Browsing by Subject "Society"

Now showing 1 - 13 of 13

Open Access
BANKIMCHANDRA ON SOCIETY, EQUALITY AND WOMEN'S EDUCATION
(University of North Bengal, 2023-03) MONDAL, SUJAY
Open Access
Biotechnological Advancement and Its Impact on the Society
(University of North Bengal, 2020-03) Limbu, Numa
Technology has made a huge advancement in 20thCentury, it has in a dynamic way changed the life of human beings. With increase in technological information there has been tremendous growth of database of scientific knowledge. Improvements in technology leads to increase in knowledge and information further creating better technology. Firstly, it was the computer technology that brought about a global impact on the activities of human beings. Further internet provided exciting new possibilities for electronic communication. The human life no longer remained the same. Later with biotechnological advancement there was rapid change in the quality of life. It is also considered as one of the most controversial scientific advancement. Generally, biotechnology means application of technology to the practice of medicine.
Open Access
Comment on the gurkha’s daughter
(University of North Bengal, 2015-03) Chhetri, Kumar
Although the British colonizers, anthropologist and administrators have produced a bulk of ethnographic accounts, travelogues, military accounts, and research papers there is no sufficient English literary work which centers on the life of the Nepalis. The earlier available works were either based on the life of Nepalis in Darjeeling or on the Himalayan kingdom (Nepal), whereas the present work The Gurkha’s Daughter by Prajwal Parajuly is unique in the sense that it engulfs the life of the Nepalis both in Nepal and its Diasporas around the world in eight short stories. Despite being fiction the stories carry the social reality of everyday life experiences of the Nepali people and its Diasporas.
Open Access
Ecological rift and human alienation from nature: a materialistic understanding
(University of North Bengal, 2024-03) Terence Samuel, M. P.
A deep chasm is felt in the relation between nature and human due to excessive depletion of nature with the aid of modern technological advances that coincide with the capitalist growth process. The chasm is described by John Bellamy Foster as ‘ecological rift’. With the growing awareness about the ecological rift, the environmentalists try to address the issue in various ways –ranging from the advocacy of moralistic use of nature by humans to the minimal/austere use of nature, from gazing back on the conceptions and use of natural resources by the pre-modern and indigenous communities to the suggestions about transplanting them in the present epoch, and from the advocacy of preservation of natural resources to the consideration of nature as a separate entity that needs the positive intervention of humans to restore its pristine growth. However, what is lacking in such future-oriented prescriptive endeavours is the lack of scientific and materialistic understanding of the complex web of nature-human-society relationship. Hence natural history needs to be studied along with the social history, in spite of the fact that there is an active change within the nature itself. This paper attempts to propose that the ecological rift cannot be addressed through moralistic compass nor techno-capitalism, without addressing the contradictions that exist in the nature-human relationship in the capitalist mode of production and its social praxis.
Open Access
From Society to Economy : The Ravages of Malaria and North Bengal in the Colonial Period
(University of North Bengal, 2015-03) Ghosh, Srabani
Malaria, a life taking disease, frequently used to visit and revisit North Bengal every year. It was one of the oldest diseases of Bengal. It not only took lives of numerous people but the disease also had left enormous impact on social and economic field of North Bengal during the colonial period This paper would focus on certain areas like agriculture and industry which were affected by the recurring occurrence of malaria in Northern part of Bengal. It would also bring to light the impact of malaria on the general people, individual, family and society as a whole. The failure of the formulation and application of health policy was also viewed from recurring occurrence of malaria followed by dreadful death rate throughout North Bengal. The present study also makes an attempt to find out the causes of the disease in North Bengal, especially the immediate causes that contributed towards the outburst of the disease. There are several works on malaria in different parts of India but the study of history of malaria in North Bengal remains unexplored. So this paper would try to fill that gap in the medicinal history of North Bengal.
Open Access
Ignored Voices: An Overview of the life of the Women with Disabilities in India.
(University of North Bengal, 2022-12) Das, Tinku
It has been held from ancient times that men and women are not equal. Some socially prescribed identities have been forced onto both genders. Based on people's biological or physiological differences, performances, competence, retention, and other capacities, society has developed some negative conceptions and established some binaries such as normal/abnormal, able/disabled, fit/unfit, etc. In order to oppress women, patriarchal society has created separate standards for men and women. It views women as weak human beings who serve as spouses, mothers, nurses, and sisters. In a culture that is governed by men, women lack freedom and safety. Men have always held a higher standing than women and are still are viewed as more significant than women. There have been different waves of feminism with their own charter of demands regarding women’s rights but there was no particular demand for women with disabilities. It seems that women with disabilities have no purpose in this world and are considered as useless in the society. Even at the very onset the women who struggled for their rights and identities did not raise their voices for women with disabilities. Harlan Hahn, a disability activist and political scientist has observed that disabled women often encounter “asexual objectification”. Though the world of words masculine and feminine are categorized but women with disability have no category and have been deprived and treated as untouchables. The paper discusses this lack of voice in favour of women with disabilities that pushes them towards more uneasy world.
