Dear Visitor,
From the perspective of students of Sociology based in India, this crisis raised by the novel coronavirus is consequential for knowledge and how we understand it. This blog hopes to be a site to further the sociological consciousness, to explore the idea that things may not be quite what they seem to be.
We plan to use this space to ‘cultivate’ the sociological imagination. We live in strange times - at once connected and at once lonely. Social and geographical mobility exposes us to new aspirations, desires, and anxieties. The current pandemic appears to suddenly throw us off our feet. Sociology which was born in crisis offers us the tools to untangle the hidden knots that tie our personal angsts to public crises. It also has an unerring ability to reflect, relativize, and make us understand social realities other than our own. It allows us to navigate through the many facets of the social and throws open before us the many possibilities of Doing Sociology.
After all, anything and everything can be understood through a ‘sociological imagination’. We are a team of three researchers trying to make Sociology accessible to its early students. Preliminary research shows that Indian universities do not have dedicated writing spaces for students that can enable them to express their thoughts. We want to break that practice. . After all, what is Doing Sociology without writing and talking about it?
This blog is as much yours, as it is ours. The intent is to create a space for sociological thinking, something that is much desired in these times. As many of us struggle with issues of mental health, locked in, the need for a common space to share and learn ideas has never been felt more. We hope this blog is a right step in that direction.
- Doing Sociology Team