Research
Rethinking Modern Sociological Theories: An Analytical Synthesis of Their Ontology, Epistemology and Methodology
No matter how different sociological ontology, epistemology and methodology are, they pull together reasoning the social world for a better human understanding. So of their diverse theoretical paradigms and perspectives that developed over the time make sociology a distinct discipline. But so far their internal contradictions and dualism and could not be resolved, and rather invites challenges for the future prospect of world sociology. The challenge is not how they thrive humans on different or almost many a unique universe of meanings but to see their crossboundaries of meanings. Our study also reveals that now the foundationlism- the theoretical narratives of Durkheim, Marx and Weber (DMW) have been reconstructed and regained with a fresh lease of life in the sociological world. But the proponents for such original building block are not always visible protagonists. However, in this context, the neo-functional theorists buttress structural functionalism by introducing with some radicalism whereas the critical theorists juxtapose the conflict theoretical perspectives uncovering many missing dimensions of suppression and exclusions of sociological marginal and minorities.
Land Tenure System, Land Settlement and Status of Legally Landless Communities in Koraput: A Case Study of Kapsiput Village, Odisha (India)
Land is the most critical factor of production for a myriad of economic activities for human settlement worldwide although it is in limited supply. It is therefore, essential that its allocation across different economic activities and uses should be based on sound theoretical premises, combined with the ground realities of multiple objectives -a few of which regularly exceed the narrowly defined goals of economic growth per se. For traditional communities, ‘access to lands is directly associated with civilization paradigms and cultural ethos, which rather decide their ‘economics', and not one other way round that could be true for modern, techno-centric civilizations. Most mainstream discourses of history have, however, tried to find the crisis in the ‘absence of state interventions and a dig into the social history points to deeper roots of the crisis, which rather intensified after the entry of the ‘welfare' state. In a predominantly, agrarian economy such as for example in India and Odisha, the entitlement to livelihood and access to the factors of production, especially land and forests, are essential objectives that require to ascertain allocation of land across different uses and users. Our study reveals the allocation mechanism must not only address the requirements of economic activities or sectors including housing but additionally look into the specific needs of numerous ecosystems, regions and communities. A cursory look on the policies concerning revenue land in Odisha suggests that the ultimate authority lies with the state government to allocate land wherever necessity. Our study finds that sufficient care should be taken to engage the communities with the revenue laws in the state. In this paper, we have tried to unravel the critical issues of land and emphasised as to how communities can manage and allocate lands in a democratic, judicious and equitable manner. The case study also emphasizes the role of increased interface with revenue admin
Gandhism, Ambedkarism and Marxism: An Analytical Discourse For Dalit Liberation and Emancipation
The extent of social transformation of any socially discriminated people may be better judged from the social philosophies propounded by their great leaders like Gandhi and Ambedkar in modern India. Gandhi is dead, so are Ambedkar and Marx. However, neither their philosophies- Gandhism, Ambedkarism and Marxism are dead nor could they posthumously suppress to one another. Their philosophical axis- may be different and dialectical such as for example absolutism versus relativism, positivism versus phenomenalism and theological versus metaphysical but remain the far sighted discourse for the liberation and emancipation of dalit in India. Our study also reveals that the protagonists of Gandhism, Ambedkarism and Marxism are either eating their humble pie in the circumstances of their philosophies’ incredibility or feeling like fishes out of water in the company of other outdated philosophies for the cause of dalit at present. Further, the change agents like heart, mind, conscience, science, violence, non-violence, constitutionalism, religion, state and village perceived in Gandhism, Ambedkarism and Marxism could not break loose the thread of casteism. Irony is that the destitution and deprivation of dalits, tribals and women, instead of loosening their grips after gone through these isms over the time, have greatly been aggravated. On the one hand Gandhi being defender of caste-based hierarchism, caste-based incarnations and patriarchy could not be the true fighter against casteism and the Marxists though became true fighter for class equality and fraternity but could not promote individual liberty. On the other hand, the original axis of Ambedkarism based on liberty, equality and fraternity and Buddhism shows to the dalit their real paths of emancipation and liberation. However, for the cause of dalit in this paper we have not simply examined the quintessence of Gandhism, Ambedkarism and Marxism but in addition analysed their convergence and reconciliation judiciously
Dynamics of Coal Mining Caused Environmental Crisis versus Displaced Peoplesa Question of Survival: A Case of Talcher Coal Belt Odisha (India)
It is an unquestionable fact that coal mining not only undermines its affected people and environment, but also adversely affects their interrelationship over the years. In this context, our household survey and field study observation reveal that the entire Talcher coal belt is undergoing a rapid change from its ‘culture of ecology’ to the ‘culture of pollution’, because coal mining operations have not simply disrupted the local peasants' access to agro-economy, and their common property resources (CPRs) i.e. village forests, fresh air, clean water sources, etc, but also have detached them from their earlier environmental ethics and green thinking at present. But, pollution impact has gone to such an extent that the very environment is as if, retreating/revenging the mining affected people in unexpected ways. Many of them now, painfully apprehend the menace of excruciating heat of summer time, tragedy of fly of coal dusts and impacts of land degradation, deforestation, water pollution, etc. But, hard reality is that nobody is damn serious about environmental regeneration, and rather, they are busy adjusting themselves with its degeneration. Thus, this paper reflects on the emerging crisis of human-environmental relationship.
