Mphil Thesis

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://kr.cup.edu.in/handle/32116/157

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Adsorption studies for the removal of hexavalent chromium using fly ash of waste to energy power plant
(Central University of Punjab, 2013) Vaid, Upma; Mittal, Sunil
Chromium is the most common pollutant discharged in industrial effluent and reported to be present beyond permissible limits causing various health problems like carcinogenicity. Therefore, it must be removed from industrial effluent before its discharge. Several physico-chemical methods have been used for the removal of Cr (VI) from industrial effluents. Adsorption using activated carbon is quite efficient for the removal of Cr (VI) from industrial effluents. However, it is a costly process and the regeneration of activated carbon is difficult. Hence, in the present work, efforts have been made to explore the use of fly ash collected from the ‘Waste to Energy Power Plant’ as a low cost adsorbent. In order to maximize the Cr (VI) removal from simulated aqueous solutions, effects of various parameters (adsorbent dose, contact time, pH and initial metal ion concentration) on Cr (VI) adsorption were investigated by batch adsorption experiments. By optimizing the conditions for Cr (VI) adsorption using the fly ash, removal of hexavalent chromium from the aqueous solution (10 μg Cr/ml) was increased from 4% to approx. 99%. This shows that fly ash of agricultural waste burning can be used as an adsorbent for the removal of Cr (VI) at low concentration.
Autobiography as a social critique: a study of madhopuri's changiya rukh and valmiki's joothan
(Central University of Punjab, 2017) Kaur, Kamaljeet; Singh, Amandeep
Autobiographies shed light on the whole social milieu of a particular time and space through the life story of an individual. In the Dalit literature, autobiographical writing occupies important place. By foregrounding the problems of the current social structure of India, these autobiographies present important social critique of the prevalent problems. Balbir Madhopuri's autobiography Changiya Rukh and Omprakash Valmiki's Joothan reflect the internal agony and pain of Dalits. This research work is an attempt to analyze these two autobiographies as a form of social critique. Balbir Madhopuri's Changiya Rukh represents the painful history of Dalit fraternity. It outlines the difficulties, sufferings and harsh realities of Dalit life. Along with the real picture of casteism, it also highlights the physical torture, mental anguish, religious and educational exploitation of Dalits. The writer points out the dual nature of society in the context of caste based discrimination. Omprakash Valmiki's Joothan is not only one man's biography, but it is also a tale of whole Valmiki fraternity. Joothan unveils our cruel social system that exploits Dalit people. The word 'Joothan' itself reflects the poverty, pain and disrespect towards the Dalit fraternity and represents the gravity of the socio-economic and cultural rift between the different castes in Indian society. Through these autobiographies, Omprakash Valmiki and Balbir Madhopuri try to bring forward the difficulties faced by an individual in a layered/divided society. Both autobiographies are centered on the struggle against exploitation on the basis of casteism and point out the need for improvement and upliftment in Dalit people's life. This study highlights the need for greater efforts on the part of individual and the society to remove these obstacles in the path of progress
Availability, Affordability and pricing of the essential drugs: A case study of Bathinda city (Punjab).
