Memberships

Membership of the Indian Sociological Society is open to anyone and everyone who has a general interest in the study of sociology. There are five different types of members of ISS and they may join it directly at any time in a year.


We have more than 5600 active Life Members apart from nearly 2000 ordinary members, student members, and institutional members including more than 50 members from abroad.

The annual membership period runs from January to December each year. All subscriptions are payable strictly in advance and preferably in the month of January.

  • Life Membership (Indian)
    Duration
    Lifetime
    Package price
    ₹6,000
    • Benefits of Membership
    1. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of Sociological Bulletin.
    2. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS e-Journal.
    3. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS Newsletter.
    4. All types of members are entitled to participate in different intellectual activities of the ISS including attending the Annual Conference and RC sessions.
    5. A Life Member, who is on the register of the Society for not less than one year, may contest and vote in the election of Office Bearers of ISS.
    6. All types of members are entitled to participate in the discussion in the Annual General Body Meeting of the ISS and participate in any voting therein.
    7. All members may send his/her article for publication in Sociological Bulletin, Bharatiya Samajshastra Sameeksha or any other journal published by the ISS. The decision to publish an article lies with the concerned Managing Editor and the Editorial Board.
    8. All members below the age of 40 may send his/her article published in any journal for consideration of M. N. Srinivas Memorial Young Sociologist Award.
    9. ISS Managing Committee may recommend the name of any senior Life member for Lifetime Achievement Award.


    Name of the Account: Indian Sociological Society

    Savings Bank Account Number: 4114000100575176

    Name of Bank: Punjab National Bank,

    Branch: Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070,

    IFSC no: PUNB0411400

    Amount: 6000/- (Payment made by bank transfer only)


    Offline Payment Please send the UPI/NEFT Screenshot with the Transaction ID to issfeepayment@gmail.com

  • Life Membership (Foreign) South Asian
    Duration
    Lifetime
    Package price
    $125
    • Benefits of Membership
    1. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of Sociological Bulletin.
    2. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS e-Journal.
    3. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS News Letter.
    4. All types of members are entitled to participate in different intellectual activities of the ISS including attending Annual Conference and RC sessions.
    5. A Life Member, who is on the register of the Society for not less than one year, may contest and vote in the election of Office Bearers of ISS.
    6. All types of members are entitled to participate in the discussion in the Annual General Body Meeting of the ISS and participate in any voting therein.
    7. All members may send his/her article for publication in Sociological Bulletin, Bharatiya Samajshastra Sameeksha or any other journal published by the ISS. The decision to publish an article lies with the concerned Managing Editor and the Editorial Board.
    8. All members below the age of 40 may send his/her article published in any journal for consideration of M. N. Srinivas Memorial Young Sociologist Award.
    9. ISS Managing Committee may recommend the name of any senior Life member for Life Time Achievement Award.
  • Life Membership (Foreign) European Union
    Duration
    Lifetime
    Package price
    €250
    • Benefits of Membership
    1. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of Sociological Bulletin.
    2. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS e-Journal.
    3. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS News Letter.
    4. All types of members are entitled to participate in different intellectual activities of the ISS including attending Annual Conference and RC sessions.
    5. A Life Member, who is on the register of the Society for not less than one year, may contest and vote in the election of Office Bearers of ISS.
    6. All types of members are entitled to participate in the discussion in the Annual General Body Meeting of the ISS and participate in any voting therein.
    7. All members may send his/her article for publication in Sociological Bulletin, Bharatiya Samajshastra Sameeksha or any other journal published by the ISS. The decision to publish an article lies with the concerned Managing Editor and the Editorial Board.
    8. All members below the age of 40 may send his/her article published in any journal for consideration of M. N. Srinivas Memorial Young Sociologist Award.
    9. ISS Managing Committee may recommend the name of any senior Life member for Life Time Achievement Award.
  • Ordinary Membership (Indian)
    Duration
    12 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
    • Benefits of Membership
    1. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of Sociological Bulletin.
    2. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS e-Journal.
    3. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS News Letter.
    4. All types of members are entitled to participate in different intellectual activities of the ISS including attending Annual Conference and RC sessions.
    5. A Life Member, who is on the register of the Society for not less than one year, may contest and vote in the election of Office Bearers of ISS.
    6. All types of members are entitled to participate in the discussion in the Annual General Body Meeting of the ISS and participate in any voting therein.
    7. All members may send his/her article for publication in Sociological Bulletin, Bharatiya Samajshastra Sameeksha or any other journal published by the ISS. The decision to publish an article lies with the concerned Managing Editor and the Editorial Board.
    8. All members below the age of 40 may send his/her article published in any journal for consideration of M. N. Srinivas Memorial Young Sociologist Award.
    9. ISS Managing Committee may recommend the name of any senior Life member for Life Time Achievement Award.


