Kerala society is
innately conservative. The influence of religion and the existence of
traditions, rituals… are examples for this conservative nature of Kerala
society. Right now our society is hastily moving away from conservative nature
to modern rational nature. The protagonists of modernity are the youth of the
day and the conservatives mostly consists of middle aged and elderly people.
Thus the formations of two polarised groups have paved the way for conflicts to
rise of late in our society. The new generation looks as if to be celebrating the
arrival of modernity especially the youth of the day while the aged are
sceptical about the changes happening around them.
Conservatism
In earlier times the
norms of the society included obeying parents, choosing a career that parent
select for you, choosing the bride or groom according to the wishes of family,
obeying religious leaders, observing religious rituals… These customs, rituals
and cultural symbols etc. formed the part of traditional Kerala society. Today the
foregoing elements are increasingly being questioned by youngsters who are
influenced by rationalism, societies outside, mass media, western culture and
so on. Apart from these the religious values that have been entrenched in the
minds of people in Kerala society are also being increasingly scrutinised by
the modernisers.
Modernism
Modernity comes with
posing questions to the existing order of society. Lessened hold of religion
over the lives of people, materialistic culture, changing dressing patterns,
changing food habits, dislike towards out-dated traditions, changing pattern of
relationships especially the formalisation of relationships… are indeed the
characteristics of our modernity.
As we have seen the
characteristics of old and new societies we are confronted with the next
important question; what are the driving forces behind this transition that is
currently proceeding in our society. The driving forces behind this transition
are dealt in the subsequent chapter.
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