Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

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Communication Skills for Engineers and Scientists
(PHI, 2000) Sharma, Sangeeta
Are Virtues" Relative" to Culture?
(Philpaper, 2001) Sachdev, Kumar Neeraj
Technical Communication: Principles and Practice: Concepts and Applications
(OUP, 2003) Sharma, Sangeeta
Technical Communication: Principles and Practice is specifically aimed at undergraduate students of engineering. With its comprehensive coverage it conforms to be the syllabi of major institutes for their course in Technical Communication/Report Writing. Completely up-to-date in terms of communication technology, its discussion on contemporary software like LaTex for presenting technical documents in an added advantage.
A Clash between Male Chauvinism and Existential Concerns
(Atlantic Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., 2003) Sangwan, Devika
Out of evil cometh good.” one of the important consequences of colonialism in India is the birth of Indian English literature. The process through which it developed had three distinct stages. In the first stage there was admiration and imitation of the Western models. After the first flush was over, a reaction set in. That was the second stage, The stage of resentment and rebellion. This naturally led to the third stage—the one we are passing through—the stage of self-discovery and self-assertion. The writers now draw on the rich cultural heritage of India and at the same time explore its contemporary relevance. A writer of an independent country cannot afford to lose touch with social reality and he must understand, transcribe and recreate it in Verbal artefact. The task is rendered more difficult because the Indian English writers are obliged to write in a language they are not born into. But the writers have remarkably overcome all these difficulties and, looking at the achievements of the Indian English writers, it can be definitely claimed that Indian writing in English has come of age and has completely got over ‘the anxiety of influence.’ The nineteen essays that constitute this volume cover a wide range of authors and subjects. Starting with Nirad C. Chaudhuri, one of the greatest thinkers and most controversial writers of the last century, the essays shed new lights on different aspects of the makers of Indian English literature: Mulk Raj Anand, R.K. Narayan, Manohar Malgaonkar, Nayantara Sahgal, bhabani Bhattacharya, kasthuri sreenivasan, Vikram Seth, Kamala mark an day a, Anita Desai, Arundhati Roy, a.K. Ramanujan and Kamala Das. Since Indian writing in English is prescribed in most of the universities in India, both the teachers and the students will find this volume very useful and anybody interested in Indian writing in English will also find these luminous essays intellectually stimulating.
Shifting Images of Woman in Anita Desai’s Cry the Peacock
(Atlantic Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., 2004) Shekhawat, Sushila
The Portrait of a Lady: A Journey from Self Deception to Self Destruction
(Atlantic Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., 2005) Sangwan, Devika
Wherever there are people there will be a Literature. A Literature is the record of human experience and people have always been impelled to write down their impressions of life. They do so in diaries and letters, in pamphlets and books and in essays, poems, plays and fiction. In this respect American literature is like any other, though it displays many characteristics that are similar and many that are dissimilar to the literary tradition of other nations.
Communicating at Work: Shifting Paradigms and Emerging Trends
(Jain Brothers, 2005) Sharma, Sangeeta
Diaphanous Expose of Human Values in Jhimpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies
(Atlantic Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., 2005) Sangwan, Devika
Since its inception in 19th century, Indian writing in English has coruscated worldwide and the English works of Indian authors have been highly appreciated even by the people of English-speaking nations. Not remaining confined to the restricted gamut of themes and style of olden days, Indian writing in English has made its Dent in myriad human concerns at the hands of great number of Indian writers. In the present anthology, a sincere attempt has been made to provide an in-depth study of the works of reputed Indian authors like bhabani Bhattacharya, Amitabh Ghosh, Shashi Tharoor, Raj Kamal Jha, Arundhati Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri, br> Shobha de, Manju Kapur, Anita Nair to name but a few. Aiming at encouraging variegated opinions without conforming to fixed and rigorous critical canons, the anthology not only focuses on novels but also on the other forms of literature that are brilliant evocation of historical, philosophical and social Issues of great importance. It also traverses through psychological and subliminal issues. Contributors to the present anthology have explored the varied aspects of literary works of the noted and award-winning writers, besides analysing critically and impartial the question of equal rights for women raised by the eminent Indian writers in their works. It is hoped that Indian writings in English would prove indispensable for the students of English literature and would even appeal to those interested in the English works of Indian writers. It will undoubtedly enkindle in readers an avid interest towards their works and also help them sharpen their critical understanding with its ample food for thought.
