HSC Arts (English Medium) इयत्ता १२ वी - Maharashtra State Board Important Questions

    Indian society is a melting pot of cultures. The history of Indian society gives enough evidence of the process of accommodation. From early times migrants integrated into Indian society and influenced its culture. Our historical past is testimony to this fact of cultural diffusion.

     Today, we describe our society as a composite whole that includes tribal, rural, and urban communities. The way of life in these segments has its unique characteristics there is interdependence between communities and on the other, this would imply a certain extent of loss of cultural elements such as language, beliefs, customary practices, etc. Have we not seen how, for example, Warli or Madhubani Art has made it to T-shirts and wall hangings in many households? Also, how technology has reached the remotest comer of our country?

    A question that may cross your mind may be, ‘Is there anything such as ‘pure’ culture? What constitutes “Indian culture”? Can cultural extremism be valuable in the present world? These questions are valid as they set us thinking Perhaps there is no single “answer”?

      How does one tackle social problems? How do societies deal with the social problems that they have to confront? Why do social problems arise? These are some questions that learners of sociology need to address.

       Societies have cultures; both of these are created by people, cumulatively, through the network of relationships over thousands of years. Every society has its normative system – customs, folkways, fashions, mores, taboos, fads, and laws. Social norms are guidelines for human behaviour. They tell us what is expected of us and at the same time, what to expect from others.

      Are these expectations permanent and unchanging? When can they change? Who changes them? Why must they change? Again, these are questions that one might ask. Social problems can arise when the expectations are not communicated effectively or when individuals or groups choose to disagree with the expectation. This can lead to situations of conflict not just ideological but also conflict that leads to hurting others' sentiments, abuse, violence, injustice, upheavals, normlessness, and even war.

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a Government of India programme that makes education for children between ages 6-14 free and compulsory. This programme was pioneered by former Indian Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1993-94. It became totally operational since 2000-2001. This programme made education a Fundamental Right.

Along with this, the Government of India also launched the National Programme of Nutritional support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) on 15th August 1995. From here emerged the concept of free 'Midday Meal' for children going to schools which were managed by local bodies like Gram Panchayats and Municipal Corporations. The 'Midday Meal' is mandatory. It is taken for granted that the children should be given good, nutritious food on a daily basis. A lot of organisation goes into the cooking and delivering these meals to the schools, on time.

Universal Education goes hand in hand with Nutrition. Children of the village and municipal schools look forward to this meal. For several of them it is perhaps the main meal of the day.