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Toponymic Diplomacy: A New Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Geopolitics of Place Names
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Caste, Resistance, and Religion: A Critical Study of ‘Making of Matuaism’
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Matuaism developed into a full-grown organized religion in the beginning of twentieth century, and a popular religion in contemporary time. Its genesis and development has sparked many questions and concerns for the simple reason that, a large section of Namasudra people got organized under a leadership of two anti-caste leaders of Bengal, namely Harichand Thakur and Guruchand Thakur, and invented a new religion for the so-called untouchables of Bengal. The present article is an attempt to historicize the nascent journey of Matuaism from second half of nineteenth century till present time, and to critically evaluate its religious doctrine that primarily dismantles Brahminical hegemony as enunciated and canonized in the Rig Veda and other religious texts. Drawing within the framework of anti-caste movements, the present article evaluates Matuaism as a resistant religion to Brahminical hegemony on the one hand, and justifies its theology as a praxis solely devoted to public welfare and utilitarianism on the other. The so-called untouchables of Bengal who did not have any social identity and respect, invented their own religion and secured their social and cultural identity through authentic representation of their religious culture.
Matuaism developed into a full-grown organized religion in the beginning of twentieth century, and a popular religion in contemporary time. Its genesis and development has sparked many questions and concerns for the simple reason that, a large section of Namasudra people got organized under a leadership of two anti-caste leaders of Bengal, namely Harichand Thakur and Guruchand Thakur, and invented a new religion for the so-called untouchables of Bengal. The present article is an attempt to historicize the nascent journey of Matuaism from second half of nineteenth century till present time, and to critically evaluate its religious doctrine that primarily dismantles Brahminical hegemony as enunciated and canonized in the Rig Veda and other religious texts. Drawing within the framework of anti-caste movements, the present article evaluates Matuaism as a resistant religion to Brahminical hegemony on the one hand, and justifies its theology as a praxis solely devoted to public welfare and utilitarianism on the other. The so-called untouchables of Bengal who did not have any social identity and respect, invented their own religion and secured their social and cultural identity through authentic representation of their religious culture.
Citizens’ awareness of electoral campaign pledges
Party Politics, Ahead of Print.
The theory of promissory representation (Mansbridge, 2003) proposes that voters select parties based on the pledges they made during the campaign. The elected parties then fulfill their promises and at the next election, voters reward or sanction the parties based on their pledge-fulfillment record. However, a fundamental assumption of promissory representation remains to be tested. If voters use party pledges to decide which party to vote for, they need to know which party made which pledges. To test the degree of awareness of citizens to party pledges, (a factor we dub pledge awareness), we included a module in the 2019 Canadian Election Study (CES) that tasks citizens to associate correctly six pledges found in the different electoral platforms with their respective parties. We find that while citizens may not know all six pledges included in our study, nonetheless, the most frequently selected answers to our pledge awareness questions are the correct ones. We also find that party identification and the information resources at the disposal of citizens play a large role in the citizen’s capacity to succeed at this matching task. Our study indicates that respondents tend to be more aware of the pledges made by the party they identify with, and well-informed respondents are more aware of pledges made by the other parties.
The theory of promissory representation (Mansbridge, 2003) proposes that voters select parties based on the pledges they made during the campaign. The elected parties then fulfill their promises and at the next election, voters reward or sanction the parties based on their pledge-fulfillment record. However, a fundamental assumption of promissory representation remains to be tested. If voters use party pledges to decide which party to vote for, they need to know which party made which pledges. To test the degree of awareness of citizens to party pledges, (a factor we dub pledge awareness), we included a module in the 2019 Canadian Election Study (CES) that tasks citizens to associate correctly six pledges found in the different electoral platforms with their respective parties. We find that while citizens may not know all six pledges included in our study, nonetheless, the most frequently selected answers to our pledge awareness questions are the correct ones. We also find that party identification and the information resources at the disposal of citizens play a large role in the citizen’s capacity to succeed at this matching task. Our study indicates that respondents tend to be more aware of the pledges made by the party they identify with, and well-informed respondents are more aware of pledges made by the other parties.
