St.

Joseph’s College of Law

Sociology Assignment
Topic – Indian Society and Its Nature with respect to Religion

Submitted By:
Name: SANJAI
Class: 1st BA LLB ‘A’
Reg. No.: 21155

Submitted To:
Name: Ms. Anuradha Bernadette Tekkethil
Department: Sociology
Faculty of: St. Joseph’s College of Law
Introduction:

The word "society" does not refer to a particular group of individuals, but rather to the intricate web of social rules that
develop inside and between them. It is also a structure that is created by these relationships. It comprises of both the
mutual interactions and the mutual interrelations of the persons.

The same way that life is not just a thing but a process, so is society, which is not just a thing but a process of
association. Societies are defined differently by different social scientists. For example, Ginsberg defines a society as "a
collection of individuals united by certain relations or modes of behaviour which mark them off from other who do not
enter into these relations or who behave differently from them." Maclver defines a society as "A web of social
relationships." Only when its members are acquainted and share similar interests can a society be said to exist. The
society's participants must recognise their similarities and interconnectedness. Society is a system of social ties, not
merely a tool for human satisfaction.

A permanent institution is society. It is a type of organic organisation that resulted from the development of man's
natural institutions. The actual nature of a society is found in its members' mental states, not in its exterior components
like dependency, likelihood, or authority. On this globe, the three primary socioeconomic systems—tribal, agrarian, and
industrial—have been identified.

Nature of Indian Society:

We already know that the word "caste" is the name of an accidental institution that has been a part of Indian history
and culture for thousands of years, just like any other India today. But much like any other Indian in the twenty-first
century, we are also aware that the concept of "caste" continues to exist in Indian society today. The only question that
remains is how closely these two "castes"—the one that is believed to be a part of India's past and the one that is a part
of its present—are related.

The exact age of the caste system is a subject of debate as well. However, it is generally acknowledged that the four
varna classification dates back about 3,000 years. It is erroneous to believe that the same system has persisted for three
thousand years since the caste system represented various things in different eras. The caste system was actually a
varna system in its earlier stages, during the late Vedic period, probably between 900 and 500 BC, and it only had four
primary divisions. These divisions were not based on birth, and neither were they very complex or inflexible. It appears
that moving across the groups was not only possible but also rather prevalent. It is only in the post-Vedic period that
caste became the rigid institution that is familiar to us from well-known definition.

Jotirao Govindrao Phule rejected the caste system's standards of purity and defilement and decried its injustice. He
established the Satyashodhak Samaj, also known as the Truth Seekers Society, in 1873 with the goal of ensuring low-
caste people's social justice and human rights.

All significant social structures, particularly the institution of caste, suffered significant modifications throughout the
colonial period, according to scholars. In fact, some academics contend that colonialism more so than ancient Indian
culture is to blame for what we currently know as caste. Not all of the changes wrought were deliberated or intended. In
an effort to better grasp how to run the country, the British officials first tried to comprehend the nuances of caste. A
few of these initiatives took the form of meticulous and in-depth surveys and reports on the "customs and manners" of
various tribes and castes across the nation.

When India gained its independence in 1974, it signalled a significant, if ultimately only partial, end to colonialism. Caste
factors had unavoidably contributed to the nationalist movement's enormous mobilizations. One of the individuals who
opposed the oppression of the downtrodden class in the independent Indian society was Sri Narayana Guru. He was
raised in Kerala, preached equality for everybody, and battled the negative impacts of the caste system. He established
the watchwords "One Caste, One Religion, One God for all Men" and oversaw a subtle but major societal shift.

It should come as no surprise that caste has shown to be strongest in the home and cultural domains. Endogamy, or the
custom of being married within your caste, has mostly survived modernization and change. Even now, although there
are more inter-caste marriages, the majority of marriages still take place inside caste borders. While some boundaries
may now be more pliable, those separating castes with comparable socioeconomic position are still strictly policed.

Sanskritization is the process by which caste members strive to advance their own social standing by emulating the
rituals, home routines, and social customs of a caste with higher status. This phenomenon is old and may have existed
during colonial times or perhaps before Independence, but it has recently become more prominent. The castes most
frequently imitated were the Brahmin or Kshatriya, whose customs included being vegetarian, donning holy thread,
offering certain prayers and participating in religious rituals, among other things. Sanskritization can happen
independently, but it typically happens in conjunction with or after an improvement in the caste's economic standing.
Following further investigation, numerous additions and alterations to this idea have been proposed. These include the
allegation that Sanskritization may instead be a defiant assertion of previously forbidden rituals or social privileges by
the "lower" caste than a flattering copy of the "higher" caste.

