Sociology

History of the Department

 

Dr. Meghnad Saha College was established in November, 2000. The department of Sociology of this College started its journey from the very beginning of the institution. The institution is situated at Ranipur, the rural confines of Itahar in the district of Uttar Dinajpur with the solemn appeal of providing quality education at undergraduate level to local youths for enlightening them with academic knowledge as well as versatility of professional skills along with the ‘manifestation of perfection’ of human excellence and morality. At the time of inception, the institution was affiliated under North Bengal University, Siliguri, Darjeeling and since 2008 the institution got affiliation under Gour Banga University, Malda, West Bengal. The department began its journey with one Full time faculty member.  Another Full time faculty joined the department in 2017. One Part time faculty member joined the department in 2007 and two Guest lecturer members joined in 2014. From January, 2020 all three Guest lecturer and Part time teacher were named ‘State Aided College Teacher’ according to the initiative taken by the West Bengal Government. The department offers 3year Bachelor of Arts (B.A) Honours and 3year Bachelor of Arts (B.A) Pass under the affiliation of Gour Banga University, Malda, West Bengal.

Besides teaching, the Department gives special importance to the applied field of sociology, which includes field visit, projects, assignments, dissertation, seminar and special lectures for preparing the students for higher studies as well as for job market. Many students have graduated from the Department of Sociology as Honours and General candidates and placed themselves in higher studies and job sector. The students are also encouraged to nurture their creativities through several co-curricular activities such as the departmental Wall Magazine and Annual Exhibition and teachers guide them properly in this regard. The faculty members represent an effective blend of wisdom and energy representing a diverse range of expertise in different domains of sociological knowledge. Faculty members are also hard to impart rigorous field-work based research training to the students. Active engagement of all the faculty members in different areas of college administration is also noteworthy.

 

 

Vission and Mission

 

The Department of Sociology is one of the oldest departments of Dr.Meghnad Saha College. The undergraduate programme in Sociology has been designed to develop scientific, interpretative, and critical capabilities for understanding on the social and cultural forces that shape the human experience. Covering a wide range of concepts, theories, movements, trends, thinkers and schools of criticism, the course equips the students with theoretical and methodological understanding to complex social and cultural realities both local and global for further study and research in the subject.

• • • As the institution is situated in rural area and most of the students are first generation learners, the faculties give individual attention to students and their respective improvement with a holistic approach incorporating evidenced-based high-impact teaching practices in order to develop the literary understanding of these rural students towards English studies and to elicit out best academic responses from them.
    • To develop value-based quality education with commitment as well as ethical and multidimensional development among the students which will contribute towards their educational, social and economic wellbeing and will also equip and empower students with relevant knowledge and creativity to face challenges.
    • To maintain a vibrant and inclusive environment where faculty, staff and students are respected and where their contributions are fairly recognized.
    • Strategies of teaching include the lecture method, audio-visual techniques, student seminars and class discussion.

The curriculum of the department reflects the global trends in higher education by the adoption of Choice Based Credit System (CBCS), contemporary teaching, carrier oriented and foundation courses. The teaching-learning modalities cover learner entered education to familiarize the learning management system and e-resources. The systematic evaluation and assessment processes gauge the knowledge and regulatory mechanism of the examination system. The adequate infrastructure and its regular maintenance promote the optimum utilization of resources.

 

Honours Program

 

Objective  of  the  Honours  program  (Five points in bullet form)

 

• • • Examine the relationship between society and it’s various institutions as well as social interaction and human relations.
    • Raising awareness among students about various societal issues and helping them to make informed decisions.
    • Provide interdisciplinary introduction to the study of Indian society.
    • Provide the students the practical experience and knowledge about our society through field work.
    • To kindle critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills in students and to examine and analyse societal issues from sociological perspective.

 

Syllabus for the Honours program

 

*For 1+1+1 system students –  CLICK HERE

 

* For CBCS system students-  CLICK HERE

 

Course outcome for 1+1+1 system students –

 

 

Paper- I: Introduction to Sociology, Basic Concept and Components.

 

Unit 1: This unit gives a detailed insight on the Fundamentals of Sociology which includes Nature, Scope , Subject matters of Sociology as a discipline as well as its relationship with other social sciences. It also gives detailed information on the emergence and growth of Sociology as a discipline. Unit 2: This unit gives a detailed insight on various aspects of basic social structure that includes Society, Community, Institution, Association, Social Group, Norms and Values, Folkways and Mores. Unit 3: This unit gives a detailed insight on Individual, Culture and Society as well as socialization process. Unit 4: This unit gives detailed information on various Social Institutions and their features and functions. Institutions such as Family, Kinship, Marriage and political institutions are discussed in detail in this unit. Unit 5: Social Structure: This unit gives a detailed insight on Social Status, Status and Role, Multiple Roles , Role Set , Role Conflict , Status Set , Status Sequence . Unit 6.  This unit gives a detailed information on nature, purposes and  various  agencies of social control. Unit 7: This unit gives a detailed insight on meaning and different forms of social Stratification. Social inequalities based on religion, caste, class, power, gender and social mobility are also discussed extensively. Unit 8: This unit gives a detailed insight on various Social Process such as Cooperation, Competition, Conflict, Accommodation, and Assimilation. Unit 9: This unit gives a detailed insight on the process of Social Change and cultural lag.

 

Paper –II. Sociological Thoughts and Theories

Group – A (Sociological Theory)

Unit 1: Sociological Theory: This unit gives a detailed insight on the meaning, Characteristics , Types , Role of Theory in research. Unit 2: This unit gives a detailed insight on the Evolutionary &Neo evolutionary Theories of Herbert Spencer , Henry Morgan, Stewart. Gordon Child. Lesley White Unit 3: This unit gives a detailed insight on the general propositions and critical overview on the Exchange Theories of George Homans, Peter Blau. Unit 4: This unit gives a detailed insight on the Symbolic Interactionism Theories of Mead, Cooley, Blumer. Unit 5: This unit gives a detailed insight on the Origin of Functionalism and Evolutionary and Neo-evolutionary Theoretical approach of Malinowski , Radcliffe Brown, T. Parsons and R. Merton. Unit 6: This unit gives a detailed insight on the general propositions of Conflict Theory and the contributions of K. Marx, Dahrendorf and Coser.

