Special Issue
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/13931
Browse
15 results
Search Results
Item Subscription Libraries in Ceylon in the 19th Century: Special Reference to the Colombo Library, the Ceylon United Service Library and the Colombo Pettah Library(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) Ranaweera, R.A.A.S.; Ranasinghe, PiyadasaThe contemporary library system in Sri Lanka systematically started with the establishment of “subscription libraries” during the early nineteenth century of the British governing period of Ceylon. These subscription libraries were established to fulfill the reading and recreational needs of the British Government and Army officers worked in Ceylon under the British Government. The library service extended to their family members as well. The aim of this study was to explore the subscription libraries functioned in the 19th century. The study mainly focused on the three prominent subscription libraries existed during the nineteenth century, namely the Colombo Library (1812), the Ceylon United Service Library (1813) and the Colombo Pettah Library (1829). These were the first set of subscription libraries established by the British in the Colombo city limit during the early years of their governing period in Ceylon. There was an annual grant received by these subscription libraries from the British Government in Ceylon. These grants were mainly used for the maintenance and functionality of libraries. Library users had to pay a small subscription fee for using the library. Qualitative research approach was adopted and study was mainly based on the secondary data. Secondary data were gathered from the secondary data sources such as “The Ceylon Calendar” The Ceylon Blue Book” and The Ferguson’s Directory”. Data was comparatively analyzed and arranged under the name of libraries. The study revealed that these three subscription libraries rendered a good service to its users throughout the 19th century. However, with the difficulties faced with regard to maintenance and functionality these libraries were amalgamated with other libraries to carry out a better library service to its patrons. As a result of the user demand for these three libraries, the government set up number of subscription libraries in the country covering main provinces such as Central, Southern and Northern by the end of the final quarter of the 19th century.Item Acceptance and Rejection in Buddhist Monasticism; Spatial Organization in Nalanda Monasteries in Bihar(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) Dhammananda Thero, GalkandeWhen we reconstruct the history of relationships and hierarchies among people and groups the study of spatial organization provides much information. The „space‟ is a production that narrates the nature of relationships, hierarchies, organizational structures, rejection and acceptance of certain people and groups who live or interact with that particular space. Perhaps the story narrated by the spatial studies differs considerably from the story narrated by the literature. Such relationships, hierarchies and organizational structures that maintained in monasteries are reconstructed mainly considering the literary sources which have their own limitations and biases. Therefore, there is a vacuum in studies of the spatial organization of Buddhist monasteries. In this paper the spatial organization of Nalanda monasteries of Bihar (4th century to 13th century) is analyzed. Objectives of this paper are to explore and reconstruct the above mentioned different relationships, hierarchies and organizational structures that have been maintained among inmates and between lay and clergy of Nalanda, a Buddhist monastery that represents a mature level of the development of the idea of “monastery”. In exploring this, archaeological and architectural remains of ritual and residential spaces will be analyzed in detail horizontally and vertically. The way of the ritual and residential spaces are organized, their orientations, centrality and different levels of restrictive methods adopted through spatial organization will be analyzed here. Several levels of hierarchies among monks and between lay and clergy are seen. While attempting to keep lay people away from the spaces of the monks the effort is seen to welcome them with certain restrictions and limitations.Item A comparative study on Mahayana Sutra of the World Father (lokapitru) and the Christian Gospels’ Universal Father(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) Bhikkhu-DhammakiththiThe concept of a “universal father” is mainly associated with religions that are faith-based and believe in a creator God. Creation and existence is believed by the followers to be at the pleasure of this God. Gospels clearly show that the Jesus, the son of God, from time to time addressed a powerful creator in heaven, who is God, the Father. Jesus called upon the grace of this God on behalf of his followers. The son of God or Jesus is the intermediary or link between the believers and God, the Father. Both in the Holy Bible and in Holy Quran this all-powerful creator God is considered the father of all human beings. Therefore, it is clear that the concept of a „universal father‟ is directly associated with religions based on a creator God. The same concept is also met within the context of Brahman and ātman in Indian religious philosophies as well. The creation of the universe is by the Mahā Brahma. Brahma alone is the creator while other beings have only a seed of him in the form of „Paramātman (supreme self).” However, nowhere in fundamental Buddhist writing is there a reference to the concepts of a creator God, an everlasting soul or a „universal father.