Frontiers in Social Sciences Research (FSSR) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal in India dedicated to publishing high-quality and original research that contributes to the advancement of knowledge across all disciplines of the social sciences. As a peer-reviewed journal, FSSR follows a rigorous peer review process to ensure academic integrity, originality, and relevance in every published manuscript. The journal has been awarded its International Standard Serial Number E-ISSN: 3108-0324 and P- ISSN 3139-1869. The journal serves as an emerging platform for scholars, researchers, academicians, and practitioners to share innovative ideas, critical analyses, and applied studies addressing contemporary social, cultural, economic, and political issues. Frequency of Publication The journal is published monthly and accepts submissions throughout the year, ensuring timely dissemination of research and scholarly dialogue. Aims and Scope Frontiers in Social Sciences Research welcomes original research articles, review papers, case studies, policy analyses, and theoretical contributions in the broad field of Social Sciences, including but not limited to Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, , Political Science, Economics, Education, History, Human Geography, Philosophy (Social and Applied), Communication and Media Studies, Law and Legal Studies, and Anthropology. The journal also considers contributions in Linguistics and Language Studies, as well as selected research in English Language and Literature, particularly where such work engages with social, cultural, educational, or interdisciplinary perspectives. As a peer-reviewed journal in India, FSSR is committed to promoting academic excellence, accessibility, and cross-disciplinary dialogue within the field of social sciences. DOI Requirement in UGC Central University Recruitment DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is now essential in academic publishing. FSSR assigns a DOI to all published manuscripts. The University Grants Commission (UGC) Samarth (CU-Chayan) portal for Central University faculty recruitment typically requires DOI for research publication entries, and submissions may not proceed without it. Assigning a DOI to every article is a standard practice in modern scholarly publishing and is adopted by all recognized and credible journals worldwide.
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Visual Storytelling and Contemporary Trends in Children's Literature: A Critical Study of Ruskin Bond's The Blue Umbrella
The past two decades have seen a tremendous transformation in children's literature in relation to new technological innovations, new educational philosophies, and the new focus on inclusivity and visual literacy. Children's books in the present day are not simply tools for entertainment; they are effective learning tools that encourage imagination, empathy, culture and ethics. The use of illustrations, colour symbolism, graphic narratives and digital technologies has become one of the hallmarks of modern children's books, enhancing the reading experience. In this ever-changing literary context, Ruskin Bond is in a niche position as his stories are starkly written and yet have a visual imagination and emotional depth. In his famous novella The Blue Umbrella, he shows how the power of description can be used to evoke images of a sort traditionally reserved for illustrations, and how such images can function as a story. This is a critical study of the relation between the trends in children's literature and the technique of storytelling of Bond in The Blue Umbrella. It says that Bond's descriptive writing evokes the imagination of the reader, creates empathy, and imparts universal qualities of kindness, generosity, forgiveness and harmony with nature. The paper is based on the modern theories of children's literature, visual literacy and reader-response criticism and discusses the relationship between the text and the image. Through the study, it has been concluded that Bond's work is still relevant as it combines traditional storytelling with the expectations of visual engagement of a modern child and, therefore, has made a significant contribution to modern children's literature. His stories show that a strong visual impact does not require illustrations or ICTs, but can be achieved with the use of a carefully composed literary language which stimulates the reader to create vivid mental pictures.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ayushi Gupta, Dr. Kusum Tripathi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Role of GST 2.0 in Expanding India’s Formal Economy
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) reform of 2017 represented a watershed moment in the country’s fiscal architecture, replacing a fragmented indirect tax system with a unified national framework. While GST has delivered significant gains in tax buoyancy, logistics efficiency, and taxpayer inclusion, structural challenges persist—particularly in compliance complexity, digital disparities, and sectoral informality. As India advances toward a $5 trillion economy, the conceptualization of GST 2.0 has emerged as a critical policy discourse. GST 2.0 refers to a technologically enhanced, compliance‑friendly, and institutionally robust second‑generation reform aimed at deepening formalization, strengthening transparency, and improving ease of doing business. This provides a comprehensive analysis of GST 2.0’s potential role in expanding India’s formal economy. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the paper examines the limitations of GST 1.0, outlines the structural and technological pillars of GST 2.0, and evaluates its implications for MSMEs, supply chains, tax administration, and fiscal stability. The study concludes that GST 2.0 can serve as a transformative catalyst for formalization, provided it is accompanied by institutional coordination, digital capacity building, and inclusive policy design.
GST 2.0; Formal Economy; Tax Reform; Digital Governance; MSMEs; Informal Sector; Fiscal Policy; India; Blockchain; Artificial Intelligence; Compliance Architecture
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Sugandh Kumar Choudhary (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Human Relationships, Identity, and Emotional Growth in Ruskin Bond's The Room on the Roof: A Psychological and Reader-Response Perspective
The Room on the Roof (1956/1957) by Ruskin Bond is one of the best-loved coming-of-age stories in Indian English literature that sensitively depicts adolescence, friendship, identity and emotional belonging. Bond does not depict exoteric conflicts but rather the internal drama of Rusty, an Anglo-Indian orphan who finds himself navigating issues of cultural identity, isolation, freedom and self-discovery in the sociopolitical landscape of post-colonial India. This article looks at how Bond portrays human relationships in which the protagonist grows emotionally and acquires a sense of place. Based on the theories of Reader-Response Theory and developmental psychology, as well as children's and young adult literature, the paper suggests that friendship, surrogate family relationships, and interpersonal empathy become psychological catalysts within Rusty's development. The article also provides evidence that Bond's ability to create a realistic character and to keep his narrative style restrained and devoid of emotion allows the reader to actively interpret the protagonist's experiences, thus making the novel relevant in different generations. Finally, The Room on the Roof shows that identity is not defined by social status or ethnicity, but by meaningful human relationships based on trust, compassion, and acceptance.
Gaze, Race, White Ideal, Trauma, Resistance.