 

Group – B (Sociological Thoughts)

Unit 1: This unit gives a detailed insight on the contributions of  August Comte in the field of Sociology with a detailed information on his theories such as Positivism , The law of three stages , Social Statics and Social dynamics , hierarchy of sciences. Unit 2:.This unit gives a detailed insight on the contributions of Emile Durkheim and his theories of Methodology, Division of labour, suicide, religion, social fact. Unit 3: This unit gives a detailed insight on the contributions of Karl Marx in the field of Sociology and his theories of Historical Materialism, class and class struggle, Alienation.

Unit 4:  This unit gives a detailed insight on the contributions of Max Weber in the field of Sociology as well as his theories of Ideal Type , Social Action , Authority , Protestant Ethics and capitalism. Unit 5:  This unit gives a detailed insight on the contributions of Vilfred Pareto and his theories of Types of Action and Elite Theory.

 

Paper-III.  Indian Rural Society, Rural Economy and its Transformation

 

Group – A (Rural Society and Polity)

This unit gives a detailed insight on Rural Sociology and it’s subject matter and significance of studying Rural society. This unit includes concepts such as  Rural Social Structure , Rural-urban differences, Caste, Jajmani System, Indian Joint family  Structures , Rural Power Structure, Panchayati Raj Institution , Power of women and weaker section.

 

Group-B (Rural Economy and its Transformation)

This unit gives a detailed insight on characteristics of Rural economy, land tenure system in British Period and present and the changing dimensions of agriculture, Technology and cropping pattern with special reference to Agrarian class structure, Agrarian reforms, Changing dimensions of tenancy relations. This unit gives a detailed insight on the concept and approaches of Rural Social Change and Rural Development Programs with special reference to ITDP, IRDP, ICDS, NREGS, DWCRA, SHG achievement and failure of Rural Development Programs and the role of N.G.Os and Voluntary Organizations in Rural Social Change.

 

Paper –IV:  Urban and Industrial Society in India

Group – A (Urban Society in India) This unit gives a detailed insight on Urban and Industrial Society in India with special reference to the concept of Urban Sociology, Urbanization and Urbanism. Early Towns, Urban India, factors and trends of Urbanization in India, spread of Urban Centers, classification of towns and cities in terms of size and functions are also discussed in this unit. This unit also includes concepts such as Urban society in India- Family, caste, urban groups and associations with special reference to Slum, Sustainable development and Urban Problems and Policies in India.

Group – B (Industrial Sociology) This unit gives a detailed insight on Industrial Sociology and its scope and development in India. This unit also includes concepts such as Industrialism, Industrialization and its forces in pre-independent and Post-Independent era, with a special reference to the, Human Relation In Industry and Factory as a social System , formal and informal organizations , impact of social structure on industry and impact of industry on society. This unit gives a detailed insight on Industrialization and social changes in India, Class conflict, Obstacles to and limitations of Industrialization with special reference to Industrial Labour, trade union Industrial Policy , Licency Raj and Liberalization, Labour welfare and Labour Laws.

 

Paper –V: Indian Sociological Thoughts & Indian Society: Structure and Change

Group – A Unit 1: This unit gives a detailed insight on Sociological Approaches of the study of Indian Society with a special reference to Ancient Sources of Sociology in India, Impact of Reform Movement and Renaissance. This unit also includes the contribution of Indian Sociologists such as Binoy Kumar Sarkar, Durjati Prasad Mukherjee, G. S. Ghurey, and M. N. Srinivas.  This unit also gives a detailed insight on the philosophical Views of Mahatma Gandhi , Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda.

Group- B This unit gives a detailed insight on Religion and Society in India with special reference to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity and their forms and social context with a special reference to Religious pluralism , Secularism and Nation building and also problems of Nationalism and National Integration. This unit also gives a detailed insight on changes in the Social Structure and Institutions with a special reference to the changes in caste system, marriage practices, family structure and kinship system in India. In these unit concepts such as Tribal Minorities and Other Weaker Section, Backward Classes in India and their social- economic situation, Dalit Identity, Policy of Protective Discrimination are also discussed in detail.

 

Paper –VI: Society Economy and Polity

Group – A This unit gives a detailed insight on the principles of Economic Sociology, Primitive and Peasant Economic Systems, Production system, Economic Transformation, Land Reforms, Market , Commercialization, Globalization and Liberal Economic Forces. This unit also gives a detailed insight on Economy and Social Development and Welfare and Liberal Model of Development.

Group – B This unit gives a detailed insight on Political Sociology. This unit includes concepts like Power, Authority, Legitimacy, Bureaucracy, Political Elites, Primitive and Modern Political System and State. This unit also includes concepts like Political Ideologies such as Liberalism, Socialism, Fascism, Democracy and Political Change and Development.

 

Paper –VII:  Social Demography and Social Problems in India

Group-A

This unit gives a detailed insight on Social demography and several Demographic factors of social change and the Malthusian and post-Malthusian theories of population. This unit also includes concepts such as Mortality, Morbidity, Migration and their factors and trends, Population Analysis, Method and Vital Statistics, Demographic Transition, Population and Economic Development in India with a special reference to Population Control programs in India.

Group – B

This unit gives a detailed insight on Sociological Imagination and Roots of Social Problems in India. This unit also gives a detailed insight on some major Social Problems in India such as Poverty, Family disharmony, Domestic violence, Dowry, Divorce, and Trafficking of women, Problem of Youth, Juvenile delinquency, Old age problem, Mass illiteracy, Corruption, Child Labour and problems of displacement, Drug or Substance abuse.

