The book traces the changing concepts and contours of social welfare and social work practice in India from the Vedic times to the present day. Divided into two parts, the first part begins with a theoretical framework in a sociological perspective and then proceeds to trace the historical development of social policy and social welfare in India until the end of the colonial rule. Part two of the book begins with the evolution of social welfare in India since independence. It then proceeds to discuss the quest for professional status and the practice of social work in a cultural perspective. It is also a critique of contemporary social work practice in India with suggestions for a new approach from a developmental perspective. The treatment is authoritative and perhaps the first book to study social work and social welfare in a cross-cultural perspective drawing upon the Indian history, tradition practice. It is well annotated with a comprehensive bibliography.