Critically analyze to what extent 'structural-functional perspective' is suitable for the study of Indian Society.

Structure functional perspective in the study of Indian society has been more influenced by British Anthropological tradition of A.R. Radcliffe Brown.

This approach views Indian society as a stable, cohesive, persistent whole that with its various parts inter-related and influencing each other. It studies both the essence of structures and their functions.

This approach has been most successfully adopted by Indian sociologists in the study of Indian village, based on field study and empiricism.

Eg: M.N. Srinivas study of caste, A. Chakravarty's study of PRI, Uma Chakravarty's study of gender relations in village & studies by F.G. Bailey, O. Lewis, S.C. Dube and others on caste class, land relations, etc.

These studies have played an instrumental role in understanding Indian society -

→ D. Thorner in his study reveals the caste-class nexus as 'Maliks', 'Mazdoor', 'kisan' hail from upper, middle, lower castes respectively. → K. Gough indicates how capitalism in agriculture has consolidated class division/relations. → U. Chakravarti indicates difference between Brahminic and Dalit Patriarchy, the latter witnessing more violence despite relative economic independence of women. → M. Srinivas explained mobility through sanskritization, relation between caste & politics in study of 'dominant caste'. → A. Chakravarty indicates how politics esp PRI are still driven by casteist identity. → PC Joshi indicates how failure of land reforms has led to persistence in caste hierarchy. → A. Beteille studied how cooperatives came to be dominated by upper castes/classes.

These studies reflect not only the essence of structures like caste, class, power, land-holding, gender relations, etc., rather they explain the inter-relationship among the same that is manifested in every social reality witnessed in Indian village & Indian society.

Thus structural functionalism has contributed immensely to Indian sociology by liberating it from Book view/Indology/Economic Determinism, etc.

However, it has certain limitations like upper caste/class bias in studies, lack of empirical support, etc.