Artha Journal of Social Sciences

Characterising the Relationship between South Africa and China: A Reflection Based on a Global Studies Lecture

2025-12-22T06:11:17+00:00

Bilateralism and multilateralism are critical concepts in shaping states’ foreign policy articulation in world politics, each playing a fundamental role in shaping states’ interactions and diplomatic strategies in global affairs. These concepts have become even more imperative in the current geopolitical landscape, marked by uncertainty and the rise of nationalist and protectionist policies. This note reflects on my experience teaching the Global Studies module at a university in South Africa, with a particular focus on an insightful question raised by a student regarding South Africa-China relations.

Narratives of Identity: Folk Consciousness and Cultural Formation in Kashmir

2026-03-02T05:47:36+00:00

The socio-cultural past of the Valley of Kashmir includes folklore, folklore stories, oral history, and mixed-religion customs. Folklore has a function beyond mere entertainment in Kashmir; it provides social norms, environmental consciousness, and historical consciousness through symbolic frameworks. This article analyses in detail the role of folklore, legends, and other supernatural beliefs in forming Kashmiri social identity and sustaining Kashmiri culture. It also tries to identify where these traditions fit within larger theories of folklore, oral history, and sacred history developed by Western scholars. The methodological approach utilised in this study is qualitative and interpretive, based on textual analysis of folklore literature, historical records, and secondary scholarly literature. In addition, the study examines continual narrative themes, symbolic motifs, and the presence of syncretic religious features that distinguish Kashmiri folklore traditions. The results of this study suggest that Kashmiri folklore does not represent vestiges of a pre-modern cultural matrix, but rather the centre of cultural memory, social identity, and the capacity of this society to be resilient. Furthermore, Kashmiri folklore mediates relationships between religion and society, the views of great saints such as Lal Ded and Nur-ud-Din Wali on humankind, and everyday life in the valley.

Children’s Play: A Parental Interview based Exploration

2026-02-24T11:59:36+00:00

As far as children are concerned, play is a serious business. It makes significant contribution to child development. However, today children’s play is in a state of significant flux. Given that parents are the primary observers of children’s daily lives, their narratives provide reliable data on children’s play behavior. In this study, 13 mothers (of seven boys and six girls aged between 4 and 12 years) were interviewed. Six of the mothers were from urban areas and seven from rural areas in Kerala, India. 12 grandmothers were also interviewed to get a generational perspective on play. The data obtained was subjected to qualitative content analysis to identify 1) the nature of play behavior of children, with a focus on gender differences and urban-rural disparities, 2) factors influencing the play behavior of children, and 3) how children's play has changed compared to their parents' generation. Three themes emanated: the range of play, toys, and social and environmental influences on the play. The study showed that gender differences in play behavior had been reported to persist in both generations. Gender norms, commercial market forces and the constraints of urbanized environment had a significant role in shaping children's play environment. No evident difference was noted in the overall play behavior of children in urban and rural areas. The study implies that there is a need to promote more inclusive play and ensure access to safe play spaces for children.

A Mathematical Framework to Characterise Disparity in the Female-to-Male LFPR Ratio across States of India

2026-02-24T12:46:24+00:00

We focus on the Ratio of Female-to-Male labour force participation rate (LFPR), a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator and a key indicator defined by Niti Aayog in the SDG India Index 2023–24 for measuring India’s progress towards the goal of gender equality. We use mathematical techniques to show that this indicator should be considered separately for urban and rural areas. We develop a framework to statistically establish that the value of this indicator in urban areas is a proxy for the socio-cultural factors adversely impacting female LFPR across states of India. We categorise the states of India into three groups by applying the machine learning technique of clustering over this indicator for urban areas. We establish the validity of this clustering or grouping of states by noticing that the common gender discrimination factors, such as female literacy rate and crime rates against women, show noticeably different behaviours across the three categories of states. We conclude by demonstrating that if we normalise female-to-male LFPR in rural areas for socio-cultural factors, we can actually characterise the decrease in female LFPR with an increase in income levels, a phenomenon currently explained in the literature as higher LFPR in economic distress.

Book Review: A Nation Forged in Sweat and Struggle

2026-06-23T05:32:39+00:00