Space and Culture, India
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Harmonising Conservation and Livelihood: Sustainable Practices for Non-Timber Forest Produce in the Vidarbha Tiger Landscape, India
Full text linkIn the fringe villages of a Protected Area for wildlife, the livelihood pattern is sometimes an issue of contestation. There is apprehension that Protected Area laws undermined people’s livelihood and traditional access to forests. For a win-win situation to be achieved, wherein both the forest and local people attain ecological and social security, the study has discussed sustainable extraction and value-added practices for commonly collected Non-Timber Forest Produce, such as Madhuca longifolia, Syzygium cumini, and Aegle marmelos. Based on interviews and observation methods in three forest ranges of the Nawegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve, a part of the Vidarbha Tiger landscape in Maharashtra, India, the skills and livelihood assets owned by the local community were assessed. The study suggests more frequent capacity-building training and encourages the plantation of commercially valuable natural resources in village common areas and residential backyards. There is enormous scope to guide the community towards an organised marketing system, indigenous technologies, institutional support in training and skill development, and appropriate extension and communication networks, as well as exploring natural resources-based livelihoods without venturing too far into the forest.
Cultural Heritage, Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Urbanisation in South Korea: Case of Jejudo Island during 1946~1970
Full text linkJejudo Island’s sustainable urbanisation journey offers a compelling narrative that distinguishes its cultural heritage from the broader South Korean experience. This paper investigates the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, cultural practices, and sustainable urban development in Jejudo Island during the phase 1946~1970. Unlike the rapid industrialisation of mainland South Korea, Jejudo Island’s development has been shaped by geographic isolation, harsh environmental conditions, and a smaller population. These factors have preserved unique traditions, such as the Jejuuh dialect, Haenyeo (female divers), and Dottongsi (pig latrine systems), which reflect a deeply rooted harmony between human activity and the natural environment. The study employs a mixed-method approach, including content analysis of archival data and a questionnaire survey of 330 Jeju Special Self-Governing Province officials. Findings reveal widespread awareness of Jejudo Island’s cultural practices and their perceived contributions to economic, social and environmental sustainability. Senior officials strongly support preserving these traditions, underscoring the need to engage younger generations through targeted education and community initiatives. A core distinction between Jejudo Island and mainland South Korea lies in the island’s reliance on communal labour-sharing systems (Sunureum), collective social networks (Gwendang), and ritualistic respect for nature (Singugan). These practices exemplify Jejudo Island’s cultural resilience and self-reliant development model, which contrasts with South Korea’s top-down, growth-centric urban strategies. The research advocates for integrating Indigenous knowledge into urban planning frameworks, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Jejudo Island stands as a model for balancing modernisation with preserving intangible heritage, offering lessons for sustainable urbanisation globally
A Study Exploring the Status of Governance of Varanasi Smart City
Full text linkThe fast-evolving pace of urbanisation across the world has effectively enveloped the concept of smart cities. The emergence of smart cities has introduced a more efficient way of living in urban areas, facilitating the most necessary requirements with utmost ease. One such smart city in India is Varanasi, which has been investigated in this study to understand the institutional component of liveability standards. Governance is the backbone of smart city development, which needs to be examined to understand the gap between the top-rated and least-rated smart cities. Nine selected indicators have been incorporated to evaluate the Governance Index using the Ministry of Urban Development’s Methodological Framework. For this, a total of 400 primary respondents were surveyed proportionally across the eight municipal zones and four social strata, using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Citizen perception has been assessed using one-way ANOVA with post-hoc analysis providing a spatial and social evaluation of governance effectiveness. Substantial zone-based and strata-based correlations highlight political stability as the best-performing indicator, with Sarnath emerging as the most well-governed zone. In addition, the upper strata exhibit better performance compared to the others. The tax collection shows a positive trend, with almost half of the capital expenditure based on spending. The city also needs to increase awareness of online citizen services; the grievance redressal process requires improvement, with a significantly shorter turnaround time. Additionally, the effectiveness level needs to be increased, along with higher accountability levels and lower corruption levels. The study provides key insights into governance efficiency in Varanasi, offering a comprehensive perspective for policymakers to enhance urban liveability
Enhancing Elderly Care through Health Data Innovation: Developing a Mobile Application for Seniors
