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This paper seeks to understand the socio-political dimension of the political changes in Assam vis-a-vis "regionalism" and its contestations. The Changing contours of regionalism in Assam reflect its distinct character marked by the simultaneous articulation of regional, sub-regional and national identity in a complex socio-ethnic and historical context. The recent political trajectory of Assam bears testimony to the dual challenges facing the forces of regionalism; the presence of sub-regional ethnic identity articulation and the appropriation of regional space and issues by the national parties. Further, the shifting allegiance of ethnic identity-based parties to the national parties is critical to understand the dynamics of regionalism in Assam. Socio-political developments subsequent to the rise of BJP post-2014 provide an interesting landscape to comprehend the complexities inherent in understanding regionalism in contemporary Assam. On a contextual note, the paper also locates the question of regionalism in the ongoing debates of NRC and CAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting of load is essential for operating power systems. India recently witnessed one of the worst power crisis with the highest ever power demand of 207 GW on April 29, 2022. The demand in the month of May and June 2022 was estimated to reach 215 GW. The peak demand this year 2023, according to the electricity ministry, is predicted to be around 230 GW from April to June. The inability to meet certain fundamental issues as power can take a toll on any country's economy. Proper prediction helps in proper decision making and planning. The main objective of this paper is to predict day ahead electrical load demand for Assam. Statistical and Machine Learning Algorithms has been studied. The study has been carried out using real-time data for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. The paper presents a detailed analysis of the different hyper parameters of the deep learning models and their effect is seen on the learning efficiency. A novel stacked forecasting model is proposed using neural networks as base learners and CatBoost as the meta-learner. The performance of the proposed model has been evaluated and compared with individual models in terms of training time and accuracy using different error metrics namely MAE, MSE, RMSE, MAPE and R2 score. A comparison of the proposed prediction model with the prediction models available in literature has been presented. The conclusion states that both the statistical and machine learning algorithms used in this study act as useful tools for daily load forecasting with considerable accuracy; yet machine learning algorithm outperforms the statistical methods. The entire work has been done in Google Colaboratory using Python as the programming language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times many indigenous Muslim groups in Assam have asserted their ethnic identities as Deshi, Goriya, Moriya by distancing themselves from the immigrant Miya Muslims. In this regard, they have received much patronage from the current BJP government. These developments have happened in the background of the consolidation of Hindutva in Assam and the consequent otherization of the Muslim community as a whole. This paper has two objectives: First, it tries to understand why a separate identity consciousness among indigenous Muslims have emerged. Secondly, it goes on to explore as to why indigenous Muslims in recent times have offered political support to the BJP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agriculture sector, which continues to be pivotal to sustainable growth and development, has been recently mobilising farmers into member-owned producer organisations, or Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to enhance production, productivity and profitability of agriculturists, especially the small and marginal farmers in the country. The FPCs, which have been brought in for improved transparency and access to the input and output market with higher negotiating powers leading to sustainability of the small and marginal farmers, are said to provide higher legitimacy and credibility in the immediate business environment. Though Assam too is not behind in forming FPCs, challenges and issues abound. Majority of these FPCs are in the nascent stage of their operations with shareholder membership ranging from more than 500 farmers to over 1500 farmers. It is also seen that from capacity building to taking up business operations, many issues need to be addressed in these FPCs. These FPCs are in need of support in technical handholding and provision of adequate capital and infrastructure facilities including market linkages for sustaining their business operations. The present paper tries exploring and understanding the ecosystem of the FPCs in Assam, which are focussing on small and marginal farmers, and delving into the issues and challenges faced by the FPCs in the state and the possible ways out. JEL Classification: Q13 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay is based on ethnographic fieldwork carried out among the Dimasas (of Assam and Nagaland) in Northeastern India. This Indigenous group has a system of double descent which places them separately from the other ethnic groups in the Indian subcontinent. In double descent, lineages are drawn through both the paternal and maternal lines of descent. The existing literature suggests that studies on double descent have mostly focused on ethnic groups in Africa, while not much research has been done on Dimasas or other Indigenous groups with double descent in the region. The paper attempts to fill the gap in South Asian anthropological literature on kinship discourses by focusing on the Dimasas of Northeast India. Further, by taking gender as an analytical tool, the paper attempts to explore the complex cultural contours of the double descent system, which intricately gets subsumed within the patriarchal setup in Dimasa society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to assess and evaluate the condition of existing bridges adequately and accurately is a critical aspect of bridge maintenance and management, which involves condition assessments. Multiple hazards can affect existing bridges, making them vulnerable or risky, and any decision support concerning their management requires special attention. A rational and systematic framework for making practical decisions about the hazards present in a region and the appropriate level of risk is presented in this paper. An analytical hierarchy process (AHP) framework is proposed to rank hazards in hierarchical order based on a region's characteristics and a suitable analysis range, which provides the degree of risk that could jeopardise bridges. The proposed method can assist decision makers in selecting appropriate strategies for improving existing bridges. As a result, bridge inspection costs can be significantly reduced, maintenance and repair funds can be more effectively