Indian Perceptions Research Articles

Do two-wheeler riders propel towards autonomous driving? A path-based probabilistic study in Indian context

Regardless of the rational benefits of autonomous vehicle adoption towards mitigating mobility goals in urban and sub-urban areas of middle-income countries, adoption of such technology remains thought-provoking. Two wheeled vehicles are often utilized extensively all over the world for short distance trips in sub-urban areas. The present study investigates perceived risks of using four wheeled autonomous vehicles by captive two-wheeler riders for long and short distance trips in densely populated Indian cities. Theoretical autonomous vehicle technology acceptance models were modified considering Indian perceptions in this study. Offline stated preference responses were collected from various universities, open public spaces and governmental organizations of various cities within India. Structural equation models (SEM) and Random Forest (RF) were employed to generate meaningful insights from the surveys conducted. Random Forest (RF) analysis concluded that bicycle riders show medium to low levels of trust towards behavioural adoption intention of autonomous vehicles. According to proposed structural equation models, interest to adopt or willingness to buy autonomous vehicles for two wheeled vehicle users is mostly influenced by perceived trust and risk rather than perceived concerns/benefits for middle and old age groups in India. Perceived ease of use has the most significant marginal effects on two-wheeler riders' perceived risks towards autonomous vehicle adoption, which accounted for more than 20 % of unexplained variance. Results from this research may offer insightful diversity of attitudes towards adoption of autonomous vehicle technologies in India through the means of increased efficiency and reduced travel time and costs along with riders’ risks towards privacy and safety.

Challenges of biomedical research collaboration in India: Perceptions of Indian and international researchers

Biomedical research collaborations are to be contextualized in the larger global health agenda which also opens up new information pathways, expands research networks, and brings additional resources. A qualitative inquiry was employed to understand the perceived benefits and challenges of research collaborations by biomedical scientists from India (Global South [GS] country) and the Global North (GN). In-depth interviews were conducted with 47 biomedical scientists from India and 06 from the GN. The data was analyzed using the grounded theory approach. Complementarity of skills and resources, access to funds, improved quality of work, an opportunity to conduct multi-centric studies, development of collaborative networks, better and larger number of publications, mutual learning, opportunity to work with credible researchers, address common interests, leverage interpersonal and trusted relationships and larger societal good were some of the critical factors for eagerness of participants in joint scientific endeavors. However, the challenging aspects of dissent and disagreements were the power imbalance between the collaborators, the development of a trust deficit, and local administrative issues. The challenges reported in the current publication, also echoed in several previous publications can be surmounted and negotiated amicably when the rules of the game, law of the land, sharing of the credits, and interest of the collaborating parties are addressed and agreed up in a fair and just manner before the start of the collaboration. Overall biomedical partnerships are complex collaborations with its challenges, the processes are dynamic and outcomes are emergent. This requires constant and proactive evolution of the preparation, implementation and sustainability of the collaborative efforts be it national or international.

Unveiling the dynamics of social engagement and subjective health in older adults: A gendered perspective

ObjectivesAs populations age globally, understanding the dynamics that influence the well-being of older individuals become increasingly crucial. The research employs a comprehensive approach to unravel the multifaceted interplay between social engagements and subjective health perceptions of older Indians, with a special focus on gender differences. Subjects and methodsThis study used data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) wave 1, 2017–18 with a total sample of 30,533 older adults aged 60 years and above. Bivariate analysis, chi-square tests and unadjusted and adjusted average marginal effects from logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between social engagements and subjective health among older adults, stratified by gender. ResultsThe prevalence of poor health status decreased with higher frequency of social networks among both men (pp. (percentage point) = 6.1; CI (Confidence Interval): 10.6, 1.6) and women (pp. = 9.2; CI: 14.9, 3.4). The adjusted average marginal effects demonstrate that with an increase in the overall score of social engagement, the likelihood of poor health is almost reduced by half. For men, the prevalence of poor health was 9.8 pp. (95 % CI: 13.7, 5.8), while for women, it was 9.3 pp. (95 % CI: 15.2, 3.1). ConclusionGendered perspectives unveil unique patterns, highlighting how societal expectations and roles assigned to each gender may influence the subjective health perceptions of older individuals. This study adds to the expanding knowledge base to enhance the well-being and fulfillment of aging populations, considering the complex interplay of social dynamics and gendered perspectives.