(Central University of Punjab, 2016) Bala, Indu; Kaur, Sandeep
In recent times individual spending on health care is the common issue. This issue is manifold as linked with the availability, affordability and pricing of drugs. The present study evaluates these issues related to essential drugs in Bathinda city which is one of the blocks of Malwa region. Availability, affordability and price differences are examined across two types of drugs generic and, branded-generic at public and private drug stores, using a primary survey of patients, drug retailers and wholesalers mainly. The study also analyses the evolution of government drug pricing policies and the impact of patents on drugs. Data on drug prices is collected of commonly used essential drugs of different therapeutic classes. Affordability of the essential medicines to the ordinary people is measured by comparing the treatment cost with the wages earned by them. To compare the domestic prices with international reference prices, median price ratios (MPR) are obtained by dividing the local public and private sector median prices with international reference prices. The study discovers that availability of essential drugs in the public sector is not sufficient to meet the challenge of providing essential drugs to the entire population of the city. The Private sector is dominating for providing drugs and better treatment which has very less transparency in the pricing system and variations in the retail prices and markups are very high. Affordability level of essential drugs for different treatments to ii the ordinary people is satisfactory but not for the people living below the poverty line. Policies should be targeted to maintain a transparent pricing system and should be affordable for all as well as making them more widely available. The drug price control order should be properly implemented in fixing the MRP of branded-generic drugs
Being national or non-national: Sheikh abdullah's autobiography and the history of kashmir
(Central University of Punjab, 2013) Dar, Waseem Ahmad; Varghese, Vijay
The present study encompasses a preliminary reading of Aatish-e-Chinar, the autobiography of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, the most important political figure of modern Jammu and Kashmir. It is presumed here that the autobiographies as quintessentially a modern genre of expression are decisive instruments in the forging of nations, the quintessential political form of modern times. The Aatish-e-Chinar captures the trajectories of Kashmiri nation and nationalism and values that define it and the tendencies it is opposed to. The imagination of being national by Abdullah involved a simultaneous process of exalting certain attributes as national and others as non-national while placing himself at the centre of this historic nationalistic project. His autobiography stands out for its national character and faith in secularism and multiculturalism, overriding the prevalent orthodoxies. The autobiography draws us also to the national politics that made Abdullah to think in terms of remaining independent of both India and Pakistan, which has undergone transformation and change over time- the transformation of Jammu and Kashmir from a nation to a sub-nation as an administrative entity. The narrative is in conversation with its time and beyond in seeking legitimacy for the nation and its troubled historical trajectory.
The binding vine and the bluest eye: A comparative study from a feminist perspective
(Central University of Punjab, 2015) Pahuja, Poonam; Kaur, Zameerpal
Feminism in various forms and places has grappled with the question of gender, that is, of the power relationships among men and women. It is defined as cultural, economic and political movements that are focused towards establishing legal protection and complete equality for the women. It focuses on the gender politics, power relations and sexuality and gives voice to the problems of women. There are various authors all over the world who portray the sufferings of women in their creative works. The foremost objective of this research is to analyze the societal norms of gender, race, class, sexuality, and other social inequalities within the reference of the writings of Shashi Deshpande's The Binding Vine and Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. Deshpande (Indian novelist) and Morrison (Afro-American novelist) are two significant women novelists who have made a bold attempt in raising voice against the frustrations and disappointments of women in the patriarchal world. Both Shashi Deshpande and Toni Morrison portray the concealed world of women in their fictional narratives. They depict that women either in India or in America or in any other part of the world, or belonging to any strata of the society suffer the same plight due to the patriarchal setup. A thematic approach from feminist perspective has been adopted for this study.
Cantomentisation and transformation in south asia: a study of colonial military of punjab/firozpur
(Central University of Punjab, 2013) Singh, Bhupinder; Varghese, V.J.
Military history in general is seen as an under-researched area, though military remained important to every country from time immemorial and countries and kingdoms maintained military for protection and security as well as for satisfying their imperial designs. It is well known that military has played a major role in the making of the British Empire in South Asia/ Indian Subcontinent in which Punjab played a strategic and pivotal role. The British Indian army was heavily concentrated in Punjab with a robust of network of military cantonments, apart from converting it as one of the most important army recruitment grounds. Punjab was thus turned into a 'garrison state'. The present dissertation is an attempt to map the military landscape of Punjab under colonialism and how it impacted the geography and socio- economic life of the region. From the 1830's a series of cantonments were established in the province- Firozpur, Lahore, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Peshawar, Ambala, Kanpur, Bathinda, Rawalpindi etc. which were vital in sustaining colonialism in India and maintaining the colonial dominance over the sub-continent. The cantonments transformed the life and geography of the respective locations/areas where they were established in the terms of demography and amenities. The attempt here is to make preliminary exploration into the details of the making Punjab a garrison state with these networks of cantonments and the changes they brought to the region. The study also makes a specific exploration into the history Firozpur cantonment.