Disastrous Synthesis of Desire and Duty in Manju Kapur’s Difficult Daughters
(Atlantic Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., 2006) Sangwan, Devika
The new series--Studies in Women Writers in English--is a grateful acknowledgment of the contribution and public recognition of the emerging voice of women in the arena of literature during the last few centuries, and especially in the latter half of the twentieth century. Women writers across the globe have made their distinctive mark, with their own perception of life--be it feminine, or feminist or female. The present volume, the fifth in the series, introduces critique of work by women writers; it bears evidence to the growing critical attention towards authors writing outside the mainstream, in America, Canada, and especially in India. The eighteen essays included in this fifth volume of the series cover a wide spectrum of women writers across space and time. The women writers discussed in this volume include one from Britain, i.e., Mary Shelley, one from America, i.e., Toni Morrison, the Nobel Laureate for literature in 1993, one from Canada, i.e., Margaret Laurence, and a host of Indian writers, from an early pioneer like Krupabai Satthianadan to the partition novelist Bapsi Sidwa, as well as contemporary avant-gardes like Shashi Deshpande, Anita Desai, Shobhaa De, Manju Kapur, and Arundhati Roy as well as the émigré Indian writer Bharati Mukherjee. Since most of the authors discussed in these articles are prescribed in the English syllabus in the universities of India, both the teachers and the students will find them extremely useful, and the general readers who are interested in literature in English and/or women writers will also find them intellectually stimulating.
Existential Concerns in Toni Morrison
(Atlantic Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., 2006) Sangwan, Devika
English is being written and read today by more people outside England than inside. This applies no less to the women writers in English across the globe who have made their unmistakable mark in English literature[s], especially in the last century. The present volume,—the second in the new projected series of Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, Studies in Women Writers in English—bears evidence to this phenomenon as the critics address women writers in English in various parts of the globe rather than concentrating on canonised mainstream authors and texts, and thus mainstream writers figure only referentially, in the margin of these critical texts, as it were. Again, understandably Indian writers take over a chunk of the space. However, the essays included in this volume cover authors from America, Canada and India, and also some general theoretical discourse regarding feminism and marginal literature. The authors discussed in this volume are Christina Rossetti of England, Emily Dickinson, Harper Lee, Lorraine Hansberry and Sylvia Plath of America, Margaret Atwood and Beatrice Culleton of Canada, and Kamala Markandaya, Kamala Das, Nayantara Sahgal, Anita Desai, Githa Hariharan of India. Apart from this a wide spectrum of Indian writers have been referred to and treated in the general articles on feminist theory and practice, especially in India today, and yesterday. The sixteen essays of the volume will be found interesting as well as useful by students, teachers and scholars and will also be enjoyed by the general readers.
Travails of an Immigrant: A Study of Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘The Namesake’
(Atlantic Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., 2006-01) Shekhawat, Sushila
Since its inception in 19th century, Indian writing in English has coruscated worldwide and the English works of Indian authors have been highly appreciated even by the people of English-speaking nations. Not remaining confined to the restricted gamut of themes and style of olden days, Indian writing in English has made its Dent in myriad human concerns at the hands of great number of Indian writers. In the present anthology, a sincere attempt has been made to provide an in-depth study of the works of reputed Indian authors like bhabani Bhattacharya, Amitabh Ghosh, Shashi Tharoor, Raj Kamal Jha, Arundhati Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri, br> Shobha de, Manju Kapur, Anita Nair to name but a few. Aiming at encouraging variegated opinions without conforming to fixed and rigorous critical canons, the anthology not only focuses on novels but also on the other forms of literature that are brilliant evocation of historical, philosophical and social Issues of great importance. It also traverses through psychological and subliminal issues. Contributors to the present anthology have explored the varied aspects of literary works of the noted and award-winning writers, besides analysing critically and impartial the question of equal rights for women raised by the eminent Indian writers in their works. It is hoped that Indian writings in English would prove indispensable for the students of English literature and would even appeal to those interested in the English works of Indian writers. It will undoubtedly enkindle in readers an avid interest towards their works and also help them sharpen their critical understanding with its ample food for thought.
