Microsocial studies in development and change

Being engaged in sociological study and research over the last two decades, I have had many opportunities of laying my hand on sociological material relating to a wide range of subjects for study and research. One of the major areas of my interest during these years has been the study of urbanism as a way of life and urbanization as a process of social change. My writings on these subjects have been published in two recent books of mine. Most of the rest of the work is now presented in this consolidated volume comprising findings of empirical research and documentary studies. The time span of the whole work stretches over a period of twenty years starting from 1956 to 1976.

In short, the book contains research papers, studies and essays of different size and quality. All these works were thoroughly revised for the purpose of publication. Though the date of writing each piece of work has been mentioned in the footnote of the Chapters concerned, the papers are not pre sented in chronological order, but are grouped under broad subject headings in five parts to enhance the usefulness of this book. A resume of the contents of each part has been given in the form of introductory notes to indicate linkages or rele vance, however, weak or strong, between relevant chapters within each part of the book, Briefly stated, Part One deals with some aspects of community development and social change, Part Two presents general beliefs and practices among the tribals in relation to the processes and prospects of change, Part Three throws some light on the style of decision-making in Panchayati Raj and social welfare administration, Part Four contains largely the analytical studies of some aspects of rural administration and Part Five presents a fairly wide range of material written on miscellaneous subjects.