Ravi, a Class XII student in a village in Bihar, keeps a diary. He notes that over three generations, families of several castes have given up meat and taken up new rituals at home, and that many young people now wear jeans and use English words in daily talk. He also writes about a group of women who, for ten years, have held meetings, petitioned officials and marched to demand that liquor shops near the village school be closed. His teacher asks him to sort these entries using sociological concepts.
Which of the following correctly classifies Ravi's entries on new food habits and rituals, and on jeans and English words?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Both are social changes, namely sanskritisation and westernisation
Option (1) Both are social movements, namely sanskritisation and westernisation — Incorrect. Sanskritisation and westernisation are not organised efforts towards a set goal. They spread slowly through countless actions, so they are social changes.
Option (2) The first is a social movement and the second is social change — Incorrect. The new food habits and rituals are sanskritisation, a slow social change. No group is working together here for a set goal, so it is not a movement.
Option (3) Both are social changes, namely sanskritisation and westernisation — Correct. Giving up meat and taking up new rituals is sanskritisation, and jeans and English words show westernisation. Both are slow shifts across generations, so both are social changes.
Option (4) The first is social change and the second is a social movement — Incorrect. Jeans and English words are westernisation, a gradual social change. Nobody planned or campaigned for them, so they are not a social movement.
NCERT (2026-27): “Distinguishing Social Change and Social Movements |