Volume 12, Number 1, June 2026
Table of Contents
Editorial
Swami Vivekananda: Contribution of Swami Vivekananda to the development of Indian social consciousness and socialist ideas
- Monalisa Bhattacharjee
Vows of Bengal: Psychological Tradition (Banglar Broto) - Madhumita Roy
Adaptation of Charulata from Text to Screen: Narrative Analysis of the Cinematic Creation (Creative Form) of Director Satyajit Ray. - Wrishav Roy and Sudarshan Yadav
Discourse on Masculinity and the Theatre: Experiences of Colonial Bengal in the Second-Half of Nineteenth-Century - Apurba Ghosh
Assessment of Emotional Intelligence of Primary School Teachers in West Bengal - Saheb Kazi and Jakir Hussain Laskar
Durga through the Ages: A Mytho-Cultural Re-examination of her origins and Figuration - Arindam Chaturvedi
Exploring an Untold Chapter: Ramesh Chandra Majumdar’s Contribution to the Journal of the Greater India Society - Debarati Ganguly
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in a Diverse Classroom Landscape: An Overview - Puja Sarkar and Nafisa Begum
Modernisation, Globalisation: Continuity and Challenges of the Patua Community - Dipanjan Dey
Education is a Right, Not a Privilege: The Struggle for Inclusion among Street Children in Hastings, Kolkata (West Bengal) - Hiratan Dey
Pandita Ramabai: A Radical Feminist Reformer in a Patriarchal Society - Paromita Sarkar
Role of Library in Promoting Quality Education in Higher Educational Institution - Gul nasin and Reshma Khatun
The Caste-Class Question: A Review of Intersections and Contradictions - Prabudh Singhand Santosh K. Singh
Thresholds of Pain and Passage: War and Immigration in Lisa See’s shanghai girls - Bula Rani Howlader
Mindfulness Training at Retreat: A Qualitative Study by Practising Vipassanā at Retreat - Mithu Lahiri
Floor Art Motifs as Cultural Time-Capsules: Mythical Narratives and Identity in Floor line Traditions - Varuna Semwal, Shreejit Guha and Deb Kumar Chakrabarti
Weaving Traditions with Resilience: The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Sustaining Community Health in the Indian Sundarbans - Supriya Ghorui, Arun Maity, Sangita Patra, G. Uma, Amrita Dey, Bishwanath Das, Sanchayeeta Misra, Rupak Goswami, Nrisingha Dey, Bhubaneswar Pradhan and Anannya Dhar
A Comparative Study on Home Management Abilities of Working and Non-working women of Kolkata - Bithi Paul and Reshma Khatun
Marriage as an Institution: Gender Fluidity and Homosexuality - Reshmi Chakrabarty
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Swami Vivekananda: Contribution of Swami Vivekananda to the development of Indian social consciousness and socialist ideas
Monalisa Bhattacharjee
Abstract
In the nineteenth century, there was a tremendous development in the field of material science in the West. In this situation, it was necessary to present to the world community the spiritual wonders that had existed in India for thousands of years and to arouse appreciation and respect among Western scholars for Indian spiritual philosophy, while at the same time creating a respectful attitude towards India, the mother of spirituality. With English education, the spirit of material science spread so rapidly that it required extraordinary courage and extraordinary talent to stand against that phenomenon and change its direction. In the Indian context, NarendranathDutta, who later became widely known as Swami Vivekananda, came forward to solve the problems in the social field. Many sociologists compare Vivekananda's thoughts in Hinduism, philosophy and social fields with the socialist philosophy of contemporary Europe. In the field of social thought, Vivekananda's philosophy is considered to have complemented the communist philosophy of the West. However, he did not imitate Western socialism. Rather, he tried to explain socialist thought in the Indian context in a religious and spiritual context, specifically according to the philosophy of Vedanta. The present research article will try to shed light on various aspects of Swami Vivekananda's socialist thought. Along with this, one of the objectives of the present research article is to compare the similarities and differences between Western socialism, especially Marxist socialism, and Vivekananda's socialist thought.