An environmental education: how the education realignment polarized Congress on the environment
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Unearthing the Conflict of Induced Displacement of Dalits and Tribals in Kashipur: Critical Insight into Utkal Alumina International Limited Operation
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Development-induced-displacement (DID) in remote locations has jeopardized the welfare of Tribal and Dalit communities (TDC), which has reached a magnitude and frequency that requires immediate attention and worldwide significance. Therefore, the current study seeks to explore the impact of forced displacement on tribal identity, culture and traditional sources of livelihood in the establishment of Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL) in Kashipur (Odisha). The study has addressed three objectives: (a) to what extent did politicizing the UAIL operation by the upper-caste community altered the compensatory R&R (rehabilitation and resettlement) benefits received by TDC, (b) to measure the impact of displacement and the extent of loss of livelihood caused by UAIL and (c) to what extent tribal identity, culture and livelihood security been eroded in the process of UAIL establishment. Amid the essentiality for balanced reconciliation between displacement and resettlement, the study found that the impact of DID is not homogenous on society but has affected the TDC differently due to corrupt intervention of upper-caste officials, resulting in delayed or denied compensation. The study recommends an immediate requirement of risk reversal explicit strategies backed up by adequate financing for reconstructing and improving the livelihood of displaced masses.
Development-induced-displacement (DID) in remote locations has jeopardized the welfare of Tribal and Dalit communities (TDC), which has reached a magnitude and frequency that requires immediate attention and worldwide significance. Therefore, the current study seeks to explore the impact of forced displacement on tribal identity, culture and traditional sources of livelihood in the establishment of Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL) in Kashipur (Odisha). The study has addressed three objectives: (a) to what extent did politicizing the UAIL operation by the upper-caste community altered the compensatory R&R (rehabilitation and resettlement) benefits received by TDC, (b) to measure the impact of displacement and the extent of loss of livelihood caused by UAIL and (c) to what extent tribal identity, culture and livelihood security been eroded in the process of UAIL establishment. Amid the essentiality for balanced reconciliation between displacement and resettlement, the study found that the impact of DID is not homogenous on society but has affected the TDC differently due to corrupt intervention of upper-caste officials, resulting in delayed or denied compensation. The study recommends an immediate requirement of risk reversal explicit strategies backed up by adequate financing for reconstructing and improving the livelihood of displaced masses.
An Exploratory Study of Scheduled Caste Undergraduate Students in Jammu and Kashmir
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Scheduled caste is a backward section of Indian society. The educational resources and benefits provided to the scheduled castes constitute a substantial community. The population is still socially and educationally lagging behind other sections of society. Educational backwardness is the indicator of socio-economic inequalities in the structure of the Indian social order. Thus, in the present article, an attempt has been made to study the enrolment and dropout rate of scheduled caste undergraduate students in Jammu and Kashmir. The primary data in the present study has been collected from various colleges in the Doda and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The findings of the study discovered a significant difference in the enrolment of scheduled caste male and female students. Furthermore, the dropout of male scheduled caste students was found highest as compared to females; however, the dropout rate of scheduled caste students is decreasing every year concerning both genders.
Scheduled caste is a backward section of Indian society. The educational resources and benefits provided to the scheduled castes constitute a substantial community. The population is still socially and educationally lagging behind other sections of society. Educational backwardness is the indicator of socio-economic inequalities in the structure of the Indian social order. Thus, in the present article, an attempt has been made to study the enrolment and dropout rate of scheduled caste undergraduate students in Jammu and Kashmir. The primary data in the present study has been collected from various colleges in the Doda and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The findings of the study discovered a significant difference in the enrolment of scheduled caste male and female students. Furthermore, the dropout of male scheduled caste students was found highest as compared to females; however, the dropout rate of scheduled caste students is decreasing every year concerning both genders.
