Synergy: International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies
Synergy: International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies (SIJMDS) is a double-blind, peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly journal that publishes original multidisciplinary research in the social sciences, humanities, education, management, economics, and related fields. The journal provides an international forum for academic inquiry that integrates theoretical, empirical, and applied perspectives to address contemporary societal, educational, economic, and policy-related issues. It welcomes contributions from researchers worldwide and encourages multidisciplinary approaches that foster collaboration across disciplines within the social sciences and humanities. Publication Information Journal Title: Synergy: International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies Abbreviation: Synergy Int. J. Multidiscip. Stud. ISSN No.: 3048-7005 First Issue: June 2024 Subject: Multidisciplinary Format: Online Frequency: Quarterly (March, June, September, December) DOI Prefix: 10.6396 SJIF Impact Factor: 3.429 View SJIF Journal Details Impact Factor Based on Citations on Google Scholar: 1.3 Aprox. Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Ishrat Naaz, Professor, School of Education, Galgotias University Publisher: Synergy Publication Language: English Publication Model: Continuous online publication will likely happen from September 2026.
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited. Attribution: Users must give appropriate credit to the author(s), provide a link to the original publication, and include a link to the license. Indication of Changes: If any modifications are made, users must clearly indicate that changes were made to the original work. No Additional Restrictions: Users may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits. Under this license, the author(s) retain copyright and grant the journal a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual right to publish and distribute the work as the original source of publication.
Urban Morphology and Its Master Plan of Jaipur City
An examination of Jaipur’s urban form reveals how the city’s geography, history, and planning philosophies have collectively shaped its unique spatial and cultural identity. Strategically located along the Aravalli hills and Banas River valley, Jaipur benefited from natural defenses, fertile soil, and water resources, influencing both its early settlement and ongoing urban development. The city’s evolution unfolded in three major phases: its founding in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II, characterized by prominent public structures like Jantar Mantar and a gridiron street plan; the 19th-century expansion under Sawai Pratap Singh and Maharaja Ram Singh II, when development extended beyond walled limits with significant architectural projects; and a more recent phase marked by growth amid challenges. While initial planning emphasized environmental harmony, social hierarchy, and aesthetic considerations, modern issues such as urban sprawl, unregulated land use, and infrastructure deficits threaten its historic fabric. Addressing these concerns necessitates integrated urban management strategies that promote sustainable densification, heritage conservation, and inclusive governance. Leveraging advanced spatial technologies and socio-economic research will be vital in balancing rapid urbanization with heritage preservation. Jaipur exemplifies a deliberate, harmonious approach to urban planning that marries traditional wisdom with contemporary needs, offering valuable insights for similar historic cities worldwide.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rajendra Prasad Kumawat, Dr. Rajesh Kumar M. Damor (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Touchscreen-Based Modern Home Automation System for Residential Energy Management
The ever-evolving landscape of embedded systems and the Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed the way homes operate. The aim of this research was to develop and construct a local home automation system that replaced traditional mechanical switches with a digital touchscreen interface. The system design employed an 8-bit 8051-family microcontroller as the control logic and a 4-wire resistive touch panel for user input. For power control and safety, a 4-channel relay module was used to achieve electrical isolation between the low-level control and high-level power loads. The system exhibited almost instantaneous response, with touch-to-load delay much shorter than human response time. The addition of a 16x2 alphanumeric LCD display enabled real-time monitoring, enhancing transparency. Compared to conventional manual switches, the proposed design provided greater convenience, monitoring and safety. The results of the study found that the proposed prototype is a cost-effective, reliable and scalable solution for home automation, especially where network connectivity is not essential and reliability is a critical requirement. This study suggests future work include the addition of wireless communication and sensor networks, to develop the system into a self-monitoring smart home.
Copyright (c) 2026 Amit Mehra, Dr. Suman Sharma (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Beyond Participation: An Observational Study of Engagement Patterns in Drama Therapy Among Children with Special Needs
This study explores how children with special needs engage in structured drama therapy sessions, moving beyond simple participation metrics to understand the nuanced ways they involve themselves. Using a qualitative observational approach, thirty children aged 6–14 with mild to moderate needs were observed across 24 sessions at a special education center. Each 45-minute session followed a three-phase structure: warm-up, enactment, and reflection. Data collection included field notes and video recordings, analyzed through thematic analysis with an adapted engagement coding framework that distinguished active, passive, emotional, symbolic, and disengaged responses. Findings identified five types of engagement: active (spontaneous actions and peer collaboration), passive (attentive observation), emotional (facial expressions and affect), symbolic/creative (role-playing and imaginative projection), and resistance (withdrawal or refusal). Engagement levels varied across session phases, with enactments eliciting the highest active and symbolic engagement, while warm-ups showed more variability. Group dynamics, peer modeling, and therapist support significantly influenced engagement trajectories. These results expand engagement theory into therapeutic contexts and highlight the importance of designing flexible, activity-specific strategies that recognize passive engagement as valid. For educators and practitioners, understanding these diverse engagement patterns can inform more responsive, individualized approaches, emphasizing engagement quality over attendance.
