This paper explores the historical entanglements of caste, culture, and ritual labour among marginalised communities particularly Dalits in the religious and cultural landscape of the Rawain Valley in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. Drawing upon archival records, oral narratives, and ethnographic fieldwork, the study investigates how Dalit communities, though socially subordinated, have played indispensable roles in regional ritualistic traditions. These roles include functioning as drummers (Dholi), spirit mediums (Bhakta), oracles (Guniya), and shrine custodians in festivals and practices associated with folk deities such as Mahasu Devta, Someshwar, Raja Ragunath, Pokhu, Kapil Muni, Kaliya-Naag, Bhadrakali Kaul Kedari, Vishasan, Lov and Kush and Karna. These ritual contributions, while central to the religious economy, coexist with caste-based exclusions, symbolic stigmas, and lack of recognition within dominant social hierarchies. Through a historical lens, the paper traces the evolution of caste-based ritual stratification and its persistence within sacred domains. Simultaneously, it examines emerging narratives of self-assertion, identity transformation, and cultural pride among Dalit practitioners who are now reclaiming their roles as heritage bearers and ritual specialists.

The present study contributes to broader discourses on ritual power, subaltern religiosity, and the negotiation of caste within Himalayan religious systems. By foregrounding the voices and embodied practices of marginalised actors, it reveals the complex dynamics of ritual inclusion and socio-religious marginalisation in the Rawain Valley, offering critical insights into power, belief, and cultural resistance in the mid-Central Himalayan region of India.

Keywords: Dalit Ritual Specialists, Caste and Religion, Rawain Valley, Ritual Hierarchies, Subaltern Sacred Practices.

The Article 309, 310 and 311 of the Constitution of India having implanted the constitutional mandates of service jurisprudence for the civil servants engaged in the services of the union and the states, have also interalia infused new vistas for introspective analysis of its applicability in the backdrop of Natural Justice and Rule of Law in regard to exceptions carved out by the Constitution itself.

Natural justice is expected to supplement the statutory rules framed by the State within the purview of the Article 309 and also in consonance with the Article 310 and 311 as well as the Service Rules meant for the civil servants of the Union and the States for keeping the constitutional conscience unvarnished against arbitrariness.

However, the Doctrine of Pleasure and its limited extent under Article 310, if not constructed harmoniously with the principles of Natural Justice so far as the provisos of the Article 311 (2) are concerned, the constitutional morality will shatter in view of inconsistencies in precepts envisaged by the architects of the Constitution and exceptions carved out from those for dealing with extraordinary situations.

The exceptions under the Article 311(2) (a) (b) & (c) of the Constitution of India read with the Article 311(3) having legitimized exercise of discretion on imposition of very harsh punishments on a civil servant albeit with the Rule of Caution in the form of dismissal, removal from service or reduction in rank by a competent disciplinary authority on the grounds mentioned therein, may be an important subject of academic discussions for concatenating raison d’etre of such exceptions in the backdrop of guiding principles of reasonableness and fairness as well as imprimatur of Case laws.

In service jurisprudence Law mandates that, these exceptions, if not objectively applied, colorable intrusion into the protective shield of natural justice would be legalized and in such a situation arbitrariness will unnerve the Constitutional goals itself.

The propriety of ordering dismissal, removal or reduction in rank on the ground of conviction of a civil servant by a Court on Criminal Charges and deviations from the established procedures envisaged by the Natural Justice in the disciplinary proceeding against a civil servant as and when conduct of enquiry is not found to be reasonably practicable in an emergent situation or the President of the Union or Governor of a State, is satisfied that holding of enquiry would not be possible in the interests of the security of the State, may be a subject of Judicial Scrutiny on the petition of an aggrieved civil servant before a High Court by exercising the Writ Jurisdiction. But the parameters for construction of such exceptions may also be critical points for examining their merits and constitutionality within the purview of the Doctrine of Reasonableness and in this paper such aspects will be critically evaluated with the doctrinal approach.

As ‘standards of proof’ in the disciplinary proceedings are different from the criminal proceedings in courts of Law, reasonableness &fairness are accepted as valid components for rationalization of disciplinary actions in service jurisprudence. The constitutionality of the Article 311(2) (a),(b) &(C) in their applications may be also a critical point for academic debate in the backdrop of Rule of the Natural Justice. Therefore Provisos of the Article 311(2 ) may be subject of judicial review and the Rule of caution would therefore predispose only judicious application of the same against a civil servant for protection of their substantive constitutional rights within the scheme of the Constitutional Law.

In this paper a critical approach is applied to unearth the relevant points for removing creases in the interpretation of the Costitutional Jurisprudence vis a vis Service Jurisprudence in the context of exceptions mentioned above, without upending dynamics of Natural Justice.

Keywords: Disciplinary Proceedings: Proceedings drawn against delinquent civil servants by the appointing authority/State against misconduct as per service rules.

Mount Hermon, situated at the junction of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, is one of the most archaeologically and symbolically significant highland regions in the Near East. This study synthesises a comprehensive range of archaeological evidence from the prehistoric through modern periods to reveal the mountain’s enduring cultural, religious, and strategic roles. Drawing on landscape archaeology, cultural ecology, and symbolic archaeology, the research identifies Mount Hermon as a dynamic space where sacred ritual, subsistence adaptation, and military control intersected over millennia. Findings reveal continuous human activity, including Palaeolithic habitation, Neolithic agricultural development, Bronze and Iron Age sanctuaries, Roman religious and administrative sites, and medieval Islamic and Crusader fortifications. Despite modern geopolitical tensions impeding extensive excavation, Mount Hermon continues to offer valuable insights into the longue durée of Near Eastern archaeology. The paper concludes with a call for regional collaboration, digital conservation, and renewed excavation efforts to protect and better understand this exceptional cultural landscape.

