The International Journal of Humanities
Volume:31 Issue: 4, Autumn 2024

This study aims to investigate the binary oppositions existing in the novels of Kiran Desai and Aravind Adiga. As Hellen Cixous and Luce Irigaray, two French feminists argue, gender binaries are designed in a way that women are always placed at a lower position than men. Desai and Adiga’s novels are chosen for this study because they are from a new generation of Indian writers and their booker prize winner novels suggest their popularity and prominence in Indian English literature. Choosing a male and female writer provides the opportunity to compare the works of authors of each sex as well. Finding the patriarchal binaries existing in the novels and highlighting the parts where these structures are broken by each writer based on Cixous's theory is the first step in analyzing the novels. Then comparing how the authors posited female characters in relation to the male ones is the second step taken in this analytical study. This study applies thematic analysis on two novels i.e. The White Tiger and Selection Day by Aravind Adiga and The Inheritance of Loss and Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai. Based on the findings, Desai and Adiga both suggested the existing binaries; however, Desai did it with detailed depiction of characters and relations while Adiga had a more comprehensive way to show the issues related to women and were considered so peripheral that did not worth depicting.

The precedence of poetry can be traced to ancient times when man first realized that he could combine speech with rhythmicity and musicality to convey his inner-most thoughts and passions expressively. The strengths and advantages attributed to poetry are galore ; however, few think of employing it as a source for retrieving cultural facts. In the present study, the endeavor of the researcher is to display how poetry can be utilized to extract cultural concepts which are embedded in the mass cultural consciousness of a people by scrutinizing their poetry. The complexity of notions, expressed through poetry, can be revealed once verses are deconstructed and the poem is perused scholarly to single out hypograms which are the units carrying the essence of meaning. The inevitable result would be the revelation of different layers of meaning which are convoluted into leitmotifs and only a thorough analysis and meticulous reading can exhibit the relationship between the signs, signifier and the signified. As both poetry and cultural studies share the characteristic of being implicit, it is necessary to employ methods which aid clarity and lucidity. A sophisticated analysis requires the use of thick description, the method which cleaves the kernels of thought to display intended meaning and acts as a viable catalyst expediting the process of comprehension through interpretation.

Government intervention in employment contracts is a complex and significant issue. On one hand, freedom of contract and mutual agreement between parties are fundamental principles that support individuals' economic and social independence. On the other hand, a lack of government intervention in these contracts can lead to exploitation of workers, inadequate wages, and social inequality. In determining the optional terms of an employment contract, the principle of freedom of will prevails, allowing parties to agree on specific terms. However, for mandatory terms that are considered imperative rules, the will and agreement of the parties are not valid. Labor laws are the primary factor limiting freedom of contract in employment. Another basis for government intervention in employment contracts is the principle of justice and fairness. This principle ensures that the terms of the contract do not infringe on workers' rights and that they receive fair wages. Additionally, parties to an employment contract must adhere to good morals and religious principles, and any agreement contrary to these is void. To promote social justice, alleviate poverty, and create a balance between workers and employers in determining working conditions, the government, based on the principle of "no harm or causing harm," has enacted laws to protect workers. These laws are mandatory, and any agreement contrary to them is unenforceable. Therefore, the government, as the governing authority, plays a pivotal role in determining certain terms of employment contracts. The necessity of government intervention in setting working conditions is justifiable from both legal and religious perspectives.

Clifford Geertz, among the most prominent representatives of the interpretative approach to religion and culture, is one of the most influential cultural anthropologists of the twentieth century in America. Geertz's interpretative approach to religion and culture is among the most significant perspectives in the post-modern era. This paper, using a descriptive-analytical method and in some cases content analysis, provides a brief overview of the meaning of culture from Geertz's perspective and its characteristics. It also offers a comprehensive and accurate portrayal of his views on religion, demonstrating that from Geertz's standpoint, religion is akin to a cultural system and, in its meaning, features, and anthropological significance, is closely associated with culture. In Geertz's thought, culture and religion are intertwined matters, intrinsically linked to each other. Geertz believes that to understand the culture, one must delve into symbols. Matters like rituals and religious activities are considered symbols. Geertz sees religion as an ancient aspect and a part of the larger culture of society, and the presence of rituals and numerous beliefs make it symbolic. One of the essential concepts in Geertz's thought is "meaning," primarily because meanings form a closely related system, which is culture. Meaning is an underlying notion that is conveyed through symbols.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition that can arise following exposure to traumatic events. This study aims to investigate the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on the sense of coherence, social support, and spiritual well-being among students diagnosed with PTSD. The research employed a semi-experimental, pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included students diagnosed with PTSD at the University of Tehran during the 2023-2024 academic year. A total of 36 students with PTSD were selected using purposive sampling and were divided into experimental (n=18) and control (n=18) groups. The experimental group attended eight 90-minute CBT sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data collection involved administering the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale (Keane et al., 1998), the Sense of Coherence Scale (Antonovsky, 1993), the Social Support Questionnaire (Sherbourne & Stewart, 1991), and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (Paloutzian & Ellison, 2012). The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS-24. The results indicated that CBT significantly increased the sense of coherence (F=40.69, p=0.001, η²=0.58), social support (F=60.50, p=0.001, η²=0.67), religious well-being (F=52.16, p=0.001, η²=0.64), and existential well-being (F=54.50, p=0.001, η²=0.65) in students with PTSD. These results support the incorporation of CBT into therapeutic programs for students with PTSD to foster resilience and holistic well-being. Future research could explore the long-term effects of CBT and its impact on other psychological and behavioral outcomes in diverse student populations.

Sistan, situated between southeastern Iran and western Afghanistan, mainly falls within Afghanistan’s Nimroz province today. Iranian Sistan, or Western Sistan, lies in the northern part of Sistan and Baluchistan Province, characterized by its flat terrain formed by Hirmand River sediments. Historical and archaeological studies reveal different central cities throughout Sistan's history. Zaranka, Proftazia, and Ram Shahristan served as hubs in the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanid periods, respectively. In Islamic times (7th to 18th century), Zarang, Shahr-e Sistan, and Shahr-e Nou Sistan emerged as significant centers. Except for Zahedan-e Kohneh, which preserves the remnants of Shahr-e Sistan, the second capital of Sistan in the Islamic era, little information exists about the location of other central cities from this period. Zahedan-e Kohneh has earned the moniker "London of the East" due to its grand ruins, showcasing meticulous craftsmanship. This paper delves into the city’s advancements, demonstrating expertise across various disciplines including geometry, geography, geology, climatology, and ecology.