Keywords
Vivekananda, Indian society, Indian philosophy, socialism, Marxist socialism
Back to Table of ContentsVows of Bengal: Psychological Tradition
Madhumita Roy
Abstract
The Bengali word ‘Vrata’ is derived from the root ‘bri’, which means rule or restraint; although different researchers have different opinions on this matter. On One point all the researchers have agreed that, vows are originated in ancient times. On ancient times, people used to observe vows to protect themselves from natural disasters and wild animals. Also, when the flows of creation was disrupted due to intense heat in summer, they used to observe the ‘punnipukurvrata’ Vows of virtual pond’ in the hope of rain, in ancient times, I am saying that even in later times, they used to observe ‘GhentuVrata’ or Vows of Ghentu godto protect themselves from skin diseases causes by scabies. However, these vows are not just religious festivals, but invented due to various societal observations. As the Bengali society was developed from agricultural background, farming and fishing was the main occupations of the citizens. Therefore, women used to pray from Ghentu Thakur the storage capacity of food for hundreds of years. This echo can also be heard in the poetry of the medieval poet Bharat Chandra – ‘May my child live on milk and rice’. The women used to pray to the goddess for the minimum amount of milk and rice for the survival of their children. Latter period, the society and our needs have changed. Therefore, now women no longer pray to Ghentu Thakur for a ball of rice, rather, they pray for a golden ball. It is clear that in modern times, women are more attached to worldly wealth. Present 21st century is basically the age of technology. But even then the vows and the images associated with them have not been completely wiped out. Even today, if any astronaut face trouble to return from the space, he/she reminds their gods and goddesses. Therefore, though the vows have lost their relevance in the present city life but the tradition is still intact among the general folk belief.
Keywords
Primitive society, Animal hunting, Agriculture based society, vows with offerings and sacrifice of natural objects
Back to Table of ContentsAdaptation of Charulata from Text to Screen: Narrative Analysis of the Cinematic Creation (Creative Form) of Director Satyajit Ray
Wrishav Roy & Sudarshan Yadav
Abstract
Many great filmmakers of the world like Robert Bresson, Andrei Tarkovsky, Alfred Hitchcock, Jean-Luc Godard and LucinoVisconti have adapted from literature (Raj, 2021), to make cinematic masterpieces. Both ordinary and classic literary text has been reliable source for film all over the world. Recognising the significance of adaptation, the Academy awards have a special category for ‘Best Adapted Screenplay’. This underlines the significance of films adapted from literary text and reflects the significant differences present in a literary text and its cinematic adaptation. Satyajit Ray can be considered as a Renaissance Man, having many talents in one, is the most prominent name who has consistently adapted short stories, novellas, and novels to the screen. Ray’s versatility led him to direct movies adapted from literature of Rabindranath Tagore and Munshi Premchand to play by Henrik Ibsen. In fact, Ray prominently adapted the work of other literati including his grandfather, Upendra Kishor Raichowdhury’s literary work, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969). He has directed 36 films consisting of 26 feature films, five documentaries and two short films. Among those 26 feature films, 24 films of Ray are adapted from different literary sources. Ray’s Charulata (1964) is one of the most acclaimed films of the director (Bhattacharjee, 2016). In fact, Ray considered this film to be his perfect creation where if given the chance to redirect, he would not make any change in it (Ray, 1992). Charulata (1964) was adapted from Rabindranath Tagore’s novella Nastanirh (1901). In Charulata (1964), set in colonial Calcutta, the director explores the life of modern women from an upper-class family. The original literary text was published during colonial rule and reflects the urban society of that period. This paper addresses the following questions: How does the narrative structure of Nastanirh differ from its cinematic adaptation Charulata? What changes in characterisation does Ray make in adapting the novella into film form? and How does Ray’s adaptation reflect his style of cinematic storytelling? This paper employs a qualitative methodology based on comparative narrative analysis and adaptation theory. This paper seeks toanalyse how Ray, while retaining the emotional foundation of Tagore’s text, reconstructs its narrative and enriches it cinematically through symbolic imagery. This study can also reflect how Ray treats a literary text while adapting it into a film. The film can represent the style of adaptation by Satyajit Ray.
