Journal of Native India & Diversity Studies
The Journal of Native India & Diversity Studies (PISSN: 3048-8710) is a premier, peer-reviewed scholarly publication dedicated to promoting the understanding and preservation of indigenous cultures and the vast diversity within India. Published by the Academy of Social Sciences, the journal is supported by an esteemed editorial board that includes former vice chancellors and senior professors from prestigious institutions. Our journal serves as a platform for academics, researchers, and policymakers to engage with pressing issues related to India's indigenous communities, advocating for their rights and ensuring their cultural and historical contributions are recognized.
Socio-economic Perspective of Fish Marketing in India
This memorial lecture, delivered in honour of Prof. G. Parthasarathy, reflects on fish marketing in India through a socio-economic lens, highlighting its neglected status within agricultural marketing discourse. While fisheries has grown rapidly and contributes significantly to India’s Gross Value Added, fish marketing remains shaped by structural vulnerabilities arising from perishability, limited storage, price instability, and the dominance of informal marketing arrangements. India ranks as the world’s second-largest fish producer, with inland fisheries contributing nearly three-fourths of total output. Yet, the livelihoods of fisherfolk particularly traditional communities remain insecure and marginalized. The lecture underscores that fish demand in India is not uniform but is strongly influenced by geography, food culture, caste practices, and consumption habits. In several regions, fish functions not merely as a commodity but as a staple embedded in identity and daily life. The marketing chain is typically layered, involving fishermen at landing centres, local auctioneers, wholesalers, and vendors, resulting in a major disparity between consumer price and fisher income. Traditional fishermen, using low-capital gear, are increasingly disadvantaged compared to mechanized operators and corporate aquaculture players. A key emphasis is placed on the social marginalization of fishing communities and the especially precarious position of fisherwomen vendors, who face “double marginalization” due to both gender and occupational stigma. The lecture argues that market modernization and policy frameworks have not adequately addressed fish marketing concerns, despite recent reforms in agricultural marketing. It concludes by advocating improved market infrastructure, transparent licensing, cooperatives/SHGs for fisherwomen, regulation of unfair trade practices, and targeted policies to ensure equity, dignity, and sustainability in fish marketing systems.
Strengthening Democratic Rights: A Policy Analysis of Common Land Rights for Scheduled Castes in Punjab
While India is the biggest democracy of the world, there is little attention paid to socio-economic inequalities especially to lower caste and untouchable people, as they are excluded in every sphere of life from antiquity to present. In political sphere, there is equality, one man, one vote, one vote and one value but in socio-economic life, there are still inequalities. There is no meaning of the right to vote for the people of downtrodden, untouchable who are still struggling for their basic legal land rights. According to Census of India 2011 Punjab has highest percentage of Scheduled Castes population in India (31.94%) but they own only 3.20 percent of agricultural land. Majority of SC population (73.33%) is living in rural Punjab but very few (6.02%) of them are cultivators. Because of landlessness scheduled caste people of Punjab started struggle to get their share in common panchayati lands. Actually government of Punjab has passed Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 which provided 1/3 part of Panchayati Shamlat land is reserved for scheduled castes in Punjab. But in practice scheduled caste people are denied to access this common land by upper caste (Jatt Sikh) people which results a conflicts between these two communities of Punjab. Although everyone has equal rights to access these common land resources but Indian social set up prohibit some sections of the people from the access to commons just because of the caste they belong. The present paper is focused on economic inequalities in Indian democracy especially unequal land rights and unequal access on common lands in Punjab which results caste conflicts over use and access of common land
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Native India & Diversity Studies
Shaping History: Colonial India and the development of Military Historiography
Writing history in general, and military historiography in particular, is not new in India; however, its modern form took shape with the consolidation of British rule, which introduced structured approaches to documenting and interpreting military affairs. This research study examines the evolution of military historiography in colonial India, offering a comprehensive overview from the eighteenth to the mid-twentieth century. It traces how narratives of warfare, armies, and state power developed during this period, highlighting the key phases, major contributors, and thematic shifts that shaped the discipline under colonial influence. The study also analyses how British administrators, military officials, and early Indian scholars framed military history to serve administrative, strategic, and intellectual purposes. By engaging with the available historical writings—the research identifies the major trends, methodological changes, and intellectual currents that influenced the writing of military history in colonial India. Through this examination, the study sheds light on how military historiography evolved as both a scholarly field and a reflection of the political and ideological priorities of the time.
