Book Details

• Author: Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2023

• ISBN: 9788131613306

• Pages: 244

• Cover: Hardcover

About the Book

This compelling volume offers an analytical study of a transformative period in Indian culture, authored by one of India’s foremost sociological thinkers, Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji. A pioneer in the sociology of culture, Mukerji spent over twenty-five years shaping scholarly perspectives on Indian society, and this book remains a significant part of his legacy.

In this work, Mukerji explores the paradoxical development of a pseudo-middle class during British rule—a class divorced from its social and cultural roots, yet awkwardly grafted with foreign values to serve colonial interests. Through a nuanced socio-economic lens, he investigates how this historical rupture influenced key domains of Indian renaissance, such as literature, religion, music, education, and the arts. Each chapter presents a focused discourse—from “The Mystical Outlook” to “Sociology of Modern Indian Music” and “The Immediate Problem”—tracing the cultural consequences of colonialism and modernisation in India.

This book offers one of the earliest synthetic sociological accounts of Indian culture in transition, culminating with the country's independence in 1947. It is essential not only for understanding India’s recent past but also for framing contemporary cultural challenges. With its profound insights and accessible analysis, this volume continues to captivate sociologists, historians, and scholars in related fields.

Contents

1. The Mystical Outlook

2. Cultural Unity and Social Processes

3. Economic Process and the ‘Middle Class’

4. Education and Social Mobility

5. Literature and Class-Expression

6. Sociology of Modern Indian Music

7. Revival of Fine Arts

8. The Immediate Problem

About the Author

Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji (1894–1961), popularly known as D.P. Mukerji, was an extraordinary scholar, sociologist, novelist, essayist, and economist. A founding figure in Indian sociology, he introduced Marxian perspectives into Indian social thought. His long academic career included 32 years at the University of Lucknow, where he served as Professor and Head of Department. He was also a Visiting Professor at The Hague and later chaired the Economics Department at Aligarh Muslim University. A visionary thinker, Mukerji served as the first President of the Indian Sociological Conference and Vice-President of the International Sociological Association. His versatile intellect left indelible marks across the fields of literature, economics, music, art, and social science.