NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 10 Indian Sociologists Solutions to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse through different chapters NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 10 Indian Sociologists Question Answer and select need one. NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 10 Indian Sociologists Solutions Download PDF. NCERT Class 11 Sociology Textbooks Solutions.
NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 10 Indian Sociologists
Also, you can read the NCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Book guidelines. NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 10 Indian Sociologists Solutions for All Chapters, You can practice these here.
Indian Sociologists
Chapter: 10
| PART – (II) UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY |
| EXERCISES |
1. How did Ananthakrishna Iyer and Sarat Chandra Roy come to practice social anthropology?
Ans: Ananthakrishna Iyer came to practice social anthropology by voluntarily helping the British administrators in ethnographic surveys of India. He was initially a clerk and then became a college teacher at Ernakulam. In 1902, he was asked by the Dewan of Cochin to assist with an ethnographic survey of the state. Iyer’s observations and studies of the indigenous people were influenced by his exposure to colonial anthropology, which emphasized the study of “primitive” societies. His research focused on the tribes of South India, and he became one of the earliest Indian anthropologists to document their lifestyles, rituals, and belief systems. His work laid the foundation for the study of tribal communities in India.
Sarat Chandra Roy was educated in law and English. He gave up his law practice and became a school teacher in Ranchi. He was appointed as the official interpreter in the court after he resumed his law practice. Roy studied under European anthropologists and was influenced by their methods, but he also sought to adapt these ideas to the Indian context. His extensive fieldwork among the Santhal and other tribal communities helped him to understand their social structures, customs, and issues like land rights and exploitation. Roy’s work in social anthropology was both academic and social, aiming to improve the lives of these communities through education, social reform, and advocacy.
2. What were the main arguments on either side of the debate about how to relate to tribal communities?
Ans: The main debate, on either side of the debate about relating to tribal communities, were led by the British administrator anthropologists and the nationalists.
Proponents of Assimilation argued that tribal communities should be integrated into mainstream society to foster national unity, economic development, and modernization. They believed that tribal traditions and isolation hindered progress and that bringing tribes into the fold of the nation would improve their living conditions, education, and healthcare. However, they also acknowledged that tribal people might face exploitation and cultural degradation, particularly at the hands of dominant Hindu society. As a result, they emphasized the need for state protection to safeguard tribal interests.
Advocates for Autonomy, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of respecting tribal cultures, traditions, and self-governance. They argued that tribal communities had a right to their ancestral lands and unique way of life, which should not be compromised for the sake of modernization. Nationalists believed that, while tribes were somewhat behind in the process of assimilation, they needed reforms similar to those in Hindu society. They called for policies that would protect tribal rights, preserve their cultural heritage, and promote development tailored to their needs, rather than forcing them into mainstream society.
3. Outline the positions of Herbert Risley and G.S. Ghurye on the relationship between race and caste in India.
Ans: Herbert Risley: Herbert Risley believed that human beings could be divided into separate races on the basis of their physical characteristics. Explanation: The castes are originated in a race because the different castes belong to different racial types. He posited that the higher castes were of Aryan or Indo-European descent, while the lower castes were of Dravidian or non-Aryan origins.
G.S. Ghurye: G S Ghurye’s understanding of Caste in India can be considered as historical, indological as well as comparative. In his book “Caste and race in India” he agrees with Sir Herbert Risley that “Caste is a product of race that came to India with along with aryans“. While acknowledging the role of racial elements in India’s ancient history, Ghurye emphasized the evolution of caste as a complex social structure, deeply embedded in Hindu society, and not merely a product of racial distinctions.
4. Summarise the social anthropological definition of caste.
Ans: The caste system is a societal order built on religious and cultural norms in which the population of a state is divided into a hierarchy of classes. Caste is characterized by its hereditary nature, with each group having specific social, economic, and ritualistic functions. Social mobility is limited, and caste dictates interactions, including marriage, occupation, and social status. The members of the different levels of this system have different degrees of purity or worthiness and therefore have different rights. Anthropologists view caste as a social institution deeply embedded in religion, culture, and historical structures, emphasizing its function in organizing society and maintaining social order through norms and practices.
5. What does D.P. Mukerji mean by a ‘living tradition’? Why did he insist that Indian sociologists be rooted in this tradition?
Ans: D.P. Mukerji’s concept of a “living tradition” refers to a dynamic, evolving cultural system that adapts to changing circumstances while retaining its core values and principles. By ‘living tradition’, D.P. Mukerji means that the traditions were not only formed in the past but also kept on changing with the present and evolved over time.
