Characteristics of a village community PDF

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Char act er i st i csofavi l l agecommuni t y

A vi l l age communi t y can be defined as a speci fic geogr aphi cal l ocat i on i nhabi t ed by a l i mi t ed numberofi ndi vi dual s who ar e i nt i mat el y and i nf or mal l y associ at ed wi t h one anot her . The pr i mar ysour ceofl i ve l i hoodf orr ur alpeopl ei sagr i cul t ur e,whi l e t hey ar e al so i nvol ved i n a var i et y ofot heract i vi t i es such as f or estpr oducecol l ect i ng,weavi ng,dai r ypr oduct i on,and soon. Accor di ng t o T. L. Smi t h, " Agr i cul t ur e and t he col l ect i ng ent er pr i ses ar et he f oundat i ons oft he r ur aleconomy ,and t he t er ms f ar merand count r yman ar e near l y synonymous. "Asi de f r om t hese char act er i st i cs ,t he peopl e of t he vi l l age al so demonst r at ehomogenei t yofpopul at i on,asar esul tofwhi c ht hey donotcommonl ycomei nt oconfli ctwi t h oneanot herandr e t ai n mut uali nt i macyandpeacewi t honeanot her .Ar ur alcommuni t y i sdi s t i ngui shedbyt hechar act er i s t i csl i s t edbe l ow:

Basesofsoci alor gani zat i on:Ther ear emor et hanhal fami l l i on vi l l agesi nI ndi a,accor di ngt ooffici alfigur es .Ei ght yper cent oft heI ndi an popul at i on r esi desi nt hesesmal lt ownsand r ur alar eas.Asar esul t ,t hegr owt hofvi l l agesi si next r i cabl y r e l at edt ot hedest i nyofI ndi ai nev er yway .

Gr oup ofpeopl e:A vi l l agecommuni t yi sagr oup ofpeopl ewho do notshar e a common i nt er estand who do noti nt er ac t wi t h one anot her .They do,on t he ot herhand,shar et he f undament alci r cums t ancesofac ommonwayofl i f e.

Speci ficl ocal i t y:Thephysi calf oundat i onofavi l l agecommuni t y i si t sl ocat i on.I ti sonl ywhenacol l ect i onofpeopl ebegi nst o l i v ei n a cer t ai nl ocat i on t hatt hey ar econsi der ed t o bea vi l l agecommuni t y .

Smal l ers i ze:Vi l l agevi l l agesar eof t ensmal l eri nsi z et hanur ban ar eas.Avi l l agecommuni t yi sdefinedbyt heCensusofI ndi a asal ocal i t ywi t h 5000i nhabi t ant sormor e .Ei ght yper cent ofI ndi anvi l l ageshaveapopul at i onofl esst han1000peopl e eac h.

Si gni ficance of nei ghbor hood: Anot her i mpor t ant as pec t of vi l l agel i f ei st hecl osenessoft hepeopl ei nt hecommuni t y t o one anot her .Two var i abl es,name l yt he desi r e ofr ur al peopl et ol i v ei n cl ose pr oxi mi t yt o one anot her and t he avai l abi l i t yofan at mos pher eoff e l l owf eel i ng,camar ader i e, sympat hy ,affect i on,and l ov ei n ar ur alse t t i ng,f ost ert he deve l opmentofnei ghbour hood r e l at i onshi psi nt hevi l l age . Asf arast hevi l l agecommuni t yi sconcer ned,e ver yonel ov es hi sorhernei ghbourasmuch ast hey l ovet hemsel v es.I n f act , he be l i eves hi s next door nei ghbour t o be mor e i mpor t antt han hi sr e l at i veswhol i veal ongdi s t anceaway . Whenever t her e i s a cr i si s, he al ways suppor t s hi s nei ghbourand i sbac ked upbyhi snei ghbour si n asi mi l ar f ashi on.

