Vidya Bharti

Vidyabharati International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (Special Issue) ISSN 2319-4979
INTERRELATIONSHIP AMONG EDUCATION, GENDER AND MIGRATION IN

CONTEXT OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
N. Gupta
Department of Psychology, D.A.V. (P.G.) College Dehradun
neetagupta22@rediffmail.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Aims: this study aims towards elucidating various paradigms of social transforms and interrelated aspects like gender,
migration and education. Design: this study follows qualitative settings in terms of data analysis and interpretation
Method: In terms of methodological alignment, this study has followed a primary data analysis technique. Survey data
on the predetermined questions are analysed within a qualitative boundary. Results: The survey report has affirmed
that education and migration with gender equity are all related in social transformational context. Current social
trends observed in terms of various key social drivers such as genders, migration and education. Conclusion: The
improvement in education system can support the society to adopt social transformation. The correlation among
gender, education and migration has been established in this research.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Keywords: Education, migration, gender, societal transformation
Introduction on the various dynamics of the three key

drivers of social transition, a projection of
Education, gender and migration are three of
interdimensional relation has been done.
the social dynamics that have a major impact
Therefore, the specific aim of this study is to
on the comprehensive transformation of the
demystify the social transformation drivers in
values and belief system. As opined by
context to gender, migration and education.
Kivel(2017), education has been perceived as
Similarly, the objective of this study is to
the key determinant for a better life. It is quite
analyse interdimensional relationships among
evident in the current knowledge-based societal
these three variables and whether they have a
settings that in order to compete in the ever-
critical impact on the comprehensive
demanding industrial requirements, it is
transformation process.
necessary to obtain formal academic training.
Moreover, having academic competencies Background
influences an individual's social, cultural and The relationship between human development
economic behaviours up to a great extent. On and human mobility is one of the subjects of
the other hand, intensification, as well as major academic controversy. The argument
acceleration in gender equality, refers that the over migration and human development depicts
influence of gender in the social transformation several aspects, such as whether social
is quite important also. As suggested by development leads towards migration or not.
Tankard and Paluck(2016), social power and As suggested by Amelina and Horvath (2017),
inequality in the economic, political and the perception towards migration as social
societal environment are making a detrimental development failure has made critical
impact on the sustainable change of the social adjustments to many country's policy settings.
order. In such a case, education within an In addition to this, it is also quite arguable
adequate gender-equal framework should be whether gender orientation influences
maintaining diversity in the overall migration trends. In the below figure, it can be
transformation process. observed that there are 272 million migrant
Moreover, migration is another key driver that populations around the globe which contributes
is making significant construction to the social to 3.5% of the world's population. Along with
transformation process. Therefore, in this this, 52% of the migrant population are male,
study, an analysis of the various migration and 48% are females (We Forum, 2020).
trends alongside the impact of gender and Moreover, most of the international migrants
education on social transformation has been are under working age.
presented. With the help of critical observation
Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1859

Figure 1: Migration statistics as per the gender orientation

(Source: We Forum, 2020)
This only implies while assigning about the evidence on social transformation than the
migration behaviour of a general population, existing male-dominated social orders.
‘gender’ should be a critical variable for On the other hand, education’s role in social
consideration. Now, as the figure projected, the transformation is undoubtedly the most critical
majority of the migration is associated with one due to several aspects. As mentioned by
working-class people. Therefore, it can be said Tankard and Paluck(2016), education with
that employment should be considered as the evidence-based practices can bring significant
prime human mobility factor. In context to the changes within an individual’s attitude and
present development in the world order, gender perspectives on social orders. Simply put,
features of the society play a critical role in the differences between relevant and redundant
comprehensive upliftment. As per the views of social and cultural practices can only be
Stephan et al. (2016), it does not matter what witnessed through proper education
the socio-political context is; there should backgrounds. Education acts as an instrument
always be some emancipatory practices in of change with the help of scientific and logical
context to gender discrimination. Similarly, reasoning, training, skills and progressive
after the transformation of the eastern thoughts. As per the analysis of Weinschenk et
European countries into more progressive and al.(2018), many of the developing countries'
gender-equal societal norms, changes in the limited social practices and cultural dogmas
development was quite visible. As per the can be traced back to the lack of education in
evaluation of Oyibo et al. (2017), gender the majority of the citizens. In precise,
equality in the cultural context has a bounteous education is the specific bridge that fills the
effect on the overall development process. In gaps of social inequalities through reforms and
precise, a balance of power between males and transformations.
females in the social order has given more

However, it should be noted that education and degradation and transformation of gender
gender have an interwoven relationship that norms. In precise, there are interrelated
has influenced the societal transformation behavioural dynamics among education,
process. As demonstrated by Rocha and Van migration and gender that influences socio-
(2020), education shapes “individuals' gender cultural development and transformation.
role attitudes”also influences the overall Method
participation of women in different social This study has followed a primary data
changes. As the current world order suggests, collection methodology in order to collect
education is now used as the leveraging tool relevant data on the selected problem area. As
that can help society to achieve gender equality per the observation of Mohajan(2018), primary
within a given cultural setting. Moreover, data collection can be quite beneficial while
gender equality and development has always evaluating demographic and societal dynamics.
been part of the transformation agendas for In such a case, this study followed a primary
global leadership. “Education 2030” agenda survey data collection and analysis technique.
recognizes that the “gender equality action In regarding this survey, 20 random people
plan” primarily focuses on a “system-wide have been asked ten predetermined questions
transformation” for the benefit of all the social on the chosen research area. These questions
layers (UNESCO, 2021).Hence, it is evident each have the capability to enlighten a specific
global leadership's philosophical alignment context such as gender equality and
with gender and education is very much discrimination, education and social changes,
associated with social order transformations. migration and social-environmental benefits.
Now migration is within a comprehensive Responses are evaluated within a qualitative
framework associated with the transmission of manner, and relevant literature supports are
cultural values and cumulative societal provided in terms of justifying context. As
practices. Based on the study of Schewel and opined by Taherdoost(2016), qualitative and
Bahir (2019), the impact of migration on the analysis of the survey data is quite beneficial in
livelihood of people is quite diverse. Moreover, terms of incorporating human interests into the
migration can result in a change in culture, research. Therefore, analysis of the survey
education, environment, gender-specific roles responses is done within a very detailed
and many other aspects due to certain key structure and evaluates any changing attitude,
variables like the host country's culture, trends within a specific target group. In order
economic attributes and increased income. to make the justification more aligned with a
Similarly, migration has also been correlated research objective, a flexible approach is taken
with various larger social phenomena such as in data interpretation[refer to appendix].
democratic institutions, environmental
Results and discussion
Relation between education and migration in society transformation
Figure 2: Co-education system and society transformation

(Source: Survey report)

Relation between gender, education and migrant in the context of social

transformation
Figure 8: Impact of gender discrimination on migration

Figure 9: Role of education in social transformation

Figure 10: Role of migration in social transformation


Figure 11: Role of gender equity in social transformation

The survey report supports that gender equality migration by lowering the job opportunity for
promotes sustainable development. However, female employees and female candidates
gender equality has a strong role in reducing (Hynie, 2018). On the other hand, gender
the poverty rate of the society, encouraging the discrimination lowers the job flexibility, job
formation of a new individuality, and lowering reaction for females and it the curb in the way
the unemployment rate. Gender equity allows of social development. Briefly, it can be stated
the society to create equal education that gender equity, migration opportunities, and
opportunities and migrant opportunities for all the nation's education standards are
people, and social equity develops as a part of interrelated.
social transformation (Webb et al. 2017). By Discussion
lowering society's unemployment rate by Gender equity can be considered as a very
providing equal educational scope to the primary step of social transformation. A
individual, gender equality improves society's positive social transformation indicates caste
financial condition. On the other hand, the discrimination-free and gender discrimination-
survey report implies that migration solves the
free society culture. Gender equality leads to
unemployment issue, improves the number of removing societal discrimination that has a
educational and vocational professionals, and high role in migration (Laliberte Rudman et al.
improves the housing situation for foreigners. 2019). The developed and advanced education
The development of balanced society culture, supports the nation to be technically updated
an improved education system, and a stable and utilize its human resource. As a result, due
and welcoming environment accepting new to having a high job prospect, the people do not
cultures contribute to migration in social get interested in migration, and brain damage
transformation. of the country decreases.
Moreover, education educates the individual of On the other hand, Ivanchevaet al. (2019)
society and provides cultural knowledge to mentioned that migration improves social
accept a new culture and develop a diverse interaction by developing a diverse society.
culture in the society (Eastin, 2018). The The children of the society learn to welcome
ability to accept a new culture is the different cultural people. It supports them to
contribution of education in social get engaged in international business in coming
development. Through increasing the literacy days when the company has employed people
rate, education guides the society to develop a from different cultures. Migration reduces the
stable economic situation that improves the unemployment rate of society and improves the
wellbeing of the society. Moreover, knowledge quality of peoples' life. As Erel and Ryan
sharing is the part of education that supports (2019) illustrated, migration offers the people
the society from getting rid of prejudice, to learn about new customs, languages, and
stereotype ideas. On the other hand, from the culture that supports improving the
survey report, it has been seen that gender brotherhood among the people. On the other
discrimination creates a negative impact on hand, brotherhood improvement reduces the
Relation between gender, education and migrant in the context of social

transformation
Figure 8: Impact of gender discrimination on migration

Figure 9: Role of education in social transformation

Figure 10: Role of migration in social transformation


AN EMPIRICAL STUDY FOR ASSESSING READING SKILL – A CASE STUDY WITH

REFERENCE TO ENGINEERING GRADUATES OF ERODE REGION
B.S. Gomathi1 and T.S. Geetha2
1
Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
2
Department of English, J.K.K.Nataraja College of Arts and Science, Kumarapalayam, Namakkal Dt.,Tamil
Nadu, India
gomathirkv@gmail.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Reading is an important part of any learner's life. In this competitive environment, it is necessary to be informed in
order to attain one's objectives. Reading is a common academic skill that is linked to writing. Reading is a pleasurable
language ability that plays an important role in the growth of one's life and society. It is a plausible statement that a
person who can read and write can lead humanity. This vital linguistic talent is incorporated into the educational
system, and it becomes the educational system's equivalent. As a result, the ability to read has become a must for kids
who want to achieve great success in life and in school. This ability to respond inspires readers.This research paper
sheds light on significance of reading, its strategies and assessment of B.E. Mechanical Engineering students and B.E
Electronics and Communication engineering students through a questionnaire. The questionnaire is divided into two
phases. The first phase deals with common habits of selected learners and the second phase with five types of reading
assessment connected to their academic study. The researcher has followed qualitative and quantitative methods for
the assessment.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Keywords: responsive skill, critical thinking, assessment, dynamic role, language skill, competitive scenario and
reading strategies
programme, data was analysed using

Introduction
independent sample t-tests and paired t-tests.
A well-structured attempt to share one's The results clearly showed that participants in
experiences, thoughts, ideas, and information is the experimental group who received text
referred to as communication. It is always structure training outperformed participants in
evaluating itself through words. In any the control group when teaching reading using
language, there are four major modalities of the traditional method.
information communication. Listening,
Speaking, Reading, and Writing are the Review of related Literature
methods. These abilities are divided into two Reading holds a very dignified position and
categories: receptive and productive abilities. plays a very dynamic role in the development
Reading and listening skills belong to the first of humanity and global society. It is critical for
group, while writing and speaking skills belong the students' academic success and
to the second. Prescribed curricula of NCERT, achievement. In today's world, reading is a
SCERT, Central or State Universities are used fundamental language function. It is important
to teach communication in English from to master reading because it is a part of one's
elementary to collegiate levels. Engineering is daily activities such as reading instructions
one of the education streams in India that from a manual, warnings on a medicine bottle,
produces good technocrats in various reading sign boards, directions while travelling,
engineering divisions every year. Engineering or reading pamphlets, etc. Books, magazines,
students, without a doubt, require English journals, and the internet, which is an excellent
communication in order to meet the learning tool, necessitate the ability to read and
expectations of today's corporate world. comprehend the content or context. According
Engineers must also efficiently correlate and to Hermida, J. (2009), "We are heading
communicate with a diverse team, as well as towards a digital nation where we are
express impede concepts to non-technical overflowing with information, but reading is
groups. During this research programme, the primary way to take advantage of it."
expository text structures were taught. To Reading aids in the discovery of new things,
investigate the effectiveness of the training the development of creativity, and the

violence from the society and develops a On the other hand, if the nation does not have a
peaceful society. The intercultural standard education system, citizens migrate to
transformation between two countries through other countries with high employment rates.
the exchange of migrants allows the nation to Migration supports society to mitigate the
bring social development (Schewel, 2020). On labour cruise issue and be the cause of
the other hand, since migration influences the overcrowding. Migration and education are
education of a nation, the society develops considered the engine of social change. People
through obtaining traditional education. On the generally migrate for getting a better education,
other hand, the low scope for the migrant economic opportunities and escaping violence.
student to get educational opportunities in The education of the children decides how
foreign countries can harm the society much the student will be able to contribute to
development process and violate the law of his or her nation or community. Hence the
human rights. migrant children must have equal opportunity
The social transformation will be implemented and the right to education.
if the maximum citizens of the nation get out of Gender equality indicates the equal human
poverty, and through providing job right for each one, including migrants and
opportunities, migrants are allowed to cross the natives. In social transformation, gender has a
poverty line (Pavlovskaya, 2018). On the other strong and influencing role in abolishing the
hand, disagreements between different discrimination between men and women. The
religions and cultures are the negative result of development of equal rights for individuals is
migrants that can be harmful to society the sign of social transformation, and the
(Robertson, 2019). Greater occupational gender gap of the nation may resist the social
specialization, a better-educated workforce, and government to implement that social
innovation adoption and economic productivity transformation. It has been seen that male
are the positive impact of migration and people have a high tendency to migrate
education on society. Hence as a brief, it can be compared to female candidates. Hence it can be
stated that gender, migrants and education are stated that social transformation will be
all interrelated in the social transformation implemented only when each man and woman
context. will have an equal job opportunity and
Conclusion opportunity to migrate as per their wish. The
educational culture of the nation has a strong
Migration creates an impact on phenomena
role in its migration rate and social
such as environmental degradation, democratic
transformation growth.
institutions, and gender norms through the
Gender equality will support to prevents
resources provided by remittances or
violence against women, developing equal
transmission of values and knowledge.
human rights, to make society safe for women,
Migration can change the skill composition in
and it is a strong sign of social transformation.
both origin countries and destination countries.
In present days the poverty rate of women is
Educational investments and enrolment rates
more than men, and the aim of social
are highly affected by the migration and
transformation is to decrease the poverty rate
encouragement to society in knowledge sharing
of women by creating equality and merit based
to promote the country's economic
on the opportunity for each. By creating equal
development. Multicultural Societies are the
education enrolment for each gender, society is
typical result of migration, and multicultural
transforming in a positive direction. The poor
society encourages the education system to
educational opportunity and gender-based
cover up the multiculturalism that enhances the
opportunity influence people to migrate to
cultural sense of the students. Lack of services,
other locations, and this is detrimental to the
lack of safety, high crime, crop failure,
social transformation process. The higher
drought, flooding, poverty, and war are the
priority to male students than female students
social causes of migration. Diverse culture is
can lead to social development degradation,
the form of social development, and migration
and it can harm the society's balance.
promotes diverse cultures.
Educational attainment for women has been

changed with the change of labour force While conducting the survey process, some
participation and the role of gender. The role of major considerations are taken in the data
gender or influence of gender gap in education, collection methodological settings. As per the
employment, and marriage may lead the views of Arifin (2018), consent of the
society to degradation. participants needs to be obtained before
conducting a primary survey; in such a case, all
Future scope
the participants are provided with informed
In future days how education and migration are consent forms. Entire data collection and
creating an impact on transformational change analysis has followed the participant's
in different communities can be analysed. anonymity policy which depicted no individual
Moreover, discussing the process of social harm should be brought upon by information
transformation with considering the factor of protocol breach. Similarly, data has been stored
migration, gender equality, and education can within a cloud storage facility with maximum
be made in the future study. The study is based encryption. Moreover, no data has been used
on only survey reports, and in the future for any kind of business purpose. The use of
secondary research on this topic can be done to the data is strictly valued within a given
highlight the different perceptions of different academic context, and after completion of the
authors regarding social transformation and study, they will be destroyed. Moreover, data
education, migration and gender's role in it protection guidelines provided by the GDPR
(Arifin, 2018). Additionally, the impact of have been followed throughout the study
social transformation on the economy and progress. Along with that, for avoiding the
social development of a nation can be another ethical issues related to primary research, it is
discussion point in future research. also highlighted that respondents are not bound
to answer every questions.
Ethical consideration
References
1. Amelina, A. and Horvath, K., 2017. temporal analytical framework. Sociology,
Sociology of migration. The Cambridge 53(2), pp.246-263.
Handbook of Sociology: Core Areas in 7. Horvath, K., Amelina, A. and Peters, K.,
Sociology and the Development of the 2017. Re-thinking the politics of migration.
Discipline, 1, pp.455-464. On the uses and challenges of regime
2. Arifin, S.R.M., 2018. Ethical perspectives for migration research.
considerations in qualitative Migration Studies, 5(3), pp.301-314.
study. International Journal of Care 8. Hynie, M., 2018. The social determinants
Scholars, 1(2), pp.30-33. of refugee mental health in the post-
3. Bernard, A. and Bell, M., 2018. migration context: A critical review. The
Educational selectivity of internal migrants: Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 63(5),
A global assessment. Demographic pp.297-303.
Research, 39, pp.835-854. 9. Ivancheva, M., Lynch, K. and Keating, K.,
4. Cattaneo, C., Beine, M., Fröhlich, C.J., 2019. Precarity, gender and care in the
Kniveton, D., Martinez-Zarzoso, I., neoliberal academy. Gender, Work &
Mastrorillo, M., Millock, K., Piguet, E. and Organization, 26(4), pp.448-462.
Schraven, B., 2019. Human migration in 10. Kivel, P., 2017. Social service or social
the era of climate change. Review of change?. In The revolution will not be
Environmental Economics and Policy, funded (pp. 129-150). Duke University
13(2), pp.189-206. Press.
5. Eastin, J., 2018. Climate change and gender 11. Laliberte Rudman, D., Pollard, N., Craig,
equality in developing states. World C., Kantartzis, S., Piškur, B., AlgadoSimó,
Development, 107, pp.289-305. S., Van Bruggen, H. and Schiller, S., 2019.
6. Erel, U. and Ryan, L., 2019. Migrant Contributing to social transformation
capitals: Proposing a multi-level spatio- through occupation: Experiences from a

think tank. Journal of Occupational integrative framework of change

Science, 26(2), pp.316-322. processes. Journal of Management, 42(5),
12. Mohajan, H.K., 2018. Qualitative research pp.1250-1281.
methodology in social sciences and related 20. Taherdoost, H., 2016. Sampling methods in
subjects. Journal of Economic research methodology; how to choose a
Development, Environment and sampling technique for research. How to
People, 7(1), pp.23-48. Choose a Sampling Technique for Research
13. Oyibo, K., Orji, R. and Vassileva, J., 2017, (April 10, 2016).
July. The influence of culture in the effect 21. Tankard, M.E. and Paluck, E.L., 2016.
of age and gender on social influence in Norm perception as a vehicle for social
persuasive technology. In Adjunct change. Social Issues and Policy
publication of the 25th conference on user Review, 10(1), pp.181-211.
modeling, adaptation and 22. UNESCO, 2021 Education and gender
personalization (pp. 47-52). equality, available at
14. Pavlovskaya, M., 2018. Critical GIS as a https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-
tool for social transformation. The and-gender-equality [accessed on 15th
Canadian Geographer/Le September 2021]
GéographeCanadien, 62(1), pp.40-54. 23. We Forum, 2020, Global migration, by the
15. Robertson, S., 2019. Migrant, interrupted: numbers: who migrates, where they go and
The temporalities of ‘staggered’migration why available at
from Asia to Australia. Current Sociology, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/
67(2), pp.169-185. iom-global-migration-report-international-
16. Rocha, V. and Van Praag, M., 2020. Mind migrants-2020/ [accessed on 15th
the gap: The role of gender in September 2021]
entrepreneurial career choice and social 24. Webb, S., Burke, P.J., Nichols, S., Roberts,
influence by founders. Strategic S., Stahl, G., Threadgold, S. and
Management Journal, 41(5), pp.841-866. Wilkinson, J., 2017. Thinking with and
17. Schewel, K. and Bahir, A.L., 2019. beyond Bourdieu in widening higher
Migration and Social Transformation in education participation. Studies in
Ethiopia. International Migration Institute Continuing Education, 39(2), pp.138-160.
Working Paper Series Paper 152. 25. Weinschenk, A.C., Panagopoulos, C.,
18. Schewel, K., 2020. Understanding Drabot, K. and van der Linden, S., 2018.
immobility: Moving beyond the mobility Gender and social conformity: Do men and
bias in migration studies. International women respond differently to social
Migration Review, 54(2), pp.328-355. pressure to vote?. Social Influence, 13(2),
19. Stephan, U., Patterson, M., Kelly, C. and pp.53-64.
Mair, J., 2016. Organizations driving
positive social change: A review and an
Appendix: Survey questions

1. Is coeducation system is good for social transformation?
2. Is there any relationship exist between educational attainment, enrolment, and migration?
3. Does educational attainment create impact on out-migration?
4. Is Gender discrimination an obstacle in the way of social transformation?
5. Is migration a social change?
6. Are gender and education correlated in the context of social transformation?
7. Does gender discrimination create impact on migration?
8. What is the role of education in social transformation?
9. What is the role of migration in social transformation?
10. What is the role of gender equity in social transformation?

Fig.2 Study Time preference of all branches
From Fig. 2 most of the students from interest in studying at afternoon. Students of
Mechanical engineering have preferred to EEE are more enthusiastic to study in the
study early in the morning whereas number of evening whereas civil students are least
CSE students are least interested in studying at interested in studying. Both ECE and CSE
this time. Civil engineering students are also students are equally shown interest in studying
similarly interested to read at this time. most of at late night than other times. The researcher
the CSE students have preferred to study at has come to know that the interest of the
afternoon whereas students of Mechanical student might have concerned on factors like
engineering have showed least interest. Both environment, surroundings and their day to day
ECE and EEE students have shown equal activities schedule.
Fig. 3 Time taken by the students of various branches to read the text book
From the Fig.3 the selected students are asked minutes to complete it. EEE students take 3
to answer how much time they would take to minutes to read 10pages from their text book
read ten pages from their text book. Civil whereas ME students take 45 minutes to read
students have quickly responded and answered and CSE students mostly take 25 minutes to
that they take only 25 minutes to read as the study 10 pages from their text books. ECE
content is taught by their teachers in the class students‟ ratio is almost equal with students
room. Remaining three branches of the who have preferred 20, 30, 45 minutes reading.
students have answered that they take 30

development of imagination power."It is more from the text and combines it with what is
important and difficult to transition from already known”. Urquahrt & Weir(1998)
reading in a conventional classroom to reading pointed out that „Reading is the process of
in an authentic classroom. According to receiving and interpreting information encoded
Muthaiyan M.D.K. (2016), non-readers are at a in language form via the medium of print‟.
significant disadvantage. 'Reading maketh a Reading comprehension is the result of an
full man, conference a ready man, and writing interaction between the reader, the reader's
an exact man,' said Francis Bacon. strategies, the material being read, and the
Reading English is a fundamental skill for context in which reading occurs (Edwards &
acquiring professional knowledge in one's Turner, 2009). In the research of Prtichard and
academic background and future career Nasr (2004) “English was an important
because many authentic textbooks and international language for engineering students.
information about advanced technology are in other words, acquiring proficient reading
published in English. Another important skill in English for technology is required in
consideration is that English reading their workplaces in future. Tompkins (2007)
comprehension ability is required to deepen mentioned that students can identify the
their professional knowledge at their expository text structure implemented in the
workplaces, and engineering students must reading passage, its helps them to discover the
read English fluently. Furthermore, it is main ideas. Reading directly correlates with a
believed that a person who can read and write student‟s ability to summarize the information
is capable of leading humanity. The printed after identifying the main ideas. There are two
word has the power to change the way people related strategies that makes impact in the
think and live. As we live in a postmodern era reader‟s ability to comprehend text.
of rapid technological advancement, we must Hypothesis:
contend with the conditions of "information 1. To investigate the effectiveness training on
explosion" and "information overload". students’ improvement of reading skill.
Though some information comes from 2. To identify the vocabulary level of the
electronic media such as television or radio, we students’ in Reading comprehension
do not require much reading skill; however, the
majority of the information we require to fulfil Teaching Reading is essential in school and
or cope with our daily needs comes from colleges
written sources such as newspapers, books, Reading is an important tool for academic
magazines, and computers. This necessitates success because it allows students to access
reading abilities. This necessitates reading more useful information (Alderson, 2000).
abilities. In this day and age of computers and Reading is an important part of every learner's
technology, the world has shrunk to the size of life. Reading keeps one up to date on current
a village, and it is now possible to obtain any events. It is a skill that the slow learner can
needed information right at your doorstep by easily acquire. The majority of students read
using the internet. According to Harvey and using one of two methods: reading aloud or
Goudris (2000), reading strategies are essential silently. The former allows for the correction
tools for effective comprehension because they of pronunciation and spelling. When a learner
assist the reader in understanding written tasks. progresses from school to collegiate education,
Levine Fernez & Reeves conducted another silent reading becomes more useful. Students
study on reading ability and its role in can practise their reading skills after they have
university students in 2000. They indicate that been equipped with them through
one of the most important skills that university comprehension exercises and faster reading
students of English as a second and foreign textual matters. Once the reading skill has been
language ESL/ESL must acquire is the ability strengthened through comprehension exercises
to read academic text (Levine, Ferenz, & and faster reading textual matters, students can
Reeves, 2000).According to Koda, (2005) practise it independently for self-study. In
“Comprehension occurs when the reader teaching, students are given the opportunity to
extracts and integrates various information read aloud in front of their peers, which leads

to them understanding context, enjoying When students develop their reading skills
reading, obeying instructions, and discovering through books, they focus on a specific area of
facts and information on their own. It's another reading. They are
chance for him to correct his mistakes and
 Organizing reading
improve his reading skills. In “Techniques of
Teaching English", Dr. Shaik Mowla  A routine establishment in reading
emphasises that „silent reading is a useful skill  Planning the working week
in the later stages of learning a language." The  Preparing a timetable
senior student must read a large number of  Having ideal time in terms of use of
reference and other books and understand the time etc.
gist of them in order to use them. He should Some books are intended to be used with
learn to read good literature both for pleasure checklists or grids to prompt students to
and for profit. Reading ability is a necessary question themselves. On the other hand, some
tool for students to achieve academic success. books assist in posing questions to raise self-
Effective reading comprehension appears to be awareness, which then leads to discussions and
possible only if readers actively interact with comparisons with peers or family members. A
and are interested in reading the text. (Flowers, questionnaire is a good example of a primary
2010). awareness raising activity. It encourages
Reading instils the habits of paying attention students to be ideal, and it is part of a unit on
and discovering facts and information. It has 'How realistically are students using time?'
something to do with the habit of working in a The researcher has developed a few assessment
limited amount of time. It is associated with the parameters for testing the reading ability of
learner's intense curiosity. Reading assessment selected Engineering College students. To
through reading habits of Engineering Students assess their reading skills, 500 students were
of Velalar College of Engineering and chosen from five disciplines: Computer
Technology, Erode, Tamil Nadu were Science and Engineering, Mechanical
considered. Students who enrolled in Engineering, Electronics and Communication
Engineering finish their +2 and enter this Engineering, Electrical and Electronics
technical science course through counselling. Engineering, and Civil Engineering. Initially,
Many students believe they have gained new students are instructed to complete a
independence. It is difficult for faculty questionnaire consisting of five questions
members to motivate students to follow the designed to assess the amount of time they
new curriculum. At this point, the reading habit devote to reading in their daily activities.
helps students gain knowledge in core subjects
as well as English. According to Grabe (2009), Methodology
"Reading fluency is the ability to read quickly In order to answer the research question posed
with exact ease and accuracy and to read with in the current research, combination of
appropriate phrasing." It is a long process of quantitative and qualitative design was selected
incremental learning, and text comprehension and the efficacy of the strategy instruction had
is an expected outcome of fluent reading". been measured through quantitative method
Effective teachers help students develop their applying strategy use questionnaire and reading
vocabulary by modelling the use of precise comprehension tests; and the researcher‟s
words in conversations, instruction, and observation and note taking triangulated the
discussions about texts or content. Words in source of data collection and data analysis. It is
context provide clues to meaning; isolated selected as quantitative method helps the
words do not. New, interesting, or critical researcher to involve considerable number of
words for understanding a text must be samples from final year engineering students
thoroughly investigated. Before beginning to from selected branches. The qualitative method
read, the teacher selects a few new or difficult makes room for the study and analyzes
words — those for which context are responses of the sample in detail.
insufficient to deduce meaning from content
clues (i.e., words around the unknown word).

Liquid Assets Ratio Inventory

Inventory Turnover ratio = X 100
Liquid assets ratio is an important liquidity
Total Sales
management tool to assess the extent liquid
assets can support to total asset. The proportion
Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio
of liquid assets to total assets indicates the
overall liquidity position of the TNCCWS. This The receivables turnover ratio is an accounting
ratio is calculated as follows: measure used to quantify a company's
Liquid Assets
effectiveness in collecting its accounts
Liquid Assets Ratio = X 100 Total receivable, or the money owed by customers or
Assets clients.
Inventory Turnover ratio Net Credit Sales
Accounts Receivable X 100
Inventory is the account of all the goods a Turnover Ratio =
company has in its stock, including raw Average Accounts Receivable
materials, work-in-progress materials, and
finished goods that will ultimately be sold.
Analysis and Interpretation

Table 1 Cash Ratio (Rupees in lakhs)
S.No Year Cash and Bank Balances Rs. Current Liability Rs. Ratio (In percentage)
1 2009-10 1099.09 24583.32 4.47
2 2010-11 1019.21 23460.02 4.34
3 2011-12 1060.39 24055.24 4.41
4 2012-13 1060.08 30476.25 3.48
5 2013-14 1555.52 39083.26 3.98
6 2014-15 1632.09 42363.68 3.85
7 2015-16 1867.65 41776.84 4.47
8 2016-17 2063.86 47797.84 4.32
9 2017-18 3426.60 60897.85 5.63
10 2018-19 3901.45 73994.35 5.27
Average -- -- 4.42
Source: Annual reports of TNCCWS from 2009-10 to 2018-19.
Table 1 explains the cash of the consumer determine critical cash ratio and tries to
cooperative society. The cash ratio on average maintain. The cash ratio can be measuring a
was 4.42 per cent was healthy. There is no ideal company’s ability to pay off short-term
figure, but a ratio of at least 0.5 to 1 is usually liabilities with highly liquid assets.
preferred. It is helpful to note the factors that
Table 2 Liquid Assets Ratio (Rupees in lakhs)
Ratio
S.No Year Liquid AssetsRs. Total AssetsRs. (In percentage)
1 2009-10 1099.09 46554.07 2.36

2 2010-11 1019.21 52039.38 1.96
3 2011-12 1060.39 50037.58 2.12
4 2012-13 1060.08 61683.77 1.72
5 2013-14 1555.52 71499.68 2.18
6 2014-15 1632.09 81339.05 2.01
7 2015-16 1867.65 104677.32 1.78
8 2016-17 2063.86 112514.02 1.83
9 2017-18 3426.60 136754.86 2.51
10 2018-19 3901.45 145888.23 2.67
Average -- -- 2.11
Source: Annual reports of TNCCWS from 2009-10 to 2018-19

References
1. Abuzayed, B. (2012). Working capital and Abroad, New Delhi: R.B. Publications,
management and firms’ performance in 387.
emerging markets: The case of Jordan. 7. Singh (2016). Problems and Prospects of
International Journal of Managerial the Cooperative Movement in India under
Finance, 8(2): 155-179 the Globalization Regime, International
2. Bedi, R.D. (2001). Theory, History and Journal of Indian Psychology, 3(4), 59.
Practice of Cooperation, Book Depot, 61. 8. www.nccf-india.com/aboutus.php
3. Cooperative society Hand book (2009). 9. www.tn.gov.in – (Policy Note on
Published by Tamilnadu government. Cooperation Department 2017-2018)
4. Livingston, M., and L. Zhou, (2015) 10. Yacine Belghitar, Ephraim Clark and Nitin
Brokerage commissions and mutual fund Deshmukh (2017). Importance of The Fund
performance. Journal of Financial Management Company in The Performance
Research, 38, 283-303. of Socially Responsible Mutual Funds. The
5. Mathur, B.S. (2002). Cooperation in India, Journal of Financial Research, 11(3), 349-
Agra: Sahitya Bhavan, 322. 367.
6. Mukhi, H.R. (2005). Cooperation in India

Fig.4 Time taken for reading Novels
From the Fig. 4 represents the time allocated passages text for assessing their reading in the
for reading a novel by selected engineering following variables.
students for the study. Many engineering
students have answered that they show less 1. Identification of vocabulary in the
interest in reading novels as they hardly find context
time to read nonacademic books. Most of the 2. Recognizing Main idea
CSE students take 60 minutes to read ten pages 3. Identification of supporting details
of a novel. ECE students take 30 minutes to 4. Recognizing implied main idea and the
read 10 pages from a novel. ME students 20 central point
minutes to read whereas Civil students also 5. Understanding relationships of the
take 60 minutes to read 10 pages from a novel words and difference between facts and
due to the above responses the researcher has opinions
understood that nonacademic reading is Identification of vocabulary in context.
depended upon interest of the students as it is
not compulsory to read a novel. Yet some of Two reading practices are given to selected
the students are active to improve their reading students and instructed to concentrate on the
skills through reading novels. two types of context clues and multiple choice
questions.
The second phase of questionnaire for Out of 500 students who have taken up the
selected engineering students. tests 160 students have scored full marks
The research is conducted to extract the (10/10) whereas 66 students have secured 9/10
strength and areas of development (weakness) marks and the majority of the students and 59
of selected students in their levels of reading. students scored 8/10 remaining 29 students
They are also assessed as per their interest, have got 7/10. The researcher has found 54
previous knowledge regarding language and students have got 6/10 and 17 students have
impact of vernacular language. Selected scored 5/10. 45 have got 4/10 and 5 students
students from five branches are given a two have secured 3/10 and 10 have secured 2/10.
36 students have got 1/10 and 23 students have
got 0 marks.
Identification of vocabulary in the context
Branch 10/10 9/10 8/10 7/10 6/10 5/10 4/10 3/10 2/10 1/10 0/10
Civil 30 23 10 2 10 6 10 5 4 10 10
EEE 20 15 10 3 20 10 5 0 3 10 2
ME 30 6 12 4 10 0 10 0 2 10 6
ECE 40 12 13 10 4 0 20 0 1 4 3
CSE 40 10 14 10 10 1 0 0 0 2 2

Fig.5 Identification of vocabulary in the context

According to the Fig. 5, the identification of civil students have got 9/10 as well 0 marks
vocabulary in context is tested through a have been recorded by 10 students from civil
reading practise for selected Engineering branch. So the researcher has understood that
students. Most of the students from ECE and students need to read other books to improve
CSE students secured 10/10 marks. Most of the their vocabulary skills.
Recognizing Main Idea

Branch 10/10 9/10 8/10 7/10 6/10 5/10 4/10 3/10 2/10 1/10 0/10
Civil 4 23 2 10 6 10 10 5 30 10 10
EEE 3 15 3 10 20 10 5 0 20 10 2
ME 2 6 4 12 10 0 10 0 30 10 6
ECE 1 12 10 13 4 0 20 0 40 4 3
CSE 10 0 10 14 10 1 0 0 40 2 2
Fig.6 Recognizing Main Idea
According to Fig. 6, the selected students took and 23 students have got 0/10. The researcher
the test administered by the researcher in order has understood that students need to practice
to assess their ability to recognise the main reading texts as they are not good at
idea of the test. Least number of students have recognizing the main idea of the text. They
secured 2/10 marks. Out of 500 students 23 might not have concentrated on reading and
students from civil branch have secured 9/10 focused on academics.

