Understanding R. D. Karve

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shrikant Botre ◽  
Douglas E. Haynes
Keyword(s):  
Birth Control ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Western India ◽  
Indian Politics ◽  
Sexual Science

This chapter examines how global concepts of sexual science were appropriated in western India during the period 1927–1953 by focusing on the case of R. D. Karve, a sexual scientist and birth-control advocate who engaged in an intensely Indian politics of sexuality—that is, the ongoing debates over sexual practices and their relationship to modernity. Karve invoked sexual science to counter nationalist contentions and relied on the iconic European and American figures of sexology to undermine the logic of brahmacharya (sexual self-constraint), a practice believed to be essential to the regeneration of Indian masculinity and the nation. He also argued that the Kamasutra was superior to its ancient counterparts in Europe. The chapter suggests that Karve was highly selective in drawing ideas from European sexual science that served his iconoclastic critique of the place of religion in Indian society.

Sexual Knowledge, Sexual Anxieties: Middle-class males in western India and the correspondence inSamaj Swasthya, 1927–53

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 991-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHRIKANT BOTRE ◽  
DOUGLAS E. HAYNES
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Birth Control ◽  
Female Body ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Western India ◽  
Sexual Knowledge ◽  
Same Sex

AbstractThis article examines letters written by young men to the Marathi-language journalSamaj Swasthyaand its editor, R. D. Karve, a major advocate of birth control and sex education in western India. The letters, and Karve's responses to them, constituted perhaps the earliest sex-advice column in Indian print media. We argue here that the correspondence provides a unique vehicle for understanding the forms of sexual knowledge held by middle-class males in mid-twentieth-century India as well as for appreciating their most significant sexual anxieties. The article analyses the concerns expressed in the letters about masturbation and seminal emissions, the nature of the female body and processes of conception, birth control and same-sex sexual practices. It particularly illuminates the ways in which the concept of modern conjugality pervaded the sexual understandings of the young men who wrote to Karve. It thus offers valuable insights into specifically sexual aspects of conjugality and masculinity—aspects that have previously been unexplored.

Sex Workers and HIV/AIDS in India

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunny Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Sex Worker ◽  
Different Types

The risk of HIV infection looms large among male, female, and transgender sex workers in India. Several individual, sociocultural, and structural-environmental factors enhance the risk of HIV infection among sex workers by restricting their ability to engage in safer sexual practices with clients and/or intimate partners. While most HIV prevention programs and research focus on visible groups of women sex workers operating from brothels (Pardasani, 2005) and traditional sex workers, for example, Devadasis (Orchard, 2007); there is a whole subgroup of the sex worker population that remains invisible within HIV prevention programs, such as the male, female, and transgender sex workers operating from non-brothel-based settings. This paper provides an overview of the different types and contexts of sex work prevalent in Indian society, discusses the factors that increase a sex worker’s risk of HIV infection, describes the varied approaches to HIV prevention adopted by the existing HIV prevention programs for sex workers, discusses the limitations of the HIV prevention programs, and concludes with implications for social work practice and education.

India: A. Appadorai: Documents on Political Thought in Modern India-Vol. II. Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1976, vii, 892p., Rs. 125.

1978 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-256
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Political Thought ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Freedom Struggle ◽  
Indian Politics ◽  
Indian Land ◽  
History Of

INDIA: A. APPADORAI: Documents on Political Thought in Modern India—Vol. II. INDIA: S.N. GANGULY: Tradition, Modernity and Development: A Study in Contemporary Indian Society. INDIA: MINOO MASANI: Bliss was it in that Dawn…: A Political Memoir upto Independence. INDIA: SATYABRATA RAI CHOWDHURI: Leftist Movements in India: 1917–1947. INDIA: AMALENDU GUHA: Planter-Raj to Swaraj: Freedom Struggle and Electoral Politics in Assam 1826–1947. INDIA: B.G. DAS: The President of India. INDIA: K. SESHADRI: Indian Politics: Then and now—Essays in Historical Perspective. INDIA: RAJEEV DHAVAN : The Supreme Court of India: A Socio-Legal Critique of its Juristic Techniques. INDIA: KRISHNA PRASAD DE : Religious Freedom Under the Indian Constitution. INDIA: INDIAN RENAISSANCE INSTITUTE: People's Plan II: A Plan for India's Economic Development. INDIA: S.L.N. SIMHA and A. RAMAN, Eds.: Credit Planning: Objectives and Techniques. INDIA: E.S. SRINIVASAN: Financial Structure and Economic Development: (With Special Reference to India: 1951–1966). INDIA: H. VENKATASUBBIAH : Enterprise and Economic Change: 50 years of FICCI. INDIA: KALYANI BANDYOPADHYAYA : Agricultural Development in China and India: A Comparative Study. INDIA: V. C. BHUTANI: The Apotheosis of Imperialism: Indian Land Economy Under Curzon. INDIA: A. B. HIRAMANI : Social Change in Rural India: A Study of Two Villages in Maharashtra. INDIA: S. C. DUBE, Ed. : India Since Independence : Social Report on India 1947–1972. INDIA: M. G. KULKARNI : Problems of Tribal Developments: A Case Study. INDIA: J. P. NAIK : Some Perspectives on Non-Formal Education. INDIA: H. S. BHATIA, Ed. : Military History of British India (1607–1947). INDIA: P.N. KHERA: Operation Vijay: The Liberation of Goa and Other Portuguese Colonies in India (1961). INDIA: S.C. TEWARI: Indo-US Relations, 1947–1976.

