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Book No. – 19 (Sociology)
Book Name – Social Background of Indian Nationalism (A.R. Desai)
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. Uneven Emergence of New Social Classes
2. New Social Classes
3. Forces leading to their Emergence
4. Surviving Old Classes, their Changed Position
5. Zamindars: their interests and Organizations
6. Tenants: their Interests and Organizations
7. Peasant Proprietors: their Subdivision, Interests and Organizations
8. Indian Kisans, their Principal Movements
9. Kisans: Their Specific Psychological and other Traits
10. Rise of Modern Indian Intelligentsia
11. Modern Indian Bourgeoisie: its Interests. Organizations and Movements
12. Rise of the Modern Indian Proletariat
13. Modern Proletariat, its Distinguishing Characteristics
14. Growth of Working Class Movements
15. New Social Classes, National in Character
16. Their Consciousness of Common Interests
17. Uneven Development of their Consciousness
18. Growing Reactionary Trends in Propertied Classes
19. Twofold Movements in India
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Rise of New Social Class in India
Chapter – 11
Uneven Emergence of New Social Classes
- The emergence of social classes in India was a direct result of the establishment of a new social economy, a new state system, and state administrative machinery, along with the spread of new education during British rule.
- These classes were unknown in pre-British India, arising from the new capitalist economic structure introduced by British rule.
- The capitalist transformation reshuffled Indian society, creating new social groupings and classes.
- The rise of new social classes was an uneven process, influenced by the growth of British political power in India, which occurred in stages.
- Different regions of India experienced economic transformation at different times based on when they were politically subjugated by Britain.
- Bengal was among the first regions to fall under British influence, where private property in land (Zemindari system) was introduced, leading to the creation of zemindars and tenants as new social classes.
- Bengal and Bombay also saw the rise of the first industrial enterprises like jute and cotton factories, creating new classes such as industrialists and proletariat.
- The British also introduced a well-ramified administrative system and modern educational institutions in these regions, fostering the growth of the professional classes.
- As British influence spread across India, the new social economy, administrative system, and modern education gave rise to new social classes on a national scale.
- The rise of social classes was also uneven among different communities due to their pre-British economic, social, and educational roles.
- Banyas were traditionally traders and moneylenders, and they were among the first to adopt modern capitalist commerce and banking, evolving into the commercial and financial bourgeoisie.
- Brahmins, traditionally custodians of education, were among the first to embrace modern education, contributing to the rise of a modern intelligentsia and educated middle class.
- The upper strata of the Muslim community, predominantly engaged in military and administrative careers pre-British, were mostly located in regions that came under British rule later.
- The Muslim population in Bengal was largely from the poorer classes, and thus, the emergence of a modern intelligentsia, educated middle class, and bourgeoisie within the Muslim community occurred later than within the Hindu community.
New Social Classes
- In agrarian areas, the new social classes were:
- Zemindars created by the British government.
- Absentee landlords.
- Tenants under zemindars and absentee landlords.
- Peasant proprietors, divided into upper, middle, and lower strata.
- Agricultural labourers.
- The modern class of merchants.
- The modern class of money-lenders.
- In urban areas, the new social classes were:
- The modern class of capitalists, including industrial, commercial, and financial capitalists.
- The modern working class engaged in industrial, transport, mining, and similar enterprises.
- The class of petty traders and shopkeepers tied to the modern capitalist economy.
- The professional classes, including technicians, doctors, lawyers, professors, journalists, managers, clerks, and others, forming the intelligentsia and the educated middle class.