 

Paper -VIII Social Research Methods, Filed work and Viva-Voce

Group A

This unit gives a detailed insight on Social Research it’s Meaning, Scope and Significance. This unit focuses on Scientific Study of Social Phenomenon and conceptualizing Hypothesis. This unity also includes concepts such as Types of Research, Research Design , Purposes of Research, Problem formulation, Major steps in research design , Methods of research, Factors affecting Research Design with a special reference to Quantitative and Qualitative Methods of research. This unit also includes Methods of Data Collection and Analysis and presentation of Data with a special reference to Scrutiny, Classification, Coding and tabulation, Statistical analysis of data, Importance of Statistics in sociological research , Mean , Median and Mode, Graphic presentation of data.

Group – B

This unit includes the Field Work and Report writing. Students get practical experience of the society during the field work in the expert guidance of the supervisors. Students get the opportunity to choose their topics of research and conduct a detailed report. The dissertation is examined jointly by one external examiner appointed by the university and internal examiner(s) of the institutions.

Group – C The dissertation is examined jointly by one external examiner appointed by the university and internal examiner(s) of the institutions.

 

 

 

Course outcome for CBCS system students –

DC- 1: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Unit 1: This unit gives a detailed insight into Fundamentals of Sociology and the relationship between Sociology and other social sciences; Sociology and common sense; Growth and development of sociology as a discipline. Unit 2: This unit gives a detailed insight into Concepts such as Society, Community, Institution, Association, Social group, Norms and Values, Folkways and Mores. Unit 3: This unit gives a detailed insight into the concept of Individual, Culture and Society, Meaning of Culture, Man in Society, Society in Man, Culture and Personality; Socialization: Concept, Process, Agencies. Unit 4: This unit gives a detailed insight on Social Institutions such as Family, Kinship, Marriage, Political Institutions, Religious Institutions, Economic Institutions, Educational Institutions and their Evolution and Progress. Unit 5: This unit gives a detailed insight on  Social Structure: Social Relationship: Social status, Status and Role , Multiple roles , Role – set , Role- conflict, Status- set , Status sequence. Unit 6:  This unit gives a detailed insight on Social Control and various agencies of social control. Unit 7: This unit gives a detailed insight on Social Stratification, Inequality and Hierarchy, Theories of Stratification, Forms of social Inequality: Caste, class, power and gender, Social hierarchies, Social mobility: Nature, forms. Unit 8: This unit gives a detailed insight on Social processes like Cooperation, competition, conflict, Accommodation, Assimilation and social change and it’s various factors. Unit 9: This unit gives a detailed insight on Uses of Sociology, Sociology and social problem; Sociology and social policy; Sociology and professions.

 

 

DC-2: FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL THOIGHT (WEASTERN AND INDIAN)

Group A- Western

Unit 1: This unit gives a detailed insight on Origin and development of Sociology as an academic discipline, Role of Enlightenment, Industrial and French Revolution, Saint- Simon Unit 2: This unit gives a detailed insight on Harriet Martineu and his concept of Morals and Manners; Religion; Methodology. Unit 3: This unit gives a detailed insight on August Comte’s theories of Law of Three stages; Hierarchy of sciences; Positivism; Social Statics and Social Dynamics. Unit 4: This unit gives a detailed insight on Herbert Spencer’s theories of Organic Analogy; Evolutionism; Social Darwinism. Unit 5.This unit gives a detailed insight on Emile Durkheim and his theories of Division of Labour; Suicide; Religion; Methodology. Unit 6: This unit gives a detailed insight on the contribution of Karl Marx and his theories of Dialectics; Historical Materialism; Capitalism; Class and class struggle; Revolution. Unit 7: This unit gives a detailed insight on Max Weber’s concept of Social Action; Ideal Type; Concept of Power; Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Unit 8: This unit gives a detailed insight on Vilfredo Pareto’s theories of Types of Action; Circulation of Elites. Unit 9: This unit gives a detailed insight on Georg Simmel and his theories of  Modern Society; Social Relationships and culture; Money.

Group B- Indian

Unit 1: This unit gives a detailed insight on approaches to Sociological study of Indian Society. This unit includes the contributions of Indian Sociologists Benoy Kumar Sarkar, P. Geddes, G.S Ghurey, A.R.Desai, D.P Mukherjee, R.K Mukherjee, A.R.Saran,  D.N.Majumdar, M.N.Srinivas, S.C.Dube, Surajit Sinha,  Iravati Karve, N.K Bose and their theories in detail.

DC- 3: SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

Unit 1: This unit gives a detailed insight on the concept of Sociological Theory and its Meaning, Characteristics, Types, Role of Theory in Research. Unit 2: This unit gives a detailed insight on Functionalism, Origin of functionalism, Evolutionary and Neo Evolutionary Theories, Meaning and general Arguments of functionalism. This unit also gives a detailed insight into the contributions of B.Malinowki, A.R Radcliffe, T. Parsons and their functional theories and critical analysis of the same. Unit 3: This unit gives a detailed insight on  Conflict Theory and it’s Meaning; General Arguments. This unit also gives a detailed insight on the concepts of Karl Marx, R. Dahrendorf, Lewis Coser and critical analysis of their contribution in the field of conflict theory. Unit 4: This unit gives a detailed insight on  Exchange Theory and it’s General Arguments and also the contributions of G.Homans,  P. Blau. Unit 5: This unit gives a detailed insight on and it’s  Symbolic Interactionsm General Arguments and  G. H. Mead’s theory of Mind, Self, Society and C. H. Cooley’s theory of  Looking-glass self. This unit also gives a detailed analysis of E.Goffman’  Dramaturgy, Everyday life and Bulmer’s contributions. Unit 6: This unit gives a detailed insight on Phenomenology and Ethnomethodology and their General Arguments as well as the contributions of  A.Schutz, H.Garfinkel in the field.

