Importance of Rural Sociology

Importance / Significance of Rural Sociology

After Independence, it is very much necessary for our country to have a systematic study of the rural social organization, its structure, function and evolution.

Prof. A. R. Desai, while highlighting the importance of rural sociology, observes, “It is, however, urgently necessary to make a scientific and systematic study of rural society; of its economic foundations, social and cultural superstructure, of its institutions and functions, of the problems arising from the rapid process of disintegration which is undergoing and which even threatens its breakdown.”

The practical value of the study of rural sociology is widely recognized today. Rural sociology which aims at providing systematic and scientific approach to rural problems and life is assuming great significance because in India rural society after independence has acquired new significance.

India is a classic land of agriculture; the economic foundation of village community centres around agriculture. It is with the help of rural sociology that it can be possible to find out what are the causes of break-up of the self-sufficiency of the village community.

It is necessary to understand and to act according to the laws prevailing in the village in order to achieve progress of the villages. This necessitates a special study of the rural society. In India, rural sociology emphasises analysing the implications of traditional rural society in the modern context.

The importance of rural sociology can be examined under the following heads:

1.    Rural sociology lays great stress on systematization and scientific analysis. Many studies have been made but many of them now are in monograph or article form. Some of the studies seriously lack proper analysis and solution.

2.    Vast majority of population lives in the villages which has its own problems. Even today, two-third of the world population lives in rural areas. Rural sociology aims at studying all those problems and life of rural people.

3.    Rural society is the fundamental basis of human civilization and culture. People who are living in urban areas they are mainly the migrants from the rural areas. So rural area or village is the well-spring of our culture and civilization. Thus, to know about the life of urban community it is essential to know their original place of living, that is rural community.

4.    The basic importance of rural sociology has to find out the laws of development and those principles only can be discovered by studying rural communities in detail.

5.    The importance of rural society cannot be ignored in studying rural problems in India. India is a country of villages; therefore, rural sociology is comparatively more important here than in any other country of the world. The importance of true Indian culture can be found only In the Indian villages.

6.  Now India is facing with problems of social, economic and political reconstruction. Unless, one understands what rural India is, one cannot understand the problems of India as a whole and its ancient tradition, customs, culture and ways of life.

The importance of rural sociology cannot be ignored or underestimated. The role of rural sociology in understanding the solving of rural problems is well emphasized by all. To-day, it is the slogan, “Back to the villages.” “If village will prosper, we will prosper and if village will perish, India too will perish.” The importance of rural sociology is becoming more and more popular in our society. It is considered as a progressive social science.