allocated and the safety, mobility, longevity and reliability of highway transportation assets can be improved. The approach was used in a case study of existing reinforced concrete (RC) bridges in the Barak Valley region in Assam, India. Such an approach is novel to the Indian subcontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine citizenship crisis in the Northeast Indian state of Assam through the lenses of structural and cultural violence. In 2019, close to two million people in Assam were disenfranchised by updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The vast majority of those disenfranchised are Miya people who have been subjected to legacies of persecution and violence since the early 19th century during British colonial rule. We map the contours of the citizenship crisis by centering the struggles of Miya communities who are most deeply impacted by violent citizenship regimes. Using a structural and cultural violence lens, we elucidate the linkages between colonial histories, (post)colonial policies, and institutional practices on the one hand and Miya people's everyday struggles on the other. Across these analyses, we demonstrate how current citizenship regimes operate as a form of state‐sanctioned violence against Miya people. The implications of these analyses for rethinking contemporary notions of citizenship and belonging for community‐engaged scholarship are discussed. Highlights: We examine citizenship crisis in Assam by centering struggles of Miya people who are most impacted.We use a structural and cultural violence lens to understand the citizenship crisis in Assam.Citizenship regimes can operate as a form of state‐sanctioned violence.We need to rethink citizenship and belonging beyond the normativity of modern nation‐state borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper traces the movement of "item numbers" from mainstream Bollywood culture to the regional culture of Assam. Given the level of eroticism that is part of such songs, the paper will specifically explore the means of surveillance and control that these "non-normative" cultural texts are subjected to within a local spatial context. By deconstructing this inter-cultural movement of performance, the paper attempts to reveal whether and how cultural appropriation of the "mainstream" by the "periphery" functions to keep the power dynamics of gender and national/sub-national identities intact. Based on visual methodology and textual analysis of Assamese item songs and cringe pop songs, the paper will theorize the regulation of bodies in these spaces. Understanding the renewed relationship between music and bodies in a new context will situate the gendered nature of body-space politics through item numbers. While, on the one hand, the dancing body has the capability to subvert gender norms, on the other hand, the same dancing body is often controlled through hyper-nationalist imaginations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is an activity which includes travelling and staying in places that are outside of their location for business, vacation and other purposes. The present paper gives an account of a tourism in regard to eco tourism and religious tourism. The prime objective is to bring out the tourism possibilities and challenges of tourism in the state of Asaam. The paper is based on both primary and secondary data. Efforts are being made to take the benefits and different aspects of tourism problems and protentiatials of Eco- Tourism and Religious Tourism in Assam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examined the role of social network among the migrant street vendors in Guwahati city of Assam in generating employment, determining work process and providing hospitality at a new working place. The paper also highlights the reasons and patterns of migration of street vendors into Guwahati, the premier city of Assam. It reveals that lack of sufficient agricultural production and various unfavourable situations at home compel people to migrate to different cities. Migrant workers from different places of origin, both from within and outside the state of Assam, come to the capital city Guwahati with the hope of getting better working condition and livelihood opportunities. The study finds that there is a well-functioning social network among the migrants which helps the newcomers in getting jobs as well as adapting and sustaining themselves in the big urban market. Additionally, the research tries to address how with the starting of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) processing in Assam many people including the migrant street vendors in Guwahati had to face the brunt of getting notified as D-voters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the ritualization of menstrual blood within the Indic religious traditions, focusing particularly on the Tantric practices. It further investigates the depiction of Kamakhya, the esteemed Tantric site in Assam, India. The annual menstruation festival at Kamakhya, known as Ambuachi Mela, takes place in June. The "Happy to Bleed" campaign aptly encapsulates the annual menstruation event at Kamakhya, presenting a paradoxical view when compared to the veneration of Lord Ayyappan's shrine in Kerala. This perspective is intertwined with themes of sexual desire and patriarchal views, which manifest to different extents in both contexts. While the patriarchal aspect in Lord Ayyappan's case is evident, in Kamakhya's case, it is perceived as a notion that associates menstrual blood with sacred spaces, supposedly diminishing their sanctity. Such beliefs are labeled as hot, dangerous, and impure. This interpretation of the menstruation paradigm is narrow and flawed, necessitating broader research and understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the cultural importance of Jhumur songs within the colonial tea plantation societies of Assam. Originating from the Sadani language, Jhumur is a key narrative instrument reflecting the life and challenges of the tea garden laborers, particularly women. The study analyzes Jhumur songs and historical documents to expose the deceptive recruitment and exploitation tactics employed by the British rulers and tea estate owners. It delves into specific Jhumur songs to depict themes of migration, exploitation, and cultural defiance. The research introduces two theoretical models--the "migration-exploitation strategies nexus" and the "model of colonial hegemony and cultural resistance"--to examine the social and cultural interplay. In conclusion, the paper underscores the persistent resilience and cultural identity of the tea garden communities in colonial Assam, as conveyed through the emotive stories in Jhumur lyrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies of Christian missionaries in British Assam have focused on their role in promoting Christianity or education, not to mention their contributions to the development and standardization of local languages. There has been a singular lack of studies concerning the immense contributions made by the missionaries