 

DC- 4: SOCIAL RESEACH METHODS

This unit gives a detailed insight on Social Research it’s Meaning, Scope and Significance. This unit focuses on Scientific Study of Social Phenomenon and conceptualizing Hypothesis. This unity also includes concepts such as Types of Research, Research Design , Purposes of Research, Problem formulation, Major steps in research design , Factors affecting Research Design. This unit gives a detailed insight on Positivism in research; Critique of positivist Tradition; Hermenentics and Interpretative Sociology in research; Observation (positivist and non-positivist trends), Discourse Analysis, Oral History, Narrative Research, Ethnography, Thick and Thin Description; Analysis of Records: Public records.

 

DC- 5: SOCIETY IN INDIA

This unit gives a detailed insight on Family, Village, Community and Religion, Caste system, Varna, Jati, Tribe, Dominant caste, Sanskritization, Zamindari system, Market and State during the pre colonial, colonial and post colonial period of India. This unit also includes concepts like the rise of Communitization through Hindu/ Muslim divisions, Role of Gandhi and Communalism in rural areas, Community in post-independent period with a special reference to Community Politics and Community Development Programmes and Use of religion in Politics. This unit also includes concepts such as using caste for governance,  agrarian class structure, tribal issues in colonial period, tribal absorption in colonial period and after,  indentured labour in colonial period, issues of tribal development in post-colonial India; Tribal welfare with a special reference to problems to Nationalhood, Role of Money, new liberal forces and Markets after period of Emergency; Branding, MNCs, and local markets after Liberalization.

 

DC- 6: PROTEST, RESISTANCE AND MOVEMENTS

This unit gives a detailed insight on Conceptualizing Protest, Resistance and Movements and several approaches to the study of Social Movement and Marxian approach; Functionalist Theory of Oomen, Gore, Y. Singh, Theory of relative deprivation of M.S. A. Rao, Resource mobilization theory, The identity-oriented theory, also Types of social movements This unit also includes collective behavior, pressure groups, protest, resistance, movements, collective interest. It gives a detailed insight on Old and New Social movements, Caste based movements, Working class movements, Tribal movements and Peasant movements in colonial and post-colonial India with reference to Trade Unions, Green revolutuion, Mandal commission. It also discusses Movements for Environment in colonial and post colonial India like  Chipko movement, Narmada Bachao, Silent Valley Movement and Students movements and resistance of women over a period of time.

 

DC- 7: RURAL SOCIETY IN INDIA

This unit gives a detailed insight on several Concepts of Rural Sociology and it’s subject matter, rural society, it’s formation and characteristics, Agrarian social structure, Rural Urban difference, Rural society in India during pre colonial, colonial and post colonial period with a special reference to power structure and panchayati Raj system and several rural development programmes and recent transformation in rural areas of India.

 

DC- 8: URBAN SOCIETY IN INDIA

This unit gives a detailed insight on the nature and scope of urban Sociology, concepts such as Urbanization and Urbanism, Urban Community and their characteristics. It also includes approaches to the study of urban society, Early Towns, classification of urban centres with a special reference to recent trends of Urbanization and Urban social problems and Policies in India.

 

 DC- 9: CRIME AND SOCIETY

 The unit gives a detailed insight on the Conceptions and types of crime, Sociological views on crime, crime and delinquency and Types of crime such as White-collar crime, Organized crime, Victimless crime, Terrorism related crimes, cyber crime. This unit also includes explanations of crime and several Sociological perspective of crime with a special reference to the changing profile of crime and criminals in India and theories of punishment and correction.

 

DC- 10:  INDUSTRUAL SOCIOLOGY

This unit gives a detailed insight on Industrial Sociology, Concepts such as Industrialization, Industrial society, Industrialism, post Industrial society, Information society and Formal and Informal organization. This unit also gives a detailed insight on Industrial Revolution and the birth of Industries in the West and the evolution of industries and changing concept of industry and organizations as well as several approaches and changes in Productive systems. This unit includes Scientific Management Theory, Taylorism, Human Relations Theory, Fordism, Post Fordism, Japanization and different types of productive system with a special reference to automation. This also includes the concepts like Industrial bureaucracy, Communication in industry, Workers participation in management, Labour welfare and role of Trade-Union.  Relationship between Industry and Society with reference to India is also included in this unit. Impact of family on industry in India; Impact of industries on Families in India, Impact of industrialization on Caste, Class and family is also discussed. This unit also includes Industrial policies in India and Liberalization, Privatization; Globalization.

 

DC -11: POPULATION AND SOCIETY

This unit gives a detailed insight on different concepts of population studies such as its relationship with other social sciences and theories of population, demographic transition, different demographic processes like Fertility, Mortality, Morbidity, Migration and their trends and factors. Population Structure and features, Sex and Age characteristics, Sex- ratio: Rural-urban composition, Population and Economic development in India as well as population control, planning and policies of India are also included in this unit.

 

DC- 12: SOCIOLOGY OF TRIBAL SOCIETY

This unit gives a detailed insight on the concept of tribe, tribe and caste, Demographic profile, habitat, distribution and concentration of tribal people, tribal zones, sex ratio, and status of women in tribal society. This unit also includes classification of tribal people in India with reference to living, culture, family organization and kinship structure and economic organization of tribal society. Socio-cultural profile of tribes in India, ethnic and cultural diversity; characteristic features of tribal society, kinship, marriage and family, tribal languages, religious beliefs and practices, cultural traditions are also discussed.  Social mobility and change, Hinduization and Sanskritization, Formation of tribal states, the impact of colonial rule on tribal society, post-independent scenario and tribal development, problems of tribal people are also included in this unit. This unit also gives a detailed insight on tribal movement s in colonial and post colonial period.

 

DC- 13: STATISTICS FOR SOCIOLOGY

This unit gives a detailed insight on use of statistics in Social Research and different  quantitative methods and basic concepts like Statistics, population, parameter, statistics, Sample, variable.  Analysis and presentation of Data, Coding and Tabulation, Mean, Median, Mode, Range, variance, Standard Deviation are also included.