    Offline Payment Please send the UPI/NEFT Screenshot with the Transaction ID to issfeepayment@gmail.com

  • Ordinary Membership (Foreign) South Asian
    Duration
    12 months
    Package price
    $20
    • Benefits of Membership
    1. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of Sociological Bulletin.
    2. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS e-Journal.
    3. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS News Letter.
    4. All types of members are entitled to participate in different intellectual activities of the ISS including attending Annual Conference and RC sessions.
    5. A Life Member, who is on the register of the Society for not less than one year, may contest and vote in the election of Office Bearers of ISS.
    6. All types of members are entitled to participate in the discussion in the Annual General Body Meeting of the ISS and participate in any voting therein.
    7. All members may send his/her article for publication in Sociological Bulletin, Bharatiya Samajshastra Sameeksha or any other journal published by the ISS. The decision to publish an article lies with the concerned Managing Editor and the Editorial Board.
    8. All members below the age of 40 may send his/her article published in any journal for consideration of M. N. Srinivas Memorial Young Sociologist Award.
    9. ISS Managing Committee may recommend the name of any senior Life member for Life Time Achievement Award.
  • Ordinary Membership (Foreign) European Union
    Duration
    12 months
    Package price
    €30
    • Benefits of Membership
    1. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of Sociological Bulletin.
    2. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS e-Journal.
    3. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS News Letter.
    4. All types of members are entitled to participate in different intellectual activities of the ISS including attending Annual Conference and RC sessions.
    5. A Life Member, who is on the register of the Society for not less than one year, may contest and vote in the election of Office Bearers of ISS.
    6. All types of members are entitled to participate in the discussion in the Annual General Body Meeting of the ISS and participate in any voting therein.
    7. All members may send his/her article for publication in Sociological Bulletin, Bharatiya Samajshastra Sameeksha or any other journal published by the ISS. The decision to publish an article lies with the concerned Managing Editor and the Editorial Board.
    8. All members below the age of 40 may send his/her article published in any journal for consideration of M. N. Srinivas Memorial Young Sociologist Award.
    9. ISS Managing Committee may recommend the name of any senior Life member for Life Time Achievement Award.
  • Student Membership (Indian)
    Duration
    12 months
    Package price
    ₹500
    • Benefits of Membership
    1. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of Sociological Bulletin.
    2. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS e-Journal.
    3. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS Newsletter.
    4. All types of members are entitled to participate in different intellectual activities of the ISS including attending Annual Conference and RC sessions.
    5. A Life Member, who is on the register of the Society for not less than one year, may contest and vote in the election of Office Bearers of ISS.
    6. All types of members are entitled to participate in the discussion in the Annual General Body Meeting of the ISS and participate in any voting therein.
    7. All members may send his/her article for publication in Sociological Bulletin, Bharatiya Samajshastra Sameeksha or any other journal published by the ISS. The decision to publish an article lies with the concerned Managing Editor and the Editorial Board.
    8. All members below the age of 40 may send his/her article published in any journal for consideration of M. N. Srinivas Memorial Young Sociologist Award.
    9. ISS Managing Committee may recommend the name of any senior Life member for Lifetime Achievement Award.


    Offline Payment Please send the UPI/NEFT Screenshot with the Transaction ID to issfeepayment@gmail.com