Communi t y sent i ment :The basi ce ssent i alcor e ofa vi l l age' s communi t yi st he sent i mentoft he peopl e who l i ve t her e. Thevi l l ager sexudeagr eatsenseofbe l ongi ngandas t r ong senseof" wef ee l i ng. "Some t i mest hemostcommon wayt o expr esssuc h communi t ysensei st o say " my own vi l l age . " Member sal sohaveasenseofr e l i anceont hegr oupf orbot h physi caland psyc hol ogi calgr at i ficat i on,whi ch cont r i but es t ot hei rsenseofbe l ongi ng.

Pr eval ence of pr i mary r el at i ons: A vi l l age communi t y i s f r equent l yobser v edasacor egr oupi ne t hnogr aphi cs t udi es. I ti s di st i ngui shed by t he pr eponder ance of per sonal r e l at i onshi ps, whi ch ar e al so mar ked by t hei rr e l at i ve l ongevi t y . Human connect i ons ar e char act er i sed by a r e l at i v el ac k off ussand aut hent i ci t y .ki nshi p gr oupshave an i mpor t ant f unc t i on i n t he cont ext of a vi l l age communi t y' ssoci als t r uc t ur e.

Mar r i age: Endogamy i s wi de l y pr act i sed i n r ur al ar eas, par t i cul ar l yi nt he count r ysi de.The t r adi t i onalsys t em of mar r i age i s domi nat ed by ar r anged mar r i ages,i n whi c h par ent sc hooset hes pousesf ort hei rc hi l dr enbasedont hei r pr e f er ences .Bot h boys and gi r l s have ei t her no or v er y l i mi t edopt i onswhen i tcomest ochoosi ngamat e,andt hi s appl i est obot hgender s.

Joi nt f ami l y syst em:I nr ur alcommuni t i es ,t he j oi nt f ami l y sys t em cont i nues t oi nfluence t he f undament alst r uct ur al uni t . Ever yone i n af ami l yl i ves under t he same r oof , consumesf oodpr epar edi nt hesamehear t h,hol dspr oper t y t oge t her ,par t i ci pat esi nt hesamer e l i gi on,and i sr e l at ed t o oneanot herasmember sofacer t ai nt ypeofki ndr ed.I thas been demonst r at ed t hat t he number ofj oi nt f ami l i es i n vi l l ages i s si gni ficant l y hi gher t han t he number ofj oi nt f ami l i esi nt ownsandci t i es.

Agr i cul t ur aleconomy:Amongt hemos ti mpor t antj obsi nr ur al I ndi ai s agr i cul t ur e,whi c hi s consi der ed t o be one oft he mostpr of ound.I ti spr i mar i l yawayofl i f ef ort hevi l l ager s, whose ent i r ef or m of soci al l i f e, dai l y schedul e, habi t s , r i t ual s,andat t i t udesar ecent r edonagr i cul t ur alpr oduct i on and pr oduct i on. A ver y smal l segment of t he r ur al popul at i on r e l i es on nonagr i cul t ur aloccupat i ons l i ke as car pent r y , pot t er y , baske t maki ng, and ot her si mi l ar act i vi t i es f or t hei rl i vi ng,butt hese occupat i ons ar e al so i ndi r ec t l yt i ed t ot he pr i nci paloccupat i on ofagr i cul t ur e, whi c hi sagr ar i anpr oduct i on.

Cas t eSyst em:Thecast esyst em i nt heI ndi anvi l l agecommuni t y i s a uni que t r ai tt hat di st i ngui shes i tf r om ot her s.The f unct i on,st at us,occupat i on,and mar r i ager e l at i onshi psof t hevi l l ager sar eal lpr escr i bedi nt hedocument .Asar esul t , t he cast e syst em wi e l ds suc h deci si v e power over t he