‟ It values the independence and individuality of the being. Accordingly the beginning of a „bhava‟ and its conclusion occurs according to the deeds of the being itself explained under cause and effect theory. But, in later writings in the Mahayana school there are some references to the Buddha as a creator and even as a universal father. Yet, these references are still different from the „universal father, concept seen in the Holy Bible. With the development of Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism, the role of a „universal father‟ was given to some Bodhisattvas. Bodhisattvas appear to be regarded even as „savior‟ gods in a manner similar to the Savior (Jesus) in Christianity. Although this is not seen everywhere in Mahayana Buddhism here we intend to compare the „universal father‟ concept in some suttanta‟s in Mahayana Buddhism with the same as it is described in the Holy Bible. The idea of the ' universal father' becomes exaggerate with an increased sacredness.Item Orchestrated Celebration: Performing Reconstructed Identity in the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland (India)(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) TatongkalaNagaland is a hill state in the north-eastern end of India and the homeland of several traditionally distinctive communities who have been collectively identified as the Nagas – a colonial exonym labelled for them since the British Rule. The colonial administration and the Christian missionaries played crucial roles in shaping the present political and cultural fate of the people of this region. While the British administration, particularly its classification of the people of this region and their cartographic segmentation were responsible for complex problems in later times pertaining to Naga identity, the process of Christianization with the aegis of the missionaries created a visible difference between the mythicized pre-Christian past and the present-day life overtly dominated by the Christian religiosity. Since the year 2000, a spectacular cultural festival under the name of Hornbill festival began to be organized by the State Government of Nagaland in the month of December every year, with an aim to foster cultural unity among the various constituent groups at home and to showcase their rich cultural resources to the rest of the world. This paper aims to dwell on the political, cultural as well as economic aspects of this increasingly popular cultural extravaganza in Nagaland. It is argued here that Hornbill festival can be seen as the equilibrium of the diverse interests of its various stakeholders – the local ethnic groups, the Government and the sponsoring private agencies. While on the economic front it makes the biggest tourism event in Nagaland, on the political front it provides the much-needed space to demonstrate the unified Naga identity.Item An Evaluation of India’s Approach towards Northeast India(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) Sampa, KunduIndia‟s Northeastern region (NER) has been a subject of continuous scholarly discussion because of its low level of development despite huge amount of assistance and grants provided by the central government and its various ministries and departments. The problems of Northeast India are complex and inter-related with each other. Therefore, the Government of India and even the civil society seem to be in a dilemma with what needs to be prioritised in dealing with Northeast India. Is it the development of the region that should come first or, is it the security of the nation that should be the primary concern? So far, the government‟s approach has indicated that while it wants Northeast India to be closely connected with neighbours in Southeast Asia, it is also afraid of further infiltration of several cross-border problems and trans-national crime into the region from countries like Myanmar and China. The proposed paper will deal with aspects related to government‟s approach towards Northeast India, especially look East Policy and BIMSTEC that have been visualised to connect India‟s Northeastern region with Southeast Asia. The primary objectives of the paper would be to understand the significance of national security and domestic development in the case of Northeast India and her importance in determining India‟s foreign policy and implications of India‟s Look East Policy and BIMSTEC on Northeast India The proposed paper will be based on consulting available primary and secondary literature and would be analytical in nature. At the end of the paper, we would be able to understand that India‟s NER represents an example where domestic policies and development act as one of the important determinants of national security vis-à-vis foreign policy. Specifically, it would help us to understand India‟s approach towards Northeast India in regard to development and security aspects.Item Teachers’ Motivation in Maldives – Influenced by Cultural Aspects(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) Hasan, Abdul Raheem; McDonald, Lex; Hynds, AnneInternationally the demand for effective teachers has grown, because effective teachers strongly influence student outcomes. This largely