What is the teacher's perception towards using blended learning during Covid-19? Comparative study: Israel, Jordan, Indian and Czech Republic teachers

The paper aimed to identify the perceptions of Israeli, Jordanian, Indian, and Czech Republic teachers about using blended learning during COVID-19. A quantitative method was adopted in which a questionnaire was used to collect the data from (1498), from Israel (320), Jordan (338), Indian (480) and Czech (360) teachers, The questionnaire contains 30 items divided into three dimensions: educational dimension , learning dimension and educational environment dimension), The results of this study showed a high degree of use of blended learning among Israeli teachers, a moderate one among Jordanians, and a low It also showed statistically significant differences attributed to gender and the type of school among Israeli teachers. Contrary to the Jordanians and Czechs, all the countries realize the potential of blended learning to improve educational outcomes. The author recommends that to maximize the benefits of blended learning in these conditions, challenges such as infrastructural restrictions, teacher training, and equal access to technology must be addressed, The authors concluded that the implementation of Bl as a learning strategy depends on two factors: the readiness of the teachers to implement it and the willingness of the system to meet the needs.

ИНДИЯ В ВОЕННОЙ ПРОПАГАНДЕ ПАКИСТАНА: ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ ОБРАЗА ВРАГА

The relations between Pakistan and India have always been hostile. The disagreements between them had a significant impact on the formation of the images of these countries. Pakistani leaders’ perception of India is an example of the enemy image concept. The constant attribution to India of hostile intentions towards Pakistan is the evidence of it. In addition, the religious factor that was basic for the creation of Pakistan, contributed to the division of Muslims and Hindus into “friends” and “foes” and, as a result, added to the opposition between Pakistanis and Indians in the main. The generals who had ruled Pakistan directly for almost 30 years contributed to the creation of the enemy image of India. General Muhammad Ayub Khan was the first to start using the idea of an “aggressive neighbor” in order to unite the Pakistanis. The journals of the Pakistan army, as well as the political autobiographies of the military leaders, indicate that the development of the enemy image of the neighboring state was gradual: the generations of Pakistani officers perceived India differently. However, the tendency to demonize India can be seen as growing within every generation. The image of the neighboring country has a direct impact on the policy of Pakistan towards that country.

The Impact of Consumer Culture on Innovation Adoption in Developing Countries

There is limited research on the factors that influence people’s continued use of mobile payments in developing countries, and it is likely that these factors vary from country to country. This study aims to explore how the factors affecting the continued use of mobile payments differ between Jordan and India, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) as a framework. Additionally, this study extends the UTAUT2 model by including other factors such as trust, advertising value, payment culture, awareness, smartphone experience, and satisfaction. The study employs the fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach to rank the factors that affect the intention to continue using mobile payments. The results suggest that price value and payment culture have the greatest influence on both Jordanian and Indian perceptions. Furthermore, habit was found to be the third most important factor affecting Jordanian perceptions, while smartphone experience was the third most significant factor affecting Indian perceptions.

Theorizing the Adivasi’s absence in partition histories: indigenes, refugees, and the settler state in Dandakaranya forest

ABSTRACT This research article examines the contest between indigenous forest-dwelling communities and settler colonial policy in post-Partition central India. According to official estimates, from 1961–71 the population of indigenous communities declined by nearly 50% in Dandakaranya within central India even as overall the population grew by a large margin during the same period. Despite perceptions of India as a post-colony committed to decolonization, this article examines how this state project, one of the earliest acts of governmentality, was deeply implicated in a settler colonial logic of elimination. Following the mass migration of Partition refugees in 1947 across newly demarcated borders, the Indian government earmarked Dandakaranya Forest as the site of a refugee resettlement project for lower-caste Partition refugees from East Bengal (now Bangladesh). Drawing on Lorenzo Veracini’s notion of ‘probationary settlers’ as exogenous others without prior claims to land, refugees are understood within this argument as probationary settlers reliant on the state for their survival. Rather than narrating the biography of the state through its various experts and institutions, this paper foregrounds the perspective of the marginalized on their environment: displaced forest-dwelling indigenous communities and lower-caste (Dalit) refugees.

Attainment of Moksha in Kashi: A Qualitative Investigation

Death-related beliefs and actions have changed over the course of human history.
 This study is a thematic examination of people who travel to Kashi, the Hindu sacred
 city, to die at the end of their lives. Pilgrims who arrive in Kashi to die anticipate a
 specific spiritual recompense called moksha, which is variously interpreted as freedom
 from rebirth or a good rebirth. This dissertation sought to highlight the sociohistorical
 epoch defined by a profusion of scholarly literary works on death and dying, as well as
 a surge in social movements trying to improve the way people die. To acquire a thorough
 knowledge of the motivations for attaining Moksha, particularly in Kashi, the study
 utilised a qualitative methodology. Thematic analysis has been used to dive into the
 perceptions of the participants and present a comprehensive description of their
 motivation. A semi-structured interview guide based on Indian and western literature
 reports was employed to obtain data. After interviewing 10 people, theme saturation
 was reached. Results revealed how Indian philosophical and religious notions, such as
 Karma, Dharma, Atman, and the concept of rebirth, have a significant impact on
 Indian perceptions of spirituality at the end of life.

