Bollywood, the Indian film industry, is known for portraying cultural values and societal conventions, but there are concerns about the portrayal of marginalised communities, particularly the non-binary community. Queer individuals often face prejudice and social isolation, leading to negative consequences such as isolation, difficulty finding work, and increased mental illness. Bollywood films’ stereotyped portrayals of the third gender reinforce prejudice and discrimination against the group. From 2000 to 2023, a qualitative study of Bollywood films revealed a tendency to reduce queer identities to their sexuality or gender presentation, often portraying them as villains or unfavourable figures. However, in 2020’s film Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, a transgender actor played a caring spouse, indicating a slight shift in the portrayal of queer characters, promoting the fight against negative identity formation in society. However, there is still room for improvement.

Keywords: Queer, Indian Cinema, Identity, Third Gender

Work, control, power, motionlessness, and antagonism serve as the primary distinguishing characteristics of masculinity in the present situation. These features are often linked with men and are viewed culturally as being different from feminine traits. The present paper aims to examine the various kinds of masculinity existing in modern India. The paper will continue to make an effort to comprehend how different forms of masculinity are socially represented within the framework of Moscovic’s ‘Social Representation Theory’. It also examines the changing nature of masculinity and its effect on men. The study was conducted through an analysis of the secondary literature available in the present context. The researcher uses the content analysis technique to gather data from the existing literature. The bottom line is that the new masculinity could be a possible alternative to the patriarchal system that harms not only women but also men.

Keywords: Masculinity, New Masculinity, Social Representation, Manhood

Borders-synonymous with nation-states protects people against a risky environment, but protection might also turn into its opposite: the fence that encloses instead of excluding. Borders are social constructions in geographical space: they determine perceptions of people, dividing between known and unknown, native and foreign, and us and them. There are various types of borders like: physical, cultural, religious, economic, political, psychological, mental, etc. This paper has investigated the nature, characteristics, trends, and practices of the political border between India and Nepal at the state level and mental borders at the people’s level. In doing so, the research has focused on assessing the Nepal-India political border, people’s perception of it, and their daily lifestyle from the mental border and borderland geopolitical perspective. Theoretically, the borderland theories are applied to this study. The paper adopts a qualitative method based on a systematic approach under descriptive and critical analysis. Some authentic readings of borderlands are reviewed as the secondary data analysis and also visited a Nepal-India border point Susta and collected opinions of local leaders as the primary data. The research concludes that mental borders are becoming prominent in analyzing the borderland geopolitics and the state’s political border has to address the issues of mental borders to defend and expand the national interest.

Keywords: Borderland, Border Dispute, Mental Border, Nepal-India Relations, Borderland Geopolitics

Education is the transmission of knowledge, skills, and character traits that transmit from generation to generation. There are many debates about its precise definition, for example, about which aims it tries to achieve. On the other hand “Transgender” is an umbrella term that is issued to describe people whose gender identity does not match with the sex they were born with. In other words, a transgendered person may have been born as a male but identifies as a female or vice versa. Some transgender people who desire medical assistance for transmission from one sex to another identify as transsexual, transgender often shortened as “Trans”. In addition, it includes whose gender identity is the opposite of their assigned sex by birth considered as “Trans men and” Trans women” who are not exclusively masculine or feminine such as out of binary division or gender queer, including bi-gender, pan gender, gender fluid etc. Transgender people may be identified as heterosexual, homosexual, bio-sexual and sexual or may decline to the level their sexual orientation. In addition to that, prevalence of transgender person among 100000 general populations has been calculated as: in Uttarpradesh (28.18%) i,e. very high, Andhra Pradesh (8.97%), Bihar (8.37%), west Bengal (6.22%) and Tamil Nadu (4.58%). This number in Odisha is 0.01% as per the information of SSEPD (Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disability) but actually it is very highly prevailing in rural and remote areas but stringent social constraint induces the identity crisis. The main objective of the study is to observe the challenges faced by transgender at the time of formal study in the educational institutions.

