Hindu Research Articles

Clinical profile and co-morbidities in children with moderate and severe acute malnutrition

Background: Malnutrition as a problem is multidimensional and multifactorial with varied clinical profiles and comorbidities. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the clinical profile and comorbidities in children suffering from malnutrition and to estimate the association of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with demographic parameters, feeding, and immunization. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 132 children with malnutrition, aged between 6 to 59 months, at Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Sitapur over 18 months. Demographic details, clinical history, clinical evaluation, anthropometric measurements, and investigations, were noted on predesigned performa. All the data were analyzed by SPSS software. A p-value<0.05 was considered significant. Result: The mean age of children with malnutrition was 25.79(15.68) months. Wasting and severe wasting among children with malnutrition were 51.5 % and 48.5% respectively. Major comorbidities were diarrhoea (70.5%), severe anemia (67.4%), pneumonia (62.9%), vitamin A deficiency (59.8%), sepsis (54.6%), urinary tract infection (54.5%), vitamin D deficiency (35.6%), worm infestation (30.3%), and tuberculosis (28.8%). A significant association of malnutrition was found with children of younger age (p<0.0001), Hindu religion (p<0.0001), not exclusively breastfed (p=0.004), delayed initiation of complementary feeding (p=0.029), and incomplete immunization (p=0.006). Conclusion: Malnutrition is closely linked to poor infant and young child feeding practices. Malnourished children suffer from various infections and micronutrient deficiencies. Adequate and timely nutritional support plays a vital role in breaking the vicious cycle of undernutrition-disease-undernutrition resulting in recovery.

Understanding of menstruation among school going adolescent girls in Delhi: a cross-sectional study

Background: Menstrual hygiene is a multi-dimensional concept. Social inhibitions and the negative attitude of people in discussing menstruation related issues openly prevents the adolescent girls from getting the right kind of information. Methods: We conducted a school based cross sectional study in Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in North Delhi to assess the understanding of menstruation among school going adolescent girls by using a pre- designed, pre-tested, self - administered questionnaire in Hindi language from August to November 2023 (4 months). Students of classes 6th to 10th were included in the study. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 13.4±1 years and ranged from 11 to 16 years. Sixty-three percent of the girls had no or incorrect understanding of menstruation. Among the participants who remain absent during menses (45%), the most frequently reported reason is feeling uncomfortable (26.9%) followed by feeling ill (4.5%) and excessive bleeding (4.5%). As for the site of menstrual bleed, we got varied responses; 46 (29.5%) students reported it to be from vagina, 26 (16.7%) from uterus, 11(7.1%) from stomach and 47 (30.1%) reported it to be from urethra. Conclusions: There was a lack of understanding and awareness on menstruation among adolescent girls. To improve the knowledge of adolescent girls and address their hesitancy about menstruation, Balika Manch programs should be organized at school and in the community so that they may share the problems faced by them at various facets of life.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the "impact on participation and autonomy" (IPA) questionnaire in Indian population with spinal cord injury.

An observational study design. To translate the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire (IPAQ) into the Hindi language and to assess the test-retest reliability of the supplemental data in the Indian spinal cord injury (SCI) population. Delhi. The English version of the IPAQ was translated into the Hindi language following the standardized Beaton guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of self-reports. Reliability and validity were assessed in 80 subjects with SCI. Content validity was estimated using quantitative and qualitative methods. Internal consistency reliability was assessed in 20 participants. For test-retest reliability, 30 participants completed the IPAQ-H twice, one week apart. Subjects (N = 80) who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study after obtaining their informed consent. The IPAQ was translated into the Hindi language using the six-step Beaton guidelines, which were approved by the translators, expert panel members, subjects with SCI, and developers of the original English version of the IPAQ. Content validity estimation showed that all the items in the questionnaire were retained. The IPAQ-H has excellent internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha -0.942) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC single measure-0.568 and mean measure-0.929. The supplemental data is a methodological step in translating the IPAQ into Hindi for a Hindi-literate population with high test-retest reliability. Healthcare practitioners can use the supplemental data as a valuable tool to gain clinical insights into the efficacy of IPA in the Indian Hindi-speaking population with SCI.

