Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

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An analysis of regional disparities in agricultural development in Assam : an econometric approach
(2003) Mahanta, Ratul
Regional imbalances is a ubiquitous phenomenon in both developed and developing economies. But in the latter it is more acute and glaring. It is being increasingly recognized, both on theoretical and empirical grounds, and experiences of the developing countries shows that at least in the initial stages of economic development, considerable regional imbalances in development arises. Reservation have, however, been expressed about the need to take deliberate policy measures to remove these increasing regional disparities in the levels of living. Regional disparity exists in agricultural development in Assam. The present study intends to measure the extent of regional disparities in agricultural development in Assam and examine the factors responsible for them. This will help to find solution to the problem of regional disparities. The study assumes that there are three sources...
Samkara and Husserl : investigations on consciousness
(2004) Maharana, Suraya Kanta
The philosophical exploration of consciousness has a long history in both Indian and Western thought. Some of the conceptual models and analyses that have emerged in one cultural framework may be profitably reviewed in the light of another. The present thesis is an attempt at an investigation of the very possibility of parallel notion of consciousness in the Advaita Vedanta of Samkara and the Transcendental Phenomenology of Husserl. It is an attempt at exploration of 'I - consciousness' in these two traditions with special reference to the writings of J. N. Mohanty. For J. N. Mohanty any attempt at understanding Indian tradition in terms of Husserlian perspective needs some clarifications. For Husserl, consciousness is always intentional and object-directed while it is illuminative and non-intentional in its Vedantic and in Samkarite approach. This clearly shows that Husserl's thesis...
(The) Growth of cross-border economic relationships between Northeast India and Bangladesh : An empirical study
(2004) Dutta, Gautam Kumar
The geographical location of northeastern region of India is distinctive in terms of land border with neighbouring countries. The region shares about 33 percent of the country's total international border. Out of the seven countries with which India shares land border, four countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Myanmar have landed border with the northeastern region. Another important geographical exclusivity is that the region shares as much as 98 percent of her border with neighbouring countries, only 2 percent of its border with the mainland India. Metaphorically northeast India is described as one of the South Asia's three most landlocked ""states"" along with Bhutan and Nepal. This exclusivity has made the region to be insightful about the cross- border transnational developments, be it cultural, political or economic. Recent efforts like South Asia Growth Quadrangle (SAGQ)...
Situating the self in the fiction and selected non-fiction of John Robert Fowles
(2005) Farhana, Parveen
British novelist John Fowles (1926-), is considered a novelist of ideas, and ""a protean novelist, always breaking moulds, trying something new"" (WH 448). Willing to risk himself in each of his fiction in originality, he introduces the incredible and the marvellous in his writings. The first English postmodern writer to reach the bestseller list on both sides of the Atlantic, possessing a seductive drive of narration, the key issues of his works dwell on free will. individual choice, autonomy, time and the human landscape placed within nature. In this cabvas he envelops historical narratives, detective stories, sience fiction, mystery and romance. Combining societal and truth-seeking issues, his works remain singled out by their alertness to ideas. A diversity of supplementary genres like essays, poems, memories...
(The) Problem of the Embodied Person
(2007) Thoibisana, Akoijam
The Thesis is a study of the ways in which we sensually embody and experience our world. the last few years have seen scientific advancements that were thought to be possible only in the realm of science fiction. From nuclear transfer to exogenous pregnancies, implantable brain chips to transgenic engineering, cyborg to chimera, we may be taking the next step in our own evolution. the thesis is a meta-philosophical account that begins within the different emerging views of corporeality...
Influence Strategies and Gender Differences
(2007) Nag, Sudipa
In the present work an attempt has been made to investigate gender differences in the selection of influence strategies by the managers. Previous findings indicate that there is a difference in the use of influence strategies by the male and female managers. However, two sets of explanations have been offered to explain these differences, namely, social-role model and structural model. Since the findings in this area were not conclusive and there were several unanswered questions, the present study was undertaken by the scholar. In order to answer specific research questions in this area three sets of studies were conducted. In the first study, which was an experimental study, results were mixed and it indicated that there could be a possibility of social-role model playing a role. However, in the later studies there was no significant effect of gender on any of the dependent variables. Therefore, it was concluded that due to changes in the work place and changes in the societal norms over a period of time, stereotypical gender role expectations are getting diminished day by day. These results have been explained in the light of previous findings and this work makes a contribution in the area of knowledge..