Copyright (c) 2025 Abhishek Panigrah, Dr. Mohd Faijullah Khan, Jaswant Lall (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Humour as a Mediator of Academic Anxiety among Students with Learning Disabilities: A Thematic Analysis
Elevated academic anxiety is common among students with learning difficulties (LD), which negatively affects their learning outcomes, involvement, and confidence. Although therapies have traditionally focused on cognitive rehabilitation, emotional aspects have received insufficient attention. To explore whether humour may serve as a mediating mechanism in reducing academic anxiety among students with LD, this study employs a thematic literature analysis of 26 national and international studies published between 2011 and 2025. The review summarises findings from experimental, qualitative, and intervention-based research using a purposeful, concept-driven selection method. Three interconnected themes emerged through inductive thematic analysis: (1) Humour as a mechanism for social facilitation; (2) humour as a facilitator of engagement and self-confidence; and (3) humour as an emotional regulator. According to the research, humour functions as a multifaceted mediating tool that lowers emotional barriers, encourages inclusive participation, and redefines challenging academic situations. In practice, the study highlights humour-informed interventions as accessible strategies for improving emotional well-being, engagement, and inclusive classroom environments. Conceptually, it positions humour as a bridge linking learning difficulties with academic anxiety.
Copyright (c) 2026 Abhishek Panigrahi, Dr. Mohd Faijullah Khan, Mohd Shahzad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Navigating Pedagogical Challenges in Teaching Literary Criticism: A Mixed-Methods Study of Instructor Experiences and Student Perceptions in Higher Education
The teaching of literary criticism in higher education presents persistent pedagogical challenges affecting instructors and students across diverse contexts. This study examines these difficulties through a synthesis of existing literature and proposes a mixed-methods investigation to deepen understanding. Research highlights students’ struggles with abstract theoretical concepts, resistance to ideologically or politically sensitive lenses (e.g., feminist, postcolonial), limited analytical skills, and low motivation linked to perceived irrelevance or heavy reading demands. Instructors often face limited preparation in critical pedagogy, time constraints, balancing multiple theories, and managing classroom sensitivities. Institutional barriers include rigid curricula, resource limitations, and debates over whether heavy theoretical emphasis enhances critical thinking or risks alienating learners. Evidence from global studies suggests these challenges are widespread yet context dependent. Student-cantered strategies, such as accessible texts and reader-response approaches, show promise but require further empirical testing. The study employs a parallel convergent mixed-methods design, collecting survey data from both instructors and students to quantify the prevalence of challenges, compare perceptions, and identify effective pedagogical strategies. Findings highlight the interplay of cognitive, motivational, and institutional factors and underscore the need for inclusive, adaptable approaches to teaching literary criticism. This research contributes to literature pedagogy by offering insights for enhancing student engagement, refining instructional practices, and promoting critical literacy in higher education.
Copyright (c) 2026 Aroosa Mohammed Layeak (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Patient Preferences and Overcrowding Pressures at Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur: A Survey-Based Analysis of Government Healthcare Choices in Rajasthan
Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan’s largest government facility with 6,251 beds, faces severe overcrowding with 31.6 lakh OPD visits in 2024, a record high, up 1.2 lakh from 2023. This study explores why patients prefer SMS over other Jaipur government hospitals through a primary survey of 200 patients. Findings show 67% choose SMS for superior specialists, 56% for free full IPD/OPD services, 50% for 24/7 emergency care, and 40% for reputation, resulting in 72-91% preference rates and 78-91% retention even if offered free transfers to alternatives like Govt. Satellite Bani Park, RDBP Jaipuria, ESIC Model, and RUHS Hospitals. Preference ratings confirm SMS dominance (baseline 1.00), with competitors trailing on doctoral quality (1.15-1.43) despite better waits and facilities. Specific concerns (70-89%) highlight bypassing: 89% reject Bani Park’s lack of ICU, 82% RDBP’s referrals. OPD trends (2011-2024) link free schemes to 300% growth from 3,300 to over 10,000 daily visits. Challenges include infrastructure failures (2025 ICU fire), staff overload (150-200 patients per doctor), 3-4 hour waits, and safety risks. Implications include deploying specialists to peers, digital triage, and primary investments to reduce congestion by 20-25%. Future scope involves multi-city studies. This patient-centered evidence reveals tertiary monopoly as the root of overcrowding, guiding equitable reforms.