Context, Intention and Exemption The Role of Anāpatti in the Therāvada Vinaya
This paper examines the principle of anāpatti (no offence) in the Vinaya Piṭaka, highlighting how early Buddhist monastic law addresses conditions under which a rule is not considered violated. Rather than treating the rules as absolute commands, the Vinaya evaluates conduct through cetanā (intention), knowledge, circumstance, and the practical needs of the community. Through close textual analysis of the Pārājika, Saṅghādisesa, and Nissaggiya Pācittiya sections of the Vinaya Piṭaka, and insights from commentarial interpretations such as Buddhaghosa’s Samantapāsādikā, the study identifies the main grounds for exemption such as lack of intention, ignorance, necessity, and procedural limitations and explores how these reflect the saṅgha’s understanding of ethical responsibility. The anāpatti clauses demonstrate that early Buddhist discipline was flexible and compassionate, balancing strict observance with awareness of human fallibility. This analysis presents the Vinaya not only as a set of rules but as a coherent system in which intention, context, and communal welfare shape the determination of no offence, offering insights into the ethical and institutional reasoning of the early Saṅgha.
Ethnicization of the Rajbangsi Community in West Bengal, India
This article traces the historical path of ethnicization of the Rajbangsi people of North Bengal from a caste-based reform movement to an ethnically aware political movement. Grounded in the theoretical model of ethnicization and Sanskritization, the research investigates how colonial categorization, ritual reinterpretation and post-colonial marginalization conditioned the Rajbangsi identity. The twentieth century Kshatriyaization movement led by Thakur Panchanan Barma was a conscious attempt at reconstituting identity through religious reform, cultural revivalism and institutional organization. Social assertion gradually developed into political mobilization, evident in the Scheduled Caste movements, the Kamatapur demand and the Greater Cooch Behar Movement-each with changing strategies of asserting legitimacy, autonomy and development within the Indian federal structure. By a qualitative historical approach, the essays argues that Rajbangsi experience is representing the cyclical process of assertion, marginalization and re-ethnicization as the defining characteristic of subaltern mobilization in eastern India. It also represents how ritual reform, caste mobility and regional nationalism came together to make a marginal group an engaged political constituency, which has far-reaching implications for grasping ethnicity, caste politics and regionalism in contemporary India.
Decolonising Environmental Law through Legal Pluralism: Indigenous Tribal Knowledge Practices and the Quest for Environmental Justice in India
The tribal community in India and worldwide is recognised and visualised in their unique social and cultural distinctiveness and conducive cultural practices in tune with environmental protection, fulfilling the basic needs of tribal peoples from nature. This aspect is entirely and sharply distinct from the cultural supremacist and economic ideologies that terms social-cultural practices and lifestyle of tribal people as dirty, rustic, undeveloped, illiterate, uneducated, lawbreakers, and by birth criminals, and is attuned with supremacy and hegemony of a development and cultural ideology which promotes its economic interests through formal and unitary law, modernization and urbanization inspired narrative, and discouraging and subjecting the parallel indigenous customary cultural practices as antagonistic and anti-development. The universalist and unitary logic constantly threatens the diverse and distinct customs and practices that differ from the dominant ideology and worldview. The Academic writing and reports from all corners of the world show the real motive of development narratives and its subsequent effects on environmental degradation, unsustainable exploitation of ecological resources, deprivation and displacement of indigenous tribal communities from their homeland, poverty, and unemployment, which are seriously affecting the life possibilities of tribal community enshrined and protected under Article 21 of the Constitution of India (OXFAM Report 2024). This paper will use legal pluralism as a doctrinal research method and framework to examine the prospect of Tribal Indigenous Knowledge Practices (ITKP), in distinction to global and dominant narrative, and environmental practices, as an alternative, complementary, and viable model of law and legal practices for adequate protection of the environment and ecological resources for all.