Identification of supporting details

Branch 10/10 9/10 8/10 7/10 6/10 5/10 4/10 3/10 2/10 1/10 0/10
Civil 24 3 10 2 8 8 8 7 30 10 10
EEE 17 1 7 6 22 8 2 3 20 10 2
ME 6 2 6 6 8 2 5 5 30 10 6
ECE 7 6 13 10 2 2 10 10 40 4 3
CSE 10 0 14 10 2 8 0 0 40 2 2
Fig.7 Identification of supporting details

According to Fig.7, the selected students are 1/10. 23 students received a 0/10. According to
tested on identifying support details in the the researcher, students must learn to skim and
given text. Only 24 students out of 500 scan when reading.
received a 2/10, and 160 students received a
Recognizing implied main idea and the central point
Branch 10/10 9/10 8/10 7/10 6/10 5/10 4/10 3/10 2/10 1/10 0/10
Civil 2 23 4 10 6 10 10 5 30 10 10
EEE 3 15 3 10 20 10 5 0 20 10 2
ME 4 6 2 12 10 0 10 0 30 10 6
ECE 8 5 10 13 4 0 20 0 40 4 3
CSE 10 0 10 14 10 1 0 0 40 2 2
Fig.8 Recognizing implied main idea and the central point

Figure 8 depicts that the selected students were students received a 2/10. The researcher looked
tested on their ability to recognise and infer the into whether students needed training to
main idea to the central point through second improve their reading skills.
reading practise. Only 27 students out of 500 .
received a perfect score. Only 160 out of 500
Understanding relationships of the words and difference between facts and opinions
Branch 10/10 9/10 8/10 7/10 6/10 5/10 4/10 3/10 2/10 1/10 0/10
Civil 3 15 10 4 8 6 5 10 20 10 10
EEE 2 23 10 10 25 5 3 2 30 10 2
ME 8 6 9 11 5 5 5 5 40 10 6
ECE 4 5 13 10 4 0 10 10 30 4 3
CSE 5 5 14 10 5 6 0 0 40 2 2
Fig. 9 Relationships of the words and difference between facts and opinions
The chart represents that the chosen students responded well, and teachers also helped the
were tested to determine their understanding of researcher by allowing them to complete the
word relationships and the distinction between questionnaire. Through reading assessments,
facts and opinions. The students are assigned a the researcher discovered that students must
task for this assessment. Only 22 students concentrate on improving their reading skills.
received 10/10, while the remaining 23 They should emphasise the importance of
students received 0/10. 160 students received reading because it is directly related to their
2/10. The researcher discovered that students academic performance. They should be able to
need to be trained in reading equipment. keep up academically as well as with language
skills, particularly reading. It is a skill that is
Conclusion
linked to listening, writing, and speaking. If a
The above study was conducted at Velalar person is good at reading, they can master
College of Engineering and Technology with these three language skills. According to the
500 selected students from five branches, and researcher, students should be cared for in
their reading skills were assessed using two areas of development where they are lacking
phases of a questionnaire. All of the students through this assessment.

References
1. Alderson, J.C. (2000). Assessing reading. 7. Koda, K. Insights into Second Language
Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University. Reading: A Cross- linguistic approach.
2. Edwards, P.A. & Turner, J.D. (2009). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
Family literacy and reading 2005.
comprehension. In Israel, S.E. & Duffy, 8. Levine, A., Ferenzo, O., &Reves, T.
G.G. (eds.) Handbook of Research on (2000). “EFL academic reading and
Reading Comprehension. New York: modern technology: How can we turn our
Routledge. students into independent critical readers?”
3. Flowers, D. (2010). What is comprehension TESLEJ, 4(4), 75-91.
reading? http://www.ehow.com/about 9. Muthaiyan M, D. K. (2016, May). A study
6625410_comprehension-reading_.html. on developing reading skills of engineering
Accessed on 24 July 2014. students through WhatsApp as motivational
4. Grabe, W. (2009). Reading in a second strategy. International Journal of English
language: Moving from theory to practice. Research, 2(3), 1-4.
New York,NY: Cambridge University 10. Pritchard, R. M. O., & Nasr, A. (2004).
Press. Improving reading performance among
5. Hermida, J. (2009, September). The Egyptian engineering students: Principles
Importance of Teaching Academic Reading and practice. English for Specific Purposes,
Skills in First Year University Courses. The 23, 425-445.
International Journal of Research and 11. Tompkins, G.E. (2007). Literacy for the
Review, 3, 20-30. 21st century: Teaching reading and writing
6. Harvey, S, &Goudvis, A. (2000). Strategies in Pre- kindergarten through grade 4 (2nd
that work: Teaching comprehension for ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson.
understanding and engagement. York, ME: 12. Urquhart, S., & Weir, C. J. (1998). Reading
Stenhouse Publishers. in a second language: Process, product and
practice. New York: Longman.

CASH, INVENTORY AND RECEIVABLES MANAGEMENT IN CONSUMER

COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE STORES IN TAMILNADU
S. Rameshkumar*1 and D. Joel Edwinraj*2
*1
Department of Cooperation,T.B.M.L. College, Porayar, Tamilnadu Affiliated to Bharathidasan University,
Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu
*2
Department of Cooperation, T.B.M.L. College, Porayar, Tamilnadu, Affiliated to Bharathidasan
University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Cash ratio plays a crucial role in consumer society operations. The cash is most commonly used as a measure of a
company's liquidity. If the company is forced to pay all current liabilities immediately, this metric shows the company's
ability to do so without having to sell or liquidate other assets. The secondary data collected from consumer
cooperatives in Tamilnadu region. Further, ratio analysis is applied for analysis. It is found that the consumer
cooperative wholesale stores in Tamilnadu Accounts Receivable ratio have increased from 62.53 per cent in 2009-10
to 99.05 per cent in 2018-19.
____________________________________________________________________________
Keywords: Cash, Inventory, Receivables and Consumer Cooperative stores
Introduction regarded as a connection for the movement of

goods from production to distributions among
Cash is considered as vital asset and its proper
the ultimate consumer.
management support company development
and financial strength. An effective cash Methodology
management program designed by companies The present study explores to identify funds
can help to realize this growth and strength. management of Consumer Cooperative in
Marketable securities also come under near Tamil Nadu Region. Descriptive technique
cash, serve as back pool of liquidity which method is applied for this study. In Tamil
provides quick cash when needed. Nadu, Consumer Cooperatives are functioning
Abuzayed, B. (2012) Inventory management is with a three-tier structure with the Tamil Nadu
basically related to task of controlling the Consumers’ Cooperative Federation at the apex
assets that are produced to be sold in the level, 34 Consumer Cooperative Wholesale
normal course of the firm's procedures. The Stores at the district level and 370 Primary
operational objective is to uphold enough Cooperative Stores at the field level. The
inventories, to meet demand for product by secondary data collected from consumer
efficiently organizing the firm's production and cooperatives in Tamilnadu region. Further,
sales operations ratio analysis is applied for analysis.
Accounts receivable typically comprise more
Frame Work of the Variables
than 25 percent of a firm’s assets. The term
Cash Ratio
receivables are described as debt owed to the The cash ratio is a measurement of a
firm by the customers resulting from the sale of company's liquidity, specifically the ratio of a
goods or services in the ordinary course of company's total cash and cash equivalents to its
business. Receivables are forms of investment
current liabilities. The metric calculates a
in any enterprise manufacturing and selling company's ability to repay its short-term debt
goods on credit basis, large sums of funds are with cash or near-cash resources, such as easily
tied up in trade debtors. marketable securities.
Research Need and Problem This ratio computed as follows:
The cash is required to be kept aside to Cash and Bank Balances
Cash Ratio = X100
overcome the period expected as the period of
cash shortage. A firm conducts credit sales to Current Liability
shield its sales from the rivals and to entice the
potential clienteles to buy its products at
favourable terms. It is for these receivables are
3.To study gender roles in patriarchal society. both mind and body in the harsh military skills
of army and girls on the other hand receive
Hypothesis
education based on work of women as
Unpaid and unequal household labour has something of their own nature. Women’s tasks
negative impact on women education in in Greek society are reproduction, upbringing,
patriarchal society. education and house work. These tasks were
Opportunity for higher education and working contributing to the smooth functioning of the
outside the home is higher for boys than girls family unit and also increased benefit to thole
in patriarchal society. community. The authors also explored the role
Higher the economic inequality higher the of feminist movement in 18th century that
exploitation of women in patriarchal society. played the great role for basic rights of
Women are excluded from the gender roles women(political, economic and educational,
towards development in patriarchal society etc.)
2. Review Of Literature Rawat S Preeti (2014) highlights in her paper
that development of women is linked to the
Uma S. Kambhampati and Raji Rajan(2008) belief and practice of patriarchy which
their paper is about patriarchy and the role of subjugates women at various levels such as
girls India’s rural economy. Their analysis political, economic, social, cultural and at
shows that in south India, girls like boys are educational levels, etc.Table 7 of her findings
more likely to go school and to work inside and show that education level of women has no
outside the home than in north India where impact on eve empowerment. This means that
girls have less opportunity to work outside the though it is widely claimed education is the
home and go for education. Their study also medium of improvement of the conditions of
shows that the possibility of achieving higher women. But this is not case in reality.
education and working outside the home is George Prince Atta(2015) his review paper
higher for Hindu girls than Muslim girls, conceptualizes as well as theorises the beliefs
indicating possibly a more restrict patriarchal of traditional Ghanaian society on girl’s
system among Muslim households relative to education. The author in his review research
Hindu households where less patriarchal paper while focusing on the barriers to girl
system is prevalent. Also, father’s and education in Ghana explores that there are
mother’s employment are important for three main categories of factors causing gender
improving economy in households so that gap in primary and secondary education in
girl’s get rid from the household chores and Ghana-these factors are school related, socio-
complete their basic education. cultural and macro level(Tanye,2008; Am and
Tomas Sola Martinez,Francisco Javier Gergel,2009).The school related factors a
Hinojo-Lucena et al(2008) the authors in this serving as barriers are sexual harassment and
article have explored the culture of two cities lack of female teachers as role models. Socio-
Sparta and Athens, the two cities most cultural factors barriers to girl education in
representative of Greek culture in classical Ghana include education for boys highly
period. The ideological and philosophical valued than girls, child labour, and forced and
representatives of classical era marked the early marriage. Socio-cultural or traditional
differentiation in the roles between men and barriers such as societal norms, laws, rules,
women. The men were playing the roles in beliefs and practices hinder female’s
politics, speech, were receiving higher participation in education. The macro level
education and were given dedication in public factor includes poverty. The poverty is the
life. The women were mainly illiterate and major barrier in the girl’s education in Ghana.
were given the key roles as reproduction, Agarwal Sonali(2016) in her paper has
domestic chores and for the education of their explored the concept of patriarchy. She has
children until the age of seven or eight years. defined patriarchy as male centred character.
In this research article the authors have stated The author has also mentioned the theories of
that in Sparta the boys receive the type of patriarchy by Walby in which he has stated that
education which is more disciplined exercising patriarchy debars women from their legal

Table 2 explains the liquidity of the consumer 2010-11 (1.96) and 2011-12 (1.72) are
cooperative society. During the years, 2009-10 moderate level of ratio indicated by
(2.36), 2011-12 (2.12), 2013-14 (2.18), 2014- cooperative society in Tamilnadu. Hence, the
15 (2.01), 2017-18 (2.51) and 2018-19 (2.67) satisfied liquidity ratio level is 1:1. Hence, the
are high level liquidity ratio indicated by consumer cooperative societies have
cooperative society in Tamilnadu although, maintaining optimum ratio.
Table 3 Inventory Turnover Ratio (Rupees in lakhs)

S.No Year Inventory Rs. Total Sales Rs. Ratio (In percentage)
1 2009-10 835.15 5700.90 14.65
2 2010-11 754.68 7376.33 10.23
3 2011-12 723.08 7707.79 9.38
4 2012-13 687.49 8517.56 8.07
5 2013-14 834.19 9880.67 8.44
6 2014-15 1102.99 9500.20 11.61
7 2015-16 930.60 10145.61 9.17
8 2016-17 901.43 11738.56 7.68
9 2017-18 847.30 13747.74 6.16
10 2018-19 1415.43 16096.05 8.79
Average -- -- 9.42
Table 3 explains the Inventory of the consumer by cooperative society in Tamilnadu Hence,
cooperative society. During the years, 2009-10 the satisfied Inventory ratio level is 5 to 10.
(14.65), 2011-12 (10.23), 2013-14 (8.44), Hence, the consumer cooperative societies
2014-15 (11.61), 2017-18 (6.16) and 2018-19 have maintaining optimum ratio.
(8.79) are high level Inventory ratio indicated
Table 4 Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio (Rupees in lakhs)

Average Ratio
Year Net Credit SalesRs.
S.No Accounts ReceivableRs. (In percentage)
1 2009-10 3974.93 6357.32 62.53
2 2010-11 3931.03 6115.13 64.28
3 2011-12 3786.02 5808.61 65.18
4 2012-13 3565.08 4358.01 81.81
5 2013-14 6197.24 6340.11 97.75
6 2014-15 7046.34 7900.48 89.19
7 2015-16 7942.23 8112.16 97.91
8 2016-17 9623.92 9831.09 97.89
9 2017-18 11529.69 11640.72 99.05
10 2018-19 13672.21 14062.87 97.22
Average -- -- 85.28
The consumer cooperative wholesale stores in Conclusion

Tamilnadu Accounts Receivable ratio have Cash management provides an easy cash to pay
increased from 62.53 per cent in 2009-10 to its current liabilities. It is more pure liquid than
99.05 per cent in 2018-19. A company’s quick and current ratio and the capability of
receivables turnover ratio should be monitored
strong and need not to borrow from others. The
and tracked to determine if a trend or pattern is companies’ receivables can track and correlate
developing over time. the collection of receivables to earnings to
measure the impact the company’s credit
practices have on profitability.

References
1. Abuzayed, B. (2012). Working capital and Abroad, New Delhi: R.B. Publications,
management and firms’ performance in 387.
emerging markets: The case of Jordan. 7. Singh (2016). Problems and Prospects of
International Journal of Managerial the Cooperative Movement in India under
Finance, 8(2): 155-179 the Globalization Regime, International
2. Bedi, R.D. (2001). Theory, History and Journal of Indian Psychology, 3(4), 59.
Practice of Cooperation, Book Depot, 61. 8. www.nccf-india.com/aboutus.php
3. Cooperative society Hand book (2009). 9. www.tn.gov.in – (Policy Note on
Published by Tamilnadu government. Cooperation Department 2017-2018)
4. Livingston, M., and L. Zhou, (2015) 10. Yacine Belghitar, Ephraim Clark and Nitin
Brokerage commissions and mutual fund Deshmukh (2017). Importance of The Fund
performance. Journal of Financial Management Company in The Performance
Research, 38, 283-303. of Socially Responsible Mutual Funds. The
5. Mathur, B.S. (2002). Cooperation in India, Journal of Financial Research, 11(3), 349-
Agra: Sahitya Bhavan, 322. 367.
6. Mukhi, H.R. (2005). Cooperation in India

Table.7 Distribution of respondents in view of women are economically exploited by male

domination in patriarchal society.
Women are economically exploited by
Frequency Percentage
male domination in patriarchal society?
I strongly disagree 60 20%
I disagree 45 15%
No opinion 40 13.3%
I agree 75 25%
I strongly agree 80 26.6%
Total 300 100%
Table.7 shows the analyses of statement outside in paid work. This control means men
women are economically exploited by male benefit materially from patriarchy. This is
domination in patriarchal society. The table called “patriarchal mode of production “where
reveals that about 15%respondents disagree women’s labour is expropriated by their
and 20% respondents strongly disagree the husbands and others who live there(Sylvia
above statement. 25% respondents have no Walby 1990). She calls housewives as the
opinion. However, 25% agree and 26% “producing class” and the husbands as the
respondents strongly agree that women are “expropriating class”. According to Hekr,
economically exploited by male domination in patriarchy is a system of social structure and
patriarchal society. Their view was that in practices in which men dominate, oppress and
patriarchal society women’s productivity is exploit women.
controlled by men both in household and
Table.8 Distribution of respondents regarding women are likely excluded from the gender
roles towards development than men in patriarchal society.
Women are likely excluded from the gender roles
towards development than men in patriarchal Frequency Percentage
society?
I strongly disagree 50 16.6%
I disagree 45 15%
No opinion 70 23.3%
I strongly agree 75 25%
I agree 60 20%
Total 300 100%
Table.8 explores the analysis of the statement was that women are mainly confined to
women are likely excluded from the gender housework that outside work. The women are
roles towards development than men in always busy in domestic chores and have less
patriarchal society. The table shows that 23% opportunity to work outside the home to
respondents agree and 16% respondents benefit their family economically. Gender roles
strongly disagree with the above can be linked to expectations of males and
statement.23% respondents have no opinion females in realms of the family as well, such as
about the statement. However, about 25% work(Williams 1995).In work place men and
respondents which is the highest percentage women are often expected to perform different
strongly agree and about 20% respondents tasks and occupy different roles based on their
agree with the above statement. Their response sex (Kanter 1977).

people who need money is too large in different projects with same enthusiasm and
comparison to venture capitalists who can with the same protocols.
provide money (Tomczak, A., & Brem, A. Crowdfunding can effectively contribute
2013). towards financial inclusion by democratizing
Certain segments of the society were ignored the access of funds to anyone who were
and deprived of some of the privileges like excluded and considered as undeserved against
easy access to funds and other kind of support a convincing idea. Crowdfunding has come as
which were normally available to others with an alternative source of funding and may be
ease. The above stumbling blocks had to be expected to come as a boon to micro, small and
addressed to let projects creators realize their medium enterprises, start up entrepreneurs and
dreams. It’s the beginning of the 21 st century individuals with no past records of business
which witnessed the disruption in the field of success or credit history (Jenik, I., Lyman, T.,
finance. There was so much focus on financial & Nava, A. 2017).
inclusion and inclusive growth which brought
Research Question
the stride of crowdfunding along. 1. To study the crowdfunding platforms
Crowdfunding is an arrangement where the operating in India and their respective
fund seeker known as campaign owner
business model
presents the idea in the most convincing 2. To assess the perception of the
manner on the crowdfunding platform wherein crowdfunding platforms regarding
many like-minded people navigate through the preparedness/willingness of Indian
portal and subscribe to the project idea which investors to consider crowdfunding as an
appeals him by contributing the funds alternative source of funding or investment
(Agrawal, A., et al. 2013; Belleflamme, P., et 3. To analyze the successful projects with
al. 2013; Mollick, E. 2014; Ordanini, A., et respect to different categories of select
al. 2011). The campaigns are posted on crowdfunding platforms
crowdfunding platforms who act as an
intermediary between the fund raiser and the Research Method
investor. Each crowdfunding platform has its To achieve first objective four crowdfunding
own business model which necessitates the platforms were selected; Wishberry, FairCent,
fund seeker to go through the platforms’ model Ketto and Impact Guru. Each crowdfunding
to decide on which platform he/she should be platform is different from the other one to help
opting for a successful raise of funds (Hemer, include all the present models in the country to
J. 2011). enable investors and fundraisers to have an
Many critics also considered crowdfunding as easy and quick understanding of the concept.
fad and at the same time there were viewpoints The source of the data has been secondary.
that crowdfunding would go a long way and The sample size to meet second objective 2
bring about revolution in the field of finance was seven. Since the population for the
(Assenova, V., et. al. 2016). Crowdfunding understudy is not too big, the sample size is
has come as an evolutionary response to the era small. Their perception regarding various
of fast moving web technologies. It has taken factors which would determine the current
over the drawbacks of conventional means of status of crowdfunding in India was taken on a
funding the project. The financial crisis of 5 rating Likert scale through primary data. The
2008 led the emergence of crowdfunding in US sample size and the response rate have been
and UK to promote the small scale businesses presented in the exhibit1.
and start-ups (Beck, T. 2017). There have been To assess the success rate of the crowdfunding
different campaigns in varied fields like platforms with respect to different categories of
technology, social, medical, art, music, films & project, secondary data was collected from
entrepreneurial projects (Meyskens, M., & various articles, journals, internet, and from the
Bird, L. 2015). What makes crowdfunding respective crowdfunding platforms. A careful
different from traditional sources of funding is observation and analysis was made in the light
its unique mechanism which entertains of information available. A simple statistical
analysis was done to analyze the success rate

and the lending patterns of the contributors whole funding system, the privilege of which is
with respect to different categories of project. currently enjoyed by high net worth individuals
or institutional investors (Catalini, C., Fazio,
Data Analysis of Objective 1
To study the crowdfunding platforms operating C., & Murray, F. 2016).
Apart from knowing these four basic models of
in India and their respective business model
crowdfunding, there are other things which are
Crowdfunding Platforms in India crowdfunding platform specific. The
Crowdfunding is not a well-known concept in crowdfunding platform has its own business
the country. The awareness is spreading at a model which would impact the decision of the
low pace and whatever the little, people have fund raiser in choosing the platform for his
known about the concept is all raising funds for campaign. Some platforms have Aon model
medical cause in the form of donations. There (All or Nothing) while others have KWYG
are four basic models of crowdfunding; (Keep What You Get). AON lets the fund
donation based, reward based, loan based and raiser keep money raised only if the campaign
equity based. Out of these, the last one is not hits the fund target within stipulated time
yet prevalent in the country due to some legal period which is usually 60 days, failing which
implications and also because of absence of the money is returned back to the contributors.
any law with regard to crowdfunding. KWYG lets the fund raiser to keep the entire
The donation based models are predominantly money whatever has been raised during the
used for medical cause, education purpose or campaign (Cumming, D. J., Leboeuf, G., &
for some community benefits. The contributors Schwienbacher, A. 2015).
get nothing in return except for tax deduction. Secondly, the crowdfunding platform may not
The person who needs money has to have a run all the three models of crowdfunding.
genuine cause which could emotionally appeal Some of them may have just donation and
the people to donate (Beaulieu, T., Sarker, S., while others may have reward or both and
& Sarker, S. 2015). Under reward based some may have P2P lending. The campaigner
models, the fund raiser raises money for some has to see as to which platform is most
creative projects or products and the congenial for his campaign and give the
contributor gets something in return which is maximum visibility to his campaign. Thirdly,
not monetary in nature. The fund seeker has to the charges and other fees involving the
make sure that he has the most convincing and campaign are different across crowdfunding
saleable idea which people would subscribe to platforms. The economics of crowdfunding has
(Bi, S., Liu, Z., & Usman, K. 2017). to be worked out to see if the benefits accruing
The third model as mentioned earlier is the would justify the cost incurred to run the
loan/debt based where the fund raiser raises campaign through crowdfunding.
money from people and pays then back along Fourthly, some crowdfunding platforms do not
with interest. The model is just like a accept contributions in foreign currency, which
traditional borrowing system where people would limit the campaign to its own national
borrow and repay it periodically with interest. boundary. The campaign if substantial enough
It offers good interest rate to lender which is should be taken across national boundary to let
way higher than what bank offers and for people know about it and be part of it. The
borrowers it lends at somewhat cheaper rates. wider the reach, the bigger and brighter the
Technically, this has come to be known as chance is for projects’ success. Lastly, the
peer-to-peer lending (Morse, A. 2015). crowdfunding platform does not just act as an
The equity based model needs the fund seeker intermediary between the fund seeker and the
to give a certain amount of stake to the investor investor, but also provide various other add-on
in the company based on the contribution he services which could be saviors for the
has made. In developed countries, there are campaign. If the campaigner is novice and has
laws relating to equity crowdfunding thereby no prior experience of raising funds through
making it more popular and investor friendly. crowdfunding, he or she may end up seeing the
India is yet to bring this model into its aegis of failure.
crowdfunding. This would democratize the

About Wishberry cannot lend more than 20% to a single

This platform runs on reward based model, borrower, thereby decreasing the risk. The
where people raise money for their creative lender could be an individual (an Indian citizen
projects and give some non-monetary return of more than 18 years of age having a valid
like exclusive copy of their music albums or identity proof) and also an institutional lender
any special creations to the contributors. The registered under RBI finance companies. The
contribution could be as small as Rs. 500 and NPA amounted to just 4% in the financial year
can go up till Rs. 10000. The project creator 2018. The loan performance for females was
first submits the project and once the project is better than males by 3%. Out of the total loan
approved by the platform, he is further disbursal, 40% amounted to business funding,
contacted by the team to help him prepare for 19% to debt consolidation, 16% for home
the crowdfunding campaign. The campaign improvement, 14% for family event, 9% for
once ready goes live for 60 days. If the project wedding and 2% for vehicle purchase. Most of
hits the goal amount, it becomes successful the borrowers fall in the age bracket of 30-34
else the money is returned back to the and 75% of the borrowers are married with
contributors, which in other words called as All 84% of them being males. 65% of the
or Nothing. This could be disheartening for borrowers are salaried and the rest of them are
projects who fail by hardly any amount. But, self-employed. The listing fee for borrower and
despite the fact it has been well accepted in the lender & other charges for pre-closure of loan
research studies that AON is best suited for is discussed in the exhibit 3.
crowdfunding since it enhances the trust level
About Ketto
of the backers/contributors because they know It is a crowdfunding platform which has a
for sure that if project does not appeal the donation based model, the team comprises of
crowd for social validation, their money would Mr. Varun Sheth as the CEO & the founder &
be returned back. The fees vary according to Mr. Kunal Kapoor as the co- founder. The fund
the amount one raises from the campaign seeker seeks for donations for causes like
(Cumming, D. J., Leboeuf, G., & medical, education or other social causes. The
Schwienbacher, A. 2015).The fees and other campaign starts with a fund target and it is kept
charges details is presented in the exhibit 2. open for donations for some stipulated period
Wishberry has so far raised 13 crores for 500 with some flexibility. Whatever money is
projects with 22000 backers supporting the contributed gets transferred to the needy’s
projects. It suggests initiating the funding from account, thereby calling it as keep what you get
nearby people like family and friends and then funding model. This comes as a big respite to
reaching other people through building those who feel that they would not be able to
network. The project catches fire if it is hit the funding goal. But it narrows the scope
awesome and able to appeal the emotions of of campaigns restricting it to only donations
the people or strike the like-minded people. and is not suitable for creative ideas. It accepts
About Faircent donation in multiple currencies and hence
It is the country’s first peer-to-peer lending widens the chances of getting donations from
crowdfunding platform. The founder & CEO of all across.
Faircent is Mr. Rajat Gandhi. It is registered The platform so far has raised 300 crores and
with Reserve Bank of India as an NBFC-P2P. has 25 lacs donors from various parts of the
P2P lending is just like conventional lending world and has benefitted 1.5 lacs fund raisers.
system where the borrower borrows money The fees and other charges are as presented in
from the lender and returns the money with the exhibit 4.
interest. The borrowers’ credit profile is Impact Guru
checked and the interest rates vary in the range It is a donation & reward based platform
of 12%-28% as per his/her credit history and providing solution to individual needs, NGOs
the duration varies between 6 to 36 months. All and social entrepreneurs who raise money for
the information about the borrower and the community benefits, personal needs or any
lender is duly verified by the portal. Lender can creative projects. It receives donations from all
diversify and lend to multiple borrowers but across the globe and provides tax benefits.
5. Apply Mapping Probabilistic strategy for

selected Data databases.
6. Display Data Mapped for selected Data
databases.
7. Display of data as perscore of mapping in
ascending order.
8. Stop.
Discussion & Analysis
Analysis
Probabilistic matcher determines the best
match for each combination. For hospitals data Fig. 3 - Average Match in Database
set we are analyzing approximately 7.5
thousand combinations. On the system, this The Fig.4 shows the data matching with
takes about 2 min and 11 seconds to run. The various scales like best match, average match
matching is done for three scale best match, and worst match.
worst match &average match < 80 in two data
set.
Data Matching
Observations 4 -1.8
3 -2
i)Top Five Best Match 2
1 -2.2
The Fig.2 shows the top five best match found 0 -2.4
in the two-hospital datasets use in the data
mapping. In the graph x-axis represent the data
mapping score & y-axis represent the top five
individual record. Best match Match < 80 Worst match
Fig. 4 - Various Matching Scale
Conclusion
Data mapping is always resource-intensive
requiring hands-on development, review, and
knowledge about all sources and targets.
Human intervention is required for mapping
design and validation of map results.
Marketable and open-source mapping tools can
assist in the process by providing changing
degrees of automation. Manual review is
required, to a varying extent, to map the
portions that failed automated mapping and to
authenticate the results of automated mapping.
Fig. 2 - Best Matchin Database Linking various record sets on text fields like
names and addresses is a common but
ii) Top Five Average Match interesting data problem. In this work, we had
The Fig.3 shows the top five Average match used combined mapping approach for merging
found in the two hospital datasets use in the databases schemas. Our proposed approach
datamapping. In the graph x-axis represent the contains structural and semantic level
datamapping score & y-axis represent the top information to map database schemas for
five average case individual record. getting better results compared to existing
approaches.

knowledge and an active social media number of hits falls in the medical category
profile to run the crowdfunding campaign projects with the maximum number of backers
successfully. The tech savvy and a good as well as the maximum amount of raised.
number of followers are one of successful Exhibit 9 shows the data relating to
ingredient of crowdfunding campaigns. It reward/donation based crowdfunding platform
makes one spread the word about the which has KWYG. The maximum number of
project just like the viral marketing. projects falls into social category (56%)
i. Number of friends and active social media followed by medical category projects (19.5%).
profile seem to be an important success On an average it is social related projects
determinant in view of crowdfunding which have raised the maximum amount with
platforms. This creates a snowball effect roughly 438 followers for each project. The
which spread the word about the campaign. music related projects on an average raises
20.68 lacs with 234 backers. The film category
Data Analysis of Objective 3
project has raised the minimum amount in
Three different crowdfunding platforms were
comparison to other projects.
studied in terms of various categories of
projects they run, amount of funds raised and Conclusion
the number of supporters who backed the Each platform has its unique business model
projects. This was an attempt to assess the with different packages of services to the fud
status of crowdfunding platforms with view to raisers which is user friendly even for the
projects they run. One of the crowdfunding novice fund seeker and with different fees
platform was reward based and had AON structure. It’s important to know the
Model, the second crowdfunding platform was crowdfunding platform and its background
donation based and had KWYG model whereas
before initiating the campaign on its portal as it
the third crowdfunding was both reward and has a significant influence on the campaign and
donation based with KWYG model. .All the its success. The crowdfunding platforms are
successful projects between the periods of 1 st positive about crowdfunding and its impact on
June 2018 to 20th June 2019 were picked from people to meet their fund needs and give wings
these three platforms. The data has been to their dreams. But they also feel that the
presented in the diagram as under.
awareness should be spread among people to
Interpretation make them consider crowdfunding as one of
Exhibit 7 depicts the data of reward based viable options of fund raising. The rules and
crowdfunding platform, AON model. There are regulation regarding crowdfunding if built
total seven different categories of projects would help having a more congenial
ranging from the most popular category (films) environment for investor to consider such
to the less known ones like environment and investments fearlessly. Crowdfunding platform
dance category projects. During the period of is known for its business models which impacts
survey i.e. from 1 st June 2018 to 20th June 2019 the success of the campaign partially. Projects
there were total 39 successful projects as falling into films and music must go with
shown on the portals’ website. Out of 39, there suitable reward to impress the audience and
were 18 projects of films, 8 projects of films, 7 projects which are connected to social aspect
projects of sports and others projects. On an seem to raise the maximum funds through
average, the amount raised was the highest in donation based crowdfunding. Projects related
environmental related project followed by to medical or personal illness also seem to be
projects under film category. Rest all other equally popular under donation based
projects seem to have raised more than 2.5 lacs crowdfunding. The campaigner must assess her
on an average. The maximum number of needs and the type of campaign she wishes to
supporters is in games category followed by run and then take a call on which type of
film category. crowdfunding platform she would be opting
Exhibit 8 represents the data of donation based, for. Crowdfunding has undoubtedly evolved as
KWYG model crowdfunding platform. Out of inclusive finance and has all the potential to
total 28 successful projects, the maximum prove itself as a boon to an emerging economy

like India. It has witnessed an unprecedented profit and gradually moving towards equity
success stories which basically started as non- crowdfunding with lot to unfold yet.
References
1. Agrawal, A., Catalini, C., & Goldfarb, A. 13. Hormiga, E., Batista-Canino, R. M., &
(2013). Crowdfunding: Social frictions in Sánchez-Medina, A. (2011). The role of
the flat world. NBER working paper, intellectual capital in the success of new
16820. ventures. International Entrepreneurship
2. Assenova, V., Best, J., Cagney, M., and Management Journal, 7(1), 71-92.
Ellenoff, D., Karas, K., Moon, J., & 14. Impact Guru (2018). How Crowdfunding
Sorenson, O. (2016). The present and works. Retrieved from
future of crowdfunding. California https://www.impactguru.com/how-
Management Review, 58(2), 125-135). crowdfunding-works
3. Beaulieu, T., Sarker, S., & Sarker, S. 15. Jenik, I., Lyman, T., & Nava, A. (2017).
(2015). A Conceptual Framework for Crowdfunding and financial
Understanding Crowdfunding. CAIS, 37, 1. inclusion. CGAP (Consultative Group to
4. Beck, T. (2017). Financial Innovation and Assist the Poor) Working Paper.
Regulation. Achieving Financial Stability: 16. Ketto (2018). How it works. Retrieved
Challenges To Prudential Regulation, 61, from https://www.ketto.org/
249 how_it_works/how-fundraising-works.php
5. Belleflamme, P., Lambert, T., & 17. Meyskens, M., & Bird, L. (2015).
Schwienbacher, A. (2013). Individual Crowdfunding and value
crowdfunding practices. Venture creation. Entrepreneurship Research
Capital, 15(4), 313-333. Journal, 5(2), 155-166.
6. Bi, S., Liu, Z., & Usman, K. (2017). The 18. Mollick, E. (2014). The dynamics of
influence of online information on crowdfunding: An exploratory study.
investing decisions of reward-based Journal of business venturing, 29(1), 1-16.
crowdfunding. Journal of Business 19. Morse, A. (2015). Peer-to-peer
Research, 71, 10-18. crowdfunding: Information and the
7. BitGiving. (2017). About Us. Retrieved potential for disruption in consumer
from https://www.crunchbase.com lending. Annual Review of Financial
/organization/bitgiving#section-overview Economics, 7, 463-482.
8. Catalini, C., Fazio, C., & Murray, F. 20. Ordanini, A., Miceli, L., Pizzetti, M., &
(2016). Can equity crowdfunding Parasuraman, A. (2011). Crowd-funding:
democratize access to capital and transforming customers into investors
investment opportunities?. through innovative service platforms.
9. Cumming, D. J., Leboeuf, G., & Journal of service management, 22(4), 443-
Schwienbacher, A. (2015). Crowdfunding 470.
models: Keep-it-all vs. all-or- 21. Rang De. (2017). About Us. Retrieved
nothing. Financial Management. From https://www.rangde.org/about-us
10. Faircent (2018). How FairCent works. 22. Tomczak, A., & Brem, A. (2013). A
Retrieved from https://www.faircent.com conceptualized investment model of
/how-faircent-works crowdfunding. Venture Capital, 15(4), 335-
11. Fuel A Dream. (2017) How to Create your 359.
Campaign. Retrieved From 23. Wishberry. (2018). How it Works.
https://www.fueladream.com/page/how_to Retrieved From
_create_campaign https://www.wishberry.in/how-it-Works
12. Hemer, J. (2011). A snapshot on
crowdfunding (No. R2/2011). Working
papers firms and region.

