STRUCTURE & CHANGE IN INDIAN SOCIETY

Book Details

• ISBN: 9788170333227

• Publication Year: 2025

• Pages: 524

• Binding: Hardcover

• Sale Territory: India Only
  

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

About the Book

This influential volume reports on twenty empirical studies of Indian society conducted by leading scholars, offering a nuanced perspective on the evolution of social structures and social change in India. The book reflects the latest trends in anthropological analysis, focusing on the theoretical and methodological innovations that have shaped the study of South Asian societies.

The studies within this book take a deep dive into the adaptive changes experienced by various groups across villages, towns, cities, and regions. The authors emphasize that social units such as the joint family, caste, and village should not be viewed in isolation but rather as interconnected within the broader social and cultural networks that define Indian civilization.

Key Themes Covered:

• Caste and Social Structure: Explores the historical and comparative analysis of caste, family, and village in India. This section also delves into inter-caste relations, caste ranking, and the mobility within the caste system.

• Intercaste Relations: Focuses on caste regions, sacred law, and the dynamic relationships between castes, including food transactions and cultural perceptions.

• Changing Caste System: Examines the evolution of caste and the challenges posed by social mobility, politics of untouchability, and the changing legal conceptions of caste.

• Political, Economic, and Legal Structures: Investigates the role of caste in politics, economics, and law, including the structure of village politics and the legal aspects of caste communities.

• The Joint Family Structure: Analyzes the structure and transformation of the Indian joint family, particularly in the context of modernization, urbanization, and industry.

• Language and Social Structure: Discusses the role of language, dialects, and semantics in shaping social structures and relations within South Asian communities.

The book is an essential resource for anyone interested in understanding the intricate social fabric of India, providing critical insights into the ways caste, family, politics, and language have shaped the social landscape over time.

Contributors Include:

• Bernard S. Cohn

• David G. Mandelbaum

• Edward B. Harper

• Joseph E. Schwartzberg

• M.N. Srinivas

• William L. Rowe

• Milton Singer

• A.K. Ramanujan

• And more...

This collection of essays will be an invaluable contribution to the study of South Asian social structure, offering a blend of historical, anthropological, and sociological perspectives on caste, family, and community in India.