The statement ”The changes brought about in Indian society and culture as a result of over 150 years of British Rule, the term subsuming changes occurring at different levels...technology, institutions, ideology and values” refers to the process of ________.
Correct Answer :
Westernisation
Solution :
The correct option is Westernisation.
Step-by-Step Explanation:
1. Understanding the definition:
The definition given in the question is a well-known sociological definition formulated by the eminent Indian sociologist M.N. Srinivas. He defined "Westernisation" as the changes brought about in Indian society and culture as a result of over 150 years of British rule, subsuming changes occurring at different levels—technology, institutions, ideology, and values.
2. Analyzing the choices:
- Sanskritisation: This refers to a process where low caste or tribal groups change their customs, ritual, ideology, and way of life in the direction of a high, and frequently, "twice-born" caste. It is an endogenous process of cultural change within the Hindu social structure.
- Colonisation: This refers to the establishment of rule by one country over another, leading to political, economic, and social dominance. While British rule was a form of colonisation, the specific multi-dimensional cultural and social change described in the quote is conceptualized as Westernisation.
- Westernisation: This is the correct term for the adoption of Western (specifically British, in the Indian context) technology, values, institutions, and ideology during and after the colonial period.
- Secularisation: This refers to the process where religion loses its social and cultural significance, which is only one aspect of the broader changes brought by Westernisation.
Therefore, the quoted statement directly defines the process of Westernisation.
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