This paper provides a literary reinterpretation of the story Mahasweta Devi wrote, as the last piece of rebellion of “Draupadi"by foregrounding the theory of post-colonial human security. Subverting the dominating feminist and subaltern paradigm, which happens to be the mainstream of the modern scholar, this paper will challenge how the narrative structure, symbolic economy and mythic reversals of the short story will play a role in the deindustrialization of the state-oriented definition of protection and power. The close textual examination shows that the Indian state dependency on the requirement of coercive violence is an ethical and functional breakdown of the state security, and the corporeal dissent by Dopdi is a literary exposition of human security, the one that is founded on dignity, agency, and lack of fear. The story therefore makes the violated body resist a textual space that is to be transformed into a determinate field of force, vulnerability and sovereignty. This article places “Draupadi” among those texts which redefine the concept of security as the state of narrative which is in base with literal storytelling and revolves around issues of moral autonomy and institutional control, thus creating a new interdisciplinary intervention in the field of the post-colonial literary criticism.
Age and sex structure of a population is the product of past trends in fertility, mortality and migration that the population has come to witness. Similarly, it is the current age and sex composition that would determine the future birth rate, death rate and migration potential. Thus, age and sex composition is both a cause and a consequence. The nature of age and sex composition of a population is also the product of past and prevailing social conditions such as the gender relationships, the status of female in the society, the level of socio-economic development particularly with respect to the literacy level of the society and health care delivery system. The selection of Himachal Pradesh witness significant social transformation since 1971, the year the state was granted statehood. This social transformation was bound to reflect in the age and sex structure of the state. This study aims at knowing/exploring the nature and extent of change in the age and sex composition of population at district level in Himachal Pradesh between 1971 and 2001. The study is entirely/primly based upon census data published by the Census of India statistical/ graphical techniques such as Lorenz curve, Location quotient and age and sex pyramid were used to understand spatial and temporal variations in the age and sex composition of the state. Results of the study reveal that age and sex composition of population in Himachal Pradesh has been typical of population in the developing countries until 1981. After this, the age pyramid has started regressing at the base signifying a decline in the fertility rate. Particularly the proportion of children in the age group of 0–9 has witnessed relatively sharp decline during the inter-census period of 1991–2001. Similarly, due to the improvements in healthcare facilities and improved quality of life and hence increased in life expectancy, the proportion of aged population has also gone marginally up The age composition in the state is also marked by significant areal variations from one district to another.
A pragmatic and forceful paradigm known as “All-Alignment” has replaced the previous Nehruvian Non-Alignment in India’s foreign policy. This paper looks at this change after 2014 and places it in the larger framework of India’s quest for strategic autonomy and a multipolar world. The study examines India’s changing diplomatic relations with major world powers and its measured reactions to global upheavals using a multi-theoretical framework based on Neoclassical Realism, Constructivism, and Complex Interdependence Theory. The results show that “All-Alignment” is a modern kind of strategic autonomy, marked by issue-based coalitions, economic pragmatism, and adaptable multilateralism, rather than a break from it. India aspires to be a global pivot state that balances the interests of large powers while elevating the voice of the Global South, as evidenced by its exterior posture. By providing a conceptual update to India’s foreign policy doctrine and stressing its implications for new global governance models, this study adds to the body of literature on international relations. It contends that “All-Alignment” is a strategic framework that places India in the center of a more competitive and fractured global order rather than a type of reactive diplomacy.
The Himalayan mountain system represents one of the most ecologically sensitive and geologically fragile regions of the world. Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, located in the central and western Himalayas respectively, have experienced a marked increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters during the last few decades. Earthquakes, landslides, cloudbursts, flash floods, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst floods have emerged as recurring hazards, resulting in large-scale loss of life, infrastructure damage, and socio-economic disruption. This paper examines the multidimensional drivers of disaster vulnerability in these Himalayan states, emphasizing the interaction between inherent geological instability, accelerating climate change, and rapidly expanding anthropogenic pressures. Using secondary data, disaster reports, judicial observations, and selected case studies—including the Kedarnath floods (2013), Chamoli disaster (2021), Dharali flash flood (2025), Kinnaur earthquake (1975), and the monsoon disasters of 2023 and 2025 in Himachal Pradesh—the study demonstrates how unplanned development and ecological degradation convert natural hazards into human catastrophes. The paper also evaluates existing disaster management frameworks and argues for a paradigm shift toward sustainable mountain development, risk-sensitive planning, and community-based disaster preparedness. The findings highlight that without integrating environmental limits into development strategies, disaster risk in the Himalayan region will continue to escalate.
Landslides represent one of the most destructive natural hazards, causing significant loss of life and infrastructure damage worldwide. Among the numerous factors controlling slope stability, soil properties play a fundamental role in determining susceptibility to failure. The present study investigates the relationship between soil types and landslide occurrence using a frequency ratio (FR) approach in Bharmour Development Block in Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh. For the analysis a comprehensive landslide inventory was developed, and detailed soil maps were analysed to establish statistical relationships between soil classes and landslide distribution in the area. The frequency ratio method, a bivariate statistical technique, was employed to quantify the spatial association between each soil type and landslide events. Results reveal that landslide susceptibility varies significantly across different soil types, with [e.g. loam and fine loamy] exhibiting the highest frequency ratio values (>1.39 average landslide density), indicating strong positive correlations with slope instability. Conversely, [e.g., coarse-loamy, loamy-skeletal and sandy skeletal] with FR values below 1, suggesting greater resistance to failure. The analysis demonstrates that soil textural properties, particularly clay content and permeability contrasts between horizons, are critical determinants of landslide initiation.