  • Student Membership (Foreign) South Asian
    Duration
    12 months
    Package price
    $15
    • Benefits of Membership
    1. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of Sociological Bulletin.
    2. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS e-Journal.
    3. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS News Letter.
    4. All types of members are entitled to participate in different intellectual activities of the ISS including attending Annual Conference and RC sessions.
    5. A Life Member, who is on the register of the Society for not less than one year, may contest and vote in the election of Office Bearers of ISS.
    6. All types of members are entitled to participate in the discussion in the Annual General Body Meeting of the ISS and participate in any voting therein.
    7. All members may send his/her article for publication in Sociological Bulletin, Bharatiya Samajshastra Sameeksha or any other journal published by the ISS. The decision to publish an article lies with the concerned Managing Editor and the Editorial Board.
    8. All members below the age of 40 may send his/her article published in any journal for consideration of M. N. Srinivas Memorial Young Sociologist Award.
    9. ISS Managing Committee may recommend the name of any senior Life member for Life Time Achievement Award.
  • Student Membership (Foreign) European Union
    Duration
    12 months
    Package price
    €25
    • Benefits of Membership
    1. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of Sociological Bulletin.
    2. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS e-Journal.
    3. A Life Member is entitled to receive a free online copy of ISS News Letter.
    4. All types of members are entitled to participate in different intellectual activities of the ISS including attending Annual Conference and RC sessions.
    5. A Life Member, who is on the register of the Society for not less than one year, may contest and vote in the election of Office Bearers of ISS.
    6. All types of members are entitled to participate in the discussion in the Annual General Body Meeting of the ISS and participate in any voting therein.
    7. All members may send his/her article for publication in Sociological Bulletin, Bharatiya Samajshastra Sameeksha or any other journal published by the ISS. The decision to publish an article lies with the concerned Managing Editor and the Editorial Board.
    8. All members below the age of 40 may send his/her article published in any journal for consideration of M. N. Srinivas Memorial Young Sociologist Award.
    9. ISS Managing Committee may recommend the name of any senior Life member for Life Time Achievement Award.
  • RC-1: Theory and Practice in Sociology (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-1: Theory and Practice in Sociology (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-2: Studies on Family, Marriage and Kinship (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-2: Studies on Family, Marriage and Kinship (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-3: Economy and Society (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-3: Economy and Society (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-4: Migration and Diaspora Studies (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-4: Migration and Diaspora Studies (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-5: Sociology of Education (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-5: Sociology of Education (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-6: Sociology of Religion (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-6: Sociology of Religion (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-7: Adivasi and Tribal Studies (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-7: Adivasi and Tribal Studies (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-8: Inequalities, Stratification and Exclusion Studies (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-8: Inequalities, Stratification and Exclusion Studies (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-9: Dalit Studies (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-9: Dalit Studies (5Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-10: Gender Studies (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-10: Gender Studies (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-11: Sociology of Environment (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-11: Sociology of Environment (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-12: Sociology of Health, Ageing and Well-Being (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-12: Sociology of Health, Ageing and Well-Being (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-13: Science, Technology & Society (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-13: Science, Technology & Society (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-14: Globalization and Society (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-14: Globalization and Society (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-15: Agrarian and Rural Studies (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-15: Agrarian and Rural Studies (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-16: Work, Labour and Organization (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-16: Work, Labour and Organization (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-17: Sociology of Social Movements (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-17: Sociology of Social Movements (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-18: Social Demography (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-18: Social Demography (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-19: Urban Studies (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-19: Urban Studies (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-20: Media Studies (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-20: Media Studies (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-21: Political Sociology (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-21: Political Sociology (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-22: Conflict and Violence Studies (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-22: Conflict and Violence Studies (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-23: Sociology of Law, Crime and Deviance (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-23: Sociology of Law, Crime and Deviance (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-24: Sociology of Childhood and Youth (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-24: Sociology of Childhood and Youth (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-25: Sociology of Sports (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-25: Sociology of Sports (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-26: Minority Studies (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-26: Minority Studies (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-27: Sociology of Care (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-27: Sociology of Care (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-28: Sociology of Everyday Life (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-28: Sociology of Everyday Life (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • RC-29: Social Transformation & Development (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • RC-29: Social Transformation & Development (5 Years)
    Duration
    60 months
    Package price
    ₹1,000
  • Ad Hoc Group 01- Digital Sociology (1 Year)
    Duration
    12 months
    Package price
    ₹250

    About Adhoc Group-01: Digital Sociology


    Throughout the world, the digital revolution is altering the economy, politics, and society. Additionally, it is establishing a new power dynamics. The network society's laws control the changed economy, government, and society. Invisible conditioning to enforce coercive power relations is provided by the intellectual hegemony of the modern political economy, technocratic rationalism, commercialization of information, consumer society, and consumerism ideology. Numerous trustworthy organizations oversee the digital society, using coding and algorithms to direct trends or regulate virtual behavior and action. Modern digital technologies have control over individual privacy, which has sped up the legal commercialization of data / information. It has endangered people's personal safety and promoted online fraud, digital spying, cybercrime, internet addiction, etc. In order to comprehend and interpret the web of digital relationships between individuals, groups, communities, and institutions that have been altered by digital resources, sociologists may conduct scientific studies of these emerging trends within the framework of new concepts, models, paradigms, and theories. The Adhoc Group-01, titled "Digital Sociology," will make serious efforts to look into these fresh, growing fields of study: from digital empowerment to digital opportunity initiatives, to support the growth of Indian Sociology, and to launch a push to make Digital Sociology as a sub-discipline of Sociology in its new avatar.

