Get summary, textual answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF to NBSE Class 12 (Arts) Sociology Chapter/unit 9 Social Movements. However, the educational materials should only be used for reference and students are encouraged to make necessary changes.
Introduction
The chapter provides an in-depth exploration of various social movements in India, focusing on women’s movements, tribal movements, peasant movements, and reform movements.
Women’s movements are social movements that address issues concerning women, such as gender-based inequalities, violence against women, dowry deaths, rape, and domestic violence. The chapter discusses the emergence of autonomous women’s movements in India post the 1970s and the role of feminism in promoting women’s equality.
Tribal movements are social movements occurring within tribal communities, dealing with issues like tribal identity, autonomy, land problems, and deprivation. The chapter highlights significant tribal movements in India, such as the Santhal Uprising, Birsa Munda Movement, Jharkhand Movement, and the Naga Movement. Peasant movements are collective actions taken up by peasants to bring about change in their conditions, usually against exploitative and unjust conditions. The chapter discusses the complex nature of the agrarian structure in India and the different agrarian classes identified by Dhanagare.
Reform movements are movements that attempt to change conditions within an existing social system without changing the fundamental structure of society itself. The chapter discusses various reform movements in India, such as the Bhakti Movement, Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, and Arya Samaj, which aimed at removing undesirable social practices and brought about remarkable changes in the life of the people.
Textual questions and answers
Very short answer questions
1. Define social movement.
Answer: A social movement is a collective effort to bring about desired social change.
2. What is a reform movement?
Answer: A reform movement attempts to change conditions within an existing social system without changing the fundamental structure of society itself.
3. What is a tribal movement?
Answer: A tribal movement is a social movement occurring in a tribal community.
4. What is a peasant movement?
Answer: Peasant movements are collective actions taken up by the peasants to bring about a change in their conditions. They are usually movements against exploitative and unjust conditions.
5. What is a Dalit movement?
Answer: Dalit movements are social movements initiated by the Dalits to free themselves from oppression by the upper castes and to improve their condition.
9. In which year was Jharkhand state formed?
Answer: 2000
10. Which is the oldest and on-going tribal movement in the country?
Answer: The Naga Movement is one of the oldest of all present movements.
11. What are the three major agrarian classes according to Daniel Thorner?
Answer: According to Daniel Thorner, the agrarian class structure in India consisted of three major categories, namely, i) Maliks (owners), ii) Kisans (cultivators or peasants) and iii) Mazdoors (labourers).
12. What is meant by feminism?
Answer: Feminism is a complex set of political ideologies used to advance or promote the cause of women’s equality in a society with male dominance. In India, feminism is not merely an ideology but an approach to bring about social change in favour of women.
Short answer questions
1. What is a social movement?
Answer: A social movement is a collective effort to bring about desired social change. According to M.S.A. Rao, a social movement is a sustained collective mobilisation through informal or formal organisation and is generally oriented towards bringing about change in the existing system of relationships.
2. List the characteristics of social movements.
Answer: A social movement has the following characteristics:
- A social movement is collective mobilisation and not merely an individual effort. It is collective in nature.
- A social movement has an organisational structure and leadership. Organisation emerges when different persons or units are assigned various tasks. Leadership can be charismatic or decentralised and democratic.
- A social movement has an ideology and an identity. Ideology explains and justifies the purpose or goals or aims of the movement. Ideology is necessary to generate involvement and commitment. It also gives identity to a particular movement. A movement may have its own ideology or may adopt an existing ideology like Gandhism or Marxism.
- A social movement has an orientation towards social change. It wants to bring about social change or resist social change. It may want to bring about a partial change or a complete change.
3. How are social movements classified?
Answer: Social movements have been classified on the basis of numerous criteria. Some of the criteria are: a) the nature of change intended, b) organisational mode and strategy, c) nature of demands, d) groups and collectivities involved.
7. What is a reform movement? Give one example.
Answer: A reform movement attempts to change conditions within an existing social system without changing the fundamental structure of society itself. Reform movements in India were usually religious in nature and proposed a new world view. But they also had a social content and are aimed at removing undesirable social practices.
Eg., Bhakti Movement in medieval India insisted on love of God as the most important thing in religion. It also protested against ritualism and the caste system.
