ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts

BEYOND HUMANITY: POSTHUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS AND AI SENTIENCE IN RICHARD POWERS’S GALATEA 2.2

Prasaja V P — 2024-01-31

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and robotics has reshaped contemporary narratives, prompting a re-evaluation of what it means to be human. Richard Powers’s Galatea 2.2 explores the intersections of artificial intelligence (AI), cognitive science, and posthuman consciousness, engaging deeply with the philosophical and technological implications of human-like intelligence in machines. The research paper titled “Beyond Humanity: Posthuman Consciousness and AI Sentience in Richard Powers’s Galatea 2.2” examines how the novel challenges traditional notions of consciousness, selfhood, and the mind-body dualism by presenting an AI named Helen as a sentient entity capable of learning, reasoning, and even experiencing emotions. Through the lens of cognitive literary science and posthuman theory, this study interrogates whether AI can transcend mere computational ability and achieve a form of self-awareness akin to human cognition.

WRITING ‘PRAVASI’ LIVES: NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES IN DEEPAK UNNIKRISHNAN’S TEMPORARY PEOPLE

Abdurahman AK — 2024-01-31

The emerging writer Deepak Unnikrishnan has employed various experimental techniques in his award winning novel Temporary People. The aberration in narrative style and typographical violations symbolize fractured and torn apart life of the characters of the novel. The paper analyses the relevance of such narrative and typographical departures in connection with the experiences of the characters of the novel.

VOICE TO THE VOICELESS: A RESISTANCE STUDY IN THE SELECT NOVELS OF BARBARA KINGSOLVER

Sujitha S. K — 2024-01-31

Resistance encompasses each and every action of opposition, defiance, and protest for reclaiming the justice. Power, resistance and justice are tangled in the life of common people. This paper aims to focuses on the resisting power of people, especially women against the tyrannical power structure in order to protect their land, environment and livelihoods which are under the verge of exploitation. By introspecting the selected novels, Animal Dreams, Prodigal Summer and Flight Behaviour, this study explores the voice of resistance echoed behind the narratives of Barbara Kingsolver. The voices of suppressed may not be heard often, but that doesn’t mean they are voiceless. They speak at the right platform of protest through necessary actions.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE HANDICRAFTS INDUSTRY IN DELHI/NCR: POST-COVID DYNAMICS AND SALES PERFORMANCE

Archita Nandi — 2024-05-31

The COVID-19 pandemic posed severe challenges to the handicrafts industry, compelling many enterprises to explore Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a means of survival and growth. This study investigates the role of ICT in marketing handicrafts within the Delhi/National Capital Region in the post-pandemic period. Employing a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 234 artisans and enterprises through a structured questionnaire. The analysis, conducted using reliability tests, descriptive statistics, and multiple regression techniques, focused on the impact of digital marketing, social media, and e-commerce platforms on sales performance. Findings reveal a strong positive relationship between ICT adoption and improved sales outcomes, underscoring the crucial role of digital channels in helping artisans recover and expand their businesses after COVID-19. The study offers valuable insights for artisans, entrepreneurs, marketers, and policymakers on how ICT can be leveraged to enhance market visibility, increase revenue, and ensure long-term sustainability of the handicrafts sector.

DEMOGRAPHIC INFLUX AND SECURITY CHALLENGES IN INDIA'S NORTHEAST

Kangujam Sanatomba Meitei — 2023-06-30

The Northeast has long grappled with the persistent challenge of large-scale illegal immigration from neighbouring countries. Driven by vote bank politics, inadequate regulatory mechanisms, and population pressure in Bangladesh, this influx has produced serious demographic imbalances and socio-economic strain on indigenous communities. The resulting tensions between locals and immigrants have frequently escalated into violent clashes, posing a recurring law and order problem for state governments. The marginalization of indigenous peoples has, in turn, fuelled protest movements and insurgencies in states like Assam and Tripura, thereby deepening internal security challenges. At the same time, the infiltration of extremist networks through these migration routes has posed grave external security concerns, with cross-border linkages amplifying the risks for India. India’s foreign policy missteps in Tibet and East Pakistan further shaped the demographic and political trajectory of the region. While Tibetan refugees have remained largely non-disruptive, the continuous influx from Bangladesh constitutes a major security challenge. Illegal immigration, therefore, must be understood not only as a regional issue but as a national concern that threatens both the internal stability and external security of India.

