India's Social Landscape

This book examines some of the social dimensions of Indian society and the challenges therein. It explores various themes, including the rules and norms governing people’s lives, the rhythm of village life, mythology and folk narratives, as well as social structures, institutions, and processes like caste, class, gender, religion, family formation, conjugality, dialect–language dichotomy, and the Indian diaspora. Written in honour of Professor Hetukar Jha, renowned for his pioneering contributions to historical sociology and the integration of historical methods with sociological analysis, this collection presents theoretical and empirical articles examining India's complex social landscape. The contributors explore fundamental questions about Indian society's cultural dynamics, the interplay between tradition and modernity, evolving norms and values, and the manifestation of social cohesion and conflict across gender, caste, class, and religion. The book addresses transformations in key social institutions like marriage and language while representing India's spatial diversities and distinct regional cultural practices across its vast geographical expanse. The chapters take a long view on social transformations since India confronted Western "modernity" during British rule and the post-independence period up to the present era of globalisation and liberalisation. The book will be of interest to research scholars and faculty in the fields of sociology, social anthropology, cultural studies, gender studies, Dalit studies, literature, South Asian studies, and political science.