Violence and Politics in Calcutta

1961 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myron Weiner
Keyword(s):  
Civil Disobedience ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Mob Violence ◽  
Indian Politics

Violence, non-violent civil disobedience, and mass demonstrations have been a part of Indian politics since independence; indeed, even before 1947. Occasionally these outbursts are truly spontaneous, and, when they are, they may be accounted for by the hypothesis that more discontent exists in Indian society than has been expressed by organized groups. But such anomic movements have been rare in India since 1947, although mob violence during the days of partition may be an illustration par excellence of this phenomenon in Indian life.

Is Only Fair Lovely in Indian Politics? Consequences of Skin Color in a Survey Experiment in Delhi

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Ahuja ◽  
Susan L. Ostermann ◽  
Aashish Mehta
Keyword(s):  
Skin Color ◽  
Skin Tone ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Survey Experiment ◽  
Dark Skin ◽  
Color Preferences ◽  
Indian Politics ◽  
Voter Preferences ◽  
Weak Evidence ◽  
Significance Levels

AbstractAdoration for fair skin color and bias against dark skin color are strong in Indian society. The theory of colorism suggests that, irrespective of a voter’s own phenotype, voters prefer lighter- to darker-skinned candidates. And yet, a substantial number of dark-skinned politicians get elected into office in India. In the first systematic study of voter preferences for candidate skin color in India, we conducted a survey experiment in which respondents were randomly administered one of three treatments based upon candidate skin tone: fair, wheatish (medium-brown), and dark. We find only weak evidence for colorism in the sample as a whole—the fair candidate is supported more than the dark and wheatish candidates, but at only marginal significance levels. This is because color preferences are heterogeneous amongst respondent groups. Dalits and the poor, groups that are darker relative to other groups and have been politically mobilized, exhibit much stronger support for dark candidates than other groups, consistent with a desire for descriptive representation. Amongst those who do not belong to these two groups, including dark respondents, the fair candidate finds more support than the dark candidate. This shows that even in the absence of skin color-based electoral appeals, skin color can emerge as an implicit marker of politically mobilized identities, and that this mobilization can undercut colorism.

scholarly journals Impact of Social Media on Indian Youth with Special Reference to Covid-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 493-496
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Information Share ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Social Community ◽  
Indian Politics ◽  
The Masses ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Brain

Internet has created a single world culture today. Internet is the ocean of knowledge. Social media is a popular platform for the masses to transform the information, share their ideas, thoughts, opinions, images and videos using famous social websites and messengers as well. Generally, users access social media with the help of web-based technology on their laptops and smart phones. Though providing suitable circumstances to people of different age groups for mutual interaction and connectivity, social websites and messengers are the efficient tools for providing opportunities and chances for reaching out to entertainment sources, valuable information for developing social capital for the users. However, Social media is becoming necessary and an imperative tool for the Indian society. Doubtlessly, Social media is the chief source of Education, Communication and Entrepreneurship, Online shopping, Entertainment and plays crucial role in Indian politics as well. Rumours are being circulated regarding COVID-19 pandemic in this tuff time by the masses. To approach it from another angle there are different issues which impact to the Indian society. Adolescents are in the developing stage. It is the stage from babyhood to maturity. Excess of using Social media sustains health problems such as Anxiety, Depression, Frustration, Feeling Alone and Sadness et cetera. Social media can destroy someone’s life by mental harassment, cyber intimidation, infringement of someone’s privacy, decrease the participation in social community. It reveals an abhorrent impact especially on juveniles or adolescents. An international group of investigators or researchers has noticed the Internet can develop both intense and prolong transformations in particular areas of cognition, which may reverberate changes in the brain, disturbing our attentional capacities, memory and social activities and the rest.