Interlingual Code-Switching as a Sociolinguistic Phenomenon amongst the Mising of the Brahmaputra Valley: a study
(2008) Doley, Rajeev Kumar
A significant component of human life today is socio-cultural diversity which in turn leads to diversity in speech. In multi-ethnic societies, it is a natural process that the speakers of one language get in contact with those of other languages and consequently acquire their characteristics. This acquistion leads to code-switching between the acquired languages. The speakers move in and out of these languages in a single conversation..
Sartre and Sankhya-Yoga-a comparative study
(2008) Kalita, Namita
As the new millennium dawns, there are still millions of individuals that continue their intellectual and emotional pilgrimages to find the meaning of life. It is often difficult to pose the question seriously in order to warrant a formidable answer when the Dmeaning of lifeD is taunted as the wrong approach. But what, in fact, do we mean when we ask the question, DWhat is the meaning of life?D Typically, the lay person seeks to find their niche in society either through a sense of accomplishment or through a sense of contribution. Thus people desire to determine the meaning of their lives and not the mere abstract notion of DlifeD as Existence. Philosophers throughout the ages have approached the question from an intellectual perspective. It is my endeavor to elucidate the great Existentialist movement and its contribution to the intellectual approach in attempting to find out the meaning to this human predicament. Existentialism was a widely discussed term and enjoyed a brief period of popularity during the post-war era. This philosophical movement, mainly through the works of Jean Paul Sartre, reached its peak during the 1940Ds. However, Sartre was not the first to touch on this fundamental question of human existence. Before him there were individual thinkers who had unconventionally responded to this essential question and explored existentialist themes, thereby paving the way for Sartrean Existentialism in the mid-twentieth century. Among the most well known predecessors, Soren Kierkegaard, Karl Jasper, and Martin Heidegger are especially noted. Jean Paul Sartre, one of the most famous existentialists, indeed inherited many ideas from his predecessors. His personal experiences, combined with his philosophical training eventually made his existential theory an Atheistic Humanism, stressing choice, commitment and responsibility..
Impact of Strategic Human Resource Management on the Performance of Firms: a study of Service Sector Firms in India
(2008) Nigam, Ajit Kumar
This study investigates the impact of Strategic Human Resource Management on the performance of firms in service sector in India. The study has been conducted in three segments of service sector viz. Transport, Finance and IT enabled Services of both Public as well as Private sector. Data from 25 firms in three industries were obtained through 2 sets of questionnaires. Set-I had measures of Business Environment, Business Strategy, Organizational Structure and Preparedness to Change (N=98). Set-II had measures of Strategic Human Resource Management, Organizational Culture and Effectiveness (N=750). Responses were analyzed using ANOVA, Correlation and Multiple Regressions. Study tested three emerging approaches viz. Universalistic, Contingency and Configurational of Strategic Human Resource Management in Indian context. Results supported Contingency and Configurational approaches, while it did not substantiate Universalistic approach. Study adds to the growing empirical evidence in this field. At methodological level study contributes in designing a 10 item instrument for ‘Preparedness to Change’. The study also finds various practical and industry implications, which may be of value to HR managers and firms in India while designing Strategic HRM for the firms to enhance their competitiveness.
Collapsing Boundaries: Narrative Strategies in the Fiction of Amitav Ghosh
(2009) Prasad, Abhigyan
Abstract not found
Quality of life and environment
(2009) Das, Daisy
Enhancement of quality of life (QOL) has been the explicit or implicit goal of public policy in all societies for several centuries. QOL has been the focus of numerous studies but universally acceptable definition of the concept has not been developed yet. In fact, a common criticism against the concept of QOL is that it lacks specificity and has as many meanings as life has aspects. It is a multidimensional concept and context dependent. QOL refers to description and evaluation of the nature or conditions of life of people in a certain country or region. Life quality is formed by exogenous forces, with respect to an individual or a social group, forces like production technology, infrastructure, relations with other groups or countries, institutions of the society, natural environment, and also by endogenous factors including interaction within the society and values of a person or a society. During the last couple of decades, the world has developed but the benefit of development has not been favorable for several new problems that have cropped up in the form of environmental degradation, economic inequality and deterioration of social fabrics. Another characteristic feature of the development process in last few decades is the growth of urban areas. The process of urbanization in the developing countries is not commensurate with the level of economic development Urbanization has been a world wide phenomenon and the Indian cities are not exception to it. In the North East India urbanization had a late start. But relation between urbanization and development is distinctly weak in the region. The city of Guwahati is the largest urban centre in the North Eastern Region of India and it is the capital of the state of Assam. The process of urbanization has started getting momentum only after shifting of the state capital from Shillong to Guwahati in 1972. Since then Guwahati has been experiencing heavy pressure of population. Expansion of the city has led to haphazard growth of buildings on plains and on the hills. Growth of buildings and houses has destroyed the natural water bodies often leading to water logging. Another major problem in the city is congestion of traffic. Rapid urbanization creates enormous stresses on natural environment also. There is dearth of open space for citizen and decline in greenery. As a result of increase in trade & commerce activities along with growth of vehicular population and rapid urbanization, level of pollution has also increased. Slums have grown up in and around the city. Increase in solid wastes is another major problem in Guwahati. Besides all these, lack of adequate urban services such as water supply, sanitation, sewerage, lighting and transport are some major problems along with deficient recreational and welfare facilities in the city. The huge gap between demand and supply of urban amenities, infrastructural facilities and poor environmental condition adversely affect wellbeing. Therefore, this study has been conducted on QOL in Guwahati city. The proposed study aims at studying the relationship between QOL and environment in the city of Guwahati in order to find the factors affecting QOL. It also examines if the factors of QOL are uniform across different income groups and among different localities. At the same time the study evaluates the objective and the subjective dimension of QOL.
Organizational Learning and Leadership: Moderating effect of organizational culture
(2009) Nongmaithem, Sonia
The present research attempted to answer the following research questions (1) What are the differences in organizational learning processes across organizations? (2) What are the different leadership styles or combination of leadership styles that facilitate organizational learning? (3) What is the impact of top management leadership style on organizational learning? (4) Which kind of culture promotes learning that is beneficial to the organization? (5) What is the role of strategies in the effective implementation of organizational learning process in an organization? (6) What is the impact of all these factors on the performance of the organization? In order to answer above-mentioned research questions, three studies were conducted. Study 1 and Study 2A were quantitative studies while Study 2B was a qualitative study. Study 2B was conducted to augment the results of Study 1 and Study 2A. It was found from the results of the three studies that (1) there were differences in the organizational learning processes across different organizations, (2) there was positive relationship between leadership (Transformational and Transactional leadership) and organizational learning, (3) this relationship was moderated by organizational culture as well as business strategy, and (4) all these factors have positive effect on the performance of the organization. The results of Study 2B also supported the findings of the two quantitative studies. This research work highlights the crucial role that different styles or combination of the different styles of leadership plays in creating a conducive culture which will foster organizational learning. Top management of organizations should have the knack to understand the need of the hour and the situation and try to use the different leadership style...
