CHAPTER 5 INDIAN SOCIOLOGISTS esson's Overview Contributions of Accidental Anthropologists’ 1. Sarat Chandra Roy 2. LK.Ananthakrishan lyer Contributions of Indian Sociologists: 1. G.S.Ghurye 2. D.P. Mukherjee 3. AR.Desai 4. M.N.Srinivas PointsTo Remember Contribution of Accidental Anthropologists ‘SARAT CHANDRA ROY (1871-1942) + Hewasalawyer, + He did his graduation and post graduation in English. + In 1898, after starting practice of law, he decided to take up a job as an English teacher at a Christian missionary school. In Ranchi, he became the leading authority on culture and society of tribal people of Chhotanagpur region, Started his anthropologists research when he left the school and was appointed as official interpreter in the court. Anthropologist research was a byproduct of his professional need to interpret tribal customs and laws for the court, + His hard work and diligence and keen eye for details resulted in valuable researcharticles. + In addition to Monographs on various tribes like Oraon, Mundas and Kharias, he published more than hundred articles in leading Indian and British Journals. + Founded the journal Man in India’ in 1922. ee 7X Sociology 99 L.K. ANANTHAKRISHNA IYER (1861-1937) + College teacherin Cochinstate. + In 1902, he was asked by Dewan of Cochin to assist with an ethnographic survey ofthe state. + British Govt. wanted similar survey inall the states, + Hedid this work on Voluntary basis + His work was appreciafedbyBitish administialars. + Guests lecturer—Universitvci Ma + Reader—University ofGalcutta._ + Awarded an honorary doctorate by German University. * Received the titles of ‘Rao Bahadur’ & ‘Dewan Bahadur’ by Cochin state.LK. ANANTHAKRISHNA IYER (1861-1937) College teacherin Cochin state, In 1902, he was asked by Dewan of Cochin to a: survey ofthe state, British Govt. wanted similar survey in allthe states. He did this work on Voluntary basis His work was appreciated by British administrators, Guests lecturer — University of Madras. Reader— University of Calcutta. Awarded an honorary doctorate by German University. Received the tiles of Rao Bahadur’ & ‘Dewan Bahadur’ by Cochin state, G.S.GHURYE on Caste and Race Casteand Race (i) Herbert Risley thought humans can be divided into separate races on the basis of Physical characteristics (length of nose, size of skulletc.) {ii) He believed India was a ‘Lab’ for studying evolution of racial types because inter- caste marriages prohibited, (iii) He argued caste originated in race because different caste groups seemed to belong to distinct racial types, (iv) He suggested thal lower castes were original inhabitants and subjugated by Aryans. (v)__ Ghurye believed Risley's theory was true only for north India. Inother Parts of India, inter-group differences were not very large. (vi) Thus ‘racial purity’ was preserved only in north India andin rest of the country, endogamy was introduced into already racially varied groups, sssist with an ethnographic FEATURES OF CASTE (i) Based on segmental division : Society divided into number of mutually exclusive segments decided by birth, {ii) Based on hierarchical division : Each caste striclly unequal to every other castes. No castes are ever equal. (ili) Involves restrictions on social interaction (especially food-sharing) {iv)_ Involves differential rights and duties. {v) Restricts the choice of occupation : Its also decided by birth and is hereditary. 100 XI~ Sociology (vi) Involves strict restrictions on marriage ; Only endogamy is allowed Debate between protectionist and Nationalist in reaard to tribal culture PROTECTIONIST / / (a) British anthropol tudying the tribal culture of India. 124 of 245 (b) They believe t! bulture with main stream Hinduism will lead to exploitation of tribal people by Hindus and thus their culture should be protected and preserved.I. D.P. MUKHERJEE on tradition and change (vl) Involves strict restrictions on marriage : Only endogamy is allowed Debate between protectionist and Nationalist in reaard to tribal culture PROTECTIONIST (a) British anthropologists were interested in studying the tribal culture of India. (b) They believe that assimilation of tribal culture with main stream Hinduism will lead to exploitation of tribal people by Hindus and thus their culture should be protected and preserved. NATIONALIST (a) Believe in unity of India and the need for modernizing Indian society and culture. (b) They believe that attempt to preserve tribal culture were misguided and resulted in maintaining tribes in a backward state. ‘Hierarchical Division Segmental Division Restricted Social Interaction 7 t ¥ Features of Caste * | t Restricted Occupational Ditferntial Rights and Duty |__| Restrictions on Marriage choice Tradl (According to D. P. Mukherjee, India was based on the centrality of society. Therefore he studied the social traditions of India. (ii) His study was not oriented only towards the past butincluded sensitivity to change, (ii) Living Tradition : Tradition not only maintaining its links with the past but also adapting to the present and thus evolving overtime. (iv) Argued : Indian society was not individualistic, itis oriented towards group, sector caste-action. (¥) Root meaning of word Tradition’ is to transmit. Traditions are rooted in past and kept alive through repeated recalling and retelling of stories and myths. XI- Sociology 401 + Change (i) Three principles of change — Shruti, Smriti and Anubhav. Anubhav (personal experience) is arevolutionary principle. (ii) However, in India, personal experience turns into collective experience. (ii) For, D. P. Mukherjee, the discursive reason (Buddhi-vicher) is not dominant force’ of change but prem (love) and Anubhava — are superior agents of change. Collective experience leads to conflictand rebellion.ml. Change (Three principles of change — Shruti, Smriti and Anubhav, Anubhav (personal experience) is a revolutionary principle. (ii) However, in India, personal experience turns into collective ‘experience, (ii) For, D. P. Mukherjee, the discursive reason (Buddhi-vichar) is not dominant force’ of change but prem (love) and Anubhava — are ‘superior agents of change. (iv) Collective experience leads to conflict and rebellion. (v) Resilience of tradition ensures that the pressure of conflict produces change in the tradition without