Chemical profiling of ganoderma lucidum of bathinda region
(Central University of Punjab, 2013) Gill, Balraj Singh; Kumar, Sanjeev
Ganoderma lucidum is a basidiomycete's fungus with numerous pharmacological properties. The important ingredients of Ganoderma lucidum are terpenoids and polysaccharides etc. which play momentous role in immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-oxidative. Mechanism of anticancer is still unrevealed. Aim of the present study was to analyse phytochemical difference in the Ganoderma lucidum growing on different hosts in Malwa region. Biomolecules play an imperative role in growth and development. Stress condition remodels the physiology, morphology and development of plant. To combat with stress, plants evolve with time and synthesize secondary metabolites. Stress tolerance ability is generated by overexpression of isoenzyme, intracellular targeting of anti-oxidants and overexpression ability of anti-oxidative enzyme. Ganoderma lucidum was analysed for different parameters such as total sugars, reducing sugars, starch, proteins, phenols, antioxidant property and flavonoids by standard procedures which was collected in different stages of development on different hosts, such as Azadirachta, Acacia, Bauhinia, Melia, and Dalbergia spp. It manifests fungus-host relationship and amount of phytoconstituent synthesized. The biochemical estimation showed 38.1±0.0481 g/100g of total sugars, 19±5.925 g/100g of reducing sugars, 57.3±3.333 g/100g of starch, 42±4.2% of proteins, 9.7±0.066% of phenols, 86.31%±5.480 scavenging activity in term of % inhibition and 5.26 ±0.6 mg/g of flavonoids. Complete analysis shows that except flavonoids all phytochemicals content was exceptionally high. Terpenoids analysis showed variation within the different hosts. Ganoderic acid, which is most active anticancerous molecule showed variation within different hosts. It can be concluded from the preliminary studies that there are variations in the chemical constituents of GL with change in host which makes it a "chemovariant"
China's startegic forays in south asia : Contextualising india's concerns
(Central University of Punjab, 2014) Lone, Mansoor Ahmad; Singh, Bawa
China's terrific rise and all-round development in almost all fields have provided her an identity in the International system as one of the great power. China's focus has now changed and the older views are giving way to wider engagement in adjoining areas. China shares borders with many south Asian countries like India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bhutan. Therefore, within the Chinese foreign policy, South Asia is becoming an important element. South Asia's increasing strategic importance has resulted in the increasing Chinese involvement in the region. The compelling factors for China to have an increased engagement in South Asia involve; to sustain the fast growing economy by securing the resources in these countries; Containment of India's rise to become a global power so that it may not affect China's rise; to maintain territorial integrity. In order to achieve these objectives, China is cultivating relations with the countries in South Asia by giving much needed economic assistance, infrastructure building, arms and ammunition transfers and in some countries nuclear weapon technology transfers as well especially to Pakistan. The countries with which China is increasingly involved rival to India in one way or the other. Therefore, it is obvious that such engagement will automatically harm India's interests in many ways in these countries. China in order to secure the energy needs has started to pursue a strategy called 'String of Pearls' vi through which China is building port facilities in the littoral states of Indian Ocean through which most of the crude oil is imported by China. These states include Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. By the way, such a strategy has lead to the encirclement of India, which may be a potential danger in future. India fears that China, who has a long pending unresolved border dispute with her, could use such port facilities for military purpose in future. Thus has created concerns for India. India needs to search better policy options to cautiously counter such a strategy of China, in order to retain greater consistency in her economy, and to maintain territorial integrity.
