Class 12 Sociology Important Chapter 3 Social Institutions: Continuity and Change

Class 12 Sociology Important Chapter 3 Social Institutions: Continuity and Change Solutions English Medium As Per AHSEC New Syllabus to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse through different chapters ASSEB Class 12 Sociology Additional Solutions in English and select need one. AHSEC Class 12 Sociology Additional Solutions Download PDF. HS 2nd Year Sociology Important Solutions.

Class 12 Sociology Important Chapter 3 Social Institutions: Continuity and Change

Also, you can read the NCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Book guidelines. ASSEB Class 12 Sociology Additional Question Answer are part of All Subject Solutions. Here we have given HS 2nd Sociology Important Solutions English Medium for All Chapters, You can practice these here.

Social Institutions: Continuity and Change

Chapter: 3

PART – A: INDIAN SOCIETY

IMPORTANT QUESTION AND ANSWER

Answer the Following Question:

1. Where does the word ‘Caste’ come from?

 Ans: The word ‘Caste’ is derived from the Portuguese word ‘Casta.’

2. What does the word ‘Casta’ mean?

Ans: The word ‘Casta’ means purity.

3. How many castes are there in the Varna system?

Ans: There are a total of four castes in the Varna system: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.

4. Who was Ayyankali?

Ans: Ayyankali (1863–1941) was a prominent social reformer and leader of the oppressed lower caste communities, especially the Dalits, in Kerala. Born into the Pulayar community, which was considered untouchable, Ayyankali fought against caste-based discrimination and social injustice. He organized protests demanding the right of Dalits to use public roads, access to education, and equality in temples and public spaces. Ayyankali established schools for Dalit children and encouraged education as a means of empowerment. His efforts led to significant social reforms in Kerala, challenging the rigid caste hierarchy and promoting social equality. Ayyankali is remembered as a pioneering figure who laid the groundwork for the Dalit liberation movement in southern India.

5. What is meant by ‘Joint Family’?

Ans: A ‘Joint Family’ is a traditional family structure prevalent in India, where multiple generations of a family—such as grandparents, parents, children, and their spouses—live together under one roof. This family system promotes shared responsibilities, collective decision-making, and economic cooperation among members. It supports social cohesion and provides emotional, financial, and social security. Joint families often share resources like income, property, and labor, and observe common rituals and festivals. Though modernization and urbanization have led to a rise in nuclear families, the joint family system remains an important social institution, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

6. What type of family is found in the Khasi society?

Ans: In Khasi society, matrilineal and matrilocal family structures are found.

7. Who coined the term “Sanskritization”?

Ans: The term “Sanskritization” was coined by the Indian sociologist M. N. Srinivas in the 1950s. He used it to describe the process by which lower caste groups in India seek upward social mobility by adopting the rituals, customs, and lifestyle of higher castes, particularly Brahmins and Kshatriyas. This process involves imitating dietary habits, religious practices, dress codes, and social behaviors associated with higher status groups, in order to gain social respect and improve caste standing. Sanskritization is a unique social phenomenon illustrating how caste dynamics are flexible and how cultural adaptation serves as a strategy for social change.

8. Who was Jyotirao Phule?

Ans: Jyotirao Phule (1827–1890) was a visionary social reformer, thinker, and writer from Maharashtra. He dedicated his life to fighting caste discrimination and promoting education for the oppressed, particularly women and lower caste communities. He founded the “Satya Shodhak Samaj” (Society of Truth Seekers) in 1873 to challenge the dominance of Brahmins and to promote social equality and justice. Phule advocated for the eradication of untouchability, widow remarriage, and women’s education. His work laid the foundation for many later movements aimed at social reform and equality in India.

9. Who was Savitribai Phule?

Ans: Savitribai Phule (1831–1897) was a pioneering social reformer and India’s first female teacher. She played a crucial role in promoting education for girls and women, particularly from marginalized communities, at a time when female education was rare and discouraged. Alongside her husband Jyotirao Phule, she established the first school for girls in Pune in 1848. Savitribai worked tirelessly to challenge social evils like caste discrimination and gender inequality. She also cared for women affected by epidemics and poor health conditions, ultimately dying while nursing patients during a plague outbreak. Her legacy continues to inspire women’s empowerment and social reform movements.

10. What is meant by ‘tribes’?

Ans: ‘Tribes’ refers to the indigenous people or ancient communities of India.

11. What was the main basis of the caste system?

Ans: The main basis of the caste system was birth, the concept of purity, and the idea of pollution.

12. What was the primary livelihood of tribal communities?

Ans: The primary livelihood of tribal communities was hunting, gathering food, and collecting forest resources.

13. Who conducted the caste census in the 1901 Census?

Ans: The caste census in the 1901 Census was conducted by Herbert Risley.

14. How did Savitribai Phule die?

Ans: Savitribai Phule died while treating patients during a plague epidemic, as she contracted the disease.

15. What is the main difference between caste and tribe?

Ans: Caste is a pan-Indian social classification, whereas tribe is a local social classification.