What is the significance of village studies in the history of Indian sociology? What role did M.N. Srinivas play in promoting village studies?

The significance of village studies in the history of Indian sociology is –

• It emphasised the importance of ethnographic research methods.

• More than 65 percent of the population resides in rural area of India.

• Villages are unifying identities having significant importance in rural life.

• The study of villages provides examples of rapid social change in the economical development of the country after independence.

M.N. Srinivas played a very important role in promoting village studies some of them are –

• He produced detailed ethnographic accounts of villages.

• He criticised the arguments presented by the British anthropologists and concluded that the village was as important subject of study as any other social institution.

• He also proved the links of the village community to the economy of the outside world.