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Q: Highlight the significant features of A. R. Desai’s ‘Dialectical Perspective’ to study Indian Society
Question asked in UPSC Sociology 2023 Paper 2. Download our app for last 20 year question with model answers.
Model Answer:
A.R. Desai’s Dialectical Perspective on Indian Society
A.R. Desai’s ‘Dialectical Perspective’ offers a critical approach to studying Indian society, blending Marxist theory with an understanding of India’s historical and cultural complexities. This perspective has significantly influenced sociological research in India.
Key features of Desai’s Dialectical Perspective include:
1. Historical Materialism: Desai applies this Marxist concept to the Indian context, emphasizing economic structures’ role in shaping social relations. For example, he analyzes how British colonial capitalism transformed traditional Indian agrarian society.
2. Critique of Traditional Approaches: He challenges both colonial and nationalist interpretations of Indian society, arguing for a more critical analysis. Desai critiques the romanticization of village communities by nationalist thinkers.
3. Focus on Social Change: Desai views Indian society as dynamic and evolving. He examines how industrialization and urbanization have led to shifts in family structures.
4. Interdisciplinary Approach: He integrates insights from history, economics, and political science. In his analysis of caste, Desai considers its economic basis, historical evolution, and political manifestations.
5. Emphasis on Contradictions: Desai highlights internal contradictions within Indian society as drivers of change, such as the tension between constitutional equality and persistent caste discrimination.
6. Analysis of Power Structures: He examines how caste, class, and gender perpetuate social inequalities. Desai’s work on the women’s movement analyzes how patriarchal structures intersect with class and caste hierarchies.
7. Critique of Development: Desai critically evaluates India’s post-independence development strategies, highlighting their limitations and unintended consequences.
An example of Desai’s approach is his analysis of the Green Revolution, examining both its successes and negative impacts on rural power structures and the environment.
Desai’s perspective encourages a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of social phenomena in India.
