Renowned Sociologist Andre Beteille Dies In Delhi at 91

Andre Beteille was a renowned Indian sociologist and academician who passed away in Delhi in an advanced age of 91 due to illness, family members confirmed. He died on Tuesday evening, and his last wishes were fulfilled on Wednesday. Among other topics, Beteille was an early thinker on caste, social inequality, social class, and politics in India, and was a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Delhi. Through a long and illustrious career, he wrote influential books and inspired the direction of sociological thinking. He got Padma Bhushan in 2005 owing to his works in literature and education, and was hailed as a moral and intellectual anchor by both his colleagues and students.

Andre Beteille: Early Life and Education

• Andre Beteille was born in September 1934 in Chandannagar, which was at the time under French rule.

• He was born into a family of a French father and an Indian mother, which made him experience a kind of multicultural background.

• He received a multicultural upbringing, and he was brought up in his early life.

• His first schooling was done in Chandannagar and Patna.

• In 1946, he transferred to Calcutta, where he received higher education.

• Firstly, he studied physics at St. Xavier college Calcutta.

• He later changed his academic interest to anthropology.

• He graduated with his honours and master's in anthropology at the University of Calcutta.

• His scholastic training was the basis of his lifelong contribution to sociology.

Professional Journey of Andre Beteille

• Andre Beteille graduated from the Delhi School of economics where he started teaching sociology.

• He was a Professor of Sociology at the University of Delhi and Professor Emeritus subsequently.

• He was a professor and a visiting professor at major universities around the world, such as Oxford, Cambridge, the University of Chicago and the London School of Economics.

• The Government of India, in 2007, made him the National Research Professor.

• He was the Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University and then Ashoka University.

• Andre Beteille wrote powerful books on caste, class, inequality and social theory that developed Indian sociology today.

• This earned him the Padma Bhushan on account of his contribution to the academic field.

Biography and Awards of Andre Beteille

• In 2005, he was given the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India, for his work in sociology and literature.

• Elected Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) on social sciences.

• Jurist on the Infosys Prize in the Social Sciences group in 2010.

Famous Biography of Andre Beteille

• Andre Beteille was an Indian sociologist and a renowned Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Delhi.

• He, a son of a French father and an Indian mother, was the one to get his MA at Calcutta University and then relocated to Delhi.

• Beteille has written many impactful books on Indian society, caste, class and inequality.

• His standout publications are Caste, Class and Power, Society and Politics in India, and The Idea of Natural Inequality and Other Essays.

• Other famous works are the Studies in Agrarian Social Structure and Chronicles of Our Time.

• His career as a sociologist saw him make great contributions to sociological theory as well as teaching.

Conclusion (Renowned Sociologist Andre Beteille)

The death of Andre Beteille signifies the conclusion of the Indian sociological period. His strict studies, teachings and his powerful writings shaped the perception of caste, class and inequality in India. Students, researchers and policymakers in all fields are still guided by his intellectual heritage.