Which of the following statements is not applicable for peasant societies?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → market ensures social equality
Option (1) market ensures social equality — Not applicable (Correct). Markets are social institutions, often controlled or organised by particular social groups or classes. When tribal areas were linked to wider markets, the entry of traders and moneylenders led to the impoverishment of adivasis, many of whom lost their land to outsiders. Markets do not make people equal.
Option (2) markets link regional and local economies — Applicable (Incorrect). Periodic markets link different regional and local economies together, and link them to the wider national economy and to towns.
Option (3) trading on cash crops — Applicable (Incorrect). People come to the weekly market to sell their agricultural or forest produce to traders, who carry it to the towns for resale. Crops grown for sale are traded in this way.
Option (4) periodic markets — Applicable (Incorrect). In most agrarian or ‘peasant’ societies around the world, periodic markets are a central feature of social and economic organisation; weekly markets bring together people from surrounding villages.
NCERT (2025-26): “4.1 Sociological Perspectives on Markets and the Economy … Sociologists view markets as social institutions that are constructed in culturally specific ways. For example, markets are often controlled or organised by particular social groups or classes, and have specific connections to other institutions, social processes and structures.…” “4.1 Sociological Perspectives on Markets and the Economy … In most agrarian or ‘peasant’ societies around the world, periodic markets are a central feature of social and economic organisation. Weekly markets bring together people from surrounding villages, who come to sell their agricultural or other produce and to buy manufactured goods and other items that are not available in their villages. They attract traders from outside the local area, as well as moneylenders, entertainers, astrologers, and a host of other specialists offering their services and wares. In rural India there are also specialised markets that take place at less frequent intervals, for instance, cattle markets. These periodic markets link different regional and local economies together, and link them to the wider national economy and to towns and metropolitan centres.” “4.1 Sociological Perspectives on Markets and the Economy … Due to all these changes, local tribal economies became linked into wider markets, usually with very negative consequences for local people. For example, the entry of traders and moneylenders from outside the local area led to the impoverishment of adivasis, many of whom lost their land to outsiders.” |