INDIAN SOCIOLOGISTS | Class 11 Sociology Notes

Introduction

Sociology as a formal discipline is relatively young, having been established about a century ago in Europe. In India, interest in sociological thinking is just over a century old, but formal university teaching of sociology began only in 1919 at the University of Bombay. Following this, the 1920s saw the emergence of sociology and anthropology programs at the universities of Calcutta and Lucknow. Today, most major Indian universities have departments dedicated to sociology, social anthropology, or anthropology, reflecting the institutionalization and growth of these disciplines in the country.

Initially, sociology was not an established or taken-for-granted discipline in India. Early Indian sociologists had to determine the relevance and role of sociology in the Indian context, especially given India's unique historical and social circumstances. Unlike Western societies where sociology emerged primarily to understand modernity, India’s experience of modernity was intertwined with colonial subjugation. This raised questions about the applicability of Western sociological frameworks and the need to develop an Indian sociology that addressed the country’s specific realities.

Further, social anthropology in the West developed from European curiosity about 'primitive' cultures. In India, however, the situation was complex because it was an ancient and advanced civilization with diverse societies, including those considered 'primitive'. This duality posed challenges in defining the role of anthropology in India. Finally, with India’s independence and the beginning of planned development and democracy, sociologists had to consider the role of sociology in a sovereign nation.

Thus, early Indian sociologists not only had to find answers to these complex questions but also formulate new questions that were relevant to the Indian context. This chapter introduces some of the founding figures of Indian sociology who shaped the discipline and adapted it to India’s historical and social realities.

🔗 Connection: Leads into the discussion of the pioneers of Indian sociology and anthropology, who began practicing the discipline often without formal training.