India Today Research Articles

ARUNIKA

Based on the experience, the composer will also create a musical composition entitled Arunika. Arunika is the phenomenon of the emergence of the tip of the sun above the eastern horizon, or this event is often called the sunrise process. Arunika is a word derived from Sanskrit. Sanskrit itself is a member of the Indo-European language family and is considered one of the oldest and most well-known languages among linguists. Sanskrit is a perfect language, an antonym of vernacular or prakrit, often used for religious or scientific purposes. Sanskrit is one of the official languages used in India today, because it is closely related to Hinduism and Buddhism. In India itself, Sanskrit is commonly used in several Hindu religious ceremonies and other major national celebrations. This language is a special language for Indian society, this is because it is a marker of differences in social status so it is only taught to upper classes or castes. The use of Sanskrit has developed into a specific symbol and language not only in India but also in several countries. The word Arunika became the title of the work to reflect a personal experience, namely vision problems, where his eyes became dark and he could not move. The problems experienced by cultivators have a big impact on the path of dreams and the future they have envisioned. The impact of this problem made the cultivator decide on his dream. Arunika herself had a huge influence in the process of creating this work. This work was born from a process of self-healing and recovery accompanied by the environment.

Sialkoti paper used by Pahari artists: raw materials and fibre analysis

This study aims to characterise the so-called Sialkoti paper used to produce Pahari drawings preserved today in the Wereldmuseum in Leiden (Netherlands) (WML). These works originate from the Punjab Hills in India (today Himachal Pradesh) and are commonly known as ‘Pahari miniature paintings’. The paper upon which these drawings are executed is said to have been produced in Sialkot during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when papermaking was an integral part of an overall regional economy correlated with other sectors such as agriculture and the textile industry. Although the term Sialkoti refers to identified papermills in Sialkot (now Pakistan), the paper from this region is yet to be subjected to a systematic study. This article therefore explores the paper(s) in question through macro- and microscopic observations of structure, pulp and fibres. The study of historical sources, complemented by the analysis of paper samples and fibre identification, has revealed that the pulp would have been prepared from a variety of manufactured products using different technologies, such as rags, cloth, mats, rope and other plant-based materials made from local bast fibres which, once tattered, were recycled to prepare the pulp. Microscopic study reveals that a variety of fibre combinations under different conditions and processing steps were used, in particular sunn hemp fibre (Crotalaria juncea L.), a plant species that has until now rarely been identified in historical paper. In addition, the presence of kenaf and jute fibres, as well as a significant quantity of cotton fibres, have also been demonstrated. To overcome the lack of comparative materials, our work was supported by a comparative study of several materials made from sunn hemp now held in the Ethnobotany Collection at Kew Gardens. Samples were taken from these materials and provided useful reference micrographs for the identification of the WML samples. The quality of the paper used by Pahari artists, as well as the raw materials available and their processing, are discussed in detail. Putting all the data, including technical and historical information into perspective, we conclude that the Pahari artists used a paper of inferior quality compared to other types of paper used for other purposes such as the creation of illuminated manuscripts in the Punjab plains. This study therefore provides useful analytical and material evidence that complements previous historical, technical and anthropological studies.

The Constitution of India yesterday and today (on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India)

The Constitution of India yesterday and today (on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India)

The secular cleansing that wasn’t: “Vande Mataram” and the expurgated story of Indian nationalism

ABSTRACT This article shows the religious iconography of Indian nationalism by observing the manner in which the defining text of the Hindu Right came to legitimize an unapologetically majoritarian nationalism. It revisits the history of the Indian independence movement through its architects’ handling of the song “Vande Mataram” and its idolization of the nation as a Hindu goddess. Tracing its relevance to the hegemony of Hindutva in India today, the article then reads Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay’s 1881-82 novel Anandamath to study the connection between the song and its parent text, and to thereby understand the politics of secular cleansing which strives for the secular by purging from the communal that which is unambiguously sectarian. Consequently, the article argues that the story of “Vande Mataram” becomes an unparalleled example in Indian history of how the secular is structured on the ideological foundations of the communal and is therefore conceptually intertwined with it.

Academia, Activism, and Popular Consciousness: A Response to Freedom Inc.