Keywords
Adaptation, Literary Text, Narrative Style, Bengali Cinema, Satyajit Ray
Back to Table of ContentsSecond Half of Nineteenth-Century
Apurba Ghosh
Abstract
The British colonial rulers had introduced the concept of hegemonic masculinity in this country, which was based on aggressive militarism, physical power and hyper-masculine culture. Bengali nationalists almost accepted that notion of masculinity endorsed by the imperialists. The reason of this acceptance was deeply rooted in their anti-colonial struggle. The British imperialists always tried to argue that they were superior as well as muscular, and colonial natives, especially the Bengali men, were effeminates and inferior, and the muscular race had right to rule over the effeminate races. It became, therefore, necessary for the nationalists to pretend and prove their masculinity as much as possible. This passion for masculinity had great impact on various sectors of the society. It even had a serious impact on Bengali theatre in the second half of 19th century. The present article has attempted to show how the development and discourse on hegemonic masculinity occurred in Bengal in the second half of 19th century through the nationalists and what major change had come in Bengali theatre under this discourse of masculinity.
Keywords
Masculinity, Colonial Bengal, Theatre, Nationalists, Nineteenth Century, Female Impersonators
Back to Table of ContentsAssessment of Emotional Intelligence of Primary School Teachers in West Bengal
Saheb Kazi and Jakir Hussain Laskar
Abstract
This study is to assess the emotional intelligence (EI) levels of the primary school teachers in West Bengal through quantitative approach using the standardized questionnaire tool. The learner at primary level being emotional in nature, emotional intelligence plays an important role in class room teaching-learning process for the primary school teachers. In this study, after re-standardisation on locale samples, Teachers’ Emotional Intelligence Inventory (TEII) by Dr. (Mrs.) Shubra Mangal (2004) is used to collect data from 500 primary school teachers, as a sample from the selected districts of West Bengal, India; using stratified random sampling technique. Both descriptive and inferential statistics are used to examine the EI due to gender, location, training and teaching experience variations. Results indicated that most of the teachers possess high degree of emotional intelligence and significant difference exists due to gender, location, training and teaching experience variations. This research suggests the need for EI training and development programs for primary school teachers in West Bengal, India, aimed at fostering a more supportive educational environment.
Keywords
Emotional Intelligence, TEII, Professional development, Academic improvement
Back to Table of ContentsDURGĀ THROUGH THE AGES: A Mytho-cultural Re-examination of her Origins and Figuration
Arindam Chaturvedi
Abstract
Goddess Durgā is considered as one of the principle deities in Hinduism, especially in its Śākta sectarian-system. Her modes of reverence combine the eternal Mother-goddess concept with other typological variants, chiefly those related to war, blood and other minimal aspects of mainstream Hinduism. However, even with her principal position within Śāktism, her origination and processes of genesis lie in obscurity. Moreover, her nonpareil iconographical conventions also defy neat uni-cultural classification, and share traits with other multicultural deity-figures, especially Nanā. In this paper, an attempt shall be made to delve deeper into the origins of Durgā, and link it with her intriguing figuration. Through this, a detailed account of her worship, from earliest of times to Early Medieval Period, shall be given and illustrated through relevant sources. At last, the politico-cultural factors involved in her sectarian resurgence during the latest temporal limit shall also be thoroughly examined.
Keywords
Durgā, Nanā, Ištar, Lion, Devī-māhātmyam, War Goddess, Sogdian, Gaṇeśa-janani
Back to Table of ContentsExploring an Untold Chapter: Ramesh Chandra Majumdar’s Contribution to ‘The Journal of the Greater India Society’
Debarati Ganguly
Abstract
This article tries to analyze the writings of Ramesh Chandra Majumdar published in the Journal of the Greater India Society regarding Early India’s interaction with South-East Asia. These essays form a very intriguing aspect of India’s historiography called ‘Greater India’. This emerged as a significant part of India’s cultural nationalism. Present historiography aimed to focus on India’s cultural contribution to her neighboring countries. The articles written by Ramesh Chandra show how they successfully endorsed such concept of ‘Indianization’ where India’s inclusive impact over the Southeast Asian countries, led them to form a part of ‘Greater India’ or extended India. I have tried to examine limitations and significance of these writings, such as, how far they showed biasness towards Indian impact yet acknowledged local characters. A comprehensive discussion has been attempted to understand the author’s ability to interpret sources and rational analytical framework.
