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Sociality and guru-led movements: Interplay of social issues, action and social service

Current Sociology

Published online on

Abstract

This article discusses the various facets of sociality of guru-led movements in the contemporary social milieu. It argues that sociality is the key to deciphering the numerous manifestations of the guru-led movements within the social domain. Sociality is the essence of tradition, continuity and perpetuation of these movements. This sociality as imagined here is a result of a meta-analysis of the guru-led movements, reflecting on their socio-political frame of reference; visions on society, stratification and ethics; positions on social issues and social service; views on social transformation and tangible social service along with the antagonisms and contradictions which penetrate all the social imaginaries. The analysis builds upon two aspects: the episteme of sociality and the episteme of guru-led movements. In terms of the episteme of sociality there is substantiation of a strong conception of sociality which emphasizes social relations to others. Faith and guru memory are central categories and embedded in this sociality is a potential for change. The sociality of guru-led movements throws light on how their agency and actions emerge. It constitutes the movements’ social imaginings and intersubjectivity, which very often are also coloured by their own dominant forces of hegemony and Hindu nationalism.