Ashapurna Devi, a prominent Bengali woman novelist (1909–1995) focused on women’s creativity and enlightenment during the colonial and postcolonial period in Bengal, India. She herself displayed immense will power, tenacity and an indomitable spirit which enabled her to eke out a prominent place for herself in the world of creative writing. Her life spanned both colonial India and independent India and these diverse experiences shaped her mind and persona and helped her to portray the emerging face of the (...) enlightened Bengali middle-class woman. Her writings trace the evolution of the Bengali woman as an enlightened and empowered individual struggling against the shackles of discriminatory norms imposed upon her by society. She traces the extremely conservative upbringing that the female members of her generation were subjected to and goes on to show how different individuals responded to these structures in different ways. Some would comply unquestioningly, some would comply simply because they did not dare to protest, while others would break free and find their own niche in the outside world. These issues are addressed by Ashapurna Devi in many short stories as well, but a critical analysis of her trilogy Pratham Pratisruti (1964), Subarnalata (1967) and Bokulkatha (1974) enables us to experience this struggle against a gradually unfolding backdrop where India moves on from being a British colony to an independent country. The trilogy traces the life of three generations of a family — Satyabati, Subarna and finally Bokul and establishes Ashapurna Devi as a path-breaking champion of women’s emancipation in an era when such endeavours were few and far between. (shrink)

Abstract: (Indonesian Women Navy=kowal) is part of Indonesian Navy which have the same duties and responsibilities as other naval soldiers. The essence of Kowal's main task is to take part in performing the main tasks of the TNI in which their skills are needed to achieve greater efficiency by remembering his nature and femininity. SWOT is used as a planning tool. However, this analysis has weaknesses. Some of these weaknesses can be avoided, by connecting a SWOT analysis with AHP method. (...) Following the basic steps of the SWOT-AHP, this research presented a case study of defining the strategy for the development of Indonesian Women Navy. The results indicate that development skill with study dikpengiptek strategy was the best strategy that could have been implemented. Based on the research results, the method SWOT-AHP application to determine the best strategy of development women navy resources would be described as follows : (1) reduce the weakness to increase opportunities (WO=0,28), (2) optimizing the strength to reduce the threat (ST=0,26), (3) increasing weakness and reducing threats (WT= 0,23) and (4) optimizing strengths and maximizing opportunities (SO= 0,23). (shrink)

With the current improvement of development towards pharmaceutical, distinctive ultrasound methodologies are open to find the fetal prosperity. It is analyzed with diverse clinical parameters with 2-D imaging and other test. In any case, prosperity desire of fetal heart still remains an open issue due to unconstrained works out of the hatchling, the minor heart appraise and inadequate of data in fetal echocardiography. The machine learning strategies can find out the classes of fetal heart rate which can beutilized for earlier (...) evaluating. With this background, we have utilized Cardiotocographic Fetal heart rate dataset removed from UCI Machine Learning Store for predicting the fetal heart rate health classes. The Prediction of fetal health rate are achieved in six ways. Firstly, the data set is preprocessed with Feature Scaling and missing values. Secondly, exploratory data investigation is done and the dispersion of target feature is visualized. Thirdly, the raw data set is fitted to all the classifiers and the performance is analysed before and after feature scaling. Fourth, the raw data set is subjected to undersampling methods like ClusterCentroids, RepeatedENN, AllKNN, CondensedNearestNeighbour, EditedNearestNeighbours, InstanceHardnessThreshold and NearMiss. Fifth, the undersampled dataset by above mentioned methods are fitted to all the classifiers and the performance is analyzed before and after feature scaling. Sixth, performance analysis is done using metrics like Precision, Recall, F-score, Accuracy and running time. The execution is done using python language under Spyder platform with Anaconda Navigator. Experimental results shows that the Decision Tree classifier tends to retain 98% before and after feature scaling for the underrsampling with EditedNearestNeighbours, RepeatedENN and AllKNN methods. (shrink)

