INDIAN TRADITION, CULTURE AND

SOCIETY

UNIT- ONE

1. Society State and Polity in India

 Formation of State
• State could come about only through creation and
appropriation of surplus.
• Therefore state formation is linked with growth and spread
of agriculture, consequently trade, industry and
urbanization •In ancient India this process began with the
spread of agriculture along river valleys.
• Agricultural surplus generated led to trade, commerce and
urbanization
• The first states (Janapadas) came about in these river
valleys •Pattern replicated in the South and east.
 Evolutionary theory
• 1. Origin from the Atharva Veda.
• The state is the result of evolutionary progress and it did not originate at a fixed time.
• Important factors that contributed to the evolutionary theory are:
a.) Family relationship.
b.)Religion.
c.) Property and defence.
d.)Force.
e.)Political consciousness

With the emergence of the Sabha and Samiti organised political life began which
finally culminated in emergence of the state.
• Force Theory:
• 1. It was not given by the Indian Thinker, but force
was considered important in evolution of the
state.
• 2. It says“ State is the result and control of
dominance of stronger over the weaker.

• Thus the force is the basis of the state.

• Mystical Theory:

1. It is the most popular theory in the ancient India.

2. Theory of Divine/ Divine Theory.
3. Society is created by the god.
4. God sent king as his representative

• King + Power=Vajpeya and the horse sacrifice. ( Ashwamedha

Yagya)

• Mystical theory was, Criticised by Indian as well as western

scholars.
Contract Theory:
1. Most extensively discussed theory.
2. Reference can be seen in the – Brahmanical texts, Arthshastra
of Kautilya.
3. Many scholars accept only the Buddhist source.
4. In Buddhist scriptures, clearcut account of contract theory is
given.

It states that the “ Persons Moral or political obligation are

dependent on a contract or agreement among them to form the
society in which they live.”
 Political Ideals in Ancient India
• The Vedas-The Vedas are regarded as the authentic works of Gods at the time of the creation
of the world and so are considered the original source of information.There are 4 vedas: Rig
ved , Yajur ved, Atharv ved, Sham ved.

• The Mahabharat- This Indian epic is considered a classic work on the art of politics.

• The Arthashastra:This work authored by Kautilya is again a masterpiece on polity.

According to Prof Altekar, it is mainly concerned with the practical problems of governance
and describes its machinery and functions both in times of war and peace.

• Various Thinkers: There were many prominent thinkers whose theories were widely
accepted. Some of those thinkers are Kautilya, Narad, Brihaspati and kamandkeya.
• Incriptions:Stone and copper inscriptions throw light on the contemporary
political life of the people and the administrative system of those days.

• Accounts of Foreign Travellers:The writings of foreign travelers to India

like Megesthanes, Fahien, Huang Tsang and others provide great information
about the ancient Indian society, administration, trade and industry and the like.

• Other Sources:
• 1. Brihapati Sutra
• 2. Neeti Vakya Niritha of Somadeva
• 3. Rajaneethi Ratnakara
• 4. Veeramrityodaya
• Kingship In Ancient India:

• 1. Most important figure in the body polity.

• Head is the most important Part in the Part of the state.
• Functions: Defence of the kingdom from external
aggression.
• Defence of the Internal customs.
• He protected the purity of class and caste.
• Family Systems.
• Rich and poor.
• Religion was protected by liberal grants to learned
brahmans and temples.
• Goal :
• Become Chakarvarati: He intends to rule over the united vast
territory of Indian subcontinent.
• Council Of Ministers: It is a very vital part of the body of the
kingdom.
• Ministerial Council = Chief Administrative authority.
• King was supposed not to do anything without the consent of
the council.
• Who could be the council of the ministers: Having, wisdom,
purity of purpose, bravery, loyalty.
• Size : 7 to 37 persons.
• The Ministerial body was divided into 2 groups:
a.) Mantrina
b.) Mantri Parishad.
Mantrina: Smaller body Core organisation, few important ministers like Purohit, Senapati e.t.c.
Mantriparishad: Large body to modern council of minister. It consisted all the ministers.

• Mauryan Period the purpose of Ministers was: Advice the king not to govern, but it
was no more rubber stamping body.
• It might take up call on any important decision in the absence of the king.
 Kautilya Saptang
• 1 Swami- The ruler
• Amatya- The Minister.
• Janpada- The population.
• Durga- The fortified capitals.
• Kosha- The Treasury
• Danda- The Army.
• Mitra- Ally and Friend.
 Classification of Society in Ancient India.
• Society in ancient India are arranged in 4 varnas:
• 1. Brahamin:

• 2.Kshtriya.

• 3.Vaish.

• 4.Shudra
• Brahamins:
• 1. Top of the varna hierarchy.
• 2.Divine existence.
• 3.Exemmpted from the torture, execution and capital punishment.
• 4.Functions : Learning, Teaching and priesthood.

• Kshtriya:
• 1. Ruling class
• 2.Represents courage, heroism and strength.
• 3.Duty : Protection internal and external.
• 4. Has right to possess arms.
• Vaishyas –
• 1. Trading and commercial class.
• 2. Posses expert knowledge of jewels, metals, clothes, threads, spieces
• 3. Ancient India businessman.

• Shudras:
• 1. At the bottom of the hierarchy.
• 2. They were there to serve other 3 varnas.
• 3. Deprived of various rights.
 4 - Stages of Life
• Life of the individual is divided into 4 stages or Ashramas.
• Brahmcharya(Studentship): Acquiring knowledge. Acquiring discipline, moulding
character. It starts with a ceremony called “ Upanayana”.