 

DC- 14: SOCIOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENT

This unit gives a detailed insight on Environment, Ecology, Ecosystem and their scope and importance. Initiatives of the State and International agencies and summits, Environment and sustainable development.  This unit also includes several Theoretical Foundations of Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Karl Marx, Parsons, Anthony Giddens and approaches of Gandhian, Ecofeminism, and Anthropocentric. Environmental movements such as Chipko movement, Narmada bachao andolan, Silent valley movement, Ganga bachao abhyan, Forest rights and protocols and  Convention of Biological Diversity ( CBD) are the other areas that are discussed in this unit.

 

DSE- 1 A: GENDER AND SOCIETY

This unit gives a detailed insight on the concept of Gender and society and Social construction of Gender. Women family, roles and functions as defined by patriarchal ideology, private Vs. public dichotomy, sexual division of labour is also included. Gender based and sociological analysis of prevailing sociological theories and methods are a part of this unit. This unit gives a detailed insight on Reformist movement and position of women in India, Gender-gap and demographic profile of women in India and  Issues affecting the quality of life of women.

DSE- 1 B: INDAIN SOCIETY: IMAGES ANDREALITIES

This unit gives a detailed insight on Indian Society with concepts such as  Civilization, Colony, Nation and Society,  Institutions and Processes of Indian society. Indian village, town, region, caste system, religion, ethnicity, family, gender and different political and economic systems are the topics that are discussed in this unit.

DSE- 2 A: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

This unit gives a detailed insight on the Emergence of modern science in the West, Enlightenment, Industrial revolution, Newtonian Physics, development of medicine and the rise of modern science; Instituting science in society: Royal Anthropological Society and such bodies. This unit also includes Indian encounter with modern science and moving towards the empirical and the process of institutionalizing science in colonial period as well as during the post independence era with a special reference to formation of Dams, Green revolution, Industrialization. Anti-Science studies in India and contribution of Ashis Nandi, Vandana Shiva and critique of Anti-Science approach of Meera Manda are also included in this unit. This unit also gives a special reference to Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization, the impact of LPG on Indian science and technology, the issue of intellectual property rights, Impact of science and technology on rural and urban India, Sustainability debate, Resourse-use, Pseudo-science, Role of ICT and social media in contemporary India.

 

DSE- 2 B: RETHINKING DEVELOPMENT

This unit gives a detailed insight on the concepts such as Underdevelopment and Development, Knowledge and power, Development and Globalization, modernization, underdevelopment, environmental crisis as well as developmental regimes in India and issues in Developmental Praxis.

 

DSE- 3 A: SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE

This unit gives a detailed insight on Sociology of Health and Medicine and its origin and development. This unit also includes conceptualizing disease, sickness and Illness and social and cultural dimensions of Illness and Medicine, theoretical Orientations in Health and medical practices and Health Policy in India.

 

DSE-3 B: FAMILY AND INTIMACY

This unit gives a detailed insight on the concept of Family and intimacy and their Themes and Accounts as well as Critiques and Transformations.

 

DSE 4/ DP 4 – DISSERTATION

This unit includes the Field Work and Report writing. Students get practical experience of the society during the field work in the expert guidance of the supervisors. Students get the opportunity to choose their topics of research and conduct a detailed report. The dissertation is examined jointly by one external examiner appointed by the university and internal examiner(s) of the institutions.

 

SKILL ENHANCEMENT COURSE 1 – SURVEY METHOD IN SOCIAL RESEARCH

This unit includes: 1. .Importance of Research Design in Surveys. 2. Conceptualization, Measurement, and Operationalization. 3. Quantifying Information: Scales and Indices. 4. Importance and Types of Scientific Sampling used in Surveys. 5. Univariate & Bivariate Analysis, Multivariate Analysis in Survey Research.

 

SKILL ENHANCEMENT COURSE 2 – SOCIAL WELFARE, LEGISLATION AND JUSTICE

This unit gives a detailed insight on Meaning and nature of Social Welfare in India with a special reference to welfare related instruments of Constitution and legislation of India. This unit also gives a detailed insight on Social welfare legacy such as Law related to compulsory primary education, employment, labour legislation, health for all, social security, insurance schemes, housing need. Issues related to  Dalits, Tribe, Other Backward Class, Women and children and other Disadvantaged groups, Differently Abled and  Elderly are also included in the unit.

 

Generic Elective:

Objective of Generic Elective

 

• Examine the relationship between society and its various institutions as well as social interaction and human relations.
• To create awareness among students about various societal issues and helping them to make informed decisions.

•  Interdisciplinary introduction to the study of Indian society.
•  The students to examine and analyze societal issues from sociological perspective.
• Flexibility and wider coverage of courses sustain the holistic development of the students. The sustainability and professional ethics with the core values inter woven the generic elective.

 

Syllabus for the Generic Elective (Please provide the URL)

For 1+1+1 System Students-  https://www.drmscollege.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Sociology-Hons-General.pdf

For CBCS System Students – https://www.drmscollege.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/SOCIOLOGY-GENERAL-1.pdf

 

Course outcome

For 1+1+1 System Students

Paper –I: Introduction to Sociology

This unit gives a detailed insight on the Fundamentals of Sociology which includes Nature, Scope, and Subject matters of Sociology as a discipline as well as its relationship with other social sciences. It also gives detailed information on the emergence and growth of Sociology as a discipline. This unit also gives a detailed insight on various aspects of basic social structure that includes Society, Community, Institution, Association, Social Group, Norms and Values, Folkways and Mores, Individual, Culture, Society, socialization process. This unit also includes various Social Process and the process of Social Change and it’s various factors as well as Social Control and it’s various agencies.

