Class 11 Sociology Notes Chapter 5 (Indian sociologists) – Understanding Society Book

Alright class, let's focus today on a crucial chapter for understanding the foundations of sociology in our own country – Chapter 5: Indian Sociologists, from your 'Understanding Society' textbook. This is vital not just for your Class 11 understanding but also carries significant weight for various government exams where knowledge of Indian society and its thinkers is tested.

We need to understand how sociology, initially a Western discipline, took root and evolved in India. Early studies were often done by colonial administrators or Indologists, focusing on texts. However, the sociologists we'll discuss mark a shift towards studying Indian society from within, using sociological methods, albeit with diverse approaches.

Detailed Notes: Chapter 5 - Indian Sociologists

Context:

• Sociology emerged in India during the colonial period.
• Early interest was often administrative (for governance) or Indological (focused on classical texts, often presenting a static view of society).
• The sociologists discussed represent the pioneers who established sociology as an academic discipline in India, focusing on empirical realities and contemporary issues alongside historical understanding.

Key Indian Sociologists (as per NCERT Class 11 Focus):

1. G.S. Ghurye (Govind Sadashiv Ghurye) (1893-1983)

• Pioneer: Often considered the 'father of Indian Sociology' due to his role in establishing the discipline, particularly at the University of Bombay. He trained many first-generation Indian sociologists.
• Major Themes: Caste, Tribe, Kinship, Culture, Religion, Urbanization, Nationalism, Civilisation.
• Approach:
  • Combined textual/Indological knowledge with empirical data, though less reliant on intensive fieldwork compared to later sociologists like Srinivas.
  • Emphasized a historical and comparative perspective.
  • Interested in understanding Indian society as a whole, often focusing on processes of cultural diffusion and integration.
• Key Contributions:
  • Caste: Provided a widely cited definition listing six key features: Segmental division, Hierarchy, Restrictions on feeding and social intercourse, Civil and religious disabilities and privileges of different sections, Lack of unrestricted choice of occupation, and Restrictions on marriage (endogamy).
  • Tribes: Controversially viewed tribes as "backward Hindus," suggesting they were part of Hindu society but lagged behind, needing integration. This view has been debated extensively.
  • Broad Scope: Wrote prolifically on a vast range of topics, demonstrating the wide applicability of a sociological lens to Indian society.
• Significance for Exams: Know his definition of caste features, his view on tribes, and his role as a foundational figure. Key Work: Caste and Race in India.

2. D.P. Mukerji (Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji) (1894-1961)

• Major Themes: Tradition and Modernity, Indian Culture, Role of Intellectuals, Middle Class, Music and Arts. Influenced by Marxism but developed his own unique perspective.
• Approach:
  • Emphasized the importance of understanding Indian society through its traditions. He believed Indian social systems had unique principles.
  • Critical of blind imitation of Western modernity. Advocated for a synthesis based on India's own cultural roots.
  • Stressed the significance of 'lived experience' (anubhava) and the development of a well-rounded personality (Purusha) within the Indian context.
  • Believed sociologists should be rooted in their own traditions to understand social reality meaningfully.
• Key Contributions:
  • Tradition: Argued that 'Tradition' (encompassing shruti, smriti, and critically, anubhava or experience) was central to Indian society and its change. Change should come from within the tradition, not just external imposition.
  • Modernity: Critiqued the uncritical acceptance of Western models and urged intellectuals to engage critically with both Indian tradition and Western modernity.
• Significance for Exams: Remember his emphasis on Tradition, his critique of modernity, and his call for sociologists to be grounded in their own culture.

3. A.R. Desai (Akshay Ramanlal Desai) (1915-1994)

• Major Themes: Indian Nationalism, State and Society, Social Change, Agrarian Sociology, Urban Issues, Political Sociology.
• Approach:
  • Explicitly used a Marxist framework (historical materialism) to analyze Indian society.
  • Focused on economic structures, class relations, and contradictions as drivers of social change.
  • Emphasized the role of the state and its class character.
• Key Contributions:
  • Indian Nationalism: Analyzed the social and class background of Indian nationalism, arguing it was primarily led by the bourgeoisie whose interests shaped the movement and the post-independence state. (Key Work: Social Background of Indian Nationalism).
  • State in Post-Independence India: Critiqued the Indian state, arguing it served the interests of the capitalist class and failed to deliver on promises of social justice and transformation outlined in the Constitution. He highlighted the gap between legal ideals and social reality.
  • Agrarian Transformation: Studied changes in rural India, focusing on class differentiation and the impact of capitalist development.
• Significance for Exams: Know him as the prominent Marxist sociologist in this group, his analysis of nationalism's class character, and his critique of the post-independence Indian state.

