M. N. Srinivas and Structural Functionalism
Sociology Paper II:
Syllabus Topic:
- Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas).
Context and Theoretical Orientation
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Srinivas pioneered structural functionalism in Indian sociology, blending theoretical insights with ethnographic fieldwork.
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Trained under Radcliffe-Brown and Evans-Pritchard, he integrated British functionalism with Indian realities.
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Opposed the textual and static Indological approach, and advocated for empirical, field-based sociology.
Methodology and Fieldwork
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Used participant observation and long-term fieldwork to study Indian society (e.g., Coorgs of Mysore, village Rampura).
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Rejected grand theorizing of American functionalism and focused on micro-level realities.
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His approach emphasized the function of social institutions in maintaining village cohesion and societal order.
Key Contributions
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Functional Unity: Society as a system where every institution serves a stabilizing role.
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Village as a Microcosm: Considered villages to be miniature representations of broader Indian society.
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Holistic View: Studied caste, religion, family, rituals, and local politics in an integrated manner.
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Empirical Rigour: Brought legitimacy to sociology as a scientific discipline in India through field-based studies.
Major Concepts
| Concept | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Sanskritization | Cultural mobility where lower castes adopt practices of upper castes to gain status. |
| Dominant Caste | A caste group that holds local power due to size, landownership, education, and political clout. |
| Vote Bank | Early sociological articulation of caste-based electoral politics. |
| Westernization | Influence of colonial modernity and Western institutions in changing Indian society. |
MN Srinivas on Village and Village Studies
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Authored The Remembered Village (1976), based on long-term fieldwork in Rampura.
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Debunked the myth of self-sufficiency in villages; highlighted interdependence via practices like village exogamy.
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Critiqued Louis Dumont’s caste-centric view and emphasized the village as the core social unit.
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Village studies, per Srinivas, could guide developmental planning and policy interventions in rural India.
Criticisms
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Overemphasis on Caste: His village model was seen as caste-heavy, ignoring class, gender, and conflict.
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Lack of Macro Vision: Couldn’t provide large-scale systemic theories like Parsons or Merton.
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Methodological Narrowness: Focused studies on single villages were seen as narrow and less generalizable.
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Latent Indological Influence: Despite rejecting Indology, his works retained cultural essentialism.
M. N. Srinivas played a seminal role in indigenizing sociology in India. His structural functionalist perspective, rooted in fieldwork and functional interpretation, enabled a practical, grounded analysis of Indian society. However, its limitations in addressing power, conflict, and inequality opened the way for later perspectives like Marxist and Subaltern approaches.