in setting up a healthcare infrastructure in the region. This absence has further distorted the debate on whether the missionaries operated as independent agents or as auxiliaries of the state. This paper dwells on the medical work carried out by the missionaries in British Assam and contends that the missionaries fulfilled multiple roles and functions in the province. We argue that the significance of the work of the missionaries is enhanced by the utter neglect of healthcare by the colonial state in the frontier region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a widespread call for the development of transformative adaptation knowledge and strategies in the Himalayan region because of the intensifying onset of climate change impacts. But such transformative thinking is absent in much of Himalayan climate knowledge production, which builds on environmental deterministic and techno-managerial renditions of exceptional precarity; advocates for an increase in the scientific and expert driven projects on the ground; and remains rooted in the scalar realities of the nation-state. This paper contributes to the rich scholarship that counterbalances depoliticized renditions of climate change adaptation, by presenting "everyday stories of adaptation" that have emerged from the authors' work alongside Himalayan communities. In this work we ask, who is the subject in Himalayan climate adaptation discourse and policies? And how can their stories help us envision an adaptation praxis, which challenges regional narratives of crisis and provides alternatives to climate reductionist thinking/planning, by foregrounding the intersectionality and plurality of communities and ecologies? The stories come from three parts of the Himalaya: Uttarakhand, Khumbu, and Assam, and highlight the daily labor for adaptation and its mercurial relationship with the labor for survival. We find that intertwined with changing climate-society relationships are, historical caste privileges and changing generational relationships to land; the complicated engagements between indigeneity, communal sovereignty, and exclusionary institutional mandates; and life with ethnoreligious othering in an aqueous and geopolitically fluid borderland. Together these stories witness the relational social-ecological worlds of regional inhabitants, challenging their powerless and pejorative depictions through climate reductive framings. We conclude with a set of objectives to enable more hopeful and just adaptation futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper brings light to the existing practice of cataloging in the college libraries of Assam in terms of utilizing the MARC 21 standard and its structure, i.e., the tags, subfield codes, and indicators. Catalog records from six college libraries are collected and a survey is conducted to understand the local users' information requirements for the catalog. Places, where libraries have scope to improve and which divisions of tags could be more helpful for them in information retrieval, are identified and suggested. This study fulfilled the need for local-level assessment of the catalogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the use of lime sludge waste from the paper industry. It adopts the situation at the Nagaon Paper Mill, a public sector pulp and paper mill which is a unit of the Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd. in Assam, India wherein it generates 448 tonnes of lime sludge per day as solid waste. It notes that Assam's agricultural soil is acidic and that liming is important to maintain the potential hydrogen of the soil through lime sludge waste instead of marketed lime.

Public markets have had a socio-cultural significance in addition to serving the day-to-day shopping needs of the urban population. Most often their number and expanse increase whenever cities expand in terms of population or territory, but their growth rarely follows an organized pattern. This results in a lack of appropriate linkages between different public markets and erodes spatial qualities. The unplanned market expansion also leads to inadequate infrastructure and dents the image of the city. An appropriate public market hierarchy that responds to contextual needs and offers adequate infrastructure and amenities is necessary for every city's sustenance. This paper discusses various aspects of urban public markets. Next, it suggests interventions for establishing an efficient linkage between major public markets located in Silchar, a town in the state of Assam in the Eastern part of India followed by a proposal for the redevelopment of the existing market area of Fatak Bazaar, Silchar. This paper uses both primary and secondary data for achieving the outlined aim and adopts a mixed methodology of data analysis. The design proposals recommended here will find wide-scale applicability in the case of towns with similar contextual realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter-ethnic violence and counter-violence have been at the center of writings on identity politics among ethnic groups in India's Northeast. Yet, the existing literature on these aspects in India, especially in the Northeast region, has missed out on a very significant dimension. Very few studies have focused on the use of oral narratives and folklores as important methods that contribute to identity politics and conflict transformation among ethnic groups. Preliminary research suggests that ethnic violence in Northeast India exhibits variations in terms of the patterns of violence and state responses that shape the outcome of the conflicts. Oral narratives are the repositories of cultural reproduction of marginalized communities and serve as important tools that enable these communities to reclaim their identity, social justice and shape their agency. The aim of the paper is, therefore, to examine how and to what extent oral traditions and narratives in the form of folklore help mobilize marginalized ethnic groups in conflict zones in India's Northeast. The paper uses the case study of the historically marginalized Bodo ethnic group to examine the linkages between folklore, identity construction, mobilization and peace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Masculinity and manhood are prerequisite characteristics desired and demanded from every male individual born in Indian society. They are taught to become an 'Ideal Indian Man' from the time they are born. Critical reading of masculine attributes is an important facet of feminist discourse. Men who become a part of this quest and movement as 'women rights activists', fighting against gender inequality, are often ridiculed and discouraged. In this context, this paper brings out the narratives and struggles of being a male 'women human rights defender' in India. According to the information published on the official website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), women human rights defenders (WHRDs) are people of all genders who work, promote, defend, advance, and advocate for gender equality, and stand for the