Copyright (c) 2026 Satheesh N. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exclusion and Inclusion in Transgender Lives
Though there are widespread public awareness and legal recognition, discrimination, exclusion and marginalization remain common for the transgender people. This study has attempted to explore the experiences of the transgender people and the barriers they faced in the field of education, employment, healthcare, family relations and social participation. To explore the experiences, perceptions and aspirations of transgender people qualitative research approach was adopted using the in-depth interview. The analysis helped identify stigma, family rejection, educational exclusion, discrimination at work and limited access to healthcare as persistent barriers to their social inclusion and well-being. The participants expressed that the acceptance form the society is lagging behind. The findings of the study also highlight the importance of the family support, conducive environment community networks and inclusive institutional practices in fostering confidence, resilience and quality of life for transgender individuals. The study emphasized that there is need for the integrated policy interventions, inclusive and gender sensitive educational practices, equal employment opportunities. The study documents the voices and experiences of transgender people and contributes to the growing discourse on gender diversity, with practical recommendations for a more inclusive and equitable society.
Transgender; Lived experiences; Social inclusion; Discrimination; Gender identity; Education; Employment; Healthcare; Social acceptance; Qualitative study
Copyright (c) 2026 Rima Das, Dr. Tarali Pathak, Dr. Arunima Borah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
भारतीय हस्तकरघा एवं हस्तनिर्मित वस्त्रों की वैश्विक मांग तथा निर्यात में उनकी भूमिका
भारतीय हस्तकरघा उद्योग न केवल देश की सांस्कृतिक पहचान का जीवंत प्रतीक है, बल्कि यह लाखों बुनकर परिवारों की आजीविका का प्रमुख आधार भी है। कृषि के पश्चात यह देश में सर्वाधिक रोजगार प्रदान करने वाला असंगठित क्षेत्र है, फिर भी वैश्वीकरण, मशीनीकृत वस्त्रों की प्रतिस्पर्धा तथा बदलती उपभोक्ता प्राथमिकताओं के दबाव में यह उद्योग निरंतर चुनौतियों का सामना कर रहा है। प्रस्तुत अध्ययन "भारतीय हस्तकरघा एवं हस्तनिर्मित वस्त्रों की वैश्विक मांग तथा निर्यात में उनकी भूमिका" विषय पर केंद्रित है, जिसका उद्देश्य द्वितीयक आँकड़ों के आधार पर भारतीय हस्तकरघा उत्पादों की अंतरराष्ट्रीय बाज़ार में मांग-प्रवृत्तियों, निर्यात प्रदर्शन तथा इसे प्रभावित करने वाले आर्थिक व नीतिगत कारकों का विश्लेषण करना है। अध्ययन वस्त्र मंत्रालय, DGCIS, हस्तकरघा निर्यात संवर्धन परिषद, विश्व व्यापार संगठन तथा विश्व बैंक जैसे प्रामाणिक स्रोतों से प्राप्त आँकड़ों पर आधारित है, तथा हिंदी एवं अंग्रेज़ी माध्यम के उपलब्ध शोध साहित्य की गहन समीक्षा के पश्चात तैयार किया गया है। समीक्षा से स्पष्ट होता है कि निर्यात सहायता कार्यक्रमों, क्षेत्रीय प्रतिस्पर्धात्मकता तथा वैश्विक रचनात्मक अर्थव्यवस्था के मध्य संबंधों पर पर्याप्त एकीकृत अध्ययन अनुपलब्ध है, जो एक महत्त्वपूर्ण शोध अंतराल को चिन्हित करता है। यह अध्ययन इसी अंतराल को भरने का प्रयास करते हुए यह प्रस्तुत करता है कि मजबूत नीतिगत हस्तक्षेप, डिज़ाइन नवाचार तथा डिजिटल व्यापार के द्वारा भारतीय हस्तकरघा उत्पादों की वैश्विक स्वीकार्यता एवं निर्यात क्षमता को नई ऊँचाइयाँ प्रदान की जा सकती हैं।
हस्तकरघा उद्योग, हस्तनिर्मित वस्त्र, वैश्विक मांग, निर्यात प्रदर्शन, बुनकर अर्थव्यवस्था, नीतिगत हस्तक्षेप
Copyright (c) 2026 विवेक शर्मा, प्रोफेसर रक्षा सिंह (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
What Shapes Women's Bargaining Power Within Households? Evidence from Jammu and Kashmir, India
This study investigates the determinants of women's intrahousehold bargaining power in the Samba and Reasi districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India, addressing a significant empirical gap in a region with distinct socio-cultural characteristics. Using primary data from 400 households, a composite Bargaining Power Index (BPI) is constructed through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) by integrating six dimensions of empowerment: decision-making, income control, mobility, healthcare, expenditure, and resource ownership. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression with robust diagnostic tests identifies education, employment, financial inclusion, land ownership, asset ownership, and media exposure as significant positive determinants of women's bargaining power. In contrast, household income, self-help group membership, digital access, caste, religion, and urban residence are found to have no significant influence. District-level analysis reveals marked heterogeneity, with women in Samba exhibiting significantly higher bargaining power than those in Reasi (p < 0.001). The estimated model explains 65.1% of the variation in bargaining power, while theoretical interpretation using bargaining and gender frameworks highlights the central role of human capital and productive assets in strengthening women's negotiating position within households. The findings underscore the need for context-specific policies promoting education, employment, financial inclusion, and women's asset ownership. By providing the first comprehensive quantitative evidence from Jammu and Kashmir, this study contributes to the literature on women's empowerment and intrahousehold bargaining in developing economies.
Bargaining power; intrahousehold decision-making; gender empowerment; financial inclu-sion; asset ownership.
