IGNOU MSO-004 Assignment Answers 2025: : Sociology in India Solved Part 5
Question 9: What is urbanisation? Discuss its role in transforming the urban areas in India.
Answer: Urbanisation is one of the most significant social processes of modern times, fundamentally transforming human societies across the world. In sociology, urbanisation refers to the process by which an increasing proportion of a population comes to live in urban areas—towns and cities—resulting in the growth of urban settlements and the expansion of urban lifestyles. It involves not only demographic shifts but also changes in social structure, culture, economy, and patterns of human interaction.
According to sociologist Kingsley Davis, urbanisation is the “process of population concentration” in urban areas, and it is a key indicator of social and economic development. However, sociologists emphasize that urbanisation is not merely about population growth, but about the transformation of social relationships—from traditional, community-based ties to modern, impersonal, and complex social networks typical of urban life.
In India, urbanisation has been a gradual but powerful force of social transformation, shaping cities, economies, and lifestyles in profound ways. The pace and pattern of urbanisation reflect broader changes in industrialization, migration, economic reforms, and globalization.
- Meaning and Characteristics of Urbanisation
From a sociological perspective, urbanisation is characterized by several features:
- Demographic concentration: Movement of people from rural to urban areas in search of employment and better living standards.
- Occupational transformation: Shift from agricultural to non-agricultural sectors such as industry, trade, and services.
- Social mobility: Increased opportunities for education, employment, and economic advancement.
- Cultural change: Rise of secularism, individualism, and a rational outlook.
- Change in social relations: From Gemeinschaft (community-based, as in villages) to Gesellschaft (association-based, as in cities), as described by sociologist Ferdinand Tönnies.
Urbanisation is thus a multidimensional process involving changes in demography, economy, social institutions, and culture.
- Historical Context of Urbanisation in India
Urbanisation in India has a long history, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro), which displayed advanced urban planning and social organization. However, the modern phase of urbanisation began under British colonial rule, which introduced railways, ports, and administrative centers. Cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai emerged as colonial hubs of trade and governance.
After independence, urbanisation in India accelerated due to industrialization and planned development policies. The Five-Year Plans, establishment of public sector industries, and creation of new towns like Bhilai, Rourkela, and Chandigarh** promoted urban growth.
Post-1991 economic liberalization further intensified urbanisation, as globalization led to the rise of IT hubs such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune, and stimulated migration from rural to urban areas for employment opportunities.
- Role of Urbanisation in Transforming Urban Areas in India
Urbanisation has played a crucial role in reshaping India’s social and economic landscape. It has transformed the physical, economic, and cultural dimensions of cities in multiple ways.
(a) Economic Transformation
Urbanisation has contributed significantly to India’s economic growth. Urban areas today generate over 60% of India’s GDP, despite accommodating less than half of its population. Cities have become centers of industry, trade, finance, and technology.
The growth of service sectors, information technology, banking, and real estate in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru has led to the emergence of a new middle class with aspirations for modern lifestyles. Urbanisation has thus facilitated economic modernization and industrial diversification.
(b) Social Transformation
Urbanisation has deeply influenced social structures and relationships. It has led to:
- Breakdown of traditional caste and kinship barriers, as people from different regions and backgrounds interact in urban workplaces and neighborhoods.
- Increased social mobility, especially for women and marginalized groups, through access to education and employment.
- Emergence of nuclear families and individualistic lifestyles, replacing joint family structures common in rural areas.
However, this transformation is uneven. While urbanisation promotes modernization, it also creates new forms of inequality and alienation—issues that sociologists like Herbert Marcuse and Manuel Castells have explored in their studies of urban life.
(c) Cultural Transformation
Cities serve as spaces of cultural pluralism and innovation. The coexistence of people from various linguistic, religious, and ethnic backgrounds creates a cosmopolitan culture. Media, art, cinema, and fashion industries thrive in urban areas, influencing rural lifestyles as well.
At the same time, urbanisation fosters secular and rational values, as people depend more on formal institutions (like schools, hospitals, and bureaucracies) than on traditional or religious authorities.
(d) Spatial and Environmental Transformation
Urbanisation has physically transformed India’s landscape. Expansion of metropolitan regions like Delhi NCR, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and Hyderabad has led to the creation of urban corridors and satellite towns. However, rapid and unplanned urban growth has also led to slum development, congestion, and environmental degradation.