UNCOVERING THE IMPACT OF SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE ON

HORTICULTURAL APPLE PRODUCTS IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR
1
Aijaz Ahmad Mir and 2Parvez Ahmad Mir Sr.
School of Business Studies Islamic University of Science and Technology Awantipora, Pulwama J&K India
miraijaz7@gmail.com, mirparvez7@gmail.com
________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Supply Chain Management refers to a network of facilities that generate raw materials, convert them into intermediate
items, and then distribute finished products to consumers through a distribution system. The supply chain is managed
differently, as are the many players' responsibilities, from one industry to the next and from one business to the next. As
a consequence, Supply Chain Management (SCM) has become more critical. J&k is India's biggest apple grower,
accounting for about 75% of total production. J & K generated 16.72 lakh tones in 2016-17, whereas Himachal
Pradesh contributed 4.92 lakh tonnes. The central apple-producing regions in the Kashmir valley are Baramulla,
Kupwara, Shopian, and Kulgam. At present, the apple distribution network is inefficient, with multiple intermediary
levels and challenges with packaging material supplies. In J&K, the problem may have worsened because the
classifying and grading system is unsophisticated compared to the rest of the country.
________________________________________________________________________________
Keywords: Supply Chain management, distribution network
optimizing the supply chain was also

Introduction
highlighted. It also focuses on the factors that
J&K is the largest producer of horticultural will determine the competitive position of
crops in India. It offers a wide variety of crops these products in the market. In addition, the
such as apples, pears, peach, almonds, and impact of each actor's objectives and the
tropical fruits. Horticulture's growing overall supply chain objective on risk was
importance has been evidenced by its assessed. For supply chain network
contribution to the Gross Domestic Product optimization, a risk measurement system is a
and its agricultural sector share. The apple- must-have approach. Consequently, a supply
producing region of Jammu and Kashmir is chain risk identification risk in horticultural
known to produce over 1.3 million tons of products that is optimal for each of the supply
apples annually. The entire production is done chain's participants is required. The trouble will
in various districts of the valley. Its agricultural be assessed regarding planning, supplying,
share is approximately 19.35 per cent of the processing, product delivery, and
state's gross domestic product. Horticulture has returns.Kashmir region is inhabited by
emerged as a significant component of wonderful varieties (Ghosh, 2001). Intensive
agriculture. It offers a wide variety of crops to agriculture in apple orchards results in the
the farmers.In terms of area under cultivation, development of different diseases among the
India has gained 100% coverage and a 121% plants. Because all plants in a monoculture are
increase in the production of apples. This is genetically identical, diseases to which they are
mainly due to the massive area under immune may wipe out whole populations of
cultivation in the country. Among the fruits plants. Adding variety in planting various kinds
grown in India, apples have the third largest of trees in the same area has been proven to
area under production. They are relatively hard help fight illnesses in studies (Zhu &
to transport and have a low shelf life. Supply Youyong, 2000). Orchards are often planted
chain management is a system model that talks with a range of cultivars to improve disease
about the various stages of a supply chain. It resistance. The extremely disease-resistant
involves the multiple players involved in the apple cultivar, Maharaji apple, has been
value chain, such as manufacturers, service discovered to be hardly noticeable in orchards.
providers, and consumers. (Peter Singe, 2010). Apple trees with fewer varieties are more
This study analyzed the impact of the various susceptible to illnesses and rodent infestations.
supply chain risks on the goals of the different Farmers are unaware of the issue, and they
actors involved in the supply chain. The have little understanding of orchard diversity
importance of the risk measurement system in or the significance of pollination. Due to ripe

apples' perishable nature, farmers were put in future. Furthermore, truck transportation is
danger due to a lack of apple boxes during costly due to the lack of a rail link between
peak harvest season. Delayed harvesting causes Kashmir and Jammu in this region. Many
over-matured fruit. When apples are harvested wholesale fruit markets (mandies) across the
later in their maturation cycle, they have a country engage in unethical practices, which
shorter shelf life and don't travel well (Murray are highly criticized. The majority of marketing
et al., 1998). In the Kashmir valley, traditional, in the valley is controlled in this way (Javid,
informal, and unregulated methods of sorting 2004). Because of the predominance of
and grading are still in use. Ample light middlemen in the current apple fruit supply
dispersion affects apple production and fruit chain, especially commission brokers, farmer
quality parameters, including size and colour income has suffered as a result. Farmers are
(Wagenmakers & Callesen, 1995). In China, unable to control the whole apple fruit
solar reflectors are used. Covering apple distribution chain, and the government has
orchards with hail netting in Australia has taken no measures to regulate it. Growers and
become common practice to keep fruit safe contractors are subject to price risk since there
during hail storms (Proctor & Lougheed, is no guarantee that minimum supporting
1976). Japan has been protecting apple fruit in prices will be met and that the market price of
protective bags throughout the development the crop will continue to rise in the future. A
process for many decades (Ibid). There is no pattern of collusion between intermediaries and
such technology available for Kashmiri apple merchants has been seen across the
farmers. Small-scale apple growers must also valley in order to control prices, leading to
contend with improper labeling and widespread exploitation of marginal farmers.
unregistered trademarks. Agricultural Aside from that, manufacturers are exposed to
producers have a significant shortage of low- a range of scams as a result of the lack of a
cost cold storage on their fields, as well as regulated market, such as the deduction of
refrigerated storage at markets and ports. In excessive charges, the quoting of a lower price
Kashmir, there are just a few cold storage than the actual price, and the charging of
facilities, and they are too costly for a small exorbitant fees by intermediaries. Therefore,
farmer. Different cold storage temperatures the farmers are unable to create an
have a significant effect on the diameter, economically feasible marketing strategy.
weight, volume, hardness, sodium and Because of the current economic climate and
potassium content, quality, and colour of the globalization, supply chains are becoming
fruit's surface, among other characteristics more complicated (Varma et al., 2006),
(Khorshidi et al, 2010). Furthermore, apple making their design, organization, and
fruit that has been stored for an extended interaction difficult (Gold et al., 2010a, b).
period of time may develop enzymatic Increasing environmental and social issues
browning, which is accompanied with necessitate a shift in emphasis from the
unappealing colours and flavours, as well as company to the SC level, as well as a link
nutrient loss (Goupy et al, 1995). There is no between organizational objectives and
quality control mechanism in place in the sustainability goals (Gold et al., 2010a, b). To
valley to guarantee the quality of apples that ensure sustainability, the SC's stakeholders
are transported outside of the region. must collaborate. Until explicit regulations are
According to merchants and distributors, the implemented, organizations will be hesitant to
four most serious quality problems with apples adhere to sustainable norms. The success of
are immaturity, over-ripeness, improper sustainable projects is measured differently by
grading, marks, and blemishes. Immaturity is each company (Searcy et al., 2009). Apples
defined as the state of being too ripe or too are grown in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
ripe. In Kashmir, fruit growers who carry their Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh,
produce to the wholesale market in among the most popular temperate fruits.
unrefrigerated trucks have the option of selling Jammu & Kashmir generated more than 80%
at the present market price or storing their of the country's total apple production in the
produce in the hope of a higher price in the 2011-12 fiscal years (National Horticulture

competition issues. Matters of subsidies, non- • The study has been taken in steel industry; it
tariff barriers to trade, discriminatory customs may not be applicable to other industries.
duty etc. may bring insignificant distortions in
Review Of literature
the domestic market and in the process change
the competitive positioning of individual Veritas Consulting (2013), Health and safety
players in the market. The specific role of the legislation in the construction industry involves
state in creating market distortion and thereby many rules and regulations. For example, the
competitive condition in the market is well role of the Construction Design Management
known issue in this country. (CDM) coordinator as a requirement has been
Industrial growth and changes in the demands aimed at improving health and safety on-site.J.
for productivity has created a wide range of Sulaiman and M. Alaguthankamani (2012),
concerns related to safety and health issues in conclude the company has given maximum
this sector. Even though the companies are effort and dedication to implement the labour
making policies and procedures to avoid laws and regulations and it has succeeded in
industrial accidents and nurture safety, lack of implementing effective safety and health
unilateral policies are raising the doubts on the management considering the type of safety and
safety aspects. health problems, accidents, employees and
Health and safety policies must be part of how technology in its organisational settings and
you function. You have a “responsibility of also good level of satisfaction among
caring” to your stakeholders. Health and safety employees regarding health and safety has been
are complex issue and we cannot hope to cover achieved. Johanson B: Rask K: Stenberg M
it all the time. This study aims to give you (2010), this study was to carry out a broad
some of the basic ideas. It is good for all the survey and analysis of relevant research articles
organizations to have a health and safety about piece rate wages and their effects on
policy. health and safety. A total of 75 research articles
were examined extensively and 31 of these
Objectives of the study were found relevant and had sufficient quantity
• To study the level of employee satisfaction on to serve the purpose of this study. The findings
health and safety at steel industry of these relevant articles are summarized and
• To study the factors related to health and analysed in the survey, more recent research
safetyinsteel industry. show a clear interest for health,
• To study the measures to reduce workplace musculoskeletal injuries, physical workload,
accidents in steel industry. pain and occupational injuries. The fact that 27
of the 31 studied articles found negative effects
Scope of the study
of piece rates on different aspects of health and
The research study is conducted in steel safety does not prove causality, but together
industry in precise, to determine the they give very strong support that in most
relationship between health and safety situations piece rate has negative effect on
measures and workplace safety. The study health and safety.
throws light through valuable suggestions to
ensure the employees safety in the organization Tompa, EmileDolinschi, Roman MA: de
Oliveira (2009), we reviewed the occupational
and can help the managements to find the
health and safety intervention literature to
weaker parts of workplace safety in the
synthesize evidence on financial merits of such
organization and also helps in converting those
interventions. A literature search included
weaker part in to stronger by providing the
journal databases, existing systematic reviews,
optimum suggestions or solutions.
and studies identified by content experts. We
Limitations of the study found strong evidence that ergonomic and
• The study is based on the feedbackof other musculoskeletal injury prevention
respondents, sometime may subject to bias. intervention in manufacturing and warehousing
• Time factor was the major problem for doing are worth undertaking in terms of their
the study financial merits. The economic evaluation of
interventions in this literature warrants further

 Sample size: The research was conducted for each factor, the scores of individual
with the help of a schedule/questionnaire respondents are added together and divided
based on the information collected from by the total number of respondents from
various apple traders in J&K whom the scores are added.
 Data collection: The present study will Formulae = 100 (Rij-0.5/n);
adopt both primary data as well as Rij is the rank, N number of items
secondary data collection techniques
 Methods of analyzing data: Descriptive Results and Discussion
Statistics, pie chart, bar graph and other  The result of the present study Uncovering
statistical tools will be adopted for the impact of supply chain performance on
analyzing purposes along with the Hennery horticultural apple products in Jammu and
Garrett ranking technique Kashmir title has been presented in the
 Henry garret rating technique: In this following tabular form.
technique, the percentage position of each
rank obtained is converted into scores by
referring table given by Henry Garret. Then
Demographics
Table 1. A business description of traders (apples)
A business description of traders Retailer Wholesaler C&F Agents
No. of respondents 6 17 1
Percentage 24 68 8
The study's title uncovered the impact of traders were wholesalers while 24 per cent
supply chain performance on horticultural were retailers and the remaining 8 per cent
apple products in Jammu and Kashmir of were carrying and forwarding agents.
Table 2. Season income of traders (from apple business)
Monthly income Below 1 lac 1lac-2 lac 2lac -3lac 3lac -4lac >4 lacs
Number 1 2 5 12 4
Percentage 39 14 7 51 19
Table 2 revealed that out of 24 respondents, 12 in the income slab of 2-3 lac, 2 traders lie in
traders lie in the season income slab of 3lac- the slab of 1-2 lac, 1 trader in the slab of < 1
4lac, 4 traders in the slab of >4 lac. 5 traders lie lac/ season
Table 3. Experience of respondents
Experience < 1year 1-5 year 5-10 years 10-15 years 15-20 years >20 years
No of respondents 0 2 2 1 4 16
% 0 8 8 4 16 64
As quite evident in the table above (table no.3), Table 4: Primary constraints in supply
it signifies the experience of the traders chain management of apples in J&K (in
(respondents) in the sphere of apple percentage)
production, which clearly shows that maximum S. Constraints 1 2 3 4 5
respondents have more than 20 years of No
1 Transport facility 0 13 19 15 53
experience, with 64% of the total respondents.
2 Storing facility 15 19 19 9 37
3 Government 0 7 25 31 37
facility
4 Package 0 21 19 29 31
constraints
5 Marketing issues 7 0 31 19 41
6 Dearth of 0 0 0 41 59
information
--Scale --

1. Fairly disagree 2. Disagree 3. Neutral 59 per cent of the sample respondents

4. Agree 5. Strongly agree strongly agree with the statement that there
is a dearth of information flow in the
In table no.4: - since transportation is very supply chain industry in UT of J&K.
significant in the supply chain, without proper
transportation, goods cannot be delivered to Table no: - 5
customers at the right time and in good quality. Table showing Garret ranking of main
As far as transportation facilities are concerned constraints in the supply chain of apples in
in the present study, 53 per cent of the J&K
respondents believe that transportation is the S. No Factors Total Average Ranking
primary constraint in the supply chain of apples 1 Transport 1155/24 46.51 5th
in the Union Territory of J&K. Facility
 As far as a storage facility is concerned, the 2 Storing 1390/24 55.66 Ist
sample respondents in the present study Facility
3 Government 1171/24 47.10 4th
revealed the must-have adequately planned Facility
and well-maintained storage facility in the 4 Package 1225/24 49.01 3rd
concerns of apple supply chain Constraints
management. As shown in the above table 5 Marketing 1330/24 53.22 2nd
number, no 4, 37 per cent of the Issues
respondents still believe that they do not 6 Dearth of 1058/24 42.01 6th
information
have adequate storage facilities for keeping
the produce, especially in care apples.
Since in the above table, Garrett rank have
 Taking the constraints, dearth of been calculated and assigned to the factors that
Government facilities into consideration, hinder the supply chain management of apples
the sample respondents believe that there is in UT of J&K. since by using Garrett formula,
a lack of facilities of initiatives taken by the Garrett ranks were obtained. According to table
government for the improvement of supply no 5. The 6th rank is attained by the factor.
chain management of apples in UT of J&K, ‘Dearth of Information flow’ with 42.01%
37 per cent of the respondents think that average score, similarly 5th rank goes to
there is lack of facilities provided by the transport facility (46.51% average score), 4th
government in this genre. rank goes to Government facility (47.01%
 Package constraints are another variable average score), 3rd rank goes to package
identified and acknowledged in the present constraints (49.01% average score) 2nd rank
study. As apples is a perishable item and goes to marketing issues (53.22% average
require packing for handling to keep them score). The 1st rank goes to the storage facility,
fresh, 31 per cent of respondents in table no which signifies that maximum respondents
4 signified that there is a problem with ranked it as the significant issue in supply
apple packaging in the UT of J&K. costly chain management of apples in UT of J&K.
packing makes the concern complicated an To examine the supply chain model of apples
additional burden on price levels. in UT of J&K. supply chain between farmers
 Issues in marketing, lack of information till end consumers, supply chain management
regarding the existing market, price, (SCM) has a crucial role to play in the
demand etc., are the significant issues in marketing of apples in J&K. it not only helps
the efficient supply chain management of in increased production and consumption but
apples. 41 per cent of the respondents also contributes to the economic development
strongly agreed that there are several issues of the country. As far as responses from the
in the marketing concerns of the apple respondents, two models were identified.
industry in UT of J&K.
 The dearth of information flow is another
factor that hinders the smooth functioning
of the supply chain management of apples.

ISSUES AND PROSPECTS OF RURAL CRAFTS IN WEST BENGAL:AN OVERVIEW

P. Dey1, N. Ray2, C. K. Dash3 and A. Das4
1,2,3,4
Department of Management, School of Business and Economics, Adamas University
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
The cultural heritage of a nation is embodied by handicraft products of its own and West Bengal is very popular in
terms of its rural art and crafts. Most of the rural people of West Bengal engage in the production of craft products and
various small and cottage industries depend on it. Though the central Government and the Government of West Bengal
implement various policies for the financial protection of the artisans, the result is yet not satisfactory. Governments
and non-government projects focus on various financial schemes for the artisans, but most of them are yet unaware of
the policies. Indian handicraft products have a high rich value in the international market, but artisans, the steersman
of this sector have no fame and recognition for their craftworks and they live without identification on their artwork.
This research work concentrates on the supervision and administrative regulations of government or non-govt. sectors
and policy enactors to identify various modes, processes, and attempt to enhance the earning opportunities of the
artisans, to build realization and inspire them to adopt changes in the domestic and international market, and to
evaluate the necessity of training, facilitation, renovation, and organizational support.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keywords: Rural crafts, Tourism, Heritage, Cultural, Handcrafted products.
Introduction In the current scenario, the potential and

uprising markets i.e. consumer market, fashion
West Bengal is popular for its cultural heritage
market, luxury product market needed hassle-
that covers handcrafted products that make up
free, pollution-free, environment-friendly
for a large scale of conventional rural crafts
production. In this context, rural crafts play a
accomplished by the rural people in the
vital role that requires low- investment but
villages. Some districts of Bengal are famous
provides high export potentiality to expand
for their handicraft products, such as Bankura
their business into the global market. It also
for its terracotta art and craft products and
makes potential job opportunities for the youth.
Dokra for arts. Districts like Panchmura and
Due to internationalization swap in market
Bikna are famous for these craft products.
tendency and other determining elements,
Dariyapur village of Bardhaman also famous
many of these handicrafts and performing arts
for its Dokra crafts which are widely populated
do not discover adequate volume in the current
as „Dokra of Bengal‟. Among the world.Chau
craft market or charm the viewers as a means
mask of Purulia district makes them popular
of amusements. As a result, it has been very
into the craft market. Charida village is special
difficult for the section of old artists to turn on
expertise in the production of this popular
their antique rural art and crafts for their
mask. Gomira mask of South Dinajpore is a
livelihood 3 faced problems due to the
very attractive craft product for its special
financial crisis of the artisans. Therefore, the
design which is produced in Kushmandi
young generation has become demotivated to
village. East and West Midnapore are also very
continue the business of their inheritance and
famous for their craft products like mattresses
search for alternate earning opportunities, some
(Sitalpati). Pingla, Naya village, Chandipore
of them also migrated for searching for jobs in
are the main centre for the production of
another state. Insufficient knowledge of craft
Pattachitra. Chaumask, Gomira mask,
products among the people and low-income
mattress(Madurkathi), terracotta art and crafts,
opportunities make distortion the efficiency of
and pattachitra get intellectual property right
the artisans to continue their production. It led
i.e. G.I. tags from the Government of India for
them inadequate business practices in the
their special features, unique characteristics,
modern market.
distinct identification, and artistic values.
Terracotta art and craft of Bankura district also
get their patent right for using of their own
logo on their craft items.

prevention: a review of the epidemiological 13. Jackson, JE. (2003), ‘Biology of Apples
evidence,’ Nutritional Cancer, 18, 1-29. and Pears’, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
7. Boyer, J., & Liu, R. H. (2004), ‘Apple University Press.
photochemical and their health benefits,’ 14. Javid, AS., & Banerjee, BN. (2003),
Nutrition Journal, 3 5. ‘Economics of Apple trade in Anantnag
8. De Oliviera, M., Sichieri, R., &Moura, A. District of Jammu and Kashmir’,
(2003), ‘Weight loss Associated with a Agricultural Marketing Journal, 2(8), 36--
Daily Intake of Three Apples or Three 39.
Pears Among Overweight Women’, Journal 15. Javid, B. (2004), ‘Problems of apple
of Nutrition, 19, 253-256. marketing in Kashmir’, National Monthly
9. Fiala, J. L. (1994), ‘Flowering crab apples: Referred Journal of Research in Commerce
The genius Malus. Portland’: Timber Press. & Management, 1(6), 105--111.
10. Ghosh, S. P. (2001), ‘Genetic diversity of 16. Khorshidi, J., Mohammad, F. T., &
temperate fruits in India’, Ahmadi, F. M. (2010), ‘Temperature
ActaHorticulturae (ISHS), 565, 39-42. effects on the post-harvest quality of
11. Goupy, P., Amiot, M., Richard, F., Duprat, Apple’, New York Science Journal, 3(3),
F., Aubert, S., & Nicolas, J. (1995), 67--70.
‘Enzymatic browning of model solutions 17. Knekt, P., Kumpulainen, J., Jarvinen, R.,
and apple phenolic extracts by apple Rissanen, H., Heliovaara, M., Reunanen,
polyphenol oxidase’, Journal of Food A.,.Aromaa, A. (2002), ‘Flavonoid intake
Science, 60, 497-501. and risk of chronic diseases’, American
12. Hartman, F., &Howlett, F. (1954), ‘Fruit Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 76, 560--568.
setting of the delicious apple’, Ohio
Agricultural Experiment Station, 745, 65.

GENDER STEREOTYPES AND THEIR IMPACT ON WOMEN EDUCATION-A

SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY IN BHOPAL CITY
1
Sabba Hanna and 2Rajshri Shastri,
1
Department of Sociology & Social work, Barkatullah University, Bhopal,Madhya Pradesh, India
2
Institute for excellence in higher education (I.E.H.E) Bhopal, Affilated with Barkatullah University, Bhopal
Sabahana888@gmail.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Gender stereotypes are oversimplified understandings of males and the differences between them. Individuals
sometimes base their perceptions about appropriate gender roles upon gender stereotypes. The foundation of these
gender stereotypes is rooted in patriarchy which is dominant system in our society. The present study has been
conducted in Bhopal city. The study has examined the impact of gender stereotypes on women education in patriarchal
society. For the purpose of study 300 respondents were selected by using stratified random sampling. The study
emphasised on various issues like gender stereotypes, women education, patriarchal society, economic inequality of
women,gender roles of women towards development, etc.
________________________________________________________________________________
Keywords: Gender stereotypes,patriarchy, Decision making, Household labour, Gender bias.
1. Introduction The foundation of gender stereotypes is rooted

in patriarchy which is the dominant system in
Gender stereotypes tend to include exaggerated
our society as yet. Patriarchy is an often-used
or erroneous assertions about the nature of
term in every day conversation. The term
males and females. For example, a common
patriarchy implies “male domination”, “male
gender stereotype about males is that they are
prejudice(against women)”,or more simply
not emotional. Females, on the other hand are
“male power”. Put simply, the term means “the
commonly stereotyped as being irrational or
absolute rule of father or the eldest male
overly emotional. A Stereotype is a widely
member over his family”. Patriarchy is thus the
accepted judgment or bias about a person or
rule of the father over all women in the family
group even though it is overly simplified and
and also over younger socially and
not always accurate. Stereotypes about gender
economically subordinate males. Patriarchy has
can cause unequal and unfair treatment because
been used critically to explain the male
of person’s gender. This is called sexism.
components of authority and power in any
There are four basic types of gender
social system. Patriarchy automatically
stereotypes;
privileges men over women such that women
Personality triats-For example, women are
have little or no claims to material, sexual and
often expected to be accommodating and
intellectual resources of the society. That is, in
emotional, while men are usually expected to
a patriarchal society women have to struggle to
be self- confident and aggressive.
be educated, to have property or to make
Domestic behaviours-For example, some
choices regarding marriage and other aspects of
people expect that women will take care of
life. For men, these resources are a matter of
children, cook, and clean the home, while men
right and can make choices that affect their
take care of finances, work on the car, and do
lives. Men control various areas of women’s
the home repairs.
lives in patriarchal system such as women’s
Occupations-Some people are quick to assume
productive or labour power, women’s
that teachers and nurses are women, and that
reproduction, women’s mobility and property
pilots, doctors and engineers are men.
and other economic resources.
Physical appearance-For example, women are
expected to be thin and graceful, while men are Objectives
also expected to be tall and muscular. Men and 1.To study socio-cultural values of patriarchal
women are also expected to dress and groom in society.
ways that are stereotypical to their gender(men 2.To study impact of gender stereo types on
wearing pants and short hairstyles, women women education in patriarchal society.
wearing dresses and make-up).
3.To study gender roles in patriarchal society. both mind and body in the harsh military skills
of army and girls on the other hand receive
Hypothesis
education based on work of women as
Unpaid and unequal household labour has something of their own nature. Women’s tasks
negative impact on women education in in Greek society are reproduction, upbringing,
patriarchal society. education and house work. These tasks were
Opportunity for higher education and working contributing to the smooth functioning of the
outside the home is higher for boys than girls family unit and also increased benefit to thole
in patriarchal society. community. The authors also explored the role
Higher the economic inequality higher the of feminist movement in 18th century that
exploitation of women in patriarchal society. played the great role for basic rights of
Women are excluded from the gender roles women(political, economic and educational,
towards development in patriarchal society etc.)
2. Review Of Literature Rawat S Preeti (2014) highlights in her paper
that development of women is linked to the
Uma S. Kambhampati and Raji Rajan(2008) belief and practice of patriarchy which
their paper is about patriarchy and the role of subjugates women at various levels such as
girls India’s rural economy. Their analysis political, economic, social, cultural and at
shows that in south India, girls like boys are educational levels, etc.Table 7 of her findings
more likely to go school and to work inside and show that education level of women has no
outside the home than in north India where impact on eve empowerment. This means that
girls have less opportunity to work outside the though it is widely claimed education is the
home and go for education. Their study also medium of improvement of the conditions of
shows that the possibility of achieving higher women. But this is not case in reality.
education and working outside the home is George Prince Atta(2015) his review paper
higher for Hindu girls than Muslim girls, conceptualizes as well as theorises the beliefs
indicating possibly a more restrict patriarchal of traditional Ghanaian society on girl’s
system among Muslim households relative to education. The author in his review research
Hindu households where less patriarchal paper while focusing on the barriers to girl
system is prevalent. Also, father’s and education in Ghana explores that there are
mother’s employment are important for three main categories of factors causing gender
improving economy in households so that gap in primary and secondary education in
girl’s get rid from the household chores and Ghana-these factors are school related, socio-
complete their basic education. cultural and macro level(Tanye,2008; Am and
Tomas Sola Martinez,Francisco Javier Gergel,2009).The school related factors a
Hinojo-Lucena et al(2008) the authors in this serving as barriers are sexual harassment and
article have explored the culture of two cities lack of female teachers as role models. Socio-
Sparta and Athens, the two cities most cultural factors barriers to girl education in
representative of Greek culture in classical Ghana include education for boys highly
period. The ideological and philosophical valued than girls, child labour, and forced and
representatives of classical era marked the early marriage. Socio-cultural or traditional
differentiation in the roles between men and barriers such as societal norms, laws, rules,
women. The men were playing the roles in beliefs and practices hinder female’s
politics, speech, were receiving higher participation in education. The macro level
education and were given dedication in public factor includes poverty. The poverty is the
life. The women were mainly illiterate and major barrier in the girl’s education in Ghana.
were given the key roles as reproduction, Agarwal Sonali(2016) in her paper has
domestic chores and for the education of their explored the concept of patriarchy. She has
children until the age of seven or eight years. defined patriarchy as male centred character.
In this research article the authors have stated The author has also mentioned the theories of
that in Sparta the boys receive the type of patriarchy by Walby in which he has stated that
education which is more disciplined exercising patriarchy debars women from their legal

Training o Proper training polishes the o No training centre or schools or
opportunities artisans craftmanship institutions to be established for the
o Increasing the knowledge for training of the artisans
the betterment of their art o One or two expert artisans teach the
work potential artisans on paid basis
Govt. initiation o Established craft hubs in o Lack of awareness about the govt.
various districts in west policies for the artisans
Bengal
o Provide best artisans award
and presidential award for the
best art work of the artisans
o Central govt., State Govt. take
some policies for the artisans
Conclusion of markets of the rural crafts into the national

as well as international markets is another
Rural crafts of West Bengal are a heritage,
important consideration. Though there are
which highlights the main culture of West
some craft hubs in the rural area of West
Bengal. Every marketer, as well as Govt.,
Bengal the creation of demand for these
various NGOs who worked on the promotion
handicraft products in the international market
of rural craft products, should develop five
essential elements. The researcher suggests that is a very important factor. If everyone sends
gifts by these craft products in various rituals
everybody should give much concentration on
to their beloved ones or family and friends it
the Employee as the craft products are very
will get a high chance to expand crafts markets
much labor-intensive. At first, it is needed to
around the world. It will help the artisans to
sort out the financial crisis of the artisans. If
enter into the large-scale industry. As a result,
various Gramin banks, financial organizations,
both large-scale and small-scale industries will
Central banks, state banks provide them
be benefited from these products. Besides this
financial support at a very low rate of interest
marketers should develop online marketing,
for the long term it will be very fruitful for
catalog marketing, and supply chain
their business as well as their production. West
management facilities to develop the craft
Bengal govt and central govt also should give
product business. Who will execute the craft
assurance, financial securities, and health
product? It is the main question. A very few
securities to carry on their productions and
no. marketers show interest in these products.
business into the rural tourist markets.
Various NGOs, various low-profit
Government should provide the best training
organizations, especially the West Bengal govt
program for the development of the skills of
should take the initiation to execute the craft
the artisans. It is possible through arranging
products properly into the tourist markets as
various development and training programs
well as various domestic and international
with the collaboration of MSME and
markets. And the next very important question
UNESCO. Different training centers are to be
is how to execute the craft products? Various
established for giving better training to the
trade fairs, exhibitions, fashion shows, etc
artisans free of cost. The next very important
arranged nationally or internationally should
thing is Earning facilities and earning securities
give the chance to the artisans to participate
of the artisans. Government should first give
there with no charge facilities. Evolution of the
them proper security on their intellectual
craft products is another major issue. As a large
property rights with the help of law. They need
number of scarce raw materials, capital, labor
also financial securities in their production as
are the constraints for the production of
well as distribution of their products. The state
handicraft products, but evolution is needed to
govt should provide insurance facilities for
survive in the competitive market. Various
their production work. If the artisans get fixed
types of training facilities at a free cost will
salaries or wages from the govt, it will ensure
help them to make something new. If it will be
highly to them to get financial securities and
developed then the prospects of the craft
benefits to carry on their creativity. Expansion

studies.For the present study that has been respondents, the findings or investigations can
conducted in Bhopal city by interviewing 300 be revealed in tables given below:-
Table.1 Distribution of respondents according to their age.
S. NO Age Group(Years) Frequency Percentage
1 20-30 50 16%
2 31-40 150 50%
3 41-50 70 23%
4 50-60 20 6%
5 60-Above 10 3%
Total 300 100%
Table.1 reveals that maximum i.e.,50% were from age group 41-50,16% respondents
respondents were from the age group 31-40 were from 20-30 and 6% responds were from
and minimum i.e., 3% respondents were from 50-60.
the age group 60 and above.23% respondents
Table.2 Distribution of respondents according to their educational level
S.NO Educational Level Frequency Percentage
1 Illiterate 20 6.6%
2 10th 70 23.3%
3 12th 90 30%
4 Graduation 70 33.3%
5 Post-Graduation 50 16.6%
Total 300 100%
Table.2 reveals that maximum i.e.,33% that in Bhopal city there is a strong patriarchal
respondents that were interviewed were having rule(male domination).This patriarchal rule has
educational level up to graduation 6.6%, a great impact on women education. The
respondents were found illiterate, 30% women especially Muslim women can’t go for
respondents were found having educational higher education due to age old traditions and
level up to 12th,23% respondents were found values of patriarchal system. The women had
only 10th pass and about 16.6% respondents to leave parental home after marriage, therefore
were found post graduates. The findings of the there is a strong preference of male education
table 1.2 reveal that in Bhopal city there is an in patriarchal societies, as they can
increasing trend of education up to graduation, economically help their families.
thereafter the trend declines. It has been found
Table.3 Distribution of respondents according to their sex.
S.NO Sex Frequency Percentage
1 Females 200 66.6%
2 Males 100 33.3%
Total 300 100%
Table.3 reveals the classification of respondents on the basis of sex.It shows that maximum i.e.
66.6% respondents are females and 33.3% respondents are males.
Table .4 Distribution of respondents according to their income.

S .NO Income Group Frequency Percentage
1 10,000-20,000 90 30%
2 21,000-30,000 65 21.6%
3 31,000-40,000 55 18.3%
4 41,000-50,000 50 16.6%
5 51,000-60,000 40 13.%
Total 300 100%

Table.4 shows the income groups of 21,000-30,000,18% respondents fall in the

respondents of the present study. The table income group of 31,000-40,000 and 16%
reveals that minimum i.e. 13% of respondents respondents fall in the income group of 41,000-
fall in highest income group (51,000-60,000) 50,000.
and maximum i.e.30% or respondents fall in The above four tables reveal the personal bio-
the lowest income group(10,000-20,000).21% biodata of respondents of selected field area
of respondents fall in the income group of
Table.5 Distribution of respondents in view of the unequal and unpaid household labour has
negative impact on women education in patriarchal family.
The unequal and unpaidhousehold labour has negative
impact on women education in patriarchal family?
I disagree 50 16.6%
No opinion 75 25%
I agree 70 23.3%
I strongly agree 75 16,6%
Total 300 100%
Table.5 analyses the impact of unpaid and opinion in this regard. However, 23%
unequal household labour on education of respondents agree and about 16.6%
women in patriarchal society. The table reveals respondents strongly agree about the above
that about 10% respondents who were statement. Their response was that it takes
interviewed were strongly disagreed that many hours a week to clean houses, cook, shop
unequal and unpaid house hold labour has any in the grocery and do everything that needs to
impact on women education. Their opinion was be done. Hochschild(1989) to observe in a
that in modern and contemporary world widely cited book that women engage in a
women enjoy equal rights of education. “second shift” of unpaid work when they come
Modern women not only perform house hold from their paying job or from a school or
chores but also work outside the home and go college.
for higher education.25% respondents had no
Table.6 Distribution of respondents in view of unequal household duties lead to unequal

family relations.
Unequal household duties lead to unequal
family relations?
I disagree 50 16.6%
No opinion 50 16.6%
I agree 70 23.3%
Total 300 100%
Table.6 analyses the statement- unequal house sharing the burden of house work and care of
hold duties led to unequal family relations. The children is unequal. Some societies take it easy
table shows that about 15% respondents that while men will naturally work outside the
strongly disagree with the statement which is home, women could do it if and only if they
the minimum percentage. 16% respondents could combine it with various inescapable and
disagree with the statement.16% respondents unequally shared household duties. This
had no opinion. However, 23% agree and about inequality may result in unequal family
28% strongly agree with the statement which is relations as well as derivative inequalities in
the maximum percentage. Their response was employment and recognition in the outside
that the unequal house hold division of labour world.
i.e., unequal family arrangements in terms of

Table.7 Distribution of respondents in view of women are economically exploited by male

domination in patriarchal society.
Women are economically exploited by
male domination in patriarchal society?
I disagree 45 15%
No opinion 40 13.3%
I agree 75 25%
Total 300 100%
Table.7 shows the analyses of statement outside in paid work. This control means men
women are economically exploited by male benefit materially from patriarchy. This is
domination in patriarchal society. The table called “patriarchal mode of production “where
reveals that about 15%respondents disagree women’s labour is expropriated by their
and 20% respondents strongly disagree the husbands and others who live there(Sylvia
above statement. 25% respondents have no Walby 1990). She calls housewives as the
opinion. However, 25% agree and 26% “producing class” and the husbands as the
respondents strongly agree that women are “expropriating class”. According to Hekr,
economically exploited by male domination in patriarchy is a system of social structure and
patriarchal society. Their view was that in practices in which men dominate, oppress and
patriarchal society women’s productivity is exploit women.
controlled by men both in household and
Table.8 Distribution of respondents regarding women are likely excluded from the gender
roles towards development than men in patriarchal society.
Women are likely excluded from the gender roles
towards development than men in patriarchal Frequency Percentage
society?
I strongly disagree 50 16.6%
I disagree 45 15%
No opinion 70 23.3%
I strongly agree 75 25%
I agree 60 20%
Total 300 100%
Table.8 explores the analysis of the statement was that women are mainly confined to
women are likely excluded from the gender housework that outside work. The women are
roles towards development than men in always busy in domestic chores and have less
patriarchal society. The table shows that 23% opportunity to work outside the home to
respondents agree and 16% respondents benefit their family economically. Gender roles
strongly disagree with the above can be linked to expectations of males and
statement.23% respondents have no opinion females in realms of the family as well, such as
about the statement. However, about 25% work(Williams 1995).In work place men and
respondents which is the highest percentage women are often expected to perform different
strongly agree and about 20% respondents tasks and occupy different roles based on their
agree with the above statement. Their response sex (Kanter 1977).

