Indian Communities- Rural and Urban communities

Social structures and problems, cultural heritage, rituals and community gatherings, etc.

Indian Community
Rural community : Rural community is one which consists of relatively small size of population, follows agriculture and allied activities as a major occupation and possesses primary relationships. Primary relationships are intimate, personal and face-to-face relationships Urban community is one which consists of relatively large size of population, following non-agricultural occupations and possessing secondary relationships. Secondary relationships are non-intimate, impersonal and indirect relationships.

Characteristics of Indian Rural Community:

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Predominance of agriculture Predominance of primary relationships Predominance of caste system A strong sense of neighbourhood Simple and homogeneous life Lack of intense social mobility Informal social control Conservatism Mass illiteracy Joint family

Features of urban society

The urban society is heterogeneous known for its diversity and complexity. It is dominated by secondary relations. Formal means of social control such as law, legislation, police, and court are needed in addition to the informal means for regulating the behavior of the people. The urban society is mobile and open. It provides more chances for social mobility. The status is achieved than ascribed. Occupations are more specialized. There is widespread division of labor and specialization opportunities for pursuing occupations are numerous. Family is said to be unstable. More than the family individual is given importance. Joint families are comparatively less in number. People are more class -conscious and progressive .They welcome changes. They are exposed to the modern developments in the fields of science and technology. Urban community is a complex multigroup society. The urban community replaced consensus by dis-sensus.The social organization is atomistic and ill defined. It is characterized by disorganization, mental illness and anomie. Mass education is widespread in the city increasing democratization of the organizations and institutions demand formal education.

Differentiation Rural and Urban communities

The urban world differs from the rural world by the following Characteristics : 1. Occupation: Agriculture and allied activities are pursued as a major source of livelihood in rural community while in urban community nonagricultural activities are pursued as a major source of livelihood. 2. Environment: The dependency of rural people is more upon the nature than that of the urban people. 3. Size of community: . The size of population in rural community is limited while in urban community size of population is relatively large. 4. Relationship nature: Rural relationships are predominantly primary in nature while urban relationships are secondary. 5. Heterogeneity: Rural community involves simple and homogeneous life whereas urban community involves complex and heterogeneous life. 6. Social differentiation and stratification: Caste based social stratification prevails in rural community while in urban community class based social stratification operates significantly.

Mobility : There is lack of intense social mobility in rural community. But in urban community intense social mobility is very much seen. 8. Social control: In rural community informal social control is operating significantly in defining and regulating actions of people whereas in urban community formal social control is operating predominantly. 9. Rural people are conservatives while urban people are innovators. 10. Family: Joint family has been traditionally a predominant form in rural community while in urban community nuclear family is predominant. 11. Standard of living : The incomes of rural people are generally low and thus their standard of living is also low, while the incomes of urban people are relatively higher and thus they have better standard of living. 12. Education: Incidence of illiteracy is higher in rural community while literacy rate is higher in urban community.
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Cultural values in rural and urban areas

Cities activism / challenge , carrier oriented action, individualism / self , exposure to media opens up the rest of the world Rural areas - fatalism / acceptance , Home centered action , particularism/ family , few contacts with the outside

Social consequences of industrialization Industrialization Split the society into two major groups- The workers and the capitalists general Standards of living improved from social and economic points of view. More He interest in education arts and his science Political Awakening- Society democratized growth of Capitalism increased Production Growth In trade economic crises un employment Class conflict Decline of rural industry.

Rural and Urban Problems in India

Characteristics of Rural social Problems (a) People are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture and a large number of landowners have small and medium-sized landholdings. (b) The upper caste people still hold large lands while people of the lower castes own either marginal land or work as landless labourers. (c) Rural people are scattered in comparison to the urban people. (d) Not only the norms and values but the practices of the rural people too continue to be traditional. (e) The price the farmers get for their produces is less in relation to the work they put in.

Urban social problems

Slums, unemployment, crimes, delinquencies, begging, corruption, drug abuse, environmental degradation, riots, communal conflicts and agitations

Disadvantage of urban society

Norms and values take backseat. Turns human beings into alienated beings. Social distance between the people within a society and diminishing impact on the primary relations. Increase in problem of unemployment. Increasing gap between rich and poor will lead to social inequalities. Will affect the relations of people within the society.

Influence of urbanization on society

The change in social life The relationship between caste and profession, with people adopting new professions according to interest and profit Changes in family organization In the rural context, families are well organized; the elders exercise significant controlled on the conduct lifestyle and marital Options of the younger Members in the joint family set up. In the urban context the system off giant family is showing the sting signs off disintegration. Youngsters treat elders as conservative and Dole not tolerate Control. Traditional occupations like blacksmithy, Goldsmithy, pottery, weaving are Now defunct Influence of media : newspapers, tv, and internet Changes in lifestyle Food habits , dress , recreation. The social stratification- four major differences between rural and urban social pyramidsNumber of classes less in rural society ; extremists of the pyramid are not so far apart.; rural society comprices mainly middle classes, the city is the home of millionaires and paupers. Social mobility is more. occupational mobility is more rural society Based on solidarity due to similarity , informal non contractual relationships. Urban society Has Low Solidarity based on differences and dis similarities that arise from division of labor and work specialization, greater anonymity.

Spatial growth does not take place on its own. It happens by the growth of the population in the city . Increase in urban population is mainly due to immigrants as there is an assured income provided by the administrative industrial and other opportunities for employment

Urban ecology A city is a multi functional settlement A result Of social forces And processes Ecological processes Concentration people and functions congregate for advantage Centralization- Concentration of similar functions for example wholesale , industry , etc. Decentralization & Segregation isolation of specific functions Invasion Expansion of particular functions into neighboring areas Succession The establishment of the function That has encroached upon the neighboring zone permanently-Growth of the zone in transition .

Society in transition

PRIMITIVE SOCIETY DEVELOPED SOCIETY PREDOMINANT

COMMUNAL OWNERSHIP PRIVATE OWNERSHIP IS

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STAGES IN DEVELOPMENTLittle social differentiation, little inequality, ( community resources owned in common) Inequalities appear as wealth increases & ownership escapes community control Conscious attempts to diminish inequality and restore community control of key resources Unequal distribution of wealth is the cause of conflict

Trade and commerce serve two types of functions : To supply the requirements of the local population The Cater to the needs of the hinterland These functions lead to the growth of the city

Characteristics of the City :

absence of community feeling Decline in The increase in crime Feeling of society no spirit of tolerance Social control lack of social security Family control Gross disparities Influence of religion Break down off cultural Barriers Institution of manage Impersonal social relations Change in gender equations Dynamic life Shortage of housing Stimulating atmosphere Growth of slums