University Of Calcutta Research Articles

Ourselves and Others

This is an account of the life and work of a person who was trained as an anthropologist in the University of Calcutta and then made his career in a department of sociology in the University of Delhi, where he is now professor emeritus. The career, in both teaching and research, described here has been built on the presumption of the unity of sociology and social anthropology, whereas in the West, and particularly in the United States, the disciplines are organized on the presumption of their separation. In this article I have discussed my relations with colleagues and students from both India and overseas. The bias in favor of the unity of sociology and social anthropology present throughout my work comes naturally to someone who takes for granted the unity of India, which is a very large country encompassing the most diverse range of social formations.

Pd-anchored functionalized mesoporous materials as robust and recyclable heterogeneous catalysts for a series of C-C bond forming reactions

10 * E-mail: msab@iacs.res.in John Mondal, born in Kolkata (India) in 1986, graduated in chemistry from the University of Calcutta (2006) and obtained his M.Sc. from the University of Calcutta in 2008 with the specialization in organic chemistry. Then he has joined as a Ph.D. scholar under the supervision of Prof. A. Bhaumik in the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science since August, 2008. His research interests are the development of functionalized mesoporous organocatalyst, magnetic nanocatalyst and metal based heterogeneous catalyst and to perform several organic reactions using these mesoporous catalysts.

Bacterial Endophytes of the Medicinal Herb Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders and Their Antimicrobial Activity

Aims: The ethnobotanical herb Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders (Acanthaceae) is native to India and used in traditional ayurvedic medicines for its pharmacologically important phytochemicals. This study aims to isolate and characterize the culturable bacterial endophytes of H. spinosa and evaluate their antimicrobial properties. Place and Duration of Study: The experiments were performed in the Department of Botany, Serampore College, Serampore as well as in the Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, Kolkata during 2011 to 2012. Methodology: Bacterial endophytes were isolated from healthy plant tissues following surface sterilization and plating on nutrient agar, glycerol asparagine agar and tryptic soy agar. They were characterized physio-biochemically following standard microbiological and biochemical methods. The endophytes were screened for production of antimicrobial compounds following cross-streak assay against test strains Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas cepacia, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus on nutrient agar plates. Results: Eleven phenotypically distinguishable bacterial endophytes were isolated from surface sterilized leaf, stem and root tissues and Shannon Weaver diversity index clearly revealed more diverse (0.83) types of endophytes in leaves than in stem (0.48) and root (0.41) tissues. Physio-biochemical features of the isolates clearly indicated distinct variation in their sugar fermentation profiles along with NaCl tolerance. The endophytes produced important enzymes like catalase, amylase, gelatinase, nitrate reductase and lipase. The bacterial isolates belonged to the genera Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus and Acidomonas. Antibiotic sensitivity profile, however, have indicated that the isolates were mostly resistant to amoxycillin and bacitracin, while they were highly susceptible to tetracycline followed by neomycin and streptomycin. Interestingly, the bacterial endophytes of H. spinosa give a definite stamp on their antimicrobial activity against E. coli and K. pneumoniae followed by S. aureus. Two isolates, Paenibacillus HGS 202 and Acidomonas HGR 302 obtained from stem and root segments respectively showed antimicrobial activity against B. subtilis, B. cereus, E. coli, K. pneumoniae and S. aureus. Conclusion: This study identified 11 bacterial endophytes harbored by the leaves, stem and root of H. spinosa which demonstrated antibacterial activity against Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative bacterial strains. Moreover these endophytic bacterial isolates could be exploited as sources of antibacterial substances.

Teaching economics: the experience at the University of Calcutta

Economics is one of the most prestigious departments of the 154 years old, University of Calcutta. Not only had the post-graduate department of the university but a number of its affiliated colleges boasted of legendary teachers and equally famous students over the years. However, for the last ten years or so, there is a decline in the number of students taking admission to the undergraduate honours course. In the era of globalisation and free-market economy, where the knowledge of economics is becoming more and more necessary, what can be the reason for such a decline? Searching for the answer was not very easy. A number of reasons were forwarded from different quarters and one of them was the syllabi, overloaded with mathematics. This paper takes a critical look into the reasons for the apathy of students to study the subject and the vision behind the complete makeover of the syllabi.

Type Specimens of Names in Angiosperms at Calcutta University Herbarium (CUH)

No Abstract.