Abstract Mukti Mangharam’s Freedom Inc.: Gendered Capitalism in New Indian Literature and Culture, conducts a though investigation into the culture and ideology of neoliberal capitalism being produced in India today. But Mangharam’s approach is not to dismiss but to take seriously the appeal of individualism and entrepreneurism among its target audience: ordinary people looking for a way out of the material crises that neoliberalism has produced. In this response to Freedom Inc., Pranav Jani recognizes the empathetic and democratic impulse in Mangharam’s method and narrative style and finds a parallel in his own work as a scholar and organizer. How can scholars and activists concerned with the voice of the people recognize the fundamental heterogeneity of popular consciousness, neither romanticizing struggle nor foreclosing the possibility of reform, or even revolutionary change?

Partition, Violence, Displacement and Trauma in Khushwant Singh's 'Train to Pakistan'

Partition of British India is an unforgettable painful experience for many people in India today. In 1947 the British government divided India into two halves: India and Pakistan before leaving India. It caused violence, separation, and displacement among people living in the contemporary harmonious community of Hindu, Muslim, Shikh, and Christian in India. It further caused traumatic feelings among them. In this context the paper attempts to study the separation, dismemberment, displacement of Muslims to Pakistan; and traumatic feelings among the people of 'Mano Majra' through the textual analysis of Khushwant Singh's novel 'Train to Pakistan'. 'Mano Majra' was a peaceful remote village with perfect harmony among Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and Pseudo-Christian people living together on the bank of the Sutlej River, Punjab in India. Imam Baksh, Bhai Meet Singh, Lala Ram Lal, and other villagers were living in co-operation in 'Mano Majra' before the India-Pakistan partition. It is the setting of Khushwant Singh's novel 'Train to Pakistan'. Hukum Chanda (Magistrate), Sub Inspector, Haseena Begam, Juggut Singh, Nooran, Malli, and Iqbal are other major characters in the novel. The novel shows the completely harmonious society in the village before partition. However, the partition caused the complete division and disruption of harmonious societies in India including 'Mano Majra' leading to violence, displacement, separation, and trauma.

Remapping the connections between feminism and secularism: A study of the women’s movements in India and their engagements with religion

ABSTRACT Postcolonial elite inherit not only colonial institutions but also ideologies that animate future directions of institutional apparatus in their societies. This paper argues that the leadership of Women’s Movements in India (WMI) are influenced by their positions within the elite sections of Indian society and the ideologies that are in circulation therein. This also applies to their engagement with religion in contemporary India. It suggests that notwithstanding the efforts made by WMI to engage with difference in relation to the “religious other,” their praxis continues to remain captive to the social locations of its leadership, which in the context of India today remains predominantly urban, English speaking, professionally qualified, Hindu, and upper-caste. Drawing on empirical data and analyzing documented histories of WMI which record the movements’ engagement with religion in the colonized past and in contemporary postcolonial times, this paper attempts a remapping of the connections between feminism and secularism, both of which share a legacy with post Enlightenment liberal humanism, within the postcolonial context of India.

Exploring Media Narratives: A Qualitative Study of the Hijab Ban Coverage in Indian News Channels

Muskan Khan, a hijab-wearing Muslim student, was chased and intimidated by the majority of Hindu students of her college, but she refused to be cowed down raising the slogan Allah o Akbar. The incident gained international fame and she was given the title of hijab girl. Indian TV channels, The Republic World, Time Now, NDTV, and India Today, covered the incident. In this qualitative research, the researchers analyzed hijab coverage in current events and TV shows on the said TV channels. The findings revealed that the Indian Muslim minority was demonized in the media, and TV news programs in the country aired anti- hijab programming, equating the head covering with terrorism. The Indian news channel anchors and guests exaggerated, fabricated, and twisted the on-air content to create hatred against the hijab and Islam. They subtly showed their anti-Muslim political leanings in the content they produced and blamed Islam for the adversity.