Perception of India by Soviet people in 1953-1964

Perception of India by Soviet people in 1953-1964

From Conceptual Idea to Strategic Reality: ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy’ from the Perspective of Chinese Scholars

Chinese scholars’ research on “Indo-Pacific Strategy” has undergone two shifts. Firstly, they began to pay limited attention to the Indo-Pacific concept and the US Indo-Pacific regional strategy in 2013. With 2017 and 2018 as the turning point, the attention to the Indo-Pacific strategy shows a significant increase. Secondly, regarding the scholars’ judgment of the Indo-Pacific strategy, since the end of 2019, they reach a consensus on their assessment of the strategy, especially on its threat to China. The two main reasons that drove the above shifts were the enrichment of the Indo-Pacific Strategy by the United States and China’s perception of India’s attitudes. China’s official responses to the strategy have shown a co-moving rhythm with scholars’ research, shifting from a more open and neutral attitude toward the concept to a critical one. Against the background of America’s continuing effort to implement the Indo-Pacific strategy, China’s policy responses can focus on three aspects: do a good job of itself, handle China-US relations peacefully and cooperatively, and break down the group politics.

Indian Perceptions of the US: A Study of Indian Surveys and Public Opinion

The Indian public has traditionally had very little say in the making of foreign policy. However, they do have views on foreign policy and the media and elites play an important role in influencing them. What do Indians think about the US, the most important power in the world and about the bilateral relations between New Delhi and Washington? Have the views of Indians on the US evolved over the years and what do Indians think about India’s future ties with the US? This article examines these questions and traces historically Indian views of the US and how they have evolved over the years. The article uses available data from opinion polls and studies based on opinion polls. A descriptive analytical approach is used for the study. Keywords: Perception, Public opinion, USA, India, Survey

Twitter-Based Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modeling of Social Media Posts Using Natural Language Processing, to Understand People's Perspectives Regarding COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Shots in India: Crucial to Expanding Vaccination Coverage.

This study analyzed perceptions of Indians regarding COVID-19 booster dose vaccines using natural language processing techniques, particularly, sentiment analysis and topic modeling. We analyzed tweets generated by Indian citizens for this study. In late July 2022, the Indian government hastened the process of COVID-19 booster dose vaccinations. Understanding the emotions and concerns of the citizens regarding the health policy being implemented will assist the government, health policy officials, and policymakers implement the policy efficiently so that desired results can be achieved. Seventy-six thousand nine hundred seventy-nine tweets were used for this study. The sentiment analysis study revealed that out of those 76,979 tweets, more than half (n = 40,719 tweets (52.8%) had negative sentiments, 24,242 tweets (31.5%) had neutral sentiments, and 12,018 tweets (15.6%) had positive sentiments. Social media posts by Indians on the COVID-19 booster doses have focused on the feelings that younger people do not need vaccines and that vaccinations are unhealthy.

Nepal, China and ‘Belt and Road Initiative’: Prospects and Challenges

At a time when the push towards a ‘decoupling’ from China has gained significant traction, debates with regard to the favourability of the conditions of China–Nepal engagement within the BRI framework acquire significance. Despite being signed in 2017, it remains to be seen whether the ‘terms’ of the BRI framework has positive consequences for Nepal or not. Against this backdrop, and through a discussion of the larger contours of (under)development in Nepal, Nepal–China relations and perceptions of India, we argue that BRI in Nepal indicates an attempt to reframe Nepal’s geo-strategic position. This assertion undergirds the pivotal role of polyamorous cooperation envisioned by Nepal—both in the context of Sino-India relations and in staking its agency towards an ‘independent’ foreign policy. However, this attempt, we argue, will be constrained by the concrete, unresolved issues of BRI investments in Nepal as well as by the larger power (im)balances.

