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Question
What are the specificities of Indian culture and society, and how do they affect the pattern of change?
Solution
Indian culture and society are not individualistic like western society. The behaviour of an Indian individual is fixed by his socio-cultural group. Hence, the Indian social system is oriented towards groups, unlike the western societies where people are highly individualistic. The actions of individuals in Indian society are mostly involuntary. The traditions are strongly rooted in the past.
Thus, there are fewer changes in Indian societies, as the pattern of desires of an individual is mostly governed by the societal traditions and norms. Changes occur more in adaptive form than any basic form. The role of the economy as an internal source of change is diluted in Indian society. Conflict due to caste system causes adaptive changes without overriding the institution of caste.
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