Keywords: archaeology, cultural continuity, geography, heritage conservation, Mount Hermon, sacred landscape, strategic prehistoric settlement.

Archaeological research in India has flourished since independence with advanced technologies and interdisciplinary methodologies. The integration of scientific dating, digital documentation has revolutionized the field, enabling accurate data collection, discovery and preservation of remote and endangered heritage sites. Outreach programs, heritage tourism have grown and expanded, developing a strong sense of responsibility towards the tangible and intangible heritage. Indian archaeology is thus continually evolving while preserving its ancient heritage. Hence, the past becomes important and revisiting the beginning of archaeology and its growth trajectory in the Indian subcontinent. The expansion of knowledge regarding India’s past and its impact on British administrative policies has been a subject of considerable academic interest. The influence of colonial archaeology and its effects on the evolution of archaeology into a scientific discipline are particularly significant.

This work outlines the evolution of archaeology in India, focusing on how colonial policies and influential figures such as Lord Curzon, John Marshall, and Mortimer Wheeler shaped conservation and scientific excavation practices. It discusses the transition from imperial to independent Indian control, noting how colonial frameworks were adapted and expanded upon by Indian archaeologists. The post-independence era saw increased research, decentralization, the integration of scientific disciplines and a nationalistic focus on protecting heritage, culminating in significant legislative reforms and institutional growth within the field of Indian archaeology. 

Keywords: Colonial archaeology, Colin Mackenzie, John Marshall, Meadows Taylor, Policies.

Throughout the historical period, India has not been an isolated place, there were many incursions through Khyber and Bolan passes and many travellers, Human groups, Races, and invaders reached India for Knowledge, Wealth, and for Inhabitation. Among these Khas/khos were the oldest human groups to reach India. They were the first inhabitant of Kashmir and through Kashmir they reached Himachal and Uttarakhand. As they were the new comers in the Western Garhwal they had to invade older human groups like Kol, Kiratas and Naga and due to this invasion, they left cultural and social impact on Western Garhwal and their representation can be seen through various Fairs and Festivals like Deewali/Bagwal (Rwain and Jaunsar), Bissu, Maun, Hindoda,Nunayi and Atthan and these festivals have specific customs and traditions that can be associated with Khasas Tradition. These festivals include Sathi and Pansai tradition which are associated to Khasas human group and associated with khasas family who fought for kuarvas and still being an important part of festivals. The fairs and festival of western Garhwal is incomplete without khunda/khund, who are widespread around the Himachal and western Garhwal, they are considered as subgroup of khasas and their presence in every fair and festival show how khasas traditions are still living in fairs and festival. This study employed the qualitative research method with Primary and secondary data were used. The study reveals that the Khasas culture and traditions are an important part of fairs and festivals and their representation can be traced out by different customs and rituals performed in Fairs and festivals. By the influence of Hindu pantheon gods most of Khasas traditions are being associated with Hindu god and goddess but Khasas identity in Western Garhwal is prominent features of Local people and their fair and festivals.

Keywords: Khasas, Khund, Represntation of Khasas, Sathi and Pansai.

Vālmiki Rāmāyaṇa being part of ancient Indian Sanskrit epical literature is a medium to know many themes practiced in early Indian society. Food practices presented in the epic is also one of them. Food and Religion both are interrelated concepts which in its whole legitimized the political agencies in early period of Indian society. Ascetics, one of the forest dwellers make their presence in the epic who are different from man in the world ( living in the main stream society) and their different identity can be looked through their food related practices and habits. King Rama met many ascetics during his exile period. This paper looks at the food practices associated with ascetics along with other habitants of forests which makes them different from royal households mentioned in the Vālmiki Rāmāyaṇa. Also, the transactions of food by them with the king Rama was symbolic of karma and dharma of the giver and receiver and together it is crucial to look at the philosophical ideas, religious values, all traditions with a distinct moral order, and caste customs. Further it examines the forest dwellers and the hospitality they showed to King Rama during the exile period, and looking and locating the role of King Rama while being in forest as a householder, forest dweller and a kshatriya via the foodways adopted or rejected by him.

Keywords: Ascetics, Epic, Food, Hinduism, Ideal King, Renouncers.

The state of Uttarakhand, located in the western part of Himalayas, has a valuable but hitherto untapped Buddhist heritage, dating back from the Mauryan period to the post-Gupta period. However, the textual evidence helps contextualise the archaeological sites of Kashipur (Govisana). Mordhwaj, Nala, and Senapani, and the Ashokan Rock Edict at Kalsi, testify to the initial spread of Buddhism into the Himalayas. The study combines archaeological, cultural, and textual sources to explore the historical evolution of Buddhism in Uttarakhand and its engagement with the larger Himalayan world of Buddhism. It also discovers indigenous Buddhist traditions followed by aboriginal Himalayan societies and provides an evaluation of the sites’ value for sustainable heritage tourism. The findings suggest the need for properly planned archaeological conservation, participatory education, and development of Buddhist heritage loops that could develop cultural preservation and regional growth. The study demonstrates that Uttarakhand served as a vital corridor of Buddhist transmission and emphasizes the need for integrative conservation and tourism strategies.

Keywords: Buddhism, Uttarakhand, Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, Ashokan Edict, Sustainable Tourism, Himalaya.