The document defines a village as a small population that follows agriculture as both an occupation and way of life. Villagers have a shared consciousness, lifestyle, and intensive social interaction. Village solidarity develops through mutual exchange and various social and cultural activities like religious gatherings. Each village has its own internal rules and regulations enforced through a panchayat system to maintain order. Historically, villages were largely self-sufficient communities with farmers, artisans, and facilities to meet villagers' needs without relying on outside contact.

1. Village : Structure
and Change
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2. Definition of Village
The term ‘village’ refers to a
 Small population
 Follows agriculture , not only as an occupation , but also as a way of life.
Generally , a village may be defined as a
 Group of people living in a definite geographical area
 Characterised by consciousness of kind
 Common life styles
 Intensive social interaction
Bogardus :-
“Human society has been cradled in the rural group.”
Mandelbaum :-
“The village is clearly an important and viable social entity to its people who also
take part in the larger society and share in the pattern of the civilization.”
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3. Village Solidarity
Village solidarity developed
 By mutual exchange
 Various socio-cultural activities
 Religious gatherings
 Different ethnic groups depended on other
ethnic groups for their livelihood.
 Socio-economic process plays an important role
behind the village solidarity
 Village solidarity is seen at the time of danger-
droughts , floods , epidemics , famine or natural
disasters 3

4. Internal Regulations
Each village had its own rules and regulations – principles ,
customs , rituals etc.
 Dominant ethnic groups sometimes manages the village
directly
 Sometimes through panchayat system
 There were no villages which were not under the
complete control of single ethnic group. There was a
conflict between powerful groups.
 Unity existed for welfare work.
 Gram panchayat was the means of Village Solidarity.
 The panchayat had the task of monitoring whether the
villagers are following the accepted customs , rules and
regulations.
 In this way through panchayat , people of dominant
caste enforced the rules and regulations and maintained
order.
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5. Self-Sufficient Village
Community
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According to many sociologists , the pre-British Indian Village society was a self-sufficient
village. There
 are many controversy based on agriculture and handicrafts
 Equipped with all sort of facilities within it
 Does not depend upon the neighbouring villages
 Consumed food made from the crop grown in village
 Wear clothes , spun in the local mills
 Complete absence of any contact with outside world
 Apart from farmers,cobblers,blacksmiths,potters,carpenters,
oilmen,barbers,dhaepas and other artisans lived in the village
 No existence of private property in land.
 Existed for centuries.
 Produced keeping in mind the needs of villagers.
 No surplus production
 No profit in it

6. Little Republic
According to Charles Metcafe , the village communities
are little republics , having nearly everything that they
want within themselves and almost independent of any
foreign relations.
Representation of Geographical Features - Village
Panchayat
 Entire land of village was in the possession of panchayat
 The Panchayat was the representative of the village
society
 Arranged the distribution of cultivable land 6

7. Characteristics of Village
Society
 Absence of private
ownership on land
 Unification of
agriculture and
handicrafts
 Isolation of village
society
 Lack of mobility
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8. Characteristics of Village
Community
 Community sentiment
 Contact with nature
 Thin population
 Agro-based occupation
 Face to face relation
 Self Sufficiency
 Caste System
 Conservatism
 Jajmani System
 Panchayat
 Family and kinship
 Low quality of life
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9. Change in Village Community
 Change in community sentiment
 Decreasing self-sufficiency
 Increase in Social mobility
 Disorganisation of joint family
system
 Change in marriage system
 Change in role of caste system
 Change in educational system
 Change in religious system
 Change in economic system
 Change in political system
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10. Evolution of Village Community
has passed through different
stages
 Primitive Village
Community
 The part played by kinship
 Its collective bias
 Medieval Village
Community
 Modern Village Community
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11. Growth of Village Community
Factors for the growth :-
 Topographical factor
 Land
 Water
 Climate
 Economic factor
 Agriculture
 Rural economy
 Cottage industries
 Social factor
 Peace
 Security
 Cooperation
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12. Thank you
For any further queries , my Email ID is
sahaagamani@gmail.com
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