Q.1. Define industrialization. (AKTU. 2009 - 10, 10 - 11, 12 - 13)
Ans. Industrialization is the process of social and economic change whereby a human group is transformed from a pre-industrial society into an industrial one. It is a part of a wider modernisation process, where social change and economic development are closely related with technological innovation, particularly with the development of large-scale energy and metallurgy production. It is the extensive organization of an economy for the purpose of manufacturing.
Industrialization also introduces a form of philosophical change where people obtain a different attitude towards their perception of nature, and a sociological process of ubiquitous rationalisation.
There is considerable literature on the factors facilitating industrial modernisation and enterprise development. Key positive factors identified by researchers have ranged from favourable political-legal environments for industry and commerce, through abundant natural resources of various kinds, to plentiful supplies of relatively low-cost, skilled and adaptable labour.
The high levels of structural differentiation, functional specialisation, and autonomy of economic systems from government were likely to contribute greatly to industrial-commercial growth and prosperity. Amongst other things, relatively open trading systems with zero or low duties on goods imports tended to stimulate industrial cost-efficiency and innovation across the board. Free and flexible labour and other markets also helped raise general business-economic performance levels, as did rapid popular learning capabilities.
Positive work ethics in populations at large combined with skills in quickly utilising new technologies and scientific discoveries were likely to boost production and income levels – and as the latter rose, markets for consumer goods and services of all kinds tended to expand and provide a further stimulus to industrial investment and economic growth. By the end of the century, East Asia was one of the most economically successful regions of the world – with free market countries such as Hong Kong being widely seen as models for other, less developed countries around the world to emulate. The first country to industrialize was Great Britain during the Industrial Revolution.
Q.2 What do you mean by Feudalism.
Ans. Feudalism is a decentralized sociopolitical structure in which a weak monarchy attempts to control the lands of the realm through reciprocal agreements with regional leaders. In its most classic sense, feudalism refers to the Medieval European political system composed of a set of reciprocal legal and military obligations among the warrior nobility, revolving around the three key concepts of lords, vassals, and fiefs. Although derived from the Latin word feodum (fief), then in use, the term feudalism and the system it describes were not conceived of as a formal political system by the people living in the Medieval Period.
There is no broadly accepted modern definition of feudalism. The term, which was coined in the early modern period (17th century), was originally used in a political context, but other definitions of feudalism exist. Since at least the 1960s, many medieval historians have included a broader social aspect, adding the peasantry bonds of manorialism, sometimes referred to as a “feudal society”. Still others since the 1970s have re-examined the evidence and concluded that feudalism is an unworkable term and should be removed entirely from scholarly and educational discussion, or at least used only with severe qualification and warning.
However, some have taken the feudalism analogy further, seeing it in places as diverse as ancient Egypt, the Parthian empire, the Indian subcontinent, and the antebellum American South.
The term feudal has also been applied—often inappropriately or pejoratively—to non-Western societies where institutions and attitudes similar to those of medieval Europe are perceived to prevail. Ultimately, the many ways the term feudalism has been used has deprived it of specific meaning, leading many historians and political theorists to reject it as a useful concept for understanding society.
Q.3. Write an essay on difficulties of industrialization in India.
Ans. We live in an age of science and technology. A country is powerful and advanced, only if it is scientifically and technically well-developed. America is the richest country of the world.
America dominates the world. America has made tremendous progress in science. It is due to scientific and technical achievements that America has become highly industrialized. Industrialization increases production manifold. India is yet in the backward agricultural stage. She must make rapid economic progress. The awfully low standard of her people must be raised. This makes the need and importance of industrialization for India quite evident. It is the only way to making India strong and prosperous.
First, let us fully understand the dangers of industrialization. Mumbai, Kolkata, Kanpur etc. are densely populated. They are industrial towns. Cowing to over-crowing and congestion, climate becomes unhealthy. Moral evils increase. We all know that big machines are labor saving devices. A single machine can do the work of hundreds of men. So thousands are thrown out on the road. They become victims of unemployment, hazards of industrialization are many. Sometimes there is leakage of gas from storage-tanks. This happened in Bhopal in the Union Carbide Factory. The fatal M.I.C. gas leaked out, killing thousands and injuring for life the health of many thousands more. According to the opinion of experts, even the children to be born would suffer from it. An industrial tragedy of such magnitude had never happened before anywhere in the world. It should be an eye-opener to all concerned. Safety regulations must be strictly enforced, and adequate compensation must be given to the victims of this unprecedented tragedy, besides the above dangers, some other difficulties also come in the way of industrialization. Big machine are very costly. No under-developed country, like India, can manufacture heavy machines. She has to obtain them from foreign countries. The dependence on others is the first difficulty, which must be faced. To purchase the machines, a huge amount of money is required. In a poor country, like India money cannot be obtained from internal rescues. Heavy taxes are imposed on the people to get every possible paisa from them. People are subjected to untold hardships and miseries. ‘No gain without pain’ is an oft quoted saying. We must bear all difficulties and be prepared to face the dangers, if we want to reap the advantages of industrialization. Through industrialization, production increases rapidly. Goods become cheaper. Plenty and prosperity take the place of poverty. The standard of living of the people is raised. An industrialized country not only satisfies the demands of her own people, but also exports her surplus goods. This increases her foreign trade. In this way, the country becomes prosperous and strong. Further, industrialization is also essential for the defense of the country. Modern armaments cannot be manufactured without an industrial base. So the advantages of industrialization far outweigh the dangers and difficulties which come in its wake.
Since independence India has been rapidly industrialized. Giant industrial concerns are located at suitable places all over the country. Industrialization is the only way open to her to take her rightful place in the comity of nations. Let all of us be reedy to bear the pangs and paints of industrialization with a determined will. we must sacrifice to-day for the sake of the future. The country must continue to march ahead on the road to industrialization, despite its many hazards, dangers and difficulties. Now multi nation have been invited to enter the field in a big way so that the speed of industrialization in India increased.
