A Study of Home in the Early Novels of Shashi Deshpande

Roots and Shadows, The Dark Holds No Terrors and That Long Silence are the three early novels of Shashi Deshpande in which she explores the inner and the private world of her characters and the changes in the public sphere that influence and transform their private world. In all Deshpande’s novels, house is an integral part of the protagonist’s identity. In these novels of the early phase of middle class educated women occupy the central position; who have to struggle hard to reconcile to the traditions and customs, as well as to seek their independent identity in their family and society. Indu in Roots and Shadows, Sarita in The Dark Holds No Terrors and Jaya in That Long Silence, are middle class women who go in self-quest and in the process, free themselves from the inhibitions of the family, society and culture and also from their own psychological conflicts. Home plays a crucial role in this odyssey of the protagonists in recording their experiences and in shaping their personalities

The management of Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis through Ayurveda - A Case Report

Introduction: Back pain is the most common symptom of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. This pain is typically worse with activities such as bending and lifting, and often eases when lying down. This condition occurs as a consequence of the general aging process in which the bones, joints, and ligaments in the spine become weak and less able to hold the spinal column in alignment. In Ayurveda, the complaints of Degenerative Lumbar spondylolisthesis can be effectively managed on the treatment principles of Gridhrasi and Katishula. Methodology: The present article deals with a case of diagnosed grade 1 Degenerative Lumbar spondylolisthesis of L4 and L5 and was advised for surgery. The Ayurvedic diagnosis of Gridhrasi was made. Management included internal medications and procedures like Kati Basti and Agni Karma. Results: The effectiveness of Ayurvedic management was assessed by Roland Morris's low back pain and disability questionnaire scale and Oswestry Low back disability questionnaire. On Roland-Morris's low back pain and disability questionnaire, the before treatment score was 20(83.33%) and at the time of discharge, it was reduced to 4 (16.66%). That means the patient showed an improvement of 66.67% on the Roland-Morris low back pain and disability questionnaire. Conclusion: The present case substantiates the effectiveness of classical Ayurvedic treatment in degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis