124 research outputs found
The corruption of a republic
No full textEminent Indian psychoanalyst and social commentator Dr Ashis Nandy found himself in the middle of a controversy recently after he made a few remarks on corruption at a session entitled ‘The Republic of Ideas’ at the Jaipur literary festival, 24– 28 January 2013. Author and publisher of Tehelka magazine Tarun Tejpal spoke of corruption as an equalising force, to which Dr Nandy said:
Just a response to this part, very briefly. He’s not saying the most important part of the story, which will shock you and it will be a very undignified and, how should I put it, almost vulgar statement on my part. It is a fact that most of the corrupt come from the OBCs (Other Backward Classes) and the Scheduled Castes and now increasingly Scheduled Tribes and as long as this is the case, the Indian republic will survive.
A journalist present at the panel took up this statement, which was later endlessly replayed on a 24-hour television news channel. Dalit organisations and activists protested against Dr Nandy. Not surprisingly, considering the upcoming elections in some key states, some politicians jumped into the fray and called for Dr Nandy’s arrest. In India anti-Dalit speech is punishable under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, and is a non-bailable offence. There were demonstrations and police complaints were filed against him in three different locations. Fearing physical harm and the possibility of imprisonment, Dr Nandy and his family went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of India did grant a stay order on the arrest warrants against him, but at the same time the Chief Justice of India told Dr Nandy’s lawyer ‘Whatever your intent, you can’t go on making statements. Tell your client he has no license to make such comments.’
The Indian social media and blogsphere exploded, with various arguments emerging on behalf of and against Dr Nandy. The most common complaint against Dr Nandy is that he was casteist, and that he had stereotyped Dalits. Such complaints came even from those defending him. A passionate critique by Anoop Kumar outlined Dalit oppression in India and accused specific media personalities of defending Dr Nandy instead of interrogating ‘upper caste anxieties’. There are blogs that, while disagreeing with Dr Nandy, argue for his right to express his opinion and to ‘be wrong’. There are those who argue that his remarks were made in humour, and lament the dearth of an understanding of wit, satire or irony.6 While the case seems to be closed after the Supreme Court judgment, there is still debate about whether this was a victory for freedom of speech or another instance of the way in which the upper castes in India can get away with any derogatory statement against the lower castes.
The freedom of speech argument is unsatisfying. The difference between ‘provocative speech that forces you to think’ and ‘provocative speech that is intended to hurt, denigrate or provoke’ is very context dependent. The intention of any speaker is not only difficult to prove, but also difficult to know. I would like to base my defence of Dr Nandy neither on his right to say what was on his mind, nor on his intention. Instead, I would suggest that his remarks should be understood through a discussion of corruption, and the way in which Dr Nandy uses the term.
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Shvetal Vyas is a PhD student in the International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding, University of South Australia
Amrita Nandy. Motherhood and Choice: Uncommon Mothers, Childfree Women
No full textIn Motherhood and Choice: Uncommon Mothers, Childless Women the author wishes to shed light on gender roles and gendered structures in ideas and practices of motherhood and (non-) mothering in (North) India across “institutions, experience and agency” through a feminist post-structuralist perspective. Struck by her own uncertainty about motherhood despite the apparent ubiquity and compulsions of pro-natalism and the naturalization of women as mothers, Amrita Nandy selected the theme for her d..
A review of Basic Research on Homoeopathy from a physicist′s point of view
No full textHomoeopathic medicine has been one of the world′s most widely practiced alternative therapies. However, that the potency of a homoeopathic medicine increases with dilution followed by succussion (together termed as potentization) has thrown challenges to the scientific community at large. A recent hypothesis, advanced by us and others, is that due to the process of potentization, the size of the constituent particles decreases and eventually reaches nanodimension. This decrease in size with increase in potency has been verified by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering studies. The increase in potency is manifested in its increased effect on membrane fluidity. The change in potency also leaves its signature on Ultraviolet-Visible spectra, Fourier transform infrared radiation spectra and Raman spectra. We have taken one step further to carry this nano-dimensional property of homoeopathic medicine and put it into several technical applications. And in so doing, we have connected the important, old, un-quantifiable effects with the latest quantifiable technology and opened up an era of applications with more possibilities
Role of planar lipid structure in transmembrane charge conduction
No full text143-154Using
planar lipid membrane as the model for
biological membranes, we have studied the role of lipid medium in the mechanism
of transmembrane charge transport. <span style="font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:HiddenHorzOCR;mso-bidi-font-family:HiddenHorzOCR">Here we present a
review of our results which indicate that (a) both electrons and
ions are charge carriers across these membranes, (b) hydrophilic pores are formed
in the planar lipid membrane ", providing the required
ionic pathways, (c) membrane I-V characteristics are nonlinear and are
monitored by the presence of external agents in the bathing solution,
temperature and frequency of the applied electric field. We show
that these observations can be explained in the light of semiconducting nature
of lipid molecules, double electrode behaviour of the membrane and the theory
of charge conduction in binary, inhomogeneous, disordered systems.