Role of religion in Indian Society:

One of the fundamental groups in each society is the religious community. It's a comprehensive structure. Religion is
defined as "a social structure characterised by regular reverence, ceremonies, traditions, and practises."

"Religion is a brought together arrangements of convictions and actions with respect to holy item which combine into
one single good group," according to the widely accepted definition of religion provided by Durkheim.

In Indian politics, religion plays a significant role. In India, politics and religion coexist. Government officials can be
influenced by religion, yet even lawmakers who are biassed in favour of one faith can nevertheless be helpful to all. An
official in the government represents the people of India as a whole and works to promote peace via religion.

Although internal revelation is at the core of religion, legislative concerns lead to general public privileges. Religion and
science do not conflict. The pursuit of knowledge and reality is science. Religion speaks out on salvation, life after death,
and other topics that science is unable to address. Religion always binds us to duties that must be fulfilled.

India has provided this globe with a crucial example of collective congruity. India is the major country in the world where
people of various religions and political ideologies have long lived peacefully together. It is important to remember that
despite British authority, there was no tension between people of different religions. India, a country with many
different religions, languages, and races, has consistently "delighted in the vital unity of society in the middle of
diversities that kept her kin connected together”. Small-scale religious, regional, and national sentiments drew the
country together after freedom. The two main religious groups required in disputes feel that there is an issue because of
the frequently occurring, blatantly absurd, shared pressures and absurd uproars. The mortality toll and property losses
incurred by the country as a result of such unsettling influences are significant.

India is a vast country where people from different religious and racial groups coexist. India split into two nations in
1947, but our country's forefathers were very conscious of this and took great care to establish a mainstream state.

Religions That Have Influenced Indian Society:

There are different religions on the planet and the significant ones are; Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism,
Christianity, Islam and Parsi. The thoughts and confidence of every single religion contrast in some way or the
other.
1. Hinduism:
It is one of the oldest religions in existence. It's difficult to pinpoint Hinduism's true origin. Hinduism has been
practiced since the "Indus Valley Progress," according to records. Hindus value people who worship idols. The
places where symbols are stored are called sanctuaries, and icons are revered as being Gods. Hinduism's
unique aspects include the existence of a caste system and devotion to numerous deities. Hindus regard the
Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita as their three greatest myths.
Hinduism rejects adaptation to change. Hindus consider men to be by birth. A person who belongs to another
religion cannot suddenly become a "Hindu." Although social reformers attempted to set up conditions for
transformation, their efforts were not particularly successful.
2. Islam:
It was founded by the prophet Mohammad. It has faith in a single Gad "Allah." Islam does not value idol
worship. It is confident against disconnecting women. Mosques are the Muslims' romantic retreats. Muslims
consider "Mecca" to be the heavenly location on earth. Every Muslim is required to perform the "Kalma" five
times a day. Every person must observe fasting during the month of "Ramjan."
3. Christianity:
Christ Jesus laid the foundation for it. The Bible is regarded by Christians as having heavenly content.
Christians do not believe in worshipping idols. Church is the name of the place where Christians find love.
Christian's value making supplications and aiding the underprivileged and disabled.
4. Sikhism:
In support of it was Guru Nanak. The "Guru Granth Sahib" is the Sikhism's divine epic. Gurudwaras are the
Sikhs' favourite places.
India is a country with a diverse religious population. India is the home to all of the major world faiths. Indian
culture has been impacted by the establishment of religion in a number of different ways, which are listed
below:
1. Solidarity - People who belonged to a certain faith almost stood out within the religious community.
The central message of every religion and holy book in existence is the unity of religion. The tenets of
all religions are a part of a single, God-directed scheme.
2. Moral Qualities - Religions promote moral virtues; for example, taking care of parents, protecting
children, aiding the poor and the disabled, and being sincere are all principles that are taught by
religion. Some religious traditions allow their followers to derive their conceptions of good and wrong
from the regulations and laws outlined in the relevant authoritative manuals and by their religious
leaders. According to the divine command theory, morality is defined as following the sacred book's
authoritative precepts.
3. Social Control - Religions function as effective social control mechanisms. Religion has the capacity to
influence how people behave by consuming certain moral principles. It makes people, families,
communities, and society as a whole stronger. It has a considerable impact on educational and
employment outcomes, and it lessens the prevalence of serious social issues like unwed pregnancies,
drug and alcohol addiction, crime, and delinquency.
4. Premise of law - Over time, religious customs and traditions acquire the status of law. Therefore, a
husband's bounden duty is to provide for his wife and children, according to profound quality. In order
to uphold this norm, provisions for granting maintenance are created when in question in the Hindu
Marriage Act and Section 125 CRPC. To achieve salvation for oneself and other people is the goal of
practicing a religion. The concept of God's salvation is understood differently in different religions.
The establishment of religions have brought on numerous issues in the Indian culture as given below;
1. Groupism - Religion divides people at a time when the country may use such divisions to its advantage.
As of right now, a lot of people discriminate against other people because of their faith. People
 establish groups with members of their own religion today and behave poorly toward those who
practise different religions. As a result, religion has a detrimental impact on groupism and cultural
aspects since people are not appreciated because of religious differences.
2. Regular Clashes - People who live in an environment where other religions are present believe that
their religion is dominant. Even worse, they try to impose their religious habits on others, which could
lead to conflicts. Collective conflict is now a common occurrence in India. Between 2016 and 2020,
India saw 3,399 instances of racial or religious rioting. According to Mos Home's Lok Sabha reply, there
were over 2.76 lakh instances of rioting nationwide during these five years.
3. Fanaticism - Each religion has a set of beliefs that might occasionally be superstitious. Such beliefs
hinder the development of both society and the individual. Due to religious mentalities, the standing of
the ladies does not change in some cultures. Religious fanaticism is a pejorative term used to describe
unquestioning zeal or obsessive excitement that is tied to one's own or one's group's dedication to
religion. This type of fanaticism is common among people and may also be seen in other activities and
involvements.
4. Squares social change - Religion acts as a barrier to societal development. To influence the moderate
person's mindset, for example, by limiting wedding expenses, is incredibly difficult. Although religion
might have negative impacts, it is impossible to have a general population without some sort of
religious system. It has become into a crucial component of everyone's life.
Secular India:
What kind of country is India from a religious standpoint? In terms of religion, India is a secular nation. A state
without a distinct national religion is referred to as being secular. The country's government and other
authorities do not prioritise any religion over others. India is described as a secular nation in form and spirit in
its constitution. According to the requirements of article 15, which guarantees equality to everyone, people of
all religions and beliefs are treated equally.
India is a secular state without an official religion. Nearly all of the world's main religions are practised there
by their respective adherents. However, the country's religious plurality has been a significant cause of
division and discord. This is so that people don't lose sight of national unity and exhibit their commitment
more to their own religion, which seems to be overemphasised in India.
In India, the vast majority of people practise Hinduism. It includes Dravidian, Pre-Dravidian, and Indo-Aryan
religious components. Hindus adhere to the concepts of "Karma," "Dharma," "Rebirth," "Immortality of Soul,"
"Renunciation," and "Salvation." Numerous ideas about God are permissible according to this Dharma. It also
suggests a number of additional routes to God. Different Hindu sects include "The Shakta," "The Saiva," "The
Satnami," "The Lingayat," and others.
The pace of social and economic change in India, another closed culture, has heightened class consciousness,
endangering the pre-existing social structure. When this occurs, the higher groups become fervent supporters
of maintaining the caste system as they begin to lose their dominance as a result of economic development.
The vast majority of Hindus in the globe reside in India, which also has the second-largest Muslim population
in a single nation, behind Indonesia. The largest democracies in the world are those in our nation, which is
pluralistic in terms of religion and ethics. Even though there are legal safeguards for minorities and religious
organisations, Indians nonetheless generally face "high" levels of governmental restrictions on religion. The
previous ten years have seen "extremely high" levels of societal hostility in India due to religion. According to a
2017 Pew Research Center Survey, the majority of Indians are at least somewhat concerned about these
tensions, although far greater percentages are more concerned about other national problems.
Culture and Religion of India:
India, which is believed to have a population of over one billion, is the second most populous nation in the
world after China. About 70% of individuals reside in rural areas. With almost 12 million residents, Mumbai
has the most people per square mile, followed by Delhi with 11 million, Bangalore with 8 million, and
Hyderabad with 6 million.
22 official languages are recognised under the Indian Constitution. The official languages of India are Hindi and
English, with Hindi being spoken by 45% of the population and being utilised by the government. Except for a
few tiny southern states, Hindi is most commonly spoken in the north and is readily understood throughout.
While the majority of the country's educated population speaks English. There are numerous regional tongues
and numerous dialects.
There are thousands of different ethnic groups in India. However, it can be broken down into two main