Copyright (c) 2026 Preeti Gupta, Anil Kumar Bharti (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Paradigm Shift in Interior Architecture: Emerging Frontiers and Future Material Systems
The interior design and architectural industries are undergoing an unprecedented socio-technological transformation driven by climate urgency, resource scarcity, and evolving paradigms of occupant well-being. Historically reliant on static, linear, and extractive material choices, the discipline is shifting toward the specification of "future materials"—advanced substance systems engineered via mechanical, chemical, or biological innovations. This paper comprehensively examines the theoretical frameworks, taxonomies, and life-cycle implications of these emerging material typologies. By classifying innovations into four primary quadrants—Bio-Fabricated, Smart & Interactive, Advanced Circular, and Regenerative/Carbon-Negative—this study analyzes how these systems transform interior spaces from passive enclosures into dynamic, responsive ecosystems. Through deep-dives into mycelium bio-composites, self-healing polymers, and electrochromic glazing, we evaluate the capacity of these materials to optimize indoor environmental quality (IEQ), reduce embodied carbon, and support circular economic models. Finally, the manuscript addresses systemic barriers to market adoption, including scalability limitations, regulatory friction, and supply chain bottlenecks, offering a roadmap for future research and practice in interior architecture.
Future Materials, Interior Architecture, Bio-fabrication, Smart Surfaces, Circular Economy, Embodied Carbon, Sustainable Design.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr Sandeep Sachan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Reconceptualising Food Security as a Fundamental Right in the Progressive Development of Human Rights Jurisprudence in India
Food insecurity persists globally despite unprecedented advances in food production, technology, and international development commitments. Although global food output is sufficient to meet human nutritional needs, unequal access, poverty, and systemic distribution failures prevent millions from achieving adequate nutrition (Food and Agriculture Organization, 1996). The shift from the Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goal‑2 reflects the recognition of hunger as a human rights concern. In India, food insecurity is shaped less by scarcity and more by structural inequalities, agrarian distress, and weaknesses in welfare delivery systems. The Supreme Court’s expansive interpretation of Article 21 has played a pivotal role in recognising food and nutrition as integral to the right to life (Pattanaik, 2013). The Right to Food litigation transformed welfare schemes into enforceable entitlements, strengthening accountability and reshaping India’s food governance landscape. This paper re‑examines food security as a fundamental right, analyses the National Food Security Act, 2013, and highlights persistent implementation gaps that hinder equitable food access. It argues that food security in India is fundamentally a governance challenge requiring sustained institutional reform, stronger state commitment, and rights‑based accountability.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Janhavi S S (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effect of Fashion on Indian Society: A Socio-Economic and Cultural Study
Fashion is a dynamic social phenomenon, reflecting changing lifestyles, economic conditions, cultural ideals and technological innovations. The Indian fashion business has evolved from traditional apparel linked to local identities to a worldwide enterprise typified by consumerism, digital media, globalization and celebrity culture. On one hand the Indian fashion business has changed the social behaviour, identity formation and shopping habits and on the other hand it has expanded into becoming one of the primary contributors to economic growth, employment creation and preservation of culture. This paper discusses the effect of fashion on Indian society from the sociological, technological, economic and environmental perspectives of the society. The present study is an attempt to explore the function of fashion in the development of social identity, promotion of cultural heritage, generation of employment, women empowerment and economic progress. The research is based on secondary data from government papers, academic publications, company records and market research. It also addresses themes like quick fashion, environmental damage and changing cultural expectations. Our research results show that fashion is an important engine for economic development and modernization, but sustainable and culturally sensitive policies are needed for balanced social development.
Indian Society, Fashion Industry, Consumer Behaviour, Job Creation, Cultural Identity, Sustainable Fashion, Economic Development
Invisible Hands, Invisible Rights: A Socio-Economic Study of Women Agricultural Labourers in Rural Rajasthan
This paper examines the socio-economic and psychological conditions of agricultural women labourers in rural Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. Women play a vital role in agricultural production through sowing, harvesting, weeding, threshing, and livestock management; however, their contribution remains undervalued in the rural economy. The study is theoretical and conceptual in nature and is based on feminist political economy, labour-market segmentation theory, and Amartya Sen’s capabilities approach. The paper highlights that women agricultural labourers continue to face low wages, seasonal unemployment, poor healthcare access, lack of education, social discrimination, and limited participation in decision-making. Patriarchal social structures, landlessness, and economic dependency further increase their vulnerability. The study also discusses the social and psychological consequences of insecure employment, poverty, and gender inequality among rural women labourers. The paper concludes with policy implications, recommendations, and future research directions aimed at improving the living standards, empowerment, and human development of women agricultural labourers in Rajasthan.
Women Agricultural Labourers, Gender Inequality, Agricultural Employment, Women's Empowerment
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Rekha, Pushpa Kumari Machra (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring Gender Differences in Happiness and Psychological Well-Being Among College Students
Happiness is one of the fundamental driving forces of human beings, underlying many of their actions, goals, and aspirations. Throughout human history, the pursuit of happiness has remained a central philosophical and psychological concern. In contemporary psychological literature, well-being is broadly understood through two major conceptualizations: subjective well-being (hedonia) and psychological well-being (eudaimonia). So, the study was conducted to see the correlation between Happiness and Psychological Well-Being among college students, with a focus on gender-based differences. Data were collected from 100 college students using standardized self-report instruments. The findings support the theoretical framework that positions happiness as a critical psychological strength contributing to the psychological well-being of the students. Implications for future research and interventions aimed at enhancing hope to improve mental health outcomes are discussed.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sakshi Patel, Seema Vijayvargiya, Bhupinder Singh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
National Security: Challenges, Threats and Opportunities for India in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has appeared as a transformative force restructuring the manner of national security and strategic rivalry in the twenty-first century. For India, a growing regional power located in a explosive geopolitical atmosphere, AI presents both extraordinary strategic chances and multidimensional security encounters. This paper scrutinizes the consequences of AI for India’s national security through the investigative lenses of Realism, Techno-Nationalism, and Securitization Theory. It argues that AI is gradually becoming a strategic factor of power, military efficiency, and sovereign autonomy in the international system. While AI gives India chances for military modernization, cyber defence improvement, intelligence amalgamation, and strategic balancing against rivals, it instantaneously presents new intimidations including autonomous warfare, AI-enabled cyberattacks, algorithmic deception, and technological necessity on foreign digital substructures. By manufacturing strategic studies literature with developing discussions on military innovation and digital sovereignty, the paper tries to explore that India’s national security plan must move yonder technological acceptance toward the development of a comprehensive AI governance and tactical integration agenda. The study accomplishes that India’s forthcoming security posture will be contingent meaningfully on its capacity to join AI while handling the strategic uncertainty, ethical problems, and reliance risks made by AI-enabled security alteration.