Paper – II: Indian Social Structure and Organizations

This unit gives a detailed insight on social institutions like Marriage, Kinship, Family and its definition, features, forms and Changes in structure and functions. This unit also gives a detailed insight on Social Stratification, forms of stratification – caste, class, power, gender, Social mobility with a special reference to Social change, Social evolution and Social progress.

Paper – III:  Rural, Urban & Industrial Sociology

This unit gives a detailed insight on Rural Society, and its Features of Rural Society, Rural Urban Differences, Changing Rural Structure, Urban Society and it’s Feature of Urban Society, Process of Urbanization, Problems of Urbanization. This unit also includes concepts such as Industrial Society and it’s Features, Process of Industrialization & Social Change and Industrial Labour: organised,unorganised with a special reference to  Liberalization & Globalization and their impacts and  Rural, Urban and Industrial Policies & Programmes.

 

Paper – IV: Indian Society: Structure and Change

This unit gives a detailed insight on Major Religions in India such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity and their Features, Forms and Social Context. This unit also gives a detailed insight Tribes, S,C, Minorities &Other Weaker Sections/Backward Classes in India and their Features, Demographic Profile, Socio-Economic Conditions, Problems and Development Initiatives to improve their condition, Indian Constitution and it’s Social, Economic ,Political and Cultural Dimensions This unit also includes Changes in Marriage & Family structure.

 

 Paper – V: Indian Social Issues &Problems

This unit gives a detailed insight on Caste, Varna, Inequality, Caste and Gender and their changing factors. This unit also includes Unity and Diversity, Problems of Nation Building: Secularism , Pluralism. This unit also gives a detailed insight on the Nature and definition of social problem and a detailed information on Poverty, Child Labour, Problems of Youth, Old – Age Problem, Over Population , Problem of Mass Illiteracy, Communal Violence.

Paper – VI : Social Research Methods

This unit gives a detailed insight on Social Research and its Meaning, scope, types and significance, Techniques and Tools of Data Collection , Methods of Data Analysis , Tabulation, Graphic representation and Report writing.

Paper – VII: Sociological Theories &Thoughts

Group – A

This unit gives a detailed insight on Sociology Theory and its Meaning, characteristics , types , role of theory in research. This unit also gives a detailed insight on Evolutionary and Neo-evolutionary Theories, Symbolic Interaction Theories, Exchange Theories, Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theories.

Group – B This unit gives a detailed insight on the contributions of early social thinkers such as August Comte, Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Max Weber through their theories. This unit gives a detailed insight on the contributions of Indian Sociological Thinkers like Rammohan Roy , Ishwar ChandraVidyasagar ,  R.N. Tagore, M.K. Gandhi.

For CBCS System Students

DC- 1: Introduction to Sociology

This unit gives a detailed insight on the Fundamentals of Sociology which includes Nature, Scope , Subject matters of Sociology as a discipline as well as its relationship with other social sciences. It also gives detailed information on the emergence and growth of Sociology as a discipline. This unit also gives a detailed insight on various aspects of basic social structure that includes Society, Community, Institution, Association, Social Group, Norms and Values, Folkways and Mores, Individual, Culture, Society, socialization process. This unit also includes various Social Process and the process of Social Change and its various factors as well as Social Control and its various agencies.

DC- 3: Indian Social Structure

This unit gives a detailed insight on social institutions like Marriage, Kinship, Family and its definition, features, forms and Changes in structure and functions. This unit also gives a detailed insight on Social Stratification, forms of stratification – caste, class, power, gender, Social mobility with a special reference to Social change, Social evolution and Social progress.

DC- 5: Rural and Urban Sociology

This unit gives a detailed insight on Rural Society, and its Features of Rural Society, Rural Urban Differences, Changing Rural Structure, Urban Society and it’s Feature of Urban Society, Process of Urbanization, Problems of Urbanization, Towns and sites of pilgrimage and Towns and Urban centers in colonial India, Metropolis. This unit also includes concepts such as Urban Continuum and concepts such as Urbanization, fringes, suburbs, towns, cities, Border areas and Impact of globalization on rural and urban societies in India.

DC- 6: Indian Social Issues and Problems This unit gives a detailed insight on Caste, Varna, Inequality, Caste and Gender and their changing factors. This unit also includes Unity and Diversity, Problems of Nation Building: Secularism, Pluralism. This unit also gives a detailed insight on the Nature and definition of social problem and a detailed information on Poverty, Child Labour, Problems of Youth, Old – Age Problem, Over Population , Problem of Mass Illiteracy,  Violence against women and the weaker sections, Problems of the Minority communities.

 

DSE- 3: Social Research Method This unit gives a detailed insight on Social Research and its Meaning , scope, types and significance, Techniques and Tools of Data Collection , Methods of Data Analysis , Tabulation, Graphic representation and Report writing.

DSE- I: Foundation of Sociological Thought and Theory Western Sociological Thoughts This unit gives a detailed insight on the contributions of early social thinkers such as August Comte, Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Max Weber through their theories.

Indian Sociological Thought This unit gives a detailed insight on the contributions of Indian Sociological Thinkers like Benoy Kumar Sarkar, D. P  Mukherjee, Ghurye, M.N. Srinivas in the field of sociology.

Sociological Theory This unit gives a detailed insight on Sociology Theory and its Meaning, characteristics, types, role of theory in research. This unit also gives a detailed insight on Evolutionary and Neo-evolutionary Theories, Symbolic Interaction Theories, Exchange Theories, Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theories.

SKILL ENHANCEMENT COURSE I: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT This unit gives a detailed insight on Community Development and Rural development and their Meaning, Concepts and History. This unit also gives a detailed insight on rural development in India with a special reference to Sriniketan, Sevagram, Martha dam.  Gandhi and Vinobha Bhabe’s Approaches to Rural development and Area-based rural development programmers’ as well as the review of Target based rural development programmes is also included in this unit. This unit also includes concept of Urban Community development and different Urban development programmes in India with reference to Town-planning, slum clearance and improvements. Integrated development of small and medium towns in India and also73rd Amendment and its relevance to Urban Community Development.

