How much an individual student derives from an introductory sociology course depends, of course, upon his curiosity, alertness, and effort. There is, however, much to be gained. The storehouse of sociological knowledge which the scientific approach has produced, and to which additions are being made more rapidly than ever, will be found to contain information as well as understandings which are new to the students. Even material which at first looks like ‘old stuff’ will, when really grasped, be seen in a new light. The result will be a new point of view, a new orientation, and a more reliable understanding of the social environment in which the student lives.

Keeping in view the context, the book is divided into following seven sections:

This systematic introductory sociology textbook will be useful for students of sociology at all levels, from school to college and university.  The book will be extremely useful for the students of professional education who are reading sociology in various courses of law, medicine, nursing, engineering, architecture, journalism, management, education, social work, religion, vocational rehabilitation and others.

• Sociological Perspective

• Origin, Nature and Scope of Sociology

• Relationship with Other Social Sciences

• Social Action

• Society

• Social Groups

• Social Control

• Culture

• Culture, Society and Personality

• Individual and Socialisation

• Culture and Personality Formation

• Social Position: Status and Role

• Social Stratification

• Social Mobility: Concepts, Types, Factors, and Patterns of Mobility

• Economic Institutions

• Political Institutions

• Marriage, Family and Kinship

• Religion

• Education

• Social Change: Concept, Characteristics and Issues

• Factors of Social Change

• Theories of Social Change

• Globalisation and Its Impact on Indian Society

• Indological Perspective: G.S. Ghurye (1893–1984)

• Structural-Functional Perspective: M.N. Srinivas (1916–1999)

• Marxist Perspective: A.R. Desai (1915–1994)

• Methods of Research

• Techniques of Data Collection

B.K. Nagla is former Professor of Sociology, M.D. University, Rohtak. Earlier he taught at M.S. University, Baroda and at the Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, New Delhi. Post retirement, he worked as a consultant to Kota Open University and also served as Babu Jagjivan Ram Chair Professor at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He has been visiting professor in many universities in India and abroad. 

Sheobahal Singh is former Professor of Sociology, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur. He specialises in the field of society and economy. He has contributed extensively on entrepreneurship, development and change in various reputed journals, edited volume, national and international seminars and conferences. His published works include Entrepreneurship and Social Change and Sociology of Development.