Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 164 words written
Elaborate S C Dube's views on village society in Shamirpet.
Opening · a date or context
S.C Dube's landmark study of the village Shamirpet, near Hyderabad in 1950s is a pioneering work. Dube uses structural functional perspective to generate his insights:
Body · points
→ Busting the myth: Villages were not autonomous independent republics like Metcalfe had suggested.
→ Economic structure: Villagers were engaged in different economic functions as per their caste which were both agricultural and service occupations (barber, potter etc).
→ Ritual structure: Village had a rich tradition of myths, folklores, teachings of saints etc. Celebrations were mainly for marriage, communal and familial reasons.
→ Kinship structure was patrilineal and patrilocal nuclear or joint family. Caste are endogamous and women are observed in domestic work, agriculture, birth, marriage, festival etc.
→ Social structure: caste, inter caste and inter village organization was present. Muslims and Hindus retain their socioreligious identities. Castes had permanent social distance and disabilities.
→ Level of living:
Close · a summary
Dube's study was relevant during implementation of Community Development Program. Though descriptive in nature without analysis, it remains a landmark study.