Essay Type Questions
1. What is social movement? Highlight the characteristics of social movement.
Answer: A social movement is a collective effort to bring about desired social change. According to M.S.A. Rao, a social movement is a sustained collective mobilisation through informal or formal organisation and is generally oriented towards bringing about change in the existing system of relationships. The characteristics of social movements include:
- A social movement is collective mobilisation and not merely an individual effort. It is collective in nature.
- A social movement has an organisational structure and leadership. Organisation emerges when different persons or units are assigned various tasks. Leadership can be charismatic or decentralised and democratic.
- A social movement has an ideology and an identity. Ideology explains and justifies the purpose or goals or aims of the movement. Ideology is necessary to generate involvement and commitment. It also gives identity to a particular movement. A movement may have its own ideology or may adopt an existing ideology like Gandhism or Marxism.
- A social movement has an orientation towards social change. It wants to bring about social change or resist social change. It may want to bring about a partial change or a complete change.
3. Define social movement according to M.S.A Rao. Explain any three types of social movement.
Answer: According to M.S.A. Rao, a social movement is a sustained collective mobilisation through informal or formal organisation and is generally oriented towards bringing about change in the existing system of relationships. He classified social movements into i) reformist movements, 11) transformatory movements and iii) revolutionary movements. This classification is based on the nature of change.
Three types of social movements are:
Reformist movements: These movements attempt to change conditions within an existing social system without changing the fundamental structure of society itself. They are usually religious in nature and propose a new world view. They also have a social content and aim at removing undesirable social practices. They have brought about remarkable changes in the life of the people. Examples include the Bhakti Movement in medieval India, Brahmo Samaj in Bengal, Prarthana Samaj in Maharashtra, and Arya Samaj in Punjab.
Tribal movements: A tribal movement is a social movement occurring in a tribal community. A tribe or tribal community has a distinct identity because it inhabits a definite territory, has a distinct language and culture, and has its own social organisation. There have been a large number of tribal movements in India. Even at present there are many tribal movements. These movements are concerned with different issues. Some of the issues are tribal identity and autonomy, problems of land and deprivation. Because the variety of issues involved tribal movements are referred to as ‘tribal uprisings’, ‘tribal insurrection’, ‘tribal revolts’, ‘ethnic movements’ ‘sub-national movements’ and so on.
Peasant Movements: Peasant movements are collective actions taken up by the peasants to bring about a change in their conditions. They are usually movements against exploitative and unjust conditions. Peasants are usually described as poor farmers who cultivate land of their own or rented from others, and depend on family labour for cultivation. But this description is not adequate because of the complex nature of the agrarian structure in India.
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) and Problem Solving Assessment (PSA)
1. Discuss the prominent movements in your society. Are they accelerating positive growth or de-accelerating growth in your society?
Answer: Naga Nationalist Movements: One of the most prominent movements in Nagaland has been the Naga nationalist movement, which has sought greater autonomy and recognition for the unique cultural identity of the Naga people. This movement has had both positive and negative impacts. On the positive side, it has helped to foster a strong sense of identity and unity among the Naga people. On the negative side, the conflict associated with this movement has sometimes led to violence and instability, which can hinder economic development and social progress.
Environmental Movements: Like many parts of the world, Nagaland has seen a growing awareness of environmental issues. Movements aimed at preserving the state’s rich biodiversity, promoting sustainable agriculture, and combating deforestation are increasingly important. These movements are generally seen as accelerating positive growth, as they aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of the state’s natural resources.
2. Deliberate on the changing trends of religious movements in India.
Answer: Rise of Interfaith Dialogue: There has been a growing emphasis on interfaith dialogue in India, with movements and organizations seeking to promote mutual understanding and respect among the country’s diverse religious communities. This is seen as a positive trend, helping to foster social harmony in a multi-religious society.
Increase in Religious Nationalism: There has also been a rise in religious nationalism, particularly associated with Hindu nationalism. This has led to increased tensions in some cases, particularly with minority religious communities.
Growth of Neo-Buddhist Movement: Another trend is the growth of the Neo-Buddhist movement, particularly among Dalits (formerly known as untouchables) who convert to Buddhism to escape caste discrimination.
Influence of Global Religious Movements: Global religious movements, such as the spread of evangelical Christianity and the influence of Islamic movements, have also had an impact on religious trends in India.
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