  • Ad Hoc Group 02- Sociology of Sanitation (1 Year)
    Duration
    12 months
    Package price
    ₹250
  • Ad Hoc Group 03: Pedagogy, Teaching and Learning (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500

    Introduction:  

    The Adhoc Research Committee (ARC) on Pedagogy, Teaching and Learning - 03 aims to engage with the process and politics of knowledge building, by mapping the intersections of disciplinary formations and theorization of pedagogy. It seeks to provide a platform to examine the practices of teaching and learning, by placing the classroom at its core. The ARC builds on the argument that as knowledge is emancipatory in its aim, any analysis of the practices of knowledge is a political intervention and has epistemological significance. Therefore, as practitioners of the discipline of sociology, one needs to seriously engage with the challenges associated with pedagogy, teaching and learning within the academic institutions. Further it builds on the recognition that unless we engage with the classroom as a site of learning, the understanding that we have of our discipline of sociology will be fragmented. 

     

    Chaudhuri (2016) has argued that the reflexive critical identity of sociology as a discipline gets lost in the everyday doing of sociology. While it is recognised that teaching and research are core within any discipline; the practitioners focus on building quality research, and teaching is more often than not perceived in terms of whether conducting routine class and completion of syllabus. To retrieve teaching as a serious engaged practice would necessitate rigorous engagement with pedagogy as a practice. As Chaudhuri and Thakur (2018:8) argue, that it is the classroom, which is the significant site for 'dissemination and appropriation of theory, then the focus needs to be on, not only the text books, syllabi, question papers, assignments, lectures, etc but also on how is theory taught in the classroom, and what are the specific challenges we as teachers face?' Buroway (2004:265) states that, 'as sociologists our students are our first and captive minds'. Thus, classroom as a site requires serious engagement with the teaching and learning practices. 

     

    With few exceptions we as practitioners of the discipline have not rigorously engaged with how we teach sociology. Further in the present political changes, students should have an ability to develop a critical understanding of social phenomenon and also there is a need to make informed choices especially today when there is an abundance of information due to AI and internet. The challenge facing us is to teach in the face of AI and to assess at the time of ChatGPT. This ARC will provide the space for sociologists to reflect collectively on our pedagogical practices that would not only nurture critical minds but also by learning from each other help us to become better teachers. It seeks to build a collaborative space where pedagogical strategies and techniques could be shared, documented and reworked upon. This platform would provide a space to rethink, reflect and get inspired from one another. 

     

    Pedagogy, Teaching and Learning ARC, seeks to emphasize pedagogy of sociology as a serious area of inquiry among sociologists in India. Reflection on the teaching practices also raises the questions such as, 'what are the outcomes of teaching and learning? Who defines the outcomes? What is the students' definition of learning? How do they understand the teaching and learning process? Why do we consider students as a homogeneous group? To what extent does the vision of the discipline or specialized subjects relate to the vision and stated goal of education, institutions of higher learning as organised by the state? It is important to address these questions because it sensitizes us to the complex terrains of power, privilege and inequality in which a classroom is organized and the need for pedagogical practices to have the sensitivity and conceptual frameworks to address it. As Chadha and Joseph (2018: 12) argue, that engagement with questions of pedagogy not only involves focus on macro pedagogic processes, thus addressing issues of 'knowledge-making concerns of institutional limitations and practices in higher education, syllabi and hierarchy of disciplines but also need of addressing the micro and everyday levels of teaching and learning'. The focus areas of ARC include:

     

    • Working with critical pedagogy – engaged pedagogy/ feminist pedagogy 
    • Collaborative and peer learning 
    • Innovation in pedagogy 
    • Digital and technological intervention in pedagogy 
    • Emotional and care labour in pedagogy 
    • Teaching inclusively 
    • Regional/ Vernacular Pedagogy 
    • Classroom ethnography 
    • Teacher student relationship in classroom
    • Autoethnography as pedagogy 
    • Engaging with power, privilege and authority in classroom 
    • Building and nurturing safe classrooms 
    • Trauma informed pedagogies
    • Teaching in anxious times and with anxiety 
    • Decolonial Pedagogy 
    • Ethics and Pedagogy 
    • Intersectionality, Practice and Pedagogy 

     

    The above-mentioned areas are the initial ones that have been identified. As members join and engage, the list would be enlarged/reworked to address themes, areas and issues emerging from one's pedagogical engagement. 