The 2011 Census showed that about 31% of India’s population lived in urban areas, and this figure is expected to reach nearly 50% by 2050. The growth of slums, inadequate housing, and poor sanitation reflect the dual nature of Indian urbanisation—development for some, deprivation for many.
- Challenges of Urbanisation in India
While urbanisation has driven progress, it has also created serious sociological and structural challenges:
- Urban inequality and class divisions: The coexistence of luxury apartments and sprawling slums symbolizes urban dualism.
- Housing shortages: A significant section of the urban population lives in informal settlements.
- Unemployment and informal labor: Many migrants find only low-paying, insecure jobs.
- Environmental stress: Pollution, waste management issues, and depletion of green spaces threaten sustainability.
- Social disintegration: Rapid modernization can lead to alienation, loss of community ties, and rising crime rates.
These challenges highlight what sociologist Louis Wirth described as the “urban way of life,” characterized by impersonal relations, anonymity, and competition.
- Government Initiatives and the Future of Urbanisation
Recognizing both the potential and problems of urbanisation, the Indian government has launched several urban development programs, such as:
- Smart Cities Mission (2015) for improving infrastructure and sustainability.
- Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) to enhance basic services like water supply and sanitation.
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for affordable housing.
Sociologically, these programs aim to create inclusive, equitable, and sustainable cities, bridging the gap between economic growth and social welfare.
Conclusion
Urbanisation in India is not just a demographic or economic phenomenon—it is a transformative social process. It has reshaped traditional structures, created new social classes, and fostered modern values of equality, secularism, and individualism. Yet, it also presents deep challenges related to inequality, sustainability, and social disorganization.
From a sociological standpoint, urbanisation must be seen as a dialectical process—simultaneously producing progress and problems, inclusion and exclusion. The future of India’s urban areas depends on whether society can harness the positive potential of urbanisation—innovation, diversity, and modernity—while addressing its negative consequences such as poverty, marginalization, and environmental degradation. In doing so, India’s cities can truly become engines of social transformation and human development.
Question 10: What are the difference between old social movements and new social movements? Discuss with examples.
Answer: Social movements have always been vital instruments of social change and transformation. They represent collective efforts by groups of people who come together to challenge existing social structures, inequalities, or policies. In sociology, a social movement is understood as an organized collective action that seeks to promote or resist change in society’s norms, values, power relations, or institutions. Over time, the nature, goals, and strategies of social movements have evolved significantly. Sociologists often classify these into two broad categories — Old Social Movements (OSMs) and New Social Movements (NSMs) — each reflecting the changing dynamics of society.
- Old Social Movements (OSMs)
Old social movements primarily emerged during the industrial and modern era (18th to mid-20th century). They were deeply connected to the economic and political structures of industrial capitalism. The main concerns of these movements were economic inequality, class conflict, and political rights.
Characteristics of Old Social Movements:
- Class-based orientation:
OSMs were largely led by and focused on working-class struggles. The central theme was the exploitation of labor by capital.- Example: The trade union movement and labor strikes in Europe and India, which sought better wages, working conditions, and labor rights.
- Economic and political focus:
These movements were directed toward material goals such as redistribution of wealth, political representation, and ownership of resources.- Example: The Russian Revolution (1917) aimed to overthrow capitalist systems and establish socialism.
- Collective identity based on class:
People identified themselves primarily through economic positions — workers vs. owners, peasants vs. landlords. - Organizational structure:
OSMs had formal, centralized organizations such as political parties, trade unions, or peasant associations. - State-centric approach:
The movements viewed the state as the main agent of change, either as an adversary (to be overthrown) or as a tool (to be captured). - Ideological orientation:
They were grounded in Marxist or socialist ideologies, emphasizing collective ownership and equality. - Examples in India:
- Peasant movements like the Tebhaga Movement (1946–47) in Bengal and the Telangana Movement (1946–51).
- Trade union movements during the colonial and post-independence period demanding labor rights.
- The Indian National Movement, though political, also carried elements of old social movements as it aimed at political freedom and economic self-determination.
- New Social Movements (NSMs)
Emerging from the 1960s onwards, New Social Movements marked a significant shift in the nature and orientation of collective struggles. Sociologists like Alain Touraine, Jürgen Habermas, and Manuel Castells analyzed how these movements reflected the transformation of advanced capitalist and post-industrial societies.