subgroups: "The Indo-Aryans" and "Dravidians." The first civilization in India, known as "The Indus," was
founded by the Dravidians. India's population currently consists of several more minority groups in addition to
72% Indo-Aryans and 25% Dravidians.
Despite being a secular nation, India's culture is heavily influenced by religion. Hinduism, Islam, and
Christianity are the three most popular religions, each with a following of 79.8%, 14.2%, and 2.3 percent
respectively. Buddhism originated in northern India and is primarily practised in the Himalayan region, close to
the Myanmar border. Tibetan Buddhism is the most common branch. Numerous minority religions, like
Jainism, an ancient faith that promotes the attainment of joy through non-violence toward all living things, are
also practised in India.
India is frequently referred to as "the land of festivities." The lunar calendar determines the dates of the
majority of bank holidays, which causes them to fluctuate from year to year. However, there are just a few
holidays celebrated, such as Christmas on December 25, New Year's Day on January 1, Republic Day on
January 26, Buddha Poornima on May 11, Independence Day on August 15, M.K. Gandhi's birthday on October
2, and Guru Nanak's birthday on November 4.
Relationship between religion and the state.
A campaign to liberate Hindu temples from governmental control garnered considerable traction during Tamil
Nadu's recent election campaign. Subramanian Swamy, a member of the Rajya Sabha, petitioned the Supreme
Court to declare all State HR and CE (Hindu Religion and Charitable Endowment) temple legislation to be
unconstitutional. BJP National Secretary H. Raja also supported the release of temples from "the government's
grip."
A secular, democratic republic seems inherently opposed to the idea of governments managing the
management of religious institutions. But unlike its western forebears, secularism in India is based on other
foundations. The authors of the Indian Constitution were aware of the risks involved in providing a right to
non-establishment in the American tradition. They did not believe that everyone should have the right to
conscience freedom. But they thought that freedom shouldn't be restricted by pushing the line between state
and religion too far. The Constituent Assembly paid close attention to India's civic past regarding religious
issues. It recognised that, if ignored, religion may contribute to the continuation of past evil.
Treating religion as a topic outside the scope of the state's sovereign authority would betray the constitution's
original intent to create a free and egalitarian society. The farmers were also aware that in order to
accomplish these aims, the government would need to make sure that commonwealth resources were
properly managed. They believed it was the state's duty to ensure, for example, that a temple designated for
public use was actually being used for that purpose. The Constitution's Articles 25 and 26 contain a number of
caveats and provisos that were written with these goals in mind.
Scope of Right to Religion in India. (Article 25 – 28 of Indian Constitution)
According to Article 25, the right to freely profess, practise, and promote religion is subject to public morals,
health, and order. Additionally, this right, according to the provision, won't prevent the state from passing
laws that provide for social welfare and reform or that regulate various economic, financial, or other secular
activities connected to religion.
On the other hand, group rights are safeguarded by Article 26. Every "religious denomination" is given the
freedom to create institutions, conduct its own religious business, own and acquire property, and manage that
property in line with the law. Public order, morality, and health considerations also apply to this privilege. The
clear meaning of these rules demonstrates that religious denominations have a great deal of autonomy in
things pertaining to their faith. However, this privilege does not supersede the state's authority to pass laws
governing the administration of properties owned by these denominations.
Article 25's provisions are specifically limited to religiously related issues. The government has the right to
control and impose limitations on a secular activity carried out by a public religious institution. The Tamil Nadu
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Act, which replaced the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable
Endowment Act in 1959, was enacted in the exercise of this authority.
But long before the Constitution went into effect, the authority to supervise the management of religious
organisations was regarded as an act of sovereignty. P. R. Ganapati Iyer notes in the 1918 treaties, The Law
pertaining to Hindu and Mohammedan Religious Endowment, how Hindu kings frequently employed ministers
to oversee temples and philanthropic organisations. In fact, it was believed that the state had a crucial role to
play in regulating temple management.
Our textbooks also demonstrate how, throughout the Mughal era, the governments realised that it was their
responsibility to ensure that all religious endowments were used in accordance with the true intent and will of
the grantor and appointed Mutawallis to oversee Waqf assets. To be clear, the fact that this was the case in
the past does not imply that state control of religious institutions must still exist now. However, not much has
changed from the conditions that existed in the 1920s, when the Madras government passed its first
endowment law.
Because of this, we must continuously call for transparency and keep the government accountable to the legal
requirements for administrative standards. A plea for anything more, though, runs the risk of reneging on the
Constitution's founding principles. In order to achieve this, the law grants a commissioner appointed by the
state general supervision over all Hindu religious endowments. It also gives the commissioner the authority to,
among other things, appoint executive officers to temples to ensure that their findings are being applied
correctly. In the Shirur Mutt case, the Honourable Supreme Court of India examined the justification for this
error (1954). The court acknowledged that the fundamental structure of Tamil Nadu's 1951 legislation, which
was repealed and re-enacted in 1959, was in complete consonance with the authority conferred in the state
under Articles 25 and 26.
Given the lack of a clear successor today, giving up its regulatory authority would unquestionably be a
violation of its obligations as a sovereign. A reassertion of social dominance by dominant groups—exactly
what the Constituent Assembly sought to prevent—will be the result of such action.
Is there freedom of Religion in India? Pros and Cons.
Pros
1. Religion may help people to overcome insecurities.
2. Can help in hard times in life.
3. May give people trust in life after death.
4. Can help to promote reasonable values.
5. Religion may help in overcoming anxiety
6. Religion and art are closely connected
7. May prevent people from behaving in an animal-like manner.
8. Promotion of common social values
9. Opportunity to socialize
10. May give people hope.
Cons
1. It is usually misused by fundamentalists
2. Can lead to serious discrimination of minorities
3. May be used to keep people under control
4. Suppression of freedom
5. Religion always claims to know too much
6. Can contribute to serious conflicts
7. Mostly contradicts to science
8. Opponents always consider ‘Religion’ to be a ‘Man-made nonsense’
9. Often prevents people from things they want to do
10. Religion may slow down technological progress
Relationship between Law and Religion
The Indian Constitution's preamble referred to the country as a "Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic
Republic." The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976, which required respect for and tolerance of all religions, added
the word "Secular" to the Preamble. The freedom of religion is a fundamental right as stated in the Indian
Constitution. The constitution also recommends a Uniform Civil Code for its citizens as a "Directive Principle."
Major religious groups in our nation are still regulated by their own unique rules. There are personal laws in
the Indian Constitution for Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Jews.
Challenges faced by Social Minorites in our Country
1. Problem of Identity - Due to the disparities in socio-cultural practises, histories, and backgrounds,
people who are social minorities in our country must deal with the problem of identity everywhere.
This problem makes it difficult for them to integrate into the majority community.
2. Problem of Security – It develops feeling of insecurity about their life, assets and well-being because of their
different identity and their small number relative to the rest of the society.
 3. Problem of Relating to Equity – As a result of discrimination, the minority community in a society may remain
deprived of the benefit of opportunities of development. The minority community develops the perception of
the sense of equity because of the difference in identity.

