GROUNDING DEVELOPMENT: EPISTEMOLOGICAL REVERSAL AND THE IDEA OF LOCALITY

Development, being endogenous and self-reliant, should emerge from the core of each society. It gains its true significance only when it is anchored at the local level and embedded in the practices of each community. No development model can be universal, as the richness of development lies in the diversity of its patterns. This requires sociological knowledge to expand the scope of development studies and move beyond narrow economic and administrative assumptions. Grounding Development: Epistemological Reversal and the Idea of Locality offers a sociological and social anthropological analysis of rural development policies in postcolonial India. By critically examining major rural development policies, the book raises a key question: Do policymakers’ views on rural development align with those of sociologists? It explores the interconnections between community participation and rural development, advocating for a participatory approach that integrates diverse perspectives. This book proposes a conceptual framework for mobilizing collective initiatives in rural India, aiming to empower communities and promote comprehensive development.