The book compiles an analysis of some major works on rural society. This compilation has been made across time and across space. The book has tried to bring within its purview the research works carried on rural structure, rural functions, rural issues, rural development. It targets to reach out to teachers and researchers across disciplines, policy planners, rural activists, development activists who can develop a broad vision on the issues plaguing rural society, the nature of policy venture required by them, their resources and curses. The analysis incorporated in the book is an interdisciplinary one. It looks into the literature relating to rural society, its tradition, transition, continuities and changes from various dimensions i.e. political, social, economic, management and policy perspectives. It tries to provide a wholesome idea about the nature of research works that have been carried out in the rural space of different countries, various policy ventures that have been launched and critically analysed, the developmental impact of interventions from global to local level. It is expected that the book will serve as a repository of literature on rural societies and enable the readers to get a multidimensional view of the situation that persists in the rural space. CONTENTS Foreword......................................................................... 7 Foreword......................................................................... 9 Foreword........................................................................11 The Prologue ..................................................................13 Acknowledgement .........................................................17 Section-I Rural Studies: A Global Perspective...............................19 Section-II Rural Studies: A Snapshot from India .......................... 137 Section-III Regional Studies: A Documentation from Odisha ....... 231 The Epilogue ...................................................................... 281 Index .................................................................................. 285