cause of human rights of women. Hence, going by the definition mentioned above, I argue that a feminist man working relentlessly on women's issues will surely fall under the category of 'women human rights defenders'. Their personal experiences and struggles as WHRDs working in their local areas voice varied forms of challenges, stigma, ostracisation, and life risks that otherwise go unnoticed, unspoken, and at times trivialised because of their gender. With an objective to bring out a broader conversation between masculinity studies and feminist scholarship, this paper analyses the challenges of being feminist male WHRDs. To examine this position as a WHRD, the paper will look into the questions of (1) being a man who is always looked upon with suspicion as a person occupying a privileged gender position; (2) a man working on gender-sensitive issues such as human/sex trafficking, child abuse, violence, conflict, and displacement; and (3) his regional location and social class. This paper will structure details of different forms of gender-based lived experiences of selected male WHRDs working in various districts of Assam and West Bengal, through personal interview methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid mine drainage and soil erosion are significant problems in the coal mining area. It affects the water quality and soil quality, henceforth affecting plant growth and most aquatic life. During the last two decades, coal mining areas were increased by 194 hectares in Makum coalfield (Assam), which led to an increase in acid mine drainage and soil loss. In this paper, the water chemistry of water samples was analyzed, and annual soil loss near the area of Makum coalfield was calculated to investigate the most affected region by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) and soil erosion. The Watershed delineation, slope angle, elevation contour map, and drainage system of 57 km2 of the study area were developed by ArcGIS Pro. The Universal Soil Loss Equation was used to estimate the amount of annual soil loss. The USLE parameter was assessed using a Digital Elevation Model with a 30-meter X 30-meter resolution. The result indicates that the quality of drainage near the mines was highly acidic. Also, compared to the area near the riverside, the proximity of mines is more affected by soil erosion and needs improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper makes a case-study analysis of the annually flooded Dibrugarh town of the Brahmaputra valley of India’s northeast, and looks at floods as disasters in the context of how women negotiate, adapt and survive an annual phenomenon of flood. The paper has tried to interweave multiple narratives arising from differentiated gendered roles played by women in the pre-flood, during floods as well as in the post-flood periods, as collected through interviews and discussions to showcase how women use their agency to make place within as well as outside the community through dialogues, shared experiences and inter-community social capital. It discusses gendering space through the changing lived spaces of a household in the flooded and non-flooded period for four different communities united by flood. The first section of the paper looks at the City as a site for recurring disaster. The second section discuss agency of women as an emanating tool to face, adapt and survive disaster, expanding beyond herself to family and community. The third section presents the spatialities of adaptation manifested through built-form, arising as an outcome of gendered vulnerability and adaptation practices, as translated onto the spaces they inhabit, throughout the flood-cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bovine has been the cause of conflict in the Indian sub-continent for the past few centuries owing to religious and cultural sentiments associated with it. This apparent irreconcilable conflict is localised in the binary of religious mannerism espoused by the religious groups in northern India, which is known as India's cow belt. Such contradictions have caused bitter riots and conflicts resulting in social unrest in mainland India with spiralling effects spilling over to other regions. Although this issue has become a determiner in controlling electoral politics in some Indian states that affected the rise in Hindutva politics, in the case of Assam both cow-politics and Hindutva sentiments have had little effect. This paper proposes to examine this hypothesis by analysing Himanshu Prasad Das' Assamese feature film Goru (2021) through the lens of cultural nationalism. A study of the film within the framework of Assamese popular culture shall help us understand the implication behind the rejection of Hindutva ideology in this peripheral region. The primary focus of this paper is to read how cow politics and Hindutva have failed to make inroads in Assam's composite culture despite Bharatiya Janata Party's thumping victory in Assembly polls in 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research uniquely focuses on advancing the field of fuzzy sets, specifically proposing a novel approach using Hexagonal Type-2 Fuzzy Variable (HT2FV), to handle higher degrees of uncertainty. Flooding, a recurrent and impactful phenomenon, necessitates a robust approach to effective disaster management. The study delves into the humanitarian supply chain dynamics during movement crises and flood catastrophes, introducing a novel methodology to harness the potential of HT2FV. Central to the paper is the innovative defuzzification concept of Critical Value (CV) reduction, strategically employed to eliminate fuzzy components within HT2FV, transforming it into crisp data. The research extends its novelty by proposing a comprehensive approach to distributing relief materials, employing a Multi-objective, Multi-level, Multi-modal (MOMLMM) approach, with a primary focus on boats for inundated areas. Significantly, the study aims to optimize the allocation of resources, minimize time and cost under uncertain environments, and enhance disaster relief operations. The paper is the first to use new hexagonal fuzzy numbers (HFNs) and focuses on how they can be used to sort vulnerable areas using the fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods of the Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) process. A case study of the 2022 Assam flood is looked at and solved using the Weighted Sum (WS), Neutrosophic Compromise (NC), and Goal Programming (GP) systematically on the LINGO solver to see if the suggested method can be used. Further, sensitivity analysis is employed to establish optimal credibility levels to validate the proposed methods. A real-life case study lends practicality, substantiating the approach's efficacy. At the same time, comprehensive comparative analysis compares and contrasts findings from different studies to synthesize existing knowledge and identify future scope, contributing significantly to the field of fuzzy sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research uniquely focuses on advancing the