Sociology · Indian Sociological Thoughts B K Nagla
Chapter 21 : Biography of Yogendra Singh and his Contribution to Indian Sociology
Table of contents40 sections
- 1.Biography and Methodology
- 2.Methodology
- 3.Major Focus Areas
- 4.Major Writings
- 5.Key Terms
- 6.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 7.Social Stratification
- 8.Critique of Indian Stratification Studies (ICSSR Trend Report, 1974)
- 9.Social Stratification and Change in India (1977)
- 10.Key Terms
- 11.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 12.Social Change
- 13.Critique of Early Social Change Studies
- 14.Re-evaluating Sanskritization
- 15.Classification of Approaches to Social Change
- 16.Tendencies and Contradictions of Modern Social Change
- 17.Social Change in India: Crisis and Resilience (1993)
- 18.Key Terms
- 19.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 20.Toward an Integrated Approach
- 21.Key Terms
- 22.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 23.Modernization in India
- 24.Key Terms
- 25.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 26.Indian Sociology & Images of Man
- 27.Indian Sociology (1987)
- 28.Images of Man: Ideology and Theory in Indian Sociology (1984)
- 29.Key Terms
- 30.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 31.Ideology and Theory in Indian Sociology
- 32.Periodization of Indian Sociology (1952–1977)
- 33.Four Theoretic Orientations in Indian Sociology
- 34.Key Terms
- 35.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 36.Culture Change in India
- 37.Culture Change, Categories, and Identity
- 38.Key Terms
- 39.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 40.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
Biography and Methodology
Yogendra Singh is a distinguished scholar-theoretician and the founder of the Centre for the Study of Social Systems (CSSS) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He is known for his simple, creative, and humanist approach to life and writing.
- Early Life & Education: Born on 2nd November, 1932 in a Jamindar family in the Basti district of Uttar Pradesh. He completed his Master's and PhD from Lucknow University.
- Academic Mentors: He was taught by eminent sociologists including Radhakamal Mukerjee, D.P. Mukerji, D.N. Majumdar, Baljit Singh, and A.K. Saran.
- Teaching Career:
- Taught at the Institute of Social Sciences, Agra for three years.
- Joined Rajasthan University to establish a new Department of Sociology alongside T.K.N. Unnithan and Indra Deva.
- Taught briefly at the University of Jodhpur.
- Invited to establish the CSSS at JNU in 1971 after a decade in Rajasthan.
- Guided more than thirty students for doctoral research.
- Professional Roles:
- Member of the research advisory committee of the Planning Commission and the ICSSR.
- Convener of the UGC national panel of sociology.
- President of the Indian Sociological Society.
- Conducted significant fieldwork across several South Asian countries.
Methodology
Singh's methodological stance is strictly contextual rather than dogmatic:
- He is neither a functionalist nor a Marxist.
- He emphasizes theory in relation to context.
- He utilizes an integrated approach, relating structural-functional, structuralism, structural-historical, culturalism, and Marxist orientations to construct his studies on social stratification, modernization, and change in Indian society.
Major Focus Areas
In his studies, Singh concentrated his focus on 5 aspects of Indian society:
| # | Aspect of Indian Society |
|---|---|
| 1 | Social stratification |
| 2 | Social change |
| 3 | Modernization |
| 4 | Indian sociology |
| 5 | Culture change |
Major Writings
Singh published extensively. His 14 main works are:
Key Terms
| Concept | Definition |
|---|---|
| Integrated Approach | Singh's methodological framework that combines structural-functional, structuralism, structural-historical, culturalism, and Marxist orientations to analyze society in relation to its specific context. |
📌 Exam Tidbits
- Yogendra Singh (1971): Founded the Centre for the Study of Social Systems (CSSS) at JNU.
- Mentors: Radhakamal Mukerjee, D.P. Mukerji, D.N. Majumdar,…
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