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Write a note on rise and growth of sociology in india .?
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Write a note on rise and growth of sociology in india .?
Indian sociologists and anthropologists have made an attempt to integrate sociology and anthropology in research, teaching and recruitment. They have made a prominent contribution to the development of indigenous studies of Indian society and have set an enviable example before the Asian and African scholars.

Another significant contribution of Indian sociology and social/cultural anthropology lies in their endeavor to synthesize the text and the context. This synthesis between the text and the context has provided valuable insights into the dialectic of continuity and change to contemporary Indian society (Momin, 1997).

It is difficult to understand the origin and development of sociology in India without reference to its colonial history. By the second half of the 19th century, the colonial state in India was about to undergo several major transformations.

Land, and the revenue and authority that accrued from the relationship between it and the state, had been fundamental to the formation of the early colonial state, eclipsing the formation of Company rule in that combination of formal and private trade that itself marked the formidable state-like functions of the country.
The important event that took place was the revolt of 1857, which showed that the British did not have any idea about folkways and customs of the large masses of people. If they had knowledge about Indian society, the rebellion of 1857 would not have taken place. This meant that a new science had to come to understand the roots of Indian society. The aftermath of 1857 gave rise to ethnographic studies. It was with the rise of ethnography, anthropology and sociology which began to provide empirical data of the colonial rule.
Herbert Risley was the pioneer of ethnographic studies in India. He entered the Indian Civil Services in 1857 with a posting in Bengal. It was in his book Caste and Tribes of Bengal (1891) that Risley discussed Brahminical sociology, talked about ethnography of the castes along with others that the importance of caste was brought to colonial rulers. Nicholas Dirks {In Post Colonial Passages, Sourabh Dube, Oxford, 2004) observes:

Risley’s final ethnographic contribution to colonial knowledge thus ritualed the divineness of caste, as well as its fundamental compatibility with politics only in the two registers of ancient Indian monarchy or modern Britain’s ‘benevolent despotism’.

Thus, the ethnographic studies came into prominence under the influence of Risley. He argued that to rule India caste should be discouraged. This whole period of 19th century gave rise to ethnographic studies, i.e., studies of caste, religion, rituals, customs, which provided a foundation to colonial rule for establishing dominance over India. It is in this context that the development of sociology in India has to be analysed.

Similarly, Henry Maine was interested in the Hindu legal system and village communities to formulate the theory of status to contract. Again, Max Weber got interested in Hinduism and other oriental religions in the context of developing the theory, namely, the spirit of capitalism and the principle of rationality developed only in the West. 
Thus, Indian society and culture became the testing ground of various theories, and a field to study such problems as growth of town, poverty, religion, land tenure, village social organization and other native social institutions. All these diverse interests – academic, missionary, administrative and political – are reflected in teaching of sociology.
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Write a note on rise and growth of sociology in india .?
Rise and Growth of Sociology in India

Colonial Period
- Sociology in India began to develop during the colonial period when British scholars introduced Western sociological concepts.
- Scholars like G.S. Ghurye and D.P. Mukerji played a significant role in promoting sociology in India.

Post-Independence Era
- After independence, sociology gained momentum as a discipline in India with the establishment of various universities offering sociology courses.
- The Indian Sociological Society was founded in 1951 to promote sociological research and scholarship in the country.

Contribution of Indian Sociologists
- Indian sociologists like M.N. Srinivas, Andre Beteille, and Yogendra Singh made significant contributions to the field of sociology.
- Their research on caste, religion, and social change in India enriched the discipline and brought recognition to Indian sociology on a global scale.

Interdisciplinary Approach
- Sociology in India has also grown by adopting an interdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from other social sciences like anthropology, psychology, and economics.
- This approach has led to a more holistic understanding of social phenomena in the Indian context.

Challenges and Future Prospects
- Despite its growth, sociology in India faces challenges such as funding constraints, lack of research infrastructure, and the need for more diverse perspectives.
- However, with the increasing interest in social issues and the rise of social movements, the future of sociology in India looks promising.
Overall, the rise and growth of sociology in India have been shaped by colonial influences, post-independence developments, contributions of Indian sociologists, an interdisciplinary approach, and the evolving social landscape in the country.
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