Table.9 Distribution of respondents regarding women should be active participants in

economic activity in patriarchal society.
Women should be active participants in economic
activity in patriarchal society?
Yes 150 50%
No 80 26.6%
Not sure 70 23.3%
Total 300 100%
Table.9 shows the responses of respondents economic activity is an extension of their

about women should be active participants in traditional roles(nursing, teaching, labour
economic activity in patriarchal society. The intensive job requiring patience and delicate
findings of the above table reveal that majority skills) with wages based on gender
of the respondents i.e. 50% replied yes women discrimination. In western culture women play
should be active participants in economic the roles of the house wife and mother. The
activity in patriarchal society.23% respondents western culture also believes that any effort to
were not sure about this. About 26% change the traditional roles of men and women
respondents replied no women should not be in the society an cause damage to the social
active participants in economic activity in fabric of society. This view supports and
patriarchal society. Their view was that the maintains patriarchal society (Ann Oakley in
limited economic participation of women in 1972 in Sex, Gender and Society).
Table. 10 Distribution of respondents regarding opportunity for higher education and

working outside the home is higher for boys than girls in patriarchal society.
Opportunity for higher education and working
outside the home is higher for boys than girls in Frequency Percentage
patriarchal society?
I disagree 40 13.33%
No opinion 75 25%
I agree 60 20%
Total 300 100%
Table.10reveals the analysis of the statement is a strong patriarchal rule. This rule has great
opportunity for higher education and working impact on women education. The women
outside the home is higher for boys than girls cannot go for post-graduation due to age old
in patriarchal society. The table shows that traditional patriarchal traditions and values.
13% respondents agree and 15% respondents There is a strong preference of boy’s education
strongly disagree with the above in patriarchal societies of Bhopal as the male
statement.25% respondents had no opinion members can economically help their families,
with the statement. However, 20% respondents girls have to leave the parental house after
agree and 26% respondents strongly agree with marriage. The women at higher institutions
the statement. Their response was that men not experienced male supremacy,
only control women’s sexuality but also their disempowerment, and disrespect of
physical mobility. Women have to follow womenfolk. Patriarchy impacts on their
strong purdah system, limited interaction with upward mobility and deprives promotions they
opposite sex in Muslim patriarchal society in deserve. The reigning patriarchal environment
Bhopal city. Besides this there is an increasing does not only impact on their academic output
trend of education up to graduation level. After but also on their intellectual and emotional
that the trend of education declines among wellbeing and their person (E.T. Dlamini and
women. In Bhopal it has been found that there J.D.Adams 2014).

Table .11 Distribution of respondents regarding women should have decision making power
in patriarchal society.
Women should have decision making
power in patriarchal society?
Yes 150 50%
No 60 20%
Not sure 90 30%
Total 300 100%
Table.11 reveals the responses of the question- respondents fall in the income group (10,000-
women should have decision making power in 20,000) and 13% respondents fall in the
patriarchal society. About 20% respondents income group of 51,000-60,000.The findings
which is the minimum percentage responded of the study reveal that women in patriarchal
no.30% respondents were not sure about the societies can attain education upto graduation
question. However, 50% which is the highest because there is a strong male domination in
percentage responded that women should have Bhopal city. The women cannot go for higher
decision making power in patriarchal society. education due to age old traditions and values
The respondents also replied that in patriarchal of patriarchal system. The findings also show
societies of Bhopal city, the decision making that women education is also affected by
power is in the hands of man. Both man and unequal and unpaid household labour. These
woman enjoy life and live with peace in family unequal and unpaid house hold duties can lead
but there is male domination in every sphere of to unequal family relations in patriarchal
life in patriarchal society. In spite of the family. The findings also reveal that women
transformations witnessed by family and are also exploited by male domination and are
women conditions in Arab society, the excluded from gender roles towards
traditional social power still infuses patriarchal development in patriarchal society. Also,
authority with legitimacy, providing men with opportunity for higher education and working
the privilege to make crucial decisions. Also outside the home is higher for boys than girls.
focusing on “hybrid families” in which both The women also enjoy little or no decision-
husband and wife work outside the house. making power in patriarchal societies of
Within this type, the real power remains in the Bhopal city. It has been also revealed that in
hands of men, but they may significantly give patriarchal societies men control women’s
up on making a lot of decisions related to productive and labour power, her reproduction,
family. her sexuality, her mobility and property and
other economic resources. In today’s modern
5. Conclusion
and contemporary world women enjoy equal
This study was conducted to investigate the opportunity and rights in education, political
impact of gender stereotypes on education of career, administration and other fields but these
women in patriarchal society in Bhopal are still in subordination position dominated by
city.The study was based both primary and male power in patriarchal society.
secondary data.The primar data was collected
by using interview schedule.For the purpose of 6. Suggestions
present study 300 respondents were selected 1. 1.Gender sensitization programmes should
from selected field area by using stratified be organised at community level to bring
random sampling.The framework of the definite orientation in thinking, practices
present study is based on descriptive research and approach of individual concerning
design.Among the selected respondents 200 gender.
were females and 100 were males. Maximum 2. Mind set of the men in patriarchal societies
(50%) respondents belong to the age group(31- should be created to nots see women in the
40) and minimum(3%) respondents belong to gender stereotypical image.
(60 and above) age group.6.6% were illiterate
and 16.6% were post graduates.30%

3. Women should be recognized and play important role in socio-economic

approached for involvement in multifarious development.
activities. 5. Equal access to higher education for
4. Women must be involved in decision women should be ensured in patriarchal
making process and should be allowed to societies.
References
1. Agarwal, Sonali(2016).Patriarchy and 6. Sudarso,Sudarso;Keban,Phillipus,Edy;and
Women’s Subordination. Bhartiyam Mas’udah,Siti(2019).Gender,Religion and
International Journal of Education& Patriarchy:The Eucational Discrimination
Research,Volume 5, IssueIV, ISSN:2277- of Coastal Madurese Women of East
1255 Java.Journal of International Women’s
2. Ferdoos,A., & Zahra,S. (2016).Patriarchy Studies,20(9),2-12.
and Decision Making Power of 7. Tomas,Sola,Martinez;Francisco,Javier,Hin
Women.Journal of Gender and Social ojo-Lucena;Inmaculada Aznar Diaz,et
Issues,15(2),55. al.(2008). Historical Review of Women’s
3. George,Prince,Atta.(2015).Education Role in Patriarchal Model Society of The
Inequality:How Patriarchy and Policy Spanish Context.The International of
Collide in Ghana.International Journal Of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences:Annual
Humanities and Social Science,Vol. 5 , Review,3(5):201-209.
No.7(1),ISSN:2220-8488. 8. Uma, S.Kambhampati & Raji
4. Kotey,Nazir,Ahmed and Dar Rajan(2008).The’Nowhere’
,Shabir,Ahmed.(2018).Gender Children:Patriarchy and the Role of Girls in
Sensitization. Afzan Publications, India’s Rural Economy.The Journal of
Drangabal Pampore. Developmental Studies,44:9,1309-1341.
5. Rawat,s.Preeti.(2014).Patriarchal 9. Wood,Hannelie J..(2019).Gender
Beliefs,Women’s Empowerment,and Inequality:The Problem of Harmful
General Well-Being.Vikalpa The Journal ,Patriarchal,Traditional and Cultural
for Decision Makers,Volume 39(2),43-56. Gender Practices in the Church.HTS
Theological Studies,75(1),1-8.

THE IMPACT OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN

STATE BANK OF INDIA
R. Singh1 and R. Vaishya2
1,2
MATS School of Management Studies and Research, MATS University, Raipur (C.G.)
1 2
singhroopendra99@gmail.com, rashmiv@matsuniversity.ac.in
____________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
State Bank of India is one of the largest public sector bank in the country which holds a reputable image in the hearts
of people for more than 200 years. The performance of bank is an indication of its employee engagement. The research
is an attempt to scrutinize the impact level of drivers of Employee Engagement on Employee performance for the Non-
managerial employees of State Bank of India in Raipur region. The research is drawn from the primary data collected
from 283 employees on components of Employee Engagement and Employee Performance. The association between
employee engagement and employee performance is tested through correlation analysis and the impact of engagement
on performance is tested through regression analysis using SPSS 20 software tool. There were six drivers that were
predominantly identified with Employee engagement in branches of SBI. These were Employees’ Job Satisfaction,
Employees’ Organization culture and Pay benefits, Branch’s Work Environment, Employees’ Job Profile, Employees’
Career Progression, Leadership support by immediate superiors. The research concluded that all the six engagement
drivers, impacted significantly the Employee performance.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Keywords: Employee Engagement, Drivers of Employee Engagement, State Bank of India, Employees
performance, Correlation and Regression.
promotion of employee engagement and the

Introduction
employees interaction at all levels.
State Bank of India is the most trusted bank The research paper is an attempt to scrutinize
with a legacy of over 200 years and holds a the level of impact of drivers of Employee
reputed place in the hearts of the customers. Engagement on Employee performance in the
The financial performance of the bank is the State Bank of India in Raipur region after
result of the performance of it’s employees. merger of five associate banks with SBI after
The employee performance is determined by April 2017.
the level of the engagement of it’s employees.
The Employee Engagement is the level of Literature Review
involvement of an employee towards the It is proved by the researchers that an engaged
organization. In today’s world the employees employee performs better than the less
are aware of the competitive environment in engaged employees. Gruman and Saks (2011)
the financial sector. The banks are adopting have suggested means to foster and manage
practices and policies in order to drive the employee engagement in order to get improved
employees towards healthy engagement. The level of performance (Gurman et al, 2011).
engaged employees always put their effort for Khalifeh (2013) focused on antecedents that
improved performance as such the banks also affects Employee Engagement and
shows financial growth. Employees have Organisation Performance and showed that
emotional bond with the organization. The there is found a significant relationship
bonding of organization members to their work between rewards and recognition, employee
roles is defined as employee engagement communication, extended employee care and
(Kahn, 1990). Employee engagement, employee development. (Khalifeh et al, 2013).
according to Gallup research group, is the In a study on factors affecting Employee
individual’s involvement and satisfaction Performance, there are four drivers of employee
along with enthusiasm for work, Harter (2002). engagement, i.e., work-life balance,
According to Little and Little (2006), the communication, organizational culture and
factors of employee engagement includes the leadership (Deepika et al, 2015). While linking
employees and their own unique psychological organizational commitment and work
makeup and experience, the ability of engagement to employee performance, Cesario
employers to create the conditions for and Chambel (2017) showed a positive relation

Debt-Equity Ratio
3
2.5
1.5
0.5
0
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
ACIL 1.4 1.33 1.39 1.33 1.2 1.26 1.41 2.02 2.65 1.52
CCL 0.06 0.08 0.07 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.03 0.01
GL 0.51 0.7 0.75 0.61 0.56 0.42 0.48 0.36 0.02 0.03
LJSL 1.23 0.32 0.03 0.17 0.19 0.61 0.97 0.28 0.4 0.47
The debt-equity ratio helps in measuring the pay interest if they donot perform well but they
financial health of a company and compares its will also not get the tax benefits.
total debt to total equity.It signals the extent to
8.5 Cash Flow Analysis
which shareholder's equity can fulfil their short
term and long term obligations to creditors. Cash flow analysis measures how much cash is
Basically it helps in evaluating company‘s generated and spent by a business during a
financial leverage. Here in the above table it is given period of time. It is the best technique to
seen that apart from ACIL, the companies are measure a company‘s performance as it is
having very having very low debt-equity ratio tangible, quantifiable and can be measured in
which means their capital structure comprises standard units. This techniquecannot be used to
of mostly equity share capital as seen from the inflate profits or to artificially increase the
shareholders fund. Less debt capital in the value of assets. Cash flow analysis includes
capital structure has the advantage that the cash flow from operating activities, cash flow
company is in safer zone as they donot have to from financing activities and cash flow from
investing activities.
Net CashFlow From Operating Activities
80
60
40
20
0
-20
-40
2018-
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
19*
ACIL 0.76 -8.74 9.72 10.65 4.64 -7.01 6.77 9.7 27.15 0.9
CCL 1.19 21.86 23.13 32.14 14.29 23.21 11.04 31.22 38.5 19.58
GL 16.81 -22.88 47.21 25.34 19.39 30.66 3.85 73.77 60.43 20.09
LJSL -7.76 23.65 17.68 1.2 10.25 -4.99 -11.84 14.51 3.11 2.17
*comprises of 6 months data from April 2018-September 2018

Cash flow from operating activities (CFO) is operating activities.Here the companies are
used to indicate the amount of cash generated having a fluctuating trend and sometimes going
from ongoing regular business activities- to a negative figure. Decrease in sales, changes
producing and selling goods and service. It in working capital i.e. growth in asset or a
does not include long-term capital expenditures decrease in liability may be the cause for its
or investment costs, as these are one time declining cash flow from operating activities.
activities. CFO focuses only on the core But overall the performance of GL is better
business, and is referred to as net cash from compared to the other companies in this aspect.
Net Cash Flow From Investing Activities
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
-50
2018-19
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
*
ACIL -1.98 -2.57 -4.32 -8.3 -4.15 -3.17 -2.94 10.45 -0.69 -1.81
CCL -2.48 -14.65 -15.79 -17.02 -9.04 -15.16 11.1 -29.09 -0.01 -13.54
GL* -6.61 -9.63 -16.06 -24.59 -15.59 -3.92 -40.88 -22.62 -26.71 -9.734
LJSL -8.5 -3.05 -2.04 -5.81 -6.45 -1.86 -1.15 -9.82 -14.24 -6.03

Cash flow from investing activities is a from investing activities for all the companies
parameter on the cash flow statement that for last ten years is showing negative which
measures the total change in a company's cash may indicate poor performance of the
position resulting from profits and losses of companies. However, having negative cash
investment and changes resulting from flow is not always a bad signal- it may also
amounts spent on investments in fixed assets, indicate that the company is investing in capital
such as plant and equipment, furniture, assets therefore it future earnings are expected
machinery, investments in securities, or the to grow.
sale of securities or assets. Here the cash flow
Net CashFlow From Financing Activities
80
60
40
20
0
-20
-40
2018-
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
19*
ACIL 0.76 -8.74 9.72 10.65 4.64 -7.01 6.77 9.7 27.15 0.9
CCL 1.19 21.86 23.13 32.14 14.29 23.21 11.04 31.22 38.5 19.58
GL* 16.81 -22.88 47.21 25.34 19.39 30.66 3.85 73.77 60.43 20.09
LJSL -7.76 23.65 17.68 1.2 10.25 -4.99 -11.84 14.51 3.11 2.17

Therefore it is considered that six engagement Environment, Career progression, Leadership

drivers: Job satisfaction, Job profile, are the significant predictors of employees
Organization culture and Pay benefits, Work performance (p < 0.05).
Table 4 : Model Summary

Model Summaryb
Change Statistics
Std. Error R
R Adjusted of the Square F Sig. F Durbin-
Model R Square R Square Estimate Change Change df1 df2 Change Watson
1 .754a .568 .559 5.076 .568 60.546 6 276 .000 2.400
a. Predictors: (Constant), Organisational Culture and Pay benefits, Job Profile, Leadership, Career Progression, Job
Satisfaction, Work Environment.
b. Dependent Variable: Employee Performance
The coefficient of determination R2 indicating Thus 56.80 % of employees’ performance is

the percent of how much of the total variance explained by the previously identified
is explained by the independent variables. engagement drivers
.
Table 5: ANOVA
ANOVAa
Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig.
1 Regression 9361.385 6 1560.231 60.546 .000b
Residual 7112.368 276 25.769
Total 16473.753 282
a. Dependent Variable: Employee Performance
b. Predictors: (Constant), Organisational Culture and Pay benefits, Job Profile, Leadership, Career
Progression, Job Satisfaction, Work Environment.
From The analysis of varianceANOVA for the employee performance and the leadership
regression (table 5), p < 0.0005, which is less
than 0.05, and indicates that, overall, the ᵦ
impact (standard = .592) is the maximum on
regression model is statistically significant and employee performance in Raipur region. The
predicts the outcome variable. reason is that Raipur is a young capital and
H2 There is significant impact of employee after the merger of associates of SBI (01 April
engagement drivers on employee performance 2017), the employees are mostly dependent on
(Accepted) their supervisors for guidance and support in
Discussion and findings most of the financial matters.
The data analysis concluded a strong positive It has also been established that with team
association between employees performance work and friendly atmosphere in branch,
and employees engagement and 56.80 % of supported by guidance from supervisors which
employee performance is explained by the six gives freedom to employees to use their own
engagement drivers: employees job judgment, the employees’ performance is
satisfaction, employees’ organization culture bound to improve and which results in
and pay benefits, work environment, job maximizing the branch-profits and ultimately
profile, leadership and career progression. leads to organisation growth.
The results showed that all the engagement
drivers were significantly (p < 0.05) impacting

References
1 Cesario, F., Chambel, M. J., (2017), Linking Engagement and Organizational Performance,
Organizational Commitment and Work Asian Social Science; Vol. 9, No. 7; 2013
Engagement to Employee Performance, ISSN 1911-2017 E-ISSN 1911-2025 Published
Knowledge and process management: The by Canadian Center of Science and Education
journal of corporate 7 Kahn, W. A. (1990). Psychological conditions
transformationVolume24, Issue2, Pages 152- of personal engagement and disengagement at
158, https://doi.org/10.1002/kpm.1542. Work. Academy of Management Journal,
2 Datta, H. (2017). Employee Engagement in 33(4), 692-724. [Online] Url:
selected banks of northern India, Chitkara http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/256287.pdf
University, India.(Retrieved on 21 January ?acceptTC=true (Retrieved on 23rd December
2019). 2018).
3 Gruman, J. A., & Saks, A. M., (2011), 8 Karthikeyan & Srivastava, D. K., (2012), The
Performance management and employee Relationship Between The Five Factors Of
engagement, Human Resource Management Personality, Individual Job Performance And
Review, Volume 21, Issue 2, June 2011, Pages Its Components In The Indian Corporate
123-136, Sector, International Journal Of Advanced
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2010.09.004 Research In Management (Ijarm), Issn 0976 -
4 Harter, J. K., Schmidt, F. L., & Keyes, C. L. 6324 (Print) Issn 0976 - 6332 (Online) Volume
M. (2003). Well-Being in the workplace and 3, Issue 1, January- June (2012), Pp. 37-55 ©
its relationship to business outcomes: A review Iaeme: Www.Iaeme.Com/Ijarm.Html Journal
of the Gallup studies. Impact Factor (2011): 0.5218 (Calculated By
5 Idrees, Z., Xinping, X., Shafi, K., Hua, L., Gisi).
&Nazeer, A., (2015), Effect of Salary, 9 Nazir, O. and Islam, J.U. (2017), "Enhancing
Training and Motivation on Job Performance organizational commitment and employee
of Employees, Issue 2 (April) Open Science performance through employee engagement:
Journal, Pages: 55-58 | Vol. 3, No. 2, April An empirical check", South Asian Journal of
2015. Business Studies, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 98-
6 Khalifeh, A. N. A., &Som, A. P. M., (2013), 114. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAJBS-04-2016-
The Antecedents Affecting Employee 0036.

A COMBINED MAPPING APPROACH FOR RELATIONAL SCHEMAS

M.Y. Chaudhari and V.M. Shelake
Department of Computer Engineering, SES, Group of Institutions Faculty of Engineering Diksal, Karjat,
Raigad, Maharashtra, India
minalc.1477@gmail.com, vijay_sakec@yahoo.co.in
_______________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Nowadays many issues of data handling, large amount of data is generated on every day and it is difficult to fit in
frame for data mapping. Still there are inconsistencies and incompleteness issues in schema mapping. This paper
presents probabilistic approach in the issue of schema mapping. Our approach is indicative, mountable, and extensile.
We introduce Combined Mapping Approach for Relational Schemas to this problem using state of-the-art probabilistic
reasoning techniques. We determine that the correctness of Combined Mapping Approach is greater than 33% above
of metadata-only method for small data examples, and this method normally finds perfect mappings even if a sector of
the data is unpredictable.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Keywords: Attribute Mapping, Probabilistic Approach, Integration, Data Mapping
Introduction Country and more. The application also has a

well-defined schema along with attributes,
Data mapping is the technique of identifying
enumerations, and mapping protocols. Hence,
objects which are related to each other. In other
if any record is to be inserted to the schema, a
words, database mapping is a method of
data map wants to be designed from the data
finding the correspondences between the
source to the CRM account.
concepts of different distributed, heterogeneous
Depending on the factors like number, schema,
data sources. A database mapper is a binary
and primary keys and foreign keys of the
operation which takes two schemas as input
relational databases records, database
and determines their corresponding elements.
mappings can have a changing degree of
Generally, the analysis of all matches between
complexity.
elements of two schemas is not possible due to
For example, data from three various databases
the presence of semantic in input schemas.
tables are combined and mapped to an Excel
Therefore, a database mapper should only
destination. Thus, attribute level information as
provide match candidates through a user
well as same entities are to be attempted for the
interface in such a way that users can accept,
actual database mapping [4][5].
reject, or change them. The several semi-
In simple words, data mapping is a relationship
automatic database mapping algorithms have
between two or more data systems. Data
been proposed to determine matches between
mapping joins two different types of data
different elements of two schemas [1][2][3].
models together. In data integration procedure
Enterprise data is getting more diverse and at
data mapping is one of the most significant
the same time, it is advantageous for
factors. Making it simpler, data mapping is all
businesses to leverage data and transform it
about searching how a database connects to
into meaningful results. However, enterprises
another database. To make it easier and simpler
today collect information from many sources
to understand the concept, here is an example.
referring the same entities. To merge this data
Suppose you have a list of people, a list that
and make sense of it, data mapping is used
have some names of your friends. As well you
which is the process of establishing
have another list that have the phone numbers
relationships between separate database
of your friends. Now you want to combine both
schemas.
of the lists and that is where data mapping
For example, Microsoft Dynamics CRM has
works for you.
several data sets which encompass of different
Data mapping is the initial step in many
items, such as Leads, Opportunities, and
compound segments to start the integration
Participants. Each of these records has some
process. That contains data transformation
fields like Name, Account Owner, City,
between the data source and the data

destination. It helps in the detection of a private provides a mapping between different elements
data such as the last digits in a social security of two schemas. It is complicated due to the
number and so on. It can also be used for existence of semantic in input schemas. It is
securing many databases and combine them achieved through different matchers for
into one while looking for redundancy [6]. merging databases. It determines all matches
between elements of two schemas. Still, it there
Literature Survey
is scope for improving accuracy [3].
To understand the various data mapping First schema matching and Second record
techniques, here in review of literature the matching are two essential steps in integrating
discussion of some schema matching many relational tables of different schemas,
techniques are necessary. The various mapping where it first unifies the schemas and then it
techniques like complex schema matching, detects records mentioning to the same real
Entity matching, mapping between different entity. The two processes have been thoroughly
elements of two schemas, record matching, studied separately, but in this work, they had
probabilistic approach of schema mapping, done combination of both. They have used
Automatic schema matching are discussed indexing and estimated the matching likelihood
below. between two records [4].
Review of Literature When link the data stored in varied database,
very difficult problem is entity matching, i.e.,
The various important approaches of data matching records representing semantically
mapping are discussed as follows: corresponding entities in the real world, across
Complex Schema Matching i.e. CSM, the the sources. When decision tree techniques
problem of searching semantic have been used to understand entity matching
correspondences between elements of two protocols, most decision tree learners have an
compound schemas, plays important role in inherent representational bias, that is, they
many applications, such as data warehouse, generate unvaried trees and prevent the
heterogeneous data sources combination and decision boundaries to be axis-orthogonal
semantic web. The existing way to automating hyper-planes. Cascading other classification
schema matching focus on calculating direct approaches with decision tree learners can
element matches between two schemas. improve this bias and potentially rise
However, this work involves the relationships classification accuracy. In this method user
between real-world schemas involving many apply a recently developed constrained cascade
complexes matches besides 1:1 matches. The simplification method in entity matching and
limitation still remains on matching efficiency, report on observed evaluation using real data.
because the candidate matches space is so large Its results show that this method smartly
which they need searching [1]. performs the base classification methods in
Entity matching as well as value mapping terms of accuracy, especially in the dirtiest
across two varied data sources are critical tasks case [5].
in applications involving data combination, The probabilistic approach of schema mapping
data warehousing, and federation of databases. is declarative, scalable, and extensible. This
Before data can be combined from multiple approach designs upon recent results in both
tables, the columns and the values appearing in schema mapping and probabilistic reasoning
the tables must be matched. Anuj Jaiswal, techniques in both fields. The problem of
David J. Miller anticipated a novel method that choosing the best mapping from a apart from
optimizes embedded value mappings to potential mappings, given both metadata
improve entity matching in the occurrence of constraints as well as data samples. As
opaque data values and column names. In this selection has to reason about the inputs and
approach, the fitness objective for matching a the dependencies between the chosen mappings
pair of attributes from two entities depends on a new schema mapping optimization problem
the value mapping function for each of the two which gets interactions between mappings then
attributes [2]. they familiarize Collective Mapping Discovery
The work includes schema matching, which (CMD), solution get using probabilistic

reasoning techniques, which allows for familiarize themselves with the facilities of the
discrepancies and incompleteness [6]. concept in order to implement their application
Automatic schema matching concept is to meet their complex requirement. These users
typically only deals with result in attribute try to learn most of the Data mapping facilities
correspondences. However, real world data in order to achieve their complex requirements.
combination problems often require matching
whose arguments want all three types of
fundamentals in relational databases and that
are relation, attribute and data value. In this
concept the definitions and semantics of three
extra correspondence types regarding both
schema and data values. Two methods for
automatically recognizing these
correspondences are developed. First requires
some limited number of duplicates across data
sources. Another is a general instance-based
method with no such requirement [7].
Proposed System
As we see that many data mapping methods
use to analysis or simplify the complex data.
Day by day the data is generated in large
amount and it is very difficult to analysis so to
simplify mapping of data here data type &
attribute are used very effectively.
Problem Definition
Fig. 1 - System Architecture
In this proposed system, combined database
mapping approach for interoperating among  Merging Data
different database systems. In this proposed In data merging, first we select the two data set
system, the database mapping process uses of (table) to create a single data set for easy
three main phases: -attribute mapping, data reporting & analysis. The first data set that
type mapping and data merging. contains some attributes like account number,
The attribute mapping determines whether the name and ownership information. The second
names of two attributes are similar or not by data set contains attributes like number of
calculating the percentage of similarities discharges and payment details etc.
between their names. It uses both structural and Unfortunately, we do not have a common ID to
semantic level information including string merge the two data set so we try to merge the
mapping, dictionaries to calculate the data using data frames, as the columns have
percentage of similarities between the names of different names; we need to declare which
two attributes. Then, our approach compares columns to match for the left and right Data
the similar mapping attributes and data type Frames.
mapping and selects the better match. The final
phase of the attribute mapping process is  Steps of Data Mapping
merging, which merges those pairs of attributes The algorithm for combined database mapping
that are identified matched, while those approach is defined below:
attributes that are not matched remain as they 1. Start
are. 2. First select the data bases.
System Architecture 3. Display of attribute & data to be map for
 User respective databases.
The users basically include engineers, scientist, 4. Select appropriate Attribute from
business analytics and others who thoroughly respective databases for further Mapping.

abounds in dark visions no stormer of the plantation houses of the South part of America
castle had even touched. (132) provide a convenient substitute for the Gothic
The psychological conflict within the castle. As Elizabeth Kerr observes: ―The
individual, then, is expressed in terms of the plantation house which, in its prosperity, had
Gothic building. stood for the orderly life of a semi-feudal
The American novel had its beginnings during society, in its ruin and decay resembled the
the period Gothic writing prospered abroad, ruined castle in Gothic novels, symbolizing the
and American writers, for example, Charles collapse of the old order‖ (25). This becomes
Brockden Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar true of the Compson house in The Sound and
Allan Poe, and Henry James regularly utilized the Fury, and the Sutpen mansion in Absalom,
emblematic settings in the Gothic way. The Absalom! but Faulkner departs from the
grotesque castle had been vanished by the convention in Light in August. Joanna Burden's
medieval setting, and instead contemporary home was built by her abolitionalist
dwelling serves the same for its symbolic grandfather, and the Burden house therefore
purpose. As Eino Railo in The Haunted Castle represents a threat to the old Southern social
points out: structure.
Each age fashions this centre of suspense to Woman and House
conform with its own new experiences and The dark, outlandish and threatful atmosphere
inventions, but for the reader aware of its surrounding both the woman and house seems
history it is an easy task to strip off the modern to doom them, and our first sight of the Burden
equipment, when it stands confessed as merely home occurs after Joanna has been murdered
a new rendering of the old picture of the and the house is burning. The pillar of yellow
haunted castle. (171) smoke from the house is described as ―standing
William Faulkner's most praised work rose up straight as a monument on the horizon‖ (44),
out of a concentrated period of creative and ―taller than and impregnable as a
creation that equals any in writing. William monument‖ (277). Joanna's home is her
Faulkner's books and brief tales have for some landmark; the two are connected in death as
time been noted for their formal and underlying they were throughout everyday life. Joanna's
idiosyncrasies basically as much concerning relationship with Joe Christmas is
their dull subjects of race and sexual characterized as far as her home, yet the full
orientation and their tricky representation of meaning of this relationship must be perceived
the South. William Faulkner regularly utilized after an assessment of the houses in Joe's initial
houses in this Gothic way. Francois Pitavy and life and the mental affiliations made with them.
Elizabeth Kerr briefly mentioned Faulkner‘s A sequential synopsis of Joe's life and mental
gothic houses in their respective works, advancement is accordingly all together. Joe
Faulkner‘s Light in August and William spends his youth in a,big long garbled cold
Faulkner‘s Gothic Domain, which are the echoing building of dark red brick
comprehensive study were never been sootbleakened by more chimneys than its own,
accomplished. ―Dark House,‖ is the working set in a grassless cinderstrewnpacked
title of Light in August, which provides a compound surrounded by smoking factory
wealth of illustrations. The dark house to purlieus and enclosed by a ten foot steel-and-
which the title of the novel referred to is wire fence like a penitentiary or a zoo. . . bleak
Reverend Gail Hightower‘s house. Sitting in walls, the bleak windows where in rain soot
his investigation in the dusk each evening, he is from the yearly adjacenting chimneys streaked
as actually detained by his home as he is like black tears. (111)
intellectually detained by the past. The genuine Joe's encounters there figure significantly in
prison of the Gothic novel has been changed the arrangement of his mind, moulding his
into a mental jail. The vision of his dead mentalities towards individuals and occasions
Grandfather so overwhelms Hightower's life for the duration of his life. The echoes in the
that he can't work in the present. structure underline its void, a hinting of the
More dark houses and more characters were vacancy of Joe's resulting life. The similarity of
added in the expansion of the novel. The great the orphanage to a penitentiary is expanded by

of the pistol. The actual murder scene is not with, evocative of, strange and baleful half
given, and when we next see Joe, he is outside delights and half terrors. He was afraid of it.
of the house, on the road, free from both He feared; he loved in being afraid. Then one
woman and house. day while at the seminary he realised that he
Joe spends most of the next week, before his was no longer afraid. It was as though a door
capture in Mottstown, in the woods. Earlier he had shut somewhere… He just hated it; he
ran to the woods in an attempt to understand would flee from it, to walls, to artificial light.
menstruation and women. Now he spends his (300-301)
time trying to understand himself. He has Life is unpredictable and uncertain, and
escaped the psychological prison by the murder Hightower flees from it to the security of a
of Joanna, but now he finds himself trapped by room. The housing imagery is deliberately used
the physical prison of his body and its needs. to cut him off from life, as his actual house
At first, he craves food constantly. He thinks of would do later. Hightower's house, his
the time he threw the meal Joanna had offered ―sanctuary‖ (293), is the original dark house of
him on the floor ―with a kind of writhing and the unused title, and is unquestionably an index
excruciating agony of regret and remorse and to the minister himself. The house, ―unpainted,
rage‖ (316). Finally escaping that prison, too, small, obscure, poorly lighted, mansmelling,
he realizes ―I don‘t have to bother about having manstale‖ (44), is analogous to the unwashed
to eat any more‖ and feels ―peace and unhaste man. Hightower sits in his window each
and quiet‖ (320). In his flight from food and evening ―oblivious of the odor in which he
women, he has found peace outside and alone. lives— that smell of people no longer in life:
He is now psychologically prepared to accept that odor of overplump desiccation and stale
the punishment for his act, and wanders openly linen as "though a precursor of the tomb…‖
about the streets of Mottstown until he is (300). His rejection of humanity has left him
recognized and captured. Faced with life spiritually dead.
imprisonment, Joe escapes once again. Almost His withdrawal from life into the twilight
instinctively he runs to the Reverend Gail dream of his phantom grandfather is paralleled
Hightower's kitchen, where he ends his flight by his withdrawal into the study of his house.
and offers no resistance to Percy Grimm. Joe's There in the security of his sanctuary, he can
life ends in the symbolic womb-tomb ignore the world of life outside his four walls.
mentioned by Fiedler. The ―allmother of The closest he comes to the natural world is the
obscurity and darkness,‖ (321) as the kitchen is sounds of-life which come in through his open
described, is a fitting description of both. Joe's window, serving as a constant reminder of the
self-sacrifice in Hightower's kitchen frees him life he has rejected. Hightower's attitude
from his psychological and physical prisons, a toward rooms and the world outside, reverses
decision he made while alone and in the Joe's. Joe associated rooms with confinement,
woods. contamination, and women, from which he
Like Joanna, the Reverend Gail Hightower would flee to the cool, free air outside.
uses his house as a retreat from the community, Hightower associates‘ rooms with sanctuary
where he remains in spite of its opposition. and security, and he flees from the unknown to
Like Joe, he tends to equate houses with the safety of walls. On occasions, however, the
women. As he thinks of his childhood home he sanctuary of his room is violated by intruders.
associates it with his mother, particularly with Dragged forcibly out of his home on one
her eyes: ―He could feel them [her eyes] instance, he suffers a beating at the hands of
through all walls. They were the house: he the townspeople. He bears it ―with that patient
dwelled within them… He and she both lived and voluptuous ego of the martyr…until, inside
in them like two small, weak beasts in a den, a his house again and the door locked, he lifted
cavern…‖ (450). When he thinks of his youth the mask‖ (464). Years later, when Byron, Doc
he remembers: and Mrs. Hines intrude on his solitude and ask
[H]e had loved darkness, of walking or sitting him to commit himself to life by lying to save
alone among trees at night. Then the ground, Joe, he adamantly refuses: ―Suddenly his voice
the bark of trees, became actual, savage, filled rises higher yet. ‗Get out!‘ he screams. ‗Get out

