Economic and Social History of India

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The economic system of any country is geared to satisfy the unlimited wants of its people, using scarce resources, through organized group behaviour. Hence, human behaviour plays an important role in determining economic activity. Human behaviour in turn is influenced to a great extent by social institutions. Hence, the economic history of a people is obviously an aspect of their social history, and cannot be fully comprehended without reference to it. It is interwoven with the structure and norms of the social institutions of a country, and economic developments both influence, and in turn are influenced by the social institutions. In short, economic development has both social causes and consequences.

The two social institutions on the basis of which Indian society has been organized since ancient times, are the Hindu Joint Family and the Caste System. Many scholars have put the blame for India's economic backwardenss on the shoulders of these two institutions. However, a detailed analysis of their characteristics and the changes in them through the ages will reveal that these institutions have not determined economic growth, but have certainly influenced its form and tempo.

Rajender Kumar, M.A. and B.Ed. degrees from C.C.S. University, Meerut. During his studies he got many scholarships and successfully became an instructor with Directorate of Delhi Administration. An experience of more than ten years is to his credit. During the period, he attended many seminars conducted by administration time to time. He has also edited and written articles for the journals of repute.

The economic system of any country is geared to satisfy the unlimited wants of its people, using scarce resources, through organized group behaviour. Hence, human behaviour plays an important role in determining economic activity. Human behaviour in turn is influenced to a great extent by social institutions. Hence, the economic history of a people is obviously an aspect of their social history, and cannot be fully comprehended without reference to it. It is interwoven with the structure and norms of the social institutions of a country, and economic developments both influence, and in turn are influenced by the social institutions. In short, economic development has both social causes and consequences.

The two social institutions °lithe basis of which Indian society has been organized since ancient times, are the Hindu Joint Family and the Caste System. Many scholars have put the blame for India's economic backwardenss on the shoulders of these two institutions. However, a detailed analysis of their characteristics and the changes in them 'through the ages will reveal that these institutions have not determined economic growth, but have certainly influenced its form and tempo.

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