China-pakistan strategic relationship : Implication for south asia
(Central University of Punjab, 2014) Naiko, Ghulam Mohiudin; Kaushiki, Nishtha
Strategic relations between the two countries were established in 1972. Ever since then the two countries have given to each other the much required political and diplomatic support on various issues like, Kashmir, Tibet, Taiwan and Xinjiang, etc. In this study, an attempt has been made to first analyse the rationale behind the Sino-Pak relationship. How and why India is a major factor in their bilateral relations has been probed into. The study discusses the scope of their strategic relationship. The next section of this research includes the implications of their strategic relations on South Asia and particular emphasis has been placed on India. It has been analysed how strategic relation between the countries work for tying down India to South Asia?. The second part of the dissertation has dealt with the recent geopolitical shifts in the region that have further cemented their bilateral relationship, such as Indo-US nuclear deal and a ten year defense pact; Asia pivot etc. It has brought to surface the shifting Asian balance of power and how the Sino-Pak strategic relations affect India. Finally, the study is an attempt to recommend some policy measures for India that it can adopt for neutralising the affects of their strategic partnership on its foreign policy and larger strategic goals.
Comparative study of Shiv Kumar's birha tu sultan and Jaishankar Prasad's kamayani the perspectives of the theory of alamkara
(Central University of Punjab, 2014) Kaur, Rajandeep; Kaur, Zameerpal
Unlike western critical theories, Indian Poetics focus more upon aesthetic aspects rather than didactic approach to literature. Among the most discussed critical theories of Indian Poetics Alamkara has a unique and extraordinary place . The word Alamkara consists of two words 'alam' and 'kar' which means the elements that add grace or aesthetic sense to the poetry. A number of scholars contribute in the development of this theory. Bhamha (6 th century A.D.) is considered as father of Alamkara theory, who explained Alamkaras in detail in his treatise Kavyalamkara. Alamkaras are not only used in modern literature, but their presence can be seen in Vedas , and Yaska's Nirukat and Mimansa . The focus of present study is to do the comparative analysis of Punjabi and Hindi poetry with reference to Shiv Kumar's Birha Tu Sultan and Jaishankar Prasad's Kamayani in context with the theory of Alamkara to extract different types of Alamkaras used in them. Alamkaras have been used very abundantly in the poetry of both Shiv and Prasad. It is the use of Alamkara which gives a literary touch to their poetry and makes it interesting for readers. They have mastery over the use of Alamkara . The writings of Shiv and Prasad mainly focus on the theme of love and separation, pain and agony of lovers, description of nature, beauty and sufferings of female, theme of lust, theology, patriotism etc. They use historical and mythological events in their writings.
Connecting for energy? india's negotiation for space in central asia
(Central University of Punjab, 2014) Singh, Sandeep; Varghese, V. J
The present research aims to examine the role of energy demands in determining the contours of India's new 'Connect Central Asia' policy. In a world of accelerating energy needs, possession and non-possession of energy sources are determining factors of the global economy of energy with significant impact on international relations and global peace. According to Exxon Mobil World Energy Outlook 2013 the world's population will rise by more than 25 percent from 2010 to 2040 which means growing mobility requirements and energy demand. The rising living standards of the people will also impacts energy demands. These dynamic changes demand understanding of political economy of global energy crisis as a whole and how it has become a strong factor in foreign policy initiatives. The plan of the present research is to contextualise India's energy crisis in the political economy of global energy crisis and investigate how far it is factored in its new found interest in Central Asian countries. Though, India accounts 2.49 per cent of world's annual energy production, its consumption accounts for 3.45 per cent of the global consumption. Its increasing population and enormous growth of middle class is posing a challenge to India in this regard. The research presumes that due to the insecure and unstable supply from the Middle East, India's 'Connect Central Asia' policy has a strong energy angle factored into it.
