CHANGE

The influence of satellite TV

Traditional Hindu values of intellectuality, realism and self-sacrifice are challenged in broadcast programs such as ‘Star TV,’ whereby western programs stress physicality, fantasy and sexuality.
The broadcasting of the food network and advertisements from global food chains such as McDonalds, entails the proliferation of diets which involve the consumption of meat; directly challenging ‘ahimsa,’ one of the ideals of Hinduism which literally translates as non-violence, encompassing the avoidance of killing animals, most notably the cow, whereby in Hinduism, is thought to be sacred- Hindu goddess Bhoomi is often depicted in the form of a cow.
Whilst access to satellite TV entails Hindus in India to be better informed about the cultures and societies of other countries, there has been increased awareness surrounding religions that exist outside of Hinduism, such as Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism.[1]

Change within the caste system

The role of technology and industrialisation, which has given rise to residence in urban areas has allowed for occupational mobility between castes. The increasing industrial growth in India has induced urbanisation to avail better employment possibilities, and has contributed to the diminishing use of the caste system, as it is longer pertinent in heavily urbanised parts of India and economic sectors.
An increase of social and cultural resources facilitated by the Internet and communication technologies have provided the opportunity for persons of lower castes to receive the standard of education that a higher caste may have. As the Information Technology (IT) workforce, rapidly expands, there is demand for employment based upon educational standards, rather than castes.

Identified through increase of Work Participation Rate from 2001-2011 of those whom align themselves with a Scheduled Caste, otherwise known as the Dalits, from 32.1% to a 35.9% increase in Urban areas. [2]

Globalisation has entailed exposure of Hindus within India to western values of egalitarianism and rights to education, which have further influenced the formation of the reservation system in India, which aims to increase the opportunities for enhanced social and economic status of the underprivileged communities and thus uplift their lifestyle to have their place in mainstream Indian society. It encompasses the facilitation of a person in education, scholarship, and jobs and in promotion who has category certificates

Backwards castes or lower castes are eligibly for benefits
Out of 542 seats in India’s parliament, 84 (15.47%) are reserved for SC/Dalits and 47 (8.66%) for ST/Tribes
At the same time, reservation system perpetuates the institution of caste, as people who want to be eligible for the quota need to get a “community certificate” from the government.

Growth from 2001-2011

Women

As a result of globalisation, the Hindu women’s movement is being influenced by the ideology of women’s groups in western societies (feminism)

The Arya Samaj movement, founded by Dayananda Sarasvati aimed to restore Hinduism to the rational and ethical system it once was, its pure Vedic form to re-evaluate some aspect’s of a woman’s role
Dayananda advocated these reforms:
- Marriage from choice rather than by arrangement
- Abolition of child marriage
- Temporary alliance of widows and widowers for companionship and child rearing
- Education for women
Small proportion of women have asserted their independence by gaining tertiary qualifications at institutions such as in law, accounting, journalism.
- Seen through statistics ascertained by the International Labor Organisation, whereby there was an increase of the employment of women in services, from a 13% employment in 1994, to a 19.4% employment in 2012.[3]
- Slowly emerging independence reflects a greater understanding by some women of the possibilities outside the confines of Hindu tradition

Science

Challenge beliefs of Hinduism
- Identification of Ganges River as polluted challenges the belief of Ganges as a giver of life, agent or fertility and tirthas (holy place)
- Importance of the Ganges is embedded in Hindu mythology and is seen as a bridge between heaven and earth- tension between belief and scientific evidence

[1] Population by Religious Communities of Census 2011

[2] Primary Census Abstract for Total population, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 2011. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India

[3] Statistics ascertained by the International Labor Organisation (ILO)