Causes of Urbanization

Urbanization is the process of social change and under its impact in our country cities are coming up and their population is increasing everywhere and village life is experiencing changes. It has already posed serious challenges to many rural institutions and practices prevalent among the villagers in our country.

Causes of Urbanization 

1. Man’s Exploitation of Nature: “Cities grow wherever a society, or a group within it, gains control over resources greater than are necessary for the mere sustenance of life.”  In ancient times these resources were acquired through the subjugation of man by man. Slavery forced labor or taxation by the ruling or conquering class supplied the foundations of the growth of city life. In modern times man has won over nature and extended his power. He has exploited the natural resources to such a great extent through technological improvements that now relatively few people can supply the basic needs of many.
2. Industrialization: The process of industrialization introduced new techniques, and better commodities, and created townships. Urban growth has also been greatly stimulated by the new techniques of production associated with the industrial revolution. It was only after the advent of industrial commerce and production. Industries present the most dominant feature of all modern cities. The invention of machinery, the development of team power, and the application of huge capital industrial enterprises led to the establishment of gigantic manufacturing plants which brought about the mobility of immobile groups of workers tending their concentration around the factory area. For the sake of working with others and of high wages men abandoned rural work and steamed into the industrial cities.
3. Commercialization: There has been a change in the nature and extent of commercial interaction between people. Thus where industrialization has stimulated city growth, trade, and commerce also played an important part in urban expansion. In ancient civilization, two cities grew wherein goods were distributed and commercial transactions were carried. Thus Athens, Sparta, Venice, and Patliputra were great trading centers. In modern times, the developments of modern marketing institutions and methods of exchange have greatly contributed to the growth of cities. 
4. Development of Transport and Communications: The development in methods of transportation and communication and the facilities that cities offer for satisfying the desire for communication also explain urban growth. Industrialization depends upon transportation so that raw materials and manufactured goods can be carried in large volumes. In an industrial city, the means of transport and communication are essentially developed. The city is connected not only with other parts in and outside of the country but through the development means of local transportation the different parts of the city as well are connected to each other.
5. Better Opportunities Offered by the Cities: In fact, cities provide more opportunities for personal advancements in comparison to rural areas. Modern business and commerce pull young men to the cities where they are paid magnified salaries. Employment opportunities are more in the city than in the village. Even businessmen come to the city from the village to avail of better opportunities for making higher profits. As the standard of living in the country rises, there is an increasing demand for the kinds of commodities that are supplied in and by cities. This increased demand means that people can earn livelihood in a larger percentage in the cities. It is in the city that leaders, religious or educational, receive special and high recognition. The general conception of attaining higher status in the cities and employment of better amenities is leading to the expansion of cities and towns.
6. Facilities of Education and Amusement: In comparison to rural areas the elementary schools in a city are better equipped and training schools, colleges, and technical schools are urban. Most big libraries are situated in cities. Art galleries and museums are urban. Prominent educationists give their talks in cities. Naturally on account of all these facilities young men and young are attracted to the cities for higher education. Better recreational facilities are also available in the cities. Amusement theaters and operas are urban. By making appeals to the feeling and play impulses of children and adults alike they draw them to the cities.

Causes of Disintegration of Village Communities

Village communities have been self-sufficient and isolated entities. This feature of village communities was further sharpened due to the sheer territorial vastness of the country. Villages are placed at a greater distance from one another for centuries, the Indian villages existed unaltered in the constitution and nature is unaware of the outside world. Unless a new civilization forced them to feel its impact, the new civilization was the companion of foreign political powers which penetrated this country and conquered and ruled. The new civilization that followed the political invasion was a product of the industrialization of the scientific mode of production and it breed a culture that was mostly an outcome of economic relations in the society. These factors proved to be the main reasons for the integration of the Indian village community.

