History bears testimony to the fact that the concept of civil society has come to mean different things to different people at different points of time. In fact, there is a great divergence of opinion on the subject among social scientists in the West as well as in India. This paper takes a look at the conceptual moorings of civil society in prominent ideas and interpretations put forward by classical thinkers of the Western countries. It also focuses on what civil society has meant in the Indian context in terms of concept, nature of activities undertaken, and above all, relationship with the State.
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