A Study on Public Sector and Private Sector Insurance in India

India’s insurance sector has been growing rapidly in the last decade. Different reforms have been implemented to stoke for the sector’s growth. But still has a long way to go, as its share in the global insurance market remains very low. It provides a link between the present and the future. Today India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world. According to the World GDP Ranking 2024 list, India is the fifth largest economy in the world. India is also fifth largest life insurance market in the world’s emerging insurance markets growing at a rate of 32-34% each year. Over the past nine years, the insurance sector has attracted substantial foreign direct investment amounting to nearly US$6.5 billion (Rs.54,000 crore), driven by the government’s progressive relaxation of overseas capita flow regulations. Insurance Industry is a growth-oriented industry. The life insurance sector in India has seen an array of changes in the past one decade. The economic scenario which emerged after globalization, privatization and liberalization has thrown a new challenge before the insurers. The present study is basically discussed regarding growth of private sector and public sector insurance of India, market share of public sector and private sector insurance and overall position of India’s public sector and private sector insurance.

India: the making and resisting of an ethnocracy

ABSTRACT India today exemplifies the making of an “ethnocracy,” a polity in which the dominant ethnic group obtains political control and deploys the state apparatus to ethnicize territory and society. I illustrate the making of India's ethnocracy by documenting key political and policy practices of Narendra Modi’s rule. I do this by offering evidence of this process by documenting: (1). the contest between the dominant Hindus and minority Muslims over territorial space and the public realm; (2). solidifying Hindutva ethno-nationalism; which builds on and consolidates; and (3). long-term political and economic stratification between Hindus and Muslims. However, the making of India’s ethnocracy has not gone unchallenged. Therefore, I direct attention to the resistance mounted against India’s ethnocratic turn in the institutional, political and social terrains.

CONTENT ANALYSIS OF HINDENBURG REPORT IN MEDIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO ONLINE NEWS WEBSITES

The Hindenburg report published by a financial analytics firm from the United States of America (USA) made serious allegations against the Adani group, an Indian multinational. The report alleged that the Adani group was engaged in several fraudulent activities, including money laundering and tax evasion. The report sent shockwaves in the financial markets and caused firestorms in the Indian Parliament, with opposition targeting Prime Minister Modi for alleged involvement in the fraudulent practices of the Adani group. The country’s Supreme Court has been deluged with cases arising from the Hindenburg allegations. The report received considerable media attention, media but the portrayal was quite different. The study aims to analyze how two online news portal media portrayed the Hindenburg report. It will also try to find out if there are any significant differences in their coverage. This study examined to provide an overview of the contents and design of the way alternative media in India on Hindenburg paper on Adani. Two news channels (India Today and the wire) from each media were selected for the study to assess the contents and design of these channels. Keywords: Hindenburg Report, YouTube, Television, Content, Media Portrayal

HARMONIZING DHARMA AND DEMOCRACY:

We Humans are the finest creation of the ultimate creator and thus the most complex. We have emotions, strength, intellect, ambitions and various other attributes. With Civilizations, came our greed for power, to attain supremacy and gradually the world became an interconnected, interdependent and interdisciplinary whole, where existence is more about the way one has carved their position in the society rather than how he survives. This tendency of human beings has created various nations, various powers and organizations with their rules, principles and procedures. The supreme laws of the countries represent the very principles which the citizens of that nation believe in. Likewise, in India, the Constitution; even though inspired by various other constitutions of world, is embodiment of those fundamental principles which Bharat as a nation has practiced since time immemorial. When we discuss the principles of ancient Bharat, (which ultimately became India of today) Bhagwad Gita stands in the forefront being the soul and spirit of all the prominent scriptures of ancient Bharat which forms the foundation of the ever-living Sanatan Dharma. This paper, therefore, attempts to discuss all such aspects of human life, where the principles of Gita are either applied to or should be applied for upliftment. It deals with the basic principles which Gita proposes, one among them is ‘Nishkamkarmyog’ or the principle of ‘Sthitpragya’ individual who doesn’t get affected by the everyday incidents of sorrow, pleasure or pain, but focuses on his/her goal understanding the true meaning of life which uplifts one from materialistic approach to a higher approach. How relevant these principles are to the legal fraternity, to the other dimensions of human lives, what principles our Constitution embodies? All such questions have been addressed through this paper.

