Table of Contents

Elaborate the salient features and the role of the middle class in India’s democracy and development.

Section: A.
Sociology Paper 2023 Analysis.
Paper 2: Unit-12 Social Structure; Social classes in India.

Question: 2 (b) Elaborate the salient features and the role of the middle class in India’s democracy and development.

(20 Marks)

Introduction: Brief About the Rise of Middle Class.

Main Body: Salient Features of Middle Class in Terms of Various Phases of Evolution, Role of Middle Class in India’s Democracy and Development, Alternate View About Middle Class.

Conclusion: Balanced Viewpoint About Middle Class.

Introduction:

Middle class can be defined as a social group which has a stable source of income, well educated, upwardly mobile and distinct from lower and upper class.
The advent of the British in India and their policies led to the emergence of middle class. This transformation was marked by the introduction of various elements, including railways, administrative institutions, the press, and postal departments etc. In addition to this new class encompassed independent professionals such as lawyers, doctors, teachers, and journalists.

Main body:

Salient features of middle class

D. L. Seth has outlined the evolution of the middle class in India through four distinct phases, each characterized by specific features:

During initial phase of Colonial Period:

The middle class in pre-British India was nascent and relatively small.
It mainly consisted of traders, artisans, and local merchants, professionals, collectors. N. Srinivas has highlighted these were the people who have undergone primary westernisation.
This class was not politically influential but played a role in sustaining local economies and small-scale trade. Racial arrogance of the British played a huge role in igniting Nationalistic consciousness among the middle classes.
The introduction of modern education and administrative institutions by the British contributed to the growth of this class. They began to emerge as a politically conscious and vocal group.

During the Period of Renaissance:

The middle class became more politically active and aware during the early 20th century.
During this time the middle class has become harbinger of social reform movement and nationalistic movement.
They were at the forefront of the Indian nationalist movement, actively participating in various protests, rallies, and agitations against British colonial rule.
This period also witnessed the growth of the industrial and business middle class, comprising entrepreneurs and industrialists.

Post -Independence middle class:

Post -independence in earlier decades this middle class played a huge role in nation building and building the foundation of a liberal, secular, progressive and democratic nation.
After independence measures like land reforms, green revolution etc. led to the emergence of a new middle class. According to Pawan Verma these factors led to growth of middle class in rural areas. However this rural middle class is also oriented in urban occupations. Also new middle rural middle class is local in orientation and regional in character.
Benefits of reservation also came to fruition. A new Dalit middle class also emerged due to forces of social mobility like education, jobs in administration, reservation in parliament and assemblies and jobs.

Middle class after LPG reforms:

Globalisation, liberalisation, privatisation and neoliberal economic and social policies influenced lifestyle, life choices and life chances of a very large population.
Urban based, English speaking and technically skilled sections of the population benefited most from the process of Globalisation facilitated through new economic policy.
Thus emerged a new middle class which is employed in Multinational corporations.

Role of middle class in India’ s Democracy and Development:

The middle class provided leadership to the National struggle for independence. Most of our leaders belonged to professional families.
Middle classes formed the core of administrative machinery. Government has to build administrative set-up from scratch.
Middle classes provided leadership and technical services in newly formed Public sector enterprises and establishment of Modern technical institutions.

Eg. Vikram Sarabhai founded INCOSPAR, IIM AHMEDABAD, led Atomic Energy Mission; Verghese Kurien & Tribhuvan Das Patel led Milk revolution; Homi J. Bhabha founded TIFR & Atomic Energy Establishment.

According to Gurucharan Das middle class is open, dynamic, liberated, and de- ritualised. It is outgoing, risk taking and innovative. For example the success of Start Up India and emergences of Unicorns can be contributed to this middle class.
According to T. K. Oommen Indian middle class is harbinger of silent revolution as it has through NGOs, PILs, raised the voice of poor and marginalised sections.
According to Amartaya Sen middle class scrutinise the public policies, leads public debate and discourse and act as public think tanks.
At the level of ideology also, the post-independence middle class was committed to social inclusion and equity. Middle class was committed to socialism and strategic autonomy symbolised in the policy of Non Alignment.

There are some alternate views also about the character and role of Indian middle class.

According to Rajesh Kochar the new middle class is de nationalised.
There is decline in social responsibility of new middle class. Also this middle class is not dependent on state protection. Hence least interested in actively participating in civil and political spheres.
Also it is said that the middle class is consumption oriented and indulge in conspicuous consumption.
According to Andre Beteille middle class is not homogenous in India. According to him Indian middle class has expanded in its western outlook still it carries hierarchical ideas.

Conclusion:

Indian middle class still in process of formation and characteristics are difficult to define. Though Indian middle class is sometimes criticised for being self -oriented and regional in outlook. But the contribution of Indian middle class in upholding the democratic tradition and leading the path of development cannot be denied.

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META TAGS:

Middle Class in India, Democracy India, Development India, Indian Society, National Movement India, Indian Political Evolution, Social Reforms India, Globalisation Impact India, Urban Middle Class, Rural Middle Class, Indian Economic Reforms

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