Peter Kenneth Philip Harvey

<b>Objectives:</b> To assess the suitability of the Queen’s College step test (QCT) to predict maximum oxygen uptake in Indian men. <b>Methods:</b> Thirty sedentary male university students from West Bengal, India,...

Indian Contribution to Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Subodh Mitra The founder of “Mitra operation for Cancer Cervix and Mitra operation of Uterus Cancer” Prof. Subodh Mitra was born on 1st November 1896 in Jessore (now in Bangladesh). Though hailing from a middle class family, he had a dream of becoming a doctor. With zeal and enthusiasm he fulfilled his dream. He got his MBBS degree from Calcutta University in the year 1922. As an undergraduate, he saw the plight and suffering of female patients which made him take up obstetrics and gynaecology as a career. Those days Germany was considered as one of the best destination for study in medical science and therefore, immediately after completing his MBBS he headed for Germany. His academic brilliance can be judged from the fact that he passed his post graduation in Obstetrics and Gynaecology within 2 years. He got MD from Berlin University in Germany in the year 1924. However, he was not satisfied with this and headed to Edinburgh. He received additional degrees of FRCS in 1925 and FRCOG in 1928. Germany was his second home but his roots were in India. After completing his study, he returned to India and started working as Assistant Superintendent and Resident Surgeon at R.G. Kar Medical College. Going through the list of his appointments and attachments gives us an idea how much he was loved and appreciated by his colleagues and seniors. He became the director of Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, one of the biggest women’s Hospital in Calcutta. He also became the Principal of Chittaranjan Seva Sadan College of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and child health. He was appointed as Dean of the faculty of medicine and member of the senate of the academic council of the Calcutta University. His dedication was appreciated by his first hospital and college. He became the Director-Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at R.G. Kar Medical College Calcutta. He was a very good orator and had good organising skill. This is reflected in the fact that he became the 9th president of All India Obstetrics and Gynaecology Conference held at Amritsar in the year 1957. He also presided as the president during the 43rd India Science. He was appointed vice chancellor of Calcutta University. He was a surgeon par excellence. He developed innovative techniques in the surgery of cancer and uterus. His technique was well appreciated world over. The technique developed by Dr. S. Mitra for Cancer Cervix Operation Extended Radical Vaginal Hysterectomy with Extra peritoneal Lymphadenectomy was officially announced in British, America and Germany gynecological conferences. He demonstrated this technique in Vienna in 1952. As an appreciation, this technique of operation has been embodied in a monograph “Mitra Operation for Cancer of the Cervix”. This was published simultaneously in U.S.A. by Charles C. Thomas, in Canada by the Ryerson Press, Toronto and in London by Blackwell Scientific Publication Ltd. Oxford, England. Dr. Mitra’s association with Germany was from his M.D. days and was associated with Germany as visiting faculty. He addressed the German Academy of science which is the oldest Academy of Science in the world. During this trip he demonstrated his “Mitra Operation for Cancer of the Cervix” at the Berlin University. During this trip he was highly appreciated at the German Gynaecological Congress for his contribution in the field of Gynaecological malignancy. He also received appreciation from Italian counterparts. He was awarded Honoris Causa Memberships of the OB & GYN society of Germany and Italy for his scientific contribution in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Cancer surgery was at his heart. With his hard earned money and handsome donation from Deshbandhu Memorial Trust he built Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital in Calcutta, one of the most up to date cancer hospital for comprehensive cancer care. It is worth noting that Madam Curie inaugurated this hospital. Teaching was his passion. He built the University college of Medicine for the post graduate studies in basic medical science as well as for higher clinical degrees. Also as a director of Chittaranjan Seva Sadan Hospital he was instrumental in raising the status of the hospital into a post graduate college of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and clinical health. It is said that the best death for an artist is to die on the stage while performing. Thus the great clinician, surgeon, teacher died on the 5th September, 1961 (Teachers Day) Vienna while attending the 3rd International Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. India will remember his contribution for ever.