INFLUENCE OF DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES ON THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF UNEMPLOYMENT (NIU) AMONG POSTGRADUATE YOUTH

Sunil Saraswat — 2024-03-31

The present study aimed to examine the influence of demographic factors on the Negative Impact of Unemployment (NIU) Scale among postgraduate unemployed youth in Madhya Pradesh, India. The NIU Scale, developed by the researcher, is a psychometric tool designed to assess the adverse effects of unemployment across three domains: unrest, mental health issues, and personal life issues. A total of 83 unemployed postgraduates participated in the study. Using One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Independent t-test at the 0.05 significance level, the findings indicated significant variations across age, gender, and family income groups. Respondents aged 30–32 years recorded the highest NIU scores, suggesting that prolonged joblessness intensifies its negative impact. Gender differences were highly significant, with males reporting higher NIU scores than females, reflecting the cultural expectation of men as financial providers. Similarly, family income showed a strong effect, with youth from lower-income households (₹5,001–10,000) experiencing greater negative consequences compared to those from higher-income groups. Overall, the study concludes that unemployment is not merely an economic issue but a multidimensional challenge influencing the psychological and social well-being of educated youth.

SUNDRI LESSONS TO ALGORITHMS: THE PIONEERING SPIRIT OF JAIN MATHEMATICS

Gaurav Jain — 2025-06-30

Jain Mathematics is a deep part of our cultural and scientific history. This study traces its growth from the teachings of the first Tirthankara, Rishabhdeva, to his daughter Sundri, and later to the 9th-century cryptographic text Siri Bhoovalaya, showing that it was far ahead of its time. Jain scholars worked on ideas like combinatorics, recursion, very large numbers, and algorithms long before similar work appeared in Europe or the Islamic world. The paper looks at the wide range of Jain mathematical texts, the importance of teaching women mathematics early on, and what this strong focus on numbers says about Jain society from ancient times to today. It argues that Jain mathematics was more than just solving problems—it was part of a whole way of thinking that joined logic, ethics, and cosmology, creating a tradition of learning and precision that still matters today.

WOMEN IN POWER: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF LEGISLATIVE PARTICIPATION AND POLITICAL REPRESENTATION IN HARYANA

Sunil Kumar — 2024-05-31

This study examines the status and dynamics of women’s legislative representation in Haryana, situating it within the broader discourse on gender and political participation in India. Drawing on electoral data from 1967 to 2024, the research highlights trends in women’s candidature, party-wise distribution, and socio-economic as well as educational profiles of elected legislators. The findings reveal that while women’s representation has increased over time, peaking at 13 MLAs in both 2014 and 2024, their overall share in the 90-member Assembly remains under 15%, signaling persistent underrepresentation. A critical insight emerging from the study is the dominance of political lineage and socio-economic privilege in enabling women’s entry into politics, with limited space for leaders from grassroots and marginalized backgrounds. Party-level strategies, though pivotal, often reflect symbolic rather than substantive inclusivity. Despite these challenges, the presence of women legislators has contributed to greater visibility, policy influence, and gradual shifts in social perceptions of gender and leadership. The paper concludes with recommendations for structural reforms, party-level commitments, and grassroots empowerment to translate representation into meaningful political participation and social transformation.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN INDIA: A CRITICAL LEGAL APPRAISAL OF RESERVATION POLICY AND ITS EFFICACY IN REALIZING SOCIAL JUSTICE

Farhatulla Baig — 2024-07-31

Affirmative action, known as reservation in India, remains one of the most significant tools of social engineering adopted by the Indian State to combat historical injustices and ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities. This research paper critically examines the evolution of reservation laws, the constitutional and statutory framework, and the policy implications of its implementation. It traces the jurisprudence surrounding reservations, explores emerging challenges including the demand for religious minority reservation, and assesses whether the existing model has effectively addressed social inequalities. The paper argues for a rational, evidence-based, and inclusive approach to affirmative action, balancing constitutional ideals with evolving socio-economic realities.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA – A STUDY

Amruthamma R — 2024-01-31

Purpose: social media through digitalization is acquiring vital significance in the competitive business scenario. Internet provides a simple & standardized method for companies to advertise their goods & services to consumers. To what extent do socioeconomic features affect research into digitalization & social media is primary goal of this work and further to probe the uses of both social media and digitalization, and factors driving companies to use social media and digitalization. The study also conducted to know the impact of social media & digitalization upon respondents for buying fashion apparels.

Methodology / Design: Necessity to prevent late response, non-response, & incompleteness lead to administration of well crafted questionnaire on time. A total of 108 questionnaires had been approached & out of 108 questionnaires just 100 were found to be useful forming a success rate of 92.59% x2, contingency co-efficient, weighted arithmetic mean, & Garrett Ranking technique have been utilized to process the collateral data.

Findings: The research found that there is a strong correlation between demographic and socioeconomic factors and the degree to which they have digitized their economies. Building brand reputation, taking the people opinion about the product and youngster rely on mobile gadgets through social media are the preferred uses of social media and digitalization. Factors like message spread, reduction in the use of cashless transactions and faster communication preference are some of the drivers of companies forcing to use social media and digitalization

is tend through the preferred drivers like social media drives impulse buying, inspiration source and parental influence to lead more digital life.