Indian Sociologists and Their Impact

Indian Sociologists

• Indian sociology emerged due to colonial interest in understanding Indian culture and society.
• Indian scholars have a long tradition of studying society and culture.
• Foreign scholars introduced new dimensions to sociological studies linking real society with textual theories.
• Indian sociology combines existing traditions with Western thought.
• Increased government involvement in studying societal dynamics.
• Focus on innovating methodologies to understand Indian society.
• Indian sociology considers historical events.
• Important sociologists (e.g., Radhakamal Mukherjee, G.S. Ghurye, D.P. Mukherjee, M.N. Srinivas) shaped Indian sociology from the 1920s to the 1980s by developing a unique tradition, but not following a universal methodology.
• Irawati Karve, K.M. Capadia, I.P. Desai, M.S.A. Rao were students of Ghurye, contributing significantly to the field.

Radha Kamal Mukherjee

• Born in Berhampore, West Bengal; grew up in Kolkata's intellectual atmosphere.
• Contributed to the study of Indian sociology in its early stages.
• Initiated adult education, highlighting social engagement.
• Experimented with social action theory based on Indian philosophy.
• Focused on field research, empirical observations, and micro-level analyses.
• Examined rural economy, land, population, and working-class problems.
• Viewed economics as a specialization, not a discipline, within social science.
• Applied sociological perspective to planning.
• Emphasized holistic approach including disciplines like political science, psychology, etc.
• Highlighted human interaction with nature and culture.
• Emphasized the interplay of environment, culture, and human adaptation.

M.N. Srinivas

• Born in Mysore, emerged in Indian sociology's development phase.
• Advocated for a strong emphasis on social change as a core theme in Indian sociology.
• Introduced the concepts of Brahminization and Sanskritization.
• Recognized the wide influence of Brahminic culture.
• Explored the adoption of Brahminic customs by lower castes to improve social status (Sanskritization).
• Recognized the mobility and influence of other dominant groups besides Brahmins.
• Analyzed the process of adapting to Brahminic culture, exploring the impact on Indian society's structure.

Irawati Karve

• First woman anthropologist in India.
• Her career spanned both colonial and post-independence periods of Indian sociology.
• Contributed to the study of kinship, caste, urbanisation, and women's role.
• Worked at Pune University focusing on kinship organization.
• Studied family structures, social customs, and women's position in Indian society.
• Analyzed kinship systems in various regions of India and compared these with practices in other cultures.
• Examined modern influences and changes in families and roles within them.

G.S. Ghurye

• Indian sociologist who studied caste and race in India.
• Critiqued racial theories of caste.
• Developed a two-race theory of India’s history.
• Emphasized the integration of diverse cultural elements in India.
• Noted the importance of kinship systems in shaping social practices.

N.K. Bose

• Indian sociologist; field research, and knowledge of tribes and castes.
• His vision of Indian caste is integrative.
• Focused on tribal absorption into Hindu society, addressing issues of integration.
• Highlighted the role of caste in organizing Indian society.
• Noted its connection with purity, pollution, and social hierarchies.