field of fuzzy sets, specifically proposing a novel approach using Hexagonal Type-2 Fuzzy Variable (HT2FV), to handle higher degrees of uncertainty. Flooding, a recurrent and impactful phenomenon, necessitates a robust approach to effective disaster management. The study delves into the humanitarian supply chain dynamics during movement crises and flood catastrophes, introducing a novel methodology to harness the potential of HT2FV. Central to the paper is the innovative defuzzification concept of Critical Value (CV) reduction, strategically employed to eliminate fuzzy components within HT2FV, transforming it into crisp data. The research extends its novelty by proposing a comprehensive approach to distributing relief materials, employing a Multi-objective, Multi-level, Multi-modal (MOMLMM) approach, with a primary focus on boats for inundated areas. Significantly, the study aims to optimize the allocation of resources, minimize time and cost under uncertain environments, and enhance disaster relief operations. The paper is the first to use new hexagonal fuzzy numbers (HFNs) and focuses on how they can be used to sort vulnerable areas using the fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods of the Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) process. A case study of the 2022 Assam flood is looked at and solved using the Weighted Sum (WS), Neutrosophic Compromise (NC), and Goal Programming (GP) systematically on the LINGO solver to see if the suggested method can be used. Further, sensitivity analysis is employed to establish optimal credibility levels to validate the proposed methods. A real-life case study lends practicality, substantiating the approach's efficacy. At the same time, comprehensive comparative analysis compares and contrasts findings from different studies to synthesize existing knowledge and identify future scope, contributing significantly to the field of fuzzy sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of certain plant species in traditional fishing for their piscicidal or stupefying effect is widespread among many fishing communities in northeast India. Plant poisoning is one such traditional method for fishing practised in the Chirang district of Assam in northeast India. This paper identifies six different species of plants (Polygonum hydropiper, Spilanthes paniculate, Parthenium hysterophorus, Alistonia scholaris, Albizia procera, Ageratum conyzoides) belonging to four different families (Asteraceae, Apocynaceae, Fabaceae and Polygonaceae) which are used as natural poison for capturing fishes in the study area. Maximum number of species (50%) was recorded in family Asteraceae while the remaining families recorded one species each. The most common mode of application was in the form of a ground paste or an aqueous extract while in some cases the raw plant itself were used. All of these plant toxins were reported to affect the swimming and respiration of the fish on application. However, detail mechanism of their toxic action needs to be evaluated fully. This study has identified some potent natural piscicidal plants which may be further investigated for widespread application in aquaculture and allied industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing is a universal and socially constructed phenomenon. Old age is a natural stage phenomenon in the life of every human being. Theoretically, it precedes spontaneously right from a person's moment of birth. Ageing comes to all organisms as a process of regular change that is invariably accompanied with clear and manifest decline in psychological competency. In India, people who have attained 60 years and above are defined as elderly. It is more a social construct rather than a biological stage. The process of ageing is a very individualistic phenomenon. But throughout the world, large numbers of older persons face challenges such as discrimination, poverty and Abuse that severely restrict their human right and their contribution to society. Human Rights are the basic rights which fundamentally and inherently belong to each individual. Thus, Human Right is fundamental rights which human being possesses by fact being human. According to United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, include cultural, economic and political rights, such as right to life, liberty, education and equality and right of association, belief, free speech, information, religion movement and nationality. This paper try to analyse / examine the available laws, policies and protection of the human rights of old age person in Assam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The political participation of women, in contrast to their male counterparts, is a basic prerequisite for gender equality and democracy. It facilitates women's direct participation in the decision-making process and is a means of ensuring better accountability for women. Various factors, including the media, influence political participation by raising awareness and setting the agenda, thereby changing or strengthening social mores and mobilizing citizens to progressive action. The emergence of social media has made information dissemination more democratic, thereby raising people's awareness of political participation. This paper examines the role of social media in women's political participation in the Mishing community, a patrilineal society where women's participation is lower. The study found that social media raises awareness and provides information for informed decision making, but does not necessarily increase political participation among women from the Mishing community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various identified and unidentified plant species are used by different communities in the state for the treatment of a number of diseases. However, the ethnomedicinal practices of the Ahom community of the state are hardly known. Therefore, an attempt was made to study the ethnomedicinal practices of these communities. The Ahoms are one of the major Mongoloid population groups in Assam. In this paper, I have tried to describe the vegetables, how they are used in their daily life and how they cure diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satra and Namghar are the two major religious institutions integral to the Assamese society. Both these institutions have immense contributions towards the growth and development of greater Assamese culture and society, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. The Satra institution's origin can be traced back to the time when Srimanta Sankaradeva initiated the Neo-Vaishnavite movement in the fifteenth century to propagate and spread the ideals of Neo-Vaishnavism (a sect of Hinduism). The Namghar, on the other hand, is a prayer house where the devotees assemble to sing the names of God. The primary trait of the Satra is the Namghar which is the common feature of every village, town and city of Assam. As a result, the Neo-Vaishnavism of Sankaradeva has become a vibrant religion. This paper is an appraisal of the significance and influence of Satra