Contribution of Western and Indian Sociologists
1. (A) Choose the correct alternative and complete the statements.
(1) The Industrial Revolution took place in ____. (North America, Europe, Australia)
Answer: Europe
(2) Science is based on ____. (beliefs, facts, guess work)
Answer: facts
(3) Significant work has been done on kinship organisation in India, by female sociologist ____. (Iravati Karve, Suma Chitnis, Neera Desai)
Answer: Iravati Karve
(4) The ____ stage of societal growth is characterised by explanations which are abstract but not God-centered. (Theological, Metaphysical, Positive)
Answer: Metaphysical
1. (B) Correct the incorrect pair.
(1) (i) Abdul Rahman Ibn-Khaldun – North Africa
(ii) Auguste Comte – France
(iii) Harriet Martineau – England
(iv) Karl Marx – Russia
Answer: Corrected pair: Karl Marx – Germany
1. (C) Identify the appropriate term from the given options.
Polarization, M. N. Srinivas, R. N. Mukherjee
(1) Marx argues that classes will become hostile towards each other: Polarization.
(2) The Indian sociologist who coined the term westernization: M. N. Srinivas.
1. (D) Correct underlined words and complete the sentence.
(1) The stage of society where empirical evidence forms the basis for explanation is the Theological stage.
Answer: The stage of society where empirical evidence forms the basis for explanation is the Positive stage.
(2) The book ‘Le Suicide’ was written by Hobbes.
Answer: The book ‘Le Suicide’ was written by Emile Durkheim.
2. Write short notes.
(1) Contribution of G. S. Ghurye to Indian Sociology
Answer: G. S. Ghurye, regarded as the ‘Father of Indian Sociology,’ made significant contributions to the development of Sociology in India. He established the Indian Sociological Society in 1952 and launched the journal Sociological Bulletin. His seminal work, Caste and Race in India (1932), provided a historical, anthropological, and sociological analysis of the caste system, emphasizing endogamy as its principal feature. Ghurye’s work on Indian tribes explored their historical, administrative, and social dimensions, advocating for their integration into Hindu society through a process of Hinduization. His broad interest in the evolution of culture, particularly Indian civilization, and his efforts to establish Sociology as an independent discipline at the University of Bombay laid a strong foundation for the study of Sociology in India.
(2) Types of suicide according to Durkheim
Answer: Emile Durkheim, in his book Le Suicide, identified four types of suicide as a social phenomenon:
- Egoistic suicide: Occurs when individuals are socially isolated and lack integration with society, leading them to destroy themselves due to a lack of connection.
- Anomic suicide: Results from normlessness or a sudden disruption in social norms, such as during economic depression or extreme prosperity, making it difficult for individuals to cope.
- Altruistic suicide: Involves individuals sacrificing themselves for the greater good or others, driven by strong social values (e.g., Sati in India or Hara-kiri in Japan).
- Fatalistic suicide: Arises from excessive societal control or repression, leading individuals to feel trapped and hopeless.
3. Write differences.
(1) Theological stage and Positive stage
Answer:
- Theological Stage: In this stage, human thought is dominated by spiritual and supernatural explanations. Phenomena are attributed to the actions of gods or supernatural beings, and there is a deep faith in divine control (e.g., natural calamities seen as God’s anger).
- Positive Stage: This stage is characterized by scientific and empirical explanations. Knowledge is based on observation, reason, and the establishment of laws governing social and natural phenomena, moving away from imagination or faith-based reasoning.
(2) Anomic suicide and Altruistic suicide
Answer:
- Anomic Suicide: Occurs due to a lack of social norms or sudden changes in circumstances, such as economic crises or extreme prosperity, leading to disorientation and inability to cope. It reflects a state of normlessness.
- Altruistic Suicide: Involves individuals sacrificing their lives for the benefit of others or societal values, driven by strong social integration and commitment to collective goals (e.g., Sati or Hara-kiri). It is value-oriented and rooted in excessive social attachment.
4. (A) Complete the concept map.
Answer:
Indian Sociologists
├── G. S. Ghurye
├── M. N. Srinivas
├── Iravati Karve
└── A. R. Desai
4. (B) State whether the following statements are True or False with reasons.
1. According to Marx, capitalism gives rise to we feeling among workers:
Answer: False.
- Reason: Marx argued that capitalism leads to class conflict and alienation, not a sense of unity or “we feeling” among workers. While class consciousness may develop, fostering solidarity among workers, capitalism itself creates antagonism between classes (capitalists and workers) and alienates workers from their labor, product, and each other.
2. Iravati Karve has made significant contribution to the study of Kinship in India:
Answer: True.
- Reason: Iravati Karve’s book Kinship Organization in India (1953) is a pioneering work that provides a comparative analysis of kinship systems across India’s geographical and linguistic regions. She explored kinship terms, marriage patterns, descent, and family structures, contributing immensely to Sociology and Anthropology in India.
5. Give your personal response.
(1) Do you think globalization has led to polarization of classes? Discuss with relevant examples of your own.
Answer: Globalization has indeed contributed to class polarization in many societies, including India. The integration of global markets has created opportunities for wealth accumulation among the educated and skilled, while leaving others behind. For instance, in India, the IT boom in cities like Bangalore has generated high-paying jobs for tech professionals, widening the gap between them and rural or unskilled workers who face stagnant wages. Multinational corporations often prioritize profits, leading to exploitation of low-wage workers in industries like textiles or manufacturing, further deepening inequality. However, globalization also enables social mobility for some, as seen in the rise of entrepreneurs from modest backgrounds leveraging global platforms. Despite this, the concentration of wealth among a small elite, contrasted with persistent poverty, suggests that globalization often exacerbates class divides rather than bridging them.
(2) Do you think kinship bonds are weakening? Give reasons for your response.
Answer: Kinship bonds in India are undergoing transformation and, in some cases, weakening due to modern societal changes. Urbanization and migration for jobs often separate extended families, reducing frequent interactions that strengthen kinship ties. For example, young professionals moving to metropolitan cities may prioritize nuclear families over joint family systems. Additionally, the influence of individualism, driven by globalization and Westernization, sometimes shifts focus from collective family obligations to personal aspirations. However, kinship bonds remain strong in rural areas and during significant events like marriages or festivals, where families reunite. Technology, such as video calls, also helps maintain connections despite physical distances. Thus, while kinship bonds are adapting to modern pressures, they are not entirely weakening but evolving in response to changing lifestyles.
6. Answer the following question in detail (about 150-200 words).
Answer: You have studied about Comte’s Law of Three Stages of human thought. With reference to the first and third stage, comment on the challenges it poses for Indian society.
Auguste Comte’s Law of Three Stages describes the evolution of human thought through the Theological, Metaphysical, and Positive stages. In the Theological stage, Indian society, with its deep-rooted religious traditions, often attributes events to divine will. This poses challenges in addressing modern issues like poverty or health crises, as fatalistic beliefs may hinder proactive solutions. For instance, reliance on rituals over scientific healthcare can delay progress in rural areas. Additionally, superstition sometimes fuels social practices like caste discrimination, complicating efforts toward equality.
In the Positive stage, where empirical evidence and scientific reasoning dominate, India faces the challenge of uneven adoption. While urban centers embrace technology and data-driven policies, rural regions lag due to limited education and infrastructure. Bridging this gap requires widespread scientific literacy, which is hindered by cultural resistance to questioning traditional beliefs. Moreover, the coexistence of these stages creates tension, as seen in debates over modern reforms versus religious customs. To progress, Indian society must balance respect for cultural heritage with the promotion of critical thinking and scientific inquiry to address contemporary challenges effectively.
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