Construction and Treatment of Social Taboos in Contemporary Indian Cinema with Special Focus on Sexual Taboos
(Central University of Punjab, 2014) Sumeet; Saini, Alpana
Critiquing anthropocentrism in amitav ghosh's the hungry tide and j.m. coetzee's disgrace
(Central University of Punjab, 2013) Sheenam; Singh, Amandeep
Rapid degradation of environment is an important concern facing all disciplines of knowledge and man centeredness known as anthropocentrism is believed to be one of the major causes behind this. In literary sphere, approach of ecocriticism focuses on environmental issues and dominance of man over non-human living and non-living objects. Both the novels selected for this study, disclose the effects of degradation of environment due to man's anthropocentric approach. Amitav Ghosh in his novel The Hungry Tide deals with the themes of wildlife conservation and preservation of natural flora and fauna taking into consideration the lives of human beings. Focusing on ecologically fragile Sunderbans area, Ghosh raises questions about conflict between humans and animals and shows how anthropocentric model of development results in disappearance of tigers and other natural inhabitants of this region. Likewise, J.M.Coetzee in his novel Disgrace deals with the suffering of animals. Focusing on Post-Apartheid Africa, Coetzee presents the perspective of blacks who had to suffer like animals during colonialism. In this conflict, animals become the first casualty and reclamation of land and other natural resources becomes an important step towards fighting back. Both these writers tries to decentre human beings, they are of the view that non-human other should acquire equal rights and protection as human beings themselves possess. Lucy in Disgrace is the voice of Coetzee as she is concerned towards the well being of the animals. Piyali Roy in The Hungry Tide is also concerned about the animals but she views nature from the perspective of First world nations.
Critiquing family as an institution in difficult daughters and unaccustomed earth
(Central University of Punjab, 2012) Basanl, Tania; Singh, Rajendra Kumar
Manju Kapur and Jhumpa Lahiri, both contemporary writers, hailing from middle class strata of society take women from the middle class as their subjects who have nothing dramatic or larger than life scenario about their lives but are domestic women leading ordinary day to day life. Despite their apparent geographical, cultural and contextual differences the predicaments of women that they reflect in their writings show some similarities. Family being an important unit forms the backdrop in both writers in which they place their women protagonists. The present study is an attempt to compare Manju Kapur and Jhumpa Lahiri as feminist writers who react almost identically having been placed in different native contexts to woman's problems. The technique that both use as writers is different with one writing her best in a short story and the other in prose using almost similar themes with family forming an integral part of their works. The study brings forth that Manju Kapur is a 'feminist' writer whereas Jhumpa Lahiri is a 'feminine' writer. Manju talks of women's body, spaces, and their psyche as the main highlight whereas Lahiri talks not of gender but of generations and relations. Manju's women are found in confined places like kitchen, the dressing room, or the attic where Virmati was locked whereas Lahiri's women are placed in open spaces with all exposure but still they meet the same fate. Lahiri and Manju do not out rightly deny the hope of harmony in family by expounding on the notions of relations and family in their respective works.
Cross Loc trade facilitation: A Case study of two TFCs
(Central University of Punjab, 2015) Dar, Zahid Ul Islam; Kaur, Sandeep
Structural transformation is a process by which the relative importance of different sectors and activities of an economy changes over time. The Kerala economy is also undergoing the transformation from traditional backward agrarian economy to a modern service sector led economy. The significance of the present study lies in the fact that the whole process of structural transformation of the Kerala economy has not so far been addressed in a detailed and comprehensive manner in the earlier studies. No specific attempt has been made to relate the pattern of agricultural development with the structural transformations in the Kerala economy. In this study, an attempt has been made to examine the structural changes and growth performance and pattern of agricultural development in Kerala economy. The study mainly covers a period of 1980-81 to 2010-11. The study has found that the share of primary sector in GSDP has declined sharply, but the corresponding decline in employment share has not taken place. Moreover, the excess labour force has moved from primary sector to secondary sector, thus causing abundance in secondary sector and there was only a meager increase in share of income from ii secondary sector in GSDP. The share of income from services sector in GSDP has increased sharply, but it failed to register a sharp increase in employment. Thus, it follows that Kerala did not experience a sequential growth process (as propounded by structural change growth theories) as the service sector led growth did not provide employment matching with its income and the process of industrialization failed to take off as share of income from secondary sector did not commensurate with the level of employment in the sector. The changes in land use pattern in Kerala were unprecedented during the past decades in terms of deforestation, increase in area as current fallow, increase in area under non-agricultural land, decrease in both net area sown and gross cropped area resulting in decline in cropping intensity. Irrigation intensity of only 20 per cent points that about 80 per cent of the cropped area is rain-fed. Kerala witnessed shift in the copping pattern in favour of non-food crops at the expense of food crops as crops such as pulses, rice, tapioca, cashewnut, ginger were replaced by commercial cash crops like rubber and coconut. The declining cultivable area, predominance of tiny and fragmented holdings, decline in work force in terms of reduction in agricultural labour and cultivator has made farming more vulnerable. Finally, the study has suggested some policy suggestions such as training to labour moved to secondary sector, keeping a check on the area under food crops, bringing more area under assured irrigation, strict law enforcing mechanism to avoid unnecessary conversion of agricultural land to non-farming activities, creation of "Labour Banks" to revive agricultural economy of the Kerala.