Copyright (c) 2026 Govind Gupta, Dr. Sulochna Meena (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assistive Technology in Inclusive Mathematics Education for Students with Visual Impairment: A Conceptual Framework
Assistive technology is recognized as a crucial facilitator of inclusive education, especially in increasing access to the mathematics curriculum for students with visual impairments. Mathematics instruction heavily relies on visual aids such as graphs, diagrams, and symbols, which can pose significant barriers for students with visual impairments in mainstream classrooms. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework to explain how assistive technology effectively improves mathematics learning outcomes for students with visual impairments in inclusive environments. The framework integrates technological factors like accessibility and usability of assistive tools with contextual elements such as teacher and institutional support. Drawing on various theoretical models, including Universal Design for Learning, Social Constructivism, the Technology Acceptance Model, and the UNESCO AI Competency Framework for Teachers, this research seeks to synthesize existing literature to identify key mechanisms behind technology-enhanced learning. Prior research indicates that accessible assistive technologies are vital for increasing student engagement in learning activities (Fernández-Batanero et al., 2022; Shoaib et al., 2023). Moreover, accessible technologies play a critical role in fostering students’ independence and understanding of the world (Adnan et al., 2025; Muradyan, 2023). Ndayambaje et al. (2025) and Alimović (2024) demonstrate that teacher competence and infrastructure are crucial for the successful implementation of assistive technologies in inclusive education settings. This paradigm offers theoretical guidance for future empirical research.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mohd Shahzad, Dr. Saurabh Ray, Abhishek Panigrahi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Power and Progress: Our 1000-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity
Copyright (c) 2024 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Understanding NCERT’s Rationalisation of Political Science Textbooks and its Implications for the Indian Knowledge System
The rationalisation of NCERT school textbooks has recently become a subject of considerable academic and public discussion, particularly following the revisions implemented in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Rationalisation involves making logical and justified modifications to curriculum content, including the removal, revision, or restructuring of existing material. NCERT undertook this process between December 2021 and June 2022 with the stated objective of reducing curriculum load, addressing content overlap, adjusting difficulty levels, and enhancing the relevance of textbooks in the present educational context. These changes also correspond with the broader educational vision of NEP 2020, which emphasises experiential learning, critical thinking, and the incorporation of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) (Ministry of Education, 2020). The rationalisation of political science textbooks, however, has generated varied responses among educators, scholars, and academic stakeholders. While NCERT has presented these revisions as pedagogically necessary, several experts and teachers have expressed concerns regarding their academic, pedagogical, and ideological implications. The removal and modification of specific content have raised important questions about knowledge representation, inclusivity, and the role of curriculum in shaping students’ understanding of political and social realities. This study examines the rationalisation of NCERT political science textbooks through a qualitative document analysis of textbook revisions, official reports, and relevant academic and media sources. It also explores the perspectives of university professors and school teachers regarding these curricular changes. The paper aims to analyse the rationale, stakeholder responses, and broader educational implications of textbook rationalisation within the framework of the Indian Knowledge System.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Withstanding The Storm: Farmers’ Insights on Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture in Murshidabad, India
In this mixed-methods study, the researcher explores farmers’ perceptions of climate change, how this change impacts their agricultural activities, and the measures they adopt to fight the impacts in Murshidabad District, West Bengal, in eastern India. Data were collected from 300 farmers, across all 26 administrative blocks of the study area. A structured questionnaire that combined Likert-scale type as well as open-ended questions was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Statistical and inferential analysis of quantitative data, including one-sample Chi-Square goodness-of-fit test (p < .001), revealed respondents’ strong perception on climatic change, such as increasing summer heat, erratic onset and withdrawal of monsoon, and declining rainfall pattern. Surprisingly, a strong 80% of them reported declining agricultural incomes even though they had adopted short-duration and stress-tolerant crop varieties. Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed their insight into altered phenological cues, such as changing flowering times of plants, and emergence of new species of pests and crop diseases. As adaptation strategies, they resorted to adjusting sowing and harvesting calendars, crop diversification, and shared irrigation system. Still, their vulnerability persists due to delayed release of crop insurance money, limited access to timely weather information, and high agricultural expenditure. The study concludes that while farmers exhibited locally-grounded ecological intelligence and substantial resilience, they need governmental support to continue sustainable agricultural practices. Government should reform policies to integrate farmers’ experiential observations into early-warning, decentralise irrigation system, ensure timely delivery of crop insurance money, and arrange capacity-building programmes to strengthen their climate-resilient agricultural livelihood.
Copyright (c) 2026 Md. Nijairul Islam (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Muslim Women Legislators and the Legislative Politics of Muslim Minority Issues (1952-1974)
This paper examines the voices of Muslim women legislators in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly between 1952 and 1974 through seven assembly debates from the first, third, and fifth legislative terms. Focusing on Safia Abdul Wajid, Kishwar Ara, Begum Aijaz Rasul, and Hamida Habibullah, it analyses their engagements on minority-related issues such as cow slaughter, Urdu, communal violence, and the closure of Aligarh Muslim University. The paper shows how these women intervened selectively in legislative debates, at times confronting male legislators and at other moments finding alignment and support, while drawing on constitutional principles to articulate minority concerns. By highlighting these often-overlooked interventions, the study sheds light on the challenges of representation, negotiation, and coexistence within the Assembly during a period of significant post-Partition political change.
Cross-Linguistic Influence and the Negotiation of Self in Multilingual Acquisition
In an increasingly globalized world, multilingualism has become common, yet the psychological complexities of learning an additional language beyond the second (L3/Ln) remain underexplored. This study examines the interconnected psychological challenges of language interference, cognitive overload, emotional stress, and identity struggles among Arabic–English multilingual learners studying a third language in higher education. The research focuses on 20 female undergraduates from the university who speak Arabic as L1, English as L2, and are formally learning an L3 (e.g., Italian, German, French, Turkish). Using a sequential mixed-methods design, quantitative survey data first identified the main challenges, followed by semi-structured interviews with a purposive subsample (n = 5) for in-depth qualitative insights. Descriptive statistics showed high levels of multidirectional language interference, frequent mental fatigue indicating cognitive overload, and increased speaking anxiety and frustration. Thematic analysis revealed that managing multiple active language systems is a cognitively exhausting task that limits deep processing, while ongoing anxiety and error sensitivity weaken confidence and disrupt learners’ sense of a coherent multilingual identity. The findings are interpreted through Cognitive Load Theory, research on cross-linguistic influence, and socio-psychological and identity frameworks, all within a Dynamic Systems perspective. The study argues that these cognitive and emotional challenges form an interconnected psychological ecosystem rather than separate problems, and it suggests pedagogical, institutional, and policy changes for more cognitively and emotionally responsive multilingual SLA practices.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Growth of Digital Marketing Expenditure and Online Consumer Engagement in India: Evidence from Industry Reports, 2010–2025
This paper explores the sociocultural history of the Indian digital advertising sector as well as the relationship between the continued digital spending and aggregate consumer engagement on the web between 2010 and 2025. The study incorporates digital spending, engagement metrics, and infrastructure indicators in an annual macro-panel based on a consolidated longitudinal dataset of multi-source industry evidence, consisting of GroupM, Dentsu, IAMAI-Kantar, CRISIL, Ipsos, Nielsen and statista, databases. Elasticity-based regression analysis and trend diagnostics demonstrate that there are three growth stages, including early diffusion (2010-2014), mobile-first acceleration (2015-2019), and post-pandemic maturity (2020-2025). Digital investments broadened almost forty-fold, and impressions increased in the same line and click-throughs decreased and video view rates increased, indicating that there is a difference in engagement trends across the different formats. The results of econometric estimates serve to substantiate an increase in impressions and video completion with a simultaneous rise in expenditure and user-base, and a negative elasticity of CTR in ecosystem saturation. Breaks in 2016 and 2020 are structural changes, which reflect big access and behavioural jolts that change the dynamics of engagement. The research provides one of the earliest, country-specific, longer-period studies of relationships of spending and engagement that shows that infrastructural changes and ecosystem-level inflexions drive digital advertising performance even more successfully than incremental spending. The implication is on market strategy, standardisation of measurements, and way of designing policies in maturing digital economies.
Contours of Indian Elements in Persian Imagination: Literary and Linguistic Encounters in Pre-Modern India
Persian, initially a foreign language, maintained a profound connection to India for centuries due to ancient Indo-Iranian ties dating back to the prehistoric and Vedic periods. With the arrival of Turks, Iranians, and Mughals from the 13th century onward, Persian had already established itself as a dominant cultural and intellectual lingua franca across much of Asia, from Afghanistan to Anatolia, a period scholars like Eaton refer to as the Persianate Age. In India, during the Ghaznavid, Ghurid, and Mughal eras, Persian became the court and administrative language, while also serving as a vital medium for literary, cultural, religious, and philosophical expression. This paper highlights the diverse influence of Indian cultural elements on Persian language and literature, emphasizing linguistic, literary, cultural, religious, and philosophical aspects, especially during medieval and early modern India.
Macroeconomic Growth and Labour Market Dynamics: An Empirical Analysis of GDP, Labour Force Participation, and Unemployment
This paper has analysed the dynamic associations between GDP growth and the rates of urban unemployment and urban labour participation rate (LFPR) in the urban labour markets of India. The analysis utilised the secondary data of the Indian labour force survey which included Maximum Likelihood estimation under a structural equation modelling approach to demonstrate that the economic growth was associated with low urban unemployment, and unemployment was negatively related to participation in the labour force. These results underscored the role of macroeconomic growth in absorbing labour but high unemployment will deter people to involve themselves in active work, particularly in the more complicated urban environment. The paper combined stringent econometric methods to measure and confirm such interactions putting the findings in the wider context of the labour market issues in India which include skill gaps, informal sector dominance, and the gendered nature of India labour markets. Through critical examination of these essential variables, the study adds value to the study of labour market friction associated with economic development of cities and workforce participation.
Exploring Dystopian Literature as a Medium to Critique and Reflect on Contemporary Societal Issues
Dystopian literature has long served as a mirror through which societies confront their deepest fears, moral contradictions, and political issues. This research examines how the genre works as a dynamic tool to critique and reflect on contemporary social problems — from surveillance and authoritarian rule to gender oppression, ecological decline, and the dehumanizing impacts of technology. Through a qualitative, comparative, and interpretive analysis of selected texts, including George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower, and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, the study explores how authors use narrative techniques like world-building, symbolism, allegory, and intertextuality to express the anxieties of their eras. The paper also draws on theoretical perspectives from Michel Foucault’s discourse on power, feminist literary criticism, and eco-criticism to reveal the socio-political and ethical messages embedded in these stories. By placing dystopian fiction in the context of global social and historical movements — from the rise of totalitarian regimes to the digital age — this research argues that dystopian stories do more than imagine disaster; they act as moral maps, encouraging readers to question the direction of modern civilization. In the end, the study highlights the lasting importance of dystopian literature as a form of cultural resistance, ethical reflection, and political creativity in a time of crisis and change.
Restorative Justice in Post-Apartheid Narratives: Tutu’s The Book of Forgiving and Coetzee’s Disgrace
Restorative justice, an approach to addressing harm that prioritizes healing, accountability, and the restoration of relationships over punishment, has been pivotal in framing post-apartheid South Africa, particularly through the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). This study examines the representations of restorative justice in Desmond Tutu’s The Book of Forgiving and J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace. While Tutu advances a prescriptive and hopeful model of forgiveness as central to both personal and national healing, Coetzee offers a more critical perspective that undermines the moral and social limitations of reconciliation in a society still haunted by systemic violence and inequality. This comparative research explores how both texts engage with the ideals and contradictions of restorative justice, revealing the complex interplay between forgiveness, justice, and the lingering wounds of apartheid.
Analyzing the Impact of Health Spending Per Capita on Life Expectancy, Immunization, Fertility, and Nourishment in India: A Multi-Year Correlational Study
The paper examines the associations between critical health outcomes and health spending per capita in India concerning life expectancy, DPT immunization coverage, fertility rate, and Nourishment between 2016-17 and 2021-22. The research uses correlational analysis to explain the effects of financial investment on health through secondary data from authoritative sources in the country. The results indicate a strong positive relationship between per capita health spending and both life expectancy and immunization coverage, emphasizing the need to sustain healthcare funding to improve longevity and preventive care. The correlation between health expenditure and fertility rate shows a moderate negative relationship, reflecting the impact of health investments on population and reproductive health. Interestingly, a positive correlation was found between health spending and Nourishment. These findings highlight the complexity of health financing and emphasize the need for more comprehensive social policies to address it. The study provides evidence on how policy can be used to allocate health spending effectively, aiming for equitable health gains and sustainable development in India.
Navigating the Landscape of Solid Waste Management: Innovating Developmental Strategies for a Sustainable Environment
Effective solid waste management is decisive for environmental sustainability and community healthiness. This study addresses critical research gaps in scalable solid waste management (SWM) for developing economies through a systematic analysis of circular economy innovations, policy frameworks, and socio-economic barriers. Employing a dual-method approach combining a literature review and policy analysis, we identify infrastructure deficits, environmental justice trade-offs in waste-to-energy adoption, and formalization challenges for informal waste sectors as key constraints. Findings demonstrate modular technologies can reduce collection costs by 35%, while gamified education increases waste segregation by 60% in low-resource settings. The research proposes a justice-centered framework integrating three pillars: (1) Technical (low-cost modular solutions), (2) Social (formalized waste picker inclusion), and (3) Policy (equity-focused EPR reforms). By quantifying implementation metrics across 12 case studies, this work presents actionable pathways for building resilient SWM systems that balance ecological integrity, economic viability, and social equity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Archana (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Terrain of Conflict: Indigenous Outlook and Colonial Involvement in the Kumaon Tarai and Bhabar Landscape
This paper aims to explore the intricate interactions and interpretations of the concept of landscape within the Tarai and Bhabar regions of Kumaon. It presents this landscape as a contested space, shaped by varying perspectives of the indigenous populations and colonial authorities. Significantly, it investigates the disruptions caused by colonial interventions, wherein the colonial state imposed a distinct vision of the landscape. This mental restructuring was executed through various policies, affecting a transformative impact on the local worldview. In this regard, colonialists acted as ‘development experts’, despite their overt aims being different. They sought to control the terrain by constraining the activities of local people, often perceived as wasteful or ignorant. The displacement of local knowledge, rooted in practical experience, in favour of external philosophical or ideological schemes illustrates a fundamental conflict. At the core of this exploration is the contrast between the perspectives of residents and colonial ideologies, each attributing disparate values to the landscape. Ultimately, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between indigenous perceptions and colonial impositions in shaping the cultural and historical landscape of the region.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mitali Tewari (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Influence of English as a Lingua Franca on Cultural Identity in Multilingual Communities of Delhi, India
In the multicultural cities of India, especially in Delhi, English has become a lingua franca that is transforming the cultural identities in the context of the rapidly expanding globalization. This paper will focus on the effects of English in cultural understanding and social relations among the multilingual communities in Delhi. Using qualitative approaches, such as literature review and narrative descriptions, the study demonstrates the importance of English in providing access to wider communication and promoting social mobility, in particular educational and professional arenas. Simultaneously, it points out the major issues that are associated with this linguistic change: the progressive loss of native languages, the risk of cultural assimilation, and the strengthening of social barriers between English-speaking and non-English speaking populations. The results reflect the bargain that people engage in between maintaining native linguistic identity and the practical advantages of English, showing a complex balance of possibilities and cultural conflicts in the multilingual city of Delhi.
Copyright (c) 2025 Vivek Sabharwal (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
From ‘Look East’ to ‘Act East’: Broadened Horizon of India-Southeast Asia Relations
The early years of the 1990s were a remarkable period for India, as it witnessed not only the New Economic Reforms but also a set of revamped foreign policies. It was during this time that policymakers realised the gradual establishment of a new world order and the need for countries to engage with one another on the global stage. The ‘Look East Policy’ was one such initiative that highlighted a shift regarding India’s international relations and foreign policies. It was the success of the LEP that motivated Indian policymakers to further develop it into a more action- and outcome-based policy. As a result, the Act East Policy was announced in 2014 with a broader scope covering security, strategic, and cultural dimensions along with the previously existing focus on trade and economics. In the present geopolitical context, the Southeast Asian region is of great significance, and both India and ASEAN nations play central roles in the larger Indo-Pacific framework. The year 2024 marked the completion of a decade of India’s Act East Policy, and India-ASEAN relations have not only advanced but also entered a new phase following the launch of the policy. Therefore, the paper aims to identify the expanded vision under the current Act East Policy compared to the earlier Look East Policy, focus on the key achievements of the AEP, and explore possible avenues for ongoing cooperation between India and ASEAN. The methodology used is qualitative, relying on analytical and descriptive methods. The research primarily depends on secondary sources such as books, articles, and journals, along with primary sources like government reports and press releases.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: A Critical Review of His Intellectual, Political and Educational Legacy
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888–1958) was a prominent Indian intellectual and political leader, known as a freedom fighter, scholar, journalist, educationist, and India’s first Education Minister. His work at the intersection of religion, politics, and education made his legacy influential but often debated. This article explores Azad’s impact on Indian nationalism, Islamic reform, and nation-building, highlighting his early intellectual and journalistic efforts with Al-Hilal and Al-Balagh, which criticized colonialism and promoted anti-imperialism and pan-Islamic unity. His leadership in Congress supported inclusive nationalism and Hindu–Muslim unity, positioning him as a moderate during turbulent times, although he faced criticism from communalists and historians regarding the practicality of his ideals. Azad shaped national education policies and established institutions like the UGC, CSIR, and IITs, viewing education as essential to democracy and progress, despite difficulties in achieving universal primary education. Historians debate his legacy—while he is praised for secularism and inclusive nationalism, some critique ideological biases. These discussions reflect his complex role in India’s diversity—both inspiring and contested. Ultimately, Azad’s legacy lies in his ability to connect faith with modern ideas, tradition with reform, and nationalism with internationalism, offering enduring insights into India’s democratic, multicultural identity.
Dialogic Pedagogy as a Liberatory Praxis in Schooling: Challenging Power Dynamics and Neoliberalism in the Context of Schools in Kashmir
Dialogic pedagogy positions learners and their lived experiences at the core of education, reimagining schooling as a collaborative process of co-constructing, challenging, and reinterpreting knowledge within its social, cultural, and political contexts. This approach fosters critical consciousness, empathy, and democratic engagement, which are essential for meaningful education, particularly in conflict-affected regions like Kashmir. Amid Kashmir’s complex sociopolitical disruptions, digital divides, and educational inequities, dialogic pedagogy emerges as a transformative alternative to neoliberal, exam-driven, and authoritarian educational models. This paper situates dialogic pedagogy as a liberatory praxis within Kashmiri schooling, integrating foundational theories with recent policy reforms and grassroots innovations. Ten respondents were interviewed across the Kashmir Division as the effective sample to explore various aspects of socio-political narratives in consonance with the implications of dialogic pedagogy. It offers a nuanced critique that acknowledges local resilience, intersectional realities, and the therapeutic potential of dialogic engagement, enhanced by illustrative narratives that humanise the lived experiences of Kashmiri students and educators. The paper explores the post-traumatic development of various socio-political dimensions, where individuals have learnt to both survive and thrive in the face of adversity. The paper also focusses on the impact of the neoliberal and chronic capitalistic approach to present-day schooling, which imposes more exclusion on marginalised groups. The role of dialogic pedagogy is to rise against this notion and impose a strategic limitation on the privatisation and marketing of education, like other potential capitals. The paper suggests that dialogic pedagogy plays a significant role in the Indian context, aligning with the National Education Policy 2020 and other critical measures to promote its importance in this diverse society.
The Effectiveness of Brain Gym in Improving Cognitive, Physical, and Social Skills in Children with Special Needs in an Inclusive School: A Qualitative Study
This qualitative study explores the effectiveness of Brain Gym exercises in enhancing cognitive, physical, and social skills in children with special needs within an inclusive school setting. Brain Gym consists of 26 movement-based activities designed to support coordination, attention, and learning readiness. The study follows five students aged 5–11, each with varying developmental challenges, over a 10-month intervention period. A case study methodology was used, employing daily observation, lesson planning, and tracking of Individualised Education Plan (IEP) goals. Students participated in Brain Gym sessions three to five times per week, with movements tailored to support targeted academic and analysed behavioural goals. Results indicated noticeable improvements in areas such as attention, literacy, motor coordination, and social interaction. While outcomes varied across individuals, trends suggested Brain Gym contributed positively to classroom engagement and skill acquisition. Limitations of the study include the small sample size, absence of a control group, limited representation of the full spectrum of disabilities, potential influence of other teaching methods and therapies, and reliance on observational data without formal triangulation. Although informal feedback was received from teachers and parents, it was not systematically collected or analysed. These findings suggest that Brain Gym may be a valuable complementary tool in inclusive education, warranting further research with larger and more diverse samples and the inclusion of controlled variables.
Beyond Ad Hocism: Towards Rights based Refugee protection in India
India’s absence of a national refugee law entrenches discriminatory and securitised governance of displaced populations. Despite hosting over 200,000 refugees from Tibet, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Myanmar, India relies on ad hoc policies under immigration statutes like the Foreigners Act (1946), creating hierarchies of protection. This paper critiques India’s “strategic ambiguity” through comparative case studies of three groups: state-supported Sri Lankan Tamils (Category I), UNHCR-recognised Afghans (Category II), and criminalised Rohingya Muslims (Category III). It reveals how geopolitical interests—not vulnerability—determine rights access, with Muslim refugees systematically excluded. Legal limbo denies refugees socio-economic entitlements: Rohingya in Delhi/Jammu lack documentation for schools, healthcare, and formal work, violating constitutional guarantees. Concurrently, securitisation frames refugees as security threats, justifying deportations (e.g., MHA’s 2017 Rohingya policy) and religious exclusion under the Citizenship Amendment Act (2019). The analysis employs securitisation theory (Buzan et al.) and “crimmigration” (Stumpf) to argue that India’s policy asymmetry enables state-sanctioned discrimination. Recommendations include enacting a rights-based refugee law enshrining non-refoulement, regional cooperation via SAARC, and learning from Mizoram’s local integration of Chin refugees. Without structural reform, India’s selective humanitarianism will continue violating international norms and marginalizing the most vulnerable.