Artificial Intelligence, National Security, India, Realism, Techno-Nationalism, Securitization Theory, Strategic Studies
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Khwaja Danish Hameed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Profitability Determinants and Operational Efficiency of Sugar Mills in Maharashtra A Panel Data Analysis
The sugar industry plays a vital role in India’s rural economy, particularly in Maharashtra, one of the leading states in sugarcane production and processing. However, the financial sustainability of sugar mills has been increasingly challenged by fluctuating input costs, volatile market prices, and operational inefficiencies. This study investigates the determinants of profitability and assesses operational efficiency among cooperative sugar mills in Maharashtra through a panel data analysis. Using data spanning from 2006–07 to 2015–16, the study applies Panel Least Squares regression models to identify the key factors influencing profitability. Variables such as cane cost, conversion cost, capacity utilisation, and mill age are included in the econometric model to explain profitability variations across mills and over time. The results indicate that cane cost and conversion cost significantly affect profitability, with higher input costs having a negative impact. In contrast, higher capacity utilisation is positively associated with profitability, underscoring the importance of efficient resource use. The study also finds that older mills tend to demonstrate lower operational efficiency, suggesting a need for technological upgrading and modernisation. These findings enhance the understanding of structural challenges in the sugar sector and provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to improve the sector’s sustainability. Strengthening operational practices and encouraging investment in modern technologies are identified as critical strategies for ensuring the long-term viability of cooperative sugar mills in Maharashtra.
Cane cost, Conversion cost, Operational efficiency
Copyright (c) 2026 aparna Das (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Digital Education Beyond Access: Reimagining Educational Justice in India's Digital Transformation Era
Digital education has become central to India’s post‑COVID transformation, catalysed by NEP 2020, the Digital India Mission and platforms such as SWAYAM, DIKSHA, PM eVidya and NDEAR. Yet national datasets on schools, households and higher education reveal that rapid digital expansion has unfolded over entrenched fault lines of class, gender, caste, tribe, region and language, leaving open the question of whether technology is narrowing or simply recoding educational inequalities. Existing research has largely examined digital infrastructure or learning outcomes in isolation, with limited attention to digital justice or to the emerging challenges of generative AI in unequal contexts. This chapter addresses that gap by asking whether India’s digital education push between 2018 and 2026 has reduced educational inequality or transformed old exclusions into digital form. Using secondary data from UDISE+, AISHE, NSS 75th Round, NFHS‑5, TRAI, NITI Aayog and international sources (UNESCO, UNICEF, OECD, World Bank, ITU), it maps rural–urban, gender, caste and regional disparities in digital capital and educational access, and critically reviews government initiatives including SWAYAM, DIKSHA, PM eVidya, NDEAR and ePathshala. The analysis shows that digital infrastructure and enrolments have grown substantially, but benefits are concentrated among urban, better‑off and dominant‑group learners, while rural girls, tribal students, disabled learners and linguistic minorities face layered barriers of connectivity, affordability, skills, language and accessibility. Building on Bourdieu, Sen, Bina Agarwal and Castells, the chapter proposes an original Educational Digital Justice Framework (EDJF) with six pillars—access, affordability, digital skills, inclusive content, ethical governance and AI readiness—to evaluate digital reforms in the AI era. It argues that the core policy challenge is no longer providing devices and platforms but institutionalising digital educational justice through universal broadband, equity‑centred digital‑literacy curricula, inclusive content ecosystems, rights‑based data and AI governance, and targeted support for historically marginalised groups.
Digital Education; Educational Justice; Digital Divide; Social Inequality; NEP 2020; Digital Inclusion.
Copyright (c) 2026 Kushagra Garg (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Empowering Learners: The Role of ICT in Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) offers transformative opportunities for educating students with intellectual disabilities. Research shows that ICT tools (e.g., assistive devices, educational software, virtual reality) help learners acquire functional and adaptive skills, increase independence in daily activities, and promote social inclusion. Digital game–based learning and multimedia applications engage students and support understanding, communication, and motivation. Teachers report that ICT benefits diverse learning dimensions (e.g., comprehension, behavior, metacognition, memory). By providing adaptive curricula and learning opportunities, ICT can improve students’ quality of life and vocational prospects. Evidence suggests that systematic ICT training helps retain skills and independence and can empower learners toward lifelong learning opportunities. Furthermore, ICT can broaden educational horizons and reduce inequities by supporting self-directed study and skill development. However, effective use depends on matching technology features to individual needs and applying universal design principles to ensure accessibility. Educators must assess how ICT features align with each student’s needs to maximize benefits. Despite its promise, research on ICT usability for learners with intellectual disabilities remains very limited. In India, inclusive policies and initiatives (e.g., PM eVidya) illustrate efforts to leverage ICT in supporting learners with disabilities. However, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure and insufficient teacher training persist and must be addressed. Moreover, a coordinated effort among educators, policymakers, and technologists is needed to fully harness ICT’s potential in special education. Overall, the literature indicates substantial potential for ICT to empower learners with intellectual disabilities, underscoring the importance of inclusive design, teacher training, and policy support.