Rewriting Naga Culture: A New Historical Study of Temsula Ao’s Poetry
Temsula Ao, a writer of the Indian state of Nagaland, is renowned not only for her short stories and novels but also for her exceptional poetic work. Her poems serve as a repository of Naga culture and society, providing historical insights into the traditions, religions, superstitions, and practices of the Naga community that were once part of their past. Ao's writings sparked significant change and renewed interest in the preservation of the Naga's old traditions and oral culture. According to the principles of Cultural Poetics, also known as New Historicism, literary works are deeply embedded in social and political discourse. To fully comprehend their meaning, these texts must be interpreted from social, cultural, and historical perspectives. Greenblatt posits that art and society mutually influence each other, with every work of art being shaped by a specific cultural milieu. This study aims to analyse Temsula Ao's poems as an important historical resource that offers a “thick description” of the Naga community in the light of “Cultural Poetics” theory.
Political Socialization of College Students in India: A Comprehensive Systematic Review
Political socialization is how individuals build their political attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. This is a crucial phenomenon in democratic societies. This systematic review aims to assess how Indian college students are socialized politically. Since India is a culturally, linguistically, and politically diversified country, assessing this process at the college level, when all the most important political identities take form, becomes vital. Such influences as family, peer groups, educational institutions, and media are assessed and found to play their roles in shaping engagement with politics. The review maintains that universities offer an environment that subjects students to significant amounts of political discourse and civic engagement, in the opinion of Thomsen & Olsen (2016), which is fueled by educational spaces that encourage adequate political awareness. Additionally, electronic media changes everything in the process. As Gorodova & Pachina (2023) noted, digital ecosystems have increasingly become indispensable to political socialization: political debates and the lives of public figures are streamed through social networks, unfolding directly on the students' screens. This review provides an integrated analysis of the varied influences bearing on socialization into politics of college Indian students. Along with other agents of socialization, special focus is put on the role of digital media in forming the political logic of students. However, such knowledge is imperative for bringing about higher political activity and participatory democracy among the younger population in India.
Yoga Beyond Asanas: Reclaiming Bharat's Philosophical Blueprint for Rashtra Nirman and Global Harmony
In the current era, which is marked by global challenges like mental health disorders, climate change, and technological advancements, Yoga is becoming more and more popular worldwide not only as a traditional practice but also as a philosophical path that bridges the gap between rational enquiry, spiritual awakening, and environmentally conscious living. Yoga is deeply rooted in Bharat's civilisational ideals and is codified in our sacred spiritual granthas. The Yoga Sutra of Maharishi Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita of Maharishi Vedvyas, the Yoga Vashishtha of Maharishi Valmiki, and the Upanishads offer a synergistic framework of inner soul coherence with outward conduct. The Yoga Sutra defines it as "Yogas Chitta Vrittii Nirodaha" which means that Yoga is nothing but limiting the Chitta(inner consciousness) from various Vrittis(manifesting in several ways). This process itself is finding the very reason of our existence in this materialistic world.The Bhagvad Geeta defines it as "Yogaha Karmasu Kausalam" which means Yoga is executing responsibilities with precision thereby aligning Prayas(effort) with Pragya(inner wisdom) and Chetna(consciousness).The core idea in all elaborations of Yoga is liberation from agony and affliction by which one can experience the core in themselves. By incorporating Yoga into governance frameworks-for example, by establishing the Ministry of AYUSH, the Fit India Campaign, and the annual International Day of Yoga celebration-Bharat highlights a global leadership paradigm that combines traditional knowledge with modern statecraft. The paper further positions Yoga as an instrument of soft power and cultural diplomacy, capable of fostering global cooperation and ethical governance in geopolitics. From this perspective, Yoga evolves as a civilisational gift from Bharat to the world; a direction toward Aatmabodh (self-realization), Niyamita Jeevan (disciplined living), Samrashta (social harmony) and Lokmangal (collective well-being) as a foundation for Rashtra Nirmaan(national building) .