Cost Analysis Study of Topical Anti-Acne Drugs Currently Available in Indian Pharmaceutical Market

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects approximately 90% individuals between puberty and 30 years of age at some point with peak prevalence in adolescence. According to Global Burden of Disease study conducted in 187 countries in 2010, acne is among top ten most prevalent disease worldwide and skin conditions are top cause of years lived with disability. The aim of the study was to analyze cost variations of different brands of topical medications used in Acne vulgaris in India. This analytical study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology at Assam Medical College and Hospital over a period of 3 months. ‘‘Current Index of Medical Specialities (CIMS)’’ April - July, 2023 and “Drug Today India April –July 2023’’ drug manuals were used to compare cost of different formulations of topical acne medications. Drugs manufactured by only 1 company were excluded. Cost ratio (Maximum cost/ Minimum cost) and percentage cost variation ([{Max cost – Min cost}/ Min cost] *100) were calculated. For single preparations, the percentage cost variation was maximum for Clindamycin 1% 20 grams gel (1126.66%) with maximum cost ratio followed by Tretinoin 20 gm 0.025% (cream) 721.428. Percentage cost variation was minimum with Adapalene 0.1 % cream 15gm (32.69). Among the combination topical drugs, the percentage cost variation was maximum for Clindamycin 1% + Adapalene 0.1% 15 grams gel (1843.589) and it had maximum cost ratio of 19.43. Percentage cost variation was minimum with combination of Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% + Clindamycin 1% 20gm gel(41.025).This study highlights price variation among different brands of drugs in CIMS, Drug Today and Pharma Sahi Daam app. Keywords Cost Analysis, Acne vulgaris, Percentage Cost­Variation, Pharma Sahi Daam

Exploring the Intersection of Crime and Society in Deepti Kapoor’s Age of Vice

This paper analyzes Deepti Kapoor’s Age of Vice, which depicts the discourse of darker side of modern Indian society, where crime, corruption, and inequality are prevalent. It follows three characters: Sunny, a rich criminal; Neda, a journalist; and Ajay, a loyal henchman. The narrative reflects on the complex social and cultural issues facing India today, such as corruption, casteism, gender inequality, and political unrest. It also challenges the stereotypes of crime fiction by mixing literary and genre elements. The narrative uses trauma as a methodology to explore the psychological and emotional effects of crime and violence on the characters and their relationships. It shows how trauma can be both a strength and a weakness, and how it can influence the way people see themselves and others. The narrative finds that crime and society are deeply connected in contemporary India and influence and contradict each other in complex ways. It further identifies how crime is not just a personal choice or morality, but also a result of systemic injustices and inequalities. The narrative presents a persuasive and insightful examination of the correlation between crime and society in modern India. It urges readers to reconsider their opinions on crime, justice, and ethics, and to grapple with the intricate realities of Indian society.

Beyond the Madrasa: Muslim Communities and Educational Institutes in India Today by Nilanjana Gupta (review)

Beyond the Madrasa: Muslim Communities and Educational Institutes in India Today by Nilanjana Gupta (review)

Democracy in India is at Stake: Image of the Last Decade

Indian democracy is going to step its 75 years of journey. Indian democracy is still singing even after happening many ups and downs in the country and in the world. Ours is a world largest democracy. We are really, proud of it. Democracy has a long tradition and rich history in India. That means the idea that democratic ethos and principles are not new to the Indian subcontinent. Our rich democratic heritage, sets a precedent a for promoting civic culture, political participation, and a well understanding of democratic principles among its citizens. In recent, India's G20 presidency reflects its commitment to democratic values and international cooperation. The country sets an example to promote global democratic principles. The Parliament 20 (P20) Summit in New Delhi put forwards India's rich democratic heritage and core values to the world. The inclusivity, equality, and harmony are central to Indian democracy. But the scholars and theorists of Indian democracy come to realize that, the picture of our democracy of the last one decade is not so satisfactory. Democracy-watching organizations categorize democracies differently. They all classify India today as a “hybrid regime”—that is, neither a full democracy nor a full autocracy. And this is new one. In 2021, in view of Freedom House, India’s freedom rating is Partly Free (the only remaining category is Not Free). That same year, the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project India as “electoral autocracy” on its scale of closed autocracy, electoral autocracy, electoral democracy, or liberal democracy. And the Economist Intelligence Unit stated India to be “flawed democracy” on its scale of full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime, and authoritarian regime. Keeping all these things in mind, in this paper, I have tried to critically examine the Indian democracy of the last one decade on the basis of a small ground level study.

