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This paper explores how culture has shaped democratic practices and ideals in India. It provides a sociological understanding of the relationship between Indian traditions and democratic governance. The analysis begins with a sociological exploration of ancient Indian social systems of sabha and samities, highlighting the early seeds of participatory governance.

Further, the paper investigates the influence of diverse religious and cultural narratives, including those from Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, which have contributed to cultural pluralism and respect for dialogue and debate which paved the path for democracy. The study then examines the effects of colonial control, focussing on how the fight for independence inspired democratic feelings amongst different social groups and helped them develop a shared identity based on egalitarian principles.

The paper also addresses one of the basic social institutions in India, i.e., the caste system, which complicated the realisation of democratic values. By looking at the cultural context, the paper argues that India’s democracy is not merely a political system but a complex social organisation that draws from its rich historical and cultural roots. Ultimately, this paper highlights that understanding the cultural underpinnings is crucial for developing a more inclusive and resilient democratic future.

Keywords: Governance, Colonialism, Cultural Pluralism, Caste, Religion, Democracy.

The study has effectively shown the negative effects of poor marriages on women’s mental health. The paper examines the factors that can help us understand the underlying causes affecting mental well-being. Women’s mental health is often overlooked, but this paper investigates how both mental and physical health can suffer due to negative marital situations. To address this, the paper provides a theoretical framework exploring the relationship between marriage and mental health in women. It focuses on a sociological understanding, interpreting it as a system shaped by gender expectations, emotional labor, and power dynamics. The study employs several theories, including symbolic interactionism, feminist theory, and role theory, to connect marriage with women’s mental health. These theories help analyze how marriage reflects and reinforces societal norms that disadvantage women. The paper emphasizes that emotional distress in marriage is not just an individual issue but is deeply rooted in social factors. By integrating Durkheim’s sociological insights and Goffman’s dramaturgical perspective, it becomes clear that marriage can both support and undermine well-being. Ultimately, the study calls for structural reforms and gender-sensitive mental health interventions to create fairer marital relationships and enhance emotional health.

Keywords: Mental Health, Women, Poor Marriage, Disorientation, Social Support.

The aim of this study is to investigate the socio-economic conditions of the Sambava community in the Cheramala colony, who are landless labourers. The research was conducted using a case study approach using surveys, interviews, and direct observations conducted in the colony based on working conditions, income sources, wage rates, gender differences in labor participation, dependency ratio, and access to basic facilities. The findings indicate that they are mostly engaged in low-skilled, low-wage jobs in the informal sector. The lack of adequate education and training further handicaps them, and through this, globalization, debt, and poverty continue for a long time. At the same time, the lack of infrastructure and public services in the colony is hindering the very goal of development. This study explains the background of the Sambava community, the main challenges faced by these labourers, and the ways in which they can improve their livelihoods.

Keywords: Landless labour, socio-economic, Sambava, unorganised sector.

This study explores the role of the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Vikas Yojana (PMVDVY) in empowering tribal women, with reference to the Karbi community under the Lumbajong Development Block in Karbi Anglong District, Assam. PMVDVY, an initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Government of India, that aims to enhance the livelihood opportunities of tribal communities by developing forest-based value chains and promoting skill development and capacity building. The scheme encourages the formation of self-sustaining tribal clusters to process and add value to minor forest produce (MFP), thereby increasing income levels.

A key component of PMVDVY is the establishment of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs), where tribal women receive training in value-added product creation such as soap making, candle production, incense stick preparation, and jam processing. These training centers also facilitate market linkage opportunities, enabling tribal women to sell their products and generate income. The initiative seeks to foster entrepreneurship among tribal women by equipping them with the necessary skills, tools, and market access to become economically self-reliant. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of PMVDVY in empowering tribal women and contributing to their socio-economic development through sustainable livelihood practices.

Keywords: PMVDVY, women empowerment, tribal women, beneficiaries, public policy.

From a geographical standpoint, art has consistently been accessible to Indian artists, playing a crucial role in social, cultural, and political expression. Nevertheless, during the creative process, feelings of pain and a profound longing for one’s ancestral homeland emerge, whether on an individual or collective level. The objective of the paper is to explore the folk art and culture of the diverse ethnic groups in North-eastern India states Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim, focusing on the evolution of creative ideas, thoughts, and shifts in paradigms related to regional art practices and genres in the face of globalization, gender/racial dynamics, religious extremism, and the impact of a non-existent art market.

Keywords: Folk art, visual arts, tribal, ethnic communities, and North-Eastern India.

The Alahana Parivena monastery gained wider public and scholarly attention through the “UNESCO- Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Project”, which was funded under the Central Cultural Fund Act of 1980, and the excavation project of the Alahana Parivena monastery (1981-1999) was led by Prof. Leelananda Premathilleke, a prominent scholar in the field of archaeology in Sri Lanka. Built in the 12th century A.D., the monastery was established under the royal patronage of King Parakramabahu I in a period defined by monastic expansion and reform of the Sangha. Excavations at the Alahana Parivena site revealed a sophisticated architectural layout, including a chapter house ( simagara ), numerous monk dwellings (kuti), a specialised sanitary complex, and a monks’ hospital, among other structures. The hospital site proved particularly rich in artefacts, containing surgical equipment and equipment used for the preparation and storage of medicine. A significant find among these artefacts was a medicinal trough (beheth oruva), further confirming the site’s medical function. Building upon the primary documentation on the monks’ hospital produced by surgeon Prof. Arjuna Aluwihare and Prof. L. Premathilleke, this study offers an expanded analysis of the Alahana Parivena hospital’s surgical and medical remains. Current scholarship lacks a detailed examination of the surgical and medical toolkit found at Alahana Parivena monastic hospital. This study addresses the gap by delivering an elaborate physical and functional assessment of the excavated instruments. Further, it contextualises these findings in the larger tradition of monastic healthcare while exploring the medical sophistication of early Sri Lanka.

Keywords: Alahana monastic hospital, early Sri Lanka, medical history, Surgical equipment.

Though democracy is the most practiced state principle in the current world, nowadays, the improper practice of democracy has become a very conventional phenomenon in the case of the majority of states. In spite of calling the last half of the twentieth century the Age of Democracy, the fragility of democracy has already been revealed all over the world in the first half of the twenty-first century (Ketcham, 2004). However, Bangladesh is a South Asian developing country that has stipulated democracy as one of the state principles through its constitutional provisions. Since its freedom, Bangladesh has passed about five decades with the aspiration of institutionalizing democratic values in the state mechanism. But within the five decades of independence, proper valuation of the principles of democracy has not been done yet (Khadga, 2016). In the meantime, the static economic growth of Bangladesh has become a matter of surprise to the international community. To sustain the overall socio-economic development, democratic practice needs to be strengthened. In these circumstances, this paper intends to analyse Bangladesh’s performance in democratic practices since its independence. In addition, this study explores the gap between democratic aspirations and reality through rigorous research. Key Informant Interview (KII) has been conducted with relevant stakeholders such as politicians, ruling party political leaders, academicians, researchers, journalists, etc., for primary data collection. Findings from the primary sources have been cross-checked with an extensive review of relevant literature. This study shows that democracy has not been properly practiced in recent years. However, political institutions are not yet dismantled, and constitutional processes are ongoing through arranging elections in a timely fashion.

Keywords: Democracy, Economic Growth, Democratic Practice, Political Institutions, Bangladesh.