Self-Efficacy and Resilience Among Indian Classical Dancers and Non-Dancers: A Comparative Study
Since the time human beings have evolved, dance has remained an integral part in the lives of people of different cultures as it serves a medium for self-expression, transference of cultural knowledge and psycho-social development. From a historical standpoint, Indian Classical dance forms have been serving this purpose since centuries which largely remains undocumented. In this regard, the current study explores how participating in Indian classical dance may influence two important psychological traits: self-efficacy and resilience. Self-efficacy refers to a person’s confidence in their ability to succeed in specific tasks, while resilience is the ability to recover from difficulties and adapt to challenges. The study employed a cross-sectional research design using a purposive sampling method, comprising 133 participants in total 64 trained classical dancers and 69 individuals without formal dance training. Standardized questionnaires were administered to measure both self-efficacy and resilience, and the data were analyzed through an independent samples t-test. Findings indicated that classical dancers reported significantly higher self-efficacy scores (M = 32.57) compared to non-dancers (M = 29.07), suggesting that engagement in classical dance may strengthen individuals’ confidence in their abilities. In contrast, no statistically significant difference emerged between the two groups in terms of resilience, with mean scores of 46.13 for dancers and 43.04 for non-dancers. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of resilience for classical dancers (M=46.13) and non-dancers (M= 43.04). These findings suggest that Indian classical dance could be a valuable tool for improving self-belief and confidence. The study also highlights the potential for incorporating elements of classical dance into Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) to support emotional and psychological development.
Security and Surveillance at Large Religious Gatherings: Crowd Management Strategies for the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela
The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 was the most significant religious gathering of devotion and faith in the world. Over 660 million devotees bathed in sacred rivers in pursuit of spiritual liberation. Security measures and crowd management are major challenges for large-scale religious events. This paper contributes to existing literature on crowd management by examining crowd disasters, their major causes, security measures, crowd behavior, and traffic management. It assesses the coordination among various stakeholders, capacity planning, and overall organization. The paper provides a framework for risk assessment, preparedness, safety, and resource management. Its goal is to reduce the risk of incidents and ensure the safety and security of devotees during spiritual mass gatherings. Additionally, this study can aid in event management and policy development for future large-scale events, focusing on effective security strategies and strategic crowd management planning.
Poetry, Politics, and Purity: The Khari Boli–Braj Bhasha Debate in Colonial North India
This paper explores the Khari Boli–Braj Bhasha debate in colonial North India as a pivotal episode in the politics of language, where literary choices were deeply intertwined with questions of cultural identity, communal affiliation, and linguistic nationalism. At its surface, the debate appeared to center on dialectal preferences in Hindi poetry—Braj Bhasha, the classical medium of devotional verse, versus Khari Boli, the emerging standard for modern prose. However, the controversy reflected deeper ideological anxieties, shaped by the broader Hindi–Urdu controversy and the colonial state’s role in codifying linguistic identities. Supporters of Braj Bhasha viewed the adoption of Khari Boli in poetry as a potential conduit for Urdu’s influence, which they saw as threatening the purity of Hindi and its Hindu cultural roots. In contrast, proponents of Khari Boli emphasized its accessibility, standardisation, and modern potential, viewing it as essential for the future growth of Hindi literature. The debate also invoked arguments around the division of poetic and prose registers, the shared linguistic heritage of Hindi dialects, and the perceived encroachment of Persian and Arabic lexicons through Urdu. Figures like Radha Charan Goswami, Shridhar Pathak, and Pratap Narayan Mishra framed these tensions in both cultural and communal terms. Ultimately, the Khari Boli–Braj Bhasha dispute was not merely about literary form but symbolized the contestation over Hindi’s identity and its autonomy from Urdu. It reveals how literary aesthetics became a vehicle for negotiating broader social, religious, and political concerns in colonial India’s linguistically charged environment.
Unseen and Unbelieved: Crip Feminism, Narrative Agency, and Disabled Women in Global Psychological Thrillers
This study employs crip feminism, a framework integrating disability justice and feminist theory, to examine how disabled women protagonists in psychological thrillers navigate surveillance, trauma, and credibility across Western and non-Western contexts. Analyzing Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Caitlín R. Kiernan’s The Drowning Girl, Porochista Khakpour’s Sick, Yoko Ogawa’s The Memory Police, and Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer, I argue that neurodivergent, chronically ill, and mentally distressed characters subvert ableist labels of "unreliability" through fragmented narratives and embodied resistance. By juxtaposing texts from the UK, US, Japan, and Nigeria, this project reveals how race, class, and cultural context intensify scrutiny of disabled women’s voices, while digital platforms (e.g., social media, health apps) introduce new modes of surveillance. Combining close reading, comparative analysis, crip narrative theory (Siebers, Kafer), and digital ethnography of reader responses on Goodreads/BookTok, I demonstrate that these protagonists reclaim agency against medical gaslighting, institutional erasure, and societal dismissal. The research bridges gaps in feminist thriller scholarship—which overlooks disability (Philips, 2021; Cîrlig, 2022)—and disability studies, which neglects popular genres (Davis, 2017). Findings contest linear, ableist storytelling norms and highlight thrillers as sites for decolonizing literary analysis, offering new insights into inclusive narratives, intersectional oppression, and digital-age resistance.