Excerpts of Chief Guest speech delivered at 31st Annual conference of BAMCEF held at Jaipur during 20-22 December 2014 is reproduced with the permission of the author for its historical importance.
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Native India & Diversity Studies
Good Governance At The Grassroots: A Comparative Study of Youth Participation in Gram Panchayat And Village Committee in Tripura
The grassroot political institutions provide the foundation of grassroot democracy in India. They provide an element of direct democracy where people can be involved in face to face relationship and direct communication with leadership and administration. Hence, understanding the issue of governance at the grassroot democratic institutions becomes pertinent. Ensuring good governance is equally important for better performance of democratic institution including the grassroot institutions like Gram Panchayats (GPs) in India. India is also a country with highest number of youth population. The role of youth is important for strengthening the democratic institutions and ensuring good governance. The power of the youth, if harnessed properly, can set a society on the right path of change. Based on the primary and secondary data, the paper examines the importance of good governance and the role of the youth in ensuring good governance at the GPs and the Village Committee (VC), the two sets of grassroot political institutions in Tripura. It tries to address the issues and challenges of good governance at GPS and VCs. The study finds that most of the essential requirements of good governance are absent in the process of functioning of both GPs and VCs in Tripura. The study also observes that the role of the youth in this regard is not satisfactory. In most cases, they either lack enthusiasm or have limited interests in the affairs of rural administration performed by these local bodies. At last, the paper tries to explore the policy options for better performance of GPs and VCs in Tripura with increasing innovative role of youth.
Beyond Identity: Legal Order, Social Constructs, and Tribal Women’s Role in Governance in India through the Intersectionality Framework
A nation cannot claim a dignified place in the community of nations without the substantive, practical, and meaningful participation of its most marginalised groups—particularly tribal women. As Amartya Sen aptly observes, “development is freedom,” yet such freedom remains incomplete when entire sections of society are excluded from governance and decision-making (Sen, 1999). Therefore, the discourse on development and justice must be critically examined from a bottom-up perspective, foregrounding those whose voices have historically been silenced. In the Indian context, the nation’s developmental trajectory and its prospects are inextricably linked to locating the role of tribal women within governance structures, and to understanding how their gendered roles and identities are constructed through both legal orders and social constructs. This paper argues that tribal women’s identities are shaped not merely by biological distinctions but by a complex interplay of historical, social, legal, cultural, and geographical factors. As legal scholar Sally Engle Merry reminds us, “law is not simply imposed from above but is negotiated, reinterpreted, and redefined in everyday life” (Merry, 1992), highlighting the dynamic ways tribal women navigate governance. Any genuine attempt to theorise their active and transformative role requires an in-depth exploration of these intersecting factors. To achieve this, the paper adopts an intersectionality framework—a concept introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw, who defines it as the recognition of “the interconnected nature of social categorisations such as race, class, and gender” that produce “overlapping and interdependent systems of disadvantage” (Crenshaw, 1989). This lens enables a nuanced analysis of how multiple identities and structural forces shape the lived realities of tribal women, and why their constructive participation is indispensable for inclusive governance and equitable development in 21st-century India. The framework offers an evaluative scope broad enough to examine the layered dimensions of tribal women’s roles, highlighting the urgency of dismantling systemic barriers that impede their agency.
State Patronage By The British Raj Grants in Aid or Political Pensions In Ludhiana District
The tradition of giving grants and patronage has existed in India since ancient times. These grants were addressed by different names in different periods or regions. The word "Patronage" refers to the support, protection, or encouragement a patron gives to a person, cause, or institution. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, patronage largely meant the support or favour provided by rulers to those who held influence with the general population and helped them in various ways to maintain their popularity in return. In the Punjab region, the dharmarth grants constituted a significant part of the state's patronage under the rulers. Some state patronages or grants entailed certain responsibilities, too, in return. The grants used to be cancelled if the recipient of the grants or patronage failed to fulfil these responsibilities properly. The present paper explores the grants or pensions given by the British Government in the Ludhiana District to different persons or Institutions.