     

    Students, doctoral scholars, young teachers and established professors, who are interested in engaging with pedagogy are requested to join the ARC, where they would not only learn newer ways, but also how to re- engage and strengthen conventional pedagogical practices. We believe that the higher education spaces are increasingly becoming diversified. The UGC Saksham, GOI document (2013) states that there is an uneven and diverse representation of students within educational institutions making the campus spaces highly contested. Thus, academic spaces do not always seem to be welcoming spaces for students, especially for those whose socio-economic background, caste, ethnic, gender, religious and/or linguistic worlds differ significantly from what they are used to. In such a context the role of a teacher and the pedagogic style used becomes crucial. As Connell (2009:9) argues, 'teaching as a form of work which is difficult to pin down as it involves an unspecifiable object of labour, a limitless labour process, and is, in a sense, unteachable. Teaching is always transformative labour, bringing new social realities into existence; and is fundamentally interactive, and not individual. Teacher's work is not social reproduction, but is creative and therefore a site of struggle'. The above arguments raise issues of how challenging it is to teach, calculate what is 'effective teaching' and to reach out to students who feel excluded within these hierarchical and uneven academic spaces. It is to these concerns and invisible markers within the higher education spaces that this ARC wishes to address. 

     

    By focusing on the everyday teaching and learning practices of the discipline, one can also address the concerns of the society, relating to issues of marginalization, exclusion and social justice. The ARC is built on the principle that along with theory and research; teaching is an integral part of what shapes the discipline of sociology. This ARC through dialogue and collaboration would address: one, teaching as a scientific practice, two, pedagogy as a critical tool of knowledge creation and dissemination, and three, classroom as a significant site of doing sociology.  

     

    Anurekha Chari Wagh, Department of Sociology, University of Hyderabad

    Leena Pujari, KC College, Mumbai 

  • Ad Hoc Group 04: Indian Sociology and Knowledge System (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500
  • Ad Hoc Group 05: Food, Culture and Society (2 Years)
    Duration
    24 months
    Package price
    ₹500

    Ad Hoc Group (Research Committee)

    Food, Culture and Society


    Food has various social uses and functions that it performs, apart from being a part of the process of consumption. Food is governed by several religious regulations and prohibitions or taboos. There are several inter linkages between food, ecology and material reality. The gendered nature of food, too, has been highlighted. Gender, class and food interact with each other to highlight different relationships with the society of different groups of people. Similarly, there is an intricate connection between food and modernity. Food is a very visible part of contemporary public life, especially in the Indian context. Be it the emergence of a host of new eating places offering diverse kinds of cuisines in India's growing cities, portrayals in media (advertisements, cookbooks, cooking shows, photographs, social media) or the rise of applications (grocery shopping, online ordering, calorie tracking, etc.) – food is everywhere. But at the same time, there are also issues of food security, hunger and nutrition. The relationship between food and health – which has always been important in the Indian context – has also re-emerged in public sphere debates. It has also been argued that globalization has played a critical role in food systems. The relationship between food and the process of globalization is a multi-faceted one which has gained much interest in recent years. Keeping in mind these old and new developments, the aim of this particular research committee is to explore the relationship between food, culture and society, with a specific focus on India. In times like ours, where the boundaries between the 'traditional' and the 'modern,' the 'local' and the 'global,' the 'urban' and the 'rural' are getting blurred, a study of food can reveal the changes and continuities in socio- cultural practices in society. The study of food offers us a window into understanding the larger social and the relationship of food to the economy, polity, identity, culture, moral codes, and family. The objective of this research group is to unravel these connections.


    Some of the questions that this research group will seek to engage with include:

    •  Role and functions of food
    •  Food and meaning-making
    •  Relationship between food and identity
    •  Relationship between social conditions, ecology and food habits
    •  Relationship between food and nutrition
    •  Processes of migration, displacement and relationship with food
    •  Intersections between food and technology
    •  Digitalisation of food


    Rituparna Patgiri, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati

    Email - missrituparnapatgiri@gmail.com