Synergy: International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies
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Shifting Sands of Time: Aurangzeb's Portrayal in Urdu Historiography
Get PDFThe primary objective of this paper is to meticulously analyze the representation of Aurangzeb within the context of Urdu historiography. In order to achieve this objective, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the intricate development of Urdu historiography, which may be observed through the lens of three major phases. This historical inquiry follows a chronological trajectory, beginning with the turbulent events of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and extending its narrative to encompass subsequent developments up to the present day. Over an extended period of time, the field of Urdu historiography experienced significant transformations, which were caused by a multitude of political and social upheavals. These transformative factors have had a lasting impact on the fundamental characteristics and core of Urdu historiographical literature. As a result, the changes in the historiographical terrain had an inevitable impact on the representation and portrayal of Aurangzeb in Urdu literature. The primary objective of the paper is to analyze the transformative shifts that occurred in the portrayal of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb within the context of Urdu historiography as it progressed through several historical periods
Poetry, Politics, and Purity: The Khari Boli–Braj Bhasha Debate in Colonial North India
Get PDFThis paper explores the Khari Boli–Braj Bhasha debate in colonial North India as a pivotal episode in the politics of language, where literary choices were deeply intertwined with questions of cultural identity, communal affiliation, and linguistic nationalism. At its surface, the debate appeared to center on dialectal preferences in Hindi poetry—Braj Bhasha, the classical medium of devotional verse, versus Khari Boli, the emerging standard for modern prose. However, the controversy reflected deeper ideological anxieties, shaped by the broader Hindi–Urdu controversy and the colonial state’s role in codifying linguistic identities. Supporters of Braj Bhasha viewed the adoption of Khari Boli in poetry as a potential conduit for Urdu’s influence, which they saw as threatening the purity of Hindi and its Hindu cultural roots. In contrast, proponents of Khari Boli emphasized its accessibility, standardisation, and modern potential, viewing it as essential for the future growth of Hindi literature. The debate also invoked arguments around the division of poetic and prose registers, the shared linguistic heritage of Hindi dialects, and the perceived encroachment of Persian and Arabic lexicons through Urdu. Figures like Radha Charan Goswami, Shridhar Pathak, and Pratap Narayan Mishra framed these tensions in both cultural and communal terms. Ultimately, the Khari Boli–Braj Bhasha dispute was not merely about literary form but symbolized the contestation over Hindi’s identity and its autonomy from Urdu. It reveals how literary aesthetics became a vehicle for negotiating broader social, religious, and political concerns in colonial India’s linguistically charged environment
Security and Surveillance at Large Religious Gatherings: Crowd Management Strategies for the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela
Get PDFThe Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 was the most significant religious gathering of devotion and faith in the world. Over 660 million devotees bathed in sacred rivers in pursuit of spiritual liberation. Security measures and crowd management are major challenges for large-scale religious events. This paper contributes to existing literature on crowd management by examining crowd disasters, their major causes, security measures, crowd behavior, and traffic management. It assesses the coordination among various stakeholders, capacity planning, and overall organization. The paper provides a framework for risk assessment, preparedness, safety, and resource management. Its goal is to reduce the risk of incidents and ensure the safety and security of devotees during spiritual mass gatherings. Additionally, this study can aid in event management and policy development for future large-scale events, focusing on effective security strategies and strategic crowd management planning
Terrain of Conflict: Indigenous Outlook and Colonial Involvement in the Kumaon Tarai and Bhabar Landscape
Get PDFThis paper aims to explore the intricate interactions and interpretations of the concept of landscape within the Tarai and Bhabar regions of Kumaon. It presents this landscape as a contested space, shaped by varying perspectives of the indigenous populations and colonial authorities. Significantly, it investigates the disruptions caused by colonial interventions, wherein the colonial state imposed a distinct vision of the landscape. This mental restructuring was executed through various policies, affecting a transformative impact on the local worldview. In this regard, colonialists acted as ‘development experts’, despite their overt aims being different. They sought to control the terrain by constraining the activities of local people, often perceived as wasteful or ignorant. The displacement of local knowledge, rooted in practical experience, in favour of external philosophical or ideological schemes illustrates a fundamental conflict. At the core of this exploration is the contrast between the perspectives of residents and colonial ideologies, each attributing disparate values to the landscape. Ultimately, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between indigenous perceptions and colonial impositions in shaping the cultural and historical landscape of the region
A History of Social Justice in India: An Overview
Get PDFIndia has implemented one of the most comprehensive affirmative action policies in the world, with roots that can be traced back to the colonial era. The historical trajectory of reservation policies in India, including the Gandhi–Ambedkar Pact, the provisions enshrined in the Indian Constitution, and the recommendations of various commissions such as the Kaka Kalelkar Commission and the Mandal Commission, has been pivotal in shaping the discourse on social justice. This paper examines the evolution of reservation policies from pre-independence to post-independence India, highlighting the significant role of commissions in identifying and addressing the needs of socially and educationally backward communities. The paper also explores the divergent approaches of different states like Mysore, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, and Bihar towards affirmative action and social justice, illustrating the regional variations in the implementation of reservation policies. By analyzing these diverse trajectories, the paper sheds light on the complexities of affirmative action in India and its impact on social, economic, and educational opportunities for marginalized groups
Restorative Justice in Post-Apartheid Narratives: Tutu’s The Book of Forgiving and Coetzee’s Disgrace