Keywords
Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, India, South-East Asia, Cultural impact, Greater India, Indianization, Cultural nationalism, Indigenous character, Contradictions
Back to Table of ContentsCulturally Responsive Pedagogy in a Diverse Classroom Landscape: An Overview
Puja Sarkar & Nafisa Begum
Abstract
To address and recognize an increasingly diverse classroom, educators are proactively embracing culturally responsive pedagogy as a means to better accommodate this diversity. To impart students meaningful learning experiences, culturally responsive pedagogy is truly evolved as an amalgamation of knowledge and practices. It recognizes and infuses the cultural beliefs, traditions, experiences and cultural references of students in all their learning. This study seeks to create a comprehensive understanding of culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) by defining its core concepts and characteristics. Additionally, it examines the correlation between CRP and multicultural education, and outlines the essential principles and policies necessary for the successful integration of CRP in educational settings. Furthermore, this article underpinned the diverse advantages of culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP), highlighting its positive impacts on students and teachers alike. It delves into the challenges often encountered in institutional settings and provides practical strategies for overcoming these obstacles when integrating CRP into classroom environments.
Keywords
Culturally responsive pedagogy, cultural diversity, multicultural education, teachers’ role
Back to Table of ContentsModernisation, Globalisation: Continuity and Challenges of the Patua Community
Dipanjan Dey
Abstract
In the distant past, ‘Pat’ meant a piece of cloth. And the picture painted on the ‘Pat’ by Patua artists was known as ‘Patachitra’. Although this special art style of the Patuas, an ancient group of artists of Bengal, is traditional, this artist community and their art have gone through many setbacks in the modern era. Especially since the second half of the 20th century, the connection between the Patua artists and their ancestral profession of Patashilpa began to decline. Patashilpa has been affected by various factors of modern-day life. Globalisation is one of them. One of the main focuses of this article is to trace the effects of modernisation and globalisation on Patashilpa. How modern-day culture and the discovery of the latest means of entertainment caused the degeneration of the art form gradually, is to be another point to probe into in this article.
Keywords
Pat, Patua, Patachitra, Globalisation, Modernisation, Hinduism, Brahmanism, Chitrakar, Chakshu Dan Pat
Back to Table of ContentsEducation is a Right, Not a Privilege: The Struggle for Inclusion among Street Children in Hastings, Kolkata (West Bengal)
Hiratan Dey
Abstract
Children are not only the citizens of tomorrow but also the foundation for sustainable national development, making the protection and fulfillment of their rights a core responsibility of any society. Among these rights, access to quality education is paramount, as it empowers children to break cycles of poverty, marginalization, and exclusion. Although India ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1992, children across the country continue to face critical challenges such as child mortality, malnutrition, abuse, child marriage, illiteracy, school dropouts, and systemic inequality. These issues are particularly acute among street-connected children, who live without stable shelter or access to basic amenities. In Kolkata, a city known for its contrasts between extreme affluence and deep poverty, this reality is starkly visible in areas like Hastings, where street-dwelling families live in precarious conditions under the open sky. For children of families, achieving Sustainable Development, the Goal 4 (Quality Education) remains far from reach. The Right to Development is compromised at every level. This research investigates the complex barriers to educational access for street children in Hastings, focusing on both direct obstacles, such as lack of identity documents, economic compulsion to work, and unsafe living conditions and indirect obstacle, namely, systemic issues including gendered vulnerabilities, social stigma, and inadequate execution of government education schemes. Using a phenomenological and participatory research design, the study employed household enumeration surveys, in-depth interviews with children and their families, and consultations with civil society actors and development professionals. This mixed-methods approach enabled a nuanced understanding of the lived experiences and structural exclusions faced by these children. Data were analyzed through both descriptive statistics and thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and critical gaps. The findings demonstrate how fragmented, short-term, and poorly coordinated interventions often fail to address the root causes of educational exclusion and instead contribute to higher dropout rates and the denial of social entitlements. The study concludes with a strong recommendation for the development of integrated, rights-based, and child-centered policy frameworks that are informed by the ground realities of urban homelessness. Such policies must aim not only to provide access to formal education but also to create safe, inclusive environments, where every child, regardless of their socio-economic status, can learn, grow, and thrive with dignity.