• Grihasthashram: Starts at marriage duties and responsibilities. Gets married, earn

money, take care of children.

• Vanaprastha Ashram: Retirement from Life, discharges all duties as a

householder and enters vanaprastha age. Dedicates the life to spiritual
contemplation. Leaves the house and goes to the forest to became a saint.
• Sanyasharam : Stages of renunciation : Last stage of life. Leaves his hermitage
and becomes a homeless wander
 Purushartha- 4 Types
• There are 4 types of Purushartha are there, namely:

• 1.Dharma.
• 2. Artha.
• 3. Kama.
• 4. Moksha.
 Dharma
• Dharma, It means the truth, the right way of living, and human behaviours,
considered necessary for the order oof the things in the world. It is the
ability to differentiate between right and wrong.

• On an individual level you think of Dharma as your true purpose in life or

the ethical basis on which you live your life. It is also:

• Being conscious in your actions , words and thoughts.

• Having compassion and sensitivity to the needs of the others.
• Being awake to the existence of the divine within you.
 Artha
• Artha is the security of having the material comfort you need to live in the world
with ease. Artha is the basic human dignities- to have enough assets to live on
and take care of your family, without hoarding or being greedy. Artha guides you
to ask the question, “ What I see as truly valuable.”

• Needs vary from person to person. Artha includes everything is in your

environment that allows you to live fulfilling life and also the means to achieve it.
It includes knowledge friendship, love , career, skills, good health and prosperity.
The Upnishads tell us” There is no joy in smallness, Joy is in infinite.”

Kama: It is basically the desire for the worldly pleasures. The desires and captivity
for allures .
 Moksha
• When you live your Dharma, fully supported by Artha and Kama, Moksha or the
final liberation dawns.
• Moksha is your true nature- It’s who you really are, It Includes:
• Emancipation.
• Liberation.
• Freedom from the cycle of Death and rebirth.
• Freedom from ignorance.
• Self-realization and self knowledge.
• Consciousness of the oneness of the supreme soul.
• The removal of the obstacles to the unrestricted life.
 Types Of Marriages in India
• Brahma Vivah: This is considered as the purest forms of the marriage. In this form
of the marriage, the father of bride offers her daughter to a man of character and
learning.
• Daiva Vivah: In this form of the marriage the father offers her daughter as a
dakshina to a young priest, who officiates the yajna arranged by him.
• Asra Vivah: The Father of the bride gives his daughter to a bridegroom after
receiving a cow and bull or two pairs of the animals from him.
• Prajapatya Vivah: In this type of marriage, the father offers the girl to the
bridegroom. But neither he offers for a dowry, nor he demands for it.
• Asur Vivah: This is a form of marriage by purchase in which the groom has to give
the money to the father or the kinsman of thr bride.
• Gandharv Vivah: This is the marriage: this is he marriage by the boy and the gir.
Mutual consent of tge boy and girl are required for the union.
 Gender as a “Socially constructed category”
• Planning and policy makers must be mindful of the major aspects of the socially
prescribed gender functions and specific needs of men and women should be
considered. They must consider the existing gender disparity in;
• 1. Employment.
• 2.Poverty.
• 3.Family Life.
• 4.Health
• 5.Education
• 6.Environment
• 7.Public Life and decision making bodies.
 Condition of Women in Ancient India
• In ancient Indian society the women were the prime carers for the children,
elderly and the ill. They do most of the domestic tasks. Women’s lives were
greatly affected by which has an incisive and direct impact on their health and
their educational, employment and earning opportunities.
• Women were not allowed to study.
• They were not allowed to take decisions on their own.
• They were not allowed to choose their life partner.
• They were not allowed to go out.
• They were not allowed to earn the livelihood.
 Education
• The increasingly competitive labour market demands ever- higher levels of
education. People without it are at a growing disadvantage.
• At the same time, there is a broad consensus that education can, in times of move
marginalized, excluded people into the mainstream.
• Despite this, socio-cultural barriers and prejudices that restricts women’s access
to education persist in number of societies.
• More women than men are illiterate, and the lower a country’s literacy rate, the
wider the gap between the two sexes.
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural Organisation(UNESCO)
estimates that 41 percent of women in developing countries are illiterate,
compared with 20 percent of men.
 Female Representation In Historical Traditions Of
India.
• 1848: Savitri Bai Phule: Became the first woman teacher in India.
• 1879: John Elliot Bethune established the Bethune school in 1849.
• 1883: Chandarmukhi Basu and Kadambini Ganguly became the first female
graduates of India and the British Empire.
• 1905 :Suzzanne RD Tata becomes the first woman to drive a car.
• 1917: Annie Besant became the first female president of the Indian National
Congress.
• 1947: Sarojini Naidu became the governor of the united provinces, and in the
process became India’s first woman governor. On the same day, Amrit Kaur
resumed office as the first female cabinet minister of India in the country’s first
cabinet.
 Slavery In India
• Condition in which one human being was owned by another. A slave was considered
by law as property, or chattel, and was deprived of most of the rights ordinarily held by free
persons.

• 6 Forms of modern slavery are:

• Different types of Trafficking.
• Child Labour
• Forced Labour.
• Bonded Labour debt Bondage.
• Domestic servitude.
• Forced marriage.
-----Thank You.