Living Heritage in Urban Space and Cultural Representation of Kurukshetra: A Geographical Study of Gita Mahotsav
The annual celebration of Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra serves as a compelling case to examine how sacred heritage is enacted, spatially reimagined, and culturally represented within a contemporary urban milieu. This study investigates the spatial-cultural dynamics of the festival through the lens of cultural geography, with a particular focus on the interplay between living heritage, public space, and the symbolic imagination of Kurukshetra. Drawing on primary data, comprising field observations, interviews with residents, performers, and visitors, along with spatial mapping of festival zones, this research analyses how the Mahotsav reconfigures the city into a ritualized geography. Kurukshetra, a mytho-historic city, is transformed into a performative stage where sacred narratives and political discourses converge through visual iconography, religious rituals, and state-sponsored performances. The findings reveal a multilayered urban landscape wherein devotion, commerce, tourism, and political symbolism intersect, underscoring the complexities of representing heritage in public space. This paper contributes to broader scholarly conversations on urban religiosity, geographies of belief, and the cultural politics of spatial representation.
Sacred Groves as Nodes of Linkage Sustainability: Integrating Ecological, Cultural, And Social Dimensions
This theoretical perspective dwells upon the sacred groves, with a focus on India, and an aim to identify key discussion points, propose a conceptual model on their sustainability role in society/environment, and highlight future research directions. Sacred groves are patches of forest preserved by local communities. This is in part due to their deep rooted spiritual, cultural and ecological significance to these communities. They embody a comprehensive relationship based on reciprocal ethics between humans and nature and are living proof between humans and nature. And they serve as biodiversity hotspots, sacred groves are home to rare and endemic species and support the ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, soil erosion prevention, and water regulation. Throughout India, sacred groves are managed with traditional rules and taboos which strongly prohibit the exploitation and ensure their integrity. The continued existence of sacred groves amid rapid urbanization and environmental degradation highlights the lasting integrity of cultural ecological importance and community-based forest protection. Furthermore, they also demonstrate the integration of spiritual reverence and ecological stewardship, showcasing a model for forest sustainability. The pivotal role of sacred groves in contemporary forest sustainability is highlighted and therein the importance of preserving natural sites under modern development pressures with ecological and cultural integrity.
Sufism And Folk-songs: A Case Study of Undivided Goalpara District of Assam
The convergence of Sufism and folk-songs in different places provides a captivating insight into the social, religious, and creative dynamics of a community. The undivided Goalpara district of Assam, which is renowned for its abundant cultural legacy, presents an appealing study in this context. Sufism likely interacted with the indigenous folk traditions in the undivided Goalpara area, both exerting and receiving reciprocal influence. The incorporation of Sufi-inspired lyrics into traditional folk melodies may have resulted in the creation of musical compositions that deeply connected with the native people’s spiritual and cultural sensibilities. These songs would have been a way for the community to come together and express their spirituality, in addition to being a source of amusement. The examination of the correlation between Sufism and folk songs in the original Goalpara region can yield significant scholarly perspectives on the intricacies of cultural exchange and assimilation. In addition, such a study can aid in the preservation and promotion of these rich cultural traditions, ensuring their continued viability in the face of industrialization and globalization.
Language Vitality And Endangerment: A Case Study of Mog Language of Tripura
Language endangerment is a common phenomenon in Today’s fast pacing world. Numerous pertinent details on endangered languages can be found in Ethnologue. A language dies when the speaker of that particular language dies 1 . In this paper, we are trying to discuss the current scenario of Mog language, a Tibeto-Burman language, largely spoken in the small north-eastern state of Tripura and its current status of Endangerment. According to the 2011 census, the total population of the tribe is approximately 37893. Geographically the tribe resides in the South Tripura District, mainly in Sabroom, Santirbazaar and Hrishyamukh subdivision. This paper will also highlight the attitude of the native speakers regarding their language and the suggestions to save the language from further endangerment.