Full text linkIn an environment where the number of older individuals is increasing, innovative solutions for their independent living and improved quality of life are essential. This study assessed the health status, care needs, and technological features necessary to develop a mobile health application for the ageing population. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study collected quantitative data from 420 elderly respondents through structured questionnaires that covered demographic information, health conditions, and technology usage. Qualitative data were collected from 40 participants through in-depth interviews to gain a deeper understanding of the health experiences of the elderly and their concerns regarding digital interventions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. The majority of respondents were female (71.4%), with an average age of 69 (61.3%), and reported their health as relatively good. Additionally, 56.8% experienced at least one health problem. Most participants expressed a need for memory training and health information, including basic routine healthcare and self-monitoring of their health. Although these elderly participants sought to engage with technologies, they had usability concerns, which were identified as a key aspect to be addressed. The qualitative information revealed that the development of mobile applications should be designed to 1) monitor daily activities, provide health parameters, and notify the users of emergencies, and 2) connect older individuals to their family members, caregivers, health experts, and the community via a user-friendly interface that prioritises user-centred design and data security. This application not only ensures the safety of the elderly but also enhances their mental well-being
I met Him I met my Destiny: A Tribute to my Teacher Professor R.Vaidyanadhan
Full text linkProfessor Rajagopala Vaidyanadhan had been a teacher like no other teacher. This tribute presents a panorama of his early and higher education, professional life and academic achievements. The sentiments expressed in this tribute are not feelings of just this author alone but are feelings of almost all his students. He joined the teaching profession not by chance but by choice. He did a commendable job as a teacher. He updated himself with the latest in the field and imparted his knowledge to all his students. As a researcher, he did a good number of seminal works. He kept himself active in his post-retirement time and served the earth science community through his invaluable contributions. At 94 years of age, he is healthy and hale because of his daily disciplined routines
Social Casework: The Indian Paradigm and Practice
Full text linkThis commentary builds on the discussion started in Pulla, Das, and Nikku\u27s 2022 essay "Indigenous or Blended Model for South Asian Social Work?", which questioned the dominance of Western social work paradigms in South Asia. The authors emphasised the limitations of these models in dealing with the region\u27s diverse socio-cultural realities, arguing for a hybrid approach that combines Indigenous epistemologies with global views. Building on this foundation, the current study examines Social Casework: The Indian Paradigm and Practice, a seminal contribution to the developing Bharatiyakaran movement—the Indianisation of social work. This emergent paradigm highlights a decolonised, culturally embedded practice model based on Indian philosophical, spiritual, and ethical traditions, such as seva (selfless service), danam (altruism), vasudhaiva kutumbakam (universal family), and concepts from the Bhagavad Gita.
The book entitled Social Casework: The Indian Paradigm and Practice by Ranjana Sehgal and published by Today & Tomorrow\u27s Printers and Publishers, New Delhi, documents efforts to create a uniquely Indian casework technique, providing empirical findings, theoretical critiques, and culturally appropriate frameworks from throughout the subcontinent. The authors in this volume delve into classical Indian notions such as karma, ashramas, purusharthas, syadvada, and Ayurvedic principles, offering them as the foundation for a holistic and context-sensitive approach to casework. This review essay emphasises the urgent need to transcend Western individualistic ideas and interact with the spiritual and community ethos inherent in Indian culture. This paradigm shift not only enhances the cultural relevance and effectiveness of social work practice in India, but it also contributes to larger worldwide efforts to diversify and decolonise professional knowledge systems. By integrating with Indian traditions, this movement encourages practitioners to reframe social work as both a professional discipline and a spiritual practice, grounded in collective well-being and ethical responsibility
Understanding the Influence of Traffic Congestion on Tourist Consumer Behaviour: The Role of Stoicism and Sad Ripu Control in Maintaining Sustainable Tourism
Full text linkThis research investigates the effects of Stoic principles and Sad Ripu control on tourists’ consumption behaviour regarding the perceived condition of traffic congestion in Bali. Among tourists’ most pervasive problems, traffic congestion affects consumptive behaviour and travel decisions. This study tries to investigate how emotional regulation, governed by Stoicism and a traditional Balinese philosophy known as Sad Ripu, influences the response of tourists to perceived crowding and, subsequently, their behaviour. This study is novel because integrating Stoic principles with Sad Ripu control offers a fresh perspective into emotional regulation in tourism behaviour. A quantitative approach with structured questionnaires was applied to 200 tourists in Bali, testing relationships among the variables by means of SEM. The findings indicate that Stoic principles and Sad Ripu control are significantly associated with more positive tourist behaviour, promoting less stress and more satisfaction, hence more positive consumption decisions. Besides, traffic congestion has been found to play a mediating role in emotional regulation and consumer behaviour. This study underlines the importance of emotional management in tourism and claims that Stoic practices and emotional control strategies can improve the tourist experience and foster loyalty. Further studies are necessary to explore broader contexts and long-term impacts across various tourist destinations