vi l l ager st hati thasbeen apt l yr ef er r edt oast he" al phaand omega"ofvi l l agel i f e. Jaj manisyst em:TheJaj manime t hodi sye tanot hert r adi t i on of I ndi an r ur all i f et hatcont i nuest ot hi sday .Member sofa cas t eora numberofcas t escompe t ewi t h oneanot herf or t he ser vi ces of member s of ot her cast es under t hi s ar r angement .I ndi vi dual s who ar e pr ovi ded wi t h such ser vi ces ar er ef er r ed t o as ' Jaj mans, 'whi l et hose who pr ovi de such ser vi ces ar er ef er r ed t o as " Par j ans" or " Kami ns. "TheKami nsar ecompensat edi nt hef or m ofcr ops or gr ai ns, whi ch ar e har vest ed e i t her annual l y or bi annual l y .TheKami nsr ecei veaddi t i onalcompensat i on on cer emoni alev ent ssuch asweddi ngs,bi r t hs,and f uner al s . Known as Jaj manir e l at i ons,t hey br i ng t oge t her f ami l i es f r om di ffer entcast es t of or m her edi t ar y ,per manent ,and mul t i pl e par t ner shi ps.I nr ecentyear s,c hanges i nI ndi a' s soci oeconomi c and pol i t i cal envi r onment s have had a consi der abl edes t abi l i si ngeffec tont hesyst em.

Uncompl i cat ed l i f est yl e:I ti s ent hr al l i ng t o see t hat ,even i n t oday' smoneyor i ent ed wor l d,t het r adi t i onal l yse ti deali n t hevi l l agei soneofmodestl i vi ngand l of t yt hought ,r at her t han t heopposi t e.Thevi l l ager sar ea s t r ai ght f or war d and si ncer egr oup ofi ndi vi dual swhol i veaser eneandpl easant exi st ence.

Fai t hi nr el i gi on:Thei mpor t anceofr e l i gi on i nt hevi l l age' sl i f e cannotbeover s t at ed.Ev er y si gni ficantdeed ofvi l l agel i f e, such ast hesowi ng ofseeds,t hehar vest i ng ofcr ops ,t he bi r t h ofc hi l dr en,t hemar r i ageofcoupl es,t hedi agnosi sof di sease, and t he l oss of a l ov ed one, i si nfluenced by r e l i gi ous be l i e f s.When t hi s occur s,t he vi l l ager s obser v e r e l i gi ousev ent ssuc h as' Puj a, 'Me l a, 'orki r t an, 'whi ch ar e per f or medi nt hef or m ofsongs.Asar esul t ,r ur alar eashave av er yst r ongr e l i gi ousbe l i e fsyst em.

Homogenei t y: Anot her i mpor t ant c har act er i s t i c of vi l l age communi t i es i st he homogenei t y oft hei rpopul at i ons.The member s ofa vi l l age ar e si mi l ari nt hei rc l ot hes,speec h, be l i ef s,val ues,at t i t udes,and behavi our ,aswe l lasi nt hei r at t i t udesand be havi our s.Ther ei sl i t t l et hatdi s t i ngui shes t her ur alpeopl ef r om oneanot her ,andt heyt akegr eatpr i de i nt hei rshar edchar act er i st i cs . Panchayatsyst em:Theoper at i onoft hevi l l ageasapol i t i caland soci alor gani sat i on br oughtt oge t heri ndi vi dual sofv ar i ous cas t eswho wer epr evi ousl yi sol at ed.Thet r adi t i onalvi l l age Panc hayat ,whi ch t akes t he f or m ofa vi l l age counci l ,i s r esponsi bl ef ora wi de r ange ofr esponsi bi l i t i es,i ncl udi ng t he mai nt enance of l aw and or der ,t he se t t l ement of di sput es,t hece l e br at i onoff est i val s ,andt heconst r uct i onof r oads ,br i dges,andt anks,amongot her s .However ,t hecas t e Panc hayatwasi n char geofi mpor t anti ssuesl i keascast e

r egul at i ons,pr oper t yand f ami l ydi s put es ,and ot hersever e act i vi t i est hatr equi r edi mmedi at eat t ent i on. I nf or malsoci alcont r ol :Ther ei sa hi gh f r equency ofi nf or mal and di r ec ts oci alc ont r oli nr ur alar eas,and t hi scont r oli s par t i cul ar l ypr eval ent .I nvi l l ages ,ke ygr oupi ngssuchast he f ami l yand t henei ghbour hood exer ci sesi gni ficanti nfluence andcommandoversoci alcont r ol .Devi anti ndi vi dual soft he soci e t yar esubj ec tt os t r i ctc ont r olbyt het r adi t i onalvi l l age Panc hayatas we l las t he cas t e Panchayat .Cr i mi nal s ar e deal t wi t h har shl y and t her e i s no t ol er ance f or mi sbe havi our .

