Indian Sociology at the Threshold of the 21st Century: Some Observations

Initially, Indian sociology was influenced by colonialism and indology. After Independence, Indian sociology moved towards indigenisation on the one hand and critical examination of the Western theories, concepts and methods of study on the other. Indigenisation and use of regional texts, sources and observations weakened the Western impact on Indian sociology. The idea of the founding fathers of Indian sociology provided a plural and multidimensional thrust to sociology in India. Debates on Indian sociology became intense after Louis Dumont argued for a fit between indology and the present-day Indian society (sociology). In response to Dumont’s view, Yogendra Singh provides a fivefold classification of approaches and signifies Indian sociology through a synthesis of empiricism and analytical vision. The main contributions to explain Indian sociology have been made by Ramkrishna Mukherjee and Yogendra Singh. Mukherjee talks of ‘modernisers of Indian sociology’ and Singh looks for ‘social conditioning’ of Indian sociology.