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Matrilineal practices among muslims: An ethnographic study of the Minangkabau of West Sumatra
No full textMatrilineal practices constitute an important aspect of the social organization among the Minangkabau Muslims of West Sumatra. Challenges were posed to the co-existence of customary practices and religious elements by specific regional and historic factors such as Dutch colonialism, the introduction of the money economy, Islamic reformism, legislative interventions, and other socio-economic transformations in colonial and post-colonial West Sumatra. These factors attempted to refashion kinship along new familial relations and was marked by the entry of Minangkabau women into the public sphere, engaging with the transformation in multifarious ways. What one could observe in their contemporary form of social organization is the mutual existence of change and continuity of practices. These practices need to be understood as historically specific negotiations among customs, religion and the state, and are ethnographically explored in the paper
Process-based Diagnostics of Extreme Pollution Trail using Numerical Modelling during Fatal Second COVID-19 wave in the Indian Capital
Get PDFThe world's worst outbreak, the second COVID-19 wave, not only unleashed unprecedented devastation of human life, but also made an impact of lockdown in the Indian capital, New Delhi, in particulate matter (PM: PM2.5 and PM10) virtually ineffective during April to May 2021. The air quality remained not only unabated but also was marred by some unusual extreme pollution events. SAFAR-framework model simulations with different sensitivity experiments were conducted using the newly developed lockdown emission inventory to understand various processes responsible for these anomalies in PM. Model results well captured the magnitude and variations of the observed PM before and after the lockdown but significantly underestimated their levels in the initial period of lockdown followed by the first high pollution event when the mortality counts were at their peak (∼400 deaths/day). It is believed that an unaccounted emission source was playing a leading role after balancing off the impact of curtailed lockdown emissions. The model suggests that the unprecedented surge in PM10 (690 μg/m3) on May 23, 2021, though Delhi was still under lockdown, was associated with large-scale dust transport originating from the north west part of India combined with the thunderstorm. The rainfall and local dust lifting played decisive roles in other unusual events. Obtained results and the proposed interpretation are likely to enhance our understanding and envisaged to help policymakers to frame suitable strategies in such kinds of emergencies in the future
A Biographical Documentary on Prof B V Sreekantan
No full textThe late Prof B V Sreekantan (30 June 1925 – 27 October 2019), one of the founding members of NIAS, was one of its most distinguished faculty, contributing enormously and innovatively to its research and teaching programmes, ever since he joined the Institute in 1992. Founder of the pioneering programme on consciousness studies in NIAS – possibly one of the first of its kind in the world – he remained a strong, but gentle and gracious, presence in virtually every single academic endeavour of the Institute. As a tribute to this great stalwart, whose spirit continues to pervade our every thinking and action, NIAS commissioned a biographical documentary on Prof Sreekantan during his lifetime and filmed him, his associates and the various institutions that he had built over his remarkable academic career.
Prof Sreekantan was Director of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai from 1975 to 1987 and was the Indian National Science Academy Srinivasa Ramanujan Professor from 1987 to 1992. Amidst his galaxy of interests, he particularly specialised in cosmic rays, high-energy physics and high-energy astronomy, in which fields he published over 200 research papers. He had received a number of professional awards, including the R D Birla Award of the Indian Physics Association and the Padma Bhushan, while holding a number of visiting positions, including in the US and Japan, over his long and distinguished career. After moving to NIAS, Prof Sreekantan turned his attention to understanding consciousness, delving holistically into its physical, biological and philosophical domains. Uniquely and pathbreakingly, he realised that a true comprehension of this elusive phenomenon can only emerge from the combined perspectives of modern science and ancient philosophies, both Western and Oriental
China's space programme: From the era of Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping
No full textThis book comprehensively covers the history and current developments of space programme of China. It presents the complete story of China’s space programme from its origins through to present day activities on the International Space Station. This monograph further discusses the role of China’s space strategy in its emergence as a major power on the world stage. The book also presents the context of China’s space programme within the larger narrative of international space development. The book binds together the diverse political, military, economic and technology aspects into a coherent understanding and explains their role in the establishment and growth of Chinese space programme. Given the contents, this book will be a valuable source of information for students, researchers, and historians in the area of space studies
Hybridisation of geothermal source with ORC-based load loop for uninterrupted generation of steady power
No full textThe dynamic performance of a hybrid power plant configuration comprising of a ground heat exchanger and an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) for power generation at the load end is studied. The ground heat exchanger, reservoir, boiler and ORC heat exchanger are modelled using simplified energy equations-based reduced-order models. The developed numerical models are validated against the results obtained from published literature, and agreeable accordance is found in the simulated trends. The simulations are performed to illustrate the advantage of using insulation in the ground heat exchanger. The time required for the stabilisation of outlet temperature in a borehole heat exchanger (BHE) is estimated from the computational results. The simulation of dynamic characteristics demonstrates that the proposed geothermal-ORC hybrid system is capable of producing a steady power output of approximately 86.3 kWt. The exergy efficiency of U-shaped BHE without insulation is found to be the maximu