Multiculturalism and Religious Syncretism in Kerala through Trade : A Historical Analysis
This study evaluates the impact of trade and the advent of diverse religious traditions, especially heterodox religions and Semitic faiths like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, on cultural diversity and religious syncretism of Kerala. It examines how these religions intersected with indigenous beliefs, resulting in novel hybrid forms of practice and cultural identities. Trade, colonialism, modern education, the role of social reformers, and social mobility are all examined in relation to multiculturalism and religious syncretism in Kerala. The study concludes by examining the possible reasons for multiculturalism and religious syncretism in Kerala.
‘Feminine’ in Subaltern: Maliniyas of Salhesh Gatha
Folk narratives are cultural repositories of societal values and meanings. This paper examines the changing meanings of feminine and femineity for the subalterns in Mithila region of Bihar. It is based on a study of three texts with Raja Salhesh as the central character. These texts mark critical junctures in the history of the region in relation to the nation and its political vibrations. The paper attempts to analyse these disparate texts as reflective of the transformations in female agency and sexuality in cultural discourse centred around dalits. The questions of representation of the ‘other’- the ‘colonial lens’, ‘caste-glance’ as well as the ‘male-gaze’ are important intersectional pivots of analysis.
Rainbow in The Classroom: Addressing LGBTQ+ Issues in Indian Schools And Colleges
This study explores the social acceptance and challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in India, focusing on the educational context. Despite the decriminalization of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which marked a significant milestone for LGBTQIA+ rights, societal acceptance remains limited. This research investigates the awareness, attitudes, and perceptions of teacher trainees towards LGBTQIA+ issues, examining how educational institutions can become more inclusive. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study collected quantitative and qualitative data from B.Ed. students across various institutions. Findings indicate that while legal changes have sparked dialogue, deep-rooted stigma, lack of proper sensitization, and limited curriculum representation hinder true inclusion. The research highlights a gap between formal recognition and lived experiences, suggesting that inclusive education must address prejudices embedded in societal and institutional frameworks. Recommendations include integrating gender and sexuality education into teacher training programs, fostering open discussions, and creating safe spaces within campuses. The study calls for a transformative approach in teacher education to empower future educators to challenge discriminatory practices and support diversity. It emphasizes that social justice and equality in education can only be achieved when educators themselves are sensitized and inclusive in their outlook.
Reclaiming Dignity: The Challenge of Uplifting Kerala’s Marginalized Muslim Communities
Kerala, often regarded as a model state for socio-economic development in India, is home to a diverse Muslim population that includes marginalized communities such as the Ossan, Pusalan, and Thangals. Despite the state's progress in education, health, and gender equality, these communities continue to face socio-economic and political exclusion. This essay explores their historical marginalization, shaped by caste-like structures, colonial policies, and systemic discrimination. It examines the impact of post-independence land reforms, educational movements, and political representation on their socio-economic status. Furthermore, the essay highlights the role of grassroots movements and NGOs in mobilizing and empowering these communities, focusing on initiatives related to education, economic inclusion, and social justice. Through an analysis of these efforts, this study underscores the ongoing challenges and the need for targeted interventions to achieve true equity and inclusion for marginalized Muslim communities in Kerala.
Well-Being Issues Of Persons With Mental Illness: Some Case Studies In Mizoram
One of the major contributors of today’s global burden of diseases is disability associated with mental illness. There are various types of disabilities in which mental illness makes up a sizeable chunk. The issues faced within the families of persons with mental illness is increased by the burden exerted upon them by society. The study is a qualitative study in which case study method is used to gather relevant data. The assessment of disability needs to be multidisciplinary and comprehensive and in this sociological study of people with mental illness, two case studies are highlighted which point to the well-being issues that they currently face in society as well as within their own family circle. One of these cases are from Aizawl district and one from Lunglei district, Mizoram. The in-depth study covers the coping mechanisms used by their family members to help their mentally ill family members amidst difficulties. It also studies disability from the point of different models of disability. It emphasises that all the participants did not have access to any professional help to cope with their problems and instead rely solely on the limited help and support of their own family members.