Keywords: Transgender, Masculine, Trans, Rights, Bi-gender, Hijra

Pottery is a cultural manifestation that has endured since pre-Hispanic times. This artisanal craft has been a source of identity for the community and an economic driver for the region. One of the most interesting aspects of this tradition is the role of women in the pottery community. Historically, women have been the main guardians of the techniques and knowledge passed down from generation to generation. Women, traditionally the guardians of pottery, have not only kept ancestral techniques alive but have also been at the forefront of innovation and adaptation. In this context, the analysis of pottery in Santa María Atzompa allows for exploring how an artisanal practice can serve as a model of sustainable development that balances tradition and modernity. Reflecting on Santa María Atzompa, it’s evident that the community is a microcosm of tradition, innovation, and cultural resilience, with pottery at the heart of its identity and daily life. It’s essential that these traditions are valued, preserved, and promoted for future generations.

Keywords: Pottery, Santa María Atzompa, Cultural resilience, Tradition

As per the 2011 census, tribes constitute 8.6 per cent of the total population in India. Odisha stands out, with 23 per cent of its population being tribal, and it has the distinction of having the highest number of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the country, totaling 13. The Government of India established the PVTG classification to facilitate improvements in the conditions of communities that exhibit low development indicators. To provide a comprehensive socio-economic analysis of these PVTGs, field data were collected on various aspects such as Household composition, Age Group, Sex- category, and non-timber forest produces (NTFPs) for subsistence and livelihoods of PVTG. This research is grounded in primary data gathered through brief interviews and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques conducted with households belonging to the PVTGs.

Keywords: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), Non-timber forest produces (NTFPs), Kutia Kondhas, Juangas, Didayi

Visualization in Scientometrics research have become very much necessary for the Interpretation and Presentation of complex patterns in large bibliographic datasets. Due to the increase in digital information and improvement in research output, visualization tools have become necessary in the analysis, interpretation, and presentation of complex data efficiently by the researcher. This paper collected and compiled selected freely accessible Visualization tools preferred by many academic researchers in the area of Scientometricss study. A detailed analysis of the features, capabilities and functionality of each tool have been carried out to identify the best suitable tool for Visualization of Collaboration Networks and Citation Patterns. Each is described with respect to its features, capabilities, and applications in research. It discusses advantages accrued from the use of such tools in improving data interpretation, pattern identification. It has been found that Vosviewer and CiteSpace tools are most appropriate freeware tools which can help the researchers to carry out advanced Scientometrics study and decision-making. Rest of the tools like SciMAT, Biblioshiny and others can be used Optimizely according to the researcher’s requirement as all these tools have both pros and cons in Visualising the Scientometrics Study. The paper aims at helping researchers to select appropriate tools for specific purposes and will contribute to the advancement of scientometrics analysis.

Keywords: Scientometrics, Visualization Tools, Freeware, Collaboration Networks, Citation Networks

India has recorded the highest number of widows in the entire world and in the patriarchal culture. They generally represent as a marginalized group that compounded by the cultural and social restrictions. Most widows in India are excluded from any interaction in social spaces - private and public - and suffer socially and financially. The social and cultural norms discourage widows from remarriage and impose various restrictions on diet, behaviours, wearing of clothes, ornaments and widows are often unwelcome at social events and religious festivals and avoided by others because they are considered bad luck. The phenomenon of widowhood is an under researched area in India, and interviewing 60 widows in the state of Odisha, the present paper aims to describe the representation of widow in India with reference to caste system. The finding indicates that the socio-cultural position of widows is not in a good condition. Widows belong to upper caste face many social and cultural taboos in everyday life including use of material objects and exclusion from their society members which she bounds to follow and obey, if no, she will be treated as bad woman or as a witch. It is also found that based on caste widows’ different social representation, physical representation and religious representation are made.