Cytotoxic activity of saragassum wightii on pc-3 cancer cell-line
(Central University of Punjab, 2012) Jahid, Mohd.; Bast, Felix
Finding novel antitumor compounds with low side effects could be an interesting proposal. Antioxidant and anticancer potentials of seaweed extracts can possibly be explored for developing the new anticancer drugs. Polyphenols are extensively distributed in seaweeds and these are reported to be free radical scavengers. This study was designed to check the cytotoxic potential of the methanolic and hydromethanolic extracts from the brown algae S. wightii. The total phenolic content in the hydromethanolic extract and the methanolic extract of S. wightii was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The total phenolic content in methanolic extract was found to be greater than hydromethanolic extract. The percentage inhibition or scavenging activity of both the extracts was calculated by using the DPPH assay and was more for the methanolic extract. PC-3 cancer cell-line was used as an experimental model. The methanolic crude extract is significantly cytotoxic against the PC-3 cancer cells. On the other hand the hydromethanolic crude extract was not found to be the significantly cytotoxic against the PC-3 cancer cells.
Dalit experience in autobiography: A comparative study of government brahmana and mudrahiya
(Central University of Punjab, 2014) Gora, Devendra Kumar; Sen, Rajinder Kumar
Dalit Autobiography, a recent offshoot, introduces a new world of experience in Indian literature. It widens the range of expression and makes use of the language of the Dalits who have been excluded from the mainstream Indian society and discriminated, exploited, humiliated and marginalised on the basis of low caste status. There are various Dalit autobiographers who portray the sufferings of Dalits in their creative works. Aravind Malagatti and Tulsi ram are two significant Dalit autobiographers who have made attempt in raising the voice of Dalits in hierarchical society. The foremost objective of this research is to highlight social, cultural and economic conditions of Dalits and role of Education in their development within the reference of the autobiographies of Aravind Malagatti's Government Brahman and Tulsi Ram's Murdahiya . Both Aravind Malagatti and Tulsi Ram represent Dalit society in their personal narratives. Both Aravind Malagatti and Tulsi Ram interrogate social norms in different episodes of autobiographies and use their personal experience to expose the domination and subjugation of Dalits. A thematic approach from Dalit perspective has been adopted for this study.
