The Modernity of Tradition: Political Development in IndiaStressing the variations in meaning of modernity and tradition, this work shows how in India traditional structures and norms have been adapted or transformed to serve the needs of a modernizing society. The persistence of traditional features within modernity, it suggests, answers a need of the human condition. Three areas of Indian life are analyzed: social stratification, charismatic leadership, and law. The authors question whether objective historical conditions, such as advanced industrialization, urbanization, or literacy, are requisites for political modernization. |
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administration American anti-Brahman asceticism ascriptive Backward Classes behavior Bengal Bombay Brahman British caste association caste communities caste system census cent century Chamars civil Communist Conference Congress party context courts culture Delhi democratic differences district dominant castes effect election electoral English established ethic Ezhavas Gandhi's Autobiography groups Gujarat high-culture Hindu Law Hinduism horizontal mobilization Ibid identity ideology independence Indian law Indian society integration interest Iravas jati Jats justice Kayasthas Kerala Kshatriya leaders leadership legislation London lower castes M. N. Srinivas Madras Maharashtra Mahars Mahatma Gandhi Maravans marriage ment moral Muslim Nair nationalist non-violence norms organization panchayats particular political Pyarelal Rajasthan Rajput reform religion religious role Sabha sacred Sangam Sanskritization scheduled castes secular Shanans Social Change South Arcot Srinivas status structures Study Swatantra Tamilnad texts tion tradition and modernity University of Chicago untouchables Uttar Pradesh Vanniyars varna village Western