Ghurye's magnum opus, Caste and Race in India (1932), stands as a monumental work in Indian sociology. In it, he rigorously analyzed the institution of caste, rejecting purely biological or economic determinisms in favor of a multidimensional structural formulation.
- Six Salient Features of Caste: Ghurye famously delineated six structural characteristics of the Hindu caste system: (1) Segmental division of society, (2) Hierarchy, (3) Civil and religious disabilities and privileges of different sections, (4) Restrictions on feeding and social intercourse, (5) Lack of unrestricted choice of occupation, and (6) Restrictions on marriage (endogamy).
- Tribal Integration: In The Aborigines—So-Called—and Their Future (1943), Ghurye formulated the concept of 'backward Hindus', arguing that tribes were essentially backward sections of the Hindu population undergoing a slow process of assimilation, critiquing Verrier Elwin's 'national park' isolationist policy for tribes.
- Civilizational Synthesis: In works like Indian Sadhus (1953) and Gods and Men (1962), Ghurye explored cultural integration and religious institutions as unifying threads across diverse Indian communities.