Space and Culture, India

Higher Education Landscape in India: Government Expenditure and Its Implications on Growth and Access

Prapti Borthakur — 2024-06-22

India’s higher education system grapples with myriad challenges perpetuated by scarcity of resources. This study seeks to analyse the quantitative growth of India’s higher education since independence, particularly focusing on the post-reform period. The research employs regression models, including the semi-log, Gompertz and multiple linear models, to determine growth rates and forecast variables up to 2035. The study reveals a significant expansion of higher education during the examined period, though it falls short of meeting the increasing demands. To achieve the goal of a 50 per cent Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) by 2035, the Government of India must take steps to boost its expenditure on higher education. The analysis powerfully underscores that despite the extensive proliferation of higher education in India, its efficacy might be limited without concurrent implementation of robust policies directed towards amplifying government expenditure within the sector.

Indian Women in Doctoral Education: Some Encouraging Signs, the Path Ahead, and Lessons for Inclusivity

Satish Warpade — 2024-06-22

For the total doctorate awarded in India in 2013, the male-to-female ratio was 63:37. This ratio improved to 57:43 in favour of women in 2021. In absolute terms, the number of women awarded doctorates almost doubled in 2021 compared with 2013. In this study, we examine the progress made by Indian women in doctoral education based on annual reports from the All India Survey on Higher Education. The improved ratios and numbers reflect the adoption of an action-oriented approach in dealing with the concepts of equality and inclusion. The reasons for the progress and ways to improve were investigated based on secondary data and interviews with 15 expert senior female research supervisors. The interviews reveal that apart from the mandatory requirement of a PhD qualification for academic progression, other initiatives have been taken by the Government that have encouraged more women to opt for doctoral education. However, more needs to be done to make research easy for women in India, and such areas, as pointed out by the panel of experts, have been discussed. These findings can be used by other nations that want to bring more inclusivity to doctoral education.

India's General Election: Verdict 2024-A Reflection of Public Political Decisions

Palme Borthakur — 2024-06-22

2024 has been a year of elections around the world, including the developed nations—the USA, the UK, the European Union and the Russian Federation alongside countries like India, Mexico, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran (the Islamic Republic of), South Africa, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Algeria, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Ghana, Mozambique, Madagascar, Venezuela, (the Bolivarian Republic of), Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), Taiwan, Syrian Arab Republic, Mali, Sri Lanka, Romania, Chad, Senegal, Cambodia, Rwanda, Tunisia, Belgium, Dominic Republic, Jordan, South Sudan, Czechia (Czech Republic), Azerbaijan, Portugal, Belarus, Togo, Austria, El Salvador, Slovakia, Finland, Mauritania, Panama, Croatia, Georgia, Mongolia, Uruguay, Republic of Moldova, Lithuania Botswana, Namibia, Guinea Bissau and North Macedonia. This editorial is devoted to the verdict of India’s General Election 2024.

The results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections have trickled in by defying most of the expectations of the exit polls. The graph of the results projected a different picture, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) grabbing 293 seats in the 543-member Parliament. At the same time, the coalition of opposition parties, collectively known as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), accomplished 234, which is 38 less than the required majority. As a twist in the election results, the regional parties made significant gains in many states. Congress bagged a strong revival, which was hugely attributed to the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Nyay Yatra under the architect of Mr Rahul Gandhi. Nevertheless, with its allies, BJP-led NDA is on board as Modi 3.0 leads the largest democracy.

‘Reinvisiblisation’ of Indian Migrant Labours during/post COVID-19 Pandemic: A Biopolitical Study

Rishav Bali — 2024-06-22

The paper unravels the ‘reinvisiblisation’ of the Indian migrant labours, who underwent mass exodus because of the lockdown imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic that brought to light their ‘invisibility’ to Indian planners and policymakers. The research qualitatively analyses the selected incidents to elucidate upon their precarious experiences unique to the pandemic. It employs the Foucauldian theoretical framework of docile bodies to understand the workings of biopower in disciplining the body of migrant labours to maintain their docility and utility even amidst the pandemic. The study further employs Judith Butler’s concept of precarious lives to delineate how migrant workers and labours were exposed to violence, injury, and death on their way back home. The research lays bare the attempts of the disciplinary regime to render them docile in the guise of assistance and ‘inclusive’ policy changes and concludes by suggesting serious changes in policy measures and alternatives to avoid such crises in the future.