Keywords
Education, Street Children, Pavement Dwellers, Sustainable Development Goals
Back to Table of ContentsPandita Ramabai: A Radical Feminist Reformer in a Patriarchal society
Paromita Sarkar
Abstract
India in the nineteenth century under the influence of British colonialism witnessed a number of socio-religious reform movements. Among such movements women’s education gained a lot of prominence. But the fact remained that Indian society was largely patriarchal and the male reformers supported women’s education but only limited to the domestic sphere. Pandita Ramabai on the other hand as a female, educated, social reformer, had a totally different take on women’s education and addressed women’s issues in her own unique way. She reframed and formulated widowhood and womanhood in a way no male reformer would have thought of. She talked to equal rights of women in a male dominated society, a thought which was much ahead of her time.
Keywords
Widowhood, Brahmanical Patriarchy, Child marriage, Education
Back to Table of ContentsRole of Library in Promoting Quality Education in Higher Educational Institutions
Gulnasin & Reshma Khatun
Abstract
Libraries are integral part in promoting Quality Education in Higher Educational Institutions, serving as a dynamic hub for learning, research, and collaboration. This abstract explores the multifaceted contributions of libraries towards enhancing the educational experience in higher education settings. Libraries serve as repositories of knowledge, offering access to diverse collections of print and digital resources that support curriculum objectives and scholarly inquiry. The objectives of the study are to encompass the understanding of multifaceted contributions of libraries to academic success, analysing the impact of library resources and services on student learning outcomes, and identifying best practices for leveraging library resources effectively. Through a comprehensive review of scholarly literature, case studies, and empirical research, libraries' diverse contributions to the educational process are explored. Mixed Method Analysis is utilized to assess the efficacy of library programs in enhancing student engagement and academic achievement. The findings of Quantitative study state the level of student’s satisfactions of their library in their educational institution, the findings of qualitative method, underscore the indispensable role of libraries in fostering a culture of inquiry, critical thinking, and lifelong learning within higher institutions. This study concludes by emphasizing the significance of evidence-based practices in optimizing library services and education, thereby enhancing the quality and relevance of higher education in the digital age.
Keywords
Library, Quality Education, Higher Education
Back to Table of ContentsThe Caste-Class Question: A Review of Intersections and Contradictions
Prabudh Singh & Santosh K. Singh
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to revisit and (re)interrogate the age-old caste and class question and thus delve into a critical inquiry of the existing scholarships concerning theoretical frameworks of caste. Breaking away from colonial (mis) interpretations and the subsequent Dumontian understanding of Indian society, this paper illustrates intricate relationships of caste with land, private property, division of labour and subsequent class relations. By doing so, the paper asserts that the socio-cultural attributes, such as, caste, are determined and shaped over the playfield of class relations.
Keywords
Caste, Class, Dominant Caste, Division of Labour, Brahminical Approach, Marxist Perspective
Back to Table of ContentsThresholds of Pain and Passage: War and Immigration in Lisa See’s Shanghai Girls
Bula Rani Howlader
Abstract
No (normative) history of any Nation tells the complete tale of the Nation, especially the tale behind the facts and beyond the facts. Chinese history is no exception. China, the second largest Asian country, has experienced multifarious social, political and economic upheavals since the early twentieth century. Historically, China was ruled by several imperial dynasties starting from 221 BCE till the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912. Later, it became a republican country. However, the relative peace of the prolonged Qing dynasty was disrupted by the anti-imperialist Boxer Rebellion, which ultimately led to the end of the Chinese monarchy and the birth of the Chinese Republic. This transition, however, ushered in a period of turbulence, including the Chinese Civil War in 1927 and the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. Official Historical records mention these facts, but the atrocities committed against the civilians are not acknowledged in the mainstream historical discourse of both China and Japan. Lisa See, a Chinese-American writer, in her 2009 novel Shanghai Girls, uncovers war as a gendered trauma and immigration as a struggle that constructs fractured yet resilient identities. It examines the Chinese immigrants' experience in America in the light of this narrative against the backdrop of the War.
