Chapter 1 Introducing Indian Society

What Is Sociology?

Unlike many other academic disciplines, everyone possesses some existing knowledge about society. This understanding is acquired naturally through the process of growing up and is often referred to as common sense.

This prior familiarity presents both a benefit and a challenge for learning sociology. The advantage is that it makes the subject seem approachable. However, the disadvantage lies in the potential for this common sense to hinder a sociological perspective. A crucial part of learning sociology involves "unlearning" or critically re-examining our existing common-sense assumptions about society.

Sociology, Common Sense, and Unlearning

Our common-sense knowledge about society is shaped by our personal social background and group affiliations. It is often partial, meaning it is both incomplete and potentially biased towards our own group's views and interests. Sociology requires us to move beyond these limited perspectives to see the broader social reality.

Self-Reflexivity: Looking at Yourself

A key skill sociology helps develop is self-reflexivity or reflexivity. This is the ability to turn our analytical gaze inward and critically examine our own beliefs, positions, and how we are perceived by others in society.

Locating Individuals on the Social Map

Sociology helps us understand where we are situated within the complex structure of society. This involves recognising our membership in various social groups based on factors like age, region, language, economic class, religion, caste, or tribe. These identities place us on a "social map" and within a network of social relationships.

Connecting Personal Troubles and Social Issues

According to sociologist C. Wright Mills, sociology enables us to see the connections between personal troubles (individual worries or problems, e.g., unhappiness with family treatment, job worries) and larger social issues (problems affecting large groups or society as a whole). Sociology shows how individual experiences are often rooted in broader social structures and processes.

1.2 A Preview Of This Book

This first textbook introduces the fundamental structure of Indian society from a sociological viewpoint, moving beyond common sense. The subsequent chapters will explore specific aspects:

• Chapter 2: Demographic Structure - Focuses on the study of population in India, its social significance, trends, and whether population growth is solely a barrier or also a potential aid to development.
• Chapter 3: Institutions of Caste, Tribe, and Family - Examines these foundational social structures unique to India, discussing their historical changes, contemporary meaning, the concept and definition of 'tribe', and the transformations occurring within diverse family forms under rapid social change.
• Chapter 4: Socio-cultural Dimensions of the Market - Explores the market as a powerful social institution shaped by historical forces like colonialism and developmental policies, analysing its evolution in India and its wide-ranging impacts.
• Chapter 5: Inequality and Exclusion - Dedicated to understanding social inequalities and exclusion based on caste, tribe, gender, and disability. It discusses efforts to reform or abolish the caste system, tribal movements, the impact of women's movements on oppressive institutions, and societal responsiveness to the needs of the disabled.
• Chapter 6: Diversity of Indian Society - Addresses the challenges posed by India's immense diversity. It moves beyond simplistic notions of unity in diversity to explore complex issues like communal conflict, regional/linguistic chauvinism, and casteism, and emphasizes the importance of minority security for national cohesion.
• Chapter 7: Practical Component - Provides suggestions for engaging with the practical aspects of studying sociology.