Noted Sociologist Andre Beteille Passes Away At 91

Noted sociologist and writer Andre Beteille died due to age-related illness at his residence here on Tuesday night. He was 91."My father was ailing for some time and was in the hospital. Last night we brought him home, where he passed away," his daughter, Radha Beteille, said.

His last rites were performed on Wednesday. Beteille was a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Delhi since 2003. He was known for his studies on the caste system and social inequalities in India.

Born in West Bengal to a French father and an Indian mother, Beteille moved to Delhi after completing his MA from Calcutta University.

Throughout his career, Beteille authored several books covering a wide range of topics from political sociology to the sociology of religion.

His prominent works include 'Caste, Class and Power', 'Society and Politics in India', and 'The Idea of Natural Inequality and Other Essays'. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2005 for his contribution to literature and education.

Noted historian of modern India and biographer of Gandhi, Ramachandra Guha, expressed his condolences over the demise of the great sociologist André Béteille on his X account. "He was the Indian scholar I most admired, for me (and many others) a moral and intellectual anchor, " he wrote in his message.

Devastated to hear that the great sociologist André Béteille is no more. He was the Indian scholar I most admired, for me (and many others) a moral and intellectual anchor. Here's a tribute I published on his 90th birthday in September 2024: https://t.co/gxhwlQBdK1
— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) February 4, 2026

Dr. Naga Lakshmi Chelluri, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Hyderabad, said," Prof. André Béteille is one of the most admired and revered sociologists for his work on caste, class, and power in India. He is well known for laying out the methodological foundations for rural studies and for analyzing the dimensions and shifts in status and power in rural India. Prof. André works present a nuanced understanding of the stratification systems in Indian villages and the sources of inequality, based on rigorous fieldwork. We were fortunate to have heard his lectures on our campus, which left a lasting impact on our own research."

Noted Sociologist Andre Beteille Passes Away At 91

Beteille was a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Delhi since 2003. He was known for his studies on the caste system and social inequalities in India.

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