Discover 15 Engaging MCQs on Indian Sociologists with Detailed Explanations
Test your knowledge of Indian sociologists and their contributions to sociology with these 15 carefully crafted multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Designed for intermediate learners, these questions cover key concepts, theories, and sociologists who have shaped the study of Indian society. Each question is followed by a concise explanation to enhance understanding and provide context. Perfect for students preparing for competitive exams or anyone interested in Indian sociology!
1. Who among the following Indian sociologists is best known for introducing the concept of "Sanskritization"?
A) G.S. Ghurye
B) M.N. Srinivas
C) A.R. Desai
D) Irawati Karve
Correct Answer: B) M.N. Srinivas
Explanation: M.N. Srinivas introduced the concept of "Sanskritization," which describes the process by which lower castes adopt the customs, rituals, and practices of higher castes to improve their social status. This concept is significant in understanding social mobility and cultural change in Indian society. Srinivas’ work, particularly his village studies, highlighted dynamic social processes. G.S. Ghurye focused on caste and kinship, A.R. Desai on Marxist perspectives, and Irawati Karve on anthropological approaches, but none coined "Sanskritization." Learn more about Srinivas’ work.
2. Which sociologist’s work focused on the caste system and its features, such as segmental division and hierarchy?
A) D.P. Mukerji
B) G.S. Ghurye
C) Andre Beteille
D) T.K. Oommen
Correct Answer: B) G.S. Ghurye
Explanation: G.S. Ghurye, often regarded as the father of Indian sociology, extensively studied the caste system, identifying features like segmental division, hierarchy, and restrictions on marriage and occupation. His book Caste and Race in India is a seminal work. D.P. Mukerji emphasized living traditions, Andre Beteille focused on class and power, and T.K. Oommen explored communalism, making Ghurye the correct choice. Explore Ghurye’s contributions.
3. Who among the following sociologists used a Marxist approach to analyze Indian nationalism?
A) M.N. Srinivas
B) A.R. Desai
C) Irawati Karve
D) K.M. Kapadia
Correct Answer: B) A.R. Desai
Explanation: A.R. Desai, a prominent Marxist sociologist, analyzed Indian nationalism as a product of material conditions created by British colonialism, such as industrialization. His work, like Social Background of Indian Nationalism, emphasized economic and class factors. M.N. Srinivas focused on caste, Irawati Karve on kinship, and K.M. Kapadia on family structures, making Desai’s Marxist lens unique. Read about Desai’s Marxist approach.
4. Which Indian sociologist is known for her pioneering work on kinship and Maharashtrian culture?
A) D.P. Mukerji
B) Irawati Karve
C) S.C. Dube
D) Andre Beteille
Correct Answer: B) Irawati Karve
Explanation: Irawati Karve, considered India’s first female sociologist, conducted groundbreaking studies on kinship and Maharashtrian culture, blending sociology and anthropology. Her work, like Kinship Organization in India, used linguistic and anthropometric surveys. D.P. Mukerji focused on traditions, S.C. Dube on villages, and Andre Beteille on stratification, making Karve the correct answer. Learn more about Karve’s work.
5. What is the significance of D.P. Mukerji’s concept of a “living tradition”?
A) It emphasizes rigid adherence to ancient customs
B) It describes a tradition that evolves by blending old and new elements
C) It rejects modernity in favor of traditional values
D) It focuses on economic modernization
Correct Answer: B) It describes a tradition that evolves by blending old and new elements
Explanation: D.P. Mukerji’s concept of a “living tradition” highlights how Indian society retains elements of its past while incorporating new influences, allowing for dynamic cultural evolution. He urged sociologists to root their work in this concept to understand India’s unique social fabric. Options A and C misrepresent his view, and D focuses on economics, which is unrelated. Explore Mukerji’s ideas.
6. Who among the following sociologists is associated with the study of village society in India?
A) A.R. Desai
B) M.N. Srinivas
C) T.K. Oommen
D) K.M. Kapadia
Correct Answer: B) M.N. Srinivas
Explanation: M.N. Srinivas made significant contributions to Indian sociology through his village studies, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s. His ethnographic accounts, like The Remembered Village, emphasized rural social structures and caste dynamics. A.R. Desai focused on Marxist analyses, T.K. Oommen on communalism, and K.M. Kapadia on family, making Srinivas the correct choice. Read about Srinivas’ village studies.
7. Which sociologist followed Max Weber’s tripartite model of social stratification (caste, class, power)?
A) G.S. Ghurye
B) Andre Beteille
C) S.C. Dube
D) Irawati Karve
Correct Answer: B) Andre Beteille
Explanation: Andre Beteille, a renowned sociologist, adopted Max Weber’s tripartite model to analyze social stratification in India, focusing on caste, class, and power, as seen in his work Caste, Class and Power. G.S. Ghurye focused on caste features, S.C. Dube on villages, and Irawati Karve on kinship, making Beteille the correct answer. Learn about Beteille’s work.