Resurgence of Hindi in the Wake of the Globalisation
(LANGUAGE IN INDIA, 2006-12) Chouhan, Gajendra Singh
Modern India is a multilingual nation. Hindi has come a long way since its adoption as an official language by Indian constitution in 1951.It is recognised as a national language in India and it knits the different mother tongue speakers together. In fact, Hindi doesn’t have much success stories in the past. Its adoption as an official language sent a ripple of resentment through the southern part of the country. The topsy-turvy journey of Hindi as a national language has come to an end and it has fitted in with the requirement of today’s generation and market. It is only after 1990 that revival of Hindi started taking place with globalization and media revolution in India. In today’s highly competitive scenario, globalisation is less a choice and more a compulsion. The term ‘globalisation’ is not merely confined to economics; it has also extended to our inner self i.e., our culture and society. Consequently, the winds of globalisation are bringing about a sea of changes in society and economy. Language and society go hand in hand. While societies undergo transition, so does language, both in its popular and in its purest form. The touch of marketisation has not left the linguistic scenario of India untouched.
Sex in Advertisements: The Magic Mantra of Marketing
(Excel Books, 2007) Chouhan, Gajendra Singh
Sex sells. More so, if the brand is associated with a woman. Sex is a big word in advertising. It is okay with other nations, but in India, people still shrink from it publicly. Most of the MNCs and their products ride on it to land safely in the global market. Does it sound good with the Indian products and the image of India? Can’t our products survive without sex and female nudity? Our nation, India is a potential global market player and also a country with a rich ancient heritage. It would be a rational marketing strategy where we unite our present and past and forges a new relationship with our buyers that is based on trust and understanding, a strong bond that is free from sex, greed and envy. This paper illustrates how our desi markets are flooded with sexual slogans and sensuous images to compete with the other global products. It further endorses that an effective communication strategy doesn’t necessarily rely on extreme sexism.
No Kidding, All Business: Children, Advertising and Society
(Indian Journal of Youth Affairs, 2008) Chouhan, Gajendra Singh
Ours is an ancient nation with traditional values. We have been groomed on the staple diet of “Boond Boond Se Sagar Bharta.” Till 15-20 years ago, children were not expected as potential consumers. How to save money was the mandatory lesson to be learnt by every kid in Indian families. After the school hours, they were after grandma to tell them a story or they went to nearby park to pluck mangoes or catch a butterfly. Children hardly received any pocket money. If they had money, it was for saving, not for spending. They would always save up for a cricket bat, football, annual picnic or school fee. But now the kids are no more the same. In fact, children rule the world of brand marketing. They have not only changed but have also had a profound effect on the way we buy, shop and live. They don’t play with their siblings and cousins but they enjoy computer games, watch Cartoon Network and do surfing. And the change is not restricted to play alone. Changes seem to have taken place in all their activities they are involved in.They avoid wearing shirts, jeans or sneakers but are proudly after branded wears like Arrows, Levis, Nikes and Reeboks. They don’t eat penny candy, drink nimbu pani or relish Sattu, rather they slurp Pepsi and Coke, eat Lays, McDonalds, Nestles and Cadburys. Children understand market well and they go to Big Bazars, Shopper’s stops, Gaps and Benettons.The paper represents the existing advertising practices and reflects the common concern that marketing communications in the context of children need to be both sensitive and responsible towards children, families and of course, society.