Blue-Green infrastructure across Asian countries: Improving urban resilience and sustainability
No full textUrban blue-green infrastructure (UBGI) has been recognized as vital component of urban environment management, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptations. There has been growing consensus and advancement in the conceptualization, research, implementation, and mainstreaming of UBGI in urban policy planning to enhance urban resilience to increasing disaster risks and climate change. Despite the growing interest in UBGI, most of the global research on UBGI has been carried out in the Global North, while uncertainty linked with the performance of UBGI in the Global South has resulted in lack of confidence, and public acceptance has limited its adoption and implementation in many developing Asian countries. This edited book volume investigates the issues, gaps, opportunities, and advances related to UBGI from the diverse perspectives of researchers and experiences of professionals from various science and policy disciplines to enhance and enrich the existing knowledge on effective mainstreaming of UBGI across Asia. Case studies highlighting UBGI successes, gaps, opportunities, and threats from different Asian countries are presented in this volume. However, all the cases discussed in the book stress on identifying and managing biophysical and sociopolitical threats for enhancing and ensuring the mainstreaming of UBGI as practical and scientifically sound sustainable solutions that involve multi-stakeholder groups. The volume especially highlights the potential of UBGI in providing ecosystem services for addressing emerging urban environmental risks, enhancing climate change adaptation, and urban disaster risk reduction. The thematic and cross-cutting chapters bring in scientific evidence-based innovations to enhance the prospects of UBGI (environmental, economic, and social benefits)
Beyond Protected Heritage Sites: A Geospatial Study of Malaprabha River Valley
Get PDFThe three heritage epi-centres of the Malaprabha River Valley, in Karnataka: Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal are developed as heritage precincts of Early Chalukyan heartland. Although the Valley is a lived landscape housing heritage structures from times before and after Early Chalukyan period. Though the heritage charters (national and international) and pedagogies advocate for integrated study of heritage by including their landscape and recognise the limitation of a monument centric approach, the existing processes remain monument centric.The primary objective of the doctoral research was to identify, document and geospatially analyse the Valley’s heritage built environments for addressing questions around built heritage and their landscape by not limiting to the protected monuments. This doctoral research used water harvesting features and hydrology to explore, study, and analyse the Valley’s heritage built environments. Towards this, a list of heritage built environments (both protected and unprotected) were compiled, geotagged, and geospatially analysed. This list - from multiple sources (such as colonial records, cartographic sources, and existing online government databases) - had to be freshly prepared due to non-availability of ready reliable geospatial data. The present study visualized and analysed the Valley’s built environment as an imbricated palimpsest, by foregrounding their physical landscape which enabled the appreciation of ecological and socio-cultural significance of the many unprotected structures. The study highlighted that the structures that qualify as heritage need not carry the typical physical fabric similar to the protected monuments. Rather, they can be architecturally insignificant, mundane-looking structures having continuity into the present times through collective memories and carry socio-cultural significance. The statistical analysis indicated the importance of recognising the potentials and strengths of the settlement’s physiographic parameters (as hydrology, hydro-geomorphology, geology, and soil). Recognising the relevance of the small structures and thoughtfully made subtle terrain modifications at Badami's environs highlighted the dependency of the protected monuments on such inconspicuous landscape features. The present work emphasizes that water features (both natural and man-made) proved to be the visible or sometimes invisible link that weaves together the Valley's protected and unprotected heritage built environments
Application of Vegetation Index to Assess the Sustainability of Coal Mines in India
No full textIndia’s per capita electricity consumption is less than one-third of the global average. Coal is the
only energy source that India possesses in abundance to meet the 24×7 electricity requirements of its people in
a cost-effective manner. While mining operations have positive economic impacts on the local area in terms of
infrastructure development and provision of employment and business opportunities for the local population, they
also create adverse impacts on the environment. These impacts are particularly significant in the case of opencast
coal mines which produce more than 94% of the coal produced in India. The coal sector must incorporate social
and ecological sensitivities into the mining process from the planning stage up to mine closure to meet India’s
Sustainable Development Goals. In this study, the authors present the results of a study on the vegetation and air
environment around four opencast coal mines in the State of Telangana. The Normalized Vegetation Difference
Index (NDVI) is useful to assess the environmental impacts of mining operations, such as the air quality and
vegetation around coal mines, and also monitor the progress of post-closure activities. The findings of this study
are relevant for other coal mines
Role of Coal in India’s Energy Transition (NIAS/NSE/EECP/U/RR/30/2022)
No full textCoal-based power generation in the EU will increase for the second consecutive year in 2022 after recording an increase of 20% in 2021 while natural gas production in the U.S. during 2022 has reached an all-time high of 2.7 billion cubic meters per day. India depends on coal for 72% of its electricity generation and it is critical for the country to expedite medium-term and long-term strategies to ensure the sustainability of India’s coal & power sectors without hampering our energy security and human development. These strategies are explained in this report