Sunrise University

The inclusion of diverse literary voices in school curricula is essential for enabling learners to engage with literature as a reflection of varied social, cultural, and lived experiences. A critical examination of the Kerala Higher Secondary English curriculum has revealed the limited representation of marginalised and own-voice narratives, particularly those emerging from Dalit, Adivasi, feminist, regional, and other historically underrepresented communities. While existing curriculum-based studies have identified these representational gaps, limited attention has been given to how students themselves perceive the diversity of prescribed texts and the absence of narratives that reflect their own social and cultural realities. The present study, therefore, shifts the focus from representation to reception by exploring Higher Secondary students’ perceptions of own-voice narratives in the Kerala English curriculum. It seeks to examine students’ awareness of own-voice narratives, their perceptions of literary diversity, their sense of identification with prescribed texts, and their attitudes towards the inclusion of narratives rooted in lived experiences of caste, gender, class, region, and marginalisation. The study also investigates students’ perceptions of the potential of such narratives to foster empathy, critical thinking, identity awareness, and social consciousness. Adopting a student-centred empirical approach, the study proposes to gather learners’ responses through a structured questionnaire and analyse their perceptions of representation and curricular inclusion. By foregrounding student reception, the study aims to extend existing textual analyses of the Kerala Higher Secondary English curriculum and contribute to broader discussions on inclusive literary education, curriculum diversification, and the pedagogical significance of own-voice narratives. The study ultimately argues for a movement beyond tokenistic representation towards a more pluralistic curriculum that enables learners to encounter, recognise, and critically engage with diverse lived experiences.

Feminism refers to the advocacy of women’s rights aimed at eliminating social, economic, and political inequalities, and it is grounded in the belief that women should have equal opportunities and status as men. While the term “female” denotes biological identity, “feminine” reflects socially constructed roles shaped by cultural expectations. In the Indian context, feminist thought has developed through engagement with entrenched social practices such as unequal inheritance laws and customs like sati, and unlike Western feminist movements, early reform initiatives in India were initially led by male reformers before being actively advanced by women. Feminism in Indian English literature has emerged as a powerful medium for expressing women’s experiences, often bringing to light issues that have traditionally remained silenced within patriarchal structures. Indian English women novelists have explored a wide range of themes including identity, domestic oppression, gender inequality, and the search for autonomy through diverse literary forms. Writers such as Kamala Das examine the emotional and psychological struggles of women, while Shashi Deshpande portrays the inner conflicts shaped by societal expectations. Anita Desai focuses on the existential dilemmas of women, and Bapsi Sidhwa highlights socio-economic realities within specific communities. Similarly, Kamala Markandaya explores cultural tensions, and Shobhaa De presents images of modern, independent women who challenge traditional norms. Collectively, these writers demonstrate a strong engagement with gender issues and contribute significantly to the discourse on equality, identity, and women’s empowerment in Indian English literature.

Agricultural systems are increasingly facing critical challenges due to terrestrial contaminants that are known as microplastic (MP) and Nano plastic (NP). These minute particles have been scientifically demonstrated to infiltrate soil, water, and air, primarily as a consequence of agricultural practices like the use of plastic mulches, fertilizers, and different systems of irrigation. These particles can penetrate deeper soil profiles, altering microbial activities, nutrient cycling, and soil physical properties. Uptake of MPs and NPs by fruit crops adversely impact food safety, yield, growth, and production. This review comprehensively cover a range of horticultural divisions (strawberries, apples, pears, and citrus), vegetable sector (tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers), root sector (carrots and radishes), and floriculture sector. There is still some heated debate on the temporary or permanent hoarding power of MPs and NPs in soils, but little information is available on the mechanisms behind MP and NP transportation, biodegradation, and uptake by plants, despite their prevalence. The review typically contains information on the disposal and modes of MP and NP in an agricultural system, as well as the nature of interaction and their general implications on plant and soil health and, by extension, human health and food security. The finding highlights the need for sustained research to develop effective mitigation strategies that reduce the adverse impacts of plastic pollutants, thereby enhancing sustainability and resilience of crop production systems.

Effective and patient-friendly therapy techniques are necessary to address diabetes mellitus, which remains a significant worldwide health issue. New developments in biodegradable microparticle systems for oral anti-diabetic treatment are the subject of this research. PLGA (Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)) metformin administration is the subject of special attention. Improving overall therapeutic results in diabetes treatment, increasing medication bioavailability, and assuring controlled release are the primary goals of the study, which aims to critically examine the function of PLGA-based microparticles. Using only secondary data sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles, pharmaceutical reports, and regulatory papers retrieved from open-access platforms, this research takes a qualitative, review-based approach. To evaluate biodegradable delivery methods from a regulatory standpoint, we undertake a thematic and comparative examination of formulation techniques, polymer-drug interactions, pharmacokinetic advances, safety profiles, and more. By preventing the drug's breakdown in the intestines and allowing for continuous release, the results show that PLGA microparticles greatly increase metformin bioavailability. Dosage frequency is reduced and patient compliance is improved by the controlled release method. The study also notes that PLGA is very compatible with metformin physicochemically, which means that the formulation will be stable and the therapeutic effects will be constant. Additionally, because their breakdown products are not harmful, biodegradable systems have great safety ratings. According to the results, microparticle systems based on PLGA provide a solid foundation for the oral administration of anti-diabetic medications. To facilitate commercialisation and widespread use, however, more regulatory standardisation and clinical validation are required.

A person's capacity to recognize, cope with, and overcome emotional difficulties is significantly influenced by their level of emotional intelligence (EI). Focusing on how variations in emotional awareness, control, empathy, and social skills impact the capacity to cope with stress and hardship, this research investigates the function of emotional intelligence in the coping processes of both orphans and non-orphans. Experiencing bereavement, instability, and a lack of social support are common psychological issues that orphans encounter. These difficulties may impact their emotional development and coping mechanisms. On the other hand, children who do not grow up without a parent often have better emotional regulation and coping skills because they grow up in more stable home settings. The purpose of this research is to examine the link between EI dimensions and both emotion-focused and problem-focused coping mechanisms, and to compare the coping methods and levels of orphans and non-orphans. In order to build emotional competence and resilience among at-risk groups, it is crucial to understand these disparities so that counseling programs, educational policies, and psychiatric treatments may be tailored to their specific needs. With special significance for the improvement of support systems for orphans, the results are anticipated to demonstrate emotional intelligence as a buffering variable that boosts adaptive coping, psychological health, and social adjustment in both groups.