Concurring to information from the Centresfor Illness Control and Anticipation, instruction and religion are both capable indicators of lasting or dissolving unions. The chance of a marriage finishing in separate was lower for individuals with more knowledge, with over half of relational unions of those who did not complete high school having finished in separate compared with roughly 30 percent of relational unions of college graduates. With this overview, the divorce rate dataset from UCI dataset repository is used for predicting (...) the divorce class target with the following contributions. Firstly, the Divorce rate dataset is subjected with the data cleaning and exploratory data analysis. Secondly, the data set is settled with different classifiers to look at the classification before and after feature scaling. Thirdly, the dataset is processed with various cross validation of training and testing dataset i.e 80:20, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50 to improve the accuracy of all the classifiers. Fourth, the dataset is processed with 15, 20 and 30 components of principal component analysis and then applied with all classifier algorithm to analyze the accuracy of divorce rate prediction. Fifth, the performance analysis is done with precision, recall, accuracy, fscore and running time to infer the classification before and after feature scaling. Experimental results show that the Random Forest classifier is found to have the accuracy of 98% for all PCA reduced dataset with 15, 20 and 30 components. The result showsthat Random Forest classifier is found to have the accuracy of 98% for 40:60, 50:50 of training and testing dataset. (shrink)

In the case of AI, automated systems are making increasingly complex decisions with significant ethical implications, raising questions about who is responsible for decisions made by AI and how to ensure that these decisions align with society's ethical and moral values, both in India and the West. Jonathan Haidt has conducted research on moral and ethical decision-making. Today, solving problems like decision-making in autonomous vehicles can draw on the literature of the trolley dilemma in that it illustrates the complexity of (...) ethical decisions faced in emergency situations, as well as the moral implications of the decisions made. However, a series of moral principles must be understood and cited to avoid insufficient mechanistic explanations. Here we present a compilation of ethical positions both in India and the West. (shrink)

Anurupa Devi (9th September 1882 – 19th April 1958) is one of the famous names in Bengali literature. She was a Bengali novelist, short story writer, poet and also a social worker. She was one of the women writers in Bengali to gain considerable prominence. She was the daughters of Mukunda Mukhopadhyay. Bhudeb Mukhopadhyay was her grandfather. Up to the middle of nineteenth century the women of the Indian Society were deprived from education and they were restricted within house (...) hold matters, they have no right to have basic education. It was for them, a social crime to become educated or achieved basic education. They had no equal right at the contemporary society as men had. Where women are going through these adverse conditions, the name Anurupa Devi appeared in the Bengali Literature as a representative of the women of that society. (shrink)

In this paper the sameness and difference between two distinguished Indian authors, Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880–1932) and Mahasweta Devi (b. 1926), representing two generations almost a century apart, will be under analysis in order to trace the generational transformation in women’s writing in India, especially Bengal. Situated in the colonial and postcolonial frames of history, Hossain and Mahasweta Devi may be contextualized differently. At the same time their subjects are also differently categorized; the former is not particularly concerned (...) with subalterns whereas the latter specifically focuses on the effect of race and class on gender. The quest for the ‘self’ and ‘subjectivity’ is more pertinent in the latter and consequently the appeal for agency is based on a crude power struggle. Hossain, a philanthropist who championed the woman question, believed that striving for equality should be a collective process which could be achieved by spreading awareness among fellow-inmates inhabiting the prison of patriarchy. Like Euro-American first-wave feminists, Rokeya advocated the necessity of education among women in order for them to be able to comprehend their plight and ‘awake’ for the cause. She addresses fundamental issues of feminism like education and the systematized claustrophobia within the domestic space. Whereas Mahasweta Devi, has been an activist writer who is regarded as the brand ambassador for the support of the marginalized, deprived and denotified tribes of India. It is her mission to provide succour to the marginalized sections, especially tribes from the Purulia district of West Bengal, like the Kherias and Shabars. As an activist writer she explores tribal life and allied socio-political issues which reflect their agony. (shrink)

One of the pressing issues in philosophy of technology is the role of human creativity in human-technology relations. We first observe that a techno-centric orientation of philosophy of technology leaves open the role and contribution of human creativity in technological evolution, while an anthropocentric orientation leaves open the role of the technical milieu in technological evolution. Subsequently, we develop a concept of creation as deviation and responsiveness in response to affordances in the environment, inspired by the affordance theory by James (...) Gibson. With this concept of creation as deviative responsiveness, we articulate the human contribution to human-technology creation, namely, our intentional deviation of the inhibiting forces of the currently dominant niche or meaningful world of human-technology relations, in order to become responsive to new affordances in human-technology creation that constitute a new niche or world of human-technology relations. (shrink)

The present book attempts to look out for management lessons in Holy Mother’s life. The author is a disciple of Sri Akshaya Chaitanya who was himself a disciple and biographer of Holy Mother. This book is thus a product of inspired effort. Various facets of the Holy Mother’s personality have been traced through incidents from her life and these have been classified into different sections such as planning, organisation, motivation, leadership, decision-making, communication, and inspiration.

