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Since this is the First Memorial Lecture in honour of Professor Yogendra Singh, the author has briefly reflected on the persona of Singh. Certainly, his outstanding contributions in reshaping of Indian sociology are the main focus of this article. Professor Singh was quite distinct from sociologists and social scientists of his times, as a human being, and as a teacher, researcher and author. In the 1960s, he attempted a systematic analysis of Indian sociology. Over a period of half a century, Professor Singh conducted studies on a wide range of themes, such as village life, social stratification, youth, culture, urbanization, nonviolence and peace, professions, social movements, tradition and modernity, globalization, and social conditioning of Indian sociology. Of all this, Singh's main contribution lies in his ability to conceptualise empirical studies and narratives and examine the relevance of pre-given concepts and theories at the ground level. Based on his vast knowledge of sociological concepts, theories and thoughts, he was often mentioned as 'an incurable theorist'. His books, such as Modernization of Indian Tradition (1973), Concepts and Theories of Social Change (1974a), Image of Man: Ideology and Theory in Indian Sociology (1984c) and Indian Sociology: Social Conditioning and Emerging Concerns (1986b) speak of Singh's concern for reshaping of Indian sociology. Singh was a liberal social scientist, a centrist, as he followed a middle path, as reflected in his pragmatic eclecticism. Singh has attempted constructive criticisms of culturological studies, while providing a review of paradigms and theoretic orientations and periodization in Indian sociology. He states that there is no succession of paradigms and theoretic orientations. There is co-existence of competing paradigms and orientations. There are no master theories. Singh discusses Indian sociology ranging from being 'consensual to dialectical-historical' to 'critical' and symbolic-phenomenological orientations. In this context, he talks of a world view of sociology and the challenge of post-modernity, and challenges to globalization, identity and economic development. Regarding social change, Singh refers to a three-fold classification of approaches, namely, evolutionary, cultural and structural approaches. In addition to these, Singh also emphasises on cognitive-historical and institutional approaches. In regard to the study of social change and development, Singh reflects on issues, such as a quality of life for citizens, levels of social justice, economic security, harmony among social groups, nation-state, uneven incomes, disintegration, and crises and impediments in Indian society. Author concludes Professor Singh's seminal contributions in terms of his liberal thinking and all-inclusive approach. Singh had an open mind, without an ideological or statist command. He developed his own unique method of understanding, interpretation, analysis and conceptualisation. He has written with passion on Indian sociology. Singh has analysed ideology, theory and method in Indian sociology from the 1950s till the second decade of the 21st century. Singh has made a search for 'social', 'social relations' and 'society'. He has connected 'form' with 'substance', and vice-a-versa. Singh had no camouflage or the smoke screen of jargon and no hidden agenda.

Initially, Indian sociology was influenced by colonialism and indology. After Independence, Indian sociology moved towards indigenisation on the one hand and critical examination of the Western theories, concepts and methods of study on the other. Indigenisation and use of regional texts, sources and observations weakened the Western impact on Indian sociology. The idea of the founding fathers of Indian sociology provided a plural and multidimensional thrust to sociology in India. Debates on Indian sociology became intense after Louis Dumont argued for a fit between indology and the present-day Indian society (sociology). In response to Dumont's view, Yogendra Singh provides a fivefold classification of approaches and signifies Indian sociology through a synthesis of empiricism and analytical vision. The main contributions to explain Indian sociology have been made by Ramkrishna Mukherjee and Yogendra Singh. Mukherjee talks of 'modernisers of Indian sociology' and Singh looks for 'social conditioning' of Indian sociology.

This paper analyses the status of food security in selected South Pacific Island countries, namely Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu at the national and household levels during the period 1991-2002. Due to narrow resource base and production conditions, Pacific Islands concentrate on a few primary commodities for production and exports. During recent years import dependency for food items has increased mainly due to a decline in per capita food production and a rapid rate of rural-urban migration. Currently, export earnings can finance food imports but earnings could fall short of the requirements needed after the expiry of some commodity preferential price agreements with importing countries. National food security is dependent on the continuation of subsistence farming and tapping ocean resources in conjunction with the on-going commercial farming of those crops in which Pacific Islands have a comparative advantage. Increased productivity is crucial for improving agricultural performance through government investment in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension, irrigation and appropriate price incentives. This would also help alleviate poverty for improvement in economic accessibility of food by households. There is also a need to design appropriate disaster risk management programmes to minimize any adverse effects on the food supply.