DSE- 3:  GENDER AND SEXUALITY (semester v) This unit gives a detailed insight on Gendering Sociology and concepts like Gender as a Social construct, Gender, Sex and Sexuality, Production of gender and sexuality, Gender Differences, Inequality in Caste, Class, Family, work system.  This unit also gives a detailed insight on the Politics of Gender with a special reference to Resistance and Movements.

 

SOCIAL STRATIFICATION This unit gives a detailed insight on Social Stratification with Concepts and Approaches. This unit includes concepts like Forms of Social Stratification such as Race and Ethnicity, Caste and Class, Gendering Inequality, Poverty and Social Exclusion.This unit also discusses Social Mobility and its Definition, forms, effects and Causes of Social Mobility like Marriage, Education, Occupation and other causes.

GLOBALIZATION AND SOCIETY This unit gives a detailed insight on the nature and dynamics of globalization, the historical and social context of globalization — World capitalism, modernization, globalization, Role of information and communication technology as well as benefits and disadvantages of globalization. Agencies of globalization and Multinational corporations (MNCs), nation-state, media, market, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), International Monetary Fund, World Bank and concepts like Individualism, Consumerism as well as Diffusion and Projection of American value system and cultural patterns through the media are the other areas that are discussed in this unit. This unit also includes concepts of Cultural homogenization, hegemony and dominance, Globalization and the resurgence of ethnic consciousness: global tourism, diasporas communities, and transnational ethnic and religious movements, religious fundamentalism.

 

GENERIC ELECTIVE COURSE I/III: INDIAN SOCIETY ( For students other than SOCIOLOGY (Hons.) opting Sociology as Generic Elective. The students of SOCIOLOGY (Hons.) shall choose Generic Elective from any discipline of social sciences). This unit includes concepts such as composition of Indian Society: Religious, ethnic, caste composition. Unity in Diversities as well as Threats to National Integration: Communalism, Casteism, Linguism and Regionalism, Marriage and Family system and their functions in India. This unit gives a detailed insight on Caste system in India and its origin, features and functions, Caste and Class, Dominant Caste and changes in caste system and several Caste and Politics in India. This unit also gives a detailed insight on Social Change in India with special reference to Sanskritization, Westernization, Secularization, Modernization, Globalization.

GENERIC ELECTIVE COURSE II/ IV: GENDER AND SOCIETY (For students other than SOCIOLOGY (Hons.) opting Sociology as Generic Elective. The students of SOCIOLOGY (Hons.) shall choose Generic Elective from any discipline of Social Sciences ) This unit gives a detailed insight on Social construction of Gender,  Gender Stereotyping and Socialization and Gender Role and identity, Gender stratification and Inequality, Gender discrimination and Patriarchy. This unit gives a detailed insight on Feminism and its Meaning, growth of feminist theories with a special reference to Liberal, radical, Socialist and  Eco-feminism. This unit also gives a detailed insight on the Status of Women in India during Ancient and Medieval times and in Pre-independence India and  the role of  women in Nationalist movements.  This unit also includes the major challenges in the field of education, health and work that are affecting women in India and Policy provisions for improvement of women in all these spheres.

 

 

 

 

The department focuses on the all-round development of the students with the expertise and experience of the faculty members in the field of Sociology and helping them to be better human being. Traditional chalk board method as well as digital learning methods is followed.  Online classes and mentoring students through different digital platforms are conducted throughout the period of pandemic. The department of Sociology prepares its own yearly academic calendar, with details of holidays, examination schedules and so on, well in advance of the commencement of the new academic session (which usually stars on July first). This is given to all the faculty members of the department. Individual teachers prepare their teaching plans, including timing of internal a class test. Keeping in mind the academic calendar and class routine are also the work of routine. Teaching plans for each course are given to students from the beginning. The effectiveness of the process is of the process is ensured through regular stock-taking at departmental committee meetings. Such meetings, which are usually held four in every year. Teaching learning strategies for making education student-centric at the dept. are various in natures. These include group learning, tutorials, field studies, group discussion and seminar, special lecture by Eminent Guest Faculties of recognized Universities.

 

Faculty Profile

 

 

DR MD ENARUL HOQUE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR & HOD
M.A, PhD

 

Piali Roy
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
M.Phil

 

RUKSANA YEASMIN
SACT
M.A.

 

Md Ali Jinna
SACT
M.A. in Sociology

 

Dhananjay Sarkar
SACT

 

 

 

 

Faculty members of our department represent an effective blend of wisdom and energy representing a diverse range of expertise in different domains of sociological knowledge. Sociology of Indian society, sociology of Gender, Health, religion are some of the areas of expertise of the Department. Faculty members also work hard to impart rigorous field-work based research training to the students. Active engagement of all the faculty members in different areas of College administration is also noteworthy.

 

 

Students  Ratio: –

Sociology Honours Course (2019-20202)

 

UR	OBC-A	OBC-B	SC	ST	PH	TOTAL
30	06	0 5	14	04	01	60

 

Enrollment 2019-20, 1st semester Honours:-

 

Total	Male	Female	SC	ST	OBC-A	OBC-B	General
14	03	11	04	NA	01	01	08

 

Enrollment 2019-20, Part II Honours:-

 

Total	Male	Female	SC	ST	OBC-A	OBC-B	General
21	07	14	13	NA	02	01	05

 

Enrollment 2019-20, Part III Honours :-

 

Total	Male	Female	SC	ST	OBC-A	OBC-B	General
02	00	02	02	NA	NA	NA	NA

 

Teaching Methodology (Points to be mentioned in bullet form emphasizing uniqueness of department including the following:

Internal assessment: The department conducts Periodic internal assessment to evaluate the performance of the students. The Department of Sociology regularly organizes Internal Assessment for the students. This kind of evaluation procedure helps to students to have a deeper knowledge about the subject. Besides this, the internal assessment procedure divides the syllabus in smaller parts and assesses the individual student’s development in the selected part of the syllabus. The continuous process of evaluation also prepares the student for the final examination.

