M. N. Srinivas – Sanskritization & Westernization 🎓 Presented by Subrata Majumder | Sociology Pathshala
Long Video Script: M. N. Srinivas – Sanskritization & Westernization
🎓 Presented by Subrata Majumder | Sociology Pathshala
🟢 [Intro – 30 sec]
🎙️Welcome to Sociology Pathshala!
Today we explore one of India’s most celebrated sociologists – Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas, popularly known as M. N. Srinivas.
He gave us two powerful concepts to understand Indian society:
👉 Sanskritization
👉 Westernization
Let’s dive in!
🟣 [Section 1: Who was M. N. Srinivas? – 1 min]
👨🏫 M. N. Srinivas (1916–1999) was an Indian sociologist and social anthropologist.
He is best known for his fieldwork-based studies of Indian villages and caste dynamics.
His most famous work: “Religion and Society Among the Coorgs of South India” (1952)
📌 He believed that understanding caste and social change required studying local, ground-level realities, not just theoretical models.
🟡 [Section 2: Concept of Sanskritization – 3–4 mins]
🔍 Definition:
Sanskritization is the process by which a lower caste or tribal group attempts to raise its social status by adopting practices and rituals of upper castes, especially the Brahmins.
📚 Srinivas coined this term during his study of the Coorg community in Karnataka.
🛕 Common traits of Sanskritization:
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Giving up meat and alcohol
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Following vegetarianism
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Adopting upper-caste rituals (like puja, wearing sacred thread)
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Practicing Brahminical norms like purity, prayer, and Vedas
🗣️ বাংলায় বলা যায় – নিম্ন বর্ণের কোনো গোষ্ঠী, উচ্চবর্ণের মতো আচরণ করে সমাজে তাদের স্থান উন্নত করার চেষ্টা করে।
📌 Features:
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Cultural change without structural change
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Gradual process over generations
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Often used to claim higher caste identity
🧠 Criticism:
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Only works for castes, not tribes
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May reinforce caste hierarchy rather than remove it
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Does not address economic or political empowerment
🔵 [Section 3: Concept of Westernization – 2–3 mins]
🌍 Definition:
Westernization refers to the influence of Western (mainly British) culture, values, lifestyle, and institutions on Indian society.
📌 Srinivas divided Westernization into three levels:
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Primary Westernization – British officials and elites
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Secondary – Indian elite who adopted Western education & lifestyle
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Tertiary – Mass population adopting Western dress, food, habits, etc.
🎓 Key changes from Westernization:
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Introduction of modern education
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Development of law, bureaucracy, railways
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Rise of individualism, rationalism, secularism
🗣️ বাংলায় – পশ্চিমা ভাবনা, শিক্ষা ও সংস্কৃতির প্রভাব সমাজে ছড়িয়ে পড়া, বিশেষত ইংরেজ শাসনের সময় থেকে।
🟤 [Section 4: Comparison – Sanskritization vs. Westernization – 2 mins]
| Feature | Sanskritization | Westernization |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural Source | Indian (Brahminical) | Western (British) |
| Focus Area | Rituals, lifestyle | Education, law, science |
| Goal | Raise caste status | Modernity & development |
| Rooted in Tradition? | Yes | No – more reformist |
📢 Srinivas argued: Westernization was more structural, Sanskritization was cultural.
🔴 [Section 5: Relevance Today – 1–2 mins]
🔹 Both processes still exist in India:
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Many communities still seek upward mobility through Sanskritization
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Western culture continues to impact youth, education, fashion, media
🔸 For UGC NET and college students, Srinivas shows how social change in India is unique—not always revolution, sometimes imitation.
✅ [Conclusion – 30 sec]
🎯 M. N. Srinivas gave us tools to understand India’s complex caste, culture, and modernization process.
📖 Remember:
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Sanskritization = Indian imitation
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Westernization = Global influence
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