Saving Sita: The Ramayana and Gender Narratives in Postcolonial Hindu Nationalism

This thesis examines the role that the Hindu epic the «em»Ramayana«/em» plays in shaping the relationship between conservative Hindu Indian nationalism and gender in post-colonial India. It demonstrates how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has manipulated understandings of the Ramayana to best serve its political aims since 1980, and to further an inherently sexist and discriminatory agenda.«br /» «br /» Chapter One outlines the role of exclusionary narrative in constructing national identity along conservative and fundamentalist lines. Drawing from this, it goes on to present and expand upon the key research questions explored in this thesis. Chapter Two examines the various relevant fields of literature which are involved in this discussion. Chapter Three outlines the key methodological fields from which this thesis draws as an intersectional study. Chapter Four analyses Valmiki’s Ramayana in considering its depiction of gender constructs, and touches upon the significance of the 1987 Ramayan television serial by Ramanand Sagar. Chapter Five explores the role of gender in the Indian Independence movement and the development of Hindu nationalism. It then examines postcolonial secularism and nationalism, and women’s rights till the BJP’s founding in 1980.«br /» «br /» Chapter Six focuses on India, the rise of the BJP, and the shape of women’s issues over the past forty years. Chapter Seven focuses upon three separate endeavours to approach the Ramayana«em» «/em»from unconventional perspectives, one of which is my experience writing and directing the 2014 production Fire to Earth«em» «/em»with the UNSW Indian Society. Chapter Eight outlines the BJP’s attempts to moderate in recent years, summarises the current state of women’s affairs, and concludes by highlighting some of the lacunae that still need to be addressed in this field.«br /» «br /» This thesis situates itself at the intersection of Ramayana studies, Indian women’s studies, and postcolonial Indian politics. It takes a multifaceted methodological approach to answering its principal questions, incorporating narrative studies, politics, gender studies, and literature studies. I acknowledge the numerous perspectives in these fields and synthesise their various contributions to illustrate the deep-rooted connections between Hindu nationalism, gender exclusion and oppression, and the Ramayana

IMMUNOMODULATORY, ANTICANCER AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF CYCLEA PELTATA (LAM.) HOOK. F. AND THOMSON

Objective: The present study was performed to evaluate the immunomodulatory, anticancer, and antioxidative properties of the fraction (CP_2) isolated from Cyclea peltata. Methods: Immunomodulation was evaluated in lymphocytes by lymphocyte proliferation assay and in THP-1 macrophage cell lines by MTT assay. The nitrite production by the macrophages was also measured by the nitrite assay using griess reagent. The anticancer activity of the fraction was determined by MTT assay. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH assay and total antioxidant assay by phosphomolybdenum method. It is expressed as number of gram equivalent of ascorbic acid. Results: The plant fraction showed the presence of flavonoids which induced lymphocyte proliferation rate of 4.29±0.007 at 100 μg/ml. It was not toxic to THP-1 macrophage cells and also could induce nitrite production at 1 mg/ml. It also exhibited good anticancer activity at 100 μg/ml after 48h of incubation. The DPPH activity was found to be low since 100 μg/ml showed only an inhibition rate of 22±0.026. The total antioxidant activity at 1000 μg/ml of CP_2 was found to be equivalent to 79±0.03 μg/ml of ascorbic acid exhibiting moderate antioxidant activity. Conclusion: The fraction CP_2 containing flavonoid, isolated from Cyclea peltata has good immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anticancerous property

Estimation of phenolic acids in cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg and mace by high performance liquid chromatography

Phenolic acids of five commercially important spices, namely, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg and mace were quantitated by high performance liquid chromatography using external standard method. Protocatechuic acid was the predominant phenolic acid in cinnamon bark, while gallic acid dominated in clove buds. The major phertolic acids in cardamom seeds and nutmeg were caffeic acid + vanillic acid while ferulic acid and synapic acid predominated in mace. &nbsp

Estimation of phenolic acids in cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg and mace by high performance liquid chromatography

Phenolic acids of five commercially important spices, namely, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg and mace were quantitated by high performance liquid chromatography using external standard method. Protocatechuic acid was the predominant phenolic acid in cinnamon bark, while gallic acid dominated in clove buds. The major phertolic acids in cardamom seeds and nutmeg were caffeic acid + vanillic acid while ferulic acid and synapic acid predominated in mace. &nbsp

EVALUATION OF IMMUNOMODULATORY AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF POLYSACCHARIDES ISOLATED FROM CALLICARPA MACROPHYLLA VAHL.

Objective: To evaluate the immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl. leaves.Methods: Three different fractions of polysaccharides (PC, PH, PA) were isolated. The percentage of sugar in the extracted samples was checked by phenol-sulphuric acid method. Lymphocyte proliferation assay was done to evaluate its immunomodulatory activity. 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and total antioxidant assay was done to evaluate its antioxidant property.Results: The total polysaccharide content in PC, PH and PA was found to be 88%, 14% and 87% by the phenol-sulphuric acid method. All the three polysaccharides showed in vitro growth stimulatory effect on isolated normal lymphocytes. The proliferative index of PC, PH, PA was found to be 1.28±0.03, 1.71±0.04 and 1.12±0.01 at a concentration of 500 μg/ml indi­cating immunomodulatory activity. PC, PH, PA showed a % inhibition of DPPH radical at 40.11±0.005 %, 29.18±0.01 % and 16.82±0.007 %. A dose-dependent activity was shown for the DPPH assay. Total antioxidant activity was found to be higher in PA. Both PC and PH showed almost equal antioxidant activity.Conclusion: The results of the present study indicates that polysaccharides from Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl. boosts the immune system and help overcome the negative effects of oxidative stress, thus, contributing to the development of new drugs.Â