A. Industrialization and Extension of Trade

For many centuries agriculture was the main source which supplied the demands of both rural as well as urban communities all over the world. Cities of the past were more the centers of political power and administration than the centers of industry and trade with the increase of the economic complexities of economic activities of men, especially with the advent of industrial methods of production, cities began to assume the role of industrial and business centers. By industrial method of production, we mean the mechanized way as contrasted to what we may call the cottage industries system of production which implies production by tools.
 

Until the introduction of the industrial method of production in Indian or to be more precisely until the introduction of industrial commodities by the British all commodities of consumption in our villages were either agricultural in origin or were produced by village artisans. The mode of production of the village carpenter o the blacksmith or the weaver cannot be placed even in the category of cottage industries. Thus we can sum up that the entire mode of production in our villages both agricultural and non-agricultural fell under the category of production by tools. This was true of cities but not in the same limited sense.
 

The prevalent mode of production at that time was reflected in the nature and characteristics of the then-Indian village commodities and in the lives of the people who lived there. The villages were self-contained, self-supporting, and isolated centers, and the general way of life there was marked for its simplicity, contentment, and closeness to nature. Our farmer was a retiring contemplative fellow unaware of the ways and mods of the rulers and unfamiliar with the political changes. His standard of living was very low if we apply the ones. His wants were limited and few and above all his attitude toward his lot were totally fatalistic.
 

Disintegration or otherwise is a relative term or process. Contact with the industrial civilization proved harmful to the life of our people in the villages and disintegrated for its solidarity, or was it just the opposite. It is a question of preferences whether we think and like to assume that the old forms of our village communities were more in harmony with the lives of the farmers and the new changes have disturbed that harmony and hence the disintegrating whether we think that the new changes are for the upliftment of the material standards of Indian villages life and are in better harmony with the changed temper of our rural life and hence are good and strengthening instead of being disintegrating.  However, there is one more aspect of the problem that is more important from the sociological viewpoint. This aspect refers to the way in which industrial civilization was introduced irrespective of the fundamental virtues of that civilization, it is important to examine whether that civilization was introduced in a way in which the village communities could digest it and could their mode of life to the changed circumstances. Industrial productions imply production by power machines, production on a mass scale, and then the distribution of production on a wider scale. Modern industries do not cater to a few individuals. They cater to whole masses, the people at large. Industrial production also pools the labor in ever-increasing dimensions and utilizes it to the best advantage, that is to say, it tries to produce maximum with minimum labor. In this case, the lesser cost of production of industrial commodities when these industrial products reached Indian villages, the villages level producer of non-agricultural goods found himself thrown out of his community role. His products could not compete with industrial products both in quality and cost. The villagers began to prefer the goods coming from cities. The natural result of all this was that on the one hand, the self-sufficiency of villages was broken and on the other, the physical pattern of the economic life was disturbed. Village leave production of non-agricultural commodities began to wither away. This was of great significance because by losing self-sufficiency in economic matters our farmers come in a competitive position with the city dwellers. He had to bargain with the city for secure tools, implements, etc., and in payment, he had given the far product's wealth of the village began to prick painfully.
 

It was not enough. The industrial civilization was satisfied by the replacement of essential village-level non-agricultural commodities. It, at the same time, poured new things and commodities into village commodities. These did not cater to the basic requirements of life in rural areas but stood as symbols of a new culture and as demands of a new civilization. The wants of rural life began to grow.
 

Industrial civilization not only invaded our villages at the material level. It also caused major changes in the thought and outlooks of the farmers. The awareness of nationalism which itself was a product of new contact with the new civilization and culture being to agitate our farmers. He became conscious of the sociopolitical happenings in the outside world in which his interest gradually grew. Thus the cumulative effect of industrial civilization was in nature opposed to the self-sufficient, self-contained, and self-centered lives of our village people. In this sense, our village life is integrating. This was further enhanced by the mutually comparative position in which our rural communities were placed by the prevalent economic system of bargaining which was still far away from being cooperative and hence was contradictory with the spirit hither to prevailing in our village life. Our farmer felt cheated by the city dwellers and this feeling became the central theme of a villager’s attitude towards a city dweller. Such was then the impact of industrial civilization.

