Indian Sociology

This book presents a critical and reflective view of fundamental theoretical orientations, thematic domains, and current debates in Indian sociology. It covers the growth of sociology as an academic and pedagogical subject, with four main parts. Part I discusses important theoretical orientations in Indian sociology, including Indological and civilizational approaches, as well as the contributions of an eminent sociologist and pioneer in Indian sociology, Professor Yogendra Singh, concerning the sociology of knowledge, liberal democracy, and the relevance of his concept of Islamization in the study of Indian society. Part II examines substantive areas of study such as caste, class, and tribe. Part III reflects on specific topics of current concern in Indian sociology, such as emerging vistas and futures, globalization, and rethinking area studies for planetary conversations. This book is highly relevant for postgraduate students and researchers in sociology, social anthropology, and social sciences.

B. K. Nagla is former Professor of Sociology, M.D. University, Rohtak, Haryana. He obtained his master’s degree from Udaipur University, Udaipur, and M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Before joining at M.D. University, Rohtak, in 1978, he taught at M.S. University, Baroda, and Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, New Delhi. After retirement in 2006, he worked as Consultant at Kota Open University and also at Banaras Hindu University as Professor, Babu Jagjivan Ram Chair. Professor Nagla has published 12 books in areas like political sociology, Indian sociological thought, and social stratification. His main books are: Factionalism, Politics and Social Structure; Political Sociology; Development and Transformation; Social Stratification and Social Mobility; and Indian Sociological Thought. He has about 70 research papers in national and international journals. He received an ISC Fellow Award for the growth and development of the Indian Society of Criminology given by the Council of the Indian Society of Criminology, affiliated with the International Society of Criminology, Paris. In 2017, Sulabh International Social Organization conferred upon him ‘Sulabh Swachhata Samman’ with Gold Medal for authoring an outstanding book, Sociology of Sanitation. He is awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by Rajasthan Sociological Society and also by the Indian Sociological Society. He was also the editor of the Indian Sociological Society Journal (Hindi), Bhartiya Samajshastra Sameeksha (published by Sage).


Kameshwar Choudhary is former Professor of Sociology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (Central) University, Lucknow, India. Earlier, he was Professor of Sociology at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; Associate Professor at Institute of Rural Management, Anand (Gujarat); and Lecturer in Sociology at Institute of Social Sciences, Agra. He was Visiting Fellow at CSSS, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Associate at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. He completed his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. studies at CSSS, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has completed, as Coordinator/Team Member, about a dozen projects sponsored by National Dairy Development Board, Gujarat Ecology Commission, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India; Forest Department, Government of Gujarat; UNDP, India; etc. His books have been published by reputed national and international publishers, which include Globalisation, Governance Reforms and Development in India (ed., Sage Publications, New Delhi); Intellectuals and Society: A Study of Teachers in India (Popular Prakashan, Bombay). He has also published several papers in reputed journals, edited books and articles in newspapers, like The Times of India and The Hindustan Times. He was Head, Department of Sociology, and Dean, Ambedkar School of Social Sciences (formerly SAS), B. B. Ambedkar (Central) University, Lucknow. He was Member of the Twelfth Plan Working Group on Empowerment of OBCs, DNTs and EBCs, constituted by the Planning Commission, Government of India. He was honored with Prof. L. P. Vidyarthi Memorial Award 2017 by the Indian Social Science Association (Email: kames.c@gmail.com).