Village Studies in Northern India: a case of Devikothi

Since the 1950s, village studies have been the cornerstone of Indian social sciences in general and anthropology in particular. The emphasis of these disciplines has been on understanding the village not as an isolated case, but as an entry point to illuminate various theoretical and conceptual issues. India still lives in villages; therefore, it is important to understand the dynamics of rural village. This book presents a proper understanding of the socio-economic conditions of the villages of Himachal Pradesh. Devikothi was the first village surveyed by the Census of India in 1961. Therefore, in the present book author has made an attempt to study the changes that has taken place in the last 40 years in the studied village. He also makes empirical analysis of many issues prevailing in the village related to health, education, functioning of PRI’s, SHGs, Land holding, land use pattern and the demography of the village. The studied “Devikothi” village is a well-known in Churah tehsil of Himachal Pradesh, as in this village there is a famous temple of "Devi Chamunda"