India has a euphoria for rural society. Rural sociologists and anthropologists have spent decades in accumulating data about village life. Whatever may be our status, we are all concerned with the development of our villages. The village society, so rich and diverse in its culture is undergoing tremendous economic and cultural transformation owing to the massive developmental efforts. In our enthusiasm to make our villages self-sufficient and link them with a wider society at regional and national levels, we should be intelligent enough to understand thoroughly the rural society.

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction to rural sociology. 2. The village community. 3. Village life in India and the west. 4. Casteism. 5. Distinction between primitive culture and peasant culture. 6. Rural family. 7. Rural religion. 8. Indian rural agricultural system. 9. Bhoodan Gramdan movement. 10. Sarvodaya movement. 11. Health planning in India. 12. Rural Government. 13. Social group. 14. Indian villages. 15. Land reforms. 16. Rural housing. 17. Rural education. Bibliography.