A STUDY ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE

TO STEEL INDUSTRIES
Jins George
Santhigiri Institute of Management, Vazhithala, Kerala, India
jinsge@gmail.com
________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
The working environment in a company will be affecting the workers’ health and safety. There may be different
concerns like excessive heat or cold, noise, odours, fumes, dust and lack of sanitation and pure air etc., which leads to
accident or injury or disablement or loss of life to the workers. An environment should be created such that the
employees work fearlessly, focusing on their work rather than safety concerns. Welfare measures should be adopted by
the organisation in a way to take utmost care of the employees and its family, in case anything happens. Organisation
should take up effort to make its associates aware of all the related safety concerns and measures. This in turn will
improve the productivity and efficiency. This study focuses on the different safety concerns, measures adopted steel
industries and suggestions to improve the same.
________________________________________________________________________________
Keywords: Health, Safety, Risk evaluation, First aid, Insurance policy, Hazardous materials, Working
environment
Introduction players, continuous modernization and up

gradation of older plants, improving energy
Health and safety are significant aspects of any
efficiency and backward integration into
organization. “The practice of occupational
Global material sources. Steel is manufactured
health enjoyed a boost after the second world
as internationally marketable product with no
war, when the European countries embarked on
major trade barriers across National boundaries
an industrialization drive and in the process
to be seen currently. There is also no inherent
were confronted with the ills of industries”.
resources related constraints which may
(Clarke,2004) Since then various discipline
significantly affect production of the same or
embodied in occupational medicine, nursing,
its capacity creation to respond to demand
hygiene and safety have evolved to various
hikes in the Global market. Even the public
extend in different nations. Other disciplines
policy restrictions have been negligible
with strong links to occupational health
internationally and even if there are any the
including occupational health and occupational
aspects of ergonomics, psychology, toxicology, same to respond to specific conditions in the
market and have always been temporary.
and more recently industrial relation have
Therefore, the industry in at a global level is
evolved alongside and are now accepted as
unlikely to throw up substantive competition
disciplines closely related to occupational
issues in any national policy framework.
health and safety. Even after the development
Further, there are no normal monopoly
of all these sophisticated disciplines, concerns
characteristics in steel. However, this does not
related to health and safety is yet to be
mean that there is no relevant or serious
improved in many organisations.
competition issue in the steel industry. The
Steel Industry growing association in the steel industry
India's economic development is dependent worldwide through mergers and acquisition has
upon the growth of the Indian steel industry. already thrown up several significant concerns.
Consumption of Steel is considered as an The fact that internationally Steel has always
indicator of economic development, while still been an oligopolistic industry sometimes has
continues to have a significant hold in raised concerns about the anti-competitive
traditional sectors such as construction, behaviour of bigger firms that dominate this
housing and ground transportation. India has a industry. On the other hand, the set of large
key position on the global steel map, with the firms that characterize the industry has been
development of new state of the art steel mills, changing over time. Trade and other official
acquisition of global scale capacities by policies have significant bearing on

competition issues. Matters of subsidies, non- • The study has been taken in steel industry; it
tariff barriers to trade, discriminatory customs may not be applicable to other industries.
duty etc. may bring insignificant distortions in
Review Of literature
the domestic market and in the process change
the competitive positioning of individual Veritas Consulting (2013), Health and safety
players in the market. The specific role of the legislation in the construction industry involves
state in creating market distortion and thereby many rules and regulations. For example, the
competitive condition in the market is well role of the Construction Design Management
known issue in this country. (CDM) coordinator as a requirement has been
Industrial growth and changes in the demands aimed at improving health and safety on-site.J.
for productivity has created a wide range of Sulaiman and M. Alaguthankamani (2012),
concerns related to safety and health issues in conclude the company has given maximum
this sector. Even though the companies are effort and dedication to implement the labour
making policies and procedures to avoid laws and regulations and it has succeeded in
industrial accidents and nurture safety, lack of implementing effective safety and health
unilateral policies are raising the doubts on the management considering the type of safety and
safety aspects. health problems, accidents, employees and
Health and safety policies must be part of how technology in its organisational settings and
you function. You have a “responsibility of also good level of satisfaction among
caring” to your stakeholders. Health and safety employees regarding health and safety has been
are complex issue and we cannot hope to cover achieved. Johanson B: Rask K: Stenberg M
it all the time. This study aims to give you (2010), this study was to carry out a broad
some of the basic ideas. It is good for all the survey and analysis of relevant research articles
organizations to have a health and safety about piece rate wages and their effects on
policy. health and safety. A total of 75 research articles
were examined extensively and 31 of these
Objectives of the study were found relevant and had sufficient quantity
• To study the level of employee satisfaction on to serve the purpose of this study. The findings
health and safety at steel industry of these relevant articles are summarized and
• To study the factors related to health and analysed in the survey, more recent research
safetyinsteel industry. show a clear interest for health,
• To study the measures to reduce workplace musculoskeletal injuries, physical workload,
accidents in steel industry. pain and occupational injuries. The fact that 27
of the 31 studied articles found negative effects
Scope of the study
of piece rates on different aspects of health and
The research study is conducted in steel safety does not prove causality, but together
industry in precise, to determine the they give very strong support that in most
relationship between health and safety situations piece rate has negative effect on
measures and workplace safety. The study health and safety.
throws light through valuable suggestions to
ensure the employees safety in the organization Tompa, EmileDolinschi, Roman MA: de
Oliveira (2009), we reviewed the occupational
and can help the managements to find the
health and safety intervention literature to
weaker parts of workplace safety in the
synthesize evidence on financial merits of such
organization and also helps in converting those
interventions. A literature search included
weaker part in to stronger by providing the
journal databases, existing systematic reviews,
optimum suggestions or solutions.
and studies identified by content experts. We
Limitations of the study found strong evidence that ergonomic and
• The study is based on the feedbackof other musculoskeletal injury prevention
respondents, sometime may subject to bias. intervention in manufacturing and warehousing
• Time factor was the major problem for doing are worth undertaking in terms of their
the study financial merits. The economic evaluation of
interventions in this literature warrants further

expansion The review also provided insights meets at regular scheduled time and has
into bow the methodological quality of specific responsibilities for conducting safety
economic evaluations in this literature could be reviews and makes recommendations for
improved. Dee W. Edington: Alyssa B. Schultz changes necessary to avoid future
(2008), The aim is to present the literature accidents.Carder, B. & Ragan, P.W (2003),
which provides evidence of the association Safety climate is considered to be the precise
between health risks and the workplace indicator of overall safety culture while safety
economic measures of time away from work, management practices display the safety
reduced productivity at work, health care costs culture of top management and as a result,
and pharmaceutical costs. A search of PubMed good safety management practices are reflected
was conducted and high quality studies were in enhanced safety climate of all employees.
selected and combined with studies known to The term „culture‟ and „climate „have been
the author. A strong body of evidence exists used interchangeably in the literature to reveal
which shows that health risks of workers are employee‟s attitude towards safety.Cheyne, A.,
created with health care costs and Oliver, A., Tomas, J.M., & Cox, S. (2002),
pharmaceutical costs. A growing body of have demonstrated that effective safety
literature also confirms that health risks are management improves level of safety in
associated with the productivity measures, the organisation and thus can be seen to decrease
paper shows that measures of success will damages and harm from incidents.
continue to be important as the field of Vassie & Lucas (2001), Effective training
worksite health management move forward. assists workers to have a sense of belonging
David E. Cantor (2008), The purpose of this and thus, is more accountable for safety in their
paper was to review the literature and call for workplace. In addition, a company objective
additional research into the human, operational and communication of the objective to all
and regulatory issues that contribute to workers is the crucial aspect of effective health
workplace safety in the supply chain. This and safety management as lack of
paper identifies several potential research communication may hinder employee
opportunities that can increase awareness of the involvement.”Amweelo (2000), his study
importance of improving a firm‟s workplace explains that a study highlighting statistics
safety practices. This paper identifies 108 gathered from Namibian workplace on
articles which informs, how the logistics and common causes of workplace incidents
transportation safety has evolved. The paper revealed that the most common incidents at the
identifies 14 future research opportunities workplace occur more often due to ordinary
within the workplace safety in the supply negligent human activity than use of dangerous
chain, that have been identified can have a machinery or substances. This also indicates
positive effect on practitioners confronted with the significance of the role played by
safety issues. individual workers in ensuring safety and
Parboteeah and Kapp (2007), in their study health inthe workplace.
of ethical climates and workplace safety Ensuring a safety and healthy work
behaviour found that egoistic behaviour relates environment is the primary responsibility of
positively to injuries and negatively to safety in every employer. It shows their sensitivity to
the workplace. Further they also discovered employee needs and rights. Accident
that benevolence and principled attributes prevention is an additional bonus. Cost
relates negatively to injuries but positively to associated with sick leaves, disability
safety enhancing behaviour in the workplace. payments, replacement of employees who are
Finally they suggest that the life style of an injured or killed could be avoided. Through
individual significantly affects safety and effective safety and health programmes, the
health in the workplace. Michael (2006), states physical and emotional well-being of
that employees frequently participate in safety employees may be preserved and even
planning through safety committees, often enhanced. Not surprisingly, the health and
composed of workers from a variety of levels safety record in India is very poor. The large
and departments. A safety committee generally

majority of workers work in inhuman working Agree 10 8

conditions. Strongly agree 33 27.5
Research Methodology Total 120 100.0
Research design 37 percentage of the respondents strongly
The research design of this study is disagreed on this point, 15 percentage
Descriptive. disagreed, 12.5 percentage remained neutral, 8
Population of the study percentage agreed on this point and finally 27.5
The population for this study is the 120 percentage strongly supported this point.
employees working in steel industry of Table 4: Fire certification
Ernakulam district. Categories Frequency Percent
Strongly disagree 21 18
Sampling
Disagree 14 12
The sampling technique used for the study is Neutral 18 15
convenient sampling Agree 12 10
Sample size Strongly agree 55 45
Sample size for this research is 120 employees Total 120 100.0
Instruments Used for the study 18 percentage of the respondents strongly

Questionnaire disagreed on this point, 12 percentage
disagreed, 15 percentage remained neutral, 10
Analysis Of data percentage agreed on this point and finally 45
Table 1: Risk evaluation percentage strongly supported this point.
Categories Frequency Percent
Table 5: Insurance policy
Disagree 28 24
Neutral 10 8
Agree 10 8
Strongly agree 54 45 Disagree 18 15
Total 120 100.0 Neutral 26 22
Agree 24 20
15 percentage of the respondents strongly Strongly agree 30 25
disagreed on this point, 24 percentage
Total 120 100.0
disagreed, 8 percentage remained neutral, 8
percentage agreed on this point and finally 45 18 percentage of the respondents strongly
percentage strongly supported this point. disagreed on this point, 15 percentage
Table 2: Registration of the premises disagreed, 22 percentage remained neutral, 20
Categories Frequency Percent percentage agreed on this point and finally 25
Strongly disagree 16 13 percentage strongly supported this point.
Disagree 12 10
Neutral 18 15 Table 6: Hazardous materials
Agree 44 37
Strongly agree 30 25 Strongly disagree 48 40
Total 120 100.0 Disagree 18 15
Neutral 19 16
13 percentage of the respondents strongly Agree 22 18
disagreed on this point, 10 percentage Strongly agree 13 11
disagreed, 15 percentage remained neutral, 37 Total 120 100.0
percentage agreed on this point and finally 25
percentage strongly supported this point. 40 percentage of the respondents strongly
Table 3: First aid provision disagreed on this point, 15 percentage
Categories Frequency Percent disagreed, 16 percentage remained neutral, 18
Strongly disagree 44 37 percentage agreed on this point and finally 11
Disagree 18 15 percentage strongly supported this point.
Neutral 15 12.5

someone who has basic first aid knowledge and

is available to take charge in an emergency.
Table 7: Hygiene and cleanliness

Categories Frequency Percent 4. Fire certification
Strongly disagree 12 10 Every business is required to register with the
Disagree 22 18 fire service who will issue a fire certificate.
Neutral 26 22 5. Insurance policy
Agree 30 25 Insurance with proper coverage is necessary as
Strongly agree 30 25 it ensures your organization is covered in the
Total 120 100.0 event of an accident, but it is complicated so
10 percentage of the respondents strongly seek advice.
disagreed on this point, 18 percentage 6. Hazardous materials
disagreed, 22 percentage remained neutral, 25 There are rules which require you to do an
percentage agreed on this point and finally 25 assessment of any materials such as chemicals,
percentage strongly supported this point. that are used on your premises which are
Table 8: Accidents reporting hazardous to health and the organisations are
Categories Frequency Percent supposed to strictly follow the same to ensure
Strongly disagree 15 12.5 the safety and security of the stakeholders.
Disagree 30 25
7. Hygiene and cleanliness
Neutral 14 11.66
Agree 20 16.67 If your organization have specified measures
Strongly agree 41 34.17 regarding clean work area and equipment
Total 120 100.0 sustainable premises, suitable arrangements for
food waste and so on, it would be very much
12.5 percentage of the respondents strongly useful.
disagreed on this point, 25 percentage
disagreed, 11.66 percentage remained neutral, 8. Report accidents and incidents
16.67 percentage agreed on this point and It would be good tohave a systematic accident
finally 34.17 percentage strongly supported reporting procedure, that would be helpful in
this point. avoiding replication of the similar in future and
helpful in improvising safety and health
Suggestions measures.
From the above-mentionedstudies suggestions Organisations‟ sincerity and effortsoften reduce
regarding the components of health and safety accidents. Instructing supervisors to
policy are mentioned below; reportdeviations and informing employees to
work safely is necessary. If everybody in the
1. Risk evaluation
firm believes top management isn‟t serious
All organizations should assess systematically
about safety states, things will not be under
any potential risks of hazards to stakeholders.
control anymore. Historically good safety
Doing a risk evaluation shows that you have
records are partly due to an organizational
considered all possible hazards and
commitment to safety which is evident in their
implemented methods of avoiding accidents.
measures. This includes safety efforts giving
2. Registering your premises safety matters high priority and including
Organisations are supposed to register with the safety training for new workers. Ideally health
concerned departments and maintain the and safety is an unavoidable part of the
prescribed standards. organisational system and a part of everyone‟s
3. First aid provision day to day responsibilities. The organisation
Organizations will need different first aid should try everything practical to eliminate or
arrangements according to their size and reduce accidents and injuries.
activities. As a basic facility you must have Conclusion

Organisational focus on labour safety can is much more measurable. For example, a
ensure higher morale and productivity in the serious injury on the work site can shut down a
work place. This is because of the perception project for long period of time while it is under
that the organisation truly cares about the investigation, and loss time equals loss of
health and wellbeing of its employees, thus money. In addition, there is the cost of lost
creating a sense of belongingness to the productivity of the affected employee,
organisation. Increased productivity as it insurance premium hike, cost of replacing the
correlates to safety and morale is a difficult injured worker, cost of training the newly
index to measure, but futurist organisations joined worker and potential fines. The expense
realise that it doesexist and therefore justify the can be so severe that they may make it difficult
cost of their safety programs as compared to to run an organisation. It would be really
the productivity benefits that they provide. In appreciable if the organisations can design their
contrast to measuring productivity as it relates safety and health policies keeping all these
to safety, the indirect cost of employee injuries factors in mind.
Questionnaire
1. Risk evaluation mechanism is effective
☐Strongly Disagree ☐Disagree ☐Neutral ☐Agree ☐Strongly Agree
2. Registration of the premises is satisfactory.
3. First aid provision is effective
4. Company got fire certification.
5. ☐Strongly Disagree ☐Disagree ☐Neutral ☐Agree ☐Strongly Agree
6. Insurance policy is with sufficient coverage
7. Employees are not exposed to hazardous materials.
8. Company has good hygiene and cleanliness practices.
9. Organization‟s accident reporting system is effective.
References
1. Amparo Oliver, Alistair Cheyne, Jose M. 4. Burton, W.N., Schultz, A.B., Chen, C. and
Tomás, Sue Cox (2002),“ The effects of Edington, D.W. (2008), "The association of
organizational and individual factors on worker productivity and mental health: a
occupational accidents” The occuppasional review of the literature", International
and organisational psychology, Volume75, Journal of Workplace Health Management,
Issue4, Pp: 473-488. Vol. 1 No. 2, Pp: 78-94.
2. Amweelo, M. (2000). A government report 5. Cantor, D.E. (2008), "Workplace safety in
on workplace incidences. African News the supply chain: a review of the literature
Letter on Occupational Health and Safety, and call for research", The International
10, Pp: 4-8. Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 19
3. BoJohansson, Kjell Rask, MagnusStenberg No. 1, Pp: 65-83.
(2010), “Piece rates and their effects on 6. CarderaPatrick,W.Raganb (2003), ” A
health and safety – A literature review” survey-based system for safety
Applied Ergonomics Volume 41, Issue 4, measurement and improvement“ Journal of
Pp: 607-614.

of his physical appearance and methods of so that they might "be seen for what they are
instilling fear into Jessie through his gaze and condemned or destroyed" (8). Gerald's
might be interpreted as patriarchy externalized. Game may use Joubert's medical condition for
During one instance, Joubert is described in the a similar reason. King helps us to identify the
following manner in Gerald's Game: cancer that pervades the system by concretizing
[Jessie] could see his dark eyes gazing at her this abstraction—patriarchy—in the character
with fixed, idiotic attention. She could see the of Joubert. While this interpretation may
waxy whiteness of his narrow cheeks and high appear to condemn the disabled—or
forehead, although the intruder‘s actual disability—it is meant to link patriarchy to an
features were blurred by the diorama of illness that may be life-threatening if left
shadows which went flying across them…Her untreated. Acromegaly can cause issues such as
first terror of him began to abate a little, but high blood pressure, eyesight loss, malignant
what replaced it was somehow worse: horror growths, and death if left untreated. These
and an unreasoning, atavistic revulsion…It had problems are manifested by patriarchy in the
crept in here while she slept and now merely form of social and political injustice, domestic
stood in the corner…staring at her with its and sexual abuse against women, and death, as
strangely avid black eyes…they reminded her demonstrated by Jessie's murder of Gerald to
of the sockets in a skull. (143) avoid marital rape. Perhaps King attributes
The fact that Joubert is characterized as both acromegaly to Joubert because the chief
him and it is the first clue that he symbolizes a symptom of acromegaly, extended limbs,
nonhuman, immaterial system. Although the forehead, and jaw, is caused by an overactive
use of his defines Joubert as a man, the use of it pituitary gland producing extra growth
or its repeatedly suggests that he is not merely hormones in the body. Joubert's physical
human. "[Jessie] could not stop it, because this anomalies may be indicative of the gendered
was not a dream...she had become increasingly technologies and systems that continue to
sure that the figure standing in the corner, as maintain and contribute to the expansion of
silent as Frankenstein's monster before the patriarchy in North American society.
lightning-bolts, was real" (147-148).
Conclusion
Frankenstein's monster, a man-made figure, is
contrasted to Joubert. Patriarchy is also a man- Jessie encounters Joubert on two occasions, the
made phenomenon. Joubert uses his look to first of which happens when she attempts to
inspire terror in Jessie in the above text, as he flee the lodge after degloving her hand. Before
stares at her with unusually ardent dark eyes. she flees, Jessie runs into Joubert in Gerald's
Jessie is so terrified of Joubert's gaze that she study, who is "holding his case open, as if
agrees to let him abuse her in the same way expecting her to admire the contents" (315).
Tom did during the eclipse, as long as he will "Golden glitters and diamond flashes amid [a
"unlock [her] and let [her] go" thereafter (151). heap] of bones" can be found in the case (314).
This conversation between Jessie and Joubert It is important noticing that Joubert is
resembles the "gendered social relations within physically occupying a place that belongs to
a patriarchal culture" that "normalize" Gerald at this moment. When Jessie incorrectly
"women's subordination" (46). As a result, the refers to Joubert as daddy, she links him with
relationship between Jessie and Joubert her father. Here, Joubert fills the role of Jessie's
exemplifies the troubling power imbalances second abuser, her husband, bolstering my
that are frequently employed to perpetuate claim that he is a symbolic patriarch. Rather
patriarchal dominance. than being gripped by dread when she sees
Joubert's ghostly look, including his thin Joubert, Jessie "grasp[s] her wedding rings, the
cheekbones, high forehead, and intense black ones on the third finger of her left hand" and
eyes, as well as his extended limbs, are later "throw[s] the rings at the open case" (316).
ascribed to a medical condition: acromegaly. Jessie is symbolically rejecting a
The objective of adding such evident fundamentally patriarchal system: marriage, by
imperfections in the Gothic, according to tossing her wedding rings in Joubert's court.
Botting, is to "make negative attributes visible" Joubert's patriarchy appears to rely on marriage

to retain power, as seen by his response to course, there are numerous exceptions to this
Jessie removing her wedding bands: "[t]he ostensible goal of the judicial system in North
smile on its pudgy, misshapen mouth faltered American culture, but the fact that Jessie and
into some new expression which might have Joubert's last confrontation takes place in a
been anger or only confusion" (316). Anger or courtroom is worth highlighting because of the
befuddlement in Joubert might signal a loss of public exposure it provides. In a letter to Ruth
power: Jessie has already broken free from her Neary at the conclusion of the novel, Jessie
handcuffs physically, but she is also gaining refers to her final encounter with Joubert in the
social agency by removing the wedding bands courtroom as "the total, final eclipse" (382) and
linked with her problematic and overtly violent insists that she had to "do something that
marriage. Furthermore, by volunteering her would matter, that would make a difference,
wedding rings, Jessie denies Joubert the option that would show [her] that no eclipse lasts
to forcefully take them. In other words, Jessie forever," so she "leaned forward and spit into
is denying Joubert the opportunity to rob her [Joubert's] face" (384). Because Jessie equates
brutally, which, as we will see, is a very Joubert with her father, spitting in his face
pleasurable act for him. demonstrates her acceptance and rejection of
After being arrested for multiple crimes of victimization. Furthermore, Jessie is spitting
grave thievery, necrophilia, and murder, not only in Tom's face, but also in the face of
including the death of his own parents, Jessie's patriarchy. That is, assuming we consider
second and final violent encounter with Joubert Joubert as a literal embodiment of patriarchy.
takes place in a courtroom. The fact that the Jessie's personal story of suffering at the hands
confrontation takes place in a courtroom is of an abusive father and husband, her struggle
significant because, unlike Jessie's first with accepting her past sexual trauma, and her
encounter with Joubert, which takes place in eventual psychic and physical rejection of the
the privacy of her cabin, the second encounter patriarchal systems that ensnared her during the
takes place in a public space that (theoretically) eclipse is depicted on a much larger scale on
exists solely to achieve justice, equality, and Little Tall Island.
retribution for victims of all genders. Of
Reference
1. Botting, Fred. Gothic. London: Routledge, 9. Rajadurai, R., and G. Arputhavel Raja.
2017. Print. "Autobiography, Doppelganger, and
2. Dorfman, Eran. Double Trouble: The Alcoholism in Stephen King‘s The
Doppelgänger from Romanticism to Shining." PalArch's Journal of Archaeology
Postmodernism. of Egypt/Egyptology 17.9 (2020): 5222-
3. Routledge, 2020. 5231.
4. Forter, Greg. ―Freud, Faulkner, Caruth: 10. Senf, Carol. ―Gerald‘s Game and Dolores
Trauma and the Politics of Literary Form.‖ Claiborne: Stephen King and the Evolution
Narrative, vol. of an Authentic Female Narrative Voice.‖
5. 15, no. 3, 2007, pp. 259-285. JSTOR, Imagining the Worst: Stephen King and the
http://www.jstor.com/stble/319258. Representation of Women, edited by
6. Heiland, Donna. Gothic and Gender: An Kathleen Lant and Theresa Thompson,
Introduction. Blackwell Publishing, 2019. Greenwood Press, 1998, pp. 91-107
7. King, Stephen. Dolores Claiborne. 1993. 11. Shen, Min. ―‗Quite a Moon!‘: The
Pocket Books, 2019.Gerald‘s Game. 1992. Archetypal Feminine in Our Town.‖
Gallery Books, 2020. American Drama, vol. 16. No.2, 2007, pp.
8. Raja, G. Arputhavel, et al. "Logical 1-14. Gale Literature Resource Center,
Straddles between the Real and the Tech- https://link-
Simulated World: A Critical Study of galecom.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/apps/doc/A
Girish Karnad‘s Wedding Album." 165310375/LitRC?u=ubcolumbia&sid=Lit
PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of RC&xid=542a56 f5.
Egypt/Egyptology 17.9 (2020): 5258-5266.

He is in an isolation by himself. His universe Sex & Violence

was shrunk and he lives lonely. Without his Another big disrupting aspect for Rabbit is his
own knowledge, he was brought to this state. lack of sexual urge. According to Sigmund
Even his trust in God went bad. He does not Freud, there are two main factors which
have a purposeful existence. He is spiritually promote noetic conceptions, behavioral habits
powerless and perpetuates trust in religion to and satisfied emotions. It is sex and violence. It
ignore. When Thelma asks him to believe in is also regarded as 'Eros and Thanatos' or life
Heaven, Harry responds negatively. and death. Gender is a central driver in human
Implement via Harry's character the mindset of development. It is a reproductive expedient.
those trapped amid technical advances and Aggression is another form of behavioral
science inventions. In Harry's psyche, he did pattern that penalizes the person to avoid
not completely deny trust in Heaven. It is just
damage caused by other people. Rabbit is
the last priority of a prosperous life of pretending to be truculent to escape
existence. That is the general psychology of embarrassment and dishonour. It is the
Americans since the Second World War. Harry dwindling interest in sex; the psyche of Rabbit
is between conviction and experience mentally. is badly confused. He thinks he is losing an
He trusts in human trials and punishments, ascendant male's place. "Sexuality is the secret
sorrows and happiness; this trust is enabled by to the issue of psychoneurosis and neuroses in
certain external power. But he does not know it general, as Sigmund Freud verbally placed it.
is God. He is truthfully prone to believe, but No one who refuses the key will ever open the
seldom does his logical celebration blame him lock" (115).
for doing so. "When the young Rabbi had a The internal make-up of Harry is not made up
mystical sense of himself as divinely sought, of virtues. He may not believe or refute that. Its
the mature person encovers God more as a character may be defined as taking life as it
remembrance than as a living reality," Ralph
comes, but Harry's acts can never be explained
Wood puts in his novel (226). in a civilized community. Updike reflects on
Half a year in Florida, Harry lives without any Harry's situation and the time he lives in
exposure to job strain or socialization. He likes expresses that stuff appeared functional but
to recollect and regrets his life's vicissitudes. were inherently unhealthy.
His psyche was checked without work or When Harry indulged in a sexual act with his
dedication. Harry's mind functions in own daughter-in-law Pru, he became the centre
fluctuating desequilibrio and he experiences a of reproval. The entire family is with swords to
feeling of emptiness in his existence. Because
contravene the beastly action of Harry. But
Harry resides in Florida for half a year, all of Harry is not perturbed with it. Janice calls
his connections in the Flying Eagle Club have Harry‟s action the most “perverted” and
been a thing of the past. He is psychologically “monstrous” one. But Harry is not penitent. He
removed from all his interactions. Time endeavours to flee from the spot. Here one can
challenged him tremendously and in time he
understand that Harry is not for retribution or
became a puppet. This condition leads to a regret. His emotions dominate at the cost of
snap in Harry's mind and he decides to play human values, which is unacceptable in a
golf in Florida to balance the act, but Florida is civilized society. When Melvyn Bragg queried
not the location appropriate for his emotional about this picturisation of Harry, Updike
permutations and accumulations. As Gordon E. replied:Here lies an American man ...
Slethaug in Freedom is made of Brambles, something like that, something kind of vague.
suggests:Harry is a person initially viewed The last book tries to pick up the epigraph of
marriage as a ritual in human life and Harry the first one, which was a quotation from
never viewed it as a commitment or bondage. Pascal. I talk about the movements of grace,
At the beginning stages Harry viewed marriage the hardness of heart, external circumstances. I
as a matter of convenience and compromise. It think over life is a mixture of these things, and
is the attitude of Harry and a sizable number of in the fourth book I perhaps especially show
youths in America as well. (245) the hardened heart becomes no longer a
metaphor, but an actual physical thing.

External circumstances are always there, and Updike in his Introduction to Barth‟s Wolfgang
the movements of grace have become Amadeus Mozart, states that the theory goes
somewhat dimmed, but not entirely. (227-228) well with his character Rabbit Angstrom.
The character of Harry Angstrom prioritizes Rabbit‟s fondness for tobacco and other
personal liberation at the cost of moral physical comforts, his tastes in art and
conventions, values and societal structure. But entertainment were heartily worldly, worldly
in general the psychology of Harry is not in the fashion of those who treat this life as
reprehensible and is not worth admiring. It is a way-station and testing ground but of those
not right to claim supremacy for the self which who embrace it as a piece of creation. (Updike
is devoid of moral convictions. This accurately 228)
describes the psychology of Harry Angstrom. Rabbit is not in an ethical system; he has
However, it is better to be human than being appreciated life as an incarnation of generation.
selfish. As Karl Barth projects in The Inside, Rabbit is mentally upset by his
Quandary of Ethics Today: irrecoverable past glory as a basketball star.
The answer to the problem of the ethical lies But he feels he is a component of America's
not in what man is doing or might attempt to history. He feels excited for life's most happy
do. It lies wholly in what God has done and times. His psyche never blamed him for
continues to do for and to man and the world in acknowledging the natural events of human
Jesus Christ. The meaning of God‟s action is life. This is Harry's place of contradiction and
enclosed in the word „grace.‟ And this means, the root cause of his misery. All throughout the
quite simply, that God does one very definite novel, Updike strived to make his audience
thing: He forgives men their sins. Human understand that Harry Angstrom is an epitome
existence occurs always only under the of history. Indeed, Updike's creation of Harry
judgement and forgiveness of God. (29-30) is trustworthy and efficient proof that he can
After Harry's wife Janice has been appalled by generate history. Commenting on John Updike,
the moral indignation at his ethical, unbloody Suzanne Henning Uphaus says: "Updike
and uncivilized behavior, Harry attempts to put considers men to be dichotomous, to be divided
his history, intuitive and secure elude, namely, between their physical desires and their
running. He spends a long period in Deleon, spiritual desires on the one hand... Man's
recollecting his former basketball tournaments physical and metaphysical aspects remain
and enjoying basketball again. stubbornly distinct. You should not integrate."
(6)
Logical Situation
In Harry's mindset, there is a psychological
Harry's attitude to life is incredibly realistic. He doubt about his physical compulsions and thirst
did not philosophize his genealogy. He is for faith. Faith in God erupts in his personal
logical, but at the same time a continuous life when there is turbulence. There is no
seeker of external forces that work human practical structure or philosophy to explain the
destiny if human prospects collapse. Updike combination of religious faith and
carves Rabbit as a character to compare with contemporary life. Dilvo Ristoff says, when
Karl Barth's theory. The intent of Rabbit to interpreting Harry's character: "And he is the
recapture his young glory to several sexual middle-man,' pressed between life and death,
experiences, his violence in collecting money, past and future, an object of the Cosmos, an
and other goals did not lead him to the upper object of history." (28)
level of fullness of life. Rabbit was hoping that His own stance of being unserviceable and his
these stuff would carry glory and rejoicing into wife and son's upswing make Rabbit
life at the early stage of Rabbit's life, but that psychologically unstable. Harry only makes the
the money gained and numerous sexual last run to find the final choice – death. His
experiences did not lift him out of his vacuity. anger at his son Nelson proves that he felt
Psychologically, he also has a sense of deplorable at the bottom of her heart at his
meaninglessness in general. sexual progress towards his daughter in law: "It
is sorry for the child he did, but now he is
favoring it although Nelson does not seem to

know it" (Rest 511). Harry's final huge heart for peaceful life. In a democratic community,
attack in Florida during the final basketball compromises in the minds of the citizens still
game with the boys. His psychological thirst is emerge for real existence and realistic living.
his game and in his early days, this thirst gave Updike would not attempt to dig straight into
him fame and liberation and in his last days he the difficulty of life in a patriarchal society. He
was eternally free. Harry's thwarted efforts seeks to discriminate between materialistic and
were often suggested to be simply metaphors moral lifestyles. Regardless of the laws the
on one level for the greater social problems of community has developed in order to survive,
his era. Rabbit at Rest is a virtual directory of they have been broken and eradicated. The
actual disasters; AIDS, Pan Am Flight 103 and social concern of Updike is regarding culture
Challenger, to name but a few. No wonder and the inconsistencies and hypocrisy existing
Harry Angstrom and his family are struggling, in people's minds.
Updike seems to say, things are hard all over. When we analyze Harry's attitude, he is
mentally mature but lacks clever and mental
Complexity of Human Mind
stability. Moreover, Harry's noetic, physical
Everywhere in this novel one switches, and moral regression is attributed to
agreements are broken, commitments breached, contemporary America's carelessness and
ties compromised. To underline the dishonesty spiritual sloth. The key subject of the novel
of the relationships of his protagonists, Updike from Harry's character is the middle-class
undoubtedly evokes the tacky, cheesy quality families of the 1980s and 1990s. In every
of US reality during the Reagan–Bush years. culture, the coalescence of patterns and the
But the key aim of Updike is not to create a character of individuals is a forum for raising a
political declaration. As a human, he remains family. A community of citizens make up a
essential to Harry Angstrom. The important culture in which the perspectives of
problem is private activities. His true focus is personalities are exchanged and thus become
the complexity of the human mind, the the mindset of the people of that era and
swarming upheaval of thoughts, perceptions society.
and desires. Social Supersession
Technically, the story is told from the author‟s
The basic way of life in contemporary
all-knowing point of view. But whole
American society in the 1980s and 1990s is not
sentences and paragraphs must be read as
remarkable or exceptional. As far as eating
Harry‟s despite the purposeful omission of
preferences are concerned, it is a culture that
quotation marks and attributing phrases.
does not obey certain laws about food. Dining
Updike‟s subtle blending of voices enables him
has become a culture and most junk food has
to maintain a strong sense of immediacy and
become a supersession for the culture of the
realism without sacrificing the advantages of
past. It is a cosmopolitan world predicted by
authorial omniscience. (Searles 21)
Updike and the disintegration of the
The conception and research by Updike to
conventional structure in all facets of existence
portray its age's inaccessible gregorian mishaps
is now the order of the day. Anarchy in the
is not an attempt to radicalize the system; it is
family system is due to lack of faith among
instead Updike's adventure to project authentic
people in the family. Adultery is indeed a
and contradictory convivial stigmas found
significant cause that influenced culture in the
among his age people. In a culture, a certain
80's and 90's. Genuinity, trustworthiness, trust
type of laws and philosophy of virtue are
and religion are both weak in the majority of
framed for a disciplined life. Even if the
society's households. In the context of
civilized code of conduct has been broken, a
socialization, people migrate to nightclubs,
cure for a slack, healthy and peaceful existence
restaurants and other sources of adventure and
has been created by the denomination of faith.
momentary excitement. In the contract,
In the book, though, Rabbit is not finding
childcare and passion have a rigorous effect
refuge in a religion that reveals himself to be a
and uncertainty in the family structure. Harry
reflection of the Americans who have lost trust
and Janice's guilty position has made their son's
in the divine universe – a powerful hypothesis
life unbearable. Harry and Janice's erratic sex

life did not earn them the role of Nelson's Harry is pellucid that in materialistic consumer
responsible parents. All remain accused of their society, not all conventional values of the
misconduct. They aspire to save Nelson with American society are venerated. He even
liberation and security in the task of questions the people of his generation, because
suppressing the shady lifestyle. Nelson, on the his whole life was used to help stabilize and
other hand, wants to live comfortably and be a nurture his children. But people in his
little extravagant. The other major disaster of household have never realized that and he is
culture is that young people go after narcotics obliged to move quietly out of his house. Only
to experience an early sensation of being in his remembrances could Harry find his bliss.
drunk. Nelson is caught in the cocaine user's It is a difficult world after momentary pleasure
website and becomes a toxic person. The great and Harry is a representative of an old
causes found in culture are indiscipline, generation who tries to get accustomed to the
addiction and alcoholism and most households early theory of junk food addiction.
are trapped in the catastrophic lifestyle. An
Impulsive Society
violence leads to a chain of harassment. As a
crack abuser, Nelson loves drug trafficking and Updike projects the society of the 1980s and
misuse of Springer Engines. The addiction of 1990s as a society craving for momentary
Nelson leads to a complete misunderstanding pleasure, transitory and instant bliss. It is a
between him and his wife. Nelson had an society which feels negative about perpetual
astronomical loss on the Toyota franchise and bliss and gratification of the soul. Updike hints
as a consequence his grandfather's well known that the society is a practical society, a
company stopped running. consumer materialistic society which never
Harry's personal situations are an illustration to bothers about fine tuned values and practices.
numerous households in the United States. As a critic Sven Birkets in The Inner rabbit, In
Updike attempts through the protagonists to Chicago Tribune - Book says:
reflect the prevailing onerous condition in I do not mean to suggest that Rabbit lives only
America. He even wonders for living well in a in the past or that the other characters do not
ruthless, wealthy consumer culture. It is a push forward to claim their need of attention,
culture which aims to discard all the principles or that the vast and complex public world is not
in the air during the pilgrimage to material sharply etched – in all about. To the contrary,
riches. here, as in the earlier books the variegated hard
It is not only a transitional time for the Rabbit walks of reality are everywhere to be knocked
family but also for America. Since Harry opts against. And Rabbit remains an inveterate
for semi-retirement in Florida, his country also sniffer and noticer – of places, atmospheres,
strives to develop its supranational dominance things great and small. (1-4)
in world affairs. Harry has a double role in the In the novel, Rabbit is a consumer society.
book - as a gritty basketball player he projects There is no room for ethics or values in this
himself to the outside world. But he has in society. Individuals are revered for their
himself a delicate, thoughtful character. Harry material wealth and possessions. They look
longs for an ecstatic feeling in the world and in like commodities. Consuming ultra-modern
communities in the 1940s. But he did not food and socializing in high-end restaurants has
match America's quickly transmuting culture. become a way of life under the denomination
Everything is sold and all is for material of the consumerist culture. People lived
enjoyment. The American way of living has because of their avarice and not because of
been swift and Harry believes that an in-depth their desideratum and the needs are all
study of a healthier life in America cannot be mendacious.
sought. Harry lives in an era when everything The seventies and eighties saw a drastic
is open. The youths are not forced to wait in transmutation in the material prosperity of the
order to taste ecstasy. The millennial Americans. The emergence of great inventions
generation challenges the conventional idea of in science and technology and other
jubilation. innovations in all spheres of life brought a
positive and a sizable amount of negative