Cultural Ecology and Conservation: Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Jharkhand
The indigenous communities of Jharkhand, including the Santhal, Munda, Ho, and Oraon, have developed intricate cultural traditions deeply rooted in ecological wisdom. Their practices, such as sacred grove conservation, seasonal festivals, sustainable agriculture, and water management techniques, reflect a profound understanding of environmental sustainability. These traditions, embedded in oral narratives, myths, and rituals, have historically played a crucial role in preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance. However, rapid modernization, deforestation, mining, and industrial expansion have led to significant disruptions in traditional knowledge transmission, threatening both cultural identity and environmental stability. This paper explores the embedded knowledge within the cultural and ecological practices of Jharkhand’s indigenous communities, emphasizing how their rituals, kinship structures, and folklore reinforce sustainable living. It highlights the role of Indigenous cosmology in shaping resource management strategies, including community-led conservation of forests and water bodies. Furthermore, it examines the impact of external forces such as urbanization, economic transitions, and climate change on traditional knowledge systems, leading to the erosion of long-standing ecological practices. The study emphasizes the need for collaboration between Indigenous communities, researchers, and policymakers to safeguard and revitalize these sustainable traditions.
The Press and the Nation: A study on the Growth of the Indian National Consciousness
Newspapers played a crucial role during the Indian freedom movement by effectively arousing the sentiments of the people and mobilizing them against British misrule. The press not only created awareness about political and social issues but also facilitated the spread of ideas for a representative government among the public. Furthermore, it heightened the people's understanding of their own circumstances in India. The struggle for press freedom against the British government was integral to the national movement, demonstrating the significance of the press as a powerful tool for communication during that time.
The Contribution of Karnataka's Traditional Knowledge to Contemporary Sustainable Practices: The Case of Soligas
Traditional knowledge has been increasingly recognized as an invaluable resource for sustainable development, particularly in regions with a rich cultural heritage. Karnataka, a state in southern India, exemplifies this intersection of culture and ecology, as it is home to diverse indigenous communities whose traditional knowledge systems significantly contribute to environmental conservation and sustainable practices. Among these communities, the Soligas stand out for their holistic understanding of the forest ecosystem, sustainable livelihoods, and conservation ethics. This study delves into the role of traditional knowledge in modern sustainable practices, using the Soligas as a case study to highlight their contributions and challenges. Residing in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve, the Soligas practice rotational harvesting, sustainable agriculture, and the use of medicinal plants-all rooted in an intricate knowledge of their environment. These practices align with contemporary sustainability paradigms, such as resource efficiency, ecological resilience, and biodiversity conservation. However, the community faces challenges, including policy restrictions, knowledge erosion, and socio-economic pressures, which threaten the continuity of their traditions. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this research integrates focus group discussions, and secondary data analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the Soliga’s traditional practices can inform and enhance modern sustainability initiatives. The findings underscore the critical need to integrate indigenous knowledge into policy frameworks and conservation strategies, ensuring both ecological integrity and cultural survival. By bridging traditional wisdom and modern methodologies, this study contributes to the discourse on sustainable development in the context of indigenous communities and their invaluable knowledge systems.
A STUDY ON EMPLOYEES' OPINION TOWARDS GREEN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN INFOSYS - AT BANGALORE
The Green HRM is necessary in the current 21st Century on a daily basis, it is reported that because of the excess consumption of natural resources as a raw material by the industries and other commercial organization there is tremendous pressure on the natural resources of planet Earth. The situation is so alarming that the scientist and the environmentalist are discussing the issues of ecological imbalances and the bio-diversity. In every International Conference on environment, the nations are discussing about the carbon credits, global warming and the changes in the climate resulting into earthquakes, frequent floods and vanishing of certain species and animals. In the environmental literature, the concept of green management for sustainable development has various definitions; all of which generally, seek to explain the need for balance between industrial growth for wealth creation and safeguarding the natural environment so that the future generations may thrive (Daily & Huang, 2001). Nevertheless, the issue of how an individual organization or entire society achieves sustainability from the green management movement is still debatable and unclear. Thus, research on how business may structure their facilities to enhance for sustainability through green management initiatives seems paramount.