ICT; Intellectual Disabilities; Inclusive Education; Assistive Technology; Learner Empowerment
Copyright (c) 2026 Mrs. Neha, Ms. Archana Sharma, Vaibhav Murhar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Public Duty in Private Corridors: Evaluating the RTE’s 25% Mandate
The 2009 Right to Education (RTE) Act sparked one of India's fiercest constitutional battles, centered entirely on Section 12(1)(c).“This bold provision requires private, unaided schools to reserve 25% of entry-level seats for underprivileged children, aiming to dismantle economic segregation in our classrooms. This article critically analyzes this mandate, tracing its journey from the Supreme Court down to local district offices. We first explore the constitutional friction between a private school's right to run an occupation under Article 19(1)(g) and the fundamental right to education under Article 21A. By tracking the shift from the Inamdar judgment to Society for Unaided Private Schools, we explain how courts justified forcing a public duty onto private entities. However, constitutional victories often collapse in practice. The second half of this paper exposes severe administrative failures. We highlight how chronic delays in state reimbursements and heavy paperwork threaten the financial survival of budget schools.” [1] We then show how High Court writ petitions can effectively break these bureaucratic deadlocks. To resolve this tension, the article answers three core research questions: First, does imposing a mandatory quota on private schools violate their economic and constitutional freedoms under Article 19(1)(g), or is it a valid restriction under Article 19(6) to uphold Article 21A? Second, how do government reimbursement delays destroy the social justice intent of Section 12(1)(c)? Finally, what practical litigation strategies can lawyers use to hold the state accountable, protecting both the institution's survival and the child's right to learn? [1] 'MP High Court Directs State Govt To Pay Pending RTE Reimbursement Dues Of Private Schools Within 4 Weeks' (LiveLaw, 14 September 2021) <www.livelaw.in> accessed 5 June 2026
Right to Education Act (RTE), Section 12(1)(c), 25% Mandate, Educational Equity, Private Schools, Constitutional Rights, Article 21A, Article 19(1)(g), Social Justice, School Reimbursement Delays, Public Duty of Private Institutions, Judicial Interpretation, Policy Implementation
Copyright (c) 2026 Sandeep Mehta (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Climate Change and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods
This study examines the critical intersection between climate change and sustainable rural livelihoods, focusing on how shifting environmental patterns affect vulnerable communities in developing regions. Defined by unprecedented and volatile long-term weather phenomena, climate change poses a disproportionate threat to rural populations whose economic survival depends heavily on climate-sensitive primary sectors like agriculture and livestock rearing. Drawing on the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework originally conceptualized by Chambers and Conway, this paper evaluates empirical survey data from 300 households across the Doda and Bhaderwah regions to assess local climate awareness, specific livelihood impacts, and current adaptation strategies. The data reveals high local awareness of climate variations, with a significant majority recognizing that climate patterns are changing. To counter these vulnerabilities, households employ various sustainable practices, primarily modernized, rainfed farming using climate-resistant hybrid seeds, diversified livestock rearing, forest product collection, and migratory skilled/unskilled labor to offset income deficits. While a majority of households (60.4%) express long-term optimism regarding the viability of these adaptation strategies. Ultimately, the study underscores the urgent need for targeted rural development policies that enhance adaptive capacity and protect natural resource bases without compromising future livelihood sustainability.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Shayan Javeed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
From Financial Support to Health Promotion: Exploring the Role of Self-Help Groups in Women's Well-being in Rural Karnataka
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have emerged as a significant institutional mechanism for women's socio-economic empowerment in India. While the financial impact of SHGs is widely documented, their role in promoting health awareness and improving health behaviours among rural women remains underexplored. Our current work examines the experiences of 20 SHG members from rural Karnataka to assess the multidimensional impact of SHG participation on health awareness, healthcare access, financial stability, and personal empowerment. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and thematic case study analysis. Findings reveal that SHGs have been predominantly effective as financial safety nets, significantly enhancing members' confidence and decision-making capacity. However, their role in systematic health education particularly in areas such as menstrual hygiene, nutrition, and preventive healthcare remains limited and inconsistent across groups. Notable exceptions exist where SHGs actively integrate health-related programs, yielding demonstrably better health outcomes. The study concludes that strengthening health-focused interventions within SHG frameworks, through collaboration with ASHA workers, local governance bodies, and health departments, could substantially amplify their contribution to women's holistic well-being.
Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Women's Empowerment, Health Awareness, Menstrual Hygiene, Rural Karnataka, Financial Inclusion, Qualitative Research
Copyright (c) 2026 Meghana N, Yogesh Baba K (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Crises in Literature: Exploring Environment, Memory, and Trauma in Select Kashmiri Fiction
The world’s most ecologically diverse areas are increasingly threatened by conflicts. A major study on biodiverse regions in the world, conducted by the prestigious journal, Conservation Biology, identified thirty-four ecologically diverse areas which are also conflict zones. One of the thirty-four areas is the region of Kashmir. Sheltering a rich biodiverse environment, Kashmir is home to a four-decade conflict over its territorial ownership. This four-decade conflict has led to intense hardships for the residents of the state; the ongoing conflict has also greatly affected the rich beauty of the region. Military camps in forest areas, unceremonious dumping of arms and ammunition in protected ecological zones, uncontrolled cutting of trees has all impacted the soil fertility and agronomic production of the State. Since the beginning of militancy in 1989, Kashmir has lost over 59 SQ miles out of 7810 SQ miles of forest cover, stripping the land of old forested areas. Andrew Hoskins, in his pathbreaking essay, “Memory Ecologies”, writes about the significance of paying attention to the particular environment in which the actions of forgetting and remembering occur. The ‘ecologies’ in which memories develop therefore become immensely important as does traumatic events around the individual impacting those memories. The present paper wishes to explore the interphase between environment, memory and trauma through a study of two Kashmiri novels, Gul Gulshan Gulfam by Pran Kishore and Life in the Clock Tower Valley by Shakoor Rather. Kishore and Rather depict, in their novels, the conflict ridden valley at different junctures of time; Kishore sets his novel at the very beginning of militancy in the 1990s while Rather portrays the war torn Kashmir of 2008. What is universally depicted in both novels, however, is the damaging impact of the trauma of militancy and occupation on the ecological environment of Kashmir, which, in turn, negatively impacts the memories of its residents. The beautiful valley has changed drastically in the last four decades and Kishore and Rather show how the ugliness in the external environment directly parallels the bitterness and terror within the residents of the valley. The present paper will attempt to show how memory is a connecting bridge between the past and the future; the characters in both Rather’s and Kishore’s novels depict the movement of memory through different ‘ecologies’, traversing Kashmir’s beautiful past, its wounded present and its uncertain future. The paper will explore the interlinked nature of memory and environment by focusing on questions of identity and trauma, for which, it will use the theoretical tools of Shoshona Felman and Dori Laub (Testimony: Crises of Witnessing in Literature, Psychoanalysis and History) and Andrew Hoskins (“Memory Ecologies”).
