The, essential elements of community are described below:
i) Group of people:
Community is a group of human beings. It is not possible to form a community without a group of men and women.
ii) Definite locality:
ADVERTIsem*nTS:
A community always occupies a definite geographical area. Locality is the physical .basis of community. Without a definite locality, social relations between human beings cannot be established and the ‘we’ feeling cannot evolve.
iii) Community Sentiment:
Community sentiment means a feeling of belonging together. It is “we feeling” among the members. The members of a community speak the same language, conform to the same mores, posses the same sentiment, and have the same attitudes.
iv) Like ness:
ADVERTIsem*nTS:
The people in a community share a common way of life. Their customs, traditions, mores, language etc. are similar.
v) Permanency:
A community is not temporary like a crowd or a mob. It is relatively stable. It includes a permanent life in a definite place.
vi) Neutrality:
ADVERTIsem*nTS:
Communities are not deliberately created. They are not made by planned efforts. An individual is born in a community. It has a natural growth of its own.
vii) A particular Name:
Every community has some particular name. In the words of Lumley, “It points identity, it indicates reality, it points out individuality, it often describes personality and each community is something of a personality “.
viii) Size:
ADVERTIsem*nTS:
A community may be big or small. A small community may be included in a wider community. For example, a city and a village may be included in a district. District may enclose small communities-like villages, towns, tribes etc.
ix) Wider ends:
People in community share several common interests. They associate not for the fulfillment of a particular end. The ends of a community are wider. People work together to fulfill some common interests.
x) Regulation of Relations:
ADVERTIsem*nTS:
Every Community in course of time develops a system of traditions, customs, and morals.
Practices, some rules and regulations to regulate the relations of its members. People in a community come together to meet the primary needs through a common set of institutions and organisations.