breaking it. Three Principles of change Shruti Anubhav A.R.DESAlon state Positive State Features of Welfare state Democratic State Mixed Economy Features of welfare state (i) Welfare stateis a positive state. + Itdoes not seek to do only the minimum necessary to maintain lawand order. + _ Itisinterventionist state and uses it powers of social welfare. (ii) Itis democratic state. + Democracyis essential forwelfare state. + Formal democratic institutions especially multi-party elections are adefining feature. (iii) Itinvolves a mixed economy. + Mixed economy is an economy in which both private and public enterprises exist. + Welfare state does not eliminate capitalist market and nor prevents public investments. plement policies 102 XI-- Sociology Criteria to measure the performance of welfare state ()__Itensures freedom from poverty, social discrimination and security forallits citizens. (ii) _Itremoves inequalities of income through redistribution of wealth and preventing the concentration of wealth. (iii) It transforms economy in such a way that capital profit motive is made subservient to the needs of the community. (iv) It ensures stable development free from the cycle of economicB. Criteria to measure the performance of welfare state ()__ Itensures freedom from poverty, social discrimination and security forallits citizens. (ii) Itremoves inequalities of income through redistribution of wealth and preventing the concentration of wealth. (ili) It transforms economy in such a way that capital profit motive is made subservient to the needs of the community. (iv) It ensures stable development free from the cycle of economic booms and depressions, (v)__ Itprovides employment forall. C. Claims of welfare state’ are exaggerated (}) Most modem capitalist states, even in most developed countries, fail to provide minimum levels of economic and social security to all heir citizens. (il) They are unable to reduce economic inequality and often seem to encourage it. (ii) They have been unsuccessful at enabling stable development free from market fluctuations. (iv) There is a presence of excess economic capacity yet high levels of unemployment, IV. M.N.SRINIVAS on village + MN. Srinivas's writings. His writings on the village were of two broad types. (a) First, there were ethnographic accounts of fieldwork done in villages. (b) second kind of writing included historical and conceptual discussions about Indian villages. + Louis Dumontview of villages (i) He thought that social institution like caste was more important than villages, which was after all only 2 collection of people living in a particularplace. (i) He described that Indian villages are unchanging, self-sufficient and “little republics’. + Srinivas's views againstLouis Dumont ()) Believed that village was a relevant social entity. History shows that villages have served asa unifying identity, (ii) He criticised Dumont’ view of villages as unchanging, self-sufficient litle republics. He showed that the village had, in fact, experienced considerable change. XI Sociology 103 (ii) Villages were never self-sufficient and had been involved in various kinds of economic, social and political relationships at regionallevel. Significance of villages (i) The vilage as a site of research offered many advantages to Indian sociology. 127 of 245 (ii) ttprovided an op} research method (ii) offered eye-wit Sortie rapid social change that was taking place in the Indian countryside as newly independent nation began a procramme of planned development. portance of ethnographic(ii) Villages were never self-sufficient and had been involved in various kinds of economic, social and political relationships at regionallevel. Significance of villages Py 4, () The village as a site of research offered many advantages to Indian sociology. (ii) Htprovided an opportunity to iltustrate the importance of ethnographic research methods, (ii) Woffered eye-witness accounts of the rapid social change that was taking place in the Indian countryside as newly independent nation begana programme of planned development. (iv) Because of these vivid descriptions, policy makers were able to form impressions of what was going on in the heartland of India, (v) Village studies thus provided a new role fora discipline like sociology in the context of an independent nation. TERMS AND CONCEPTS Administrator anthropologists: The term refers to British administrative officials who were part of the British Indian government in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and who took great interests in conducting anthropological research, specially surveys and censuses. Some of them became well known anthropologists after retirement. Prominent names include: Edgar Thurston, William Crooke, Herbert Risley and J.H. Hutton, Anthropometry: The branch of anthropology that studied human racial 'ypes of measuring the human body, particularly the volume of the cranium (skull), the circumference of the head, and the lenath of the nose. Assimilation: A process by which one culture (usually the larger or more dominant one) gradually absorbs another: the assimilated culture mergers into the assimilating culture, so that itis no longer alive or visible atthe end ofthe process. Endogamy: A social institution that defines the boundary ofa social orkin group within which marriage relations are permissible; marriage outside this defined groups are prohibited. The most common example is caste ‘endogamy, where marriage may only take place with a member of the same caste. Exogamy: A social institution that defines the boundary of a social or king group within which marriage relations are prohibited; marriages must be contracted outside these prohibited groups. Common examples include prohibition of marriage with blood relatives (sapind exogamy), members 104 I~ Sociology ofthe same lineage (sagotra exogamy), or residents of the same village or region (village/region exogamy). Laissez-faire: A French phrase (literally ‘let be’ or ‘leave alone’) that stands fora political and economic doctrine that advocates minimum state intervention in the economy and economic relations; usually associated with belief in the regulative powers and efficiency of the free market and eventually go beyond their predecessors. LEARNING CHECKS 1 MARK QUESTIONS Fillin the blanks.