Social Change In Contemporary Literature: A New Approach To Criticism In Sociology Of Literature

The modern trend in social sciences is towards the development of new techniques and tools of study. The social phenomena, so intricate and exciting but complex has often inspired many scholars and social researchers to invent and experiment new techniques for an integral study of society. Man’s quest for knowledge is so infinite that where he so often tries to reach his goal. He is deeply aware of the process and his mind works subtly for a comprehensive understanding of things or phenomena in their integral relationship to other parts and in the essential background of their specific context. Sociology of literature has found its basic origin probably in the growing concern of sociologists to combine various disciplines in studying a social complex; some scholars like S. C. Dube in Indian have talked about interdisciplinary approach. Allied to this idea perhaps emphasis was laid in America and Britain to study a social complex through the contents of its contemporary literature. The belief here is that the literature of a society has not only on it an impact of the age but that it also gives expression to most of the sublime thoughts and themes in contemporary society, and can be relevant to evolving important sociological conclusions. In India the trends of change in family, as well as themes underlying social change can be studied conveniently through the contemporary short stories and novels in Hindi literature. What is important here is the selection of a proper representative period and an authentic set of creative literature. The short stories which treat family situations in their changing contexts can be classified, sociologically, into two broad categories, the short stories which directly express change in the family role obligations under various strains and modern conditions, the changing roles and attitudes of family members towards each other or towards the family institution at large, and the stories which suggest a relative at large, and the stories which suggest a relative loss of transcendental moral and social values. I have selected 1950-1970 as a representatives period for my story takes a new turn and begins to be written not only in a new style, but also with a new approach, and with a social commitment, it is more imbued with reality and is conscious of its sociological and authentic role. Social Change in Contemporary Literature is a novel work in Sociology of Literature.