Mobi l i t y:Oneoft hechar act er i s t i csoft hevi l l agepopul at i on i s t hatt hei rgeogr aphi cal ,occupat i onal ,andsoci almobi l i t yi s l i mi t ed and r ar e,asi st hei raccesst or esour ces.Thecause f or t hi si sl i nked t oal ack of adequat e di st r i but i on of educat i onaloppor t uni t i es i nr ur alar eas.Howev er ,as a r esul t of di mi ni shi ng agr i cul t ur al pr oduct i on, t her e had been an i ncr easei nt henumberofcasesofr ur alfli ghti n r ecentyear s.I n sear ch ofbe t t erl i ve l i hood pr ospec t s( whi c h ci t i es affor d)and t or ai se t hei rs t andar d ofl i vi ng,r ur al peopl ear efleei ngt hei rhomesandl eavi ngt hei rhomel ands. As a r esul t , mi gr at i on and mobi l i t y have become i ncr easi ngl ycommon.

St at us ofwomen:Ov er al l ,women i nr ur alar eas l ack f or mal educat i on orhaveal owerl ev elofeducat i on t han women i n

ur ban ar eas,andt hei rsoci alposi t i on i sl owert han women i nur banar eas.

St andar d ofl i vi ng:Thevi l l ager s'l ev elofl i vi ngi sext r eme l yl ow asar esul toft hei rext r emepover t yand l ac kofappr opr i at e empl oymentopt i ons.Asar esul t ,t hevas tmaj or i t yofpeopl e do nothav e access t o basi c home ameni t i es and l ei sur e f aci l i t i es.Sever aloft hem ar esuffer i ngf r om s ev er epov er t y and f ood i nsecur i t y . They do not have enough sur pl us i ncomeorsavi ngst ocovert hei rexpenses.

Cul t ur e: Because r e l i gi on and r i t ual s ar e gi v en hi gher i mpor t ance i n vi l l ages t han t hey ar ei nl ar ger ci t i es or t owns,cul t ur ei n vi l l agesi smor es t at i ct han i ti si nl ar ger ci t i es or t owns. I t has been di scov er ed t hat t he r ur al popul at i on i s mor e phi l osophi cal t han t he mat er i al i s t i c me t r opol i t an popul at i on.Thevi l l agesar esi gni ficantf r om a soci ol ogi cal st andpoi nt si nce t hey ar e r esponsi bl e f or pr eser vi ng t he anci ent cul t ur e of I ndi an soci e t y . The vi l l ager si nI ndi a st i l lhol df astt ot he l of t y goal s oft he t heor yofPur ushar t haandt hedoc t r i neofKar ma,andt he y l i v e a si mpl e and nat ur alexi st ence defined by sacr i fic e, t hei s t i ct endenci es,and ot herchar act er i s t i csoft heHi ndu r e l i gi on.They wor shi p a pl e t hor a ofdei t i es and cel e br at e eac handev er yeventt hatcomesal ong.

Thef eat ur esl i st edabovei ndi cat et hatI ndi anvi l l agesar es t r onger and mor es t abl et han t hei rcount er par t si n ot herpar t s oft he wor l d.Accor di ng t o ot her s,t he r eason f or t hi si s due t ot he r e l at i v e l yst at i cnat ur eofr ur al i sm asawayofl i f e-t her ul esof be havi our , cust oms of f ami l y r el at i onshi ps, t r adi t i ons of communi t yl i f e,andsoon andsof or t h Thef eat ur esl i s t edabov e ar esomeoft hemosti mpor t antas pec t sofa vi l l agec ommuni t y wher el i f ei s mor e nat ur aland or gani sed i n a mor e or der l y manner . Despi t et hef actt hatt hevi l l ager sar enotfinanci al l ysecur e,t hei r way ofl i f e cont i nues t o be fil l ed wi t h happi ness due t ot he si mpl i ci t y of t hei r exi s t ence. However , over t i me, t he af or ement i oned t r ai t s have gr adual l yf aded away and been r epl aced wi t h ot hert er mi nol ogy .Becauseoft hei mpactofsoci al deve l opmentpr ocesses such as i ndust r i al i zat i on,ur bani sat i on, and ot her f ac t or s, some of t hese qual i t i es have f aded away , par t i al l yorcompl e t e l y ,and someoft hei rpur i t y hasbeen l os t . Howev er ,t hesef eat ur esar es t i l lval i di nt hemaj or i t yofcases,i f notal loft hem. .