R.G.Kar Medical College, Kolkata—A Premiere Institute of India

An attempt to look back into the history of a medical institution is incomplete as long as we do not pay adequate attention to the master mind behind the making of that institution. R.G.Kar Medical College, Kolkata is not only one of the premiere institutes of modern India but one with a rich heritage too. Brainchild of Dr. Radha Gobinda Kar, it was the first non government medical college in Asia. Radha Gobinda Kar was born on 23rd August, 1852 to a physician father and a devoted mother, in the district of Howrah. He did his graduation from the famous Bengal Medical College, later known as Medical College, Calcutta. Established in 1835, this was Asia’s oldest medical college. On completing L.M.F. course he went to England and obtained his L.R.C.P. & L.M. degrees from Edinburgh and returned to India in 1886. Being a great visionary, Dr. Kar soon realized that the prevailing colonial culture was a great hindrance for the people at large, to get the benefit of the existing medical schools—both, as students and as patients. This prompted him to sit together with eminent personalities like Dr. Mahendra Nath Banerjee, Dr. Akshay Kumar Datta, Dr. Bipin Maitra, Dr. Kumud Bhattacharya, Dr. M.L. Dey, Dr. B.B. Banerjee & others to discuss over the formation of a new medical school. Accordingly, “The Calcutta School of Medicine” was founded in 1886. To start with, it was in a rented house, at Baithak Khana Road, but soon was shifted to Bowbazar Street—both being locations in central Calcutta. There being no attached hospital, 24 bedded Mayo Hospital was used for teaching the students. Medium of teaching was Bengali and duration of course was 3 years. Donations were collected from all corners of Bengal including the Viceroy’s fund for commemorating the visit of the Royal Prince. In 1898, a 12 Bigha plot of land (about 4 acres) was purchased for constructing the college building at its present site. 30 bedded, single storied hospital building was inaugurated in 1902 by the then Governor, Lord Woodburn and the building was named after the Royal Prince Albert Victor. Subsequently it was converted into a three storied building and can be found in that shape, even today! In 1904, “The Calcutta School of Medicine” amalgamated with another similar institute “College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bengal”, which was established in 1895. Gradually other buildings were constructed to accommodate various departments in the same premises. Finally “Belgachhia Medical College” was formally inaugurated by Lord Carmichael in the year 1916. The inaugural ceremony was graced by the presence of luminaries like Sir R.N. Mookerjee, Maharaja Manindra Chandra Nandi, Kumar Manindra Chandra Sinha, Mr. D. Mehta, Dr. M. N. Banerjee, Hon’ble Nawab Samsul Huda and Surgeon General Edward. In the same year, Calcutta University gave affiliation for Preliminary Scientific M.B. course and 48 students got admitted. Next year, the affiliation was extended up to first M.B. standard and 100 students D. K. Chakrabarti R.G.Kar Medical College, Kolkata, India

The Journey of Kalidas Datta and the Construction of Regional History in Pre- and Post-Independent Bengal, India

Through the work of amateur archaeologist Kalidas Datta, this paper explores an alternative view of archaeology in India. Datta's writings, produced between the late 1920s and the early 1960s, reconstruct the regional history of the Sundarbans, a region lying in the south 24 Parganas, West Bengal, in eastern India. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries saw the crystallization of a nationalist reaction against British colonial rule. Datta's publications, produced outside the institutional structure of the Archaeological Survey of India, the University of Calcutta, and the local societies dedicated to promoting Bengali history and archaeology, can be used to reveal how a geographical region was transformed into a cultural entity in pre- and post-independent Bengal. This paper explores whether this transformation led to the formation of a distinct regional identity and to what extent this regional identity was important when considering the professional institutional efforts to create an overarching Bengali history and identity. These queries are situated in the backdrop of early twentieth-century developments in the intellectual milieu of Bengal. Although framed in regional terms, these developments have wider implications for understanding Indian nationhood, during a period when nation states in much of Asia and the Middle East were emerging.

Contributors

Contributors

Trans-2-Phenyl-4-thiophenoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzothiopyran

Iodine-catalyzed cyclocondensation of cinnamaldehyde and thiophenol yields rapidly trans-2-phenyl-4-thiophenoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzothiopyran in excellent yield with very high diastereoselectivity.