Supposititious Sarcasm Detection and Sentiment Analysis Coping Hindi Language in Social Networks Harnessing Zipf- Mandelbrot Probabilistic Optimisation and Perplexity Entropy Learning

Supposititious Sarcasm Detection and Sentiment Analysis Coping Hindi Language in Social Networks Harnessing Zipf- Mandelbrot Probabilistic Optimisation and Perplexity Entropy Learning

A social psychological investigation of “Anti-nationalism” in contemporary India – A media analysis

The paper aims to explore the consensual and dissident social representations of “anti-national” that has re-entered the media lexicon in India post an alleged “anti-national” student protest in Jawaharlal Nehru University in the capital city of Delhi, India on February 9, 2016. The Social Representation Theory (SRT) is used to analyze the selected media reports of six daily newspapers, three each in English and Hindi language for a period of one year subsequent to the event. Results of thematic anchoring and anchoring by antinomy, a methodology used by Birgitta Höijer, are reported. The results reveal how the intergroup tensions and ideological differences in the polity constitute the conflicting social thinking on the referent. The paper has global implication for opening the possibilities of negotiation and transformation of social meanings related to nationalism and anti-nationalism.

Effectiveness of menstrual hygiene management training to enhance knowledge, attitude, and practice among adolescents in Sindhupalchowk, Nepal.

Menstrual Health (MH) knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) are highly affected by access to information regarding menstruation. Despite being included in the school curriculum, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) education is often not delivered in practice. School-based educational interventions have been shown to be effective in promoting MH. A school-based study was conducted in Indrawati rural municipality of Sindhupalchowk district in Nepal. 427 participants (175 boys and 252 girls), aged 11-13, completed a questionnaire evaluating MH KAP before receiving a structured training module on MH provided by experienced trainers from Putali Nepal using the Menstrupedia tool. The questionnaire was repeated one month after the training. Pre and post intervention scores were compared to determine the effect of the intervention. Focus group discussions were also conducted to understand the perceptions of participants toward SRH teaching. Association of independent socio-demographic with dependent variables knowledge and attitude towards menstrual health were analyzed using MANOVA test. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the median outcome of the pre and post-test attitude and knowledge. The maximum possible score was 6 for MH knowledge. The total attitude score ranged 14 to 70. The median knowledge score increased by 1 point (p = <0.001) and the median attitude score by 5 points (p = <0.001), one month after delivery of the intervention. Higher knowledge scores were significantly associated with Hindu religion, female gender, higher father's literacy, and mothers in an informal occupation on multivariate analysis. Higher attitude scores were significantly associated with Hindu religion while lower attitude scores were associated with a mother in an informal occupation. The Menstrupedia comic educational intervention improved knowledge and attitude towards menstruation among Nepali adolescents. A scale-up of the Menstrupedia based intervention would significantly change knowledge and attitude towards menstruation in Nepali adolescents.

YouTube Hindi Videos Proved to be a Valid and Reliable Source of Health Information: A Case Study of COVID-19 Vaccine

Background: When the coronavirus vaccine was launched, many Hindi language videos on YouTube were uploaded and audiences were accessing these videos in good numbers. However, the scientific evaluation of these videos was never done. There is a need to understand the accuracy, validity, and quality of these videos so that they can further be utilized for other health awareness purposes. The study objective was to evaluate the validity, quality, and accuracy of the Hindi videos that were viewed the most on YouTube. Material and Methods: Two search terms, “COVID-19 Vaccine–Hindi” and “Corona vaccine Hindi,” were used, and the most viewed 50 videos were selected. All the videos were manually coded and statistically evaluated. Two public health researchers evaluated all the videos blinded to each other using the DISCERN, GQS, and JAMA scales. The correlation score was calculated to know the agreement between them. Scores of professionals and news-based organizations were also compared. Results: Out of all 50 videos, professionals uploaded 48% of videos, and news-based organizations uploaded 46% of videos. The DISCERN median was found to be 9.00 (5–10), the JAMA median score was 6.00 (3–8), and the DISCERN score was 40.50 (16–49). DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS scores were also calculated separately for both observers, and no statistically significant difference was found. Between both the observer’s agreement was found with statistical significance. Conclusion: YouTube was found to be an excellent source of information on the coronavirus vaccine in the Hindi language. Almost all 50 videos had wide viewership, so health professionals and news media organizations cannot ignore this popular platform to improve the health awareness of citizens in a developing country like India.