Role of Panchayati Raj Institution and Tribal Rights in Forest Resources Management: A Study of Mayurbhanj District of Odisha
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Most tribal people have been living in forest areas but do not officially permit rights to their homes, lands and livelihoods. India is the land of tribes, constituting 8.6% of its population. Tribes have been closely related to the forest, and their life and livelihood depend on the availability of forest resources in India. Forest ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity, watershed protection and the livelihood of indigenous communities. In Odisha, the forest has become and is considered a potential natural resource. Forests have been interdependent and interrelated for the tribal people in Odisha for generations. According to the well-being of the tribal people, they have depended on their habits, culture and style of life in the forests through separable entities like forest and tribal culture. Everything in the forest has been fulfilled, including social, economic, cultural, religious and medicinal needs, which the forest dwellers require. Aside from the aspects mentioned above, the study investigates the role of Panchayati Raj institutions in managing forest resources for the benefit of tribal people. It focuses on the tribe members’ level of awareness following the passage of the Panchayat Extension to the Scheduled Area Act.
Most tribal people have been living in forest areas but do not officially permit rights to their homes, lands and livelihoods. India is the land of tribes, constituting 8.6% of its population. Tribes have been closely related to the forest, and their life and livelihood depend on the availability of forest resources in India. Forest ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity, watershed protection and the livelihood of indigenous communities. In Odisha, the forest has become and is considered a potential natural resource. Forests have been interdependent and interrelated for the tribal people in Odisha for generations. According to the well-being of the tribal people, they have depended on their habits, culture and style of life in the forests through separable entities like forest and tribal culture. Everything in the forest has been fulfilled, including social, economic, cultural, religious and medicinal needs, which the forest dwellers require. Aside from the aspects mentioned above, the study investigates the role of Panchayati Raj institutions in managing forest resources for the benefit of tribal people. It focuses on the tribe members’ level of awareness following the passage of the Panchayat Extension to the Scheduled Area Act.
Book review: Cho-yun Hsu, The Transcendental and the Mundane: Chinese Cultural Values in Everyday Life
China Report, Volume 59, Issue 3, Page 332-334, August 2023.
Cho-yun Hsu, The Transcendental and the Mundane: Chinese Cultural Values in Everyday Life (Hong Kong: Chinese University of Hong Kong Press, 2021), 330 pp. $55, ISBN: 978-9882372122 (Hardcover).
Cho-yun Hsu, The Transcendental and the Mundane: Chinese Cultural Values in Everyday Life (Hong Kong: Chinese University of Hong Kong Press, 2021), 330 pp. $55, ISBN: 978-9882372122 (Hardcover).
Inequality Based on Power and Capital is Becoming Unsolvable in China: Integrating Culture and Comprehensive Wealth to Approach a Power–Capital Economy
China Report, Volume 59, Issue 3, Page 289-306, August 2023.
This study assesses China’s power–capital economy model, linking it to cultural tightness and comprehensive wealth. The analysis indicates that cultural tightness interacts with the power–capital economy, and unequal distribution of diverse tangible and intangible wealth might result from differences in cultural capital. Power–capital-based inequality widened during the reign of Xi Jinping. Of note, the worsened inequality would be unsolvable because of the political power or government-led power–capital-based inequality. Viewed from the comprehensive wealth framework (CWF) perspective, enhancing a power–capital economy would not contribute to sustainability because the system might contribute to unequal distribution of comprehensive wealth between advantaged and disadvantaged groups regarding power capital.
This study assesses China’s power–capital economy model, linking it to cultural tightness and comprehensive wealth. The analysis indicates that cultural tightness interacts with the power–capital economy, and unequal distribution of diverse tangible and intangible wealth might result from differences in cultural capital. Power–capital-based inequality widened during the reign of Xi Jinping. Of note, the worsened inequality would be unsolvable because of the political power or government-led power–capital-based inequality. Viewed from the comprehensive wealth framework (CWF) perspective, enhancing a power–capital economy would not contribute to sustainability because the system might contribute to unequal distribution of comprehensive wealth between advantaged and disadvantaged groups regarding power capital.