The Role of Social Sciences In Nation Building.

The article focuses on the role of social sciences in nation building. Social Sciences have reference not only to the future but to the past as well. It is common-place now-a-days to say that history should not deal with the story of kings and princes or of great wars, but should concern itself with the social and economic life of the past. It is obviously impossible to think effectively of changing customs unless we know what these customs really are and how they are linked with other aspects of ones life. Even in the field of education also social research is now recognized as a necessity. It has also to be remembered that in addition to the ethnic and religious divisions in what one may call the progressive section of the population, we have a large number of primitive tribes who are on the fringe of national life and still retain their tribal institutions, either partially or almost intact. The author recommends for the consideration of the Government and academic institutions of India for the formation of Social Science Research Council on lines similar to the Scientific and Industrial Research Council of India, which have done so much for the development of physical sciences and industry within a very short space of time.