Different Kinds of Social Change

Assertion: Sanskritisation usually accompanies or follows a rise in the economic status of the caste attempting it.

Reason: Adopting the ritual, domestic and social practices of a caste (or castes) of higher status raises the social status of the members of middle or lower castes.

Using the example of Kumud Pawade, show how the process of sanskritisation is gendered.

Kumudtai’s journey into Sanskrit began with great interest and eagerness with Gokhale Guruji, her teacher at school…At the University, the Head of the Department was a well-known scholar and he took great pleasure in taunting Kumudtai…Despite the adverse comments she successfully completed her Masters in Sanskrit…. Source: Kumud Pawade (1938)

Read the source and answer the following question.

Do you think sanskritisation is a gendered process? Give a reason for your answer.

With the growth of the ______ movement in the 20th century, there was an attempt in several Indian languages to drop Sanskrit words and phrases.

Read the source and answer the question:

Mention the kind of Westernization being referred to in the given source.

"Sanskritisation seems to justify a model that rests on inequality and exclusion." Give two reasons to support this statement.