RURAL SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION TO RURAL SOCIETY

• A Rural community is constituted of a homogenous group of people residing in a definite geographical area having low density of population, who lead a simple life, have primary relationships and oral tradition and share a common mode of consciousness, common economy, common way of living, dressing, food, habits, manners, etc. In rural societies, there is a very little scope for occupational mobility because agriculture is still the main occupation of the people.

FEATURES OF RURAL SOCIETY

• Small Size- The rural societies are smaller in area than the urban societies. As the rural societies are small in size hence, the population is also less.
• Social Homogeneity- Rural areas are homogenous in nature. There life is very simple and smooth. Most of their inhabitants are connected with agriculture and its allied occupations.
• Intimate Relations- In rural areas face to face relations are found. Since, the village is small in size, every person knows each other.
• Social Control- Village is an organized unit of an agrarian society. The life of people is dominated by traditional mores and informal social pressure. The mode of social control in rural society is informal in nature.

• Occupation- Agriculture is the primary occupation of the rural society and forms the major basis of rural economy. The inhabitants are mainly engaged in dairy framing and cultivation.
• Religion-The rural society is considered to be religious society. One of the significant features of the rural life is its domination by rituals. Religion accords legitimacy to the caste system.
• Joint Family- In the village, the family has strict control over the individuals. Generally the father is the head of the household known as Karta and representative of the family.
• Social Mobility- In rural area, mobility is extremely limited as all the occupations are based on caste. Shifting from one occupation to another is difficult as caste is determined by birth.
• Caste System- Indian village life is mixed up with the caste system. There is no village without the castes. Each village has several caste segments which have their own ties in some spheres.

• Status of Women- Women in the Indian rural context are very much dependent on their men folk. They are often engaged in indoor activities.
• Role of Neighbourhood- Neighbourhood refers to a community in miniature. In a village, neighbourhood is of great importance. They share the joys and sorrows together.
• Group Feelings- In the life of the villages group feeling occupies an important place. Individualism is almost absent in the villages. People are afraid of being publically criticized and condemned.

FAMILY SYSTEM OF RURAL SOCIETY

• The size of the joint family is big.
• It consists of people of at least three or more generations such as grandparents, parents and children.
• Members of the joint family normally resides together under the same household.
• They eat the food prepared jointly in the common kitchen.
• They hold common property and the head of the family manages the family property.

MARRIAGE SYSTEM OF RURAL SOCIETY

• Marriage is more than simply a legalised sexual union between a man and woman, it is socially acknowledged and approved relationship. In the rural society, a marriage is considered to be absolutely essential. It is not considered a union between two individuals, but a bond between two Families, kin-groups and communities. MONOGAMY is the most prevalent form of marriage of Hindus in rural society.

POLITICAL SYSTEM OF RURAL SOCIETY

• The organization, administration and all kinds of progress of the rural communities in India, is based on village panchayats. The village panchayats are the pillars that support the Indian rural social system. A panchayat is led by the headman who maintains peace and order in the village. It settles disputes among the villagers and look after other matters of common concern for the village populations.

THE GREEN REVOLUTION

• Green revolution in India was a period during which agriculture in India increased its yields due to improved agronomic technology. Its chiefly refers to the breakthrough accompanied by sudden increase in the yield per acre as a result of introducing high yielding varieties [HYV] of seeds and seedlings, increasing application of the recommended chemical fertiliser in the areas with assured water supply, adoption of mechanized farming and use of pesticides.

CONCLUSION

• We concentrated on the rural society. We have discussed the institutions of family, marriage , as well as, political system of rural community such as indebtedness and the adverse impact of the Green revolution. In the section on indebtedness, we discussed its causes. Further, the above noted changes clearly indicate that the Indian village community of today is not the same as it was in old times. A new pattern of life and social relationships has emerged in Rural society.