Why do we have a president and a prime minister, instead of having all power concentrated in one position? We know that we borrowed our political structure from the English, but why did they develop it that way? What is fascism? Did Lenin follow what Marx wrote? How is communism different from socialism? Why did the USSR break up?
This book traces the history of the modern world from the Reformation to the end of the Cold War, attempting t
Seeking to create an ideal city-state that would have virtuous as well as happy people, Plato set out a noble task for Western political thought. Did we succeed in fulfilling that task? On reflection, we seem to have got distracted and may have lost the plot. We did make progress but only a fraction of what our scientific progress would have enabled had we been concerned of the human soul as much as we had been of material wealth.
We created economic s
Can we create a world with shared norms and values to successfully meet collective threats to humankind? Should nations always behave the way they are doing now in the international arena? Can’t they relate to each other differently? What prevents them from doing what is in their own interests?
With such questions in mind, the author explores major IR theories that attempt to explain war, peace and commerce across nations. Though this does not gi
We often hear the phrase ‘India has a right to pursue its national interest’, but deciding to pursue the national interest is far removed from successfully pursuing it. This book argues India’s problems with its neighbours are easily solvable if only India can disentangle itself from the stories itself created to convince others. The book argues that the successful pursuit of self-interest calls for wisdom, freedom from the past and above all
What should a spouse do when the fact that the other half has been having an affair for a long time comes to light? Can a man ever understand a woman’s mind? What can we do about a personal problem to which there is no easy solution?
Through the prism of his personal life, the author raises many thoughtful questions on the nature of romantic love, the nature of self, power, shame, sorrow, and compassion. Explaining that what is perso
What constitutes spiritual enlightenment, also called moksha or nirvana? Is there something amiss in the way enlightenment has been construed down the ages? Are the ego and the desires of the mind as bad as they are made out to be in the spiritual traditions? What does modern science say about mind, self and consciousness? Can robots ever be conscious? Is there any scientific evidence for soul, karma and rebirth? Is there indeed something like universal consci
This book familiarizes the students with important theories and concepts in basic economics, while letting them understand the issues the Indian economy is currently facing. By far the biggest crisis of our times is climate disruption, it deeply affects many issues related to economics such as energy, agriculture, growing inequalities, globalization and the spread of capitalism.
Tribal people have been facing a wide variety of problems in the modern times, mainly caused by the confrontation with civilization. This book deals at a certain depth with the situation of the tribals of Central India, Northeast and Andaman & Nicobar islands. It then provides a wider backdrop to the discussion on tribals by talking about a number of prominent Indian anthropologists and their contribution to the understanding of Indian society.
This book comprehensively deals with issues of caste and religion in the context of India, covering the UPSC syllabus for Sociology and Anthropology. It includes historical and ideological perspectives on the caste system presented by various thinkers and activists. It traces the philosophical connections across the major religions of India and describes their impact on the world.
This book tells IAS aspirants what Essay and Ethics (GS-4) papers are about and how to score high in both the papers. The previous years’ questions are listed topic-wise. The student gets to know what topics are important. This book provides the essential framework for exam preparation in Essay and Ethics.
This book tells IAS aspirants what sociology is and how to score high in this paper. The previous years’ questions from 2012 are listed topic-wise. They are classified in such a way that the student gets to know the linkages across the topics. This book provides the essential framework for exam preparation in sociology.
This book tells IAS aspirants what anthropology is and how to score high in this paper. The previous years’ questions from 2009 are listed topic-wise. They are classified in such a way that the student gets to know the linkages across the topics. This book provides the essential framework for exam preparation in anthropology.
The book introduces you to anthropology, covers research methods, gender-based issues, economic and political organisations and religion. It can serve as a good textbook for students of anthropology, while also helping sociology students. It gives latest research and India specific examples.
Amaravati is exclusive, alienating to other regions and damaging to the ecology. The Polavaram dam is insensitive to lakhs of people, environmentally destructive and, what is worse, unsafe. The first government of AP obviously got its priorities wrong. Instead of discussing these priorities, the people got busy blaming the Centre and making unfair demands on it. This book, apart from critiquing the priorities set by AP's first government, argues for an eco-frie
Praise for Sociological Thought
“Venkata Mohan’s Sociological Thought: In the Light of J. Krishnamurti’s is an exceptional and brilliant contribution of the author whom I consider as a unique academic intellectual of contemporary times. I am sure no one in the academic sphere has so far attempted to explain social Thought the way the author has analyzed and presented.”
“This book, Sociological Thought: In the Light of J. Krishnamurti’s Philosophy, is an exceptional and brilliant contribution of the author whom I consider as a unique academic intellectual of contemporary times. I am sure no one in the academic sphere has so far attempted to explain Social Thought the way the author has analyzed and presented.”
G. Satyanarayana,
Emeritus professor of Sociology at Osmania University
Why is a certain behavior considered ethical? By what processes does a certain behavior become ethical? Why are some people more capable of behaving ethically? This book discusses questions such as these with the help of the perspectives drawn from three distinct fields: Religion, Philosophy and Neuroscience. Theorists from the ancient to the recent – from the Buddha and Socrates to Antonio Damasio – are covered.
An IIT graduate, who always dreamt of becoming a monk, married an IAS officer. Both thought they understood each other, as well as their priorities in life, so well that neither her commitment to work nor his pursuit of Truth would be affected by the marriage.
What they did not know was that life does not oblige mortal’s plans…