A journey through the history and future of cadavers in anatomy education

This article traces the development of cadavers in anatomy education from ancient times to contemporary advances, analyzing both their historical significance and future potential. It utilizes academic databases and libraries to find relevant literature, including PubMed, Google Scholar, JSTOR, and Web of Science. Specific keywords and phrases such as “history of cadaver use in medicine,” “anatomical dissection history,” “ethical issues in cadaver studies,” “historical practices of dissection,” and “evolution of medical practices with cadavers” were used to search for relevant articles. We selected articles that are directly related to the history of cadavers in medicine and that provide historical context, ethical discussions, and notable practices, while excluding those that are unrelated. The use of cadavers for dissection in medical teaching dates back to ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, and Roman traditions. The Renaissance saw a revival of anatomical studies despite ethical debates and restrictions, particularly during the Middle Ages, with figures such as Andreas Vesalius redefining the field. Advances in cadaver preservation techniques, including plastination and embalming, have improved quality and durability. However, the use of formalin raised health concerns, leading to the search for safer alternatives. Emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 3D printing are revolutionizing anatomy education by providing interactive, practical, and ethically sound teaching resources. The article anticipates a future shaped by technological advances while acknowledging the enduring impact of cadavers in medical education

Estimation of phenolic acids in cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg and mace by high performance liquid chromatography

Phenolic acids of five commercially important spices, namely, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg and mace were quantitated by high performance liquid chromatography using external standard method. Protocatechuic acid was the predominant phenolic acid in cinnamon bark, while gallic acid dominated in clove buds. The major phertolic acids in cardamom seeds and nutmeg were caffeic acid + vanillic acid while ferulic acid and synapic acid predominated in mace. &nbsp

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF NON-IRRADIATED AND Γ-IRRADIATED MANGO (MANGIFERA INDICA L.) JUICE AGAINST ETHANOL-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN ALBINO RATS

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this study is to explore the protective effect of non-irradiated and γ-irradiated mango juice (NMJ and GMJ) against ethanolinducedhepatic and renaldysfunctionin rats.Methods: A total of 36 male Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into six groups of six animals each, and the treatment was given everyday via orogastric tube for 30 days. Group I rats served as normal control group. Group II, III, IV, V, and VI rats received absolute ethanol, NMJ, GMJ,ethanol+NMJ, and ethanol+GMJ, respectively. At the end of experimental period, the animals were sacrificed, and serum was separated for liverand kidney markers analysis. The tissues (liver and kidney) were excised for histopathological changes and lipid peroxidation, enzymatic, and nonenzymaticantioxidantsactivitieswereestimated.Results: Ethanol treatment resulted in the depletion of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-stransferaseactivities,andreducedvitaminCandreducedglutathionecontent,higherlevelofmalondialdehyde,increasedactivitiesofserumalanineaminotransferase,aspartateaminotransferase,alkalinephosphatase,gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and elevated levels of serum urea, creatinine,uric acid causing malfunction of hepatic, and renal tissues, when compared to control rats. Mango juice (both NMJ and GMJ) co-treatment with ethanolingested rats, were envisaged to possess significant antioxidant defense properties and help in the recovery of tissues from ethanol-induced oxidativedamage. The results showed that degenerative changes in hepatic and renal cells of ethanolic groups were minimized by the administration of mangojuice, as revealed by histopathological examination.Conclusion: The current findings suggest that treatment with mango juice reduces ethanol-induced oxidative stress, thereby protecting the hepaticand renal tissue from ethanol-induced damage.Keywords: γ-irradiation, Mango juice, Ethanol, Oxidative stress, Antioxidant enzymes, Liver, Kidney

Fundamentals and Theory of HPTLC-Based Separation

Abstract High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) is a form of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) that provides superior separation power using optimized coating material, novel procedures for mobile-phase feeding, layer conditioning, and improved sample application. It promotes for higher separation efficiencies, shorter analysis time, lower amounts of mobile phase, and efficient data acquisition and processing. The major parameters that influence separation of the constituents within a mixture are the partition coefficients, retention factor (R f ), and capacity factor of the individual constituents on the plate, selectivity of the mobile and stationary phase to the solutes, and the plate height that decide the separation efficiency as well as resolution of the individual constituents within a mixture. The partition coefficient is defined as the molar concentration of the analyte in the stationary phase to that in the mobile phase. R f , a fundamental qualitative value, is expressed as the ratio of migration distances of an individual components of a mix relative to the mobile phase. Capacity factor (k) is a fundamental characteristic of a substance that determines its qualitative chromatographic behavior. It can be expressed as the ratio of the retention time of the substance in the stationary to that in the mobile phase and is influenced by the chemical nature of the two phases. The separation number (SN) that influences separation power of HPLC is defined as the highest possible number of components that are completely separated in a mixture under a gradient-free isocratic TLC. The efficacy of separation of two components of a mixture in a chromatogram is termed as resolution and is influenced by the selectivity of the components between the stationary and the mobile phase, mobile phase flow rate influenced by particle size and solvent strength that influence capacity factors