HearingHands : Amplifying the Voices of Deaf Community

Natural language, sign language employs several modes of expression for everyday communication. Researchers have paid less attention to ISL interpretation than other forms of sign language. This paper introduces an automatic technique for translating manual letter movements into Hindi sign language. Because it works with pictures of bare hands, the user may interact with the device naturally. System gives deaf individuals the chance to interact with hearing people without the use of an interpreter. This paper goal is to develop techniques and a system for automatically recognizing Hindi sign language. The creation of a Hindi Sign Language database is the initial stage in this system. The most important stage in any hand gesture recognition system is hand segmentation since higher recognition rates may be attained with better segmented output. To improve identification rates, the suggested system additionally incorporates reliable and effective hand segmentation and tracking algorithms. Using a large sample set, it has been shown to be feasible to recognise 43 different words from the Standard Hindi sign language. We want to be able to convert certain very basic parts of sign language into text in the suggested system and vice versa in Hindi. In this paper, we present a number of new features and prospective advancements:The emphasis on real-time systems that recognize and interpret sign language motions from live video input is one noteworthy advance. With the use of this feature, people who use sign language and others can communicate instantly without any delays or middlemen. Integration of Speech Synthesis and Hand Gesture Recognition: This innovative approach to communication accessibility combines speech synthesis and hand gesture recognition technology. The paper provides a comprehensive solution for promoting engagement and understanding between the deaf community and others who communicate primarily through spoken language by translating gestures from sign language into intonation-rich speech.

The Hindu Religion Values Illustrated in Bhagavad Gita For Students and Beginners of Ramananda Prasad

The perception that Hindu religious education is challenging to comprehend due to its complex philosophical language is becoming obsolete in today’s modern context. This study explores the educational values embedded within 26 illustrated stories in the Bhagavad Gita (For Students and Beginners) by Ramananda Prasad. Although universal in nature, these stories often obscure the explicit Hindu religious educational values they convey. As a foundational aspect of personal development, understanding Hindu educational values aids in building self-competence for students and beginners. This study aims to identify and analyze the concept of Hindu religious education values and their presence in the illustrated stories of the Bhagavad Gita by Ramananda Prasad. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative reference method, this research delves into the textual content of the Bhagavad Gita, interpreting its values and their application. The findings reveal that Hindu religious education is a comprehensive framework for imparting knowledge, attitudes, personality, and practical skills aligned with Hindu teachings, specifically related to the Tri Jnana Sandhi (three fundamental aspects of knowledge: Jnana, Vijnana, and Ajna). Three primary educational values emerge from the analysis: religious values, emphasizing devotion and spiritual practice; moral values, focusing on ethical behavior and integrity; and compassion values, highlighting empathy and care for others. In conclusion, the illustrated stories in Ramananda Prasad’s Bhagavad Gita serve as an accessible medium for conveying Hindu educational values, transforming complex teachings into relatable narratives that resonate with both students and beginners in their spiritual and personal growth.

What do we know and how do we act: knowledge, attitude and practices around antimicrobial resistance

Background: The overuse and misuse of antibiotics has influenced a rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) thereby posing a significant threat to global health. Information on AMR has been available to the public; however, a gap exists in relay of information due to lack of effective interventions. This study focuses on exploring the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among rural, semi-urban and urban populations from Delhi NCR, India. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional questionnaire based online survey conducted across rural, semi-urban and urban areas of Delhi NCR for one month (June-July 2024). The questionnaire comprising 28 close-ended questions was administered in English and Hindi languages to participants aged 15-80 years. The questionnaire focused on knowledge, awareness and practices of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance. Results: A total of 500 participants attempted the survey out of which 435 (87%) were aware about antibiotics. About 479 (95.8%) participants had earlier consumed antibiotics out of which 336/497 (70.1%) participants consumed antibiotics prescribed by doctors. Among 479 participants, 253 (52.8%) completed the course however 311 (69.1%) of the participants kept the antibiotics for reuse. Nearly 191/479 (39.9%) participants practiced antibiotics misuse by consumption of antibiotics when having similar symptoms as previously observed. The assessment of participants revealed that only 216/500 (43.2%) participants were knowledgeable about AMR. The participants aware of AMR agreed that the antibiotic practices of reuse (n=69/216, 31.9%), poor quality (n=87/216, 40.3%), lower dosage (n=81/216, 37.5%) and not completion of course (n=77/216, 35.6%) can result in AMR. Conclusions: The study highlights that despite the participants being informed about antibiotics and followed medical advice their practice of reusing antibiotics raises the need for tailored interventions to promote awareness about AMR and appropriate use of antibiotics.

Glorifying my gods: cultural politics of statue making, Hindu symbolism, and power iconography

ABSTRACT This paper examines the recent emergence of statue-making in India, a powerful political-cultural state apparatus. Statue-making commemorates historical figures and events, thereby recreating dominant cultural narratives. The study focuses on how the Modi government has favoured Hindu culture and iconography through statue-making, particularly reinforcing the revival of Hindu visuals in public space. The paper uses qualitative approaches and data analysis investigating contemporary Indian statues as examples to investigate the complex relationship between statue-making and cultural politics. It highlights the conflicts that arise when monuments become contested sites. The paper argues that statue-making in India is a significant cultural practice that reflects and influences the political landscape. This Hindu iconography challenges the secular ideals of leaders like Nehru and Ambedkar, reshaping India’s religious and cultural identities through Modi’s policies, which feature statues and Hindu symbolism in public spaces.

Effectiveness of Using Google Translate in Second Language Learning: A Study Based on Hindi and Sinhala Languages

Google Translate and other machine translation programmes are starting to change how language is taught and learned. Language instructors and expert translators might have laughed at machine-generated writing a few years ago. At least some language pairings and texts contain both learner-created and machine-created languages due to the transition from statistical machine translation to more recent neural machine translation techniques that use artificial neural networks, and it can be challenging to discern between machine-created and learner-created languages. The present study aims to examine students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of using the Google Translate tool when translating academic documents. The participants of this study were 25 students who are currently studying for their Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Hindi as a second language at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. This study reveals that students tend to use Google Translate depending on the complexity of a certain document and the availability of relevant dictionaries. Furthermore, most students found it useful to use Google Translate, and they prefer partial translation. The majority of students agree that they post-edit the translation using Google Translate. This research also suggests strategies that can be adapted to use Google Translate effectively.

Cross cultural adaptation and validation of the Hindi version of foot function index

BackgroundThe Foot Function Index (FFI) is a reliable and widely used standardized questionnaire that measures the impact of foot pathology on function. With 571 million Hindi-speaking people living globally and an increasing incidence of foot-related pathologies, it is imperative to cross-culturally translate and adapt a Hindi version of the FFI (FFI-Hi). We aimed to translate, cross-cultural adapt, and psychometrically test the FFI-Hi for use in Hindi-speaking individuals with foot conditions.MethodsThe translation of FFI-Hi was performed according to guidelines given by MAPI Research Trust. A total of 223 Hindi-speaking participants afflicted with foot conditions completed the FFI-Hi alongside the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire. The study duration spanned between October 2023 and January 2024. The initial phase was the translation and adaptation of FFI to cultural context. Followed by testing of psychometric properties involving of 133 participants for the test-retest reliability of FFI-Hi after a 7-day interval.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 47.10 (± 8.1) years. The majority of the participants were male (n = 148, 66.4%) and the most common foot condition was plantar fasciopathy (n = 91, 40.8%). The mean score of FF-Hi was 33.7 ± 11.7. The internal consistency of FFI-Hi was good with the Cronbach’s alpha (α) value of 0.891 and excellent reproducibility with the intra-class correlation of 0.90. The 95% minimal detectable change (MCD) and the standard error of measurement of the FFI-Hi was 22.02 and 7.94 respectively. Convergent validity between FFI-Hi subscales and SF-36 domains was moderate. Factor analysis corroborated the multidimensional nature of the FFI-Hi.ConclusionThe FFI-Hindi version was successfully cross-culturally adapted, translated and demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties to be used in clinical practice and research. Further, the context-specific Hindi language version of FFI will enhance the utility of FFI in foot function evaluation and remove language barrier in patients reporting disability and activity limitation related to foot conditions.RegistrationClinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2023/07/055734).

Worship in Hindu Religion: Study in Origins and Ritual Developments

Worship in Hindu Religion: Study in Origins and Ritual Developments

Transliteration and translation of Hindi language using integrated domain-based Auto-encoder

The main objective of translation is to translate words' meanings from one language to another; in contrast, transliteration does not translate any contextual meanings between languages. Transliteration, as opposed to translation, just considers the individual letters that make up each word. In this paper an Integrated deep neural network transliteration and translation model (NNTT) based autoencoder model is developed. The model is segmented into transliteration model and translation model; the transliteration involves the process of converting text from one script to another evaluated on the Dakshina dataset wherein Hindi typically uses a sequence-to-sequence model with an attention mechanism, the translation model is trained to translate text from one language to another. Translation models regularly use a sequence-to-sequence model performed on the WAT (Workshop on Asian Translation) 2021 dataset with an attention mechanism, similar to the one used in the transliteration model for Hindi. The proposed NNTT model merges the in-domain and out-domain frameworks to develop a training framework so that the information is transferred between the domains. The results evaluated show that the proposed model works effectively in comparison with the existing system for the Hindi language.

Hindi Newspapers Perspectives on the Israel-Hamas War

This article delves into the coverage of the Israel-Hamas war by the Hindi media in India since October 7, 2023. The analysis concentrates on eight prominent Hindi dailies, namely, Danik Bhaskar, Danik Jagran, Amar Ujala, Hindustan, Jansatta, Rajasthan Patrika, Prabhat Khabar, and Punjab Kesari. There were divergent perspectives on Israel-Hamas War that are highlighted by the choices of language and the argumentation that the authors and editors justified through historical, religious and moral viewpoints. However, a nuanced narrative also emerges, reflecting the support of Indian perspective and interests. The article contributes to understanding how the Hindi-speaking public perceives this historical conflict within India’s overall foreign policy framework.

EduAssist: Chatbot for Student Admission Queries

Across engineering institutes, inquiries from students and parents surge during the admission period, covering topics like admissions processes, eligibility, college details, fees, curriculums, scholarships, and placements. Current methods like calls, emails, and visits are inefficient, leading to delays and higher workloads for staff. An AI-powered chatbot using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and NLP offers a solution by providing 24/7 instant, accurate, and personalized responses in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, and regional languages. It automates answers to common questions, enhancing access to key information, easing staff workload, and improving the overall user experience.

Validation, Adaptation and Assessment of Orofacial Esthetic Scale in Hindi Language

Abstract Context: The Hindi version of the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES) captures esthetic preferences and concerns specific to Hindi-speaking populations, making it more accessible to a wider audience. It also facilitates clear communication between healthcare professionals and patients, enhancing understanding and interactions. It facilitates cross-cultural research and helps improve healthcare equity by ensuring quality healthcare services tailored to the needs of the population. Aims: The aim of the study was to adapt and assess the Hindi version of the Orofacial Esthetic Scale-Hindi version (OES-H), validated for subjects needing or not needing prosthodontic treatment. Settings and Design: The study was conducted in the prosthodontic department of the institution. Patient recruitment was carried out consecutively until the required test population size of 162 patients was achieved. Patients were categorized into three groups based on their treatment requirements: No treatment (NT) requiring group, prosthodontic treatment (PT) requiring group, and esthetic prosthodontic treatment (EPT) requiring group. Patient recruitment for the NT group occurred during routine hygiene check-ups, while recruitment for the PT and EPT groups took place at the commencement of PT. Methods and Materials: The OES-H was obtained through a cross-culture adaptation process. The psychometric properties of the obtained version were then observed in a group of 54 prosthodontic and 54 non-prosthodontic patients and 54 patients requiring EPT. Statistical Analysis Used: Discriminant and convergent validity and reliability were measured. Results: The OES-H scores were found to be significantly higher for subjects not requiring EPT. Conclusions: The OES-H can be used as an effective tool for measuring the self-perceived aesthetic appearance in dental practice and research.

Balinese Lexicons Related to Segehan Offerings: An Ecolinguistics Study

Balinese Hindu Religion has various types of offerings from the simple ones to the most extravagant ones. Segehan is one of the simplest offerings conducted to maintain the harmony of nature and humans. The word segehan comes from the word suguh with the suffix –an, which means an offering presented to the manifestation of God in the form of Bhuta Kala in the hope of maintaining harmony and balance in nature. This offering is for the Bhuta Kala. This article aims to map the Balinese lexicons related to Segehan and the types of segehan by applying an ecolinguistics approach. Ecolinguistics discusses in detail how the environment influences the use of language in a community. The research is qualitatively conducted in Marga Village Tabanan and Badung Bali Indonesia. The Balinese Lexicons related to Segehan showed that there are lexicons related to nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Meanwhile, the types of Segehan are Segehan Putih Kuning, Segehan Barak, Segehan Selem, Segehan Manca Warna, Segehan Lelipi, Segehan Wong-Wongan, Segehan Agung, and Segehan Cacah.

Implementasi Kebijakan Merdeka Belajar Pada Mata Pelajaran Pendidikan Agama Hindu Dan Budi Pekerti Di Sekolah Vidya Karuna Ubung Kaja Denpasar

Education must adapt to the needs of each era, one of which is an education system that can encourage adaptation to change and become lifelong learners. Hindu Religious Education is one of the media to transform divine and humanitarian values ​​in social, national, and state life which is developed to create an advanced generation in various sectors of life. Vidya Karuna School uses the merdeka belajar policy reference as a direction for future learning that provides opportunities for teachers and students to think freely, innovate freely, and learn independently and creatively to achieve the learning objectives of Hindu Religious Education and Character Education. The purpose of this study was to determine how the implementation, obstacles and efforts, and implications of the merdeka belajar policy are in the subjects of Hindu Religious Education and Character Education. The data collection methods used in this study were observation, interviews, and literature studies. The data that had been collected were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive analysis method with steps of reduction, data presentation, drawing conclusions, and presenting the results of data analysis. Based on the overall data obtained, it can be seen that in implementing the merdeka belajar policy in Hindu Religion and Character Education, there are several stages, namely the process, implementation, and evaluation. To implement the merdeka belajar policy in the subjects of Hindu Religion and Character Education at Vidya Karuna School, teachers use several methods and strategies in learning that are adjusted to the stage of child development at each phase. The goal is to make Hindu Religion learning more effective, and interesting, and can create a pleasant learning atmosphere. In the implementation of the merdeka belajar policy, there are also several obstacles consisting of internal and external obstacles. The implications of the merdeka belajar policy in the subjects of Hindu Religion and Character Education at Vidya Karuna School are implemented using the 4C approach, developing innovative learning models.