Keywords
War, atrocity, Chinese, American, immigrant, experience
Back to Table of ContentsMindfulness Training at Retreat: A Qualitative Study by Practising Vipassanā at Retreat
Mithu Lahiri
Abstract
This study examines the significance of vipassanā meditation training at S.N. Goenka’s retreats, focusing on its relevance for non-monastic participants. It explores the structured schedule, curriculum, and environment of the retreat, emphasizing its effectiveness and widespread appeal through the lens of a participatory observer. A key focus is on the practice of the dasapāramī (ten perfections) and their impact on contemporary wellness among attendees. The paper highlights the role of motivation in participant outcomes, revealing that spiritual aspirations significantly enhance engagement and performance, whereas outcomes differ for those motivated by other reasons. Psychological health assessments integrated into the retreat process further contribute to enriching participants' experiences, fostering both subjective and spiritual well-being. The research underscores the transformative potential of mindfulness practices, such as mindful eating, which realign participants’ internal rhythms, promoting holistic health. This work provides a nuanced perspective on the retreat's relevance, significance, and acceptance among participants, offering insights into its role in advancing psychological and spiritual health. It argues that vipassanā meditation effectively addresses contemporary wellness needs while resonating deeply with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Keywords
Vipassanā retreat, Mindfulness Meditation, Dasa Pāramī, Unconscious ego, Mettā Bhāvnā
Back to Table of ContentsFloor Art Motifs as Cultural Time-Capsules: Mythical Narratives and Identity in Floor line Traditions
Varuna Semwal, Shreejit Guha, Debkumar Chakrabarti
Abstract
Floor arts in India serve as a profound reflection of identity for local cultures, intertwining myths and legends with ritualistic practices. With its roots in pre-history and imbibing modernity through value-addition, floor arts exist as a testimony to history and its continued impact in the present. With the motifs travelling along with the demography and cultural exchange, they have come to represent diverse concepts in different cultures, often associated with mythical narratives. This study explores the intricate relationship between floor designs, mythical narratives, and cultural identity, focusing on the "Yamduaar" or "Gate of Yam," a symbol of protection against evil forces, as represented in the BrotoAlpona tradition of Bengal. The tradition of "Bhai-Phonta," where sisters pray for their brothers' long life, encapsulates this connection through a rhyme that refers to Yam's gate, illustrating the protective essence of these rituals. The rhyme emphasizes the act of marking the brother's forehead and metaphorically links it to the divine myth of Goddess Yamuna- who prays for her brother Yam- the Hindu God of Death, thereby reinforcing the cultural significance of the floor art as a ritualistic practice. The gate of Yam has been depicted in the Bengali culture for centuries through the motif of “Yamduaar” employed in the BrotoAlpona tradition. Yamduaar appears and re-appears in various narratives around the Indian subcontinent, creating a strong background narrative to the motif. Furthermore, similar designs are observed across India, such as the "Chakravyuh" in Uttarakhand, which alludes to a military formation from the Mahabharata, showcasing how the same design can embody different identities across cultures. Parallels can be drawn with the motif “Labyrinth” – a popular motif from Greek mythology, widely used in the western world. This study employs content analysis and expert discussions to delve into how these floor designs manifest mythical narratives, ultimately referring to a shared cultural heritage. This exploration not only highlights the aesthetic value of these art forms but also emphasizes their role as a cultural time capsule, preserving the myths and rituals that shape the identities of communities.