Mothers and Daughters: A Study of Selected Fiction by Indian Women Novelists in English
(2010) Nath, Arpana
The subject of womenDs writing represents an intervention within feminist studies in India that explores the psychological, emotional and social concerns of women. Much attention has been paid by feminist scholars in recovering lost traditions of writing by women writers. The idea behind this is to pay emphasis on the womanDs perspective and on the nature of experiences that shape womenDs identity, the processes of self-formation and identification. It is not only difficult but also impossible to give a single voice to womenDs writing in general as the variety of responses and artistic expressions mirror the complex patterns of social and cultural spaces that define the parameters of womenDs lives and womenDs responses to them in everyday situations. This precludes any attempt at generalized assumptions of gender. Women in different parts of the world are affected differently by the demands of cultural and material reality. What remains important, however, is the uniqueness of the experiences captured through the written word in the stories told thereby making visible the interior lives of a set of people that would otherwise have remained closed and unavailable. Writings by women throw light on aspects of womenDs experience and their inner life, on the recesses of the mind that are silenced by codes of cultural conditioning that privileges reticence over expression in women. These writings are significant as they give the reader local specifity and grounding. Not only that but also they show the intricate ways in which womenDs lives are deeply embedded in the cultural matrix of patriarchal structures.The issue of womenDs writing has raised many questions not only on the issue of womenDs self-expression and creativity through the medium of the written word but also on the validity of the enterprise itself as a separate genre of literary studies. Elaine Showalter, who first coined the term DgynocriticismD, traces the history of womenDs writing in the west as having evolved through a series of interrelated phases of development characterized by intense conflict and repression. As early as the 1920Ds Virginia Woolf had insisted on the importance of economic independence and privacy for women writers. The works of Showalter and Woolf are important to our understanding of womenDs writing as a genre. ShowalterDs work apart from analyzing the different stages of the development of womenDs writing also foregrounded the psychological pressure women authors had to undergo writing under the influence of a largely masculine canon. The effects of the Danxiety of authorshipD (Bloom DThe Anxiety of InfluenceD) and what could have been the effects of psychosocial repression for women artists because of societal intolerance of female creativity has been analyzed by Susan Gilbert and Sandra Gubar in their book The Mad Woman in the Attic (2001). Virginia WoolfDs work, on the other hand, was a penetrating analysis of the impediments to womenDs literary creation that discouraged professional women writers. According to Woolf, Victorian women will have to kill the angel in the house in order to find the leisure and economic means to reach creative fulfillment. WoolfDs essay DProfessions for WomenD was one of the earliest attempts at excavating the material conditions and the implications they had for women writers. The articulation of gender concerns is not the same for......
Family in Selected Novels of Shashi Deshpande
(2010) Bora, Merry Baruah
Shashi Deshpande’s intense fascination with human relationships and the family is reiterated by the fact that almost every novel explores in a compassionate manner the complexities that concern every individual living within families, within relationships. Her fictional world begins and ends with families, the minutiae which she delivers into her narrative allowing the reader an opportunity to contemplate on the family, an institution so core to our lives that it is often taken for granted. This taken-for-grantedness – often unquestioning and unconditional – towards the family, appears to be problematised by Deshpande whose creative engagement with it exhibits how families do operate, especially in the context of the Indian urban middle class. Reading Shashi Deshpande’s A Matter of Time for the first time a few years ago, I felt the urge to read Deshpande’s other novels and the affair took off with such intensity that I was tempted to read all her novels that were available and her short story volumes besides the fiction written for children. Within this time I was also supposed to decide on a topic for my doctoral degree, and for me what could have been a better topic than Shashi Deshpande’s treatment of family in her fiction! Given my fascination with her passionate treatment of the family which I found reflected in almost all her novels, and also the fact that I could actually visualise and recognise the familial drama being enacted both in the novels and in and around me, it seemed only natural that I should embark on my chosen topic. Significantly, it was around this time that I felt, after having read secondary works on the novelist that her intense involvement with the family novel after novel has for some reason escaped larger critical focus and this was also one of the driving factors that motivated me to take up the study of family as my research topic. And thus, Deshpande’s fictional world became a living world around me – my family, all my relationships, I felt, were only varied versions of what Deshpande has so skilfully delineated in her novels.