Inter-Cultural Interactions in EFL Classroom

Interculture communication is very important aspect of EFL classroom. Students learn tons of new things in classes like these. They get to understand the culture of different places and learn the true meaning of competence. This study investigated the place of culture and intercultural communicat ion in Indian EFL classrooms and Indian students' perceptions on Imperatives for studying Intercultural Communication. Students needed for the new cultural and intercultural knowledge in EFL classrooms and hoped that curriculum can meet their needs on intercultural communication competence, and students are aware and hope to institutional and EFL lecturers to create intercultural environment and encourage effective intercultural dialogue in EFL classrooms in order to achieve: pedagogical, personal development, peace, economic, demographic, and ethical imperatives of intercultural communication . Each individual belongs to a special group. Every person characterized by different ways of thinking, behaviors, rituals, clothes, beliefs, values, and norms.

American Indians’ Attitudes Toward the Appropriateness of Use of Force by the Police

Individuals’ perceptions of law enforcement officers and their actions are important for understanding personal criminality, police legitimacy, and legal cynicism. Race and ethnicity play a role in shaping these perceptions, however little work has been done to understand American Indian perceptions. We employ the General Social Survey to assess how American Indians compare to individuals of other races regarding their approval of police use of force. American Indians are less supportive of police use of force than whites. However, when compared to other people of color, American Indians are more supportive of use of force across five different police-citizen types of encounters. We conclude by examining the importance of considering different racial and ethnic views on legal authority.

The Conflicting Identities: India v Kashmir

Although the perceptions of Kashmiris and Indians toward one another have not been particularly pleasant since before the implementation of Article 370, this paper demonstrates how, following its abolition, it has become nearly impossible for a person to be both Kashmiri and Indian at the same time, with the two identities standing in contrast with each other. While the abrogation may be the catalyst for the process, there is a long history stretching all the way back to the Dogra era that has culminated in the predicament before us. This article, while analysing the issue through the colonial and settlercolonial lens to analyse the antithetical identities, also demonstrates how the autonomy of Kashmir and privileges of Kashmiris have been eroded.

Indian Perception and Willingness to Buy Indian Brands: The Role of Ethnocentrism and Animosity

Indian goods have invaded the Indian market, leading to a serious confusion to local enterprises. Despite increased sentiment, Indian product and India's consumer relationship remains tainted by suspicion, antagonism, and distrust. As a result, it's important to know how buyers discriminate between domestic and foreign items. The impact of ethnocentrism, customer antipathy, socioeconomic standing, and personal self-esteem on purchase intention toward Indian products is investigated in this study. The findings show that consumers in developing countries have very different views and behaviors than their counterparts in rich countries. The link between ethnocentrism and consumer resentment is not as strong as one might think. Indians' buy intentions are influenced by their personal self-esteem and customer animosity, while ethnocentrism and socioeconomic class play a role. Status, on the other hand, has no such effect. The goal of the study is to add to the current knowledge on foreign product purchase intentions and to assist marketers in developing marketing mix tactics. Keywords: Brand image, Brand loyalty, Consumer ethnocentrism, Consumer animosity, Product judgment

Cross-Cultural Exchange and the Colonial Imaginary. Global Encounters via Southeast Asia ed. by H. Hazel Hahn (review)

