“There are two sides to a coin – social sciences help us understand both and make a choice.” The aim of society and that of its education system are intertwined. While the aim of education is explicitly stated in policy documents, legal instruments and curriculum frameworks, it is tacitly woven in the selection and arrangement of content. Social science content not only defines and validates societal aims it also has the capacity to provoke learners to critically examine them along the lines of universal values of social justice and environmental sustainability. While Natural Sciences help us develop technology and put it to use, Social Sciences help us study the impact of that very technology. For very odd reasons, the idea of pursuing a branch of Social Sciences seems demeaning to a major chunk of Indian population and is thus not acknowledged for its immense contribution. As the world seems to be engulfed in catastrophes, from devastating tsunamis, killer cyclones and cataclysmic earthquakes to raging bush fires, lava-spewing volcanic eruptions, indiscriminate terrorism and endless warfare, people and communities are trying unfailingly to make sense of what is happening to them. This is where Social Science comes in as a lifesaver, helping us to comprehend human lifestyle and behavior, keeping in mind the conditions and needs of the society.

It is well known that people in India and generally, Indians, are closely knit. They have a lot of focus on their identity and status in the society where they live and also amongst their relatives. This status is generally defined through monetary means. As the typical Indian mentality influences us in all possible ways, we grow to believe that selection of Humanities/Social Science as a field of profession reflects, to subtly put, dumbness. Contrary to popular belief, pursuing Humanities does not limit career options and is beneficial monetarily, in the long run. India has numerous languages, a rich historical, ethnic and cultural background thus enabling it to offer a number of courses in humanities to Indian as well as foreign students. But this, somehow, fails to happen as the stream is not being vvlified the way it needs to be. We are all aware of various IITs and IIMs being established in the country but the real question here is, do we even know names of the best institutes for Humanities here? Is this oblivion or willful ignorance?

Social Science is a peculiar stream; it does not give you answers to the questions you have, instead, it gives you answers to which you raise questions. Uncertainty, doubt, and skepticism- everything that makes the stream what it is. It is known to put perspective into people’s lives while definitely not being easy. If calculating electromagnetic induction is strenuous, then researching social relationships and the complexity associated with it is no cakewalk.

Social Sciences provide a framework to look at content emerging from other subjects – to see how that content is used in society, for whose benefit. Even the Natural Sciences are embedded in a certain social culture and are highly influenced by it. More often than not the technology based on the application of science is selectively used for the benefit of the dominant groups who control it by aiding research and development or by influencing policies including those related to education. The impact all these have on defining the character of a society can be understood by the use of tools rooted in social sciences. It is clear that Social Science is of immense importance to Indian society, however, efforts have to be made to increase the level of support it receives. To make a difference, and to change the Indian mindset for good, schools must not be subjected to fragmented, incomprehensible content and lack of critical pedagogy. The stream is deemed monotonous, students often find themselves questioning the need to study people who are dead and things that have been done. Facilitation of discussions and debates can help students think and introspect, improve communication skills and empower them to write thoughtful answers after doing careful research on topics. They must also get under the skin of various historical and political characters through role play and discuss their actions effectively. Reading literature by eminent philosophers, economists, historians, etc., will help students gain interesting insights. Field projects will help students appreciate and apply their learning in real life settings. Creating civic sense and awareness, cleanliness drives, renovating and protecting historical sites, etc., will ensure that students become more sensitive to the requirement of the stream. Historic scenes coming to life will fascinate the students and draw their attention in unexplainable ways. They must be encouraged to watch credible documentaries, TV shows, and movies. Lastly, teachers must also consider critical pedagogy, which means that they should not only understand the content in more than one way and translate it into an understandable, learnable, challenging, and interesting form to the students, but also have the skills to actually teach the content. Pedagogy without subject matter content isn’t worth very much. Simply “knowing about” teaching methods won’t do. There is probably no more important skill required in teaching social studies than the ability to explain events, ideas, principles, and social interrelationships. In some ways, good social studies teaching rests on the ability to tell stories well. For social studies, this storytelling ability is grounded in the depth and awareness of the connective possibilities of the content.

Social Studies is purposeful as it helps students understand human interactions that have occurred in the past, are occurring now, and are likely to occur in the future. This will help students develop and nurture values that will enable them to determine, for any situation, what the right thing to do is and how to go about it, specifically, in times of difficulty.  It broadens horizons, adds perspective to our lives, contributes to social well-being and definitely gives us no reason to demean those who pursue it.

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