Abstract
Electronic resource usage has proved as one of the best decision making tools in the library setups. Electronic resource usage in relation to the political disturbance can act as one of the tools to highlight the impact of political disturbance on educational setups in general and the electronic resource usage in particular. The study takes a serious look in the electronic resource usage in Kashmir and the impact of unrest on it. The paper highlights a relational platform between education and conflict studies. How conflict affects the electronic resource usage in a conflict zone has been highlighted in the study. Transaction logs in the form of COUNTER Report deliberating the usage of Project Muse journal titles at University of Kashmir were analyzed to know the extent of usage of e-resources by the academia of Kashmir during the time of conflict from a time period of January 2008- December 2010. Peace has a great role to play in the development of any community from every aspect. Political disturbance hampers the educational sector to a greater extent. The usage logs helped to reveal the actual picture of academic behaviour of Kashmiris in the time of conflict. The study clearly reflects that political disturbance has a negative effect on the educational sphere in general and electronic resource usage in particular. The study was confined to the analysis of the transactions logs generated from Project Muse at University of Kashmir. The study can lay a base for the policy makers associated with education to take some immediate and curative steps that can control the devastating effects on the academia caused because of frequent disturbances in the valley of Kashmir. The study is an eye opener for the academicians and the policy makers in Kashmir. The study will be helpful in visualizing the utility of log analysis in reflecting the ill effects of political disturbance on academic circles. The paper is first of its kind trying to link education and conflict studies of a politically simmering area, Kashmir. The research can further be extended to analyze the impact of political normalcy on the academia of Kashmir. How normalcy acts as an indicator of enhanced e-resource usage can be studied.
Highlights
Kashmir, the name in itself brings a sense of heavenly feeling as many scholars have commented on it as “Paradise on Earth” (Aggarwal & Agrawal, 1995; Jaisingh, 1998; Mohan, 2000; Inden, 2008)
The nineties have seen a dramatic escalation of the conflict in Kashmir, which has become the site of a triangular struggle between India, Pakistan and a popular movement demanding independence (Bose, 1997)
Even Roy (2011) links Kashmir’s future as a democratic, inclusive and pro-secular space to what happens with India and Pakistan which clearly reflects that the political scenario of Kashmir is highly associated with the political ties between the two nations
Summary
The name in itself brings a sense of heavenly feeling as many scholars have commented on it as “Paradise on Earth” (Aggarwal & Agrawal, 1995; Jaisingh, 1998; Mohan, 2000; Inden, 2008). The beauty and serenity of Kashmir is known all over the world. Situated between the snow clad mountains, Kashmir was in real sense a paradise, a beautiful and an enchanting place. Since late 80’s the valley of beauty and peace turned in to one of the disturbed places and highly militarized zone (Dehlvi, 2009; Navlakha, 2009). The political disturbance has hindered the peace and harmony of Kashmir valley to a greater extent. It has become a pride game between India, Pakistan and China but more between India and Pakistan. The educational system of Kashmir which was once known for all over the world has been affected because of the political dwindling that Kashmir has been witnessing from a very long time
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