and Namghar towards the integration of the greater Assamese society. The fieldwork for this paper has been conducted in various Satras of Majuli, the largest river island in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on an empirical anthropological study conducted in that area, this paper describes the impact of the surrounding plant ecology on the health sphere of the Karbis of Kakojan village in the East Karbi Anglong district of Assam, as well as the various ethno-medicinal practices prevalent among them as a means of indigenous health care by utilizing the surrounding plant ecology. The Karbis of the village have a constant man-plant inter-relationship with the surrounding plant ecology, as evidenced by their age-old traditional ethno-medicinal practices that make use of various plants and herbs, both wild and domesticated, available in their surrounding ecology. Aside from these, this paper discusses various ethno-medicinal plants and herbs that they use to treat various diseases and ailments, as well as ethno-medicinal treatments for women's health and gynecological issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship is considered a vital venture for economic growth and generates economic growth, jobs, and wealth. It is adopted by people from different parts of the world irrespective of the difference in culture, race, ethnicity, religion and caste. The present paper aims to explore and examine socio-cultural factors of entrepreneurship development and the entrepreneurs' challenges. This is an anthropological case study on traditional and modern entrepreneurship among the Bodo tribe of Assam, Northeast India. The study deals with the micro and small enterprises that are adopting the simple idea of organizing the business within their social relationships. Moreover, the paper examines these entrepreneurs' problems and issues concerning entrepreneurship even though strict governmental provisions and schemes for entrepreneurship development are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the case of hijras of Assam who are undocumented in the National Register of Citizens because of their fractured identity and adopted gender and face the risk of being declared illegal immigrants despite being citizens. The paper focuses on how transgender individuals are excluded from different aspects of citizenship as a consequence of document-focused procedures created and enforced by the state. The primary argument is that document-focused procedures of the modern state, rooted in heteronormative underpinnings, are exclusionary for transgender individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the emergence of social media as a new public sphere has shaped masculine identity in the cyber platform. Such masculinity in Assamese society (the Assamese-speaking community), based on the images of the ideal Assamese man is linked with a form of Assamese nationalistic masculinity that gathered momentum during the Assam Movement (1979–1985). Politics of identity in Assam is basically trapped in the world of appearances, fighting real and imaginary enemies, and drawing strength from prejudices and misconceptions of groups, about themselves and others. This process of identity creation also shaped the identity of the "ideal" Assamese man in the recent socio-political history of Assam. This article is an attempt to define how masculinity works in the cyber world by focusing attention on Assamese nationalistic masculinity which is based on the image of the "RealAssamese Man." The "Real Assamese Man," in turn, draws inspiration from a socio-cultural context which started with the creation of Assamese iconographies of masculinity which were later transformed and appropriated to serve the purpose of identity-politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization is the process of transformation through which cities develop, and higher percentages of the population come to live in the city or urban area. Urbanization has a positive impact in the path of development. According to World Bank estimation, more than 80% of global GDP generates in cities. Urbanization can contribute to sustainable growth through increased productivity and innovation if managed well. During 2011 census, Assam has an urbanization rate of 14% approximate which is lower compared to 31% of national urbanization rate. This paper intends to study the trend of urbanization in Assam over the years and the rate of growth of urban population. It also seeks to study the impact of urbanization on socio economic development and environment. The findings show that there is an increasing trend in the rate of growth of urbanization. Proper management and planning is required to induce organised and sustainable economic development and to protect the environment from degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that researchers from the North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) at Jorhat in Assam, India have discovered a new use of banana in making greaseproof paper. It discusses the study which depicts that banana offers an alternative resource to the fibre industry. The study further revealed that banana pulp obtained from its pseudostem shows greaseproof properties. It notes that M. paradisica L. was selected among banana species due to its chemical composition.

This paper articulates the issue of ethnicity and identity formation among the Misings of Assam. It navigates the life graph of the community and unearthed the subtlety involved in their identity formation, articulation and assertion. The nuances involved in their identity formation and the subsequent intra-community ethnic fragmentation reflect the fact that the case does not purely fit into a singular theoretical framework of either 'primordialism' or 'constructivism'. Rather it necessitates the call for traversing through different theoretical frameworks. On a descriptive note, the paper tends to examine the role of social, political and historical forces influencing the Mising identity narratives. Besides delineating the historical trajectories of Mising identity in different historical periods, – pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial – the study has explored the multiple processes of identity formation vis-a-vis migration, politics of (re)naming, role of middle class organisations and the vitality of script and language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rohi is the popular traditional rice beer of the Sonowal Kacharis, which is typically obtained by natural fermentation. The present study aims to identify the key ingredients used in the preparation of Mod pitha (starter culture cake), detail documentation of the fermentation technology and the socio-cultural and religious significance of Rohi. Participatory approach method was adopted for data collection that included in-depth interviews and discussions with key informants and personal observations. Glutinous rice (Oryza glutinosa Lour.) is the principal substrate for the beer preparation, which is mixed with starter cakes and fermented within