Get PDFRestorative justice, an approach to addressing harm that prioritizes healing, accountability, and the restoration of relationships over punishment, has been pivotal in framing post-apartheid South Africa, particularly through the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). This study examines the representations of restorative justice in Desmond Tutu’s The Book of Forgiving and J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace. While Tutu advances a prescriptive and hopeful model of forgiveness as central to both personal and national healing, Coetzee offers a more critical perspective that undermines the moral and social limitations of reconciliation in a society still haunted by systemic violence and inequality. This comparative research explores how both texts engage with the ideals and contradictions of restorative justice, revealing the complex interplay between forgiveness, justice, and the lingering wounds of apartheid
Bahujan Politics and Post-Kanshiram Socio-Political Organisations
Get PDFIndian politics has been significantly shaped by caste and identity-based movements, with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy continuing to influence Dalit politics long after his death. Kanshiram, a pivotal figure in the post-independence period, carried forward Ambedkar’s vision through various socio-political organisations such as BAMCEF, DS4, and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Kanshiram’s approach to Bahujan politics redefined social justice by focusing on caste identity and unity among Dalits, OBCs, and other marginalised communities. The emergence of the BSP, once a powerful force in Uttar Pradesh, marked a transformative phase in Indian politics, but internal fragmentation within the party led to its decline after 2012. This decline has given rise to several post-Kanshiram political organisations and movements across India, each attempting to reclaim and evolve his legacy. These include Waman Meshram’s BAMCEF and Bahujan Mukti Party (BMP), Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), Shravan Kumar Nirala’s Ambedkar Jan Morcha (AJM), and Chandrashekhar Azad’s Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party (ASP-K). This paper critically examines these new socio-political formations, assessing whether they can provide viable political alternatives for the Bahujan communities or whether they represent a fragmentation of the movement. By exploring their ideological differences, organisational strategies, and electoral impact, the paper seeks to understand the future trajectory of Bahujan politics in India and the potential for unity or further division within the movement for social justice
From Data to Discrimination: Gender, Privacy, and the Politics of Digital Surveillance
Get PDFA greater amount of surveillance of gendered populations has been brought about as a consequence of the era of datafication, which has the effect of reinforcing the structural forms of inequality that already exist. Taking a critical look at the ways in which surveillance capitalism and algorithmic governance turn privacy into a contentious domain, with a disproportionate impact on women and communities that are excluded, this article examines the ways in which these two factors exacerbate the problem. The purpose of this study is to analyse the ways in which well-established patriarchal and racial biases contribute to the growth of digital vulnerabilities using technology such as facial recognition and predictive policing. In order to accomplish this, it makes use of feminist theories and publications that have been issued by Amnesty International (2022) and the United Nations Women (2023). The digital panopticon has the effect of expanding offline oppression into digital domains so that it can be experienced by a greater number of people. This is in contrast to the data colonialism, which greatly restricts autonomy, particularly in the Global South. Particularly in light of the expansion of cyberstalking, doxxing, and bias guided by artificial intelligence, the absence of gender-sensitive digital regulations continues to be a significant cause for worry. In order to argue that surveillance is a political act of control and to suggest that intersectional digital rights frameworks should be implemented, the goal of this study is to be conducted. It accomplishes this by addressing feminist criticisms that have been made in the past. This organisation seeks to reimagine privacy as a social and feminist concern in the digital age. Its mission is to work for systemic reforms in the fields of law, technology, and policy for the purpose of achieving this goal
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: A Critical Review of His Intellectual, Political and Educational Legacy
Get PDFMaulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888–1958) was a prominent Indian intellectual and political leader, known as a freedom fighter, scholar, journalist, educationist, and India’s first Education Minister. His work at the intersection of religion, politics, and education made his legacy influential but often debated. This article explores Azad’s impact on Indian nationalism, Islamic reform, and nation-building, highlighting his early intellectual and journalistic efforts with Al-Hilal and Al-Balagh, which criticized colonialism and promoted anti-imperialism and pan-Islamic unity. His leadership in Congress supported inclusive nationalism and Hindu–Muslim unity, positioning him as a moderate during turbulent times, although he faced criticism from communalists and historians regarding the practicality of his ideals. Azad shaped national education policies and established institutions like the UGC, CSIR, and IITs, viewing education as essential to democracy and progress, despite difficulties in achieving universal primary education. Historians debate his legacy—while he is praised for secularism and inclusive nationalism, some critique ideological biases. These discussions reflect his complex role in India’s diversity—both inspiring and contested. Ultimately, Azad’s legacy lies in his ability to connect faith with modern ideas, tradition with reform, and nationalism with internationalism, offering enduring insights into India’s democratic, multicultural identity
Digital Competence in Education: A Comparative Analysis of Frameworks and Conceptual Foundations
Get PDFDigital competence is the holistic ability to confidently, critically, and responsibly engage with digital technologies across personal, educational, professional, and societal contexts. It integrates knowledge (understanding digital tools and systems), skills (technical, cognitive, and socio-emotional proficiencies), attitudes (responsibility, ethical judgement, adaptability, and resilience), and strategic awareness (critical evaluation, creativity, and problem-solving) to access, manage, create, and communicate information effectively. The study aims to analyse the various definitions of Digital Competence. The study also aims to analyse and compare various digital competence frameworks for educators, focusing on their key competencies, proficiency levels, and implementation strategies. A qualitative comparative analysis was employed to compare six prominent digital competence frameworks for educators (DigCompEdu, Norwegian Framework, ICT CFT, DTPF, SFDCT, and EDCF) through content analysis, focusing on their key competencies and proficiency levels. The frameworks were selected based on their relevance to education, international scope, and recent updates. The analysis identifies commonalities and differences across frameworks, particularly in terms of collaboration, ethical practices, digital tool integration, and continuous professional development. The findings provide insights for policymakers, educators, and institutions to design effective professional development programs and integrate digital competence frameworks into educational practices. This research offers a comprehensive comparison of digital competence frameworks, contributing to the ongoing discourse on digital transformation in education