8. Who authored the book Society in India?
A) David Mandelbaum
B) G.S. Ghurye
C) M.N. Srinivas
D) A.R. Desai
Correct Answer: A) David Mandelbaum
Explanation: David Mandelbaum, an anthropologist, authored Society in India, which examines Indian social relations as dynamic systems. Unlike G.S. Ghurye, M.N. Srinivas, or A.R. Desai, who focused on specific aspects like caste or nationalism, Mandelbaum provided a comprehensive view of Indian society’s adaptability. Learn more about Mandelbaum’s work.
9. Which sociologist is known for his work on the Indian family and was a founder member of the Indian Sociological Society?
A) K.M. Kapadia
B) S.C. Dube
C) T.K. Oommen
D) D.P. Mukerji
Correct Answer: A) K.M. Kapadia
Explanation: K.M. Kapadia is renowned for his studies on the Indian family and was a founder member of the Indian Sociological Society, serving as its secretary from 1955 to 1966. S.C. Dube focused on villages, T.K. Oommen on communalism, and D.P. Mukerji on traditions, making Kapadia the correct choice. Explore Kapadia’s contributions.
10. Who proposed the six dimensions of communalism, including assimilationist and secessionist?
A) A.R. Desai
B) T.K. Oommen
C) G.S. Ghurye
D) M.N. Srinivas
Correct Answer: B) T.K. Oommen
Explanation: T.K. Oommen, a prominent sociologist, proposed six dimensions of communalism—assimilationist, welfarist, retreatist, retaliatory, separatist, and secessionist—to analyze religious and social conflicts in India. A.R. Desai focused on Marxism, G.S. Ghurye on caste, and M.N. Srinivas on Sanskritization, making Oommen the correct answer. Read about Oommen’s work.
11. Which sociologist conducted anthropometric and blood group surveys among Indian tribes?
A) D.N. Mazumdar
B) Irawati Karve
C) S.C. Dube
D) Andre Beteille
Correct Answer: A) D.N. Mazumdar
Explanation: D.N. Mazumdar, an anthropologist, conducted field investigations and anthropometric surveys, including blood group studies, among tribes in Bihar, Orissa, and Madhya Pradesh. Irawati Karve focused on kinship, S.C. Dube on villages, and Andre Beteille on stratification, making Mazumdar the correct choice. Learn about Mazumdar’s work.
12. Who is known for the book The Remembered Village, a detailed ethnographic study of Indian rural life?
A) G.S. Ghurye
B) M.N. Srinivas
C) A.R. Desai
D) D.P. Mukerji
Correct Answer: B) M.N. Srinivas
Explanation: M.N. Srinivas’ The Remembered Village is a classic ethnographic study of a South Indian village, offering insights into caste, social structure, and rural life. G.S. Ghurye focused on caste, A.R. Desai on nationalism, and D.P. Mukerji on traditions, making Srinivas the correct answer. Explore Srinivas’ village studies.
13. Which sociologist’s work emphasized the role of education in promoting social cohesion in India?
A) Andre Beteille
B) S.C. Dube
C) Irawati Karve
D) K.M. Kapadia
Correct Answer: B) S.C. Dube
Explanation: S.C. Dube, a noted anthropologist and sociologist, studied Indian villages and emphasized education’s role in fostering social cohesion and development. Andre Beteille focused on stratification, Irawati Karve on kinship, and K.M. Kapadia on family, making Dube the correct choice. Read about Dube’s contributions.
14. Who among the following was influenced by G.S. Ghurye’s Indological approach to sociology?
A) M.N. Srinivas
B) Irawati Karve
C) A.R. Desai
D) T.K. Oommen
Correct Answer: B) Irawati Karve
Explanation: Irawati Karve’s work on Indian social relations, particularly kinship, was influenced by G.S. Ghurye’s Indological approach, which emphasized cultural and historical texts. M.N. Srinivas used fieldwork, A.R. Desai adopted Marxism, and T.K. Oommen focused on communalism, making Karve the correct answer. Learn about Karve’s influences.
15. Which sociologist’s work focused on rural-urban transformation and modernity in India?
A) Dipankar Gupta
B) M.N. Srinivas
C) G.S. Ghurye
D) K.M. Kapadia
Correct Answer: A) Dipankar Gupta
Explanation: Dipankar Gupta, a contemporary sociologist, explored rural-urban transformation, modernity, and caste in works like Mistaken Modernity. M.N. Srinivas focused on village studies, G.S. Ghurye on caste, and K.M. Kapadia on family, making Gupta the correct choice. Explore Gupta’s work.
Sources
Learn CBSE: NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Sociology Chapter 5 Indian Sociologists
Testbook: Indian Sociologists MCQ
Tiwari Academy: NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Sociology Chapter 1
Comments