effects in the lifestyle of the Americans. The Throughout this novel, Updike projects
negative effects include energy crisis, confused and lethargic characters against the
suspicious attitude in marital life, extramarital background of cultural and friendly changes. It
sexual issues, dreadful diseases like AIDS and is a society without God's compassion and
ultimately an exhaustive decline in human social will. The choices of people differ in
values. As Christopher Booker in Dear nature and all of these decisions are probably
American: Meditation on a Lost Dream, in his shortcuts to personal developments.
The Seventies: The Decade that Changes the In fact, Updike sees the authentic American
Future says: values recognizing the individual thinking and
We have seen the beginnings of the world freedom to live truly, with obligation and
energy crisis; we have seen mounting worries prosperity. Wealth denotes spiritual richness.
over population and the whole balance between Updike is strongly criticized for projecting a
man and nature. We have seen the dottiness costly life full of self-centered posture and
and superficiality which can come over selfishness. In the novel, the life of little boy
societies as they embrace the values of Nelson oscillates into his parents temporary,
materialism and surrender to the omnipresent shady life. It is a fitting example of the false
invasion of television – which brings a ideologies of parenthood that have embraced
wholesale regression into infantilism, a subtle the materialistic minds of spouses. It is a
undermining of the sense of reality. (76) society with egoistic vices and a strong
Hypocrisy prevailed in most of the households reflection on our brothers and sisters at home.
and in order to gratify their class consciousness
Conclusion
people thronged to restaurants which opted for
food that did not suit the stomach but for the Rabbit's last ride to the south is a remembrance
tongue. This stance of the consumer society for his past. Rabbit is in a state of mystification
laid the death nail on the coffin which is and cannot align his thoughts with the modern
confined with social values and faith. John American way of life. Rabbit certainly
Kenneth Galbraith wrote in The Affluent performs his last basketball game fiercely, but
Society: his fitness deteriorates this period and his
Because society sets great store by ability to lengthy struggle-for-Reagan America takes
produce a high living standard, it evaluates place. He crashes in the courtyard. Looking at
people by the products they possess. The urge Harry's admiration for President Reagan, it is a
to consume is fathered by the value system hair-raising ceremony of men who work and
which emphasizes the ability of the society to glorify the past. The veneration of human
produce. The more that is produced the more liberation and autonomous businessmen is
that must be owned in order to maintain the America's pride. They are not just department
appropriate prestige. (155) stores but symbolize the success of American
The mentality of the people of the 1970s is entrepreneurship.
zigzag in nature and never reflects a specific In his early childhood, Rabbit looked very
theory or principle. Any society that goes confident where all was true and constructive
through this transitional period faces a distantly and a person had the capacity to flourish in
turbulent environment because people are not harmony. But today he says "Everything is
equipped to cater for the rapidly changing ready, ready to make a rapid profit" (419).
consumer society. It takes at least ten years for Garry Wills observes in favor of this vision,
any transmutation to accustom and to know the "Reagan's land is just like bringing kids to
positive and the negative aspects of the Disneyland... It is a safe history with no rough
transmutation. Sometimes the peregrination of edges on which to stumble. The more one visits
adaptation takes the jolt of a generation. As such a history, the better one is immune from
Michiko Kakutani points out, “Instead of disturbing incursions." (459)
charting Rabbit's growth and his struggles Rabbit perpetuates bigotry, advertising, faith,
against temperament as he did in previous ideology and the complexities of the home. He
books, Updike appears more interested in is away from America's mendicant world and
defining the mindset of his character" (14). wonderful teens. The belief in Protestantism

and human fellowship with God is an transition. It is a phase and transition is life's
American real identity. And after his reaganism root. It cannot be stuck at one time and
love that imitates the past and bridges the proceeds to display the beauty. The mantle of
current, life goes on and if there is no transition needs to begin generation after
hindrance between God's communion and the generation as days advance. It is Nelson after
individual, then that communion becomes Rabbit, great children after Nelson, and the
sacred. Interfering with gregarious influences tradition of progress persists until the very end
contributes to instability and sabotage of with regards to the Rabbit family.
Reference
1. Bragg, Melvyn. Forty Years of Middle Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology 17.9
America with John Updike “from the South (2020): 5258-5266.
Bank Show, London Weekend Television, 10. R. Rajadurai, Dr. G. Arputhavel Raja.
June 1990 in James Plath, ed., “Autobiography, Doppelganger, and
Conversations with John Updike (Jackson: Alcoholism in Stephen
University of Mississippi Press, 1994), 11. King‟s The Shining”. PalArch‟s Journal of
227-228. Archaeology of Egypt / Egyptology, vol.
2. Birkets, Sven. The Inner Rabbit, In 17, no. 9, Nov.
Chicago Tribune – Books, September 30, 12. 2020, 5222 -3.
1990, 1-4. 13. Slethaug E. Gordon. Rabbit Redux:
3. Booker, Christopher Dear America: Freedom is Made of Brambles, in William
Meditation on a Lost Dream, in his The R.
Seventies: The Decade that changed the 14. Macnaughton, Critical Essays on John
Future. New York: Stein and Day, Updike. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1932, 245.
Publishers, 1981, 76. 15. Searles J. George. Angst up to End, New
4. Dear America: Meditation on a Lost Leader, Oct 1-15, 1990, 21.The Fiction of
Dream, in his The Seventies: The Decade Philip Roth and John Updike. Carbondale:
that Southern Illinois University Press, 1985,
5. Changed the Future. New York: Stein and 100-102.
Day, Publishers, 1981, 76. Epilogue: Act 16. Updike, John. Rabbit, Rest, New York:
Five, Scene one, in his The Seventies: The Alfred A. Knopf, 2017.
Decade that Changed the 17. Updike, John. Hugging the Shore: Essays
6. Future. New York: Stein and Day, and Criticism, Penguin Books India, 2005,
Publishers, 1981, 346. 858.
7. Galbraith, Kenneth John. The Affluent 18. Introduction to Wolfgang Amadeus
Society. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Mozart, by Karl Barth in Updike‟s Odd
Company, 1958,155. Jobs (New
8. Raja, G. Arputhavel, et al. "Logical 19. York: Alfred Knopf, 1991), 228.
Straddles between the Real and the Tech- 20. One Big Interview, in Picked – Up Pieces.
Simulated New York: Fawcett Crest, 1975, 483.
9. World: A Critical Study of Girish Karnad‟s
Wedding Album."PalArch's Journal of

REVENGE, RETALIATION AND RETRIBUTION IN THE COLLECTOR OF

TREASURES BY BESSIE HEAD
X. Ann Lanka Jeyadharshini1 and V. Gnanaprakasam2
Dept. of English, Annamalai University
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
Bessie Head is a celebrated South African writer who is considered to be the most influential writer of Botswana. In
her relatively short life on earth, she wrote many novels, short fiction and autobiographical works which give the
readers a deep and personal insight into the colonial oppression of South Africa in particular as well as the patriarchal
and tribal oppressions. This article intends to study the oppression suffered by the African women and their consequent
retaliation, revenge against their oppressor, and also the retribution faced by the oppressors with reference to The
Collector of Treasures by Bessie Head, an anthology of short fiction.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keywords: Oppression, colonialism, suffering, revenge, retaliation, retribution
Introduction stories by Bessie Head published in 1977. She
took a longer time to write this than it took her
Bessie Amelia Emery Head, who is celebrated
to write a novel. She started work on this book
as Botswana‘s most prominent writer, was born
after he was able to find a home for herself in
in South Africa in 1937.She is a mixed-race
Botswana, where she felt that the African
writer who migrated to Botswana from South
experience was continuous and unbroken (45)
Africa to flee from a horrendous past riddled
as she said in an interview. The collection
with rejection and humiliation. She
consists of ―brief vignettes of traditional
distinguished herself in various genres like
Botswana village life, macabre tales of
short stories, novels and autobiographical
witchcrafts and passionate attacks on male
works. It is almost inevitable for writers to
chauvinism‖. Bessie Head took immense care
draw from their life experiences to produce
to complete these thirteen short stories as it
literary works. Their ideas and personalities are
was her desire ―to shape the individual stories
spread throughout their works to be interpreted
in such a way that one trailed into the other‖
by those who read them. Craig Mackenzie
(11). This paper intends to analyse the themes
found all her works of fiction ―fashioned in
of oppression, resistance, revenge and
some way from the author‘s experiences‖ (19).
retaliation in a few stories from this collection.
Born of an illegal union between a white
mother and a black father, she was raised in a Revenge and Retaliation of Dikeledi:
foster home. Her misfortunes doggedly ―The Collector of Treasures‖, the title story of
followed her into marriage also. It lasted only the 1977 collection produced by Bessie Head
for three years before she fled to Botswana indicts Botswanan men for objectifying and
with her son. There she had to wrestle for abusing women in their lives. The story begins
fifteen years as a refugee before she was in medias res with an unnamed woman being
granted citizenship. Her life experience of taken in a police truck to the state prison in
suffering made her poignantly aware of Gabarone, the new capital of Botswana. The
oppression against the women of her country prisoner stares disinterestedly at the passing
and their struggles to survive against the tide of landscape. The long and lonely journey takes
illiteracy, poverty and sex discrimination. its toll on the woman that at a certain point
According to Femo Ojo Ade ―Bessie Head ―she slowly crumpled forward in a wasted
takes sides with the woman whose story must heap‖ as she becomes ―oblivious to everything
be told‖ (81). She champions the oppressed but her pain.‖ She reaches the prison by night.
and exploited African women thus becoming She is incarcerated along with four other
the voice of the voiceless. Craig Mackenzie inmates, all guilty of murdering their husbands.
describes ―the hardship women of the village The night wardress after recording the
experience‖ as the main focus of her stories. protagonist‘s crime as ‗man slaughter‘,
The Collector of Treasures, with the subtitle remarks that ―it‘s becoming the fashion these
Batswana Village Tales, is a collection of short days‖ (CT 88). When questioned by her
Training o Proper training polishes the o No training centre or schools or
opportunities artisans craftmanship institutions to be established for the
o Increasing the knowledge for training of the artisans
the betterment of their art o One or two expert artisans teach the
work potential artisans on paid basis
Govt. initiation o Established craft hubs in o Lack of awareness about the govt.
various districts in west policies for the artisans
Bengal
o Provide best artisans award
and presidential award for the
best art work of the artisans
o Central govt., State Govt. take
some policies for the artisans
Conclusion of markets of the rural crafts into the national

as well as international markets is another
Rural crafts of West Bengal are a heritage,
important consideration. Though there are
which highlights the main culture of West
some craft hubs in the rural area of West
Bengal. Every marketer, as well as Govt.,
Bengal the creation of demand for these
various NGOs who worked on the promotion
handicraft products in the international market
of rural craft products, should develop five
essential elements. The researcher suggests that is a very important factor. If everyone sends
gifts by these craft products in various rituals
everybody should give much concentration on
to their beloved ones or family and friends it
the Employee as the craft products are very
will get a high chance to expand crafts markets
much labor-intensive. At first, it is needed to
around the world. It will help the artisans to
sort out the financial crisis of the artisans. If
enter into the large-scale industry. As a result,
various Gramin banks, financial organizations,
both large-scale and small-scale industries will
Central banks, state banks provide them
be benefited from these products. Besides this
financial support at a very low rate of interest
marketers should develop online marketing,
for the long term it will be very fruitful for
catalog marketing, and supply chain
their business as well as their production. West
management facilities to develop the craft
Bengal govt and central govt also should give
product business. Who will execute the craft
assurance, financial securities, and health
product? It is the main question. A very few
securities to carry on their productions and
no. marketers show interest in these products.
business into the rural tourist markets.
Various NGOs, various low-profit
Government should provide the best training
organizations, especially the West Bengal govt
program for the development of the skills of
should take the initiation to execute the craft
the artisans. It is possible through arranging
products properly into the tourist markets as
various development and training programs
well as various domestic and international
with the collaboration of MSME and
markets. And the next very important question
UNESCO. Different training centers are to be
is how to execute the craft products? Various
established for giving better training to the
trade fairs, exhibitions, fashion shows, etc
artisans free of cost. The next very important
arranged nationally or internationally should
thing is Earning facilities and earning securities
give the chance to the artisans to participate
of the artisans. Government should first give
there with no charge facilities. Evolution of the
them proper security on their intellectual
craft products is another major issue. As a large
property rights with the help of law. They need
number of scarce raw materials, capital, labor
also financial securities in their production as
are the constraints for the production of
well as distribution of their products. The state
handicraft products, but evolution is needed to
govt should provide insurance facilities for
survive in the competitive market. Various
their production work. If the artisans get fixed
types of training facilities at a free cost will
salaries or wages from the govt, it will ensure
help them to make something new. If it will be
highly to them to get financial securities and
developed then the prospects of the craft
benefits to carry on their creativity. Expansion

products will be developed, and it will make should establish some financial organizations
the high motivation for the next generation only for the artisans. The ancient conventional
artisans to carry on our traditional work into design of sujni Kantha was brought back in
the market. West Bengal government these seminars other than launching
establishes some policies for the development contemporary style in kantha embroidery. The
of rural craft products but there has some lack hubs of the handicraft products must be
of intentions to implement those policies extended to introduce the handicraft products
properly. So, it is an emergency to provide of rural areas as tourist markets contributing
much effort for the betterment of the craft bona fide occurrence of native existence.
products as it is working as a tool of the Rural Communal carnivals are being arranged to
Tourism industry. produce regional identification, charm
travelers, start a new collaboration with media,
Recommendation
and gain the far-reaching fraternity about craft
The artisans of the craft products make super villages. Commercial skill improving seminars
quality, newly invented, and newly designed are hold on to improve educational endeavors
handicraft products to fight into the at the working class and introduce the proposal
competitive market, and also keep up their of mechanism as a communal trade. The
businesses into the growing market. For this, it seminars also stimulate the artisans on
is needed to develop practical knowledge of the performing towards directing communal
target artisans by arranging workshops, apprehension like sexual matters, ecological
seminars. Various seminars, technical soundness. There are enough opportunities for
workshops help the artisans to develop their rural arts and crafts as a major tourist attraction
technical know-how like how to make small for the state both from foreign and intrastate
size Gomira masks, Sitalpati, wooden dolls, tourists if a professional approach can be innate
dokra products, terracotta products which by the state Government. Needless to mention
should be pocket friendly and also attractive in that arts and crafts are always the sources of
the decoration of drawing room, bedroom, puja attraction for the tourism industry. Moreover,
room and any other places of houses. If various road infrastructure and transportation can be
financial organizations like banks, financial improved to reach the art and craft villages of
intermediaries provide financial substance at a the state of West Bengal.
minimum interest then they will be motivated
to continue their business. For this Govt.
References
1. Chakraborty & Biswas (2020). from West Bengal, India, Global Journal of
Contribution of Craft Hubs in Development Business Research The IBFR, 6(2), 11-23
of Rural Tourism-case studies of West
Bengal 5. Datta & Bhattacharyya(2016). An Analysis
2. Das Ayan (six rural crafts from Bengal, on Problems and Prospects of Indian
including Chau Mask Madurkathi, and Handicraft Sector. Asian J. Management.
Pattachitra 7(1): 5-16
3. Das, D K & Ray, N.(2016). Women 6. Gangopadhay(2020). Visit these handicraft
Empowerment for Promoting Rural hubs across diverse corners of Bengal to
Economy in West Bengal: A Study on support the artisans.
Pallimangal (A Unit of Ramakrishna 7. Ganguly, Akundi, Anatharam (2020). A
Mission Kamarpukur), In Şefika Şule gift in times saves many artisans.
Erçetin (Ed) Women Leaders in Chaotic 8. Kumar Ritu: it is the time to tap potential of
Environments Examinations of Leadership handicrafts and textiles (15th June,2016)
Using Complexity Theory, Springer Nature 9. Roy Laha Tasmayee; west Bengal rural
4. Ray, N; Das, D K , Sengupta, P P & Ghosh, craft hubs helps artisans double their
S (2012). Rural tourism and its Impact on incomes (2016)
Socio- Economic Condition: Evidence

10. Rural Craft and Textile tours of west Journal of Management Research, 2(2) ,
Bengal- Rare Artisans(travel with a 792-796
bong.com)(2020) 13. Upadhyay, M. N. (1973). Economics of
11. West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries handicrafts industry. New Delhi: S.
Board -2020(project report). Chand, 45-49.
12. Sudha, & Krishnaveni, M. (2012). SMEs in
India: Importance and Contribution, Asian

STUDY ON GENDER AND AGE DIFFERENCES IN COVID-19 PATIENTS: RISK

FACTORS FOR SEVERE DISEASE AND DEATH
D.Singh1, A. S. Gautam2, P. Kumar3, A.Kumar Nautiyal4 and P. Singh5
1,3,4,5
Department of Education, HNB Garhwal (A Central) University, Srinagar Uttarakhand
2
Department of Physics, HNB Garhwal (A Central) University, Srinagar Uttarakhand
2
phyalok@gmail.com
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic is the Centre of focus since beginning of 2020 and Outbreak of virus took place in china and
got spread across the world in very short span of time. More than 200 countries around the World are host of COVID-
19 and fighting towards to control the severity of infection. This pandemic has considered as a greatest, most serious
and challenging global health emergency faced by the human kind since after World War II. In the year 2002- 2003,
774 people were died and more than 8000 got suffered due to corona virus (World Health Organization). The rapid
human to human transmission of corona is causing uncountable serious health problems related to respiratory,
neurological, cardiovascular, nephrology etc. and further leading towards death. Over the months, every aspect of
human life and environment have been suffering due to this pandemic such as social, psychological, cultural,
economic, political and health severely. This research paper would get analysis the impacts of COVID-19 outbreak in
context of demography, age difference and Gender. Moreover, it would highlights the associated risk factors of corona
virus, which are responsible for sudden trigger of infection, complications and deaths.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keywords: COVID-19, Risk Factors, Impacts, Strategies and Standing plans.
Introduction transmission of the virus. As of 7:08 pm 11th
September 2020 there have been 288787 new
The COVID-19 infection is spreading like
cases, 28040853 confirmed cases and 906092
anything even after 7 to 8 months of its
deaths reported to world health organization
outbreak and none of the health organization
due to corona infection. In term of region wise
of the World had come up with any specific
statistics Americas (North & South) are at top
medicine or vaccine so far. The World Health
with 14447680 confirmed cases followed by
Organization (WHO) and respective
Europe 4707944, Eastern Mediterranean
Governments have suggested some important
2071058, Africa 1106919 and Western Pacific
precautions such as social distancing, uses of
has 535413 confirmed cases. Furthermore,
face mask, washing hands frequently, stay
table 1.1 shows the COVID-19 statistics in
indoors, taking healthy and immunity booster
term confirmed cases and deaths country wise.
diets, get aware and updated and work from
home, in order to control and avoid
Table 1.1. COVID-19 Global Statistics up till 7:08 pm 11th September 2020
S.NO. Country Name Confirmed Cases Deaths
1. USA 6341309 190787
2. India 4659984 77472
3. Brazil 4238446 129522
4 Russian Federation 1051874 18365
5. Peru 710067 30344
6. Colombia 694664 22275
7. Mexico 652364 69649
8. South Africa 644438 15265
9. Spain 554143 29699
10. Argentina 524198 10994
• Source; World Health Organization (WHO) www.who.int.

parts of lowerGanges plains, the Irrawaddy, the industry, the area of production of raw jute and
Amazon, where there is flood plain and alluvial the consumption of raw jute and jute goods has
soils. It is pre-dominant especially in the decreased over the years.The major problems
districts of Midnapur, Burdwan, 24 Paraganas, faced by the jute industry of India are-
Malda, Murshidabad etc. Other important  Uneven and insufficient supply of raw
factors for jute industry are listed below: materials,
 West Bengal having the highest number of  Obsolete technology which hinders
mills and there lies no reason for shut down modernisation,
of those mills and explains its affordability;  High cost of production per unit resulting
 Jute is an eco-friendly, bio degradable and to high prices,
pollution-free product;  Variability in the production leading to
 With the progress in time, production, excessive prices and
consumption, and export of jute goods are  Increasing competition from synthetic and
increasing; plastic substitute goods both in national and
 It has a high tensile strength that global market.
illuminates its durability, For the above reasons, there is unfortunately a
 It does not involve use of any kind of conception that jute is a dying industry and a
synthetic element or chemical like plastic commodity and many of them believe that it
as they are made of high-tensile fibres has a very dark future. The performance of the
strung into strong strands and is not jute industry in the global market is also more
harmful for the environment. or less very stagnant. But jute being an eco-
 It is the best alternative to single-use plastic friendly and bio degradable product, can have a
 It has Zero Dependence on Non-renewable bright and prosperous future provided the
Sources opportunities can be put to implementation
 Jute goods are very useful for packing and with proper effective planning. To reposition
packaging; the Indian jute industry in the global market is
 It has the capability to earn high foreign the need of the hour with a host of jute goods
exchange and contribute to the national and jute diversified products as eco-friendly
economy; substitutes of the synthetic and plastic
 It has the potential for giving employment products. To make this possible it is essential
to huge number of workers. to satisfy the customer needs both in terms of
 It has Long-term Viability compared to quality and price efficiency to get back the lost
plastic as plastic is a single time use and glory and commercialize the jute diversified
jute can be used multiple times products in the area of technical textile by
taking advantage of the unique features of the
 It is versatile as apart from packing and
jute materials. All the stakeholders led by the
packaging, it is used in the textile industry
jute industry must strive hard keeping a long
also to make clothes and apparel.
term vision in mind and accepting the changes
 India is the largest producer and exporter of
required for the growth of jute industry to raise
jute followed by Bangladesh.
the jute sector to its desired heights and
The Jute Corporation of India (JCI) was set up
increase its value before the customers of the
by the Government for undertaking the price
national and global market.
maintenance, marketability and safety stock
operations and for trading of jute.Total 2. Literature Review
production of jute textiles also increased and Pal Anusri and ChakrabortiPinaki (2011) have
has also now diversified into several are jute analyzedstructure and performance of the
diversified products likecotton bagging, jute Indian Jute Industry in the GlobalisationEra.
tarpaulin, jute carpets, carpet backing, paper The study has been doneusingaggregated time
lined hessian, jute webbing and jute series data of some of the key structural
cloth.Though the total number of jute mills has variables of the industrial sector to analyse the
increased from 77 in 2007-08 to 96 as on 2017- structural growth and performance, number of
18, the number of looms installed in jute workers per factory, fixed capital per factory,

fixed capital per worker, gross output per deliver Jute goods to the customers at right
worker and NVA per worker.Data are collected time, right quantity and right quality at right
from various reports of Annual Survey of places.
Industries and Time series data have been Thiripurasundari K. and Rathi P. (2017) has
collected for National Industrial Classification studied the production and export performance
(NIC-3) digit from the various issues of ASI of Jute industry in India highlighting the export
and has found that the key structural ratios like earnings in the range of Rs. 1,000 to Rs.1, 200
labour productivity, capital intensity and total crore annually during 2005-06 to 2015-16
factor productivity have been increasing but based on secondary data and information. It
there is a de-growth in the capital-output has also analysed the growth of Indian jute
ratiosignifying the general deterioration of the industry during 1950-51 to 2012-13 using
quality of investment, use of cost-ineffective theAverage Annual Growth Rate (AAGR) and
technology, smaller factory sizes and Compound Growth Rate (CGR) to make an in
increasing horizontal integration within the depth analysis of the export potentials of jute
sectorand its improper utilization over time. industry and jute goods in India. It has been
Molla, Sabur and Begum (2015) have aimed to observed that great variations are there in the
analyse the financial and economic profitability production of jute and its exports but it has
of Jute and Aus in Bangladesh including an increased during the period, thereby recording
assessment of comparative advantage using a growth of 70.85 per cent in a span of forty
Policy Analysis Matrix. Both primary and years. However, although production of jute
secondary data were collectedfor the period has increased to some extent till 2000-01, a
from July 2010 to June 2011. It is found that sharp decline was noticed in the production of
jute production was more profitable from the jute in India and export of jute has shown a
financial aspect during the study period as negative trend since 1970s.
compared toAus in the selected areas of Kumari Kalpana, S.R. Devegowda, Kushwala
Bangladesh. Economic profitability showed Saket (2018) has made an analysis with time
that thegovernment protective policies have series data since 1990-91 to 2015-16 on
both positive and negative influence to the dynamics of Area, Production and Productivity
producerincentives of jute and Aus crops of jute in India. The whole study period was
respectively.The study showed that Bangladesh subdivided into three sub periods. The study
had a comparative advantage for was based on secondary data collected from
importsubstitutions for these crops. Hence, India stat, Directorate of Economics and
government should continue the existingpolicy Statistics, Food and Agriculture Organisation
support for these crops in a market economy and National Jute Board and analysed using
condition. Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Food
Bag Narayan Satya (2017) summarized the and Agriculture Organisation and National Jute
views of technical and managerial staffs of Board. The study found out negative growth of
Bally Jute Company Ltd to point out the ways area. However production and productivity
for improvement in productivity. The view of showed a positive growth rate. But there is still
the staffs were taken by way of a systematic a need to increase the productivity levels which
questionnaire survey and has revealed 40 areas ultimately help in increase in domestic
of concern to be considered for the production and perform better in foreign
improvement of productivity- out of which exchange through export.
machine breakdown, poor machine Das Panchanan mentioned in his book that
maintenance, idle machines, etc. were survival of jute industry is dependent on cheap
identified as the important areas for improving labour as there were no such technological
the productivity in Jute Industry. Top development and the existing machines being
management were suggested to take almost obsolete, the workload of labourers has
appropriate actions against shortage of skill increased.Diversification of products and the
manpower, absenteeism of labors, action adoption of new products has enabled some big
against low producers, and poor quality of mills to overcome the fall in productivity and
spare parts which isessential at this moment to increase their market share which has involved

further introduction of capital. But the From the literature survey, it has come to
emergence of a pool of skilled workers has notice that there exists a grey area in studying
helped the industry to survive. The study has the Jute Textile Sector which encompasses all
used factory level (unit level) data from ASI the issues pertaining to understand the sector
and has done non-parametric Frontier analysis from commercial perspective and its
with firm level data has been done to show sustainability in future.
productivity, efficiency and capacity utilisation
4. Objective of the Study
in jute industry in India.
DeyTanmoy (2018) has reviewed the problems  To study the present position of jute
and issues related to Jute Industry of West industry in India in terms of its area,
Bengal mainly with the labour aspect and has production, consumption, export and
suggested few solutions apart from the role of import.
state government as well as central  To analyse the financial performance of
government. The recommendations are to listed jute companies of West Bengal
encourage the people of India to use jute goods  To find out the sustainability of Indian Jute
as much as possible with the consent of self- Industry based on the financial
esteem, create variety of jute products, create performance
customer awareness by way of advertisement  To give suggestions and recommendations
through television, radio, social media, posters, for future sustainability in Indian Jute
writing books at different level of academics, Industry
organizing fairs in various parts of West
Bengal and try to totally ban the PVC made 5. Data Collection And Methodology
products in every possible way and replace it 5.1 Sample Design:
with jute made products. I. Selection of Industry:Textile Industry
3.Research Gap has proven immense contribution towards
the Indian economy in terms of GDP,
From the extensive literature on the past work,
employment, output, export earnings,
some of which are mentioned in the previous
FDI and growing in market size which
section, it can be found that there are various
provides enough evidences that it is a
studies which analysed the financial
booming sector.Jute Textile Sector has
performance of the textile sector with the help
been selected for the present study as
of the ratio analysis, working capital
India is the leading Jute producing
management for the last five years of
country of the world contributing to over
statements, current and short term solvency
50 percent raw jute and 40 percent jute
ratios, technological development of textile
goods of global production, using the
industry, structure, growth and size of the
latest technologies for jute production
Indian textile industry and role of textile
and is holding the maximum market share
industry in economy. Some have discussed the
in terms of production, consumption and
environmental issues, pollution control
export in the world. The major jute
strategies pertaining to the Indian Textile
producing states in India are West
Industry.
Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Orissa. Out of
In the context of Jute textile industry, most
these West Bengal produces more than
researches are focused on labour related issues
50% of the total production in India.
in Jute Mills, women participation and
II. Selection of the Mills: The mills of Jute
vulnerability, social security benefits to the
Sector have been selected based on the
workers, industry disputes etc. and another
criteria that the company should be listed
major focus had always been on how jute
under any organised exchange board, i.e.
industry had suffered in the post-colonial
either NSE or BSE. The criterion is
period. Since Jute Textile is a special kind of
imposed since the disclosure of
its nature than other textiles, claims a unique
information is reliable and consistent in
place in the textile industry as well as demands
case of listed companies. There happens
for an in-depth sector specific study.
to be four jute companies listed in either

BSE or NSE or both- AI Champdany to measure the ability of a company to meet

Industries Ltd (ACIL), Gloster Ltd (GL), its long term debts.
Cheviot Company Ltd (CCL), Ludlow  To evaluate the degree of efficiency of the
jute and Specialities Ltd. (LJSL). management and the credit policy, Debtors
Therefore four listed companies have turnover ratio, Inventory Turnover Ratio
been selected for the study. and Asset Turnover Ratio has been studied
in details. This has helped to measure the
5.2 Sources and Type of Data:
company‘s capability to generate income
The study is based on secondary data which are by using the assets and other aspects of the
collected from various sources like published firm like the time it generally takes to
reports by Ministry of textile, Jute Corporation collect cash from debtors or the time period
of India, Indian Jute Mills Association, The for the firm to convert the inventory to
Jute Commissioner, Commissioner for cash.
Agricultural Costs and Prices, National Jute  A detail analysis has been carried out to
Board etc., Company‘s annual reports and study the cash flows of the jute companies
other published information from NSE and using cash flow statement of those
BSE websites and other database like indiastat, companies focusing cash flow from
capitaline etc. operating activities, cash flow from
5.3 Study Period: investment activities and cash flow from
financing activities
To accomplish the objectives of the study and  To understand the profit earning capability
to analyse the financial health of select Indian of the companies, Profitability ratios has
jute mills, the present study has consider the been considered. It includes Net profit
time frame of last ten years‘ (2009-10 to 2018- ratio, Return on Capital Employed (%),
19) Return on Assets (%), Asset Turnover
5.4 Methodology: Ratio (%)
To evaluate the financial performance of the 6. Limitation of the Study
select jute companies, a detail analysis has The present study has been carried on within
been carried out on the capital structure, thefollowing major limitations:
solvency, working capital management, credit i. Thestudy is limited only to jute industry
policy, funds flow, investment and profitability of India. Other juteproducing countries
of these four selected companies by calculating have not been included due to time
the financial ratios of the select companies constraint.
from the annual reports of last ten years. This ii. The study is limited to 9 years only i.e.,
has helped to understand the various financial from 2009-10 to 2017-18.9 years data
parameters of the sector. With help of these areavailable, as the data beyond 9 years
variables (ratios) a detail analysis has been are not available at the Jute
done to study the chances of its sustainability Commissioner Office. So thepresent
in future or whether there is any problem study has been concentrated on the data
specific to the financial management of these available for 9 years.
jute mills which could be a major contributor iii. Huge problem was faced in getting access
for its downturn. and collecting data from secondary
 To understand the capital structure, sources maintained by different
Shareholders fund, has been considered. authorities as they were reluctant to
Shareholders' funds refer to the amount of provide their publications, past reports
equity in a company, which belongs to the and annual reports of the jute mills as
shareholders. these are confidential to them.
 To analyse the solvency position of the iv. Another important issue faced during
companies, Current Ratio, Quick Ratio and data collection was the pandemic
Debt-Equity Ratio will be taken into situation due to COVID 19 as all the
consideration as these ratios has been used organizations were closed due to

et al., 2017). The online experiences of shopping environment becomes stressful for
customers may also influence their intentions customers when they encounter difficulty in
to make online purchases positively (El- handling new and advanced technology,
Ansary, 2013; Close and Kukar- Kinney, navigating sites, queuing and crowding. So, to
2012). When a customer is unable to physically cope up with the stressful situation customers
examine and experience the products; it is the generally try to avoid it which ultimately
trust on the website which influences the results into ESCA (Albrecht et al., 2017).
purchase decision making. Thus, trust in online An additional cost in the form of shipping
shopping websites and products influences the charges, taxes, handling cost may appear at the
customers’ behavioral intention in the online checkout stage and raise the overall amount
environment (De Silva and Wijayanayake, payable or cost of the product above the
2016; El-Ansary, 2013). budgeted amount expected by the customers.
Thus, customer characteristics play an Sometimes customers try to avail the discount
important role in determining the buying on promo code, coupons, and vouchers but
intention of the customers as the customer when they don’t work, this restrains them from
evaluates the product attributes and website completing the purchase procedure (Erdil,
attributes according to pre-decided criteria, 2018; Nair, 2016; Sreya and Raveendran, 2016;
they have made for decision making (Close and Close and Kukar- Kinney, 2012).
Kukar- Kinney, 2010). Usually, customers’ purchase decision is
strongly influenced by the purchase and
3.4 Electronic payment stage – convenience,
payment intention they have while doing online
economy and privacy concerns
shopping. When a customer visits the online
After completing the evaluation of the shopping website because he needs a particular
products, customer enters the electronic product the chance of purchasing is high as
checkout and payment stage. Perceived waiting compared to the customer who just visits
time, non- supportive payment mechanism, without a particular need (Wildeboer and
perceived behavioral control, perceived cost, Donkers, 2014). Customers’ payment intention
instant payment mechanism, urgency of (Rajamma, et al., 2009) and strong purchase
purchase and perceived online behavioral intention are negatively related to ESCA
tracking significantly affect the customer (Wildeboer and Donkers, 2014; Close and
buying intention and ESCA (Erdil, 2018; Nair, Kukar- Kinney, 2010).
2016; Sreya and Raveendran, 2016; Perceived online behavioral tracking is the kind
Shrivastava, 2014; Kukar-Kinney and Close, of tracking and compiling of the records of
2010; Rajamma, et al., 2009; Cho et al., 2006; customer's tastes, preferences or interests, and
Li and Chaterjee, 2005)The customers may communications over time across the social
sometimes get frustrated when they have to websites they use in order to deliver
wait for more than usual or due to long personalized advertising (Rajini and Krithika,
perceived waiting (Krithika and Rajini, 2018; 2018). Many online shopping websites use the
Shrivastava, 2014; Rajammaet al., 2009). A cookies file to monitor customers’ online
customer can also face inconvenience in the activities. This raises privacy concerns which
form of a non-supportive payment mechanism lead to ESCA (Close and Kukar-Kinney,
(non- availability of plastic cards demanded for 2010).
the payment). Such frustrated and dissatisfied The table 4 summarizes the various factors
customers prefer ESCA (De Silva and which may affect ESCA based on the review of
Wijayanayake, 2016; Nair, 2016; Javadi et.al, the literature. The factors are extracted to
2012). develop the conceptual framework of the
In an online environment, perceived behavioral customers’ behavioral motivators that
control refers to customers’ perceptions of their influences ESCA attributable to different
ability how well they can perform the online stages of the buying process.
purchasing task. Sometimes, the online

Source: https://www.mapsofindia.com/answers/india/state-biggest-jute-producer/
Over time, there is also a rise in awareness said that this industry is unprofitable and there
towards the environmental impact of clothing lies excess workers with decreased production
and textile production. People, now-a-days are per worker. But there lies ample opportunities
preferring eco-friendly and sustainable textiles for their growth with the help of public and
and the demand has increased due to their government initiative. The government has
various benefits. Sustainable textiles are already taken the following initiative with
textiles (or fabrics) that are grown and created different schemes covering almost all the
in an environmentally friendly way, using aspects of this industry for its revival:
minimal chemicals as there will be less health  Jute Integrated Development
problems that are associated with chemicals Scheme(JIDS)
such as headaches, allergies, skin irritation, and  Jute Raw Material Bank (JRMB) Scheme
respiratory problems. The eco-friendly clothes  Scheme to Supply Chain and Bulk Supply
are not only beneficial for a people but are also of JDPs for selective and mass
excellent for the environment. These fabrics consumption (Retail Outlet Scheme)
include organic cotton, bamboo & linen. For  Fast Track Schemes to Support
this the jute textile industry is considered to be Participation in Fairs and Business
one of the producers of eco-friendly products Delegations Abroad for Promotion of
and occupies an important place in the national Exports of Lifestyle and other Diversified
economy of India. But due to several factors Jute Products (EMDA Scheme)
there are many jute companies which are  Scheme for Workers' Welfare in the Jute
closing down their operation. For this jute Sector
industry in West Bengal is often said the sunset  Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Plants
industry and is a dying industry as it has lost its and Machinery (ISAPM)
glory in terms of earning foreign exchange and  Scholarship Scheme – Worker's Welfare
providing employment opportunities. It is also