STRENGTHENING LOCAL SELF-GOVERNANCE IN TRIBAL AREAS THROUGH ETHNO-DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE IN TRIPURA, NORTH-EAST INDIA
Local self-government is an inherent constitutional mechanism that aims to foster democracy at the grassroots level as part of the decentralization process (Bywalec, 2022; Choudhury &Gupta, 2016). This mechanism involves a significant socio-political process and can transform the socio-economic and political aspirations of marginalized communities in rural villages (Akhup & Tripura (2022). This institutional arrangement is particularly crucial for marginalized tribal communities, addressing their historically long-standing exploitation, deprivation, and socio-economic challenges; it ensures direct participation and involvement of people in the political system, allowing them to exercise their political agency (Choudhury & Gupta, 2016). With this special provision, the tribal people can make decisions on matters affecting their lives and development. Akhup & Tripura(2022)argued that true development can only arise from the people themselves when they possess agency and capacity to work effectively for their own betterment.
BREAKING STEREOTYPES AND STIGMA THROUGH ASSISTIVE DEVICES: A STUDY AMONG WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES IN MIZORAM
Since time immemorial, disability has been linked with various hardships and problems. According to World Health Organization (2001), disability arises due to the combination of a person’s health related issues with both the personal, as well as environmental factors in society, which gave birth to a series of social barriers. These barriers arise due to lower socio-economic conditions, races, disability and gender which further denied meaningful and active participation of persons with disabilities in society (Noel et al., 2021). Social barriers, in this regard, include the barriers faced in the areas of families, education and employment sections. The exclusion and barriers faced in these areas further increased the stigma towards them as they are constantly perceived as “incapable and unfit” for all spheres of life. The stigma directed towards persons with disabilities leads to their discrimination and inequality and thus, take away their value. This vicious process strips them of their human values which gave them the status of “second class citizens.”
ARCHETYPES OF SACRIFICE AND RESILIENCE: UNVEILING MEMORIALS AND MONUMENTS HONOURING MARTYRS OF PEASANT REVOLTS
The Indian independence movement witnessed many peasant revolts, which played an important role in shaping the social and political aspects of the region. The memorials are often erected to remind people about their struggles and sacrifices faced by the peasant community in their fight against injustice. The contemporary English dictionary states that "Martyrs" indicates a person who sacrifices their life for great value or principle. Joyce Apsel stated that "Martyr" describes individuals targeted by racism and killed fighting for racial equality" (Joyce Apsel 2019:109). The martyrs of the peasant revolts indicate the individuals who fought against the inequalities and unethical rules that oppressed the poorer people of the region. Various memorials and monuments are constructed across different regions to commemorate the sacrifices of the martyrs. The general English dictionary defines monuments and memorials as one that honors a person who has died or serves as a reminder of an event in which many died. The most common memorials include statues, parks, sculptures, homes, fountains, etc. These memorials serve as a tribute to the martyrs and act as a collective memory.
PEOPLE'S INVOLVEMENT IN FOREST GOVERNANCE IN TRIPURA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE FOREST RIGHTS ACT, 2006
According to the UN Factsheet Forests for People–2011, over 1.6 billion people are dependent on forests for livelihoods. The forest policy is likely to affect the livelihood of people. Therefore, people’s involvement in forest governance is sine-qua-non to study its success and failure. Northeast India is home to different forest dwelling tribal communities. More than half of this region is covered with forests and people who live in the forests are mainly from tribal communities. The tribal communities of Tripura, the second smallest state in the region, also mostly depend on forest resources to meet their daily essential requirements such as food, fuel, and medicines for survival. Many of their social ceremonies, cultural rites and rituals, arts and crafts, literature and music, etc have been developed in connection with forests. The inseparable relationship of the tribal people with forests demands their involvement in forest governance. Normally, a forest policy refers to a plan formulated and implemented by the government for protecting forest resources and the environment. It defines the laws and regulations for maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. According to the Government of India, “forest policy of a country specifies certain broad principles for the use of a nation’s forest resources.”