CHAPTER-ONE Introduction Sociology Isaninterdisciplinary
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CHAPTER-ONE Introduction Sociology isaninterdisciplinary subject of social sciences.Discipline is fundamental and play essential role in social science.Basically sociology is the science of society arose in the nineteenth century as social science to unravel the fundamental laws governing the social phenomena of human social relationships, social changes and social structures (Curry, Jiobu and Schwrian, 2008). It concerns in analyzing the problems revealing various aspects of social reality and thus to better understand society. The term sociology was first used by French sociologist Auguste Comte and established by other theorists like Emile Durkheim, Herbert Spencer,Karl Marx, Max Weber and so on. The Social sciences rise in post 16th century attributed to political, economic, and cultural contradictions and struggles generated by crisis of feudalism and religious faith, reformation and renaissance, the rise of capitalism and later structure of democracy, Mishra (2007). This theoretical background of study describes the historical and contemporary context in sociological understanding of surname and it’s variation. 1.1 Theoretical background The social science was developed as critiques of the post second world war related to develomentalism and modernization, capitalism and imperialism, formation of new state structures, nationalism and statism, as well as democratization, enlargement of public domain, expansion of public administration, and empowerment of newly created citizens. The affirmative action and remapping of the identities, political roles and life chances of diverse class, caste, ethnic, regional, linguistic, gender and other groups, mandated by encompassing political, economic, and cultural transitions also shaped and reshaped the social sciences, Mishra (2007).In the beginning the ideas of plural society was created to oppose the European ideal of homogenous nation states as a post-colonial identities in context of contemporary concerns with diaspora, displacement and politics of difference, Jenkins (1997:26). At the end of 1990’s social identity in ethnicity is narrative form of identification seen as places of belongings. According to Norval (2004) there are theoretical contemporary debates of three position in ethnic identifies.In the first Primordialist treats ethnicity is situated to organize around natural, given and ahistorical homogenous group. Essentialist denies historical circumstances 1 of social phenomenon and lack of internal homogenous identities.Instrumentalist treats ethnicity as material phenomenon.Nominalist approach ethnic forms of identification arise from external inducement. And Constructivist approaches views differently that social identities are the result of historical,social, and political processes through which identification are constructed and sustained, contested and negotiated. Thehistory of human was known by more than one name to distinguish individuals by an event, characteristics or religious connotation. When societies become more complex these names become fixed and passed onto the next generation as mentioned by forebears (2012- 2018) Genealogical resources (England and Wales guide). Advanced settled society derived surnames from occupation social status or place of residence and adopted from father’s name.Mills (1959) offers that the sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within the society. Furthermore elaborates that neither the life of an individual nor the history of society can be understood without understanding both. Sociologist Bourdieu (1972,1984) developed an approach related to surname that the outcome of dialectical relationship between everyday practices of individuals (habitus) and thesocial structure (field). Emphasizing on practices Bourdieu advocate the way people on the basis of their position in the social sphere perceive and construct the social world. Seddon (2017) writes in many societies roles and relationship make socially distinctive identity identified by surname for example the influence of parents either patrilineal or matrilineal and siblings also considered in moulding an individuals personality or characteristics, outlooks and behavioral patterns the elements that constitute identity. Giddens (2006) refers everyone social status is based on personal characteristics as skin, color, parental, religion or parental caste that are accidents of birth and are therefore believed to be unchangeable. Davies (2011) presents surname acts as a visible link between a child and their fathers as a signifier of heritage and locating the family and a kin group in wider web of relationships.Nagel(1994) advocates that Ethnic boundaries and identities are constructed by both the individuals and group as well as by outside agents and organizations.Norval(2004) stresses that ethnicity is constructivism emphasizing the historical and political processes in relation to other identifies such as racial,sexual,national,gendered. She suggests that body is important but markers of race and ethnicity are historical,social,and political rather than 2 natural. MaxWeber defines ethnicity as subjectively felt sense of belongings based on the belief in shared culture and common ancestry. Nepali (1965)mentions King Jayasthiti Malla with the five Brahmins organized the society of the Kathmandu valley into 4 Varnas and 64 castes in the 14th century.Luintel (2015) refers to through intersectionality perspective social identities is an active and dynamic social process of personhood and identity and are the outcome of many attributes caste belonging comes into a dynamic interplay with other attributes (caste,ethnicity,gender or poverty).Levine(1987)argues from the case of Humla that ethnic relations today are the outcomes of historical process of accommodation between regional ethnic systems and the process of centralizing state. Sociological naming of Surname with the recognition that social is everywhere in every facet of life and everything around us. It is a social phenomenon. The specific natures of social relationships were among individuals,households, settlements, classes, caste and ethnic groups and other identities patterns.By drawing Mishra (2011) regarding ethnicities refers that ethnic differences are social and historical constructions. Sociologically these are neither given by god, nature or biology. There is no ethnic blood or ethnic semen. Ethnicity is fluid in making human endeavor and social relationships.FrederickBathepioneered constructivism ethnicity is the product of social process rather than cultural, given,made and remade rather than taken for granted,chosen depending on circumstances rather than ascribed through birth. Fromthe vantagepoints the creation and recreation are all inanimate,natural,biological,chemical,divine etc. are socially created and recreated.Ethnic identities as surname is hardly natural, primordial and permanent or unchanging fixture of any human individual or group is made by ethnic dominant groups.This has been illustrated and justified by Gautam(2017) showing increasing number of caste/ethnic groups across (1991-2011) census in context of a dynamic society. Social Identity identified by Surnaming as ethnicities presented by Mishra(2011) is socially that it is historically and economically,politically and culturally constructed. 1.2 Empirical context of study Nepal is nation of multilingual, multi ethnic and multi religious country. It has mosaic social,cultural,political,geographical aspects.Prior to structuring of state into different geographical regions,districts and villages act (1961) the settlements of Walung comprise of five villages Walung, Yangma, Ghunsa, Lungthung and Lelep. Currently under the Federal 3 provincial structure act (2015) included Wolangchung village development comprising Walung and Yangma only.Because of the series of migration and is still migrating Walungnga settled in Taplejung, Dhankuta, Ilam and many of them dispersed because of various political,geographical, economical, natural and other factors caused migration to Darjeeling, Sikkim, Canada, Australia,USA and many countries. According to the CBS report (2068 B.S) total population of Walungnga is 1170. In 1991 census population in Walung are 422 people living in 82 individual households.Prior to landslide that occurred twice in the Walung village 1963 A.D and 1968 A.D Hameindorfin 1957 A.D counted total 109 houses in post landslide in 1975 A.D found only 40-45 houses. He found 16 Gowa houses and 5 Bichari houses in 1975 A.D.In the field survey September Uprety 1994, counted 82 households.This demonstrates the decreasing number of households and thus population is declining over the last years. Federation of Indeginous Nationalities NEFIN (2005) identified and recognized Walung among one of 59 ethnic groups on the basis of their traditional geographical land.The local community being geographically close to Tibet is greatly influenced by Tibetan cultures and traditions. They speak similar language and allegiance to Buddhism practiced Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Ukyab(2001).Locals believed that Walungnga are reported to be original inhabitants of Walung thus having descent citizens of Nepal.Probably were traders,herders,travellers,religious monks and nunsin search for betterment of living and opportunities.These claims are based themselves upon local naratives collected from the villagers. In the early middle ages due to the harsh and severe cold climate tribes from the inner