Reviewed by: Cross-Cultural Exchange and the Colonial Imaginary. Global Encounters via Southeast Asia ed. by H. Hazel Hahn Nicolas Weber Cross-Cultural Exchange and the Colonial Imaginary. Global Encounters via Southeast Asia, Edited by H. Hazel Hahn. Singapore: NUS Press, 2019. 310 pp, ISBN 978-981-3250-06-2 (paper) Bringing together ten case-studies from across Southeast Asia, this engaging and thought-provoking edited volume offers new perspectives and insights into the social and cultural history of colonial and post-colonial Southeast Asia. The contributors address a wide range of questions and addresses the issues of cross-cultural exchange, cultural integration, adaptation, appropriation and resistance. They go beyond the usual research questions revolving around ideas of transmission and influence in a colonial context and question the binary of colonizer and colonized. The contributions are distributed into three broad categories: knowledge exchange, material and architectural exchange, and leisure exchange. Chapter 1, 'Nineteenth-century Portugal Through Other Eyes: The Diaries of Philiphê Bỉnh' by George Dutton (pp. 25–48) examines the diaries of a Vietnamese Jesuit priest, Philiphê Bỉnh, who resided in Portugal—mainly Lisbon—from 1796 to 1833. In his diaries, Bỉnh provides unique and dispassionate accounts of Portugal, [End Page 210] its institutions and foodways in particular, as seen from the perspective of a young enlightened Northern Vietnamese. Unlike his Western counterparts, Bỉnh wrote to educate his readers with a very practical purpose and to serve as a travelogue for future Vietnamese visitors. Chapter 2, 'Collecting Malay Heritage: Scholarly Societies and Imperial Policy in British Malaya in the Early Twentieth Century' by Matthew J Shauer (pp. 49–74) examines the role played by a network of local and global intellectual societies in Malaya. These societies, such as the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society and the Royal Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences, were dedicated to the preservation of Malay culture through the collection and sharing of ethnological information. The work of intellectual societies played a role in not only the preservation of the culture of the colonized but also in raising awareness among the circles of colonial power and promoting more 'culturally sensitive' governance. Chapter 3, 'Rituals and Power: Cross-Cultural Exchange and the Contestation of Colonial Hegemony in Indonesia', by Arnout H. C. van der Meer (pp. 75–104), examines how cross-cultural exchange both supported and undermined Dutch legitimacy in late colonial Java. The article illustrates how the Dutch adopted and employed elements of Javanese culture (such deference traditions, dress, symbols of power and architecture) to legitimize colonial authority in early 20th century Java. The subsequent rejection of this hybrid cultural system by young nationalists and their adoption of Western ways, speech and dress represented efforts to modernize and to challenge colonial authority. Chapter 4, 'Chinese' Screens in the Dutch East Indies' by Dawn Odell (pp. 107–130) examines an example of cultural appropriation in Indonesia: the Chinese screens known as yingpi and heaping. Transposed in European Batavian homes and challenging traditional East Asian conventions, these screens acquired a whole new meaning. They helped in defining a uniquely Batavian style. Chapter 5, 'Absent Narratives and Missing Jewels: Cultural Heritage of a Tamil Temple in Ho Chi Minh City' by H. Hazel Hahn (pp. 131–161) reconstructs the history of the Hindu Tamil Sri Thendayuthapani temple. This temple was established around 1880 by the Chettiar money lenders hailing from Tamil Nadu, India. With its startling syncretic characteristics and unusual vimana (tower over the sanctum), this temple encapsulates the rich and complex history of cross-cultural exchange in colonial Saigon. The article explores the impact of Tagore's visit to Saigon (1929) and changes in the perception of heritage and identity alongside Vietnamese and Indian perceptions of the temple, concluding with its contemporary use and status. Chapter 6, 'French Nhà Rường and a Vietnamese Palace for the Governor? Architectural Exchange in Colonial Vietnam' by Caroline Herbelin (pp. 162–186), examines the complex cultural exchanges between the colonizers and the colonized, and the mechanisms of cultural appropriation and cross-cultural exchanges through two case-studies: the Governor General's palace in Hanoi, and Vietnamese adaptation of 'French style' architecture by wealthy families...

A Review of Indian Perceptions on Condom Use

In the late 1960s, India's National Family Planning Programme introduced condoms as one of the family planning methods. Since its inception, the condom has been promoted as a method of family planning through social marketing. With the rising prevalence and incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV/AIDS, the condom has been promoted as a dual method of protection against both unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Despite different initiatives at various levels, overall condom use among Indian couples remains low. In this paper, we examine the research on condom perception among Indian couples. The report specifically evaluates research and strategies designed to enhance condom usage among couples; predictors of condom use; reasons for not using a condom; and perception versus the experience of condom failure. Non-acceptance by partners, perceived ineffectiveness, reduced comfort, lack of sexual satisfaction, husband's alcohol usage, depression, and anxiety, and not being accessible at the time were among the reported condom-related issues. The importance of the media in promoting condom use was mentioned as a significant strategy to raise awareness and use. Acceptance of male condoms would be aided in a variety of ways.

Indian Art Education and Contemporary Art Practices

Arts education is a distinct academic discipline in India, with governmental and private institutions offering specialised training in the arts.Religious paradigms such as the Hindu Ashram and Muslim madrasas, Buddhist monastery etc., were used to build ancient Indian educational systemsuntil the British instituted schools following their system of preparatory schools under the Cambridge system to promote service to the British Empire. As a result, Indian perceptions of literacy and education, as well as the culture of learning, have shiftedincluding, in the context of the arts, the concepts of differences between art and craft, the social relationship between master craftsperson and artisan, public art and individual art, religious art and secular art, and so on. Art in India, as in the rest of the world, has undergone numerous changes that have resulted in what we see today, a unique amalgamation of sensibilities from the west as well as from across Asia. In the twenty-first century, a new era in India begun.The country's cultural diversity adds to the multi-dimensional approach, which is a direct approach and a direct contribution of various religious beliefs, languages, and the still prevalent rural culture congregating with the rapidly growing urban culture.The country's diversity, like its art, is an experience in and of itself that is difficult to comprehend.This is the core and crux of the new modern India and its emerging art. The paper will discuss about the contemporary art practices in India with reference to its practising artists.