a heat-sterilized earthen pot for 4-5 days. Rohi is indispensable during festivals and traditional sacrificial rituals and ceremonies. The entire fermentation technology is the exclusive domain of women. It is hoped that this paper will be useful for further scientific study of Rohi in order to examine the bio-chemical and phyto-chemical composition of the different plant species used in the preparation of starter culture and the final pure product that may reveal some important nutritional properties, therapeutic pro-biotics, healthy metabolites, etc. and contribute towards development of the product as a value-added drink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopause just like birth and death is an inevitable part of a woman's life. This event is significant as it is believed to have a substantial impact on a woman's life. The objective of this paper is to assess the age-specific variance in anthropometric measurements and adiposity levels among tribal post-menopausal women. The study was conducted in the Guwahati City of Assam. Observation and interview with pre-tested schedule and anthropometric measurements with the standard technique and spss were used for collecting and analyzing the data. The findings show that, 64.4% of the post-menopausal women were found to be normal (BMI: 18.5-22.9 kg/m2), 27.7% of the respondents were at the increased risk of adiposity (BMI:23.0-27.5 kg/m2) and 4.0% belonged to category grade I obesity or higher risk of adiposity (BMI:>27.5 kg/m2), whereas another 4% were underweight (BMI:<18.5 kg/m2). Regarding WHR, 39.0% of the post-menopausal women were at high risk, 36.4% belonged to moderate risk and 24.6% at low risk. The relative risks of co-morbidity related to excess adiposity were also quite high among the Mishing post-menopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When we speak about the matrilineal descent system in India, we generally consider the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo of Meghalaya and Nayars of central Kerala as a matrilineal group. However, the Tiwa tribe inhabiting between the borders of Assam and Meghalaya also practices matrilineage and matrilocal residence which have not been studied by ethnographers in detail. Since the 1980s there has been a gradual transformation of the lineage system of this tribe, with the increase of patrilocal residence and patrilineage. Interestingly, no proper study has taken place on the Tiwa matrilineal descent system and its continuity and change. In the light of the above statement, this paper studies the kobai system and explores the general features of the Tiwa descent system and to understand the trajectory of change from matrilineal to patrilineal descent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnomedicine refers to the traditional healing system which is closely related to nature and indigenous knowledge of people. Indigenous knowledge is characterised by the fact that it is oral and exists only in the minds of the people. It is shared through generations to generations orally. Documenting ethnomedicines as an integral part of indegenous knowledge system is an important task. Tribal population are well known for having a close relationship with the nature. Khamti people are no exception to that. They are aware of the ways of healing that can be avail locally. In the present time, when people rely mostly on modern healthcare system, ethnomedicines show a different way out to the diseases. This paper attempts to document the ethnomedicinal knowledge and practices of the Khamti tribe of Assam which include their ethno-zoologic, ethno-botanic and supernatural practices to follow the healing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on birth ceremonies of the Koches of Assam in their socio-cultural context. The birth ceremony is a crucial life cycle ritual that serves as a personal emblem for their folk religiosity while also carrying their collective identity. By analysing Koch's birth ritual, the author tries to provide an anthropological explanation of supernatural creatures' engagement in their socio-religious existence. Their folk spirituality is reflected in their ceremonies and activities. In addition, a theoretical aspect relating to Koch birth ritual (in particular) is presented. The Koch birth ritual's various ritual phases are viewed and analysed from the perspective of the community. Koch's birth ritual is studied to understand how much a person's life cycle ritual has carried the religiosity of their community's folk life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is the world's largest democratic and secular country and has diversified religious, socio-cultural, and ethnic communities. North East India has been the abode of diverse ethnic groups. Assam has around 23 scheduled tribes and the Mech Kachari are one of them. Though there have been mentioned pieces of evidence in various texts and scriptures, there are not much data in the form of books and journals available on the Mech Kachari's. Mech Kachari has faced several problems such as changes and transformation and has also gone through the phase of an identity crisis. In the pages of history, there has been mention of the Mech Kachari's but there were no written works on the Mech Kachari's. For this paper, oral history is used. Secondary data from books, journals were used. The sample size was 20 people. The objective of this research was to look into the rich history of the Mech Kachari's and their evolution throughout the years. And, also looks into the present position of the Mech Kachari's in Assam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Witchcraft and witch-hunt cases are frequently reported in the news media from Assam, India. Most often, women are the victims of witch-hunts in this region. They identify a witch based on suspicion without any evidence of harm being done. Upon identification as a witch by a mibo (a ritual specialist), they are subjected to severe punishments such as physical abuse, humiliation, social boycott, and even death. In several cases, the witch-hunt victims go through severe psychological trauma from which they could never recover. There is no social support mechanism as the community disowns them. In this context, the present study inquires into the belief system of the Mising society of Assam and the role of witchcraft. It further explores the accusations causing the witch-hunt and the implications on the witch-hunt survivors from a feminist perspective. In doing so, the paper analyses the power struggle in the Mising community and its operation in stigmatising women and making them the victims of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agriculture is the key to keep up the level of production in the future. The state’s agriculture has reached the highest production levels possible under the available technologies, it is still insufficient to feed the over increasing population. Sustainability in agricultural production and the natural resource base is under threat, as warnings have been sounded on over exploitation