Keywords
Yamduaar, BrotoAlpona, Chakravyuh, Labyrinth, Floor line-art, Folk-Narratives
Back to Table of ContentsWeaving Traditions with Resilience: The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Sustaining Community Health in the Indian Sundarbans
Supriya Ghorui, Arun Maity, Sangita Patra, G Uma, Amrita Dey, Bishwanath Das, Sanchayeeta Misra, Rupak Goswami, Nrisingha Dey and Bhubaneswar Pradhan & Anannya Dhar
Abstract
The Indian Sundarbans, the world’s largest contiguous mangrove ecosystem, supports rural communities that depend extensively on indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK) for primary healthcare, given the constraints of formal medical infrastructure. This study documents the ethno-medicinal practices of 15 traditional healers across four villages in the Sandeshkhali-II Block of North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. A total of 57 plant species from 33 families were identified for the treatment of 23 categories of human ailments. Urinary disorders, diarrhea, dysentery, fever, animal bites, and leukorrhea emerged as the most frequently treated conditions. Leaves were the most commonly utilized plant part (34%). Pastes (41.05%) and powders (21.05%) were the predominant preparation methods. Oral administration accounted for 68.42% of treatments. External applications used mainly for skin diseases, wounds, and arthritis. Analysis revealed significant associations between plant families and disease groups, providing insights into potential phytochemical linkages. The study further highlights the socio-cultural importance of local healers, who sustain their practices through community recognition and modest rewards. Findings indicate the urgency of documenting, preserving and scientifically validating ITK, while advocating for policy frameworks that integrate ethnomedicine into formal healthcare systems. Strengthening knowledge transfer and ensuring intellectual property rights are essential for safeguarding this cultural heritage and enhancing health resilience in vulnerable coastal regions.
Keywords
Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, Ethno-medicine, Medicinal Plants, Sundarbans, Primary HealthCare
Back to Table of ContentsA Comparative Study on Home Management Abilities of Working and Non-working women of Kolkata
Bithi Paul & Reshma Khatun
Abstract
From the very beginning, women are involved in house hold activities which is considered the only job they can do. With the passing of time, role of women has been transformed and they are free to choose their education to pursue employment opportunities. Home management is a crucial task of daily life, innovative planning, organizing, and efficiently utilizing resources for the well-being of the family. But ultimate house handling duties are in the hands of women though they are working or not, thus they need to have a good knowledge about different aspects of home management to maintain a balanced life and take appropriate decisions about it. With the advancement of science, technology and modern home facilities make an opportunity to show leadership and managerial skill of women in managing their home. This research paper is regarding different aspects of family life and house hold activities whether they are working or non-working women. Also in this research, the role of education, their financial status, and family status are to be studied on Home management abilities. For this purpose “Home Management Scale” is to be administered on working and non-working women of Kolkata district, total of 100 women. Descriptive statistics and t-test has been used to make comparison between the two groups of working and non-working women. This study will help to understand differences, challenges, and coping mechanisms and also focus on women empowerment through support system.
Keywords
Working and non-working women, Home management abilities, Kolkata
Back to Table of ContentsMarriage as an Institution: Gender Fluidity and Homosexuality
Reshmi Chakraborty
Abstract
Marriage, as a primary institution, faces many challenges and poses many questions due to rapid social transformation. Cohabitation which is popularly known as ‘live-in-relationship’ is becoming common nowadays. The emergence of urbanization, globalization along with industrialization not only makes a sharp change in the economic structure of the society but also generates individualistic thought and liberty among the masses. As a result, a new emerging community ‘LGBTQIAH’ has been coming in force to get their equal right in the existing ‘marriage institution’. Basically gender is socially constructed which is multidimensional and fluid in nature. Society generates many ideas about the notion of gender which is crystallized in human mind and soul through socialization. The idea of sexuality is still treated as a taboo to discuss in public sphere. The Supreme Court of India de-criminalized homosexuality in the year 2018. But till now, heterosexual marriage is accepted but homosexuality is stigmatized in the society. They have to struggle in their everyday life to access their fundamental rights along with other social and legal recognition. In these circumstances, the present paper tries to analyze the concept of gender, sexuality and marriage theoretically through sociological and anthropological understandings.
Keywords
Gender, Sex, Homosexuality, Marriage, LGBTQIAH+
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