If we follow we will see that one third of Rabindranath's Poetry are indication of expand of literature of letters. Viewing the subject variant of multiple thinking of the literature of letters, it seems that Rabindra paragraph could not get full form if he did not present it to us. In his every letters we see subject variant. Religion, Society, city life, Independence of women, Education, thinking about nature, love; nothing left in his script. All letters written by him in (...) different time are contained in books named “Chinnopotro”, “Bhanusinger Potro”, Russiaer Chiti”. His first countable Book “Europe Probashis Potro”, describes the story of his England journey at teenage. In spite of these the number of letters which are written addressing to his wife, son, relative-friend, pal, colleague & co-operator, are not a lesser quantity; some of these are attached in the book “Chiti Patra”.Where we find Rabindranath as a human being. Answers toward questions of Hemantabala Devi (Beloved, personable, Hemantabala is daughter of zaminder Brojendrakishore Roychoudhury of Moimonsing District of Gouripur, & wife of zaminder Brojendrakanta of Rongpur Bhitorbongo. She left her family & had become Baishnav, and in alias name communicated with Rabindranath through writing letters, appreciated for “Sesher kabita” & thus starts corresponding by Rabindranath of miscellaneous religious & socialism questions, we find the thinking of Rabindranath about religion & society. Rabindranath thinks the dirt of body clean through taking bath, but the thinking about clean of mind through taking bath is nothing but foolishness. So, estimating any community as worthless is a sin. All people in spite of different cast & creed should understand that God is devoted always for every era, not let think them personal property which degrades God. If this thinking will not become clearly known to all, till then in ‟India" Gods are degraded, Human being are degraded; never this defame will go away. (shrink)

Una conoscenza adeguata del Buddismo è essenziale per l’educazione e la cultura di chiunque non voglia essere un altro membro alienato di un’eredità che cammina senza pensarci nel mezzo di una rivoluzione tecnologica. Secondo i modelli e i valori della nostra cultura occidentale, siamo più abituati a guardare verso l’esterno che verso noi stessi. Altre culture possono aiutarci ad ampliare e approfondire la nostra visione della realtà e della vita. Se qualcuno ti chiede del Buddismo, rispondi che è un'antica dottrina (...) umanistica. Il Buddismo primitivo è questo e non molte altre cose di cui sentiamo e leggiamo. Diciamo inoltre che questa dottrina non è difficile da comprendere ma veramente difficile da praticare. Per capirlo con la nostra mente occidentale, non è necessario parlare fluentemente sanscrito e pali o consultare papiri e pergamene nei sotterranei dei musei. Non è necessario radersi i capelli o indossare abiti orientali. Non devi mangiare gambi di bambù, farti tatuaggi sul corpo, creare un soprannome hindi, mettere mandala nel tuo ufficio, accendere incenso in tutta la casa e pronunciare mantra al tramonto per lo stupore del tuo cane. Questo testo non parla di esoterismo, rituali mistici immaginari, immersioni politeistiche, programmi di auto-aiuto online, religioni esotiche e miracolose, o altre fantasie attuali, oneste o meno, create per sfruttare la sofferenza che portiamo come esseri umani. Solo una dottrina umanistica chiamata Buddismo, razionalmente comprensibile. Sappiate però che per praticarlo bisognerebbe dedicare tutta la vita senza restrizioni. In questo risiede il fascino che il Buddismo offre alle nostre menti. -/- . (shrink)

The emancipation of women has become a strong critical discourse in Bengali literature since the 19th century. Only since the second half of the 20th century, however, have female writers markedly stepped out of the shadow of their male colleagues, and the writings on women become more and more often articulated by women themselves. In this article, I focus on particular concepts of femininity in selected texts of two outstanding writers of different generations, a prose writer, and a woman poet: (...) Mahasweta Debi (b. 1926) and Mallika Sengupta (1960–2011). Analyzing Mahasweta’s female characters, I focus on the issue of the double marginalization of dalit tribal women; we can find here impacts of intersectional discrimination of class, gender and caste. Debi is very radical in her social criticism but is quite reluctant to accept the label of feminism. Mallika, on the other hand, represents a movement among the female writers of her generation that openly declares her support for feminist ideologies, which can be demonstrated on some of the examples referred to here. Another important strand of Mallika’s constructions of femininity are archetypal images — mythological metaphors of femininity (in the Hindu context) which may in some cases be interpreted in accordance with difference feminism, in others as a critique of the essentialized and dichotomous concepts of masculinity and femininity. While Mahasweta’s emancipation drive is more deeply grounded in her field research and journalistic activism in the tribal areas she writes about, Mallika’s has been more strongly linked with the academia and has joined the theoretical feminist discourse. Through a close reading the women’s emancipation discourse of these two protagonists in Bengali literature, we can speak of a shift from a practical, concrete criticism, to a theoretically founded radicalism. (shrink)