He insisted that Indian sociologists be rooted in this tradition because an Indian sociologist should be an Indian first, which means that he/she should understand his/her social system first. He believed that understanding and engaging with India’s traditional values, practices, and social structures would help sociologists produce meaningful and authentic insights. Rooting sociology in this tradition would also prevent Western-centric approaches from dominating Indian sociological thought, allowing for a more accurate reflection of India’s distinct societal dynamics, history, and challenges. However, in the Indian context personal experience soon flowered into collective experience
6. What are the specificities of Indian culture and society, and how do they affect the pattern of change?
Ans: Indian culture and society are characterized by deep-rooted traditions, diversity, and a strong sense of community. The diversity in terms of language, religion, caste, and regional practices plays a significant role in shaping social norms and values. There are fewer changes in Indian societies, as the pattern of desires of an individual are mostly governed by the societal traditions and norms. Changes occur more in adaptive form than any basic form. The role of economy as an internal source of change is diluted in Indian society. In this context, changes tend to be adaptive rather than radical, meaning they are incremental and adjust to the existing framework rather than fundamentally altering it. The role of the economy as a driving force for societal change is seen as limited, as cultural and social factors often take precedence over economic ones. This suggests that the pace and nature of change in Indian society are more influenced by cultural continuity and adaptation rather than economic forces or revolutionary shifts.
7. What is a welfare state? Why is A.R. Desai critical of the claims made on its behalf?
Ans: Welfare refers to assistance programs sponsored by governments for needy individuals and families, including schemes, such as food stamps, health care assistance, and unemployment compensation. These welfare schemes are typically financed through taxation. These services typically include healthcare, education, unemployment benefits, housing assistance, and social security. The welfare state seeks to reduce inequality, promote social justice, and protect individuals from the economic risks of illness, disability, and old age. Welfare benefits or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federally funded, state-run program.
A.R. Desai was critical of village studies due to the claims that they offered a complete or definitive understanding of Indian society. He argued that these studies often portrayed villages as static, isolated entities, ignoring the larger forces of change such as colonialism, urbanization, and industrialization. Therefore, A.R. Desai is critical of the claims made on behalf of welfare state and concludes that its existence is a myth.
8. What arguments were given for and against the village as a subject of sociological research by M.N. Srinivas and Louis Dumont?
Ans: M N Srinivas emphasized the importance of Indian villages and their importance in unifying the Indian society. He believed studying villages could reveal the complexities of social structure, caste, and social change, as rural areas often embodied traditional practices. He emphasized the importance of fieldwork and participant observation in understanding social dynamics. According to M.N. Srinivas, village studies provide detailed information regarding various aspects of rural life. In these studies, either the holistic nature of the village communities is discussed or certain specific aspects of rural life are focused.
In contrast, Louis Dumont on the other hand, emphasized importance of caste over village studies. He argued that focusing on villages ignored broader, more significant social and economic changes, such as urbanization and colonialism. Dumont believed that sociology should address national-level structures and ideologies, not just localized, rural contexts.
9. What is the significance of village studies in the history of Indian sociology? What role did M.N. Srinivas play in promoting village studies?
Ans: Village studies hold significant importance in the history of Indian sociology for several reasons:
(i) Understanding Rural Society: Rural society means society that lives in village, and is dependent on natural environment. Rural economy rests predominantly on agriculture and allied activities. Village studies provided a deep insight into rural life, its social structures, traditions, and customs, which were essential for understanding the majority of India’s population, who lived in rural areas. These societies have a low density of population, intimate group relationships and have oral traditions.
(ii) Focus on Social Dynamics: Social dynamics refers to how individual behaviors within a group influence and are influenced by the group. These studies highlighted key social issues such as caste, landownership, agrarian relations, and power structures in rural communities, offering a clearer picture of the complexities of Indian society.
(iii) Development of Sociological Methods: Sociological Methodology seeks qualitative and quantitative contributions that address the full range of methodological problems confronted by empirical research in the social sciences, including conceptualization, data analysis, data collection, measurement, modeling, and research design Village studies helped establish research methods in Indian sociology, particularly fieldwork and participant observation, which became foundational in sociological research.
(iv) Social Change and Reform: Social change is the alteration of the social order of a society which may include changes in social institutions, social behaviours or social relations. Sustained at a larger scale, it may lead to social transformation or societal transformation. By examining villages, sociologists could track the impacts of modernization, colonialism, and social reforms, influencing policies for rural development and social justice.
M.N. Srinivas played a very important role in promoting village studies by concentrating his research on village areas is work highlighted the complexities of caste, power dynamics, and social change in rural India. Srinivas emphasized the significance of empirical research and participant observation in sociology.