of land and water resources and degradation of land and environment ecology. This paper is highlighted to find out the strategies for sustainable agricultural development to fulfil the need of upcoming population. It is observed that agricultural growth in Assam is not cheering as compared to other states of the country. The study is based on secondary data collected from various issues published by Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of India, Agricultural Census of India and Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Assam. Simple statistical tools like tabular analysis, percentages, averages and ratios were used to interpret data. There is an urgent need to diversify agriculture in Assam, emphasising integrated farm practices, implementation of sustainable practices, organic farming, green manuring, crop rotation and eco-friendly techniques etc. Only policy framework cannot fulfil a greater goal, but it is important to point out that reaching towards the goal of sustainable agricultural development is the responsibility of all participants in the system including farmers, labourers, policy makers, researchers, retailers and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil texture using a hydrometer or pipette method requires expertise, although these are accurate. A soil expert may help the farmer to detect the soil texture by analyzing the visual texture of the soil, which is not always accurate. This paper presents the smartphone image-based sand and clay soil classification in wet and dry humid conditions using Self Convolution Neural Network (SCNN) and finetuned MobileNet.A soil dataset of 576 soil images was prepared using a low-cost smartphone under natural light conditions. Different augmentation techniques such as shift, range, rotation, and zoom were applied to the soil dataset to increase the number of images in the soil dataset. The best performance of the MobileNet was reported at epoch 15 with a testing and training loss of 0.0091 and 0.0194, respectively. Though the SCNN model performed best at epoch 10 with a testing accuracy of 99.85%, the MobileNet reported less computation time (167.8s) than the SCNN (273.2s). The precision and recall of the models were 99.62 (MobileNet) and 99.84 (SCNN). The accuracy of the SCNN reported itself as the best model, whereas the computing time of the MobileNet reported itself as the best model in different humid conditions. The model can be used to replicate the traditional soil texture analysis method and the farmers can use it for better productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demonetisation of the Indian economy in 2016 facilitated significant changes in the lifestyle of people, particularly in adoption of digital transactions in everyday life. While there have been studies on mobile phones and the digital divide even prior to demonetisation, the growing gender disparity in the use of new technologies for secure payment via UPI (Unified Payment Interface) methods remains largely unexplored. Therefore, this paper explores the impact of new payment methods through digital means on street vendors in local markets through an ethnographic study based on narratives, unstructured interviews, and general observation. The study focuses on Assam while bringing out the larger socioeconomic context of the digital discrimination within the country. It locates how the government's drive for digital economy post-demonetisation exacerbated the gender gap in access to technology in informal markets. The article observes how men use mobile phones and technology to sell their commodities while women vendors lag behind in ownership, usage, or access to such technology due to social norms and expectations. Subsequently, the study brings about the narratives on how women negotiate through such constraints to build their social 'agency' and identity in the market at both individual and collective level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There appears to be a globally unifying discourse that suggests Muslim communities are not supportive of girls' education12. This paper aims to destabilize such a discourse by inserting the narratives of Muslim parents pursuing girls' education in Assam's Nagaon district. By paying attention to the concepts of bhal suwali (good girlhood) and bhal ghor (good family) articulated by parents in my study, this paper connects the performances of certain types of gender practices with the pursuit of class aspirations. It shows that good girlhood works as symbolic capital that helps Muslim parents to culturally authorize their daughters as legitimate actors in the field of education, while legitimizing themselves as good family. This paper draws attention to three practices of respectable femininity through which good girlhoods are enacted in the field of education, namely: negotiating poverty respectably, prioritizing gendered discipline, and merging career aspirations with marital prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper seeks to locate the violence perpetrated on the bodies of the coolies in colonial Assam. The paper observes that the existing historiography on tea plantations in colonial Assam restricts corporeal violence on the coolies within the boundaries of the plantation estates and does not talk about the permeation of such violence to spaces and coolies totally outside of the plantation production process. This paper, with the evidence from a case from nineteenth-century Assam, extends the limits of corporeal violence on the coolies beyond the physical setup of the plantations. The paper proposes that histories of corporeal violence on labour in the colonial era need to look beyond the peripheries of the plantations and towards the social regimes of power under colonialism. The paper demonstrates the complicit character of the state and newly landed and moneyed native classes in the colony, which aggravated the magnitudes of violence on labour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiences of insurgency and counter-insurgency in Northeast region of India have left behind some of the brutal memories of violence. This paper intends to explain how fear and suspicion in societies under counter-insurgency build up the narrative of silence and secrecy when the state and the security forces allegedly commit excesses against civilians. For this, the paper revisits the 'secret killings' of the family members, close aides, and sympathizers of the insurgent organization United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) between 1998 and 2001 in Assam. Personal narratives question the official statistics of deaths and explore the conditions under which silence is manufactured in cases of violence which do not qualify for legal evidence. The motivation then is to disrupt the silence in absence of closure to those affected. From interviews conducted with sixty individuals representing multiple backgrounds, violence and power emerge to be integral in understanding secret killings in Assam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]