(The) Stock English Comic Character in Selected Novels of P. G. Wodehouse
(2010) Nair, Malini
Abstract not Found
Determinants of stress and well-being in call centre employees: Role of self-Efficacy and Social Support
(2010) Kumar, Narsingh
The objective of this study is to investigate various work demands and their consequences in the call center employees. The study focuses at work factors related to call center agentsD stress and well-being. Specifically, how the work factors (Performance monitoring, Emotional exhaustion, and Role ambiguity and Role conflict) may induce or increase the stress and emotional exhaustion, and how these factors may affect the job satisfaction, home adjustment and positive well-being of the call center agents. The present study also investigates the moderating role of self-efficacy and social support (supervisory and coworker) between the relationships of work factors and stress, emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, home adjustment and well-being of call centre employees. Two studies- Study A and Study B were carried out. Study A was quantitative, and study B was qualitative in nature. Data for the Study A were collected from a sample of call centre agents (N = 269) from 7 Indian call centres. A questionnaire consisting 11 scales was used to collect the responses of call centre agents. Study B was carried out on 50 call centre agents through an interview schedule, which consisted 17-questions related to employeesD work demands, their consequences, and social support. The Qualitative study was done to augment the findings of Quantitative study. Factor analyses were carried out to reduce the factors of most of the scales taken in this study. Further, correlations and stepwise multiple regression analyses were carried out through SPSS-17 for analyzing the data of the Study A. The quantitative study results revealed that intensity of performance monitoring emerged as the strongest predictor of stress and well-being in call centre employees. Purpose of monitoring (feedback and support) has shown to have positive impact on well-being. The other factors emotional labor, and role ambiguity and role conflict are also identified as important determinates of stress, emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, home adjustment and well-being in call centre employees. Moreover, self-efficacy and social support (supervisory and coworker support) played role of significant moderators between the relationships of work factors and stress and well-being....
Metaphors in jhumpa Lahiri's Fiction: A Study
(2011) Ahmed, Sohail
Abstract not available.
Rural -Urban Divide and Linkages: An Empirical Analysis in Assam
(2011) Das, Ira
The issue of rural-urban divide and linkages has gained importance in the world in recent years. Reducing the divide through better linkage between sectors has been one of the issues for ensuring balanced development of any country. The United Nations has also emphasised on the issue for simultaneous development of rural and urban areas, of agriculture and industry, for over all development of any country. The definition and differences of DruralD and DurbanD areas emerge from the fact that certain economic activities require different spaces to perform. Since certain services are best located and performed in certain space, occupations in both locations are specialized in nature and complementary in serving each otherDs interest. Therefore, there should be equal opportunities in accessing basic infrastructures and other basic amenities of life in both the locations and there should not be any distinction between rural and urban sectors. This type of positive rural-urban interactions and the virtuous circle of development, fostered by backward and forward linkages between agriculture, industry and service sectors is the major source of economic growth and development for any country. However, in reality, the virtuous circle of development does not occur and rural-urban divide arises due to inequalities in access to assets for rural and urban areas. Thus, the problem of disparity between rural and urban areas has become one of the major concerns for the policymakers. It is a major challenge for the policy makers to distribute the scarce resources efficiently and in a strategic way to solve development problems and to ensure that solutions for urban-related problems do not result in rural-related problems and vice-versa. Assam, in the north eastern region of India, has also experienced considerable rural-urban variations in all aspects of development. Acknowledging the existence of rural-urban divide in the state, Assam Human Development Report, 2003, has commented that whatever development has occurred in the selected urban industrial areas, the effect has not spilt over to the surrounding rural agricultural sector. The data shows that rural areas in the state have failed to reap the benefits of the progressing world in this era of economic reforms. According to the Report on the Structures of Assam Economy by the Government of Assam, the inter-sectoral interdependence of production is weak in the state. The present study has been taken up to assess the nature and magnitude of rural-urban divide, reasons behind this divide and the means to increase the strength of the rural sector to establish fruitful linkage between rural and urban sectors. Both secondary and primary data have been used to carry out the study..
William Gibson's Neuromancer as Cyberpunk: A Thematic study
(2011) Barooah, Papori Rani
Abstract not available.
A study of state finances and fiscal reforms in assam : post reform experiences and challenges
(2012) Dutta, Parag
Fiscal policy plays an important role both in fostering economic groth and in ensuring human development through a number of channels such as macroeconomic (influence on the budget deficit on growth) and microeconomic(influence on the efficiency of resource use). the significance of fiscal policy has increased in the post keynesian period and has remained so as government intervention through appropriate fiscal policy is still considered as an instrument of economic development particularly in developing countries. ....

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