If You Know Indian Society, You Are not Far From HSEE

HSEE  is not totally biased about sociology, anthropology, and political science, but it is these subjects that helps the aspirants to give their essay the true spirit of HSEE. Indian society and culture is the name that comprises of subjects like the above. MCQs are also asked for the same as well.

Prep Strategy

Although the name suggests the Indian society and culture alone, Indian philosophy should also be considered to an extent, like the Upanishads, phases of human life, and the terms and concepts  that comes under these. Another  vital part of the Indian society is the various forms of hierarchy that exists. The concepts like Sanskritsation, westernisation and modernization in India and the sociologists who proposed these concepts should be referred.

No. Just No.

 The institutions of society lays the foundation of the subject and the basic Indian laws laid upon these institutions. NCERT  12 textbooks can help the aspirants with demography of India (ref to the latest  census reports too), social movements and the changes of  1800s and 1900s, struggles of minorities and tribal groups, and get familiar with the names of the tribes in majority across the country. Political structure as well the characters of Indian constitutions are two fields of the syllabus that may help you with well-built arguments for the essay (depending upon the given topics).

The second phase of ‘Indian society and culture’ deals with Indian history. It includes religious history covering the beginning  till the current scenario of that particular religion(Buddhism, Jainism, the Sikhs, the Sufis)  in India. The formation of two cults in Indian religious history(Bhakthi movement) and the beginning of Vedic era were two milestones of Indian history that brought out the major cultural changes in the subcontinent and referring to these two events can be helpful in both the parts of HSEE. Another topic that all are familiar with is about the Mughal history, but apart from the names of the rulers and their year of reign, the major architectural  creation under them and the artistes in the corresponding emperor’s court.

Other  components include: modern India, viceroys and governor generals of British India, Panchayathi raj system, policies adopted by the government for the development of minority groups, their struggles, feminism in India, first war of independence(1857 revolt), reformation movement, teachings of Buddha and Mahavira, Gandhi and the movements led by him as well as ahimsa. Keep an eye on the syllabus as well.

Getting thorough with all the above topics seem tiring, but once we get started, they’ll no longer be an intricate task. For this section the years of important events (and not every single minor event) should be accurate in your memory, eg: the year of quit India movement, Swadeshi movement, ban of sati, etc.

Test taking strategy

For HSEE in general the MCQs can be completed on time only if the aspirants get faster with the analytical and quantitative skills. Maintain peace of mind before exam and you’ll answer them in ‘splitsecond’. And when it comes to the essay, we’ll have to take a minute or two to think of all the points for the essay topic you choose. Its the essay that fetches the ticket for the candidate, so keep it simple and it would be great if certain arguments of the candidates are reflected in the essay. All the best, to all the aspiring candidates.

Refer to the following sites for few materials:

http://holisticthought.com/socio-religious-reform-movements-in-india/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Buddhism_in_India

http://www.sociologyguide.com/social-stratification/Sanskritization.php ( all sociology related topics are available in this site)