4. M.N. Srinivas (Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas) (1916-1999)

• Major Themes: Caste, Village Studies, Social Change, Religion.
• Approach:
  • Championed intensive fieldwork based on participant observation. Lived in villages to study them from the inside.
  • Focused on the micro-level dynamics of social life, particularly in rural India.
  • Distinguished between the 'book view' (textual, idealized view, e.g., Varna) and the 'field view' (how society actually functions on the ground, e.g., Jati dynamics).
• Key Contributions:
  • Village Studies: Made the Indian village a central site for sociological research, demonstrating its complexity and linkages to the wider society. (Key Work: The Remembered Village).
  • Sanskritization: A key concept describing the process whereby lower or middle castes attempt to raise their social status by adopting the rituals, customs, ideology, and way of life of a higher, often 'twice-born' (dwija) caste. It's a form of cultural mobility within the caste system.
  • Dominant Caste: Concept referring to a caste that wields significant power and influence in a local area (village or region) due to factors like:
    • Numerical strength
    • High ritual status (though not always the highest)
    • Economic power (especially land ownership)
    • Political power (access to modern education and positions)
  • Caste Dynamics: Showed caste not as rigid and unchanging (book view) but as dynamic and contextual (field view).
• Significance for Exams: Crucial concepts are Sanskritization, Dominant Caste, his emphasis on fieldwork, and the distinction between book view and field view.

Overall Importance:

• These sociologists laid the groundwork for studying Indian society rigorously.
• They represent diverse theoretical perspectives (structural-functionalism influenced Srinivas, Marxism influenced Desai, Ghurye's approach was eclectic, Mukerji focused on tradition).
• Their work highlighted key structures and processes in Indian society (Caste, Village, Tradition, Nationalism, State, Social Change) that remain relevant today.
• They moved sociology in India beyond textual analysis towards empirical investigation.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for Exam Practice:

1. Which Indian sociologist is often credited with providing a six-feature definition of the caste system and viewed tribes as 'backward Hindus'?
   a) M.N. Srinivas
   b) A.R. Desai
   c) G.S. Ghurye
   d) D.P. Mukerji

2. The concept of 'Sanskritization', describing the process of lower castes emulating higher castes' practices, was developed by:
   a) A.R. Desai
   b) M.N. Srinivas
   c) G.S. Ghurye
   d) D.P. Mukerji

3. Which sociologist prominently used a Marxist approach to analyze the 'Social Background of Indian Nationalism' and critique the post-independence Indian state?
   a) M.N. Srinivas
   b) D.P. Mukerji
   c) G.S. Ghurye
   d) A.R. Desai

4. D.P. Mukerji strongly emphasized the importance of understanding Indian society through its:
   a) Economic structures
   b) Traditions and lived experience
   c) Colonial administrative records
   d) Village social organization

5. The concept of 'Dominant Caste', referring to a caste with numerical, economic, and political power in a local area, is associated with:
   a) G.S. Ghurye
   b) A.R. Desai
   c) M.N. Srinivas
   d) D.P. Mukerji

6. Which sociologist is particularly known for advocating and employing intensive fieldwork and distinguishing between the 'book view' and the 'field view' of society?
   a) M.N. Srinivas
   b) A.R. Desai
   c) D.P. Mukerji
   d) G.S. Ghurye

7. A.R. Desai's analysis of the Indian state after independence characterized it primarily as:
   a) Socialist
   b) Welfare-oriented
   c) Bourgeois/Capitalist
   d) Traditionalist

8. G.S. Ghurye's academic base, where he influenced generations of sociologists, was primarily at:
   a) University of Lucknow
   b) Delhi School of Economics
   c) University of Bombay (Mumbai)
   d) Jawaharlal Nehru University

9. D.P. Mukerji argued that social change in India should ideally emerge from:
   a) Western models of development
   b) A synthesis rooted in Indian tradition
   c) State directives and five-year plans
   d) Peasant revolutions

10. Which of these concepts is NOT primarily associated with M.N. Srinivas?
    a) Sanskritization
    b) Dominant Caste
    c) Field View vs. Book View
    d) Six features of Caste

Answer Key:

1. c) G.S. Ghurye
2. b) M.N. Srinivas
3. d) A.R. Desai
4. b) Traditions and lived experience
5. c) M.N. Srinivas
6. a) M.N. Srinivas
7. c) Bourgeois/Capitalist
8. c) University of Bombay (Mumbai)
9. b) A synthesis rooted in Indian tradition
10. d) Six features of Caste (This is primarily associated with G.S. Ghurye)

Make sure you revise these notes thoroughly. Understanding the specific contributions and approaches of each sociologist is key. Good luck with your preparation!