Characteristics of New Social Movements:
- Identity-based struggles:
Unlike the class-centered old movements, NSMs focus on non-class identities such as gender, ethnicity, environment, sexuality, and culture. - Post-material concerns:
The emphasis is not just on economic redistribution but also on recognition, rights, and lifestyle choices — issues of quality of life, human rights, and ecological balance. - Decentralized and democratic organization:
These movements are loosely organized, often non-hierarchical and network-based, emphasizing participatory democracy rather than centralized leadership. - Autonomy from political parties:
NSMs usually maintain distance from political institutions, emphasizing grassroots activism and civil society engagement instead of direct state confrontation. - Cultural and symbolic dimensions:
They focus on changing values, attitudes, and social norms rather than seizing political power. - Global and local connections:
Many NSMs have transnational networks — such as environmental and human rights movements — that link activists across countries. - Examples Worldwide:
- The Civil Rights Movement in the USA (1950s–60s) demanding racial equality.
- The Women’s Liberation Movement advocating gender equality.
- The Environmental Movement (like Greenpeace) addressing climate and ecological issues.
- The LGBTQ+ Movement, focusing on sexual rights and identity recognition.
- Examples in India:
- Chipko Movement (1973): A grassroots environmental movement in Uttarakhand where villagers, especially women, hugged trees to prevent deforestation.
- Narmada Bachao Andolan (1985): Led by Medha Patkar, protesting large dam projects that displaced local communities.
- Women’s Movement: Campaigns against dowry, domestic violence, and for equal rights (e.g., the Self-Employed Women’s Association – SEWA).
- Dalit Movement: Focused on social justice, dignity, and annihilation of caste (inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar).
- LGBTQ+ Activism: Movements for gender and sexual identity rights, culminating in the decriminalization of Section 377 in 2018.
- Key Differences Between Old and New Social Movements
| Aspect | Old Social Movements (OSMs) | New Social Movements (NSMs) |
| Period | Industrial era (18th–20th century) | Post-industrial era (1960s onwards) |
| Main Focus | Economic and political issues (wages, class, power) | Cultural, social, and identity issues (gender, environment, rights) |
| Basis of Identity | Class-based (workers, peasants) | Non-class identities (women, minorities, environment) |
| Organization | Centralized and formal | Decentralized, informal, and network-based |
| Ideology | Marxist, socialist, nationalist | Post-materialist, humanist, feminist, ecological |
| Goal | Structural change through state power | Cultural and lifestyle change through social awareness |
| Examples (India) | Peasant and labor movements | Chipko, Narmada Bachao, Dalit, Women’s, and LGBTQ+ movements |
- Sociological Significance of the Shift
The rise of NSMs indicates a transformation in the nature of social conflict. While old movements were about “having more,” new movements are about “being more.” They focus on self-expression, dignity, and identity politics rather than mere redistribution of resources.
Sociologists argue that NSMs reflect a post-industrial society, where values of autonomy, participation, and human rights replace economic struggle as central themes. In India, this transformation mirrors a broader democratization of social life, where marginalized groups assert their voices beyond class lines.
Conclusion
The evolution from old to new social movements represents a profound shift in the sociology of collective action. Old movements sought to restructure economic and political institutions, while new movements aim to redefine social meanings, cultural practices, and individual identities. Both, however, are integral to understanding how societies change — one focusing on material transformation, the other on cultural emancipation.
In the Indian context, this transition reveals how democracy, globalization, and communication technologies have opened new spaces for activism. Whether it is the farmer’s demand for fair prices or the youth’s call for climate justice, social movements — old or new — continue to shape the evolving contours of Indian society.
Describe the socio-economic background of emergence of sociology.
Why did the major focus of sociologists and social-scientists became the village studies in India during the nineteen fifties? Discuss.
Describe the ‘Brahminical’ perspective on caste system in India.
Discuss the different views of Ambedkar and Lohia on Indian Society.
Describe the agrarian class structure in India with examples.
What are the village commons? Discuss its significance.
Discuss the debate between Verrier Ellowin and G.S. Ghurey regarding the tribes in India.
Discuss the different roles that religion plays in Indian society with suitable examples.
What is urbanisation? Discuss its role in transforming the urban areas in India.
What are the difference between old social movements and new social movements? Discuss with examples.
IGNOU MSO-004 Assignment Answers 2025: : Sociology in India Solved Part 5