Keywords: Social Representation, Physical Representation, Religious Representation, Widow

Social Media is the media of social interaction. Now a days social media in the form of new media growing day by day. Everyone who uses internet and new media using social media also for connecting to old friends, talking with peers with the help of internet and doing other activities. Adolescence is a transitional period between childhood and adulthood. In this time many changes comes as a form of physical, mental and psychological changes. In this important phase of adolescent life they want to keep in touch of friends instead of family. Social media has an important place in today’s adolescents’ life, without it they cannot think about their existence. This paper is based on secondary data sources through which we analyze social media’s role in adolescent life and the risks and benefits associated with using social media.

Keywords: Social Media, Adolescents, adulthood, Social Interaction

In the era of Digital media, we have seen a shift from print media to social media in every aspect of youth’s life. `Now- a -days youth is very much tech savvy they know about all recent technologies launched in the market. They know how to use social media and other recent technologies but with all this knowledge something is lacking who is how much the time they should give to this new form of media. Social media is an umbrella terms which include social networking sites, blogs, forum etc. Social media plays a significant role in the life of youth in many ways. Social media has become deeply ingrained into the lives of youth, shaping their social connections, identities, and experiences in both positive as well as negative ways. This paper is based on secondary data related to social media and their positive and negative role in the life of youth. The objectives of the study include role of social media in the lives of the youth in both positive and negative manner. The findings of the study talk about positive and negative role of social media in the life of youth. In positive role it includes communication, learning and strengthening social relations with peers and in negative role it includes a sense of isolation, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), anxiety and depression. In last we have some suggestions regarding the use of social media by youth. They should encourage the use of social media for accessing educational content such as documentaries, online courses, to enhance their learning outside of classroom learning and support youth in using media as a platform for creative expressions, whether through writings, reading and other forms of expression to foster their creativity and self-confidence.

Keywords: Digital media, Youth, FOMO, Educational content, Self-confidence.

The study of Kalahandi district of Odisha explicates the experiences of the vulnerabilities of the tribal people to increasing poverty and landlessness as major consequences embedded in the socio-economic and geo-political history of the state. Despite the claims of ‘inclusive development’ and transformation towards ‘New Odisha’ in recent years, the spatial location of systemic deprivation in certain regions, communities, and social groups reflects the class character of the state, which not only privileges the neoliberal policies of the market economy but also prevents its intervention in the redistribution of basic productive resources that can alter power relations.

Keywords: Paradoxes, Vulnerabilities, Systemic Deprivation, Redistribution, Inclusive Development

The discrimination experienced by certain groups of people based on their work and descent is a unique social structure that is prevalent in numerous societies around the world. This type of discrimination results in human rights violations and creates barriers that impede the socio-economic development of these groups. Despite affecting over 260 million people worldwide, this form of discrimination has yet to receive full recognition from the global community. While it is commonly recognized as caste-based discrimination in South Asia, discrimination based on work and descent (DWD) exists among various social groups worldwide, and its hierarchical systems based on purity-pollution principles are still present in various regions. This article aims to provide an overview of communities facing discrimination based on work and descent, the human rights violations they experience, and the efforts and progress made toward addressing the issue of DWD over time.

Keywords: Caste Discrimination, Work and Descent, Pollution, Untouchables, Slavery, Outcasts

Community development is seen as a complicated process that improves the long-term well-being of individuals, families, communities, and society at large. This study explores the vital connection between community engagement and CSR, emphasizing the value of their cooperation in promoting sustainable development and strengthening connections between companies and their communities. The purpose of this research is to investigate and expand knowledge about NTPC and Tata Steel’s CSR performance in the field of community development. Drawing on real examples and practices documented in the CSR reports of both companies, the study provides a comprehensive view of community involvement in CSR initiatives. This research uses a qualitative analysis of secondary data to explore how NTPC and Tata Steel contribute to community well-being by reviewing their CSR reports, sustainability disclosures, and impact assessments. Using OECD-DAC criteria as the guiding light, the research evaluates the relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of their CSR strategies, frameworks, and practices, highlighting their role in promoting sustainable development. Finally, the research delves into the wider implications of effective community engagement for sustainable governance in Indian organizations.

Keywords: CSR, Community Engagement, Sustainability