Understanding the Suicidality of Working Women in Santeshivara Lingannaiah Bhyrappa’s Brink

Deepika T — 2024-06-22

Suicide among working women is a growing concern and a subject of research that is frequently ignored. The objective of this research is to highlight the challenges faced by employed women that drive them to contemplate suicide, as shown through the protagonist, Amrita, in Santeshivara Lingannaiah Bhyrappa’s novel Brink (2020). Characters function as a conduit connecting the observer to the narrative. This allows the audience to experience empathy for the characters. The process of creating a character is a form of artistic expression. This study aims to analyse the portrayal of Amrita’s character in the novel Brink (2020). The main character, Amrita, is a single mother with a difficult past who fights to live a self-sufficient life with her sons. This study uses Meike Bal's Construction of Image to analyse Amrita’s characterisation and transformation throughout the novel. It underlines the importance of connection and hope in moulding her into a happy, driven woman instead of a depressed and hopeless woman. The research concludes by underscoring the importance of literature delving into sensitive topics to raise awareness and stimulate dialogue.

A Qualitative Appraisal of the Teaching Methodology Approaches in PhD Coursework

Ashish Sood — 2024-06-22

A comprehensive understanding of research methodologies is necessary to conduct relevant research. Instructing adult scholars is difficult due to their prolonged absence from formal education. To tackle this issue, the university addressed in this paper devised a ‘research methodology’ course specifically designed for those who are employed, including a combination of adult learning principles and traditional teaching methods. An effective evaluation methodology guarantees continuous and fruitful learning. This article provides a qualitative analysis of the technique used by the university to develop research foundations for adult scholars, demonstrating that a blend of andragogy and pedagogy leads to favourable results. Scholars employed management principles to acquire new skills and effectively manage the delicate equilibrium between their professional and personal obligations.

An Analysis of Thailand’s Social Policies and its Integration with SDG1 “No Poverty” to Achieve Social Inclusion

Mahesh Pandurang Chougule — 2024-06-22

From a historical standpoint, this study examines the concept of poverty in Thailand. The researcher employed the content analysis of eleven effective articles for the study. Thailand’s employability, economy, and poverty have improved during the last three decades because of the introduction of democratic and social security. Innovative poverty-eradication programmes such as conditional cash transfers and noncontributory pensions for the elderly and poor have been included in social protection measures. The social protection system has reduced poverty and begun the process of social inclusion. Thailand’s social policies have not only decreased poverty and fostered social inclusion but also entailed Sustainable Development Goal 1 of poverty eradication in the global scenario. The current study details these achievements, and it appears that Thailand has increased its efforts towards inclusive development and poverty eradication through effective social policy design and implementation.

Space of Conflict in the Reproduction of Hindu Sacred Places into Spiritual Destination

I Gede Sutarya — 2024-06-22

Holy places used as spiritual tourism destinations are considered to have more value than merely holy places since they can produce economic benefits. Visiting holy places builds a positive tourist experience and often a positive vibe for the local community. However, in the case of Bali, various complaints have arisen regarding the arrival of spiritual tourists, resulting in overcrowding and long queues. This study reveals the use of religious shrines as spiritual tourism destinations and the entailed conflict regarding the division of space between the locals and the tourists to achieve a middle-way solution to this conflict.

This study collected data through observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGD). The collected qualitative data were then analysed. The findings reveal that people use religious holy places as spiritual tourism destinations because they get economic benefits. Conflicts of interest, of course, arise due to crowding and long queues. This conflict is mediated by various proposals for dividing space between the two interests. The study contributes to the need for limits on the use of religious holy places as tourist destinations to ensure the destination's sustainability.

Religious Journeys in India: Pilgrims, Tourists, and Travelers, edited by Andrea Marion Pinkney and John Whalen-Bridge (2018), SUNY (State University of New York) Press,353 Broadway, State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001. Hardcover: xiv+324 pages, ISBN Hb: 978-1438466033, ISBN eBk: 978-1438466040, ASIN: 143846603X. Price: $90.00

Rana P.B. Singh — 2024-06-22