Renaissances with Vedic Va__k and Hellenic Logos
-- Nicholas Kazanas
This paper examines the parallel concept of Vedic Va__k and Greek logos as creative power,
sometimes identified with the creator-god. Furthermore, we trace broadly the influence that the Vedic and
Greek traditions had on different cultures in the East and West. These influences are seen to produce a
renaissance or the uplift of a culture in the nations that are so affected. The Vedic tradition continues to
influence many areas of the world even today.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Historical Perspective of Muslim Female
Education Scenario in India: Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries
-- Nilofar Izhar and Rais Akhtar
Education has been an integral part of socioeconomic and cultural development from the earliest
time. In India, Hindus in general continued their system of educating the girls within the family while
the first regular girl's school for Bengali girls established in 1819 in Madras by the Muslim rulers
focussing on religious education. During the later half of the
19th century and the early
20th century, some prominent Muslim leaders placed hurdles in the dissemination of education among Muslim
females against the favorable attitude by a number of institutions and the British rulers. Sir Syed, a
prominent Muslim leader and an educationist who made tremendous contribution towards Muslim male
education was unwilling to seek equality for Muslim female education. This paper discusses the historical
perspective of Muslim female education in India focussing on the role of various institutions including
Christian missionaries, colonial government, and Anjuman-I-Islam in taking bold steps towards female
education. Examples in support of Muslim female education were cited from Islamic prescriptions. This
paper revolves around a threadbare discussion on the role of individuals who supported female
education, such as Nazir Ahmad, Badruddin Tayabji and Sheikh Abdullah, and the opposition towards
female education by Sir Syed have been highlighted. At the end, it focuses on the dynamic leadership
of Sheikh Abdullah whose immense contribution resulted in the widespread female education even
at higher level in India. This paper also presents the similarities in the movement of female
education between Sheikh Abdullah and Ismail Bey Gaspirali of Turkey.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
The Charisma of Royal Authority and Popular
Culture in the Mughal Period: Representations of
Francois Bernier
-- Sakul Kundra
This paper attempts to explore the scientific background of Francois Bernier and his mindset
behind his travel accounts. Bernier enjoyed unrivalled opportunities of observation in India. He was
acquainted with the leading philosophers of his days, was fully conversant with methods of historical
and philosophical discourse and was capable of looking beyond the immediate occasion of an event to
its ultimate cause.1 Bernier made an attempt to compare the different social and political structures
in the oriental and occidental worlds. Further, an attempt has been made to analyze Bernier's
observations of different irrationalities, superstitious beliefs and illogical customs witnessed by him in Indian
religions, geography, astrology, medical science and education system. Although Bernier highlighted the
French superiority in all these domains, on many occasions he drew their similarity to some of the
French customs perceived as `irrational' by him.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Adivasis and Land Assertion
in Andhra Agency
-- Bhangya Bhukya
The colonial land tax system, designed to stimulate the extension of commercial agriculture
and commoditification of agricultural production, has severe impacts on the adivasis of India.
Particularly, the notion of colonial rule of property evicted millions of adivasis out of their land by force and
for mollified debts. This process has been witnessed more widely in the post-colonial India. Using their
own method of struggle, the educated adivasi youths began to reassert their lands that their forefathers
lost to non-adivasis. The interventions of civil society (NGO) diverted the adivasis toward a so called
legal fight which did not take the issue to a logical end. The legal process helped the non-adivasis to
legalize their illegal holdings in the Agency tracts of Andhra region of Andhra Pradesh.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Forget Indianizing, Fijianizing
and Focus on Humanizing
-- Narayan Jashwini Jothishna
Based on various relevant archival data, some of which are empirical in nature, this paper gives
details on the ethnic relationship between Fiji Indians and indigenous Fijians. It also touches on the
relationship between India and Fiji which dates way back to the 1870s when the Indian nationals were brought
into Fiji under the indenture system to work in the sugarcane plantations. Fiji is one of the most
developed Pacific island economies. While it is a coup-ridden military -ruled island nation, India has pledged
and shown much support to it unlike a few other countries. Some countries have continuously called
for elections and democracy, labelling Fiji's current regime as undemocratic. This paper concludes that
to some extent the happenings in Fiji have been exaggerated. It also states that the ongoing ethnic
divide between Fiji Indians and indigenous Fijians will never really completely fade, however, efforts can
be made to reduce it. While much has been written, the ethnic divide continues. In this respect, this
paper makes specific recommendations. This is the key contribution of this paper.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
BOOK REVIEW
New Histories of India
-- Author: Aniket Alam and Neena Ambre Rao
Reviewer: Rila Mukherjee
© 2010 The IUP holds the copyright for the review. All Rights Reserved.
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