Infrastructure Sector as An Inducement Determinant Propelling The Incredible Economic Growth Story Of Bharat

‘India will be world’s third largest economy in four years’ forecasted by IMF chief economist Ms Gita Gopinath and mentioned in her interview to India Today. India’s economy is among the fastest growing in the world. With a $3.7 trillion GDP, India’s economy is currently ranked as the fifth largest. India’s GDP is predicted to surpass that of Germany and Japan by 2030, according to a number of estimations. According to S&P, a rating organisation, India’s nominal GDP is expected to increase from $3.4 trillion in 2022 to $7.3 trillion by 2030.

Legislation as Disinformation: The Love Jihad Conspiracy Theory in Law and Lived Experience

The “love jihad” conspiracy theory in India purports that Muslim men are deceptively seducing or kidnapping non-Muslim women in large numbers to convert and marry them. State laws in India have moved to control conversions—resulting in legislation as disinformation—and sparked violent attacks against Muslims. We identify this as the third wave of state-level anti-conversion laws in India and study how the conspiracy theory is embedded into the text of the law and its relation to the current period of Hindu nationalist ascendancy. Combining narrative analysis of the 2021 Gujarat amendment and interrogating the everyday experiences of interfaith couples who face administrative, police, and vigilante violence we analyze the infrastructure and frameworks of Hindu nationalist ideological dominance in India today. Our study questions the presumptions that underlie the characterization of India as a “democracy” considering the current political, ideological, and legal configurations in the country under the BJP.

Tasks, sacrifices and digitized rituals: interpellating the Indian subject through rites of nationalism

This essay advances the concept of ritualized nationalism in order to understand the rise of right wing populism in India. It analyzes Narendra Modi’s strategy of assigning tasks and seeking sacrifices from citizens in the name of nation building to understand how it has helped make nationalism a pervasive phenomenon that is unprecedented in India’s history. The essay utilizes the theory of rituals to claim that the prescribed formats of Modi’s tasks and assignments allow those actions to be distinct and mark the doer as “nationalists” in the digital domain as opposed to those not participating. This has further helped foster and inculcate a nationalistic subject who emerges from the ritual of completing the assigned tasks and publicizing its evidence on social media as an agent who embodies the jingoistic and muscular form of nationalism prevalent in India today. By showing how this process plays out across a series of assigned tasks and sacrifices during Modi’s era, the essay hopes to both add to explanations about the rise of right wing nationalism in India while also showing that each global iteration of populist nationalism has a distinct trajectory and motivation.

The Evolution of Political and Legal Thought in Ancient India: A Historical Perspective

This article delves into the evolution of political and legal thought in ancient India, with a focus on the influences of Brahmanism, the Laws of Manu, and the teachings of Buddha. The author takes a historical perspective, analyzing the developments and changes in ancient India's political and legal systems over the centuries. The article begins by discussing the influence of Brahmanism, the dominant religious and social order in ancient India. Brahmanism played a significant role in shaping political and legal thought through its emphasis on hierarchy, social roles, and duties. The author explores how Brahmanical beliefs influenced ancient India's governance, lawmaking, and societal structure. We examine the Laws of Manu, a key legal text in ancient India that codified social norms, ethics, and laws. The authors highlight the impact of the Laws of Manu on the political and legal landscape of ancient India, highlighting its influence on governance, justice, and social order in India today. We examine the teachings of Buddha and contributions to political and legal thought this belief community influenced society in ancient India particularly of how Buddha's emphasis on compassion, morality, and equality influenced political governance, law enforcement, and social justice in ancient Indian societies. Overall, this article provides in-depth analysis of the evolution of political and legal thought in ancient India, shedding light on the diverse influences of Brahmanism, the Laws of Manu, and the teachings of Buddha. Highlighting the historical developments in political and legal systems, we provide valuable insights into the intellectual and philosophical foundations of ancient Indian society.