Experiencing Ngitemp: Tradition, Food Sovereignty, and Human-Nature Relations among the Dayak Benawan Indigenous Community in Indonesia
Full text linkThis research employs an autoethnographic approach to examine personal experiences and the broader socio-economic and cultural factors that shape food security within the Dayak Benawan community, located in Sanggau District, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. We analysed how the Indigenous Dayak Benawan community conceptualise food sovereignty and what role Ngitemp plays as a traditional practice in food sovereignty. For this study, we employed the autoethnographic method to shape local scholarship. The first author’s positionality and identity as Dayak Benawan contextualise the local conditions. Interviews and participant observations were used to narrate our experiences. The findings highlight that food security among Dayak Benawan farmers is not merely a matter of production and consumption but is deeply intertwined with cultural traditions, customary knowledge, and ecological stewardship. Ngitemp is a traditional practice that embodies the community’s sustainable relationship with nature. Through this research experience, I gained profound insight into how Indigenous knowledge and environmental ethics inform agricultural decision-making and resource management. The practice of Ngitemp reinforces the belief that food security is more than securing a steady food supply; it is about maintaining a balanced relationship with the land, ensuring its vitality for future generations. The Dayak Benawan’s reliance on Indigenous farming methods, communal resource sharing, and spiritual connections to their land demonstrates how cultural heritage plays a vital role in sustaining livelihoods. However, modernisation, land commodification, and agrarian policy shifts pose challenges that threaten these traditional food practices. By weaving personal narratives with ethnographic insights, this study emphasises the inseparability of food security from historical, environmental, and socio-cultural dimensions. It contributes to broader discussions on Indigenous resilience, sustainable agriculture, and the need for policies that recognise and protect local knowledge systems
Beyond Governance: Political Consolidation and Community Engagement in Union Parishad Standing Committees, Bangladesh
Full text linkThis study examines the operational functionality of Union Parishad (UP) Standing Committees (SCs) in Bangladesh, with a focus on their roles in local governance and political consolidation. This qualitative study purposively selected 48 participants, comprising representatives from the UP, government officials, NGO representatives, and SC members. Thematic analysis was employed for data interpretation, revealing that SCs, as governance mechanisms, were utilised as tools by the ruling political parties for consolidation, thereby sidestepping their intended roles of accountability and participation. Additionally, the study reveals that NGOs have shifted from capacity building to commercial pursuits and that a patron-client relationship hinders governance access for all classes, benefits certain groups, and silences critical voices. This study found significant differences between the procedures for forming and operating the UP SCs. Local government reforms should be implemented to enhance UP capacity, encourage opposition participation, and reduce the influence of parliamentary members, thereby improving SC performance
Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges Faced by International Students in Türkiye: A Psychological Perspective
Full text linkThis study examined the cross-cultural challenges faced by international students in Türkiye, with perceptions of discrimination and stereotyping recurring as key themes. It included prejudice and exclusion based on nationality or ethnicity, further complicating communication dynamics and a sense of belonging. International students in Türkiye face unique challenges when adjusting to a new educational environment, and one of the primary barriers they encounter is the language. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the cross-cultural communication challenges faced by International Students in Türkiye from a psychological perspective, deploying qualitative methods with a case study approach. Through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, this study explored the lived experiences of international students, aiming to determine the psychological mechanisms underlying their communication difficulties during acculturation in an unfamiliar academic and social environment. These findings reveal various challenges arising from language barriers, cultural differences, and the negotiation of identity. Moreover, language emerged as a significant barrier, with international students expressing frustration and anxiety due to their limited language skills, which hindered their ability to engage in academic discourse and social interactions. Language is crucial, while the physical and social environment influences the adaptation process. A proactive attitude facilitates integration despite barriers such as racism and stereotypes. It is then crucial to consider cultural influences in psychology, particularly in cross-cultural contexts. The experience of international students in Türkiye highlights the importance of intercultural dialogue, emphasising the need to understand different perspectives