Rural Sociology

Paper Code: 
SOC602
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

India is a classic land of agriculture. Its long past history, its complex social organization and religious life, its varied cultural patterns, can hence be understood only if a proper study is made of the rise, growth, crystallization and subsequent fossilization and break up of the self-sufficient village community, the principal pivot of the Indian Society. Rural society in India has acquired a new significance after independence. The agrarian sector provides the very morphological framework for the underdeveloped Indian Society. As a result, constant efforts are being made to re-shape the agrarian social structure, subjecting it to the pressures of actively operating agencies of social change.

 

This paper attempts to focus the attention on the need of a sociological perspective in studying rural life and outline the approach to study the rural society. It further attempts to portray the picture of the multi-sided and complex rural life and the emerging trends.

9.00
Unit I: 

Rural Sociology: Meaning, Origin and Development, Scope, Subject Matter, Approaches and Utility. Need for development of Rural Sociology in India.

9.00
Unit II: 

Rural Community: Concept and Distinctive Features; Rural Habitation and Settlement; Rural Social Institutions: Family, Marriage and Caste.

Urban Community: Concept and Characteristics; Rural-Urban Distinction and Continuum; Rural Emigration.

9.00
Unit III: 

Agrarian Society: Agrarian Relations (Meaning and Definition); Agrarian Social System and Stratification; Land Management in Rural India; Rural Land Reforms.

Rural Dynamics: Processes of Change in Rural Society- Little Tradition, Great Tradition, Universalization and Parochialization

9.00
Unit IV: 

Rural Power Structure: Traditional Power Structure in Rural India: Bases and Features, Modernization of Traditional Power Structure.

Rural Leadership: Meaning, Features, Traditional Bases and Emerging Patterns.

9.00
Unit V: 

Panchayati Raj and Democratic Decentralization ( with special reference to Rajasthan) : Gram Sabha, Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila  Parishad.

 Rural Reconstruction: Meaning, Objectives and Importance; Programmes for Rural Reconstruction (with special reference to Green Revolution, IRDP and Five Year Plans, MNREGA)

References: 
  • Desai, A.R. 2005, Rural Sociology in India, Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd.
  • Desai, A.R. 2005, Rural India in Transition, Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd.
  • Dube, S.C. 2003, India’s Changing Villages, Routledge.
  • Gillette, J.M. 1927, Rural Sociology, American Sociological Society.
  • Marriott, McKim. 1968, Village India, University of Chicago Press.
  • Singh, Yogendra. 2004, Modernization of Indian Tradition, Rawat Publications.
  • Srinivas, M.N. 1966, India’s Villages, Asia Publishing House.
  • Doshi, S.L. & Jain, P.C. 2002, Rural Sociology, Rawat Publications.
  • Chauhan Brijraj, 2012, Study of a Rajasthn Village, Jaipur, Rawat Publications

 

Academic Session: