SOCIAL ECOLOGY AND VALUES BY R.K MUKHERJEE

Radhakamal Mukerjee (1889-1968) is considered a great pioneer in
sociology in India. He suggested for the use of comparative methods in the
study of social sciences in India. He said: “We must aim at the scientific
study of the race and culture origins.”
Radhakamal Mukerjee’s contribution to the studies of what is called ‘social
ecology’ is unparalleled. In his book, Regional Sociology (1926), Mukerjee
explains the scope of human ecology “as a synoptic study of the balance of
plant, animal and human communities, which are systems of correlated
working parts in the organization of the region”.
The geological, geographical and biological factors worked together to
produce an ecological zone. In its turn ecology is conditioned by social,
economic or political factors. Ecological balance is not mechanical carving
out of a territory and settling people thereon. Such an attempt weakens or
destroys social fabric.
In case of human beings, cultural norms have a very important role. Human
ecology highlights this fact. In the formation of an ecologic unit like ‘region’
social habits, values and traditions become very important.
Mukerjee’s ideas about social ecology:
1. It advocated regional development. He stood for a balance between
economic growth and ecological fitness.
2. He strongly advocated for conservation of forests and protection of
ecological balance. Mindless urbanization was also lamented by
Mukerjee.
3. Urban development at the expense of the countryside should be kept in
check.
4. Agriculture should be diversified and industries should be
decentralized.
Social ecology stresses the ever complex give-and-take relationship
between man and the region. Removal of vegetation brings about a chain of
unfavourable reactions such as:
(1) Denudation of the top soil,
(2) Fall in the underground water level,
(3) Diminution of rainfall,
(4) Increase of aridity, and
(5) Acceleration of ‘river’, sheet or gully and wind erosion.
Therefore he proposed a trans-disciplinary approach to social research at a
time when some social scientists in India were considering the need for
interdisciplinary research.
STRUCTURE AND VALUES:
Mukherjee's work on regionalism and society has its impact on his theory of
social value.This thought was influenced by the ideas of Odum Lew is
Mumferd and Park. Society is, according to Radhakamal, “the sum of
structures and functions through which man orients himself to the three
dimensions or levels of his environment:
(a) ecologic,
(b) psycho-social, and
(c) moral”.
Thus, society “fulfills the basic requirements of sustenance status and valuefulfillment”.
According to Mukherjee, society is an organization consisting of values.
These values are graded hierarchically. Values are absolute. Values are
“socially approved desires or goals that are internalized through the
process of conditioning and socialization. They generate subjective
preferences, standards and aspirations.”
Values help man in orienting his desires and goals in a set pattern. The
concept of value cuts across desires, goals, ideals and norms. Some traits of
the values are:
1. The values are the result of individual and group responses, they help
in building up of society and thereby integrating social structure.
2. Mukherjee's theory of social values is based on his theory of
regionalism and ecology.
3. These values have "condensed epitomized impressions”, that is,
symbols.