4.3.1Perceived transaction inconvenience studies have observed this factor. Only two
and perceived waiting time studies observed the relationship between
perceived online behavioral tracking and
Out of the thirty-three studies explored for the
ESCA. Both the studies unanimously reported
present study, seven studies have studied the
that a direct and significant positive
relationship between perceived transaction
relationship exists between the two concepts
inconvenience and ESCA. All these studies
(Krithika and Rajini, 2018; Close and Kuakr-
reported the direct and significant positive
Kinney, 2010).
impact of perceived transaction inconvenience
Thus, it can be concluded that although the
on ESCA. Some researchers further classified
marketers cannot influence the motives of
the inconvenience of waiting time during the
searching the online shopping websites, they
online shopping process as another factor i.e.,
can still capture the attention of such
perceived waiting time. As depicted in table
customers, keep them engaged on the website
IV, two studies reported a direct and significant
by ample suggestions related to the products
positive impact of perceived waiting time on
and services they are exploring and give them
ESCA while one study reported a direct and
reminders for the products in their cart via
significant negative impact of perceived
different means. It is also the need of the hour
waiting time on ESCA. This negative impact is
that the e-retailers must upgrade their website
due to the efforts in terms of time spent on the
as in order to make websites more appealing
purchase process (Rajamma et. al, 2009)
and attractive developers sometimes make it
4.3.2 Perceived cost complicated. But shoppers mostly resist
A total of seven studies have explored the complex looking options and want an easily
relationship between perceived cost and ESCA. navigable websites to avoid inconveniences.
Six studies have reported the direct and Websites must be more informative and
significant positive impact of perceived cost on instructional one than complicated so that it
ESCA which means when customers suddenly allows customers to reach desired products in a
experience additional cost at the checkout and smaller number of clicks.
payment stage, they more likely to abandon the Moreover, findings also reported that providing
purchase. Xu and Huang (2015) on the other a large number of choices, attractive websites
hand reported that when customers experience without any opting guidelines is a kind of
additional costs, they are more likely to go for provoking to the customers. Once the
organization and research of product that may customers are tired or mentally exhausted, they
further influence ESCA. just leave the site without making any
purchase. So, it is crucial for e-retailers to
4.3.3 Instant payment intention and urgency consider the mindset of their customers and
of purchase must come up as a professional expert to assure
As depicted in the table IV, three studies products and services to the customers which
reported that with the increase in the urgency to they exactly crave for. Online retailers can
purchase, the frequency of online buying also adopt various offering techniques like
increases and the chances of abandonment gamification techniques, social shopping, and
decreases. Only one study observed the guided selling techniques to entertain and
relationship between instant payment intention create a long-lasting impression on their
and ESCA. Xu and Huang (2015) reported the customers. Like Forever 21 adopted social
negative relationship between instant payment shopping technique, they teamed up with
intention and ESCA which means once Chirpify platform to promote holiday discounts
customers form a strong payment intention to its Twitter followers. Customers have to
while doing online shopping the chances of retweet the original post of the company to get
purchasing the products are very high. a 10 per cent discount on the product. This not
only helps the company to attract customers
4.3.4 Perceived online behavioral tracking through discounts but also helps to enter into
There is a need to further investigate this factor their social space and increase traffic to their
in the phenomenon of ESCA as very few website. Social shopping or social commerce

A SCIENTOMETRIC STUDY ON AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL

ENGINEERS (ASME) DURING 2000 TO 2020
Chaturbhuj S.B.1 and Sadik Batcha M.2
VPM‟s Maharshi Parshuram College of Engineering, Velneshwar, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India
1
2
Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamilnadu, India
1
santosh79.chaturbhuj@gmail.com, 2msbau@rediffmail.com
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
The study deals with the analysis of scholarly communication published in the ASME Journal of Mechanics from 2000
to 2020. Various Scientomeric indicators like SCImago Journal Rank, Source Normalized Impact per Paper, Relative
Growth Rate, Doubling Time, Domestic Collaboration Index, International Collaboration Index, Immediacy Index, are
used.The Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering obtained the highest 1.36 SJR scores followed by The
Journal of Turbomachinery with 0.972 SJR, Journal of Mechanical Design with 0.911 SJR scores.The highest
immediacy index was found in 2019 with a 0.59 immediacy index score.Taiwan is the highest country in domestic
collaboration 125.29 DCI.Scotlandhas found the highest international collaboration rate with a 220.66 ICI value.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keyword: Scientometrics indicators, Impact Factor, SCImago Journal Rank, Source Normalized Impact per
Paper, Relative Growth Rate, Doubling Time, Domestic Collaboration Index, International Collaboration
Index
1. Introduction World. It increased up to 767 in 2013. The
publisher, like Elsevier, has 224 journals and
Mechanical Engineering is the core branch of
increased 988 journal titles contributed to
engineering and uses in almost every part of
Mechanical Engineering. Springer had 37
human life. The industrial development of any
journal titles, and in 1989 which increased 817
nation is based on the development of research
journal titles in 2020. Wiley had 51 journal
in Mechanical Engineering. The growing
titles in 1989, which increased to 467 journal
nature of this branch create difficulties in
titles in 2020. Taylor and Fancies had 45 titles
understanding and handling literature to the
in 1989, which increased to 355 titles in 2020.
professional like librarians, mechanical
IEEE had 31 titles in 1989 and increased to 134
engineers, professors and students. According
journal titles in 2020. American Society of
to the data indexed in the Web of Science,
Mechanical Engineers (ASME) had ten journal
search literature grew from 1989 to 2020. It is
titles in 1989 and increased by 25 in 2020.
found that during these 32 years, literature has
According to the data, there were 840 journals
grown tremendously.in 1989 Mechanical
in 1989 in the World, which were increased
Engineering field produced only 5814 research
4819 journals in Mechanical Engineering.All
articles throughout the World, increasing
this data indicated that the research
134964 in 2020. Total 1289674 research
publications increased enormously due to
articles were published in 32 years of span. It
industrial evaluation and seven developmental
means the research literature in Mechanical
waves in Mechanical Engineering. It created
Engineering was increased by 218.07 times in
many problems to understand the nature of
32 years. Compared to the year 1989 and the
research and handling the data as per the
year 2000, the annual growth of literature was
requirement of researchers, Educationist,
approximately 22 times increased. The
Engineers and students.So, to understand the
contribution of publications in 1982 was only
nature and publication trends, The study was
0.46% to the total, and it was increased by
conducted.
10.46% in 2020. It was found that 57.41%
growth to the complete publications was done 2. Objective of the Study
during the last eight years. It indicated the
1. To measure the year-wise distribution and
enormous research work had been done in growth of literature in 17 ASME journals
Mechanical Engineering. The number of 2. To understand the document type
publishers specialized in Mechanical contribution of ASME Journals to the
Engineering was 285 in 1989 in the whole Mechanical Engineering.

Return on capital employed (ROCE) is a very low and in maximum cases it is less than
financial ratio that measures how well a 10% except for two to three years in last 10
company is generating profits from its capital. years for CCL & GL. ROCE for ACIL is
When a company has low ROE (less than 10%) always low for last 10 years and for LJSL it is
for a long period, it simply means that the very fluctuating. Therefore the companies are
business is not very efficient in generating not worth for investment as the management is
profit. Here for all the companies, ROCE is inefficient in using investors' money.
Return on Assets (%)

40
30
20
10
0
-10
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
ACIL -1.57 0 0.23 0.15 0.39 35.31 33.21 25.95 25.52 25.57
CCL 5.82 9.16 8.63 8.62 7.17 8.69 8.09 9.35 9.92 7.54
GL 2.91 3.87 5.22 4 2.88 3.02 5.35 3.49 4.09 4.18
LJSL 2.85 14.85 6.07 9.14 2.73 -3.75 4.55 2.8 0.7 0.53
The return on assets (ROA) shows the satisfactory ROE in the last 10 years whereas
percentage of how profitable a company's GL & LJSL it is not a good sign for the growth
assets are in generating revenue or how of the company and indicates that the company
efficiently a company can convert the money is not able to make maximum use of its assets
used to purchase assets into net income or for getting more profits.
profits. ROAs over 5% are generally
8.3 Management Efficiency
considered good.So for the above mentioned
companies, ROA of ACIL has improved in last The management efficiency ratio helps to
5 years and CCL has also managed to keep the analyze how efficiently a company uses its
ROA percentage at a considerable rate over assets and liabilities internally. An efficiency
period of last 10 years. But for GL & LJSL, it ratio can calculate the turnover of receivables,
is always low in the last 10 years. Therefore, it the repayment of liabilities, the quantity and
can be said that ACIL has a solid performance usage of equity, and the general use of
as far as finance and operation of the company inventory and machinery.
is concerned. CCL is having a comparatively
Inventory Turnover Ratio

12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
ACIL 1.91 2.42 3 2.63 2.32 2.08 1.61 0.83 0.83 0.89
CCL 3.86 6.51 6.66 6.67 5.73 5.9 5.79 6.55 6.12 4.91
GL 4.21 4.14 5.6 5.03 5.01 4.81 4.33 3.32 5.3 5.26
LJSL 3.11 8.66 10.71 7.62 7.03 3.81 5.73 6.07 5.32 4.2

The inventory turnover ratio is an efficiency balanced with the sales of the company. Here
ratio that shows how effectively inventory is apart from ACIL, all the other three companies
managed by comparing cost of goods sold with have managed to have a good considerable
average inventory for a period. This measures inventory turnover ratio. Therefore, it can be
how many times average inventory is sold said that ACIL is holding too much inventory
during a period.A good inventory turnover compared to its sales. Decreasing inventory
ratio will vary considerably by industry, but as turnover may indicate that sales are decreasing
a general rule of thumb, a ratio between 4 and below expected levels.
6 usually means that the restock items is well
Debtors Turnover Ratio

40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
ACIL 16.11 29.82 18.63 13.11 11.65 8.62 7.21 5.22 7.01 9.45
CCL 16.34 23.68 14.06 12.19 11.18 10.33 12.63 12.99 10.88 11.26
GL 24.11 32.76 28.65 30.5 26.37 20.21 19.91 22.49 18.95 14.85
LJSL 23.02 36.15 31.34 28.63 21.46 14.88 16.94 13.99 12.85 12.84
The ratio is used to measure how efficient a these two companies are maintaining a
company is at extending credits and collecting satisfactory high debtor turnover ratio for the
debts. Generally, the higher the accounts last 10 years compared to the other two
receivable turnover ratio, the more efficient the companies ACIL & CCL. Hence it can be said
company is at collecting credit from their that GL & LJSL are more efficient in
customers. Here among the four listed collecting debts from their debtors in time
companies, GL is having the highest Debtors compared to ACIL & CCL.
turnover ratio followed by LJSL. Therefore
Asset Turnover Ratio

5
4
3
2
1
0
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
ACIL 0.95 1.28 1.45 1.28 1.18 1.05 0.76 0.65 2.78 2.62
CCL 1.06 1.77 1.59 1.51 1.41 1.32 1.66 1.8 1.63 1.66
GL 2.23 3.16 2.76 2.72 2.35 1.86 2.46 3.34 0.50 0.52
LJSL 2.57 3.87 3.25 2.98 2.78 2.25 3.41 2.15 1.43 1.52
The asset turnover ratio is an efficiency ratio of assets. Here except the last three years, LJSL
that measures a company's ability to generate is having the highest Asset Turnover Ratio
sales from its assets by comparing net sales among the four companies and hence more
with average total assets.The higher the asset efficient in last 10 years in generating net sales
turnover ratio, the better the company is from its total asset investments. Other
performing, since higher ratios imply that the companies are having a fluctuating trend
company is generating more revenue per rupee performing better in few years in last 10 years.

8.4 Working Capital and Solvency Analysis financial metric to measure the cash and
operating liquidity position of a business
Working capital analysis is used to determine
consisting of all current assets and current
the liquidity and sufficiency of current assets in
liabilities.
comparison to current liabilities. It is used as a
Current Ratio
10
8
6
4
2
0
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
ACIL 1.2 1.04 1.1 1.12 1.14 0.71 0.75 0.82 1.04 1.6
CCL 2.1 2.53 2.52 2.83 2.97 2.86 4.36 4.59 5.48 9.11
GL 1.9 1.21 1.27 1.31 1.32 1.55 1.32 2.31 4.18 5.03
LJSL 0.86 0.98 1.1 1.22 1.24 1.13 1.21 1.22 1.2 1.23
An acceptable current ratio may vary indicates more liquidity and the firm is able to
considerably from industry to industry, but as a pay its current obligation in time.The
general rule of thumb, 2:1 is a sign for healthy performance of CCL and GL is very
business. It means that 1 rupee of current satisfactory as it is showing an increasing trend
liability is backed by 2 rupees of current assets. in current ratio but current ratio of 9.11 for
When a current ratio is low and current CCL & 5.08 for GL may not be a good sign as
liabilities are more than the current assets, then the company may not be using its current
the current ratio is below 1, which means assets or its short-term financing facilities
company may have problems meeting its short- efficiently. This may also indicate problems in
term obligations or current liabilities. Here the working capital management. The other two
current ratio of all the companies in most of the companies ACIL & LSJL are more or less
years in last 10 years are more than 1 which satisfactory in the recent past years.
Quick Ratio
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
ACIL 0.28 0.23 0.28 0.27 0.29 0.63 0.51 0.9 0.67 0.99
CCL 0.72 1.45 1.44 1.75 1.72 1.71 2.48 2.83 3.59 5.99
GL 0.61 0.27 0.51 0.54 0.53 0.51 0.52 1.34 2.67 3.41
LJSL 0.17 0.38 0.44 0.36 0.38 0.3 0.42 0.44 0.45 0.41
An acceptable quick ratio may vary less than 1 in last 10 years. This means that it is
considerably from industry to industry, but as a in a more risky position since they donot have
general rule of thumbquick ratio should be 1:1 adequate current assets, without inventory, to
or higher.The higher the ratio, it means that the cover up the short term debt and relies heavily
company is more liquid and can meet current on efficient inventory turnover to keep afloat in
obligations using liquid assets.A company with the short-term. Comparatively, the performance
a quick ratio of less than 1 cannot currently of CCL and GL is satisfactory and they have
fully pay back its current liabilities. Here the enough current asset without stock to meet
quick ratio of ACIL & LJSL is very poor and is their short term obligations.

Debt-Equity Ratio
3
2.5
1.5
0.5
0
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
ACIL 1.4 1.33 1.39 1.33 1.2 1.26 1.41 2.02 2.65 1.52
CCL 0.06 0.08 0.07 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.03 0.01
GL 0.51 0.7 0.75 0.61 0.56 0.42 0.48 0.36 0.02 0.03
LJSL 1.23 0.32 0.03 0.17 0.19 0.61 0.97 0.28 0.4 0.47
The debt-equity ratio helps in measuring the pay interest if they donot perform well but they
financial health of a company and compares its will also not get the tax benefits.
total debt to total equity.It signals the extent to
8.5 Cash Flow Analysis
which shareholder's equity can fulfil their short
term and long term obligations to creditors. Cash flow analysis measures how much cash is
Basically it helps in evaluating company‘s generated and spent by a business during a
financial leverage. Here in the above table it is given period of time. It is the best technique to
seen that apart from ACIL, the companies are measure a company‘s performance as it is
having very having very low debt-equity ratio tangible, quantifiable and can be measured in
which means their capital structure comprises standard units. This techniquecannot be used to
of mostly equity share capital as seen from the inflate profits or to artificially increase the
shareholders fund. Less debt capital in the value of assets. Cash flow analysis includes
capital structure has the advantage that the cash flow from operating activities, cash flow
company is in safer zone as they donot have to from financing activities and cash flow from
investing activities.
Net CashFlow From Operating Activities
80
60
40
20
0
-20
-40
2018-
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
19*
ACIL 0.76 -8.74 9.72 10.65 4.64 -7.01 6.77 9.7 27.15 0.9
CCL 1.19 21.86 23.13 32.14 14.29 23.21 11.04 31.22 38.5 19.58
GL 16.81 -22.88 47.21 25.34 19.39 30.66 3.85 73.77 60.43 20.09
LJSL -7.76 23.65 17.68 1.2 10.25 -4.99 -11.84 14.51 3.11 2.17

𝐼𝐹 Current Ccience 2016 it is available to all in Scopus and other
Total citations received in 2016 for 2014 + 2015 locations.
=
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛 2014 + 2015 Generally, the impact factor considers all
632 citation values as equal. However, in the SJR, a
𝐼𝐹 Current Ccience 2016 =
671 + 804 widely read multidisciplinary journal citation
632 counts as intensely as one from a more focused
1475 or local interest source. The SJR is a prestige
𝐼𝐹 Current Ccience 2016 = 0.428 metric inspired by Google's PageRank,
Therefore, the impact of current science for the whereby a journal's subject fields, quality, and
year 2016 is 0.428 reputation directly affect the value of citations
The impact factor indirectly measures the it gives to other journals.
quality and impact of articles published in The SJR is a prestige journal metric rather than
journals. The article published in the journals a popularity metric. It means if articles from A
received a high impact factor that has prestige journal received 100 citations and articles from
in scholarly communication. It has considered B journal also received 100 citations. However,
a high-quality article. Thus, the impact factor journal 'A' received citations from more
offset the effect of age, size, and frequency of a prestigious journals, and journal B received
journal's publications on the frequency of citations from less prestigious journals. Then
citations. However, the value of the impact the SJR impact factor of A journal is higher
factor is affected by different factors such as than B though both journals have the same
subject area, type of documents or length of the citations.
citation measurements windows. It is generally
(b) Source Normalized Impact per Paper
found that the higher impact factor received by
the reviews type of documents than for other (SNIP)
documents types. Similarly, basic research The SNIP indicator is based on two other
received a higher impact factor than applied indicators: the journal raw impact per Pape
research. The newly evolving and slowly (RIP) divided by the relative database citation
growing disciplines have been affected by the potential (RDCP) in the journals subfield. In
short citation window of the JCR IF-that is two this impact factor, both the numerator and the
years. That is why the impact factor can not be denominator are quotients. The numerator is
compared with the journals of different similar to three years impact factor. The
disciplines. To come out with such limitations denominator is citation potential which
of impact factor now two years and five years depends on the topicality of the subject field. It
impact factors are introduced. The formula of measures the citation characteristic of the field
these impact factors is the same only citation the journal cited. It is determined by how often
windows and document years are two years in and how rapidly authors cite other works and
2 years impact factor and five years in 5 years how well the database, i.e., Scopus, cover their
impact factor. field.
Elsevier Scopus introduced two types of Mathematically, SNIP9 is represented
journal impact factor, which are- 𝑅𝐼𝑃
as:𝑆𝑁𝐼𝑃 = 𝑅𝐷𝐶𝑃
(a) SCImago Journal Rank (SJR)
For a given year of analysis, the RIP value of a
journal equals the average number of times the
(SNIP)
journal's publications in the three preceding
(a) SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) years was cited in the year of analysis. e.g., if
Elsevier's Scopus think about the qualitative 100 publications appeared in a journal from
aspect of citation and, with the help of 2008-2010 and were cited 200 times in 2011,
SCImago Research Group and CWTS, then the RIP value of the journal for 2011
developed SCImago Journal Rank that is the equals 200/100=2. It is just like the Impact
SJR impact factor. These metrics are calculated factor for three years citation window. The
by the bibliometric team externally for Elsevier only difference is that in calculating RIP
using Scopus index journal as its raw data, and values, citing and cited publications are

included on the Scoups document types- Where, Ii(Jy)= Immediacy Index of the journal
article, conference paper, or review. J for the year Y
The calculation of RDCP is getting by the C= number of citations received by X source
𝐷𝐶𝑃 items published in journal J in the year Y
following formula:𝑅𝐷𝐶𝑃 = 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛 (𝐷𝐶𝑃 )
X= Number of source items published in
In the formula, DCP denotes a journal's journal J in the year Y
database citation potential, and median (DCP) This index expressed how quickly the
denotes the median DCP value of all journals published articles get visible by others in the
in the database. It follows from the above published year itself. It shows the quality of
formula that the median RDCP value of all research impact of an author or journal in that
journals in the database equals one. field. However, the length of journals and time
Consequently, half of the journals in the of publication affect this index. As the number
database have a SNIP value higher than their of papers is more in a particular journal, getting
RIP value, and half of the journals in the more citations increases. In the same way, the
database have a SNIP value that is lower than more frequency of publication (i.e., Quarterly
their RIP value. Hence, within a given year of monthly) has a chance to get more citations
analysis, the division by median (DCP) does rather than a low frequency of publication
not affect how journals compare with each (half-yearly and yearly).
other.
Since the step from a journal's DCP value to its 4.3. Relative Growth Rate
RDCP value boils down to a division by a The growth of publications in any specific field
fixed value, it is essential to understand the or journal can be calculated with the help of
calculations of the DCP value of a journal. This two indicators- one is the relative growth rate,
calculation starts by delineating a journal which calculates the increase in the number of
subject field. The subject field of a journal is publications per unit of time. The second
defined as a set of all publications in the year indicator is doubling time which predicts the
of analysis with at least one reference to the time required for publication to become double
journal. The DCP value of a journal equals the the existing amount.
average number of references in the Mahapatra developed a model for finding the
publications that appeared in the three relative growth rate in publication. The mean
preceding years in journals covered by the relative growth rate R (P) over a specific
database. The calculation of a journal's DCP interval period can be calculated
value only considers citing and cited mathematically.
publications of the Scoups document type- 𝑤2 − 𝑤1
articles, conference papers and reviews. 𝑅𝑃 =
𝑇2 − 𝑇1
Mathematically, the DCP value of a journal Where, R (P)=Mean relative growth rate over
𝑟 +𝑟 +𝑟 +𝑟
can be expressed as:𝐷𝐶𝑃 = 1 2 𝑛 … 𝑛 the specific period interval
Where, n = the number of publications in the W1=log w1(natural log of the initial number of
subject field of the journal. publications)
r1=The number of references in the ith W2=log w2 (Natural log of the final number of
publication to publications that appeared in the publications)
three preceding years in journals covered by T2-T1=the unit difference between the initial
the database. time and final time
The same formula is used to find out the
4.2 Ranking by Immediacy Index relative growth rate for citations. The mean
Immediacy Index is the reshow of the citations relative growth rate of citations over the
received to the articles in the published year specific period is calculated mathematically, as
and the number of articles in that year of the follow:
particular journal. 𝐶2 − 𝐶1
𝑅(𝐶) =
Mathematically, the Immediacy index is 𝑇2 − 𝑇1
𝐶
expressed as:𝐼𝑖 𝐽𝑦 = 𝑋 Where, C2 and C1 are the cumulative numbers
of citations in the year T2 and T1

R(C) =Mean relative growth rate of citations D𝑖/D𝑖𝑜

over a specified period interval DCI = 𝑋 100
D𝑜/D𝑜𝑜
C1 =log C1 (natural log of the initial number of Where, Di= number of domestically co-
citations) authored paper for block „i‟
C2 =log C2 (natural log of the final number of Dio = number of domestically co-authored
citations) paper for all the blocks
T2-T1 =The unit difference between the initial Do= Total number of co-authored papers
time and final time. Doo= Total output
4.4. Doubling time 4.6. International Collaborative Index
Doubling time means the time required for If the affiliation of at least one author of an
published literature to become double the article belongs to a foreign country, then that
quantity of the existing amount. It is directly published paper is called an internationally
related to the relative growth rate. Suppose the collaborated paper. The degree of international
number of articles in a subject double during a collaboration is calculated by ICI (International
given period. In that case, the difference Collaboration Index) by the following formula
between logarithms of number at the beginning I𝑖/I𝑖𝑜
and end of this period must be the logarithm of ICI = 𝑋 100
I𝑜/I𝑜𝑜
the number 2. As per the Napier logarithm, the Where, Ii= number of internationally co-
value of log 2 is 0.693. Therefore, once the authored papers for block „i‟
relative growth rate is found, it is calculated Iio = number of internationally co-authored
what interval the Napier logarithm of number paper for all the blocks
increases by 0.693 to achieve the doubling time Io = Total number of co-authored papers for
of literature. block
The doubling time is calculated from the Ioo= Total output
following mathematical formula If the value of DCI or ICI is equal to 100, it
for Publications, it is represented as: means a given country‟s collaborative efforts
0.693 correspond to the world average. If DCI or ICI
𝐷𝑡(𝑝) =
𝑅 (𝑝) >100 indicates collaboration efforts higher than
for Citations, it is represented as: the world‟s average, and if DCI or ICI<100
0.693 means less than average collaboration.
𝐷𝑡(𝑐) =
𝑅 (𝑐)
5. Analysis of Data
4.5. Domestic Collaborative Index 5.1. Document-wise distribution of
Collaboration can be classified as Local, Publications
Domestic, and international collaboration. In ASME published 12 document types, including
the present study, domestic and international Articles, Conference proceedings, Editorial
collaboration are considered. If the affiliation Materials, Reviews, Corrections, New Items,
of the authors of an article belongs to one Biographical- Items, Reprints, Retracted
country, then that published paper is called a Publications, Book Reviews, and Bibliography
domestically collaborated paper. Generally, in the study years. From table No. 1, it is clear
any institute starts its research publications that the most prominent form of document type
with domestic collaboration, and gradually used by scientists or research scholars is
international collaboration increases. Garg and articles. Out of 42596 published documents,
Padhi10 (2001) and Dutt, Garg, and Bali11 36604 documents are articles that cover
(2003) suggested the Domestic collaborative 85.93% of the total. The articles received
index (DCI) and the International Collaborative 511736 citations within 21 years of citation
Index (ICI) for examining the pattern of window. Every journal has contributed articles
collaboration. To calculate the degree of as the most prominent document type. The
domestic collaboration, DCI (Domestic Conference proceeding papers are found 4438
Collaborative Index) is used. It is calculated by in the credit of ASME with 10.42% to the total.
the following formula. Conference proceedings are also a form of

MOUNTAIN TOURISM DESTINATIONS AND OUT-OF-POCKET SPENDING PLAN OF

DOMESTIC TOURISTS
S. Chatterjee1, D. Batabyal2 and N. Ray3
1
Department of Management and Business Administration, Aliah University, New Town, Kolkata, India
2
Amity Institute of Travel and Tourism,Amity University,Kolkata, India
3
Department of Management,School of Business and Economics,Adamas University,Kolkata, India
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
This study proposes a model of understanding tourists’ income and their spending pattern with a wider perspective
from existing corporate destination development to future social destinations in the mountain region with a special
reference to Sikkim Himalaya. This basic model deals with the expenditure pattern which is composed of optional
excursion, duration of stay, future visit and number of trips respectively. The model depicts an alternative scope and
opportunity of promoting and practicing social economy in mountain tourism destinations through an understanding of
income and expenditure pattern in tourism amidst the COVID 19 pandemic.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keywords: Mountain tourism, Domestic leisure tourist, Social tourism economy, Tourists’ income, Sikkim
Himalaya
JEL Code: L83, Z32
Introduction Himalaya represents 1.33 per cent area of the
total Indian Himalayan region, yet ecological,
The ‘small and beautiful’ state Sikkim of India
socio-cultural diversities, economic conditions
comprises of almost hundreds of hill stations of
etc. are almost similar and projecting future
Himalayan range. The characteristics of
livelihood pattern, economic and commercial
mountain resources incorporate marginality,
activities almost in the same way (NITI Aayog,
poor accessibility, diversity, fragility, niches of
2018). Strategically, Sikkim is an important
attractions and aesthetics (Nepal et.al. 2005).
state and as such should not be isolated and
Based on these characteristics, tourism is a
underdeveloped. This small state of 7096
significantevent in almost all hill state
square kilometer shares three international
economies around the world, with leisure and
borders. Through tourism, Sikkim has gained a
recreations predominating. Since time
separate position and very positive image since
immemorial, this region possesses very limited
1975. Before this period, Sikkim was an
and seasonal livelihood options, mainly
comprising of agriculture and isolated and ignored land not much known to
the outer world for tourism. It is the first
tourism.Mountain regions, in most cases, are
organic state of India and significantly
inaccessible, fragile and marginal to political
contributing to and pioneering for sustainable
and economic decision-making and home to
development and responsible practices.
some of the poorest people in the world
(Messerli et.al. 1997). Though Sikkim
Fig. 1. Map of Sikkim and adjacent areas showing the study area
Source: Chhetri, D.R., Parajuli, P., Subba, G.C. (2005)

The arrival statistics in figure 2 exhibits Himalaya. In 2011-12, only 14.61 % non-
domination of domestic tourists in the Sikkim leisure tourists visited Sikkim(GOI, 2012).
YEAR Domestic tourists arrivals International tourists arrivals
1600000
1400000
1200000
1000000
800000
600000
400000
200000
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Figure 2: Domestic and International Tourist Arrivals in Sikkim from 1980 to 2019
Source: Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation, 1980-2019
From empirical research evidences, seasonal (Niti Aayog, 2018). Tourist arrivals in the
fluctuation, dominant economy class domestic Indian Himalayan States were projected to
leisure tourist arrivals, dependence on reach 240 million by 2025, which was 2.5
neighboring state West Bengal for arrivals and times the current tourist arrivals at 100 million
tourism entrepreneurship, practices of high in 2017-18, excluding the impacts of COVID
intensity mass tourism and massive 19 outbreak. Apart from diverse pilgrimages by
environmental degradation are salient features the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Christian etc. in the
of the Sikkim Himalaya (Batabyal, 2013). Himalaya, other forms of tourism like
Though this region has been promoting organic adventure, trekking, mountain climbing,
firming, horticulture, and floriculture, yet the camping, recreation, aesthetics, ecotourism,
traditional Jhum cultivation, invitation to the and agri-tourism have been gaining popularity
pharmaceutical industries, roadway, railway, amidst COVID 19 outbreak. Conventionally,
and airport constructions etc. have resulted in a this region possesses very limited and seasonal
huge ecological loss. Surprisingly, on 18th livelihood options, mainly comprising of
September in the two consecutive yearsof 2011 agriculture and tourism. Present COVID 19
and 2012, massive earth quake enhanced pandemic has hit hard and further streamlined
formulation of serious policy issues on the opportunities through tourism in this IHR
sustainable development, management, crisis and Sikkim Himalaya is not exception to that.
and disaster. Therefore, Socialeconomic In fact, tourism attraction features are found
practices is the need of the hour in the region as almost same in this region from western part to
the concept can evolve more different types east and its extended area.
and number of employment and entrepreneurial Again, many scholars already identified
opportunities, serious ecological balances, increasing inequality at a higher rate in the
more participation and consultation of local Western Indian Himalayan Region before this
people in the area. pre-pandemic period (Thakur et al. 2015).
Owing to this homogenous landscape and
Literature Review and Proposed Model of
attraction features this already started
Social Tourism Economy:
increasing socio-economic inequality was
Towards Sustainable Development of the expected to be found to similar other landscape
Indian Himalayan States, NITI Aayog has a of this region. Therefore, this study adopts a
twofold ways in which off-farm/ non land forward-looking approach, investigating the
based activities are basically mountain tourism utilization of scarce investment in tourism,
circulation of earning from it for equitability is a separate biogeography region fragile in

and development for all as recommended by nature.
the UNWTO 2019, also advocated through Having been more flexible with several
SDGs in 2017. Maurin (2004) distinguishes approaches adopting commercial, quasi-
social tourism from commercial tourism by commercial and state owned cases of social
highlighting the focus on target groups for tourism around the world, the scope for it is
intervention and community development immense in lass developed or developing
aspects of the social tourism sector.While in nations (Diekmannet al. 2011). Recently
Spain, the aim of the social tourism was to occurred COVID 19 pandemic has brought
overcome poor low-season occupancy, France about scarcity of investment, decrease in the
and Belgium were making commercial volume of business, diversification of tourism
accommodation, social tourism facilities business. Therefore, this is the high time to
accessible to everybody, including a non- adopt the concept of social economy with a
specific ‘social tourism’ market and Germany gradual shifting from exploitative tourism
practicing for religious tourism, secular tourism development to sustainable approaches
etc. (Diekmannet al. 2011). Again, there is an empowering local people and protecting
increasing emphasis in tourism research on the tourism resources as well.
role that tourism plays in enriching the lives of Following is the figure 3 proposing a model of
tourists, including impacts on health, well- transforming corporate tourism economy to
being, happiness, and quality of life social tourism economy in the Sikkim
(Diekmannet al. 2015). The position of tourism Himalaya amidst this COVID 19 pandemic.
has been changing and the COVID 19 This basic model focusing on how to initiate
pandemic has increased those issues manifold social inclusion in a mountain tourism
that needs a huge reorientation with all possible economy with changes in income and
scopes addressing and adopting sustainable associated expenditure patterns.
principles around the World. Sikkim Himalaya
Figure 3: Proposed Model for Transformation of Corporate Tourism Economy to Social Tourism
Economy through Changes in Income and Expenditure Patterns in Mountain Tourism with Special
Reference to Sikkim
Tourists are often sensitive to the income model, recommended tourists expenditure for
variable and inelastic with respect to price future research alsoand supported Tyrrell et al.
(Vanegas et al.2000). Daniels et al. (2004) (2001). Many studies recommended tests for
discussed about the income of hosts as well as functional forms and search for a different
guests for introducing an occupation based specification of the price variable. Jensen

(1998) determined travel propensity with development and marketing literature. These
respect to income and domestic prices in are duration of stay, optional excursion, future
relation to prices abroad in general. Also, this visit and number of trips taken to Sikkim.
study highlighted how the country of Sample size was restricted to 500 domestic
destination was chosen according to relative leisure tourists within the study area by using
prices amongst a range of potential stratified random sampling. As about 43-45%
destinations. In relation with the component- tourists were from West Bengal, 5-7% tourists
based studies, Pyo et. al. (1991)found the from other countries and the remaining 48-50%
possibility for budget cutting may be through are from other Indian States and territories,
decrease in income opportunities and revealed data was used to get more reliable and accurate
this impact greatest for transportation while representative sample of the population. This
least for food and restaurant services. study has been carried out with structured
Therefore, at this point of time, tourism questionnaire. The respondents are the tourists,
academicians, policy makers and professionals staying in different hotels in few tourist
have been revisiting the concept of tourism attractive cities and destinations in Sikkim,
economy, ways of development and namely Gangtok, Pelling, Namchi and Mangan.
transformation. Initially a pilot study has been considered and
then the main study has been conducted. The
Objectives and assumptions of the Study:
respondents have been informed regarding the
The proposed model investigates the purpose, nature and objective of the study and
implications of domestic leisure tourists’ then the study has been administered. Total
income and spending pattern on trip in tourists’ number of respondents was 475, among which
destinations with special reference to Sikkim a little more than forty two percent (i.e., 201)
Himalaya before the pandemic. Discussion on have been considered for the final study, which
the impacts of COVID 19 pandemic is found are complete and usable. The collected data
quite natural and incorporated henceforth. was analyzed using the statistical packages like
Therefore, the objective of the study is to SPSS and Excel. As the collected responses fall
measure the impact of tourists’ income on into more than two classes or categories, the
spending patterns in the destinations with a  2 -test was used. Here, the responses of
special consideration of the COVID 19
tourists groups were measured with the help of
pandemic. In doing so, optional excursion,
duration of stay, future visits and number of this test. Using the  2 -test many marketing
trips have been considered for the study. decisions and future policies were considered
It is assumed that the COVID 19 pandemic has in the study.
k
negative impacts on economic conditions of the
households under this study and making them 2 = i 1