TypesofVi l l ages: Thei nvest i gat i on i nt ot he cat egor i sat i on ofvi l l age communi t i es has r ami ficat i ons on a var i e t y of l eve l s . Under st andi ng t he var i ous soci alst r uct ur es and cul t ur alpat t er ns t hatoper at ei n t he r ur almi l i eu i s made possi bl et hr ough t hi sr esear c h.Apar t f r om t hat ,cat egor i z at i onsl i ket hesear euse f uli ndet er mi ni ngt he deve l opment of a cer t ai n l ocal communi t y .I n t er ms of a

commonl y accept ed cat egor i sat i on ofr ur alcommuni t i es ,r ur al soci ol ogi st s ar e not unani mous i n t hei r opi ni ons. Vi l l age communi t i es have been c l assi fied accor di ng t o a number of i mpor t antchar act er i s t i cs,someofwhi chhavebeenes t abl i shed. Accor di ngt osomecr i t er i on,vi l l ageshavebeen di vi dedi nt ot hr ee cat egor i es . 1.Mi gr at or y agr i cul t ur alvi l l ages:These vi l l ages r e f ert ot he vi l l ages wher et he peopl el i v ei n fixed abodes onl yf orf ew mont hs. 2.Semiper manent agr i cul t ur alvi l l ages:These vi l l ages ar e char ac t er i z ed by t hepeopl el i vi ngi n a vi l l ageonl yf orf ew mont hs. 3.Per manent agr i cul t ur al vi l l ages. So f ar as per manent agr i cul t ur alvi l l ages ar e concer ned,t he popul at i on r esi des f ormanygener at i ons. Si x gr oupi ngs ofvi l l ages have been est abl i shed i n accor dance wi t h ye tanot hercr i t er i on ofcl assi ficat i on.Theyar edi vi ded i nt o t he f ol l owi ng cat egor i es: sol i t ar y f ar mst eads, vi l l ages, l i ne vi l l ages, ci r cul ar pat t er n, mar ke t cent r e se t t l ement s , and haml e t s .When i tcomest oan i sol at edf ar mhouse ,t hei ndi vi dual l i veson hi sorherf ar m,wi t h hi sorherf ar ml and sur r oundi ng hi m orher .Thepat t er n ofse t t l ementknown asavi l l agedenot es t he concent r at i on ofr ur alpeopl e and t hei r agr i cul t ur ei na par t i cul arar ea.I nt hecaseofl i nevi l l ages,dwe l l i ngsar ec l oset o one anot herand easi l y accessi bl ef r om one anot herwhi l e al so bei ng pl aced on t hei r separ at ef ar ms.When i tcomes t ot he ci r cul ar l ayout ,i ti s di scover ed t hatt he vi l l age dwe l l i ngs ar e ar r anged i n aci r cl ear ound ac ent r als pace,wi t ht her esi dences