Open Access
Industry, trade and commerce in early medieval bengal: a historical investigation
(University of North Bengal, 2020) Datta, Abhijit; Lama, Sudash,
Open Access
Mangars in Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling District : a socio-economic and cultural perspective (19th-20th Century)
(University of North Bengal, 2023) Mangar, Asudha; Sarkar, Bijoy Kimar
The Kiratas, one of the living representatives of the primitive non- Aryans race, construct a wide scope for making of historical study of their culture and civilization. According to G.P. Singh, the present scenario reflects that they are widely scattered and divided. In ancient times the “North Eastern, North Western, Central and Deccan regions” were the cradles of the Kirata culture. Suniti Kumar Chatterjee has observed that the original Mongoloid incomers were a very primitive people, being mostly hunters and food-gatherers who also used caves for habitation. The Tibetans, according to a late Buddhist tradition, are said to have entered their country during the life-time of Buddha- about the middle of the 1st millennium B.C. They may have been preceded by earlier tribes who formed the nucleus or basis of the ‘Himalayan’ Mongoloids of Nepal, speaking languages like Newari, Lepcha, Magar and Gurung and the ‘pronominalised’ languages like Dhimal, Khambu, Kanawari and others. The speakers of the ‘pronominalised’ dialects probably represent the earliest waves: and the Newars, Lepchas, Magars, Gurungs, etc., represent late arrivals. The Himalayan groups of Indo- Mongoloids were thus probably the first to be established in India, and settled in Nepal, and pushed as far west as Garhwal and Kumaon, and further to the west; but they have remained largely in a very primitive state: except Newars. The Magars or Mangars, one of the aborigines of Sikkim and Nepal, belong to the Kirata community of the Eastern Himalayas. They are one of the oldest tribes of Sikkim. Rajesh Verma has reasonably stated that the Kiratis include Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Mangar and Tamang tribe of Sikkim. According to Suman Raj Timsina, the Mangars, Limbus and Lepcha are the earliest settlers of ancient Sikkim. Iman Singh Chemjong has stated that a place called Shin in the northern part of the Himalayas was the original home of the Mangars, The Magars are described by Hamilton (1819) as a Himalayan Tribe “Wallowing in all the ancient abominations of the mountaineers”, and found anywhere in the Himalayan region. John Dalton Hooker, who conducted a scientific exploration in Sikkim in 1848-49, has mentioned that “Mangars, a tribe now confined to Nepal west of Arun, are the aborigines of Sikkim, whence they were driven by the Lepchas westward into the country of the Limboos and by this latter further west (Nepal) still. They are said to have been savages and not of Tibetan origin and are now converted to Hindooism.” H.H. Risley, while dealing with the ‘History of Sikkim and its Rules’ also mentioned about the rule of the Magar kings or chiefs in Sikkim. J.R. Subba, opines that the Mangars inhabited and ruled at least some parts of Sikkim before establishment of ‘The Greater Sikkim.’ Through “Lho- Mon- Tsong Sum” Tripatite Treaty it is evident that the Mangar Chiefs opposed the supremacy of the Bhutia rulers and formation of ‘The Greater Sikkim,’ and were crushed by the force and the chief, disappeared, or killed. The History of Mangars is shrouded in mystery after their dispersion from Sikkim, however the settlement of Mangar in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri is evident in the 19th century through different historical records. In the 20th century, the identity aspirations and sense of identity have offered a new dimension to the assertiveness of the ethnic groups and similarly to this community. Consequently, several associations were formed to preserve the traditional, cultural rites, ritual, and ceremonies of Mangar namely, Magar Samaj Darjeeling, 1939, Mangar Sewa Samaj, 1984, which was renamed as Mangar Lafa Sangh Kurseong in 1990 followed by Dooars Mangar Lafa Sangh, 1995. At the end of 20th century, a unanimous effort for the foundation of one unified body were initiated. The formation of All India Mangar Association or Akhil Bharatiya Mangar Sangh in 2002 at Kalimpong was the outcome and efforts of Mangars to strengthen their demand for gratification of ‘Tribal Status’ of Mangars based on the features laid down by the Government of India, i.e., ▪ They possess an old dialect and language. ▪ They have their traditional language and scripts. ▪ They have a traditional dress code distinct from others ▪ The rituals and customs are unique which do not resemble with others. The history and culture of the Aryans have been extensively dealt by different scholars but the description of the non-Aryans or the aboriginal tribes still hold obscurity either it is about their contribution to the primitive history of India or facts of their origin in the Indian sub- continent. Hence, the dissertation attempts to find the history of Mangars, their origin, settlement, Socio- Economic, and Cultural perspective in the districts of Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in the 19th to 20th century.