Conclusion
How is Indian society diverse in nature?
Diversity is a phrase used to describe overall distinctions between groups of individuals in order to identify their
differences. All of these characteristics are the result of the collective disparities among many different groups, and
Indian society is distinguished by both unity and diversity.

Primarily there are four major diversities in India;

1. Regional diversity
2. Linguistic diversity
3. Religious diversity
4. Cultural and Ethnic diversity
Cultural and racial diversity in the nation is a result of the clashing and differing colours of blood, strains, cultures, ways
of life, and many other factors. India is a museum of cults and customs, creeds and culture, faiths and tongues, racial
kinds, and social systems, as Dr. R. K. Mukerjee correctly stated.

Abstract:

In almost every facet of social life, India provides astounding variation. In today's society, there are many different racial,
linguistic, regional, economic, religious, class, and cultural groupings. In addition, there are major variances between
north and south India, particularly with regard to kinship and marriage systems, as well as enormous urban-rural and
gender distinctions. The complexity of Indian society may be unmatched by any other of the world's great civilizations.
The faiths of India are celebrations of shared sentiments that unite people, whether it is the congregating of the faithful,
the gathering of lamps that light up dwellings at Diwali, the joy of Christmas, or the fraternity of Baisakhi.
Bibliography:

1. Changing indian society by Yogesh atal

2. Society in india by ram ahuja
3. Sociology of indian society by C N Shankar Rao