Agrarian unrests in colonial Bengal that exposed frailty of agrarian structure of rural economy constitute a momentous chapter in history of anti-imperialist struggle against. Embedded in socio- political, economic and cultural factors, these unrests constituted not only attempts at resistance against oppressive land revenue systems but need be understood in the logic of wider social and nationalist mobilization that would gradually strengthen India's struggle against colonialism. They posed a mighty challenge to colonial rulers as they grappled over years with complexities of imperial aspirations and designs and then gradually, the implications of dismemberment of colonial empire, transfer of power and partition. This essay seeks to probe, some significant unrests of Bengal ryots during colonial period, their origins, expression, genesis, management of leadership and influence on the rural landscape and larger national liberation movement. Over time, agrarian unrests evolved from localized uprisings to more organized protests that were increasingly linked to the Indian freedom struggle. The leadership provided by local activists, as well as the support from nationalist leaders, helped to elevate the peasant cause to the national stage. The end of British colonial rule was, in many ways, a victory for the peasantry, whose struggles had laid the foundation for post-independence agrarian reforms and social justice movements. In examining the peasant movements of colonial Bengal, it is clear that these uprisings were not just protests against immediate economic exploitation; they were also part of a larger resistance to colonial rule and feudal structures.

The conservation of textile collections requires an interdisciplinary approach, as textile objects deteriorate as soon as they are created. Various factors, termed agents of deterioration, can trigger or accelerate this process. The environmental conditions in which collections are kept are influenced by external factors and the ability to control indoor climates. Thus, environmental management aims to reduce the approximate deterioration rate in collections while maintaining access to them. This study evaluates the environmental degradation potential of the indoor climate speciality for valuable textiles housed in the Textile Art Museum in Gujarat, India. The research involved continuous monitoring, recording, and analysing the museum’s “thermo-hygrometric parameters” every year. Data collected were then evaluated through risk assessment using the “control classes” outlined in “ASHRAE Chapter 21”, focusing on physical, chemical, and biological degradation analysis. The findings indicate that the museum's natural hygrothermal conditions offer a reasonable level of protection against degradation, suggesting that installing an HVAC system should only be considered a final measure. For smaller or institutional museums, prioritizing passive environmental strategies is advisable for conservation purposes. Utilizing essential measuring equipment and traditional methods helps preserve the museum space's historical integrity and provides adequate protection for the textiles on display.

The prominence of Indian textiles in the Indo-Mediterranean trade, and their significant presence in Roman Egypt after its annexation in 30 BCE are some of the most important evidences of ancient trade networks. Indian Z-spun cotton, discovered in archaeological excavations at Red Sea ports like Berenike, exemplifies the central role of Indian textiles in these exchanges. Roman-controlled trade routes, detailed in the Periplus Maris Erythraei, relied on monsoon winds to connect Indian production centres with Egyptian ports like Myos Hormos and Berenike, making Egypt a key distribution hub for Indian textiles. Roman investments in trade infrastructure further highlight the high demand for Indian goods. The widespread use and appreciation of Indian textiles in Roman society, coupled with the economic implications of the trade imbalance noted by Pliny the Elder, underscore the enduring impact of India's textile exports on Mediterranean markets and cultural exchanges during antiquity.

Kalpvas is an annual pilgrimage at Prayag (Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh) during the month of Magha (January-February), extending over a period of 45 days and involves a range of rituals performed on daily basis and pilgrims undertaking it are known as Kalpvasi. Even though Kalpvas has found only cursory mention in various Hindu religious literatures, every year pilgrims from nearby areas of Prayagraj coalesce to undertake this popular practice. Therefore, Kalpvas as a practice is located at the boundary of what qualifies as folk religion and classical or higher religion. Examining the functioning and the mechanics of Kalpvas as a performed ritual, this study explores the meanings that pilgrims construct and derive during the pilgrimage. These rituals are both private and public and since the participants live in close contact with each other, it also involves a conscious ‘performance’ on the part of the participants, as each participant becomes both object and subject of observance, enforcing and re-enforcing religious discipline. It analyses how akin to a performance, the Kalpvasi experience a kind of ‘flow’ and loose the sense of self and merge with other pilgrims and the ritual activity both.

