UPSC SOCIOLOGY – PAPER 2 – Part A – Introducing Indian Society – Chapter 1 – Perspectives on the study of Indian society: Indology (GS. Ghurye).
- He has often been acclaimed as the ‘father of Indian Sociology’.
- Ghurye is often accredited as “Theoritical Pluralist” because he tried to study Indian Society and culture through multiple methods.
- He was greatly influenced by Western scholars like W H R Rivers.
- Ghurye backs the credits of being the founders of Indian Sociological Society and the Sociological Bulletin.
METHODOLOGY OR APPROACH
- A combination of historical, diffusionist and descriptive ethnography.
- One may divide the entire range of Ghurye’s writing into a number of broad themes and analyze each of these items showing how Ghurye discussed the institutions and processes.
- Ghurye did not strictly conform to the functionalist tradition when interpreting the complex facets of Indian society and culture, which he chose to investigate.
- Ghurye insisted on fieldwork, though he himself was an armchair scholar.
- Ghurye utilized literature in sociological studies with his profound knowledge of Sanskrit literature, extensively quoted from the Vedas, Sbastras, epics, and poetry of Kalidasa or Bhavabhuti to shed light on the social and cultural life in India.
IMPORTANT WORKS OF GHURYE
- 1.Caste and Race in India (1932)
2. Indian Sadhus (1953)
3. Bharatnatyam and it’s costume (1958)
4.Family and Kinship in Indo-European culture (1955)
5. Social tensions in India (1968)
VIEWS ON INDIAN SOCIETY
- Indian society is a Hindu society (cannot be understood without understanding Hindu tradition).
- Emphasised on understanding the order of the society.
- Order is understood in terms of Caste, religion, village, tribe and urbanisation.
- Process of change in society is understood in terms of changing Hindu traditions.
VIEWS ON CASTE SYSTEM
- According to him, caste originated in gangetic plains and spread to other areas.
- Understood caste in terms of its features – six features – division of labour, principle of purity and pollution, hierarchy, civil and religious disabilities, hereditary nature and endogamy.
- Endogamy is the key principle which maintains boundaries in caste.
- He calls tribals ‘backward hindus’.
- Disappearance of caste will be brought about by influence of urbanisation, education, etc.
VIEWS ON RELIGION
- He saw religion as dynamic as Indian society.
- Did not see religious diversity as contradictory.
- Sadhus as social link between the spiritual people and common people.
- Religion is at the centre of the total cultural heritage of man.
VIEWS ON TRIBES
- Rejected British policy of isolation.
- Tribes have always been in contact with Hindus and they have assimilated into the mainstream in various degrees.
- Their backwardness is due to imperfect integration into Hindu society.
- Forest policy of British brought them hardships.
VIEWS ON VILLAGES AND URBANISATION
- Villages are the centre of Indian Social life. Rejected the British notion of self-sufficient villages.
- Considered urban areas as cradle of innovation.
- Urban areas and rural areas are organically interlinked and their growth is also connected.
CRITICISMS
- Criticised for his over Hinduised view of Indian society.
- Failed to see dehumanising aspects of caste.
- He fails to recognize the rise of modern India and the contribution of Islamic and British rulers.
- More of a book view.
