Question 1.

Write an essay on the field of Social Geography. Discuss its nature and scope with special
reference to India.

Answer:

Field of Social Geography

The field of social geography is concerned with describing and explaining spatial elements of
society in terms of the structure of that society that begins with dealing with social groups. Social
geography involves the understanding of the pattern which arises from the use of social groups,
make of space as they see it, and of the processes involved in making and changing such
patterns. Social geography is the branch of human geography that is most closely related to
social theory in general and sociology in particular, dealing with the relation of social
phenomena and its spatial components. The term ‘social phenomena’ encompasses the whole
framework of human interaction with environment, leading to the articulation of social space by
diverse human groups in different ways. Besides the patterns, the way the social phenomena are
expressed in space becomes a cause of concern as well. As compared to the other branches of
geography social geography has a certain amount of recency. Eyles saw the antecedents of
contemporary Social Geography in the development of the philosophy of possibilism in the late
nineteenth century. Eyles also visualized social geography as a continuation of the philosophy of
Vidal de la Blache and Bobek. Concerned with the way space mediates the production and
reproduction of key social divides – such as class, race, gender, age, sexuality and disability – the
field of social geography eventually became broadly established as the study of social relations
and spatial structures that underpin those relations (Jackson, 2000).Within that broad rubric,
different authors have approached the field in a variety of ways:

 Jackson and Smith in 1984 set out its philosophical underpinnings.

 Cater and Jones in 1989 opt for a focus on social problems
 Valentine in 2001 concentrates on the many scales of inclusion, exclusion and identity
 Panelli in 2004 turns attention theoretically and empirically to the many facets of
difference

Hence the field of social geography covers the identification of different regions of the earth’s
surface according to associations of social phenomena related to the total environment and the
study of the patterns and processes (required) in understanding socially defined populations in a
spatial setting.

Nature of social geography in India

Social geography is a sub-field of geography that focuses on the study of human-environment

relationships, patterns of human settlements, and the distribution of social, cultural, and
economic phenomena. Qatson in 1957 defined social geography as the identification of different
regions of the Earth’s surface according to association of social phenomena related to the total
environment. Pahl in 1965 defines the subject matter as the study of patterns and processes in
understanding socially defined population in a spatial setting. The nature of social geography is
to basically deal the society and space as an integrated entity. Social geography aims to view
geographic space alongside race, class, gender, age and sexuality as an important source of
difference access to resources and opportunities. The nature of the subject is also to take concern
of the social inequality and welfare which means that the subject aims at opposing all forms of
domination of people and nature. This sub discipline of human geography has always been
characterized by a drive for justice, through strands of work that carry a strong sense both of
morality and of ethics. Finally, as befits such a rich and varied history, social geographies are
methodologically diverse, and have generally sustained this diversity. In India, the nature of the
subject matter prove to be very important as it is aimed at probing the relationship between
elements of Indian social structure and the process of regional development. India’s social
structure is a complexity in itself which has been further complicated by the process of
development which is uneven both in its regional spread and in terms of impact on the social
strata. The nature of social geography in India deals with this complexity, by identifying their
pattern and distribution, by studying the enormous population of the country growing at a high
rate which has some sort of social, cultural and ethnolingual diversities. It studies the disparity in
the distribution of natural resources and the degree of their exploitation, ownership of land,
varied levels of technologies in different areas and differences of many kind and also tries to
incorporate the reasons behind them.

Scope of social geography in India

Scope of a subject matter mainly deals with how vast is the subject with reference to its relations
to other disciplines or subdisciplines. Social geography is interdisciplinary in nature and draws
upon concepts and theories from geography, sociology, economics, and anthropology. The scope
of social geography in India includes demographic and socio-economic factors such as
population distribution and migration, ethnic and racial diversity, cultural and religious practices,
economic activities, and the impacts of globalization. With reference to India, the study of social
geography is particularly important due to the country’s large and diverse population, complex
social and cultural traditions, and rapidly changing economic landscape. Additionally, the study
of social geography in India also involves an examination of the relationship between economic
development and social inequality, as well as the impacts of globalization on the country’s social
and cultural landscape. Another important area is cultural geography, which deals with the study
of cultural diversity and the distribution of cultural groups and their traditions, customs, and
beliefs. Urban geography, another important subfield, focuses on the study of urbanization, urban
structures, and the social and economic processes that shape urban areas. In India, social
geography has gained importance in recent years due to the rapid pace of urbanization and the
growing concerns about social and economic inequalities. It also includes the impacts of
urbanization on the country’s cities and towns, as well as the rural-urban migration patterns and
their effects on both urban and rural areas. For example, India’s rapidly growing urban
population has led to the formation of mega-cities, such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. The
rapid growth of these cities has had significant social and economic impacts, including
overcrowding, traffic congestion, and increased pollution levels.

In conclusion, social geography is a crucial discipline that plays a vital role in understanding the
complex relationships between people and their environment. social geographers in India are
contributing to the development of a more sustainable and equitable society.