List of Contributors

Abhradip BANERJEE, after having done his Masters in Anthropology from the Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta, is now persuing his doctoral research in the area of “Culture and Economy of the Traditional Crafts” as a (UGC-NET) Senior Research Fellow in the same institute. With the research exposure of nearly about four years along with the experiences which he has gathered as a trainee “Drug Rep” in an Indian pharmaceutical company, he has already published few articles on different aspects such as ‘dimensions of marginalisation within handloom industry’, ‘impact of pharmaceutical industry on health-care practices’ and ‘analysis of rock

Detection and biotechnological potential of the RNAi suppressors

The plant viruses have evolved to encode the factors, called RNAi suppressors to battle out the host RNAi factors and the infection/ symptom development or lack of it is the result of the balancing actions of these two groups of proteins. The suppressor proteins act in different pathways of RNAi activities and thus many different detection methods need to be devised to isolate and characterize these suppressors. We have developed six different assays to identify the viral RNAi-suppressor molecules and more than thirty suppressors were screened from viruses of various sources including the animal viruses. Some of these detection techniques will be presented. These molecules are generally pathogenic but could be tamed for biotechnological gains. First, we shall provide evidences to show that the ‘AC2’ suppressor from the Mungbean yellow mosaic india virus (MYMIV) could be used for molecular farming. Secondly, the catalytic activities ribozymes could be enhanced in presence of MYMIV-AC2. Thirdly, we will show that the VIGS vectors become robust silencing machines in the absence of suppressors. Fourthly and most importantly, the suppressors are attractive targets for antiviral strategies. The artificial microRNAs provided effective resistance against the Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) when the ToLCVAC2 and -AC4 suppressors were targeted for silencing. Thus a host of interesting research activities is going on at various laboratories of the globe including ours, keeping the RNAi suppressors in the center stage. Biography Dr Mukherjee has completed his Ph.D. (Physics) from Calcutta University. He carried out his postdoctoral assignments at Johns Hopkins and Duke Universities in USA. Currently he is a senior research scientist at ICGEB, a premier biotechnological Institute. He has published more than fifty research papers in respected journals and is a fellow (FNA, FASc., FNASc.) of three important science academies of India. He serves as an expert member in the panel boards of many funding agencies.

Assessing the Environmental Attitude among Pupil Teachers in Relation To Responsible Environmental Behavior: A Leap towards Sustainable Development

Problem statement: Recognizing the importance of ’Environmental Education’ to be introduced in every level of school education, agencies responsible for curriculum reforms and text books preparation in India have made the subject as an integral part. It is felt necessary to investigate whether the teachers, who are disseminating the knowledge, are equipped with environmental attitude and the behavior towards environment so that they may shape up the behavior of their students. Thus, the present study is pertinent to be conducted over trainee teachers perusing B.Ed course intended to hone the skills for future profession and desirable criteria to be a ‘School Teacher’ to ascertain relationship of Responsible Environmental Behavior (REB) with Environmental Attitude (EA) and Scientific Attitude (SA). Approach: Present study involves descriptive survey research with a sample of 300 pupil teachers from randomly selecting four Teachers’ training institute affiliated to University of Calcutta, India. Data is subjected to descriptive statistics, t-test, F-test as well as coefficient of correlation over pre-service and in-service pupil teachers belonging to Science; Commerce and Humanities streams of studies. Results: The result shows low correlation between EA and REB of pupil teachers while there is a significant correlation between REB and SA. Similarly, there are significant differences for both EA and REB between in-service and pre-service teachers whereas a significant effect of courses of study on EA is reported with no significant effect on REB of pupil teachers. Conclusion: The study suggests redesigning activities involved in teachers’ training courses and assessing the determinant attitudes which may lead to responsible behavior of pupil teachers towards the green earth. The curriculum for teacher training should focus on developing scientific attitude irrespective of stream of affiliation of prospective teachers along with opening a field of research, eco-psychology, for further research.

Prediction of Pressure Drop Using Artificial Neural Network for Gas Non-Newtonian Liquid Flow through Piping Components

