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BOOK REVIEW |
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BOOK REVIEW |
Sociology Succor A leading professor of sociology and anthropology explains the elementary issues of his subject By A CORRESPONDENT Sociology and anthropology is a relatively new subject introduced in Nepal's higher education course, but it has become one of the most popular disciplines. As classrooms get overcrowded, the scarcity of the books written by Nepali scholars is becoming more pronounced. Dr. Rishikeshab Raj Regmi has been continuously associated with Tribhuvan University's central department of sociology and anthropology from the start. A cultural anthropologist, Dr. Regmi is ranked among the pre-eminent Nepalese scholars of the field. As the head of the department, he also has been extensively involved with the preparation of the sociology and anthropology curriculum for various levels. Dr. Regmi has come out with a new book explaining the essential elements of sociology. The book attempts to explain many basic things in the course of facilitating a comprehensive understanding of what has become a globally important discipline. The book is a reflection of Dr. Regmi's vast teaching experience. In the process of simplifying the subject, the author has made special effort to put across a diverse range of views and opinions. From the theoretical interpretation of sociology to a cogent appraisal of the Nepalese context, Dr. Regmi's has encompassed a broad horizon. His painstakingly assembled references to the Nepal setting has brought a unique dimension to the work. In the first of 14 chapter, Dr. Regmi highlights the term "sociology" and goes on to survey its relationship with other sciences. The second chapter deals with research methodology. The succeeding chapters build on the subject in a manner that encourages vivid understanding. Dr. Regmi has concentrated his efforts to reach out to students pursuing knowledge of the universal dimensions of sociology with special focus on the Nepalese context. From role of religion to importance of organization, the author has made every effort to deal with significant matters relating to subject. "I have endeavored to present the principles, concepts and ideas of sociological knowledge related to the personal experiences of real people. Sociology is generally presented to students in such a way that discipline seem remote, abstract and unrelated to our real life. I have tried to present this book with in-depth understanding of real life," said Dr. Regmi. One of the aims of the book is to augment the students' storehouse of knowledge. Dr. Regmi has made every effort to include the up-to-date information as far as possible. "After realizing the need for writing such types of book, I have been working since many years. To assist students in developing critical thinking skills, I have organized the text around three basic sociological perspectives: the functionalist, conflict and symbolic perspectives," Dr. Regmi writes. Although the author has borrowed materials from different authors, he has generalized them to meet the demands of Nepalese students. It seems Dr. Regmi's goal is to teach students the various perspectives not as competing arguments but as approaches that can each contribute to his or her understanding of social phenomenon.n The Essentials of Sociology |
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