depends on the levels of teachers‟ motivation to carry out the tasks associated with teaching. Hence, the sources of teachers‟ motivation are under continuous scrutiny as the sustenance of motivation at a high level is imperative. The research reported here explored stakeholders‟ perceptions of the motivational influences for successful indigenous teachers to stay on in Maldives, a small island state in the Indian Ocean. This case study employed qualitative methods of interviewing, focus-group meetings and questionnaires to collect data from school principals, leading teachers, successful teachers, parents, and students. Analysis of data via qualitative approaches indicated that the participants‟ perceptions of what motivated successful teachers to remain as teachers were largely influenced by cultural aspects that were contextual, inter-related, inter-dependent and multifaceted. These findings highlight the importance of conducting habitual, specialized and localized studies to understand teachers‟ motivational influences. This implied the need for educational policy-makers, school managers and supervisors of teachers to understand the complexity of contextual motivational influences to maximize teachers‟ positive impact upon student development. The scope of this study is limited to the perceptions of natives even though a large proportion of expatriate teachers including Sri Lankans are in service. Future research could include foreign teachers‟ perceptions to create a wider spectrum for a fuller understanding of the motivational influences for teachers to stay in these uniquely vulnerable islands.Item Water Demand Management and its linkage to Economically Weaker Social Group (EWSG): An analysis of Basic Issues and Perspectives(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) Chakraborty, PrantikWater Demand Management (WDM) offers an alternative to conventional thinking about water resource management, by influencing changes in behaviors, policies and practices of water users and promoting more efficient, equitable and sustainable use of existing water resources from a multi-disciplinary and multi stakeholder perspective. In order to justify the above issues, we have set our analysis in the framework of Economically Weaker Social Group (EWSG). Our objective is to show how WDM can contribute to improve the economic condition of the EWSG by improving the economic condition by reducing poverty defined in terms of strengthening opportunity, equity, security and empowerment. These will require restructuring of water sector operations and proper management reforms in the Water demand. Since our objective of contrasting WDM with Economically Weaker Socially Group will call for introducing qualitative as well quantitative variables, for example when we shall talk about opportunity, equity, security, empowerment etc, we need to construct qualitative variable and for this we shall use logit model, Findings: 1. Water Demand Management may be an alternative to exogenously augmenting supply without considering effective demand. 2. Economically Weaker group use water more economically efficient way. 3. Water Demand Management reduces water wastages and thereby increase the economic viability of water supply system itself. 4. Providing water supply through better water demand management leads to cost effective way to provide water supply to a large number of people with more sustainable manner.Item Mining and human development in developing countries: a comparative analysis of mining and non-mining districts in India(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) Dharmabrata, MohapatraThe contribution of mining operation to the development of the local region remains under serious controversy. The pro-mining block is of the view that mining represents the wealth of a region and opens up wide vistas for the latter‟s prosperity. There are equal concerns that mining cause‟s involuntary displacements of local people and that very often the displaced families are not adequately compensated for their direct and indirect, economic and social losses. People in the mining areas not only become victims of environmental degradation, but also go through changes in terms of over-all well-being. Nevertheless, mining projects are promoted by integrating them with the narratives of progress and development. The present paper attempts to study the impact of mining on the well-being of people living in the mining areas in the Indian state of Odisha measured in terms of human development indicators. It highlights some interesting facts about the contribution of mining sector to Odisha‟s economy which destabilizes the conventional ideas about mining areas. This present study is both diagnostic and exploratory. An attempt has been made here to throw light on various aspects of human development. For the purpose secondary data have been collected from materials like books, journals and other official documents and interpreted in a comparative framework to study human development parameters in mining and non-mining districts. It is proposed that despite having a significantly lower health index and Human Development Index in mining districts is higher than the non-mining districts. This is due to significantly higher income index in mining districts than non-mining districts. It is also proposed that income generated from mining are not well distributed among inhabitants of mining region and are loaded in