B. Urbanization of Rural Communities

The localization of the industries in the urban area tends to attract men from the villages. Villagers not only supply the demand for unskilled labor in industries but also contribute to the other manual requirements of the city. Importance of money as a medium of transaction between the villages and the city grew. Along with these happening came the problem of urban housing, overcrowding, and sanitation, etc. Planned development of cities began to push towards villages. New localities began to appear at the periphery of big cities which were both urban and rural in characteristics.

C. Social Causes

Social causes refer to the spread of modern education and with that the spread of modern ideas regarding marriage, politics, traditions, etc. For many centuries, education in the villages was not considered to be a subject of any importance or concern. Hindu organizations permitted education only to children of higher castes. Modern education was introduced in India by the efforts of Macaulay. It gradually penetrated our villages.

Social Importance and Changes in Villages

Social Importance of Villages

The Indian village plays an important part in our social setup. Most of the population of the country lives in villages. The villages are the indicators of social progress and advancement. Village help strengthens our social bounds and brings stability to our society in many ways. In the villages, violent changes are opposed and efforts are made to keep the old order intact. It is in the villages that real bonds of family and family life are realized. Customs and conventions are respected more in the village than in the cities. There is no rat race for earning more and more wealth. They are not as materialistic as the people in cities. They hold old values very dear. They preserve our culture and heritage. They love and worship nature and have firm faith in doctrines of karma, rebirth, etc. they are the strongholds of local self-Government, institution, and democracy. The Panchayats had their way in the villages before the British rule in India. These Panchatas are again revived.

Changes in the Villages

The village community is less susceptible to change. Changes are coming there but quite slowly. These changes can be seen particularly in the following spheres:

1. Caste System: It is not so rigid now. The hold of caste has loosened. The caste system has now lost its traditional hold on the villages.
2. Family System: Joint Family system is no longer the peculiar characteristic of the village community. Small family norms are being accepted. Family control over the members is not as strict now as it used to be in ancient days.
3. Marriage System: Changes can also be noticed in the institution of marriage. Although inter-caste marriages are still rated now boys and girls are being consulted by the parents in matters of choice of life companions.
4. Living Standards: The standards of living in the village community are gradually going higher. It is evident by the change in the mode of dress, diet, and other matters. Gold ornaments have replaced the old heavy silver ornaments. They now use soap for bath and washing purposes. The safety razors are used for shaving.
5. Economic System: Changes have also come in the economic field. The educated youths seek jobs in the cities instead of setting on ancestral land. The Sahukara system is on the wane. The cooperative banks have taken the place of village mahajans.

Thus villages everywhere are at present passing through a transitional period. The relations, bounds, and tries have fallen into disfavor and they cannot be reinstated in their original form.

Salient Features of Indian Villages

When man was ignorant of the art of agriculture he was compelled to wander in search of food and could not settle down in any one place. As an acquired skill and knowledge in agriculture, he became proficient in procuring all his needs from the same tract of land. When some families lived as neighbors in the same area shared in each other’s joys and sorrows and joined hands in the struggle against the physical elements, and communities. Various factors like topographic, economic, and social have been active in the growth of the village community. India is mainly a country of villages.