Environment, Crisis, Memory, Trauma, Kashmir
Copyright (c) 2026 Somrita Misra, Dr. Aparna Singh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cuba's Foreign Policy after the Castro Era: Revolutionary Continuity or Emerging Realism?
Cuba’s foreign policy in recent decades has been defined largely within an ideological and revolutionary framework—one originally established by Fidel Castro following the triumph of the 1959 revolution and later maintained to some extent by Raúl Castro. This discourse has traditionally revolved around three main pillars: opposition to U.S. imperialism, support for leftist movements in Latin America and Africa, and an emphasis on political independence and self-sufficiency. However, following Raúl Castro’s withdrawal from power and the partial transition to a new generation of leadership under Miguel Díaz-Canel, Cuba’s foreign policy has encountered new questions: Is it still rooted in the principles of the revolution, or is it shifting toward a new form of realism? This article explores whether Cuba’s post-Castro foreign policy reflects a "continuation of the revolution" or a "transition to strategic realism." Using a critical discourse analysis approach and framed by constructivist theory, this study investigates the dominant narratives within Cuba’s foreign policy and interprets them within the context of broader structural and regional changes. The findings suggest that Cuba’s foreign policy in the post-Castro era is marked by a duality. On one hand, the Cuban diplomatic apparatus continues to employ revolutionary rhetoric, emphasizing resistance to U.S. unilateralism and the defense of socialism. On the other hand, economic constraints and international pressures have compelled Cuba to reconsider some of its diplomatic priorities. Especially in the wake of intensified U.S. sanctions and the decline of Venezuelan support, Havana has sought to strengthen more pragmatic ties with countries like Russia, China, Iran, and certain European nations—though these partnerships are still often presented within an ideological framework.
Cuban Foreign Policy, Revolutionary Diplomacy, Realism, Soft Power, Post-Castro, Regionalism
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Mohsen Zamani (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Race as Spiritual Crisis: Religion, Inherited Trauma and the Myth of American Innocence in James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain and Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone
James Baldwin's fiction consistently interrogates the relationship between race, religion and identity in American society. While Baldwin is frequently examined as a writer of racial protest and social criticism, his novels also reveal a deeper concern with the spiritual and psychological consequences of racial oppression. This paper examines Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953) and Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone (1968) to argue that Baldwin represents race not merely as a social or political condition but as a profound spiritual crisis embedded within American consciousness. Through the interconnected experiences of family, religion, memory and racial identity, Baldwin exposes the ways in which inherited trauma shapes both individual subjectivity and collective history. The paper analyses the role of the Black church as a space that simultaneously offers protection and imposes restrictions, while also examining the persistence of generational conflict and the myth of American innocence. By exploring the tensions between faith, identity and racial experience, the study demonstrates how Baldwin challenges dominant narratives of national morality and progress. Ultimately, the novels reveal that racial injustice is sustained not only by institutional structures but also by moral and spiritual failures deeply rooted in American culture.
James Baldwin, Race, Religion, Black Church, Spiritual Crisis, American Innocence, Trauma, Racial Identity
Copyright (c) 2026 Ms Megha Chaudhary, Dr. Prakash Bhadury (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Imagining the Postmodern City: Urban Dystopia and Future Anxieties in Sarnath Banerjee’s All Quiet in Vikaspuri
Sarnath Banerjee’s All Quiet in Vikaspuri (2015) presents a dystopian vision of Delhi shaped by water scarcity, ecological degradation and social fragmentation. While existing criticism has largely examined the graphic novel through the frameworks of climate fiction, environmental activism and water politics, the representation of the city as a postmodern dystopian space has received comparatively less attention. This paper explores how Banerjee constructs a futuristic urban landscape marked by uncertainty, disorder and the collapse of developmental ideals. Through a qualitative textual analysis of the graphic narrative, the study examines the intersections of urban dystopia, environmental crisis and postmodern anxieties. The paper argues that the fictional space of Vikaspuri functions as a critique of contemporary urban development, exposing the contradictions embedded within narratives of progress and modernisation. Water scarcity becomes not only an ecological problem but also a symbol of social disintegration and political failure. Banerjee’s use of visual satire, fragmented storytelling and speculative futurity enables a critical engagement with the challenges facing rapidly expanding metropolitan centres. By analysing the graphic novel within the broader contexts of postmodern urbanism and dystopian literature, the study demonstrates how All Quiet in Vikaspuri anticipates the social and environmental consequences of unchecked development. The paper contributes to emerging discussions on Indian graphic narratives and contemporary representations of urban futures.