favor of the rich. Thus a compensation mechanism in mining policy, where mining has huge potential, can be designed taking environmental cost and health problem of community into account, in order to make mining industry a sustainable means of broad based and equitable growth.Item Dwellers: An Indigenous Perspective(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) Megha, Singh; Pallavi, BhatnagarThe ancient texts of yogic philosophy, such as the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali‘s Yoga Sutras have addressed multiple factors in health. Health in Ayurveda is a holistic approach which aims at harmony between the body, mind and the soul. Mystics and yogis view suffering as an opportunity to evolve in higher states of consciousness. Cultural and religious teachings often influence beliefs about the origins and nature of mental illness and health beliefs. In addition, there are certain beliefs that are pertinent only to Indian culture. Thus, the present paper makes an attempt to explore the construing of health and mental health beliefs in slum dwellers using an indigenous perspective. Qualitative research methods in the form of observation and in-depth interview were carried on 105 male and 102 female slum dwellers with the age group 21-45 years of Vinayakpuram area, Lucknow, India and the results were content analyzed for the same. The results revealed that awareness of slum dwellers regarding health and mental health related concepts is poor. Females have even lesser knowledge about the concepts in comparison to their male counterparts. The results also discovered that these people are living in a state of impoverishment and a state of denial where life is a day to day struggle and the only thing that keeps them going is their belief system. Thus, the need of the hour is to find the echo of their strength in the cultural ethos which would serve as a base for addressing the issue of creating and restoring well being for the masses. The preventive intervention taking two levels- one at community level and other at public health level would also be discussed in the indigenous perspective.Item Changing patterns of food consumption with special reference to Egg, Fish and Meat in India(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) Lloyd, Chrispin C.; Ananthan, P.S.; Jackson, Paul M.; Sandee, P.An analysis of food consumption patterns and how they are likely to shift as a result of several factors is important to address the food security-related policy issues of any country. Real GDP growth which is outstripping population growth is making the average Indian per capita income to rise but this is accompanied by a fall in the per capita consumption of staple food. This decline indicates improvement in the welfare, as laid down by Engel‟s hypothesis. The objectives of the study are to (1) analyse the pattern of food consumption (egg, fish, meat) among rural and urban sectors in 15 major states of India to reveal the trend and changes taking place in recent years. (2) To find out the impact of increasing average Indian Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) over the cultural preferences of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items. The study was based on secondary data from National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO)‟s household consumer expenditure surveys (CES). The four quinquennial surveys (50th, 55th, 61st and 66th rounds corresponding to 1993 to 2010) were made use of for mapping the consumer expenditure on meat, egg and fish products in different states of India while the earlier 27th round survey data was used as a benchmark to map changes over the years. Based on Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE), 15 major states were classified into 3 groups namely High, Medium and Low MPCE States, and then comparison of their expenditure for egg, fish, meat for the past 20 years were made. Analysis was done using Microsoft Office Excel ver. 2007. The study clearly indicated two important points related to Indian food consumption pattern over the decades. One, the proportion of expenditure for food items in total monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) is declining gradually, whereas the share of expenditure for non-food items is vice-versa in both, rural as well as urban sector of all Indian states. Between 1972-73 and 2004-05, the share of food in total consumer expenditure has fallen from 73% to 55% in rural areas and from 64% to 42% in urban areas (NSSO, 2010). Two, decline in the expenditure towards food consumption is falling because of shift in consumption away from cereals to high calorie commodities such as meat, milk, fish etc, in other words from low value to high value commodities. Even though, there are several reasons claimed to be behind such a scenario, the impact of Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization (LPG) reforms caused the major change, which led Indians to spend more lifestyle spends rather than regular spends. Changing income/MPCE levels as well as changes in taste/choices seems to impact the basket of food consumption (egg, fish, and meat). However, the deep rooted cultural preferences especially for non-vegetarian food still hold sway in rural areas in North Indian States of Haryana and Rajasthan though urban consumption trends are fast changing here as well. Further field-level studies are required to validate some of these inferences.