India has been largely impacted by various elements of history and one such part is the ancient Hindu culture. The impact was not just limited to India alone. In fact, all parts of the world have been touched by the rich and deep culture of India. This article briefly discusses the socio-economic impact of this ancient Hindu society. As with other ancient societies, the economy of ancient India too, depended largely on agricultural production and other forms of manual work.
Agriculture played a major role in shaping the economy of ancient Hindu society. The different crops and the rich variety of animals depended on the fertile land. A large number of communities depended on different fields for their existence. The development of agriculture in the country led to the development of different productive forces, leading to an increase in agricultural production. Moreover, as per Sayings of the Hindu Scriptures, till the time of separation, unity was the only goal of the Hindu society. So, at that time there was no concept of national identity, as the population was classified into various castes.
Another significant socio-economic impact of Hindu culture is the extent of literacy and its subsequent spread all over the country. literacy was spread all over the country as it promoted peace and order in the society. Economic analysts argue that economic growth is the result of an inclusive polity and economic policies which are supported by religion. The social construction that took place during the religious period laid the basic principles of the rights of the individual, equality before the law and freedom. Religious tolerance and unity resulted in the establishment of a tolerant and multicultural society that has successfully integrated itself in the global community.
The most important of these socio-economic impacts of Hindu culture is the impact of the art and architectural traditions on the society. Since the time of separation the evolution of art has been marked by various changes in architectural designs. The demand for furniture and other items in the market has increased drastically in the past few decades. As per the economists of this modern era the most significant economic impact of the Hindu culture can be traced in the area of architecture.
There have been numerous changes in architectural designs in the past thousand years. However, new modernizations are taking place in the field of designing and furnishing. As per the experts the new century will witness numerous innovations in the field of architecture. The new age architectures are characterized by a fusion of traditional with new age elements. The importance of symbolism is found in the architecture of the new age. The use of modern technology, computers and innovative engineering methods has also resulted in the new era of architecture.
Another important dimension of the new age culture is the concept of local economy. This has led to the development of different micro-economies within the Indian subcontinent. These micro Economies have been facilitated by the liberalization policies of the government. The evolution of the new age culture has led to the liberalization of the economy leading to the development of different micro-economies.
One of the major changes in Hindu architecture is the contribution made by the western architectural practices in the architectural designs. There have been many changes in architectural designs of the Hindu temples. This has led to the emergence of a variety of different architectural styles. This has been further empowered by the changes in the social and lifestyle patterns.
A notable change in the architectural designs is the use of gold in architectural carvings. This is an innovation of the Modern era. Gold is considered a symbol of wealth in Hindu culture. It is also observed that more number of temples are being constructed with gold inlaid on the metal work. There are also a variety of interior designs using gold embellishments in the temples.