Social work is widely considered one of the noblest professions that allow people to make signifi... more Social work is widely considered one of the noblest professions that allow people to make significant changes to society and is a worthy profession from a humanitarian perspective. These individuals and groups have made significant impacts across different areas but there are still many areas where social workers need to intervene in a more intensive as well as extensive way. Social service is one of the cornerstones and essential needs of modern times to implement reforms, carry out practical procedures, empower millions of marginalized groups, and make them resourceful enough not just to be able to manage their own lives but also to empower others and maintain the cycle of empowerment. Social workers can mediate in the agricultural process on two crucial levels-first, it can familiarize the local people with the new technologies, available subsidies, and facilities either by the state or by institutions and organizations, secondly, it can use the firsthand knowledge of the condition of the farmers to understand the need of the hour and convey the same to the policymakers. We have seen how many farmer's agitations and movements have been successfully organized in our country on a large scale. However, still, two major lacunae in this whole process have limited the impact of these movements on a much greater scale-one, there is a dearth of larger social consciousness among the masses regarding the problem of farmers in general, and these movements in specific. Social workers need to take this burden on their heads to ensure that not only is the information disseminated smoothly and effectively but also that a larger audience can be built who not only can be aware of the condition of farmers but can also empathize with it, thus providing the base of mobilization of these groups for future causes.
Mahatma Gandhi left behind a very rich legacy and a dynamic discourse which has acquired multifac... more Mahatma Gandhi left behind a very rich legacy and a dynamic discourse which has acquired multifaceted dimensions over these years partly because Gandhi has been appropriated in diverse ways and sometimes his views are applied to ideas and situations not answered by or posed to Gandhi. Thus, Gandhi becomes an epistemological field where different cognitive discourses intermingle, debate, contradict and juxtapose each other. It is in these epistemological discourses that we can locate the afterlife of Gandhian philosophy. Cinema is a powerful tool of dissemination of ideas and helps us unlocking the popular psyche of both the producers and audience of such works. Cinema is not just limited to entertainment; it is a very important site where alternative as well as popular narratives can prevail simultaneously. So, to locate Gandhi in cinema we need to chart out different possibilities of discourses where Gandhi and his ideas present themselves in different capacities. Here, I wish to briefly point out to some of the ways with which Mahatma Gandhi has been projected in Indian Cinema, and how he remains relevant even in the light of changing politics of representation. In this essay, we will discuss the different ways through which Gandhi continues to be relevant in the cinematic discourse and how he has been represented in the films of his times and afterwards. We may also compare and contrast these representations in the context of the time in which these films can be situated and the idea that is being projected through the image of Gandhi.
Lessons from History T rends and Responses to EPIDEMICS AND PANDEMICS, 2021
Epidemics have always been an issue of great socio cultural anxiety and are symbolized by rupture... more Epidemics have always been an issue of great socio cultural anxiety and are symbolized by ruptures in the traditional way of living. Our myths and symbols have represented these anxieties by doing one of the many things-firstly, symbolizing the crisis as a part of the demonic atrocities which can be and are often offset by divine intervention; secondly, representing this crisis as a curse by a deity or a sage which is solved by making adjustments to the existing social order; Thirdly, it represents the cosmic cycle of life and death as a part of natural progression which most often cannot be prevented but again adjustments could be made to ignite the possibility of a new future. Through the present work, attempts will be made to understand the historical reconstruction of the myths and symbols associated with the epidemics in relation to ancient Indian texts. Through a critical engagement with ancient Indian texts, we will try to understand the perspective of the people as well as the state in dealing with the epidemics, how epidemics are symbolized in the society through myths and symbols, which also links epidemics with philosophical notions of cosmic cycle and fatalism. Also, the resolution of the crisis becomes the point of eulogizing of the deity, and the relative power and hierarchy of the deities depends on their relative power to offset the crisis. Thus, these myths and legends become a site of power tussle between different religious cults and a way to assert the dominance of a particular cult in the society. All in all, we will understand epidemics not just as socio cultural crisis but also the myths that develop around the crisis which try to mitigate the crisis by placing them beyond the reach of human intervention and thus allowing the scope for divine providence to play a part.