</span
Active principle in potentised medicines: Nanoparticle versus quantum domain – An overview
No full textBackground: The fact that homoeopathic medicines act even at very high dilutions has created a confusion amongst scientists. This led to different models such as formation of nanoparticles and memory of water. The basic question \u27what is responsible for physiological activity of homoeopathic medicines\u27 is yet to be answered conclusively. Objective: The objective of this overview was to find out if formation of nanoparticles or creation of quantum domain in the medium is responsible for the physiological activity of homoeopathic medicines. Methods: This overview is based on the experiments done between 2004 and 2019. Results: The succussion of the medicine has the following effects: i. At high potency, due to the mechanical energy transferred to the system, the size of the substrate reduces to nanodimension increasing membrane permeability. Furthermore, they affect several electrical properties of an electroactive polymer and enhance thermovoltage generation. ii. In the presence of an ambient electromagnetic field, domains composed of the vehicular polar molecules are formed, which bear the signature of the dissolved solute. The domains are sources of quasi-free electrons which are manifested in voltage generation separating two different polar media. The structured water also explains the ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectra. Conclusion: In high potency, formation of nanoparticles explains the effect of homoeopathic medicines on properties such as permeability, electrical properties of polymers and thermovoltage generation, whereas formation of domains in the vehicle medium explains properties such as voltage generation separating two different polar media and UV-Vis spectra
Size, shape, and dose — three crucial determinants for applying nanoparticles in sustainable plant biology
No full textNanoparticles (NPs) are easily accessed in biological systems due to their widespread distribution, and they may have neutral, promoting, or inhibiting effects. The positive impact on plants is shown in better plant growth, increased biomass production, enhanced enzyme actions, and improved crop productivity. In contrast, negative effects include germination retardation, growth inhibition, cell impairment, deterioration, and eventually death. Different outcomes depend on factors such as plant species, the physicochemical nature of the NP, NP size, shape, and concentration, and the type of medium. More research is needed on many fronts regarding the interaction of NPs with plants, including the absorption capacity of diverse plant species, methods of uptake and translocation, and interactions between the NPs and plant tissues at cellular and genetic levels. However, the effects of these tiny particles after entering the plant body will be influenced directly or indirectly by the three most critical factors: the shape, size, and dose of NPs used during applications. Therefore, analyzing the outcomes of these three factors of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) on plant systems will enhance our understanding of the benefits and risks of these tiny particles on the ecosystem balance. It will also provide appropriate guidelines for farmers to handle NPs in cropland with the utmost care and accuracy
COVID-19 and persistence in the stock market: a study on a leading emerging market
No full textData availability:
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.In this study, we examine how sectors of the National Stock Exchange from India respond to the uncertainties introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. By examining the synchronization between the sector-specific and overall market index (NIFTY 50) reaction to COVID-19, we contribute to the inconclusive ongoing academic literature regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the stock market, especially in the context of persistence in an emerging market. To analyze the persistence of sectoral indices, we apply multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA). We use the generalized Hurst exponent and singularity spectrum as indicators for persistence and spectral width as a measure of volatility. Our analysis shows that the sample sectoral indices are persistent before and after the announcement of COVID-19; however, volatility in some sectors reduces post-announcement of COVID-19. The findings will enrich the academic literature on the relationship between sector-specific and overall market indexes. In practice, the paper will guide investors to organize their portfolios, especially during future economic uncertainty
Bioinformatic analysis of envelope gene of the dengue type 3 prevalent in India from 2005 onwards and comparison with dengue type 1
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