The ANN approach proved its worth when rigorous fluid mechanics treatment based on the solution of first principle equations is not tractable. Evaluation and prediction of the frictional pressure drop across different piping components such as orifices, gate and globe valves, elbows, and horizontal pipe in 0.0127 m diameter for gas non-Newtonian liquid flow is manifested in this paper. In this paper, we have used the power-law-model (Oswald—de Waele model) liquids only. The experimental data used for the prediction is taken from our earlier work, Bandyopadhyay (Bandyopadhyay, T. K. Studies on non-Newtonian and gas-non-Newtonian liquid flow through horizontal tube and piping components. Ph.D Thesis, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India, 2002) and the subsequent publications (Banerjee T. K.; Das, S. K. Gas-non-Newtonian liquid flow through globe and gate valves. Chem. Eng. Commun. 1998, 167, 133-146. Samanta A. K.; Banerjee, T. K.; Das, S. K. Pressure loses in orifices for the flow of gas-non-Newtonian liquids. Can. J. Chem. Eng. 1999, 77, 579-583. Bandyopadhyay, T. K.; Banerjee, T. K.; Das, S. K. Gas-non-Newtonian liquid flow through elbows. Chem. Eng. Commun. 2000, 82, 21-33). The proposed approach toward the prediction is done using a multilayer perceptron (MLP with one hidden layer and four different transfer functions), which is trained with backpropagation algorithm.

Research and higher education scenario in select Indian state universities: an analysis

This article presents results of an analysis of higher education and research scenario in ten state universities of India during 2000 to 2006. Calcutta University ranked first in terms of published research articles, on an average 664 articles in a year in peer reviewed national and international journals. Similarly Madras, Panjab, Rajasthan, Mysore, Gauhati, Pune, Mumbai, Patna and Sikkim Manipal Universities published 600, 582, 538, 328.33, 221, 184.33, 112.5, 47 and 5 articles respectively. The ratio of number of faculty to research publication varied from 1:0.05 to 1:1.9 in the selected universities. University of Madras, Panjab, Rajasthan and Calcutta have ratio more than 1:1. University of Madras received the maximum research funds of 41.46 crore rupees and ranked first among the selected ten universities. Considering the overall performance of universities in our analysis, Calcutta University and Madras University captured the first two places respectively. Keywords: Indian university, Scientometrics, research, higher education, technometrics, research funding

Research and Higher Education Scenario in Select Indian State Universities: An Analysis

This article presents results of an analysis of higher education and research scenario in ten state universities of India during 2000 to 2006. Calcutta University ranked first in terms of published research articles, on an average 664 articles in a year in peer reviewed national and international journals. Similarly Madras, Panjab, Rajasthan, Mysore, Gauhati, Pune, Mumbai, Patna and Sikkim Manipal Universities published 600, 582, 538, 328.33, 221, 184.33, 112.5, 47 and 5 articles respectively. The ratio of number of faculty to research publication varied from 1:0.05 to 1:1.9 in the selected universities. University of Madras, Panjab, Rajasthan and Calcutta have ratio more than 1:1. University of Madras received the maximum research funds of 41.46 crore rupees and ranked first among the selected ten universities. Considering the overall performance of universities in our analysis, Calcutta University and Madras University captured the first two places respectively.

Zoological Research Contributions of the University of Burdwan in West Bengal: an Analytical Study

Research productivity in Zoology, authorship pattern and nature of collaboration among the zoology scholars are studied by analyzing 236 theses and 719 thesis articles submitted by the scholars of the Zoology Department at the University of Burdwan in eleven subdivisions of Zoology during 1960-2000. The highest number of thesis submission was 64 and the highest number of article submission was 251 during the same time span 1986-1990. The highest number of theses (65) was submitted in Entomology followed by Parasitology (51), Fishery (29) and Cytology (28) respectively. The highest (48) number of theses were guided by Deb Kumar Chaudhuri. Authorship trend is towards multiauthored papers. The degree of collaboration is 0.51. The most prolific author was P.K. Choudhuri who topped the list with 80 papers during the period 1960-2000 followed by D.K. Choudhuri with 49 publications, S. Chakraborty with 49 publications, S.K. Ghosal with 45 publications, G. Majumdar with 44 publications and S.K Moitra with 44 publications. Among the top ranking journals publishing the papers are from India with 440 (61.18%) publications followed by Germany with 55(7.64%) publications, Netherlands with 45(6.25%) publications, USA with 40(5.56%) publications, China with 25(3.47%) publications and UK with 24(3.38 %) publications. Among the six state Universities of West Bengal, Burdwan University has produced highest numbers (719) of articles followed by Calcutta University with 452 articles, Kalyani University with 316 articles and North Bengal University with 77 Zoology articles during the period 1960-2000.