We often perceive law as a pragmatic, centralized; state induced, legally binding, concrete set o... more We often perceive law as a pragmatic, centralized; state induced, legally binding, concrete set of rules and regulations. We may also give it an aura of sanctity which distinguishes it from the moral codes that are more subjective and variegated in their enforcement. But this very distinction and the binaries we create to define law in the sense of its constitutional meaning is problematic in nature. To consider law as monolithic is a reductionism on our part that doesn't take into consideration the different domains of legality. State as a single unit is in itself a generalized feature and further assumption the relation between the state and the law is always symbiotic. Not only we have to problematize the definition, nature and application of law but also the way law is perceived by the one who create them, one who perceive them and one who are subjected to it. In today’s time state regulations and policies are linked with the need to incorporate legal procedures with welfare policies with sustainable development and women empowerment. In this scenario, there is a need to revisit the laws around the question related to water conservation, and how it needs to be linked with the question of community interventions and the role of women in ensuring the effective implementation of these policies. In this essay, we will try to understand how the environmental laws in our country try to strike a balance between the institutional policy making and its implementation in the community level, particularly by women.
International Research Journal of Management Science & Technology, 2022
Cinema is often relegated to a marginal space when it comes to its role in initiating and reinfor... more Cinema is often relegated to a marginal space when it comes to its role in initiating and reinforcing discourses. The impact of cinema on popular culture is more than apparent, but there is a huge gap between the approaches taken up by Cinema scholars and movie enthusiasts in understanding the influence that cinema exerts on the society. Most of the cinema scholars choose one or two films as “representative cinema” to define a particular trait or trope. But they tend to undervalue or ignore the “run of the mill” films, which come and go at berserk rate, and are easily forgotten. These seemingly mediocre films try to cash in the tropes and tricks which are commercially viable in that period. The process is not successful in most cases, but the reason they exist is because they do have an audience to cater to and a team of thinkers who believe in these ideas to be projected on the screen. Thus it becomes imperative for us to analyze and understand how the representation of particular tropes can be situated in the context of Indian cinema. The theme under our consideration is smoking and drinking in Indian cinema and how it can be used to understand the complexities and dynamics of emotions and the social anxieties associated with narcotics.
Social work is widely considered one of the noblest professions that allow people to make signifi... more Social work is widely considered one of the noblest professions that allow people to make significant changes to society and is a worthy profession from a humanitarian perspective. These individuals and groups have made significant impacts across different areas but there are still many areas where social workers need to intervene in a more intensive as well as extensive way. Social service is one of the cornerstones and essential needs of modern times to implement reforms, carry out practical procedures, empower millions of marginalized groups, and make them resourceful enough not just to be able to manage their own lives but also to empower others and maintain the cycle of empowerment. Social workers can mediate in the agricultural process on two crucial levels-first, it can familiarize the local people with the new technologies, available subsidies, and facilities either by the state or by institutions and organizations, secondly, it can use the firsthand knowledge of the condition of the farmers to understand the need of the hour and convey the same to the policymakers. We have seen how many farmer's agitations and movements have been successfully organized in our country on a large scale. However, still, two major lacunae in this whole process have limited the impact of these movements on a much greater scale-one, there is a dearth of larger social consciousness among the masses regarding the problem of farmers in general, and these movements in specific. Social workers need to take this burden on their heads to ensure that not only is the information disseminated smoothly and effectively but also that a larger audience can be built who not only can be aware of the condition of farmers but can also empathize with it, thus providing the base of mobilization of these groups for future causes.
Mahatma Gandhi left behind a very rich legacy and a dynamic discourse which has acquired multifac... more Mahatma Gandhi left behind a very rich legacy and a dynamic discourse which has acquired multifaceted dimensions over these years partly because Gandhi has been appropriated in diverse ways and sometimes his views are applied to ideas and situations not answered by or posed to Gandhi. Thus, Gandhi becomes an epistemological field where different cognitive discourses intermingle, debate, contradict and juxtapose each other. It is in these epistemological discourses that we can locate the afterlife of Gandhian philosophy. Cinema is a powerful tool of dissemination of ideas and helps us unlocking the popular psyche of both the producers and audience of such works. Cinema is not just limited to entertainment; it is a very important site where alternative as well as popular narratives can prevail simultaneously. So, to locate Gandhi in cinema we need to chart out different possibilities of discourses where Gandhi and his ideas present themselves in different capacities. Here, I wish to briefly point out to some of the ways with which Mahatma Gandhi has been projected in Indian Cinema, and how he remains relevant even in the light of changing politics of representation. In this essay, we will discuss the different ways through which Gandhi continues to be relevant in the cinematic discourse and how he has been represented in the films of his times and afterwards. We may also compare and contrast these representations in the context of the time in which these films can be situated and the idea that is being projected through the image of Gandhi.
