Post-independence, the Indian context has witnessed conflicts between religious groups, structural/cultural violence, and discrimination based on socio-cultural factors such as socio-economic status, religion, gender, sexual identity, caste, language among others. Even though the perpetuation of these power imbalances at the macro-national level…

After independence India's leaders committed the country to democracy with universal franchise and to pursuing a socialistic pattern of society. As part of these interlocking projects, it was widely recognised that India's educational systems needed reform. However, with scarce resources, Indian policy-makers faced the dilemma of whether to…

This article examines the issue of the ethical status of education, particularly as related to individual dignity and freedom. We select cases that have been described in fine detail by social science--the education of girls and the education of all children within counter-hegemonic movements. These cases involve issues of access to equitable and…

This study with families caring for an individual with an intellectual disability in a mid-sized Indian city explored the diverse explanatory models that parents constructed of causes, preferred treatment approaches and perceived social effects of their child's intellectual disability. Seventeen mothers and three fathers rank ordered 48 disability…

Purpose: To examine the relationships between "westernization" and nutrition and physical activity behaviors among older adolescents in Delhi, India. These relations have not been explored, despite increasingly strong and pervasive socio-cultural influences from the West. Methods: Students (n=1818) in 8th and 10th grades in 4 Private…

This paper explores how literacy learning can support women's empowerment and the development of greater equality, benefitting not only individual women, but families, communities and economies too. It describes and reflects upon some of the most promising approaches to developing literacy and learning for women, who form the majority of the…

Through a selective deployment of conceptualisations from subaltern studies, in particular the concepts of political (un-civil) society and an autonomous domain (or a people's politics that suggests the plausibility of dominance without hegemony), this article distinguishes a subaltern social movement (SSM) formation and related anti-colonial SSM…

The challenges of poverty and development have long been regarded in terms of transitive relationships, in which the rich help the poor because the poor are not seen as able to help themselves. This view of the poor assumes they have mainly needs and no assets. With so many people believing this view it isn't surprising that the poor themselves…

Increasing rates of school enrolment have changed childhoods in the global South, so that it is now the norm for children to attend at least some years of primary school. This paper explores the extent to which valuing of children as educational projects and outcomes may be displacing previous valuations of children as contributors to the domestic…

This article discusses the effects of imperialism on British (or chiefly English) social life and education in the nineteenth century rather than examining the effects on the colonised as is usually done. It is shown that the nineteenth century was infused with different visual and written images which helped develop attitudes and ideas which…

Considers some typical changes in modern society (the role of science and features of the scientific revolution) and attempts to understand how such changes will effect the university. (Author/PG)

Straus has argued that joint households and extended kinship ties might be a factor which could help urbanization because the extended family could ease urban adjustment among its members. Evidence in support of the Straus hypothesis is presented. (Author)

Identifies problems associated with exact definitions of the concept 'tribe' and presents a discussion of characteristics of the tribal communities of India as a case study of difficulties associated with knowing what constitutes a tribe. Reviews anthropological, sociological, and historical accounts of tribal life and organization. (DB)

The intent of this discussion is to briefly (1) examine the history of child development as an area of specialized study in India; (2) describe how the program of studies offered by the Department of Child Development at the M. S. University of Baroda reflects increasing social demands and pressures for greater involvement of social scientists in…

This essay on cultural change is intended to provide background reading material for teachers using "The Changing World Today" or "Cultural Change in Mexico and the United States," two textbooks from the Anthropology Curriculum Project. The essay can also be used, however, as a high school semester course in anthropology or as…