Urban Dystopia, Postmodernism, Graphic Narrative, Future Anxiety, Delhi, Sarnath Banerjee, Development, Environmental Crisis
Copyright (c) 2026 Saumitra Shishodia, Dr. Prakash Bhadury (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Women’s Identity and Agency in The God of Small Things
The present study explores the representation of women’s identity and agency in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things. The novel examines the effects of patriarchy on female desire, motherhood, sexuality, trauma, and emotional expression. Characters in Roy’s novel such as Ammu, Mammachi, Baby Kochamma and Rahel represent the spectrum of responses to patriarchal authority from resistance to compliance to complicity. The article explores the novel's portrayal of spousal violence, social judgement and emotional repression, as well as Roy's narrative method, symbolism and broken chronology. Ammu’s relationship with Velutha is given special focus as a resistance to the constraints of caste and gender. The study concludes that Roy by critiquing the traditional concept of womanhood reveals the psychological impact of the denial of autonomy and freedom to women. The novel foregrounds female experience and embodied reality and so offers a significant contribution to feminist literary debate and postcolonial studies. The God of Small Things provides a profound insight into the identity of women in a patriarchal society. Roy analyzes the ways in which women confront systems of authority, violence and emotional repression in characters like Mammachi, Baby Kochamma, Rahel and Ammu. The tragedy of Ammu shows the terrible fate that awaits women who break social rules, while Mammachi and Baby Kochamma demonstrate diverse levels of accommodation and complicity. Roy’s storytelling method heightens the feminist sensibilities of the text. She depicts feminine experience of emotional complexity using poetic language and symbolic images, fragmented memories. The work does not lend itself to facile moral dichotomies and women are presented as multidimensional individuals, trapped between opposing forces. Ultimately, Roy’s work is a tribute to the need to reclaim lost voices and stories. The God of Small Things is a thorough analysis of women’s identities in a patriarchal society. By focusing on individual feelings and neglected pain, it subverts dominant narratives and reveals the persisting truths of patriarchal despotism. Through Ammu, Mammachi, Baby Kochamma and Rahel Roy explores how women fight against systems of power, violence and emotional suppression. The novel interrogates patriarchal notions of marriage, parenting, sexuality and respectability. Ammu’s tragedy is a lesson in the awful price women pay for challenging social norms. Mammachi and Baby Kochamma are two illustrations of how women adjust and collude with the system. Roy’s storytelling technique The God of Small Things is a penetrating exploration of feminine identity in a patriarchal culture. Through the characters of Ammu, Mammachi, Baby Kochamma and Rahel, Roy engages with the manner in which women manage systems of power, of violence and emotional repression. The novel interrogates patriarchal constructions of marriage, parenting, sexuality and respectability. The tragedy of Ammu is the tragedy of women who go against the social norm, and Mammachi and Baby Kochamma are other models of accommodation and complicity. Roy’s narrative technique intensifies the feminist sensibility of this text. She uses fragmented recall, poetic language and symbolic pictures to portray feminine experience with emotional complexity. The novel refuses to succumb to easy moral binaries, and instead portrays women as multi-faceted individuals shaped by conflicting demands. Finally, Roy’s work celebrates the need to bring back the silenced voices and perspectives. The God of Small Things turns the usual narratives on their heads as it explores the unexpressed feelings and ignored sorrows to reveal the eternal truths of patriarchal rule.
Copyright (c) 2026 Shirsh Ahirwar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Trauma, Storytelling, and Collective Memory: A Subject Review
This subject review examines the evolving relationship between trauma, storytelling, and collective memory within contemporary literary criticism, medical humanities, psychology, and cultural studies. The study explores how narrative functions as a means of witnessing, survival, resistance, and emotional recovery in contexts shaped by war, exile, migration, illness, violence, and displacement. Drawing upon the theoretical contributions of scholars such as Cathy Caruth, Dominick LaCapra, Dori Laub, Judith Herman, and Bessel van der Kolk, the review discusses the fragmented nature of traumatic memory and its representation through silence, repetition, symbolism, and disrupted narrative structures. The article further investigates storytelling as an ethical and communal practice that enables testimony, ritual mourning, identity reconstruction, and collective remembrance. Particular attention is given to recent interdisciplinary developments in trauma studies, including narrative medicine, ritual healing, refugee literature, postcolonial trauma, digital memory, and artificial intelligence. Through discussions of selected contemporary studies such as The Corpse Washer, The Arbaeen Pilgrimage as Unintended Drama Therapy, The Physician as Storyteller, Prescription for Humanity, and Hamlet Rewired, the review demonstrates how storytelling continues to preserve human dignity and cultural continuity in traumatic circumstances. The paper concludes that contemporary trauma studies increasingly emphasize resilience, ethical listening, and communal healing, while storytelling remains central to understanding pain, memory, identity, and survival in both personal and collective contexts.
Trauma Studies, Storytelling, Collective Memory, Narrative Fragmentation, Ethical Witnessing, Medical Humanities, Ritual Mourning, Refugee Literature, Postcolonial Trauma, Narrative Medicine, Digital Memory, Artificial Intelligence, Identity, Exile, Resilience
Copyright (c) 2026 Bushra Juhi Jani (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Literature: A Comparative
Language and religion are two fundamental forces that shape the culture and identity of a society. Literature serves as a powerful medium through which religious beliefs, cultural values, and philosophical ideas are preserved and transmitted across generations. This paper examines the relationship between religion, culture, and literature with special reference to English and Tamil literary traditions. It explores how devotional and religious literature contributed to the moral, spiritual, and intellectual development of society. The study also highlights the significance of comparative literature in promoting intercultural understanding by identifying similarities and differences among literary traditions across the world. In addition, the paper emphasizes the role of translation studies in bringing regional literary works into the sphere of world literature.