Salient Features of Indian Villages

In India, about 83 percent of the people live in villages. Villages play an important part in Indian life. India can rightly be called a land of villages. There are 575721 villages in the country. The salient features of Indian villages are the following:

1. Faith in Religion: The people in the village are usually God-fearing and they believe mysterious powers of gods and goddesses. They worship a large number of gods and believe they are the cause of their joys and sorrows. They have firm faith in rebirth, destiny, and luck.
2. Self-Sufficiency: Each village used to be a self-sufficient unit before the British rule in India. This self-sufficiency was destroyed by the introduction of a market economy during the days of British rule. 
3. Neighborly Relations: Another significant feature of village life is that stress is laid on neighborly relations. The people are simple and honest. Life in the village is not very fast. Their wants are few and simple. They have a sense of unity. They personally know each other. They have common customs and festivals.
4. Joint Family: Joint family system is breaking down in the cities but in villages, it still retains its hold. The agricultural occupation requires the cooperation of all the members of the family. The men folk work in the fields while the women look after the household chores.
5. Simplicity: The people in the village live a very simple life. They lead a peaceful life away from the hustle and bustle of city life. They live in the lap of nature. Their needs are few and simple.
6. Fellow Feelings: They work in the spirit of fellow feeling and that of give and take. They willingly come forward to help one another. They share their joys and sorrows. Fellow feelings have become a part of their nature. They are cooperative and helpful to one another.
7. Conservatism: the villagers are generally very conservative. They do not like to adopt new ways and hate radical changes. They are attached to their old customs and traditions. They love old ways and are least eager to follow the advice of social reformers in matters of marriage and other social customs. So Charles Metcalf wrote, “They seem to last where nothing else lasts. Dynasties tumble down; revolutions succeed Revolution, Hindu, Pathan, Mughal, Marathas, and Sikh. English all the masters change in turn but the village communities remain the same.”
8. Poverty and Illiteracy: The most glaring and depressive feature of Indian villages is the poverty and illiteracy of the Indian village people. They are generally poor with a very low income. They are indebted heavily and have to pay high rates of interest to village mahajan. They take coarse food. Their holdings are small and uneconomical. The opportunities for education are meager. Illiteracy is a great stumbling block in the way of any improvement. They waste their hard-earned money on the observance of too many festivals and religious rites.
9. Group Feelings: In the life of the villagers, group feelings occupy an important place. They respect the judgment and obey the order of their elders and the panchayat has control over the individuals. People are afraid of being publicly criticized or condemned.

Reference

Rural Sociology by Dr. G. Das

Factors in the Growth of Village Community

Literally speaking a village implies a settlement of people which originated many thousand years ago, during the early periods of human society. It contained a few hundred people who lived together in the surroundings of nature and whose main occupation was agriculture. Agriculture is not only their main occupation it is rather their way of life. It is a way of life in the sense that its mode of production and what it tempers is reflected in every form of village activity. It has been said that “The village is the name commonly used to designate settlement of ancient agriculturists”. When we talk of rural society we mean the aggregation of villages in the country.

Factors in the Growth of Village Community

Historically following factors have contributed to the growth of the village community:

A. Topographical Factors:

1. Land: It has always been an important topographical factor. It is difficult to carry on agriculture on land which is rocky and uneven. If the land is unfertilized and sandy, villages cannot easily develop there. That is why there are very few villages in the desert Sahara; where we find villages every two or three miles in the plains of the Ganges and the Yamuna.
2. Water: Water is in dire need of agriculturists for cultivation. If water is scarce, not much use can be made of even the most fertile land. In the desert water is scarce, and villages are scattered far and wide.
3. Climate: A temperate climate is the most favorable for the growth of agriculture. Better soil varieties and conditions have been responsible for the growth of village communities in the plains of Northern and Central India and also in other parts of the country.

B. Economic Factors

1. Condition of Agriculture: It is fact that if agriculture yields a fair amount of produce, the village community will be prosperous.
2. Economy: If the village has the facility of getting money in times of need, it will be a favorable condition for the growth of the village community. Cottage industries play a very important factor in the economic growth of the community.

C. Social Factors: 

These are the factors of peace, security, cooperation, intelligence, and love and thus the conditions of soil, climate, moisture, availability of water, condition of agriculture, and economy, and the conditions of peace and security play an important part in the growth of the village community.

Reference

Rural Sociology by Dr. G. Das