Perspectives on Indian Ethics
(Icon Publications Pvt.ltd, 2008) Sachdev, Kumar Neeraj
The collection of research articles in the volume is a contribution to orthodox and heterodox Indian ethical thought. The objecitve in the volume is to offer an expert's perspective on varied concepts such as devotion, disinterested action, good life, human values, dharma, caste dharma, Karma dharma, deontology, aparigraha, arya satya, morality in management and leadership, etc. to the reader so that he may reflect upon his understanding of the concepts. It is expected that the volume will be useful to the students as well as scholars alike who are interested in nuances of Indian tradition of ethical thought. About Author : Kumar Neeraj Sachdev is working as a faculty member in Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. An Assistant profesor of Philosophy; he is involved in teaching various courses in Humanistic Studies Group. He has attended and presented papers in many conferences, seminars and workshops of national and international repute. He has also contributed papers and book reviews to journals and anthologies. He has authored a book entitled Ethics: A Virtue Theoretic Approach (2005). Surya Kanta Maharana is working as Lecturer in Humanistic Studies Group at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. As a faculty in Philosophy, he is engaged in various academic activities. He has attended and presented papers in national seminars and International conferences and he has published research papers in Journals. Contents : Preface List of Contributors Introduction PART I: THE ORTHODOX PERSPECTIVES Devotion as an End in Itself: An Ethics of Ramayana Ethics of Disinterested Action in Bhagavad-Gita Good Life in Mahabharata: Purusarthas Revisited in the Light of Narrative Ethics Indian Culture and Human Values Dharma: Some Ethical Implications for a New Theory of Social Life Caste Dharma and Karma
The Semiotics of Visual Communication in Print Advertisements: How to Read between the Lines
(SSRN, 2008-04) Chouhan, Gajendra Singh
Advertising being a study of human behavior and responses is subject to unpredictability and lack of clear answers. Its answers are at best probabilistic and never ever universal truths. As advertising is a lot about strong images and perceptions, the intensity of the imagery is quite understandable. Apart from the intense imagery, advertising also generates a lot of heated debates and "opinions‟ among people…Yet , opinions, likes and dislikes on ads will keep coming from all corners because having opinions and expressing them is part and parcel of being human. The subjectivity of such opinions will also continue. After all advertising is seen and felt by most of us in our 'personal‟ domain' what we can identify with (what we like) and what we cannot (what we don't like) (Tiwari Sanjay 2003). The current paper seeks to find how the visual messages are formed and given meaning through the semiotic analysis of the advertisements. The practitioners of semiotic school believe that the meanings of pictures are not in the pictures, but rather in what we bring to them. Since visual interpretation is based upon perception through cognition and language and is affected by social, cultural, and personal frames, we strongly believe that semiotics will help us explain the complexity of visual communication while processing visual information and producing meaning from the advertisements. This concept of semiotic is the major force of the present paper. The primary goal is to establish the underlying conventions, identifying significant differences and oppositions in an attempt to model the system of categories, relations (syntagmatic and paradigmatic), connotations, distinctions and rules of combination employed.
Technical Communication: English Skills for Engineers
(OUP, 2008-09) Sharma, Sangeeta
Adopting a direct, functional and practical approach, this book presents an exhaustive treatment of the principles and advanced forms of technical communication, both oral and written. In addition to the language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, it covers the basics of English grammar. It also includes key topics such as technical reports, business correspondence, group discussions, interviews and presentation strategies.
Hinglish on A Platter: A Toast To New Global Bhasha
(IUP, 2008-12) Chouhan, Gajendra Singh
The world is in transition, and no language will remain same. There is no language in the world that can claim to be pure, permanent and safe in its structure. Changes are inevitable. Languages will change and incorporate new patterns of contact with other languages and the changing communication needs of the people. The code switching and code mixing are very well known traits in the speech pattern of an average bilingual in any human society the world over. As a multilingual and multicultural society, India is not an exception. Hinglish, a combination of Hindi and English has become a new medium of masses in India. It is a wonderful medley of arbitrary words from Hindi and English and enjoyed effortlessly and spontaneously in different domains. It is widely practiced in houses, offices, markets, playgrounds and almost everywhere The resurgence of Hindi in the recent years is one of the prime movers of Hinglish in India and it has given a tremendous boost to its functional relevance in the present linguistic environment. Hindi no longer considers English as its archrival. The equation has changed globally. English and Hindi have come closer and they deliver just perfect, when they work in tandem. Now, it is a winning blend. This blend becomes a new mantra in social acceptance, prestige, and success. It has a great cementing force that connects people and places equally with ease. The paper draws together the different threads of Hinglish, its origin, growth and traces the various reasons that lead to its pervasiveness in India and abroad.
Consentimiento y autonomía política del indio americano en el pensamiento tardío de fray Bartolomé de Las Casas
(Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 2009) Nair, Harikrishnan Gopinadhan
Understanding the Impact of Advertising on Children and Redefining the Laws of Living in India
(2009) Lata, Pushp
The objective of this paper is to explore the harmful effects of advertising on children’s mental and physical health. The study includes the analysis and the impact of various advertisements, which appear on television screen in India. It also discusses at length how parents can help their children make better use of media by educating them regarding the susceptibilities of advertisement.