The Green Revolution and Cultural Change in a Punjab Village, 1965-1978

Abstract

This paper describes the main outlines of the green revolution in 1 Indian village between 1965 and 1978. The green revolution began in Punjab in 1965. Based on research and development at the Punjab Agricultural University cultivation of new high yielding varieties of food grain was introduced. The changes in the general cultural systems in the village found in 1978 are described. The concrete systems include the ecology the division of labor and the economy. Ideological systems detailed are the concepts and usages of kinship of the Sikh religion and of political parties. The village ecology was never totally self sufficient. However in 1965 it was closer to being self contained than in 1978. Agricultural production and marketing occurred within the village itself but in 1978 it was carried out by interdependent factors not necessarily from the same village. The bulk of agricultural labor is provided by the poorer and less educated villagers. The green revolution has resulted in outmigration of wealthier and better educated people from the villages due to accumulation of capital. New cooperative institutions have reorganized agricultural credit capital and produce. These provide increased economic security and allow the farmers to assume developmental risk. The coops protect the farmers interest in credit marketing and product prices. The farmers are aware of legal developments. There is a limit to the land a farmer can possess. They divide the land among their sons whenever possible. The Sikh religion predominates in the village. The introduction of modern farming technology has been accompanied by an intensification of traditional religious concepts. Sikh religious organizations have played a role in the linguistic division of the state in politics and in the government. Judging from all these changes it is evident that there has been positive gain in both ecological and economic terms despite inflation accompanied by equity and political stability. Success is attributed to positive attitudes of the farmers and the states organizational abilities.