 13000 Mohammedans, 5000 Hindu inferior castes..

Marx predicted that electric telegraph, combination of railways and steam vessels, European science and English free trade will cause social revolution in India as they will disturb the village economy and improve communication among masses. Harris2 describes communication as the nervous system of a society.

Hindustan [India] is weakened by not only invasions but also by treason and conspiracy. Nanda kings [5th and 4th centuries BC] are from Sudra [Sishu Naga] community who were powerful enough to drive away Alexander the worst, the destroyer of the Taxila University. Chanakya [350BC-283 BC] who was displaced from Taxila University was given refuge by Dhana Nanda. But Chanakya got Dhana Nanda killed and destroyed Nanda dynasty with the help of Chandra Gupta Mourya .

Thus Mouryan dynasty was established. Chanakya authored his policy known as Chanakya Neeti. Here are two gems of his treatise: [1] Never leave the fire or the enemy un eliminated completely. [2] If you cant win the enemy, join them [which the Aryans mostly followed unless the enemy is too weak].

He authored a book named Arthashastra,which is an ancient hindu commentary on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy. His teachings are valid and relevant even today and taught as an curriculum in courses of Administrative services.

Arthashastra, the treatise on Economic Administration was written by Kautilya in the 4th century before Christ. It consists of 15 chapter, 380 Shlokas and 4968 Sutras. This is the first ever book written on Practice of Management. It is essentially on the art of governance and has an instructional tone.

Several concepts of present day management theories have been explicitly explained by Kautilya in his work. As in the present day management, the importance of vision, mission and motivation was captured in Arthashastra. Kautilya advise his King to rule through Prabhu Shakti (vision), Mantra Shakti (mission) and Utsah Sahkti (motivation).

Kautilyas concept of the objectives of a king seem to be virtually adopted by Peter Drucker in his book, Managing For Results. Drucker proposed Economic Performance as corporate objective.

Acquire power and Consolidate what has been acquired (Making present business effective)

Expand what has been acquired; and (Identify potential and realize it) Enjoy what has been acquired. (Making it a different business for a different future)

The third personality is Shankaracharya who is known for his Advita [non dualism] philosophy and the resurrection of Hinduism in India. He incorporated Buddhist practices for example,(vegetarianism)into Aryanism, attracting many Buddhists back to Aryanism and even abandoned original Vedic practice of animal sacrifice during Yagnya which changed the course of Indian history.

Karl Marx noted about the communities of India as, communities were contaminated by distinctions of caste and by slavery. In fact the caste system of India is much worst than slavery. The origin of this slavery is a hymn from Purusha Sukta [a chapter] of Rig Veda an Aryan scripture. It divides people into four main groups viz Brahman [the priests], Rajanya [the rulers], Vaishya [farmers or the traders] and the Sudras [the servants].

There is another fifth group called panchama [forest dwelling as well as the urban tribes today known as Dalits] who are untouchables and even useable. The Purusha Suktam of Rig Veda was fully elaborated by Manu in his Dharma [code or social procedures] called Manu Smriti according to which Sudras who constitute 80 percent of Hindus are banned from reading or hearing the recital of Vedas. Only Brahmins have the right to study and interpret Vedas. Aryans distinguish themselves by wearing a cotton thread called Janyu. Thus Aryanism kept 80 percent of Hindus as illiterate for thousands of years probably since the fall of Harappan Civilization around 2000 BC.

The early medieval period was a period of proliferation and fragmentation of varna system , numerous new tribes and castes were annexed to and incorporated within them. It is said that there may be 2000 castes that exist today. Aryans are a distinctly different group of Indians who 1 worship cow and use her products including urine and dung as food and medicine 2 are associated with horses in the past indulging in Yagnya practices such as Ashwamedha 3 are known fire worshipers through the ritual Yagya which used to be accompanied by the animal sacrifice, and the animal is replaced by lemon due to the influence of Buddhism. 4 preserved their belief system in their scriptures written in Sanskrit an Indo European Language 5 Aryans wear a cotton thread called Janyu to isolate themselves from other Hindus .

Social Revolution in India


The British rule of India indeed ignited the process of self development of Indian communities. Christian missionaries started schools and hospitals which did not show discrimination between Dalits, Sudras and Brahmins. The missionaries converted Dalit communities and others to Christianity. Dalits were admitted into the government/ missionary schools though there was discrimination shown by Hindu teachers. Many Dalit Christians took up higher positions in government jobs and educational institutions. However the progress of Dalit Christians is limited to the spread of Christianity.

British education also produced elegant Brahmin leaders like Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru who later became the Prime Minister of India. Nehru was a sympathizer of socialism and introduced mixed economy having both public and private sector industries. Mahatma Gandhi the leader of the freedom struggle, who is now known as the Father of the Indian Nation is a product of British education. Gandhi was thrown out of a first class rail way compartment by whites in South Africa just because he is dark skinned though he had a valid ticket. This incident must have given Gandhi enough wisdom to empathize with the problems of the Dalits. Dr. Bhima Rao Ambedkar a Dalit himself also had his higher education in London. He struggled to understand the origin and the problems related to caste. He authored several books to guide the Dalit movement in India. He fought for the rights of Dalits and was successful in introducing reservations for Dalits in politics, education and jobs proportionate to the population of the Dalits. The later governments were forced to introduce reservations to the Other Backward Castes [OBC] communities who are Sudras.

Dr. Ambedkar was invited by the Prime Minister Nehru to join his cabinet as Law Minister though Dr. Ambedkar was not a member of the Indian National Congress Party which led the freedom struggle. Dr. Ambedkar served as the Law Minister of India for a brief period. Dr. Ambedkar realized that leading the Dalit movement is more important than serving as law minister. While through these struggles Dr. Ambedkar realized that Aryans will never give an equal status to Dalits. Ambedkar then directed Dalits to convert to Buddhism. In one single day 400000 Dalits took Deeksha, the conversion. Today because of Ambedkar many Dalits and the OBC communities could break the shackles of caste slavery. This struggle is continuing.

In the state of Tamil Nadu political parties influenced by the Dravidian philosophy of Rama Swamy Naiker captured the political power. The leaders of the Dravidian movement are from Sudra communities. Today there are two Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu which are coming to power alternatively eliminating the National Parties. Dravidian movement is limited to Tamil Nadu only. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia through his socialist movement in North India developed the political leaders mainly from Sudra communities. Several of the followers of Lohia are national leaders in the contemporary India. BSP a party headed by Dalits is in power in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Strong communist movement in certain pockets of India also empowered Dalits but the impact is low.

S-ar putea să vă placă și