Class, Ethnic Group, and Party in Indian Politics

1981 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Brass
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Survey Research ◽  
Political Behavior ◽  
Party System ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Indian Politics ◽  
Social Science Theory ◽  
Science Theory ◽  
Class Status ◽  
The Stability

Several recent books on India have focused on issues of nationalism and ethnic conflict, policy and ideological differences, parties and elections, and the stability of Indian democracy. The most useful contributions to the understanding of Indian politics and to social science theory have come from works that use analytical categories that have proven themselves cross-culturally (namely, those of class, status group, and power), and that lay bare through case studies the sources of the conflicts and cleavages in Indian society that both threaten and sustain democracy. Less useful are works that impose on Indian political behavior explanatory frameworks, political ideals, and methodologies derived from Western political history and culture-bound social science, such as political divisions between Left and non-Left, the two-party system, citizenship, and survey research.

scholarly journals Conversion to Islam Untouchables' Strategy for Protest in India

1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 258-260
Author(s):  
Mohammad A. Siddiqi
Keyword(s):  
Caste System ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Psychological Violence ◽  
Indian Politics ◽  
South Indian ◽  
Conversion To Islam ◽  
The Social ◽  
Extreme Measure ◽  
Mass Conversion ◽  
Comprehensive Framework

Many Indians were taken by surprise, anger, and dismay by severalthousand South Indian untouchables when they converted to Islam in 1981-82.Hindu chauvinists violently reacted and formed the Vishva Hindu Prishadwhich later occupied the famous mosque built by the first Mughul ruler ofIndia, Babur. Since then many attempts have been made to analyze the causesof the mass conversion which still continues, although not in large numbers.Abdul Malik's book carefully examines the regional and local causes as wellas the consequences of this mass conversion to Islam. Malik explains theelements of the complex social matrix in which the untouchables usedconversion as a "conscious and articulate protest" against a cruel and unjustcaste system. This unique study provides a thorough sociological perspectivethat deepens our understanding of more than 200 million untouchables of India.Malik explains, in the first chapter, the methodological and theoreticalbasis as well as the framework of his study. He raises relevant questionsthat have been answered in the latter part of the book, questions such as:Why did the untouchables resort to the extreme measure of conversion? Werethe conversions isolated cases or were they part of a long-term strategy? Whywas Islam as a religion chosen? Malik suggests that the main variables inthe process of conversion were the untouchables’ “aggressive and assertivebehavior.” While developing his own thesis, Malik carefully examines similarstudies by political sociologists such as Feierbend, Gum, Grimshaw, Niebuhrand others. He critically evaluates their work and draws meaningful similarities.Yet he establishes a more comprehensive framework by redefining many termssuch as violence and psychological violence in the context of the untouchables’conversion to Islam.The second, third, and fourth chapters provide a detailed understandingof the caste system that is the core of Indian politics, the economic, social,political, and cultural milieu of the untouchables, the pervasiveness ofuntouchability in the Indian society, the nature of violence against theuntouchables, and the helplessness of ’the untouchables in dealing with thepolitical power that is embedded in the caste hierarchy of the social systemin India ...

Turbulent Times

2019 ◽  
pp. 33-55
Author(s):  
Arundhati C. Khandkar ◽  
Ashok C. Khandkar
Keyword(s):  
Turning Point ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Indian Politics ◽  
The Social ◽  
Turbulent Times ◽  
Social Reformers

As the East India Company’s trade expanded, so did their control, influence, and interference in Indian politics, society, and local laws. The Meerut Mutiny of 1857 was the turning point for Indians to earnestly begin clamouring for freedom. To achieve that, however, bringing Indians together was a paramount task. So, the social reformers systematically began asking Indians to set aside caste-based discrimination practices and unite together against the Raj. Laxmanshastri espoused a reasoned and rational dialog as the principal way to bring people with opposing views together. He drew on the historiography of the dharma-shastras, pointing to the wide-ranging and rich polemical debates in the literature that allowed diametrically opposite views and interpretation. He believed in the central Upanishadic idea that all humans are Brahman. It was from that principle that he kept the injustices against Untouchables squarely in his vision, never losing sight of the idea of making India more equitable for all her citizens. While his command of the shastras was never questioned, changing deeply held biases proved to be more challenging, but he did succeed in getting the more orthodox upper caste members of Indian society to consider his arguments and pay more attention to the plight of the Untouchables.

Evolution

2020 ◽  
pp. 133-175
Author(s):  
Durba Mitra
Keyword(s):  
Social Theory ◽  
Female Sexuality ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Evolutionary Development ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
Evolutionary Thought ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Scientific ◽  
Discrete Domain

This chapter accounts for the foundational place of deviant female sexuality in social evolutionary thought over the period between the 1860s and the 1950s. It begins by analyzing concepts of sexuality and patriarchal monogamy in European and American ethnology. The chapter then explores the widespread impact of the field of ethnology on the ideas of a set of social analysts in eastern India who produced original theories of Indian social development in the first decades of the twentieth century. Their theories united the science of female sexuality with philology, biology, ethnology, psychology, and sociology to create original models for the evolution of Indian society. The unification of diverse sexual practices through classifications of deviant female sex constituted the social as a discrete domain of inquiry. These publications in critical social theory emerged in India at a moment when social scientific disciplines had not yet undergone disciplinary differentiation. A distinguishing feature of these publications was a claim to expertise about female sexuality through the blending of different fields of knowledge. To conclude, the chapter briefly touches on how these multidisciplinary understandings of primitivity and evolutionary development continue to shape social thought in postcolonial India.

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