RajeshwariAIR 2 · CSE 2025 · 147 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
Colonial idea of Indian villages is 'Village Republics' i.e self sufficient independent villages without any outside contacts.
Indian sociologists challenged this colonial idea by their studies.
Body · points
Prominent critique of colonial idea of Indian villages :
→ Indian villages on Indological studies were identified to be interdependent of one another.
→ G.S Ghurye study on caste system and village exogamy illustrates the interdependence of the villages and exchanges between them.
→ Jajmani system was economic system in pre-colonial rule which led to village to village contacts.
E.g. Andre Beteille village studies of class-caste-power reveals jajmani system existence and exchange system proving colonial idea of village as wrong.
→ Vertical and horizontal solidarity studied by M.N. Srinivas in his Coorg village study criticises the colonial idea of villages to be little republic and independent.
Close · a summary
Hence, colonial bookish racial construct of village ideas were criticised by efficient Indian sociological studies.