The River

IndianPoetry:Part3 Chitra BanerjeeDivakaruni (b.1956)graduated from Calcutta University and Wright StateUniversity inOhioandreceived her PhDinEnglish from the University ofCalifornia at Berkeley. Inaddition toher four volumesofpoetry, she haspublished twelvebooks ofshort stories and novels, including Arranged Marriage, TheMistress ofSpices, Sister ofMyHeart, andTheVine ofDesire andhasedited Multitude: Cross-Cultural Readings for Writers. Her poetry isincluded invarious anthologies, including Twelve Modern Young Indian Poets. Divakaruni haswon numerous awardsfor her writing. SheteachesEnglish andcreative writing andlives intheUnited States. AfterDeath: A Landscape Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni after Francesco Clemente' s IndianMiniature 6 Fireononeside,windontheother. I stride overthehill'sgreen body.I havenolegs. Atmytouch theshyleavesopen intotheshapesofeyes.I have nomouth. Atmybreath fruits ripen tocrimson silk. No hands.So thestars float downlikefireflies andpass intome,thecalmmoon hangsinfrail fullness where myfacemight oncehavebeen.I move across theprickly-pear skin oftheearth. I bless thefish, thestiff, silver-slender cranes. They bring me tothecupola, itsdome mother-of-pearl, itscrest goldas longing. Arethere lotusblossoms intheair?They bring me tomynewborn body.Itiswrapped intheredofbeginning. Orisit ending? I hold inmyright handthepalekite with itscleardarkeye.Thestring lifts me.I fly. The River Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni after Francesco Clemente' s IndianMiniature 12 I lieonthegrassandlisten totheriver insideme.It pulsesandchurns, surges up against theclenched rock ofmyheart until finally itspurts from myhead ina dark jet.Behind, thecloudsglidealong onpaperwings, thepalacewalls growtaller, brick bybrick, tillthey risebeyond thepainting's edge.Theriver isdeepnowandstill, anopaquelake filled with bluefish. The ground istilting, thegreen touch-me-not plants angleawayfrom mybody.I amfalling. Thelakecupsitsliquidfingers for me,thefish glint likelight onice.Evening, andthecoolriver rocks gleaming pinkas newpearls. Thewater rises. I amdisappearing, mybody rippling intocircles, legs,waist, armpits. Myhairfloats upward, fine as water-weeds. I give myfacetotheriver, thelines ofmyforehead, mypalms.Whenthelastcell ofmybodyhasdissolved, thelastcry ofthelake-birds, I will,oncemore, heartheriver inside. 461WorldLiterature Today z cc Q Q Z < z < Ï ...

Saroj Nalini Arambam Parratt (1933–2008)

Arambam Saroj Nalini was born in Imphal, in the then princely state of Manipur, on June 2nd 1933. Her father was a well-known and respected educationalist and government officer. During the war years he was posted to Jiribam, where she received her first education, and later transferred to a convent school in Haflong. She proceeded to Calcutta University, where she became the first Meetei woman to obtain BA and MA degrees, majoring in Philosophy. While in Calcutta she enjoyed close friendship with Christian Naga students, and converted to Christianity. She was baptised at the Lower Circular Road Baptist church, whose minister, Walter Corlett had himself served in Imphal during the war years. The Christian faith was to become a dominant influence on her future life. She came to Britain in the late 1950s to study theology, and obtained a Bachelor of Divinity degree from London University in 1961. Shortly after she married John Parratt. When their desire to work in India was frustrated they decided to work elsewhere in the developing world, initially in Nigeria, where Saroj became a tutor in philosophy at the University of Ile-Ife. When her husband was offered a research fellowship by the Australian National University she enrolled for a PhD in the Department of Asian Studies there, under the supervision of the eminent indologist A.L.Basham. Despite the frequent absences of her husband on field work in Papua-New Guinea and having to care for three young children, the bulk of the thesis was completed before she returned to Manipur for further extended field work in 1972. The doctorate was awarded three years later, one of her examiners being Professor Suniti Kumar Chatterji, who (unusually for the time) himself had a deep interest in India's north-eastern region. Her thesis was published in 1980 (Firma KLM, Calcutta) as The Religion of Manipur. It marked the beginning of a new phase in writing on Manipur by its rigorous application of critical methodology both in the collection and in the analysis of field data, and had considerable influence on younger Meetei scholars.