Lessons from History T rends and Responses to EPIDEMICS AND PANDEMICS, 2021
Epidemics have always been an issue of great socio cultural anxiety and are symbolized by rupture... more Epidemics have always been an issue of great socio cultural anxiety and are symbolized by ruptures in the traditional way of living. Our myths and symbols have represented these anxieties by doing one of the many things-firstly, symbolizing the crisis as a part of the demonic atrocities which can be and are often offset by divine intervention; secondly, representing this crisis as a curse by a deity or a sage which is solved by making adjustments to the existing social order; Thirdly, it represents the cosmic cycle of life and death as a part of natural progression which most often cannot be prevented but again adjustments could be made to ignite the possibility of a new future. Through the present work, attempts will be made to understand the historical reconstruction of the myths and symbols associated with the epidemics in relation to ancient Indian texts. Through a critical engagement with ancient Indian texts, we will try to understand the perspective of the people as well as the state in dealing with the epidemics, how epidemics are symbolized in the society through myths and symbols, which also links epidemics with philosophical notions of cosmic cycle and fatalism. Also, the resolution of the crisis becomes the point of eulogizing of the deity, and the relative power and hierarchy of the deities depends on their relative power to offset the crisis. Thus, these myths and legends become a site of power tussle between different religious cults and a way to assert the dominance of a particular cult in the society. All in all, we will understand epidemics not just as socio cultural crisis but also the myths that develop around the crisis which try to mitigate the crisis by placing them beyond the reach of human intervention and thus allowing the scope for divine providence to play a part.
We often perceive law as a pragmatic, centralized; state induced, legally binding, concrete set o... more We often perceive law as a pragmatic, centralized; state induced, legally binding, concrete set of rules and regulations. We may also give it an aura of sanctity which distinguishes it from the moral codes that are more subjective and variegated in their enforcement. But this very distinction and the binaries we create to define law in the sense of its constitutional meaning is problematic in nature. To consider law as monolithic is a reductionism on our part that doesn't take into consideration the different domains of legality. State as a single unit is in itself a generalized feature and further assumption the relation between the state and the law is always symbiotic. Not only we have to problematize the definition, nature and application of law but also the way law is perceived by the one who create them, one who perceive them and one who are subjected to it. In today’s time state regulations and policies are linked with the need to incorporate legal procedures with welfare policies with sustainable development and women empowerment. In this scenario, there is a need to revisit the laws around the question related to water conservation, and how it needs to be linked with the question of community interventions and the role of women in ensuring the effective implementation of these policies. In this essay, we will try to understand how the environmental laws in our country try to strike a balance between the institutional policy making and its implementation in the community level, particularly by women.
International Research Journal of Management Science & Technology, 2022
Cinema is often relegated to a marginal space when it comes to its role in initiating and reinfor... more Cinema is often relegated to a marginal space when it comes to its role in initiating and reinforcing discourses. The impact of cinema on popular culture is more than apparent, but there is a huge gap between the approaches taken up by Cinema scholars and movie enthusiasts in understanding the influence that cinema exerts on the society. Most of the cinema scholars choose one or two films as “representative cinema” to define a particular trait or trope. But they tend to undervalue or ignore the “run of the mill” films, which come and go at berserk rate, and are easily forgotten. These seemingly mediocre films try to cash in the tropes and tricks which are commercially viable in that period. The process is not successful in most cases, but the reason they exist is because they do have an audience to cater to and a team of thinkers who believe in these ideas to be projected on the screen. Thus it becomes imperative for us to analyze and understand how the representation of particular tropes can be situated in the context of Indian cinema. The theme under our consideration is smoking and drinking in Indian cinema and how it can be used to understand the complexities and dynamics of emotions and the social anxieties associated with narcotics.
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“run of the mill” films, which come and go at berserk rate, and are easily forgotten. These seemingly mediocre films try to cash in the tropes and tricks which are commercially viable in that period. The process is not successful in most cases, but the reason they exist is because they do have an audience to cater to and a team of thinkers who believe in these ideas to be projected on the screen. Thus it becomes imperative for us to analyze and understand how the representation of particular tropes can
be situated in the context of Indian cinema. The theme under our consideration is smoking and drinking in Indian cinema and how it can be used to understand the complexities and dynamics of emotions and the social anxieties associated with narcotics.
“run of the mill” films, which come and go at berserk rate, and are easily forgotten. These seemingly mediocre films try to cash in the tropes and tricks which are commercially viable in that period. The process is not successful in most cases, but the reason they exist is because they do have an audience to cater to and a team of thinkers who believe in these ideas to be projected on the screen. Thus it becomes imperative for us to analyze and understand how the representation of particular tropes can
be situated in the context of Indian cinema. The theme under our consideration is smoking and drinking in Indian cinema and how it can be used to understand the complexities and dynamics of emotions and the social anxieties associated with narcotics.