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Youth, Modernization and Social Transformation -
A Study of Rural and Hill Society in Uttarakhand, India

Deepak Paliwal, M.Phil., Ph.D.
Rajesh Chandra Paliwal, Ph.D.

Modernization is an extremely complex phenomenon, which involves a large number of interrelated changes of many different kinds. Modernization refers to processes in which the society goes through such as industrialization, urbanization and other social changes that completely transform the lives of individuals. The new force of social change like Westernization, Modernization, Industrialization, Globalization, Politicization of issues and Media exposure have changed the norms and the values of the youth throughout the country.

Many values of the parent's generation in regards to education and employment are now put in jeopardy. It erodes the traditional mystique of the parental authority and guidance defining youth's aspirations, their life style and future planning. The global culture has influenced the youth in multidimensional ways from their career choices, family and community interaction, leisure time activities to their inter-generational relations and socialization process.

Youth represents the dynamic character of human society. Youth has the capacity to absorb new challenges and evolve new values in a fast changing society. Thus, through its youth, a society copes with new challenges and demands and passes from a traditional mould to modernity.

In the present paper an attempt has been made to assess the attitude of the youth especially rural youth towards various issues i.e. view regarding marriage, superstitious beliefs, views regarding gender equality, etc.

Key words: Modernization, Youth, Social change, Education.

Introduction

Every thing is changing very rapidly be it our culture, customs, norms and values, change have been seen in every phase of life. New concepts like live-in- relationship, gay relationship etc. have emerged as a result of modernization.

Modernization is an extremely complex phenomenon, which involves a large number of interrelated changes of many different kinds. The concept of modernization is multidimensional incorporating economic development, technological revolution, rationality and scientific temper, emphasis on achieved status, equality, social justice and individualism (Dube 1973).

Modernization refers to the processes which the society goes through such as industrialization, urbanization and other social changes that completely transform the lives of individuals. It does not mean that traditionalism and modernity are two extremes and the two cannot co-exist. S.C.Dube and Yogendra Singh are of the view that the two can co-exist. Accepting traditionalism does not mean completely rejecting modernization. It may simply mean regulating the forces of modernization. Simply accepting modernization does not mean complete rejection of traditionalism. It means accepting only those elements of traditionalism which are considered by the society as functional for it, in view of the collective goal.

Thus the nature of social change in India is such that we find a synthesis of tradition and modernity. On the one hand, we have discarded those traditional beliefs, practices and institutions which we believe were more dysfunctional. On the other hand, we have imbibed those modern values and have created those modern institutions which we thought will help us in achieving our basic goals of "Change in quality of life of the people" (Sharma 2007).

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