 

Field Work and Dissertation The department conducts Field work to provide the students with practical experience and knowledge. This helps the students to think distinctively and analyze societal issues through Dissertation. This also includes Report writing. Students get practical experience of the society during the field work in the expert guidance of the supervisors. Students get the opportunity to choose their topics of research and conduct a detailed report. The dissertation is examined jointly by one external examiner appointed by the university and internal examiner(s) of the institutions.

 

Group Discussion For the complete development of the students both in the curricular as well as co-curricular activities, the Department of Sociology arranges regular group discussion among the students. The students of a particular batch are divided into number of groups. They are encouraged to present their individual opinions and to share it with their group mates. This kind of teaching methodology is a part of a participatory learning process. It also helps the slow learners in better understanding of the subject.

 

Quiz Quiz is a very important teaching methodology to engage the student with the informative aspect of the subject. As a participant in the quiz, the student is also motivated to study the topic in more details. Keeping in mind the popularity of quiz, the Department of Sociology organizes quiz for each batch of students to make learning more enjoyable as well as engaging for them.

Participatory Learning The Department of Sociology has developed multiple methods of participatory learning for the students. The department organizes regular group discussion among the students to encourage them to develop their individual opinion about the curricular as well as co-curricular topics. Besides this, the Department arranges for Central Library visits for the students, so that the students can develop the habit of participatory learning by using the library resources. Departmental students actively participate in Annual Exhibition of College where the students participate to make various models, charts, posters etc. to represent a particular topic from their syllabus. It would help them to understand the subject in a more interactive way.

 

Strategies for slow learners

• • • Compensatory Teaching.
    • Remedial Teaching.
    • Regular Internal Assessment.
    • Develop Lessons that Incorporate Students’ Interests, Needs, and Experiences.
    • Incorporate Individualized Learning Materials.
    • Incorporating students into study groups in which the advanced learners engage with them and help them to understand the topic.
    • Incorporating Audio and Visual Materials.
    • Be accessible to help the student. Helping the student work through the assignment giving clues. Repeating of the process or concept with similar questions and problems, etc to assimilate the information.
    • Keep the other students interested by asking those questions and having them answer. Explaining concepts through contemporary issues or examples so that the students can relate to them easily.
    • Be patient and consistent.

The Department of Sociology believes in participative learning and interactive learning. The classroom is completely ICT enabled for the benefit of the students, so that proper teaching-learning environment is created. The incorporating Audio and Visual Materials generates interest among the students. The laboratory of Sociology is the Society itself. Therefore, the department conducts Field work for the students to provide them with practical experience and knowledge. Reference books, journals specialized notes are used as study materials. There is a central library with a vast collection of books, reference books, journals, newspapers. The central library also has e-journal subscription such as N-list primarily for teachers which the students can also access if needed. The quality and quantity of books is updated periodically keeping in view the requirements of the students. There is a departmental library with a pretty well collection of reference books as well personal collections of the faculties.

The faculty members regularly upload the study materials in the college online classroom portal for both Honours and General course students. There are separate online chat groups created for every Honours course students to share study materials effectively and to clear their queries. The central library also has e-journal subscription such as N-list primarily for teachers which the students can also access if needed. During the covid-19 breakout, Internal assessment, final Examination and evaluation of Part III Honours and General course students were conducted online.

2019-2020

A. Annual Exhibition

Topic: ‘Urban Sociology and Urbanization’

Date: 9-10 January, 2020.

Number of Participants: 20

Exhibition Outcome: The exhibition was organized by the students of the Department of Sociology with the help of the faculties of the department in Annual Programme of College. The students created various models, charts and posters to represent several concepts of Urbanization with special reference to Conurbation, Stratification in Urban Society and types of prevailing Urban Social problems in India. B. Name of the State level Webinar:- “Social Background of Covid-19 and Its Sociological Consequences” Date: 3rd July, 2020.

Resource Persons:

1. Professor Biswajit Ghosh HOD, Department of Sociology Bardwan University Bardwan, West Bengal, India.

2. Prof. Rajatshuvra Mukhopadhyay (Retd.) Former Professor North Bengal University Siliguri, West Bengal

Number of Participants: 71

Webinar Outcome: Prof Biswajit Ghosh and Prof. Rajatshuvra Mukhopadhyay delivered their speech on Social Background of Covid -19 and Its Sociological Consequences. They discussed about how Covid -19 pandemic impacted the lives of the people of every social class. They also discussed various social consequences of the pandemic with special reference to migrant labours’ problem and the consequences of Social Distancing on human behavior and psychology. Three scholars presented paper on the topic. The webinar was attended by scholars, teachers, students of Dr. Meghnad Saha College and other eminent institutions as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018-2019

Name of the Special Lecture: A Special Lecture on ‘Importance of Social Research in Social Sciences’

Date: 21st March, 2018.

Resource Person: Prof. Rajatshuvra Mukhopadhyay (Retd.)

Former Professor North Bengal University Siliguri, West Bengal

Number of Participants: 82.

Outcome of the Special Lecture: The Special Lecture was delivered by Prof. Rajatshuvra Mukhopadhyay (Retd.), Former Professor, North Bengal University on the Importance of Social Research in Social Sciences. The Special Lecture was organized by the Department of Sociology, Dr. Meghnad Saha College. The lecture engages with the various methods of Social Science Reseach, Research design, Recent Trends in Research and Limitations. The students and the teachers of Dr. Meghnad Saha College participated in this event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

A. Annual Exhibition

B. Topic: ‘Social Problem’

Date:13 January, 2018.

Number of Participants: 20. Exhibition Outcome: The exhibition was organized by the students of the Department of Sociology with the help of the faculties of the department in Annual Programme of College. The students created various models, charts and posters to represent several types of prevailing Social problems in India.

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