STUDIES IN INDIAN SOCIOLOGY: IDENTITY, COMMUNITY/ETHNICITY, AND CONFLICT

Book Details:

• Author: N. Jayaram

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: First Edition

• ISBN: 9788131614310

• Pages: 297

• Cover: Hardcover

• Release Date: 2025

• Sale Territory: World

About the Book

This scholarly volume brings together eleven research essays and critical reflections by renowned sociologist N. Jayaram, focusing on three interlinked sociological themes: identity, community/ethnicity, and conflict. The book is divided into two major sections—Perspectives and Literature and Studies and Analyses.

The first section delves into foundational concepts such as the nature of social reality, the semantics of identity in Indian society, and the scope of the sociology of conflict. Two of these chapters are co-authored with noted sociologist Satish Saberwal, offering deeper insights into social conflict through both theoretical and empirical perspectives.

The second section comprises six detailed case studies that traverse geographic, ethnic, and cultural contexts—from the politics of cultural identity among Indo-Trinidadians to ethnic violence in Sri Lanka, from the educational marginalization of Indian Muslims to a South Indian view on multiculturalism and nation-building. The volume concludes with a unique sociological interpretation of V.S. Naipaul’s Indian Trilogy, reflecting on wounded civilisations and diasporic identity.

Together, these essays provide a comprehensive lens on how identities are constructed, contested, and negotiated within varied socio-political landscapes. They also highlight the continuing relevance of multiculturalism in education and public discourse.

This is an essential read for students, researchers, and scholars of sociology, political science, education, and cultural studies.

Contents

PERSPECTIVES AND LITERATURE

• Studying Our Society: The Social Reality

• Identity: A Semantic Exploration in India’s Society and Culture

• Sociology of Conflict: An Introduction

• Understanding Social Conflict: Further Perspectives

• Identity, Community, and Conflict: A Survey of Issues and Analyses

STUDIES AND ANALYSES

• The Politics of ‘Cultural Renaissance’ among Indo-Trinidadians

• Religious Revivalism and Ethnic Fratricide: The Tragedy of Sri Lanka

• Ethnicity and Education: A Sociohistorical Perspective on the Educational Backwardness of Indian Muslims

• Multiculturalism and Nation-Building: A South Indian Perspective

• Multiculturalism and Education: The Indian Experience

• Understanding A Wounded Civilisation: A Sociological Reading of V.S. Naipaul’s Indian Trilogy

About the Author

N. Jayaram is a distinguished sociologist who retired as Professor of Research Methodology at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Over his academic career, he has taught at institutions including Bangalore University, Goa University, and Ambedkar University Delhi. He has also served as a Visiting Professor in Trinidad and at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. He was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Sociological Society.

His recent works include Understanding Social Dynamics in South Asia, Caste Matters in Public Policy, From Indians in Trinidad to Indo-Trinidadians, Sociological Theory and Research Methods, and The Sociology of Émile Durkheim. His work is widely recognized for its depth, interdisciplinarity, and contribution to South Asian sociology.