"It was a wonderful experience interacting with you and appreciate the way you have planned and executed the whole publication process within the agreed timelines.”
Subrat SaurabhAuthor of Kuch Woh Pal
The concepts of "Rural" and "Ruralness" derive from the subjective interactions between "living nature" and "culture" – human activities. The book explores the interaction of two apparently contrasting principles: the subjective dynamics of "Ruralness" and the objectively defined "Rural," the former being shaped by scholarly insights and the latter by administrative and development agencies.
Historically, there has been a tendency to equate rural life with urban living while advocating for change. Such conceptual and methodological discrepancies are common in this field of study and practice. The book emphasises that "Rural Transformation" involves a gradual and beneficial shift from traditional agricultural livelihoods to other sectors by enhancing productivity and skills and reducing labour intensity. This shift would create surplus labour, enabling rural residents to engage in secondary and tertiary sectors. Additionally, "Rural Transformation" aims to strengthen the connections between urban and rural areas in terms of resource dependency, technology, skills, market networks, and empowerment of rural communities to participate in policies and programs designed for them.
The most crucial issue is the protection and sustainability of rural and tribal ethos, which the transformation process could impact. Understanding what makes something "rural" is essential to preserving the way of life. The book thoroughly explores these issues while discussing and examining the criteria and events of rural transformation.
Dr C. J. Sonowal
Dr C. J. Sonowal is a renowned anthropologist who is currently attached to the prestigious Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai. With a wealth of experience in research, teaching, and guiding M. Phil and Ph.D. students, he has published several books and articles in his field. Dr Sonowal's research interests are focused on the study of Indigenous societies, especially on the health and treatment-seeking behaviour of Indigenous people, Tribal Religion, Identity, and Ethnicity and Development domains. He is a well-respected expert in his field and has contributed significantly to the advancement of knowledge in Anthropology.
