7. "The emergence of new social classes in British India was the direct consequence of the establishment of new social economy, new state.
Historically, new social classes are spurned out of some significant changes in the existing structure. From the emergence of affluent classes in Magadh to the Bourgeois who were born out of Industrial revolution, there have been various factors at play.
The establishment of the British rule and the consequent introduction of policies such as Zamindari system led to the emergence of an elite patronized section in the society.
The introduction of English education along with the establishment of modern education system gave rise to the emergence of new social classes in British India. A constant exposure to the modern liberal ideas brought a significant change in their attitude too.
Teachings based on Western sciences and philosophy rationalised their ideas. Now, they understood the irrelevancy of religious dogmas, discriminatory caste system, practices of Sati and child marriage. They initiated a socio-religious reform to get rid of these practices.
The modern means of communication such as railways, telegraph helped in the easy dissemination of such ideas. The middle class intelligentia was now much better connected than before.
The trade and commerce too was organised on the western mode of production. The establishment of modern industries gave rise to two new social classes— the Industrial class and modern working class. The Zamindari and the Ryotwari system introduced created a class of estate owners i.e. the Zamindar and the peasant proprietor.
The provision of the right to lease the land, brought into being classes such as tenants and sub-tenants.
Further more the classes of absentee landlord, and agricultural proletariat emerged due to the creation of rights to purchase and sell land, hire and employ labour on the land. There also developed a chain of intermediary classes of moneylenders and merchants between the cultivating peasant and the state.
The expansion of railways and amassing of wealth in the hands of Indian traders created another class of industrial bourgeois from among the wealthy members of the professional classes and Zamindars. This new class took a pioneer role in the rise of Indian owned textile, mining and other industries. These classes of industrial bourgeoise and the working class, rapidly grew in number in the later decade of 19th century.
The Britishers also felt the need of professionals in the new commercial enterprises and administrative system. In order to fulfil these needs, they established schools and colleges imparting commercial, legal and liberal education.
As a result, the new professional classes, comprising of lawyers, doctors, teachers and professors, managers and clerks, engineers, chemists, technologists, agronomists, journalists and others came into existence.
Historically, new social classes are spurned out of some significant changes in the existing structure. From the emergence of affluent classes in Magadh to the Bourgeois who were born out of Industrial revolution, there have been various factors at play.
The establishment of the British rule and the consequent introduction of policies such as Zamindari system led to the emergence of an elite patronized section in the society.
The introduction of English education along with the establishment of modern education system gave rise to the emergence of new social classes in British India. A constant exposure to the modern liberal ideas brought a significant change in their attitude too.
Teachings based on Western sciences and philosophy rationalised their ideas. Now, they understood the irrelevancy of religious dogmas, discriminatory caste system, practices of Sati and child marriage. They initiated a socio-religious reform to get rid of these practices.
The modern means of communication such as railways, telegraph helped in the easy dissemination of such ideas. The middle class intelligentia was now much better connected than before.
The trade and commerce too was organised on the western mode of production. The establishment of modern industries gave rise to two new social classes— the Industrial class and modern working class. The Zamindari and the Ryotwari system introduced created a class of estate owners i.e. the Zamindar and the peasant proprietor.
The provision of the right to lease the land, brought into being classes such as tenants and sub-tenants.
Further more the classes of absentee landlord, and agricultural proletariat emerged due to the creation of rights to purchase and sell land, hire and employ labour on the land. There also developed a chain of intermediary classes of moneylenders and merchants between the cultivating peasant and the state.
The expansion of railways and amassing of wealth in the hands of Indian traders created another class of industrial bourgeois from among the wealthy members of the professional classes and Zamindars. This new class took a pioneer role in the rise of Indian owned textile, mining and other industries. These classes of industrial bourgeoise and the working class, rapidly grew in number in the later decade of 19th century.
The Britishers also felt the need of professionals in the new commercial enterprises and administrative system. In order to fulfil these needs, they established schools and colleges imparting commercial, legal and liberal education.
As a result, the new professional classes, comprising of lawyers, doctors, teachers and professors, managers and clerks, engineers, chemists, technologists, agronomists, journalists and others came into existence.