Democratic transformation in south asia: Emerging trends
(Central University of Punjab, 2014) Gulam, Mudasir; Singh, Bawa
The South Asian region has experienced authoritarian and autocratic rule since its inception. India is the only country in South Asia to become a successful democratic country after independence. Sri Lanka has also adopted the similar model with presidential type of government. While the other countries of the region like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan have experienced ups and downs in their political systems. Pakistan after attaining its independence witnessed a rapid erosion of hopes to move the new nation to a democracy. The general elections held on 11 May, 2013 in Pakistan brought the first transition between civilian governments in a country which clearly shows the transformation of democracy in the country. Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 and since then many pro- democracy movements were observed in the country. These movements led to the multi- party democracy since 1991 till late 2006. It is evident that after 2009 the country has moved towards marginal political stability in its political affairs. Nepal, a kingdom, had monarchy which kept on flip-flopping between absolute and constitutional monarchy and vice-versa for many years. Democratic regimes proved to be short lived and unstable. The Nepalese movement in 2007 created a history in the country and moved ahead towards the consolidation of the democracy and General Election 2008 was the first step towards democratic transition. This way the Constitutional Republic was adopted in Nepal with the v collapse of monarchy rule. Bhutan has transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a multi-party democracy. The growth of Bhutanese democracy has been marked since 1950s. The first democratic elections in Bhutan began in 2007, and all levels of government had been democratically elected by 2011. All this explains the transformation from an absolute monarchy to democracy in the Kingdom of Bhutan. It is now clear that the South Asian region has experienced a democratic resurgence in the recent past. All the South Asian countries now have a democratic system but this transition to democracy is still fragile and susceptible.
Depiction of dalit explotation and remonstration: a comparative study of salaam and muktiparva
(Central University of Punjab, 2013) Chitra; Sen, Rajinder Kumar
Dalit literature sheds the light on the whole society. Dalit literature depicts the suffering and pain of the Dalits. In Dalit literature, short story and novel writing both the genre has important place. By presenting the problems of the present social structure in India, these texts portray significant social critique of the prevailing problems. Omprakash Valmiki's Salaam (short story collection) and Mohandass Namishrai's Muktiparva replicate the internal distress, pain and revolt of Dalits. This research is an attempt to analyze these two texts and to reproduce as a social critique. Omprakash Valmiki's Salaam represents the discrimination, illtreatment, sufferings, untouchability and harsh realities of Dalits. It also highlights the socio-economic and political exploitation of Dalits by the upper caste. Mohandas Namishrai's Muktiparva is not only the depiction of Dalits, but it is also a mirror of the whole Indian society. Muktiparva shows the conditions of Dalits after independence. Dalits are still exploited and neglected due to their caste in the society. It unveils the social structure that exploits Dalits. It represents the socioeconomic, political and cultural gap between the Dalits and upper castes in Indian society. Through these texts, Omprakash Valmiki and Mohandass Namishrai have tried to bring self-assured attached with the whole society. Both texts highlight the struggle, discrimination against exploitation on the basis of caste system and raise the voice for the upliftment and empowerment of Dalits.
Development and chacterization of genomic microsatellite markers in rhdodendron arboreum
(Central University of Punjab, 2014) Choudhary, Shruti; Bhardwaj, Pankaj
Rhododendron arboreum, a key species inhabiting Indian Himalayas, has ecological and economic importance. Global climate change and anthropogenic activities can pose a threat to the biodiversity richness. Population genetics characteristics are the fundamentals of conservation and management practices. However, no genetic background for the species is presently available. To provide an insight into the population structure of the species, an effective marker resource was developed. A genomic library enriched for microsatellites was constructed using biotin- streptavidin hybridization technique, followed by sequencing of positive clones. With 54% enrichment rate, 41 primers were designed from SSR clones, consisting of perfect or interrupted repeats of AG/CT, AC/GT motifs. 38 loci showed successful amplification on genotypes of three populations with number of alleles ranging from 2 to 14, observed and expected heterozygosity of 0.167 to 0.933 and 0.422 to 0.917, respectively and average polymorphic information content of 0.104 to 0.811. A high gene flow (Nm= 5.436) demonstrated high genetic diversity within the populations. 19 loci displayed significant deviations from Hardy Weinberg equilibrium. Overall no linkage disequilibrium and bottleneck was detected among sampled populations. DARwin and STRUCTURE analysis grouped the populations into two original clusters and admixed genetic stock irrespective of their geographical locations. These novel loci will support further genotyping studies in R. arboreum.