[Urbanstudy] SociologySeminar at SAU: Persistent Ruralities; Dr Surinder Jodhka

[Diya Mehra]

Apologies for cross posting
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The Department of Sociology, South Asian University cordially invites you
to a seminar:



Persistent Ruralities: Social Dynamics of Rural Non-farm Economy in
Madhubani, Bihar



by Dr. Surinder S. Jodhka, Jawaharlal Nehru University



Wednesday, 17th February 2016, 2.30 pm,  Mezzanine Hall,

South Asian University, Akbar Bhawan, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi



*Abstract*: The presentation will draw from my field study of two large
settlements, Satghara (a Census Town) and Bhagwatipur (a rural cluster with
10,000 plus population) in the Madhubani district of Bihar. A sizeable
proportion of the working population in both the settlements is primarily
employed in non-farm economic activities, more than 75 percent in Satghara
and nearly 35 percent in Bhagwatipur.



The study explores the social dynamics of the “rural” non-farm economy by
empirically mapping non-farm occupations in both the settlements. It
examines the dynamics of caste, community and gender within the social
organization of the non-farm economy in terms of their economic and social
hierarchies and the differential incomes and status they provide. The study
also looks at the relationship of the local non-farm economy with patterns
of outmigration. It further attempts to understand the manner in which
changes in the regional structures of power and domination have influenced
the local economic processes and are being influenced by them.



Fieldwork for the study was completed during the second half of 2014, which
included, qualitative interviews and case studies. Field study of these
large rural settlements, which are predominantly non-agricultural, raises
several questions about the meanings of categories such as ‘rural’ and
‘urban’ in the present day Indian context. It also raises questions about
the relevance of categories like ‘rurbanity’ and their growing uses in
policy regimes.



Dr. Surinder S. Jodhka is Professor of Sociology at the Jawaharlal Nehru
University, New Delhi. He researches on different dimensions of social
inequalities – old and new – and the processes of their reproduction. The
empirical focus of his work has been the dynamics of caste and the varied
modes of its articulation with the nature of social and economic change in
“neo-liberal” India; studies of agrarian social change and contemporary
rural India; and the political sociology of community identities. His
publications include *Interrogating India’s Modernity* (ed. OUP 2013); *Caste:
Oxford India Short Introductions* (OUP 2012); *Village Society* (ed. Orient
Blackswan 2012); *Community and Identities: Contemporary Discourses on
Culture and Politics in India* (ed. Sage 2001). He is editor of the
Routledge India book series on ‘Religion and Citizenship. He is among the
first recipients of the ICSSR-Amartya Sen Award for Distinguished Social
Scientists, for the year 2012.



-- 
Diya Mehra
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology, South Asian University
New Delhi
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