Open Access
Non-violent society: A quest
(University of North Bengal, 2015-10) Paswan, Krishna; Joardar, Koushik
Open Access
Rites and Rituals in the Life and Death Cycle of the Mangar
(University of North Bengal, 2021-03) Mangar, Asudha
history of origin of Mangar or Magar in India is shrouded in obscurity. Some scholars emphasized on the fact that the Magars or Mangars, are one of the aborigines of Sikkim and Nepal, belong to the Kirata community of the Eastern Himalayas. They are one of the oldest tribes of Sikkim. Rajesh Verma has reasonably stated that the Kiratis include Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Mangar and Tamang tribe of Sikkim. S.R. Timsina has also mentioned that the Mangars, Limbus and Lepcha are the earliest settlers of ancient Sikkim. J.D. Hooker has also described them as the aborigines of Sikkim. Hence, the rites and rituals of Mangars settlers of Sikkim, Darjeeling or sub- Himalayan region has a close affinity and can be found with similarity with other castes, yet holding its uniqueness and ethnic values. The paper here tries its best to bring out expansively the prevailing rites and rituals of Mangar among the inhabitants of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in respect of life and death cycle.
Open Access
Role of the Judiciary in Bringing out Social Transformation in India after Independence
(University of North Bengal, 2020-03) Biswas, Sujit Kumar
Society in India has always been very complex. Diversity of culture, religion, philosophy and political thought has been the essence of India.In 1950, the Constitution of India came into force and India became a ‘Republic’ and a nation with federal structure. States were divided on the basis of language and also culture. The multicultural characteristic of the country became more prominent than before. However, the ‘will of the people’ was reflected in the Constitution and the foundation of ‘Rule of Law’, good governance and respect for multiculturalism was laid therein. The goal of a new and vibrant India was in the minds of the Legislature, who were mostly the freedom fighters and who had dreamt of a new India. However, with the passage of time the interest of the common man receded in the background and they were left helpless and hapless. It was at this time the judiciary took up the task of acting as a catalyst in bringing about social change according to the changing needs of the society. The Indian judiciary rejected the British concept of dictatorship in the legal framework and evolved new devices to balance the conflicting needs of the society. The Indian judiciary while rejecting the Austinian brand of legal positivism reconciled both the conflicting interests of the society. Over the years legal justice has made way for social justice through a dynamic judicial process and creative jurisprudence which affirmatively rights both ancient and recent wrongs. There has now been a remedial realism to forensic formalism.
Open Access
Roy, Sinjini, 2019, LIFE OF THE MIDDLECLASS AGED IN KOLKATA. Kalpaz Publications: Delhi.ISBN110052. Pp. 255, Tables 35, Price: Rs. 850.
(University of North Bengal, 31-03-2020) Danda, Ajit K.
Open Access
The Role of Media Ethics: A Philosophical Quest
(University of North Bengal, 2025) Sharma, Reeta Kumari; Barman, Biswajit
In today’s scenario the role of media as such plays a vital role to reconstruct and rejuvenate the society, community, country, and nation. In short it can be said that media is the mouthpiece of present generation. The media, at large, is spreading ever across the globe by leaps and bounds. Media in haste become more pervasive and in turn gain more influence. However, the general perception of media in many areas of the world is of a decline as far as ethical standards are concerned. This, in turn, creates a gulf between public and private life. Media of different forms, such as, print media, television, etc., is biased, unfair, and inaccurate in the sense of violating the codes of conducts. This is where the relevance of ethics. Media must be accorded by ethical rules and principles because media as a business enterprise deals with public. It has a great role in bringing harmony and integrity of the society. Unfortunately, media in these days’ work as an agent of the Government. When the Government of a country is corrupted and if media works at the hand of Government, it would bring a wrong signal to the society. Media must act with freedom and responsibility. The accountability of media cannot be set aside. Media is responsible to the society. The main strategy of my paper is to explore and examine with critical outlook the role and responsibility of media persons.