Impact of socio economic dualism on the development process : economic pulls versus social rigidities in India

In the present volume, the authors have attempted to analyse the impact of the rigidities of traditional, social, cultural and institutional factors on the Indian. economy, and have drawn heavily on the various dualistic theories, ancient Indian history and current analyses which find a place in various economic and social studies. The various theories have been used to focus attention on the mechanics and logistics of social constraints which have affected development in t developing economies. Ancient Indian history has been drawn upon to analyse the social structures, and particularly social and economic organisations, the structure of personality and the accepted world view, the role of the individual in society, and the impact of religion and social values on the economic growth of the ancient Indian society. Finally, the authors have tried to probe into the nature of the social and economic transformation which has been ushered in by the Western model of industrialisation and programmes of development during the Plan periods.

The authors have, moreover, attempted to analyse and pinpoint the major areas of social pressures vis-a-vis economic pulls. These areas are: (i) Religion and social attitudes vis-a-vis the requirements of modern. economic growth; (ii) Caste hierarchy and ascriptive orientation versus achievement orientation; (iii) Samskaras and fatalism against rationality; (iv) Diverse cultures and the problem of social and economic change; (v) Magic and superstition versus scientific outlook; (vi) Diverse languages and parochial predominance; (vii) Dual legal system and the new social and economic policies; (viii) Public sector versus private sector; and (ix) Social justice vis-a-vis economic growth. Finally specific solutions have been offered for overcoming social rigidities and evolving a policy which would accelerate the rate of growth, which is not only a problem of economic inputs but also essentially a problem of human development.