Religion, Culture, Comparative Literature, Tamil Literature, English Literature, Bhakti Literature, Translation Studies, Intercultural Understanding.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Princy A. T. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Forensic Investigation and Photographic Analysis in the Rajiv Gandhi Assassination: A Comprehensive Review
The assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 remains one of the most high-profile political crimes in the country’s history. This paper examines the role of forensic investigation, particularly photographic and video evidence, in the resolution of this assassination case. The study explores the significance of crime scene documentation, victim analysis, bomb and shrapnel analysis, surveillance footage, and ballistics and explosive residue in piecing together the events leading to Rajiv Gandhi’s death. Through a detailed review of these forensic methodologies, this paper highlights the critical role of photographic evidence in establishing timelines, identifying suspects, and understanding the mechanics of the attack. The analysis also provides suggestions for enhancing future forensic investigations, emphasizing the integration of advanced technologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and improved legal frameworks for handling forensic evidence. The findings underscore the importance of forensic documentation in securing justice in high-profile cases and offer valuable insights for law enforcement agencies in future criminal investigations.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. S. Rajalakshmi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Voicing the Subaltern in a Global Tongue: Reading Mahasweta Devi’s After Kurukshetra
In the contemporary literary landscape of India, Mahasweta Devi has arguably been one of the most widely translated writers in a regional language. A prominent Bengali writer, known for her social and political activism, she not only effectively voiced the struggles of the oppressed and the marginalized peoples but her works continue to draw attention to this section of the Indian society. Translations of her works into the major Indian languages, including English, not only make them widely available but also broaden their readership, thereby granting the author national and international status and recognition. While translations help mediate culture, it is interesting to note that the theory and practice of translation, as exemplified by Mahasweta Devi’s works, have become a major site of critical inquiry. In the context of postcolonial studies, especially in translation, who and what get translated are matters of debate. It is in this light that the present paper attempts to look at Mahasweta Devi’s After Kurukshetra: Three Stories, translated into English by Anjum Katyal and published by Seagull Books, Calcutta, 2005.
Mahasweta Devi, Translation Studies, Postcolonialism, Subaltern Voices, Cultural Mediation, Indian Literature, Literary Translation
Copyright (c) 2026 Sunita Murmu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
From Vedic Symbolism to Clinical Application: Mandala Colouring and its Health Implications – A Systematic Review
Stress and anxiety are increasingly prevalent concerns with modern health contexts, prompting interest in accessible, non-pharmacological interventions. Mandala colouring has emerged as a structured art based practice associated with reductions in psychological distress, attentional dysregulation, and perceived stress. This systematic review synthesised findings from eleven empirical studies examining the effects of mandala colouring on stress and anxiety outcomes. Following a structured search and screening process, studies were analysed for methodological characteristics, intervention structure, and reported psychological and physiological outcomes. Across investigations, mandala colouring was consistent associated with short term reductions in state anxiety and stress levels, likely mediated through mechanisms of focused attention, relaxation response activation, and mindfulness related processes. However, considerable heterogeneity in study design, sample characteristics, and outcome measures limit direct comparability and long term inference. Few studies incorporate longitudinal follow up or physiological biomarkers, leaving underlying psychophysiological mechanisms insufficiently <!-- [if gte vml 1]><o:wrapblock><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:79.65pt; margin-top:55.9pt;width:278.9pt;height:394.3pt;z-index:251659264; visibility:visible;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0; mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute; mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative:margin;mso-width-percent:0; mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin' o:gfxdata="[binary] BQESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEaAAUAAAABAAAASgEbAAUAAAABAAAAUgEoAAMAAAABAAIAAIdpAAQAAAAB [binary]
Mandala colouring, Stress, Anxiety, Psychological Distress, Mental Health, Art-Based Therapy, Mindfulness, Relaxation Response, Focused Attention, Emotional Regulation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nayonika Agrawal, Naha Agrawal, Dr. Anuj Kumari (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Tat Tvam Asi for Inner Abundance: Developing a Yoga Therapy Healing Approach
The present study aims to develop a yoga therapy healing approach grounded in the Vedantic principle of Tat Tvam Asi, which signifies the essential unity of the individual self with universal consciousness. Rooted in Advaita Vedanta, this principle offers a profound philosophical foundation for understanding inner abundance as a state of self-realisation, inner fulfilment, and holistic wellbeing. The study adopts a conceptual and theoretical research design, drawing from classical Vedantic texts, yoga philosophy, and contemporary therapeutic perspectives. Based on philosophical analysis and conceptual synthesis, a structured yoga therapy healing framework is proposed that integrates yogic practices, self-inquiry, and contemplative awareness. The study highlights the relevance of non-dual understanding in addressing inner conflicts, emotional imbalance, and identity-related distress. The findings suggest that integrating Tat Tvam Asi into yoga therapy can enhance its depth by moving beyond symptom management toward consciousness-based healing and inner abundance.
Tat Tvam Asi, Inner Abundance, Advaita Vedanta, Self-Realization, Non-Dualism, Consciousness-Based Healing, Yogic Psychology, Self-Inquiry, Holistic Wellbeing
Copyright (c) 2026 Naha Agrawal, Nayonika Agrawal, Dr. Anuj Kumari (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Is it Politeness or Respect? Forms of Addressing men in Matengo Society
This paper explores the forms of address used to refer to men in Matengo society, seeking to establish whether these address terms express politeness or respect. Guided by Dominance Theory and Social Identity Theory, this qualitative study uses interviews with four native speakers of Matengo from Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region, together with documentary review. The findings indicate that Matengo society is using plural forms, surnames, kinship terms, first names, nicknames, and terms of intimacy as forms of address. Plurality, the use of surnames, and kinship terms are primarily used to show respect, mainly towards male elders and socially recognized individuals, indicative of age-based and status-based hierarchies, respectively. First names, nicknames, and intimate terms are mainly used to express familiarity and social closeness among peers and close relations. This study indicates that the address terms in Matengo serve as significant sociolinguistic markers through which power relations, social identity, and cultural values are maintained. Such findings contribute to African languages' sociolinguistics studies by identifying respect at the core of the male address practices within the Matengo society and by offering insight into culturally grounded systems of social interaction.
Address terms, Matengo language, Power relations, Politeness, Respect
Copyright (c) 2026 Atanas Ndunguru (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0