The development of Indian society

India offers astounding variety in virtually every aspect of social life. Indian society is multifaceted to an extent perhaps unknown in any other of the world's great civilizations.

1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF
INDIAN SOCIETY

2. Development should be perceived as a
multidimensional process involving the
reorganization and re-orientation of the entire
economic and social systems of society. In addition
to improvements in incomes and output, it typically
involves radical changes in institutional, social, and
administrative structures as well as in population
attitudes, and, in many cases, even customs and
beliefs.
According to Max " Social development refers to
the degree to which the structure of society allows
the deprived and alienated majority not only the
demand their just share of resources but also
actually obtain such goals".

3. The notation of development has two important
feature:
1.It refers to a particular kind of change
observable at present.
2.It refers to economic changes that can be
identified and measured with some precision.
Development, therefore, is a strategy of socio-
economic change and is a direction that is
considered desirable by the members of the
society. This may be different from society to
another depending on the socio-cultural
background and political and geographical
situation, but in all societies, the general condition
is the same. Thus, development implies growth in
education, agriculture, infrastructure, industry, etc.

4. OBSTACLES TO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT :
The following are the obstacles to social
development:
1.Customs: Customs are social habits which through
repetition become the basis of an order of social
behaviour. Although customs regulate social life they
stage the programs of social planning. Often there is a
clash between customs and some social institutions
like law. People more spontaneously obey customs
than law and the value of customs is more deep-
rooted in them.

5. 2.Traditions and Values: In traditional societies,
the influence of blind beliefs, customs,
superstitions, and value is very high. They will
never accept the interference of the state in
their traditional customs and values.

6. 3.Social Habits: People become slaves to certain
social customs or habitual ways of behaviour. They do
no easily give up these social habits like rituals. They are
transformed from one generation to another
generation. Habit is a hard case. It is difficult to break
these habits. Thus, the old habits often such as
obstacles for social development.

7. 4.Fear and Suspicion: A whenever a new set
of values are introduced in society there is
misapprehension among people. They suspect
the motive behind these new values. They
naturally oppose the introduction of these new
measures of fear and suspicion.

8. 5.Ignorance: Generally in developing countries,
people out of ignorance, are content with the
existing way of life. They do not like to change their
way of life. Thus, as long as they are ignorant, it is
possible to achieve social change and social
progress.

9. 6.Illiteracy:The leading for stagnation is the lack of
opportunities and facilities to eradicate illiteracy.
Besides poverty, the apathetic attitude of the masses
is a major contributory factor. Several educational
programs, development of technical and
professional institutions, adult education programs
are the need of the hour.

10. 7.Religion: Another major obstacle that not only
tends to hinder social development but on the other
hand catalyses the destruction of a planned system.
Nowadays one can observe the destruction
element in religion which has created and shaken
the physical and moral structure of the society to
the roots. Some aspects like superstition, animism,
magic, totemism, ceremonialism, etc have all
affected the social planning.