Les scientifiques espèrent qu'à l'avenir ils pourront tester des trous noirs en observant les effets causés par un fort champ gravitationnel à proximité, comme la lentille gravitationnelle. Il existe déjà des observations sur les lentilles gravitationnelles faibles, dans lesquelles les rayons lumineux sont déviés en quelques secondes seulement, mais jamais directement pour un trou noir. Il existe plusieurs candidats à cet effet, en orbite autour du Sagittaire A*. Plusieurs conjectures ad hoc ont été introduites pour mieux expliquer les observations de (...) candidats de trous noirs astronomiques identiques, mais avec des mécanismes de fonctionnement différents : gravastar, étoile noire (gravité semi-classique) , étoile à énergie noire, etc. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.27478.06723. (shrink)

Ramayan Through Kundalini Yoga Shodasi is an ideal read for Sanskrit-literate readers who are open to eclectic yogarthas and connotative meanings -------- So you thought Vyasa was before Valmiki, Mahabharat was before Ramayan, Rama a Vishnu avatar, and tantrism distinct from vedism? Think again. In Shodasi: Secrets of the Ramayana, Telugu poet Seshendra Sharma re-reads the Ramayan to come up with a number of new conclusions. Much of the book sets out to prove that Ramayan was written before the Mahabharat. (...) Sharma discusses how Indra is cited more often than Vishnu, thus placing the context of the Ramayan closer to Vedic than Puranic thought. He quotes from the Mahabharat to show how it follows descriptions of hills, rivers from the Ramayan. The Mahabharat has some prose, and therefore, it must have been composed after Ramayan, which is entirely in poetry. These are only some of the numerous reasons that Sharma offers to suggest a new sequence of our itihasas. Sharma’s book is also an experimental reading of the Ramayan through the interpretive lens of what he calls Kundalini yoga. Hanuman’s flight to Sri Lanka gets a new interpretation. “Charana Charite Pathi” is interpreted as the path of Kundalini, and the first verse of the Sundara Kanda “Tatho Ravana Nithayah” is interpreted by Sharma to refer to Hanuman traversing the sushumna nadi of the Kundalini. Trijata’s dream becomes the Gayatri mantra through an imaginative recasting of words as numbers. Gaja (elephant) means eight, danta (teeth) means thirty-two, and maha-gaja-chaturdantam somehow also adds up to 32 syllables, which is the number of syllables in the Gayatri mantra. That Trijata’s dream is halfway through the Ramayan also becomes significant for Sharma, he calls it the ‘central bead’ in the Ramayan garland of 24,000 beads. Identifying 32-syllables as the Gayatri follows a convention, for mantras are referenced by the number of syllables; however, it is the “secret” yogartha—or mystical, anagogical translations—derived by Sharma that becomes problematic, unless he is considered an authority in his own right. conclude that the name Sundarakand is unrelated to any descriptions of beauty of any of the main characters in the Ramayan. However, Soundarya and Tripura-Sundari are well-known conventions in the tantric tradition and hence, Sharma concludes that Sundarakand derives its name from Shakti’s beauty, and “Sundara-Hanuman” means “Hanuman who is a devotee of Devi” (117). A coda in this book is about the benedictory verse in Kalidasa’s Sakuntalam which has traditionally been understood to refer to Ishwara. Sharma re-interprets this verse highlighting the “eight forms” of the last line as the eight forms of Devi that please Ishwara. This book is suitable for a reader who is Sanskrit-literate and open to eclectic yogarthas and connotative meanings. Sharma cites substantially from the Ramayan in roman but without diacritics, this is difficult to follow; and he does not always include translation. Sharma often cites commentators without citing names and sources. It is not clear why the book is called Shodasi—readers may note, this book is not about the Srividya tradition. Even if the reader is unconvinced by Sharma’s reasoning or methodology, the free flow of references may prove absorbing for a reader interested in the subject. This could also be an eclectic reference for a scholar researching tantric elements in the Ramayan. - Mani Rao The Sunday Standard Magazine The New Indian Express 29th November 2015 . (shrink)

The book under review is a compilation of various accounts of the stay of Sri Sarada Devi, and Swamis Vivekananda, Brahmananda, Shivananda, Ramakrishnananda, Abhedananda, Vijnanananda, Subodhananda, Niranjanananda, Turiyananda, Trigunatitananda, and Premananda in the city.