andyar dl ocat edatt heapexofat r i angl epl ot .Mostpeopl ewho l i v ei n mar ke tcent r ese t t l ement swor kasmer chant swhodeali n agr i cul t ur alpr oduct s ,banker s ,shopkeeper s,and ot herbusi ness peopl e. Smal l vi l l ages ar er ef er r ed t o as haml et s . Gener al l y s peaki ng,t hey do notgi v et he f aci l i t i es and ser vi ces t hatar e easi l yavai l abl ei nt hebi ggervi l l agese t t i ng. The f ol l owi ng t ypes ar e ot hercr i t er i af or cat egor i z at i on oft he vi l l agecommuni t i es: a)The nuc l eat ed vi l l age:I ti s ot her wi se known as gr ouped vi l l age wher ehomes off ar mer sand ar t i sans ar e bunched j oi nt l y wher eas t he l and cul t i vat ed by t hem i sl ocat ed out si det hevi l l ageatv ar yi ngdi st ances.Thei rl i v es t oc k ar e of t enaccommodat edwi t ht hem ornear by .I r r espec t i veoft he var i e t yofshapes,such vi l l agesar et ypi fied bya cl osekni t soci al or gani zat i on pr omot ed by r esi dent i al cl oseness, cont act ,communi t y sent i ment s and i deas .I nt he I ndi an cont ext ,nuc l eat ed vi l l age i st he mostcommon pat t er n of set t l ementf r equent l yvi si bl ei npaddygr owi ngar eas. b)The l i nearvi l l age:I nl i neart ype ofse t t l ementt he houses ar ebui l ton par al l e lr owsand t her ei shar dl yanyphysi cal demar cat i on t oi l l ust r at ewher eonevi l l ageendsand wher e anot her begi ns.Smal lst r eams or mount ai ns di vi de one vi l l agef r om t heot herand dol eoutasnat ur alboundar i es. Ev er y house i s bounded by a smal lgar den ofcoconut s , pl ant ai ns,andcashew nut sandt her i cefiel dsar ebi taway

f r om t hehouses.Thi smode luni t est hesoci aladvant agesof r esi dent i alc l osenessand economi cadvant agesofl i vi ngon one’ sl and.Suc h vi l l ages ar ef ound i n Ke r al a and i nt he de l t al andofBengal . c)Di sper sedvi l l age:Thevi l l agei nwhi cht hedwe l l i ngpl acesof t he vi l l age l ay speckl ed or di ffused i s cal l ed a di s per sed vi l l age.Such ki ndsofvi l l agesar ef oundi n hi l l yar eas ,asi n t he Hi mal ayan f oot hi l l s,i nt he hi ghl ands ofGuj ar ate t c . Thesevi l l ages haveno defini t e shape ors t r uct ur e and no vi l l age s t r ee t s . Ther e ar e onl yf oot pat hs connect i ng one c l ust erwi t hanot her .Fami l i esl i vi ngont hei rf ar msr e t ai nal l t hel i v es t ockandot herpossessi onsi nt hef ar m.

d)The mi xed vi l l age: Mi xed vi l l age i st he combi nat i on of nuc l eat edanddi s per sedpat t er n ofse t t l ement s .I nt hi st ype ofvi l l agese t t l ementt her ei sabi ggercompac tse t t l ementof houses whi ch i s sur r ounded by a f ew smal lhaml e t s ata di st ance.Such vi l l agescan beseen bot hi n pl ai n aswel las mount ai nousr egi ons.

When i tcomest ot hel ayout ,di s t r i but i on,andi nt er nals t r uct ur e ofr ur alvi l l ages,t her ei sasi gni ficantv ar i at i on.Wheni tcomest o di vi di ngt hem i nt osi gni ficantsubgr oups,f ourcr i t er i ahav ebeen est abl i shed.Per manency ,se t t l ement ,soci als t r at i ficat i on,and soci alst r uct ur ear et hec har ac t er i st i csofasoci e t y .Whenwet al k about per manence, we ar e r e f er r i ng t o t he pr ocess of

t r ansi t i oni ngf r om man' swander i ngl i f es t yl et ohi sst abl evi l l age l i f est yl e.Se t t l ementr e f er st oapat t e r nofecol ogi caldi s t r i but i onof houses of soci al gr oups t hat has been es t abl i shed. Soci al s t r at i ficat i on r e f er st ot het ypesandl eve lofsoci aldi ffer ence,t he r anki ng wi t hi nas t r at i ficat i on sys t em,t he degr ee ofmobi l i t y per mi t t ed by t he syst em, as we l l as pat t er ns of pr oper t y owner shi pi n a gi v en ar ea. Las t but not l east , or gani sat i on r epr e sent st heway vi l l agecommuni t i esor gani se t hei rcommon l i vesi nt hei rr es pec t i v e vi l l ages.I nr ur alsoci ol ogy ,cooper at i v e, semi col l ect i ve,and col l ect i v evi l l ageshaveal lbeen i dent i fied as di st i nc tt ypesofset t l ement ....