Temples, as cultural and religious heritage sites, hold significant historical, artistic, and spiritual value. However, many of these structures are vulnerable to decay due to environmental factors, human interference, and natural disasters. The conservation of temple architecture involves the protection, preservation, and restoration of these structures to safeguard their cultural and historical integrity for future generations. This paper explores the methodologies employed in the architectural conservation of temples, the challenges faced in their preservation, and the role of modern technology in enhancing traditional conservation techniques. A case study approach is adopted to highlight successful conservation efforts across various regions, particularly in India, where temples form an integral part of the nation's cultural landscape. The paper concludes with recommendations for sustainable conservation practices, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach between preserving the historical essence and adapting to modern requirements.

The growing changes in the institution of marriage are seen worldwide. With the increasing number of divorces, single mothers and single adults, it becomes a question on the institution and its reliability and stability. Hence the study examines youth from the Central University of Punjab (India) to know insights into the institution of marriage. The study uses narrative analysis to understand youth's expectations. It further examines the factors what they expect in the marriage. The study has used narrative analysis method to go through the details of scheduled interviews and along with questionnaire answered by the youth. The sample of the study was collected through purposive sampling across states. With the legality of Indian laws and the value structure of the society, Indian youth also have been seeing the transition in the institution. The shifts in preferences and the changes have been making way for the changes in the way the Indian youth thinks. The conventional youth of India see marriage as an institution that caters to the needs of individuals and maintains society. The expectation along with perception has been shaped by various noteworthy incidents and components that have built the perception. Socialization in the conventional society has constructed their reality which has brought changes in the perception of marriage as an institution in today's youth in India. The study has delved into the narration to bring out the reality of Indian youth and their expectation in marriage. With India's legal and cultural norms, marriage has a stable future with slight changes in the accustomed marriage type.

In recent decades, there have been notable transformations in the field of gender studies. The focus of research has transitioned from studying traditional binary gender roles to exploring the complexity of fluid gender identities, which include LGBTQIA+ identities. Nonetheless, there's a potential loss of focus on critically analyzing the power dynamics shaping societal gender norms. Gender, like any other social category such as caste and class, constitutes a complex meaning. It is not only about studying the 'position of women' or 'position of other gender identities' in society but also about studying their relation with each other, and how one’s positions shape others' identity. It is often found that while locating LGBTQIA+ gender identities in the ancient past, these complexities are often overlooked. This paper tries to highlight the complexities of gender identities and the power dynamics that give legitimacy to certain forms of gender identity through the study of the characters Arjuna/Bṛhannaḍā and Ambā/Śikhaṇḍin from the Mahābhārata and their evolving gender roles within the grand narrative.

Assam, celebrated for its verdant tea plantations and the formidable Brahmaputra River, is the location of Nilāchal or Kāmagiri Hill in the Western part of Guwahati, the city known as “the gateway of North-East India”. Nilāchal is a Sanskrit term: नीलाचल means- ‘Blue Mountain’. Nilāchal is divided into three parts- the Brahma Parvat, the Vishnu Parvat, and the Śiva Parvat, a site of considerable archaeological and spiritual importance. The temple is dedicated to the mother goddess Kāmākhyā, who represents the essence of Śakti and is recognized as one of the 51 sacred Śakti Peethas. This temple is a crucial pilgrimage destination, particularly for adherents of the Sākta tradition, which honors the divine feminine. In addition to its religious significance, the hill is closely linked to the practices of Tāntra. Tāntra is characterized not as a religion but as a sādhanā (practice) that utilizes rituals to channel cosmic energies for spiritual advancement. The relationship between Nilāchala Hill and Tāntra provides a distinctive lens through which to view Assam’s cultural legacy. The temple acts as a central hub for Tāntra puja, which encompasses sacred rituals and mantras intended to invoke the Daśamahāvidyas divine power. These rituals are thought to confer various blessings, such as love, fertility, prosperity, and enlightenment. Investigating this intersection of spirituality and culture unveils a rich tapestry of beliefs that have influenced the temple's identity and underscores the lasting impact of Tāntra on Assam’s spiritual heritage. This research study focuses on the Kāmākhyā temple and the associated Daśamahāvidyas Tāntra rituals and rites that have been practiced since ancient times. Through an ethnoarchaeological survey, the study aims to document specific tāntric rituals and ceremonies conducted within the Kāmākhyā temple, detailing their procedures, significance, and the role of animal sacrifice in Tāntra worship. The analysis seeks to contextualize the historical background of the Kāmākhyā temple and explore the integration of Śakti Peeth with tāntric practices. Additionally, the research will document the folklore associated with the temple complex during special occasions. It will also examine the social and communal impacts of tāntric rituals at the temple, particularly their influence on local beliefs and practices. The methodology employed in this research includes extensive fieldwork in Nilāchal and its surrounding areas to gain insights into the tāntric rituals performed by priests, as well as observations of those engaging in Nimna Tantra (Black Magic) at night. The study incorporates detailed photography and ethnographic documentation, which involves attending ceremonies, interviewing temple priests, and interacting with devotees and sādhus to capture their perspectives and experiences.

The introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, led to nationwide protests and mass mobilisation of minority women. The sit-in protests conducted at Shaheen Bagh Delhi from December 2019 to March 2020 was one such mobilisation that garnered public attention. The protests at Shaheen Bagh, Delhi continued till the pandemic forced the protestors to leave the site. This paper examines the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, through the identity and gender perspective. The gathering of women protestors raised questions about their fundamental rights and discrimination from the provision made under the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019. The protests used national symbols, songs, slogans, paintings on the wall and poetry as means to resist the idea of amendment as proposed by the establishment. To understand the resistance against the proposed CAA, it is necessary to look at the presence of minority women and their mobilisation to assert their identities as individuals and as a group. In a pluralistic society like India, people from different backgrounds enhance the geographical and cultural nuances and increase social cohesion in the country. The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, discriminates against minority sections in India and is further prejudiced against women. The awareness of losing one's fundamental right led to the protests to seek their identity and ensure a safe physical space in a multicultural society. While there is a lot of research on the identities of refugees and international migrants, internal diversity is unique to very few places, and the ramifications of this unique feature are an interesting phenomenon to observe. The resistance led by minority women in Shaheen Bagh, Delhi, garnered huge people's support and reflects social cohesion in a diverse society like India. The resistance and social mobilization at Shaheen Bagh, Delhi, was a unique protest as it portrayed the emotions and effervescence of unrest through songs, slogans, and speeches at the sit-in protests that influenced the masses, and their public opinion. The methodology used will be an exploratory study of select media reportage of the Shaheen Bagh protest from December 2019 to March 2020.

This article examines the military campaigns of Alexander the Great in India, particularly his confrontation with King Paurava at the Battle of Hydaspes in 326 BCE. The analysis contrasts the military technologies and strategies employed by Alexander's Macedonian army and the indigenous Indian forces, highlighting the significant differences in warfare practices between the two cultures. The article also traces the evolution of warfare in North India, from ritualized inter-tribal conflicts to organized state warfare, emphasizing the role of military technological revolutions (MTRs) in this transformation. The impact of Alexander's invasion on Indian military practices, including the marginalization of chariots and the increased emphasis on combined arms formations and professional standing armies, is also discussed. The study underscores how the encounter between Alexander's forces and Indian armies marked a paradigm shift like warfare in India, influencing subsequent military strategies and practices.

The Great Sphinx of Giza, an enigmatic monument of Egypt shrouded in mystery, challenges the boundaries of conventional historical narratives. Beyond its architectural grandeur, the Sphinx is explored as a symbol of cosmic knowledge and potential guardian of the legendary Hall of Records, a repository of ancient wisdom buried beneath the sands of time. The recent researches and findings not only challenge mainstream Egyptology but also open new avenues for understanding human’s deep past, urging to rethink the origin of civilization and the enduring mysteries of ancient Egypt. This inquiry raises profound questions about the intellectual and technological achievements of our ancestors, suggesting that history is not a linear progression but a layered tapestry of forgotten legacies. The Sphinx, as both a sentinel of the past and a bridge to the unknown, invites researchers to rediscover human's long-lost chapters and their potential impact on our understanding of existence itself. This paper delves into the hypothesis that the Sphinx predates the reign of Pharaoh Kafre, drawing from views of the eminent authors worked in the area based on their geological evidences, astronomical alignments, and cultural interpretations. By integrating diverse methodologies i.e. descriptive, analytical, and interdisciplinary, the present paper seeks to uncover the origin, purpose and cultural significance of the Great Sphinx of Giza.