Here, the test Statistic =
more sensitive while making travel decision.
How visitors’ income and its future changes (Oi  Ei ) 2
Ei
bring in related changes in spending pattern has Oi=Observed Frequencies andEiimplied
been depicted to address alternative Expected frequencies. When the estimated
development in the future era. It is also
assumed that this future development model value of  2 found greater than the critical
has the potentiality to incorporate and value (tabulated) and the null hypothesis was
assimilate added challenges exhibited through rejected. Correlation was found the most useful
COVID 19, except the available public because they could indicate a predictive
transportation. relationship that can be exploited in practice.
Correlation referred to any departure of two or
Methodology more random variables from independence, but
Primary data has been collected from the field technically it referred to any of several more
before the pandemic for investigating income specialized types of relationship between mean
and trip expenditure relationship with the three values. There are several correlation
recognized tourism variables in destination coefficients, often denoted ρ or r, measuring
the degree of correlation. The most common of
these was the Pearson correlation coefficient, Data Analysis and Discussion
which was sensitive only to a linear The tourists in Sikkim are majorly the
relationship between two variables (which may domestic; there is limited number of foreigners.
exist even if one is a nonlinear function of the The domestic tourists are though very price
other).In statistics, the Pearson product- sensitive but they are also very much keen to
moment correlation coefficient (or Pearson's r) experience the adventures available, may be
is a measure of the linear correlation between termed as ‘optional excursion’. Thus the same
two variables X and Y, giving a value between will compel the tourists to stay longer and in
+1 and −1 inclusive, where 1 is total positive turn the same price sensitivity comes in front.
correlation, 0 is no correlation, and −1 is total The income of the tourists and their optional
negative correlation. excursion show an important relationship
among themselves.
Table 1: Observed frequency and expected frequency of income and optional excursion willingness
oftourists in Sikkim
Observed frequency Expected frequency
Income Optional excursion Optional excursion
Income (Rs.)
(Rs.) Yes (Number) No (Number) Yes (Number) No (Number)
≤ 4999 5 13 ≤ 4999 12.05 6.42
5000-9999 14 7 5000-9999 14.06 7.52
10000-14999 17 4 10000-14999 12.49 6.98
15000-19999 16 11 15000-19999 16.92 9.61
≥ 20000 54 28 ≥ 20000 51.87 28.21
Source: Field Survey
The above table shows the observed same association exists between the duration
frequencies and expected frequencies of of stay and optional excursion. The duration of
‘monthly average income’ and ‘optional stay in the study area is measured by dividing
excursion willingness’. Here, k and l are the whole range into five-point scale and
number of rows and columns respectively. The optional excursion willingness is a binary data.
computed value of  2 is 19.1233 with 1d.f. In the next table 2 it is found that the observed
and expected frequencies of duration of stay
Now  20.05,1 = 8.964 and  2 0.01,1
and optional excursion willingness in the study
=12.987.therefore, ‘monthly average income’ area.
and ‘optional excursion willingness’ are
positively associated in domestic tourism.The
Table 2: Observed frequency and expected frequency of duration of stay and optional excursion in
Sikkim
Observed frequency Expected frequency
Duration of Optional excursion Optional excursion
Duration of stay in
stay in Sikkim No No
Yes (Number) Sikkim (Days) Yes (Number)
(Days) (Number) (Number)
≤3 10 7 ≤3 9.12 7.96
≥4≤6 26 42 ≥4≤6 34.22 31.88
≥7≤9 35 27 ≥7≤9 31.89 30.14
≥10≤12 21 13 ≥10≤12 18.56 15.64
≥12 14 6 ≥12 10.34 9.33
The above table exhibits the observed Here, calculated value of  2 is 15.5814.98 with
frequencies and expected frequencies with two
1d.f. Now, comparing with  20.05,1 ( =
characteristics viz. ‘duration of stay in Sikkim’
and ‘optional excursion willingness’. The 9.488)9.376 and  2 0.01,1 (=13.277)12.946 we
observed frequencies (from the opinion survey) conclude that there is an association between
are compared with the expected frequencies.

duration of stay and optional excursion The table 3 is showing the three different results
willingness at both of 1% and 5% level of of  2 considering income of tourists as
significance. independent variable and there is no significant
Another important study was the testing of association between income and gross expenses
association between income and gross expenses on trip.
on trip in Sikkim/ whether visited Sikkim earlier
and how many times tourists visited Sikkim.
Table 3: Chi-Square Test Showing the Association between Income and Tourist Expenditure/
Future Visit (Y/N), Number of Visit
Pearson 
2
Association d.f. Assymp. Sig
Income and Spending on trip 52.95 16 0.001
Income and Future visit ( Y/N) 36.16 8 0.000
Income and Number of Visit to Sikkim 53.68 20 0.005
The rejection of null hypothesis is made when vehicles for travel (-0.016), accessible
calculated values of the test statistic chi-square pathways at attraction premise ( -0.1), clear and
are compared with the tabulated values as there complete signage at all major destinations ( -
is an association between income and tourist 0.326), effective communication aids( -0.361),
expenditure/ future visit (with binary response), quickly accessible tour operators ( -0.078)] is
number of visit. The maximum number of evident except ramp and elevators at attractions
tourists visiting Sikkimis found to be price with .096. As delivery of service and friendly
sensitive, a positive correlation of 0.359 found treatment by staff to the tourists/ guests is of
between future income opportunities or immense importance, a positive correlation of
increase in income sources/avenues and 0.364 between income opportunities and
reasonably priced tour products. The trained staff and their friendly treatment
purchasing power, if reduces due to the implies tourists’ expectation for professional
COVID 19 outbreak, will have an extensive delivery of services by the employees. It is
effect in future package tour pricing and selling clear particularly when we deal with another
as well. The positive correlation (0.124) exists positive correlation of 0.369 between trained or
between better income opportunities of tourist skilled employees and their friendly treatment
and information about availability of aids/ and reasonably priced tour packages or
equipment at attractions, while a negative products. Tourists in institutionalized segment
correlation between future income opportunity in the study area generally expect a range of
and availability of vehicles indicates an interest quality services and avoid local or aboriginal
in own-car scheme while travelling. Likewise, socio-cultural issues while tourists of the non-
accessible pathways in destinations, clear institutionalized segment preferably like just
signage at all major points, efficient the opposite. Therefore, in perspective of
information and communication aids, quickly Sikkim, tourists seeking/ asking/ deserving
available tour operators and such other westernized amenities put forward a less-
infrastructure and superstructure variables are bothering view/ attitude towards hosts while
with the negative correlation of -.194, -.198, - alternative tourists usually receive or ask for
.384, -.005 respectively with income help and cooperation more and become less
opportunities or alternative avenues of future dependent on westernized amenities. A positive
changes in income/job opportunity. correlation (0.499) between trained staff and
A positive correlation (of 0.343)is registered their friendly treatment and information about
between better income opportunities and availability of aids/ equipment at attraction
reasonably priced tour packages or products in proves how the delivery of tourism services
Sikkim. Negative correlation between and facilities are interdependent on functional
reasonably priced tour products and supply side and technical quality respectively. Negative
development related variables [safety support correlation between trained stuff and their
system (-0.3), availability of accessible friendly treatment and all infrastructure and

superstructure related variables [ like safety infrastructural support, travel equipment,

support system( -0.679), availability of alternative transportation arrangement. On the
accessible vehicles for travel ( -0.384), contrary, with more income tourists don’t
accessible pathways at attraction premise( - confirm more spending on their future trip
0.536), clear signage at all major points ( - expenses though duration of stay was found
0.647), effective communication aids( -0.004), associated with optional excursion. The study
easily accessible tour operators( -0.191)] was also advocated promotional effort for
noticeable as warm hospitality has priceless increasing duration of stay to offer more. In
value. line with the same, post COVID 19
Conclusion promotional effort must enhance this. These
maximum domestic leisure tourists are
During the pre COVID 19 periodconsidered in
obviously price sensitive. Increase in the price
the study, it is found that the income source as
of tour ingredients during post COVID 19
well as the revenue source of tourists becomes
pandemic is expected to have a significant
the major determinant of the tourists’ future
effect as a result of which volume of tourists
visit and their travel frequency. Friendly
will reduce even if almost the previous
behavior and familiarity is found significant for
situation reinstates. Therefore, alternative post-
tourist retention and as such this point is more
COVID 19 tourism developments and
important for more number of tourist arrivals
marketing in the study area must promote and
during post COVID 19 period in the study area.
incorporate more warm hospitality to
Tourists visiting Sikkim during the pre COVID
compensate infrastructural support. Again, the
19 period believed that, with the increasing
most feasible scope for dealing with the health
income, they would be able to demand more
safety is of course self- reliant alternative
infrastructural support. On the other hand, this
accommodation, alternative transportation and
pandemic enhances the demand for general
alternative sight visiting to maintain social
safety and security issues along with the
distancing and safety issues during and post
COVID infrastructure rather, and tourist with
COVID 19 period. Overall, this study further
high income must avail of these facilities. It
recommend investigation for developing social
also revealed that more the tourists were
economic development in the study region and
financially strong less they were dependent on
IHR for future solidarity may be with more
infrastructure and superstructure related issues.
explanatory variables. But this study assures a
These were the trends for pre COVID 19
fundamental model which can be extended
period and draw more attention at this point of
with many other destination management and
time. It is found that with increasing income
marketing variables for further extensive
tourists were interested on new travel
studies.
information and communication aids,
References
1. Batabyal, D. (2013). Destination Management of Resources. Canadian
development strategy for tourism in Geographer, 24: 5-12. Canada.
Sikkim. PhD thesis, University of 4. Chhetri, D.R.., Parajuli, P., Subba, G.C.
Burdwan, West Bengal, India. (2005). Antidiabetic plants used by Sikkim
2. Batabyal, D. (2017).Tourists income and its and Darjeeling Himalayan tribes, India.
implications on spending pattern: an Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 99, 199-
empirical analysis for tourism market 202.
infrastructure of Sikkim. Business 5. Daniels, M. J., Norman, W. C., & Henry,
Infrastructure for Sustainability in M. S. (2004). Estimating income effects of
Developing Economies (Ray, N., Ed.)., p. a sport tourism event. Annals of Tourism
110-123. USA; IGI Global. Research, 31(1), 180–199.
3. Butler, R. (1980). The Concept of a Tourist doi:10.1016/j.annals.2003.10.002
Area Life Cycle: Implications for 6. Diekmann, A. & McCabe, S. (2011).
Systems of social tourism in the European

Union: a critical review. Current Issues in 16. Niti Aayog (2018). A Summary Report
Tourism, 14:5, 417-430, DOI: Contributing to Sustainable Development
10.1080/13683500.2011.568052 in the Indian Himalayan Region Key
7. Diekmann, A. & McCabe, S. (2015). The messages from five thematic reports and
rights to tourism: reflections on social way forward.
tourism and human rights. Tourism 17. Plog, S. C. (2002). The power of
Recreation Research, 40:2, 194-204, DOI: psychographics and the concept of
10.1080/02508281.2015.1049022 venturesomeness.Journal of Travel
8. George, B.P. (2005). Measuring tourist Research, 40: 244-251.
attachment to holidays: Some preliminary 18. Plog, S. C. (1990). A Carpenter’s Tools:
results. Tourism, 52(3): 229-246. An answer to Stephen LJ Smith’s review of
9. George, B.P. Inbakaran, R., &Poyyamoli, psychocentrism/ allocentrism.Journal of
G. (2010). To travel or not to travel: Travel Research, 28(4): 43-45.
Towards understanding the theory of 19. Pyo, S. S., Uysal, M., & McLellan, R. W.
nativistic motivation. Tourism 58(4): 395- (1991). A linear expenditure model for
407. tourism demand. Annals of Tourism
10. GOI (2012). Tourism Survey Report for the Research, 18(3), 443–
State of Sikkim (June 2011-May 2012). 454. doi:10.1016/0160-7383(91)90051-c.
Retrieved from 20. Rogers, E. (1964). Diffusion of
http://www.datamationinternational.com Innovations. New York: Glencoe Free
11. Jensen, T. C. (1998). Income and Price Press
Elasticities by Nationality for Tourists in 21. Thakur, R., & Sangar, S. (2015). Increasing
Denmark. Tourism Economics, 4(2), 101– Inequality in the Western Indian Himalayan
130. doi:10.1177/135481669800400201 Region. Procedia Economics and Finance,
12. Liu Z., Siguaw J.A. &Enz C.A. ( 2008). 30, 910–922. doi:10.1016/s2212-
Using Tourist Travel Habits and 5671(15)01341-6.
Preferences to Assess Strategic Destination 22. Tyrrell, T., and R. Johnston 2001 A
Positioning: The Case of Costa Rica. Framework for Assessing the Direct
Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, Vol. 49 No. Economic Impacts of Tourist Events:
03 , page -258-281. DOI: Distinguishing Origins, Destinations and
10.1177/1938965508322007. Causes of Expenditures. Journal of Travel
13. Maurin, E. (2004). Le ghetto franc¸ais. Research,40, 94–100.
Enqueˆte sur le se´paratisme social. Paris: 23. Vanegas, S. M.&Croes, R. R.
Author. (2000). Evaluation of demand. Annals of
14. Mitra A. & Lama M. (2013). Estimating the Tourism Research, 27(4), 946–
Recreational Demand and Ecotourism 963. doi:10.1016/s0160-7383(99)00114-0.
Value of Mountain Tourist Spots of 24. Seiler,V.L., Hsieh,S., Seiler, M.J. & Hsieh,
Arunachal Pradesh, India. International C. (2003) Modeling Travel Expenditures
Journal of Tourism & Travel, Vol.6, No. for Taiwanese Tourism. Journal of Travel
1&2, p. 1-10. & Tourism Marketing, 13(4), 47-60. DOI:
15. Nepal, S.K. &Chipeniuk, R. (2005). 10.1300/J073v13n04_03
Mountain Tourism: Toward a Conceptual 25. United Nations (2017). Transforming our
Framework. Tourism Geographies: An World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
International Journal of Tourism Space, Development.
Place and Environment, 7(3), 313-333.
DOI: 10.1080/14616680500164849.

SYMBOL OF HOUSES IN WILLIAM FAULKNER’S LIGHT IN AUGUST

A. Rajkumar1 and Lt. G. A. Raja2
1
Jawahar Science College, Neyveli TS
2
Annamalai University
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
William Faulkner is one among the greatest contemporaries of American writers whose works mainly connects the
landscape and psychological minds of humans in fictional town Yoknapatawpha. The purpose of this paper is to show
how Faulkner effectively use the symbol of houses to reflect the psyche of human are corelated in his work. The houses
in his works gives some horror visualisation to the audience which also represents the theme of isolation and
alienisation. The manifestation of psychological state of characters were conventionally visible and outward through
the landscape and house images in Gothic fiction. William Faulkner’s famous novel Light in August have the
Archetypal landscapes which received brief attention by many scholars and writers, but the virtually ignored the
importance of houses in it. His use of houses amplifies many important themes in it such as, isolation and alienation of
individual, identity, importance of community, and religion. This paper closely examines the novel Light in August, to
reveal the classic gothic manner of Faulkner by using house images which are considered as psychological symbol of
the characters inhabitants. The parts of houses like bedrooms, windows of various rooms, and kitchen plays a vital role
in the novel. “Dark House” was first considered as the working title of the novel which should underscored. The
characters Lena Grove and Joe Christmas were escaping from the ideology of inhabitant, by leaving the house through
bedroom windows, and moving from one house to another routinely. Joanna Burden, Doc and Mrs. Hines and Gail
Hightower’s houses were considered as isolated one and it parallels to the alienation and isolation of the inhabitants.
Byron Bunch in the novel progressively moved from his boarding house to a small tent near the open road shows that
he become more involved in humanity. The satire of religion to fulfil simply close to home finishes is found in the
depravity of the faith gatherings; the platform is utilized by the Reverend Hightower, Doc Hines, and by Joe Christmas
as a chance to voice their own obsessive convictions. The list goes on and the implications are myriad. Most of the
buildings in Light in August are richly symbolic and a comprehensive study of them is needed.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keywords: Gothicism, Alienation, Isolation, Dark House, Identity, Sexuality, Horror, Myth and Psyche.
Introduction imaginative sense of the atmosphere. In other
words, the setting exists to convey the
The classic period of Gothicism was classified
atmosphere…The Gothic novel uses its
from the publication of Horace Walpole‘s The
atmosphere for ends which are fundamentally
Castle of Otranto in 1764 and Charles
psychological. (286)
Maturin‘s Melmoth the Wanderer in 1820
The potential psychological symbol of castle
which is also known as the flourishment of
were regularly used by gothic writers as the
Gothic literature. Various elements of Gothic
symbol of the psyche of citizens from the early
fiction such as duality of villain, persecuted
gothic writer Walpole. As Leslie Fiedler in
maiden, nature of evil, use of horror and terror,
Love and Death in the American Novel
influence of past, describing interior psychic
explains the deeper psychological symbolism
processes, and the symbol of houses were
of the haunted castle,
continuously utilized by many modern authors
Beneath the haunted castle lies the dungeon
for more than sixty years of the genre‘s glory.
keep: the womb from whose darkness the ego
This article explores gothic conventions of
first emerged, the tomb to which it knows it
William Faulkner‘s extensive use of house
must return at last. Beneath the crumbling shell
images as the symbol of inhabitant in the novel
of paternal authority, lies the maternal
Light in August. The basic settings of gothic
blackness, imagined by the gothic writers as a
fiction stereotypically conquered by gothic
prison, a torture chamber— from which the
castles which frequently haunted and helps to
cries of. the kidnapped anima cannot even be
reveal an atmosphere of psychological
heard. The upper and the lower levels of the
importance to note. As Robert Hume in
ruined castle or abbey represent the
―Gothic Versus Romantic: A Revaluation of
contradictory fears at the heart of gothic terror:
the Gothic Novel‖ observes:
the dread of the super-ego, whose splendid
[T]he imaginary world in which the action
battlements have been battered but not quite
takes place is the author's objectification of his
cast down— and the id, whose buried darkness

abounds in dark visions no stormer of the plantation houses of the South part of America
castle had even touched. (132) provide a convenient substitute for the Gothic
The psychological conflict within the castle. As Elizabeth Kerr observes: ―The
individual, then, is expressed in terms of the plantation house which, in its prosperity, had
Gothic building. stood for the orderly life of a semi-feudal
The American novel had its beginnings during society, in its ruin and decay resembled the
the period Gothic writing prospered abroad, ruined castle in Gothic novels, symbolizing the
and American writers, for example, Charles collapse of the old order‖ (25). This becomes
Brockden Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar true of the Compson house in The Sound and
Allan Poe, and Henry James regularly utilized the Fury, and the Sutpen mansion in Absalom,
emblematic settings in the Gothic way. The Absalom! but Faulkner departs from the
grotesque castle had been vanished by the convention in Light in August. Joanna Burden's
medieval setting, and instead contemporary home was built by her abolitionalist
dwelling serves the same for its symbolic grandfather, and the Burden house therefore
purpose. As Eino Railo in The Haunted Castle represents a threat to the old Southern social
points out: structure.
Each age fashions this centre of suspense to Woman and House
conform with its own new experiences and The dark, outlandish and threatful atmosphere
inventions, but for the reader aware of its surrounding both the woman and house seems
history it is an easy task to strip off the modern to doom them, and our first sight of the Burden
equipment, when it stands confessed as merely home occurs after Joanna has been murdered
a new rendering of the old picture of the and the house is burning. The pillar of yellow
haunted castle. (171) smoke from the house is described as ―standing
William Faulkner's most praised work rose up straight as a monument on the horizon‖ (44),
out of a concentrated period of creative and ―taller than and impregnable as a
creation that equals any in writing. William monument‖ (277). Joanna's home is her
Faulkner's books and brief tales have for some landmark; the two are connected in death as
time been noted for their formal and underlying they were throughout everyday life. Joanna's
idiosyncrasies basically as much concerning relationship with Joe Christmas is
their dull subjects of race and sexual characterized as far as her home, yet the full
orientation and their tricky representation of meaning of this relationship must be perceived
the South. William Faulkner regularly utilized after an assessment of the houses in Joe's initial
houses in this Gothic way. Francois Pitavy and life and the mental affiliations made with them.
Elizabeth Kerr briefly mentioned Faulkner‘s A sequential synopsis of Joe's life and mental
gothic houses in their respective works, advancement is accordingly all together. Joe
Faulkner‘s Light in August and William spends his youth in a,big long garbled cold
Faulkner‘s Gothic Domain, which are the echoing building of dark red brick
comprehensive study were never been sootbleakened by more chimneys than its own,
accomplished. ―Dark House,‖ is the working set in a grassless cinderstrewnpacked
title of Light in August, which provides a compound surrounded by smoking factory
wealth of illustrations. The dark house to purlieus and enclosed by a ten foot steel-and-
which the title of the novel referred to is wire fence like a penitentiary or a zoo. . . bleak
Reverend Gail Hightower‘s house. Sitting in walls, the bleak windows where in rain soot
his investigation in the dusk each evening, he is from the yearly adjacenting chimneys streaked
as actually detained by his home as he is like black tears. (111)
intellectually detained by the past. The genuine Joe's encounters there figure significantly in
prison of the Gothic novel has been changed the arrangement of his mind, moulding his
into a mental jail. The vision of his dead mentalities towards individuals and occasions
Grandfather so overwhelms Hightower's life for the duration of his life. The echoes in the
that he can't work in the present. structure underline its void, a hinting of the
More dark houses and more characters were vacancy of Joe's resulting life. The similarity of
added in the expansion of the novel. The great the orphanage to a penitentiary is expanded by

the use of the word ―compound,‖ and by the adjectives used show Joe's attitude toward his
description of the children as ―orphans in foster mother. Like the dietitian, she confuses
identical and uniform blue denim‖ (111). The him by her unpredictability. After his foster
repetition of the word ―bleak‖ links the father has beaten him for refusing to learn his
atmosphere of the building and the psyches of catechism, a punishment Joe expects and
the children, and the ―black tears‖ on the accepts, later Mrs. McEachern secretly brings
window strikingly emphasize the pathos of him food: ―dishes she would prepare for him in
their situation. There is not even any grass in secret and then insist on his accepting and
the hard ―cinderstrewnpacked‖ yard, their eating them in secret . . .‖ (157). He rejects her
house being surrounded by smoking factory by turning the tray upside down, ―dumping the
chimneys. As Joe will continue to be after he dishes and food and all onto the floor‖ (145).
leaves the orphanage, they are isolated from He thinks with disgust of her attempt, ―to get
nature, from the community, and from life. herself between him and the punishment
One of the first women in ‘Joe's life is the which, deserved or not, just or unjust, was
dietitian at the orphanage. At first, Joe thinks impersonal, both the man and the boy
of her merely in terms of food: ―The dietitian accepting it as a natural and inescapable fact
was nothing to him yet, save a mechanical until she, getting in the way, must give it an
adjunct to eating, food, the diningroom, the odor, an attenuation, and aftertaste,‖ (157) For
ceremony of eating, …smooth, pink and white, Joe, it is women who love deceit and threaten
making his mind think of the diningroom, the rigid predictability of a man‘s world.
making his mouth think of something sweet While women are associated with food,
and sticky to eat‖ (112). Joe sneaks into her enclosures, rooms and houses, Joe
room and discovers that she has sweet pink psychologically links men with the barn or
toothpaste which he naturally associates with stable and the outside world. This association
her. For some time, he surreptitiously enters also has its beginnings at the McEachern
her room, eats a single mouthful of it, and house. His whipping for his failure to learn his
leaves. One day, however, the dietitian and her catechism occurred in the stable, and it was of
boyfriend return while Joe is in the room. that incident that he was later to think: "On this
Hiding behind a curtain, Joe mechanically eats day I_ became a. man" (137). This early
most of the tube and makes himself sick. Not psychological association accounts for Joe's
realizing that she was making love while he behaviour the night before he murders Joanna:
was in the room, he wants only to be punished he rejects everything associated with women.
for eating her toothpaste and vomiting: ―n [H)e The confines of cabin and clothes are shed and
was putting himself in her way in order to get it he goes to the stable, where ―Even a mare
over with, get his whipping and strike the horse is a kind of man‖ (101). Joe's feeling of
balance and write it off‖ (115). When she being enclosed or engulfed by women, and the
finally confronts him, ―[H]e believed that she accompanying image of a black abyss, occurs
was about to strike him. But she did not; the several times throughout his life. His sexual
hand just opened beneath his eyes. Upon it lay initiation takes place during his stay with the
a silver dollar‖ (116). Joe‘s association of food, McEacherns, in a dark mill shed. As he looks
discomfort, enclosed spaces and the at the young Negro girl ―he seemed to look
unpredictability of women begins with this down into a black well‖ (147). He feels himself
incident and remains with him long after it is ―enclosed by the womanshenegro,‖ a phrase
forgotten. which is repeated twice in the same paragraph.
The next house in Joe's life, the McEachern Joe feels trapped, enclosed by the She, and
house, further reinforces these associations. finds himself obliged to fight to free himself
When Joe looks at his foster parents' home one from this sense of confinement, fighting with
evening, he makes the following observation: the other boys until ―There is no She at all
―The house squatted in the moonlight, dark, now. They just fought; it was as if a wind had
profound, a little treacherous. It was as though blown among them, hard and clean‖ (147).
in the moonlight the house had acquired When Joe is a little older, he leaves his foster
personality: threatful, deceptive‖ (160). The parents' house secretively at night to meet

Bobbie Allen, a waitress he has met, but their out . . . into the air, the cool air, the cool dark‖
first meeting is unfortunately timed. Bobbie (210). The sensation is identical to that of his
has forgotten that she will have her monthly earlier experience with the ―womanshenegro‖
period on the appointed day, and must explain in the shed. Once outside the house ―he entered
the situation to Joe. When Joe first learned the street which was to run for fifteen years‖
about menstruation, years before, he had fled to (210), and then he entered Jefferson. In
the barn, the male stronghold, where he Jefferson Joe meets Joanna Burden, and their
remained for the entire day (174). Several days relationship begins when he enters her house in
later he kills a sheep, a sort of ritualistic search of food. He enters the house for the first
propitiation. His immunity from this time through the kitchen window, even though
knowledge is short-lived, however, and he now the main door is unlocked: ―he seemed to flow
jerks himself free of Bobbie and runs to the into the dark kitchen: a shadow returning
woods. There he crystalizes his impressions of without sound and without locomotion to the
women: allmother of obscurity and darkness‖ (216). For
He reached the woods and entered, among the Joe, the kitchen, the heart of the house has
hard trunks. . . hardfeeling, hardsmelling, always been inextricably associated with
invisible . . . [A]s though in a cave he Seemed women. Joanna and the house represent a
to see a diminishing row of suavely shaped sanctuary for Joe: he later thinks of her as ―the
urns in moonlight, blanched. And not one was woman at first sight of whom in the lifted
perfect. Each one was cracked and from each candle…there had opened before him,
crack there issued something liquid, instantaneous as a landscape in a
deathcolored, and foul. (177-78) lightningflash, a horizon of physical
With these impressions of women as containers security…‖ (221). He takes her physically that
or ―victims of periodical filth‖ (173) firmly night in an act that can best be described as
fixed in his mind, he meets Bobbie regularly rape, and returns to repeat the deed the next
for a month, but they never enter her house. night.
For their lovemaking trysts they go ―among the He now expects to be hated and turned out of
growing plants, the furrows, and into the the cabin as well as denied access to the main
woods, the trees‖ (178). The natural imagery is house. He thinks about leaving town, and yet
in stark contrast to Bobbie's room, which is the following night he goes back to her house.
described as ―close, smelling of stale scent‖ This time the back door is locked, but he
(183). When Joe first visits Bobbie's room he persists:
brings her candy and they talk, but when he is He went to the kitchen door. He expected that
ready for sexual intercourse, he suggests they to be locked also. But he did not realise until he
leave the house and return to the darkness and found that it was open, that he had wanted it to
the woods. Bobbie is quite masculine in be. When he found that it was not locked it was
appearance and Joe associates the masculine like an insult. It was as though some enemy
outdoors with her and their sexual activities upon whom he had wreaked his utmost of
instead of the contamination he has associated violence and contumely stood, unscathed and
with enclosed spaces since the incident with unscarred, and contemplated him with a
the dietitian. He is therefore astonished when musing and insufferable contempt, (224)
he realizes that Bobbie intends to make love Like the dietitian, Joanna has upset his
with him inside the house. expectations. He expects to be punished for
His last visit to Bobbie's house again points out breaking into the house and raping her; instead,
the contrast between houses, which he she sets out food for him and invites further
associates with women and corruption, and the sexual advances by leaving the house open.
outdoors, which he associates with men. After She receives the same treatment his foster
he knocks his foster father senseless at a dance, mother received for interfering with his sense
possible killing him, he goes to Bobbie's house of guilt and expiation: Joe rejects her through
with the vague idea of running away with her. the food; he flings it about the room. Joanna
Bobbie scorns him, and he is ridiculed, hears the commotion and throws the bolt to the
rejected, and beaten. He thinks, ―I got to get rest of the house, denying him access to it and

to herself. That episode concludes the first to share her physical life he receives an offer to
phase of their relationship, which Joe thinks of take over her business affairs as her secretary.
―as though he were outside a house where Later, she offers to send him to a Negro law
snow was on the ground, trying to get into the school. When these offers are rejected, Joanna
house…‖ (254-55). demands that he pray with her. As she becomes
more obsessed by guilt and by the knowledge
Symbol of Human Psyche
that her pregnancy was the onset of
The second phase begins when Joanna makes menopause, she reverts to her harsh, mannish
sexual overtures by entering his cabin and appearance and behaviour. There is now a
sitting on his bed. In this phase she abandons strong resemblance between Joanna and
her Calvinistic teachings, her psychological McEachern: ―both are religious fanatics, harsh,
prison, and gives way to her nymphomaniac demanding and judgmental. Joe can no longer
passions. She craves the idea of illicit love, and enter the house at will and receive physical and
for this reason Joe cannot enter the house sexual satisfaction. No food is now set out for
normally: ―for a whole week she forced him to him, and Joanna's bedroom door is locked both
climb into a window to come to her. He would before his arrival and after his departure‖
do so and sometimes he would have to seek her (263). Joanna's menopause ended not only her
about the dark house until he found her, physical ability to produce life, but her
hidden, in closets, in empty rooms…‖ (245). feminine instincts to nurture and to be loved.
The closets and empty rooms of her dark house The total lack of such feminine desires is
are manifestations of her subconscious mind, reflected by the empty kitchen and the locked
the repressed portions of her psyche bedroom door. She has become a stranger to
symbolically expressed. As Joanna becomes Joe in this third phase, strangely reminiscent of
wildly passionate, expressing her heretofore Simon McEachern. Both have tried to lock him
repressed sexuality, Joe feels the familiar sense into respectability, imprison him by their
of corruption, entrapment and enclosure. His fanatic religious beliefs. His reaction to both
earlier vision of the urn, women as containers situations is similar: strike out and flee.
of filth, is expanded here. He feels ―as through The night before he murders Joanna his feeling
he had fallen into a sewer‖ (242), ―like a man of being entrapped reaches a peak. As he walks
being sucked down into a bottomless morass‖ through Freedman town, he is surrounded by
(246), and as though ―he was at the bottom of a voices: ―On all sides, even within him, the
pit in the hot wild darkness‖ (255). As the bodiless fecundmellow voices of negro women
second phase drifts into the final phase of their murmured.‖ He feels ―enclosed by
relationship the emphasis shifts from the cabinshapes‖ and decides ―It was as though he
corruption of women to Joe's increasing sense and all other manshaped life about him had
of confinement. He notices that now ―they met been returned to the lightless hot wet
always in the bedroom, as though they were primogenitive Female‖ (107). Freedman town
married. No more did he have to seek her is described as ―the black pit‖ which ―might
through the house…‖ (249). Joanna has now have been the original quarry, abyss itself‖
become softer and more feminine, and believes (108). Throughout Joe's life, women and sex
she is pregnant, which would be the natural are equated with enclosed spaces. The dietitian,
culmination of their frenzied sexual encounters. Bobbie Allen, and Joanna Burden have all
Joe, unable to accept this more normal male- represented confinement and corruption for
female relationship, ceases to go to the house, Joe. Joe's final" confrontation with Joanna
avoiding the woman, the corruption, and the occurs in Joanna's bedroom. There she
entrapment of marriage. demands that he kneel and pray with her for
When he later receives her notes directing him forgiveness for their sexual sins. When Joe
to come to her, he believes that she now wishes refuses, as he earlier refused to learn his
to resume their relationship on his terms. He catechism for McEachern, she threatens him
goes first to the kitchen, where he eats the food with a gun. As Joe once stood and accepted his
set out for him, and then mounts the stairs to punishment from his foster father, he now
her bedroom. Instead of the expected invitation stands and watches as Joanna pulls the trigger

of the pistol. The actual murder scene is not with, evocative of, strange and baleful half
given, and when we next see Joe, he is outside delights and half terrors. He was afraid of it.
of the house, on the road, free from both He feared; he loved in being afraid. Then one
woman and house. day while at the seminary he realised that he
Joe spends most of the next week, before his was no longer afraid. It was as though a door
capture in Mottstown, in the woods. Earlier he had shut somewhere… He just hated it; he
ran to the woods in an attempt to understand would flee from it, to walls, to artificial light.
menstruation and women. Now he spends his (300-301)
time trying to understand himself. He has Life is unpredictable and uncertain, and
escaped the psychological prison by the murder Hightower flees from it to the security of a
of Joanna, but now he finds himself trapped by room. The housing imagery is deliberately used
the physical prison of his body and its needs. to cut him off from life, as his actual house
At first, he craves food constantly. He thinks of would do later. Hightower's house, his
the time he threw the meal Joanna had offered ―sanctuary‖ (293), is the original dark house of
him on the floor ―with a kind of writhing and the unused title, and is unquestionably an index
excruciating agony of regret and remorse and to the minister himself. The house, ―unpainted,
rage‖ (316). Finally escaping that prison, too, small, obscure, poorly lighted, mansmelling,
he realizes ―I don‘t have to bother about having manstale‖ (44), is analogous to the unwashed
to eat any more‖ and feels ―peace and unhaste man. Hightower sits in his window each
and quiet‖ (320). In his flight from food and evening ―oblivious of the odor in which he
women, he has found peace outside and alone. lives— that smell of people no longer in life:
He is now psychologically prepared to accept that odor of overplump desiccation and stale
the punishment for his act, and wanders openly linen as "though a precursor of the tomb…‖
about the streets of Mottstown until he is (300). His rejection of humanity has left him
recognized and captured. Faced with life spiritually dead.
imprisonment, Joe escapes once again. Almost His withdrawal from life into the twilight
instinctively he runs to the Reverend Gail dream of his phantom grandfather is paralleled
Hightower's kitchen, where he ends his flight by his withdrawal into the study of his house.
and offers no resistance to Percy Grimm. Joe's There in the security of his sanctuary, he can
life ends in the symbolic womb-tomb ignore the world of life outside his four walls.
mentioned by Fiedler. The ―allmother of The closest he comes to the natural world is the
obscurity and darkness,‖ (321) as the kitchen is sounds of-life which come in through his open
described, is a fitting description of both. Joe's window, serving as a constant reminder of the
self-sacrifice in Hightower's kitchen frees him life he has rejected. Hightower's attitude
from his psychological and physical prisons, a toward rooms and the world outside, reverses
decision he made while alone and in the Joe's. Joe associated rooms with confinement,
woods. contamination, and women, from which he
Like Joanna, the Reverend Gail Hightower would flee to the cool, free air outside.
uses his house as a retreat from the community, Hightower associates‘ rooms with sanctuary
where he remains in spite of its opposition. and security, and he flees from the unknown to
Like Joe, he tends to equate houses with the safety of walls. On occasions, however, the
women. As he thinks of his childhood home he sanctuary of his room is violated by intruders.
associates it with his mother, particularly with Dragged forcibly out of his home on one
her eyes: ―He could feel them [her eyes] instance, he suffers a beating at the hands of
through all walls. They were the house: he the townspeople. He bears it ―with that patient
dwelled within them… He and she both lived and voluptuous ego of the martyr…until, inside
in them like two small, weak beasts in a den, a his house again and the door locked, he lifted
cavern…‖ (450). When he thinks of his youth the mask‖ (464). Years later, when Byron, Doc
he remembers: and Mrs. Hines intrude on his solitude and ask
[H]e had loved darkness, of walking or sitting him to commit himself to life by lying to save
alone among trees at night. Then the ground, Joe, he adamantly refuses: ―Suddenly his voice
the bark of trees, became actual, savage, filled rises higher yet. ‗Get out!‘ he screams. ‗Get out

of my house! Get out of my house!‘‖ (370). He life all around him is an extension of his own
refuses to leave the security of his room, and psyche. He, too, has returned to life from
orders those who would disturb his mental death. He is outside the shell of his house,
sanctuary to leave. He prefers the predictability involved with someone other than himself. He
of the quiet life of the mind, dreaming of his has not accepted life in its entirety, however. It
grandfather's deeds within his study walls, to consists of more than birth and joy; life also
the uncertainty of life without them. He has includes pain and death. Life, like the ground
been dead to the world for so long that it will and the bark of trees in his youth, is ―actual,
not be an easy matter to change his savage, filled with, evocative of, strange and
psychological prejudices. baleful half delights and half terrors‖ (300).
Hightower, at this point, sees only the positive,
Architecture of Kitchen
vibrant things which correspond with his own
Byron's persistence, in the form of weekly euphoric state of mind. Joe's death, in his own
visits and extended talks, finally brings kitchen, will return him to the full reality of
Hightower back into life. The minister leaves life.
his house and becomes involved with another Hightower uses his church as a sanctuary from
human being; he sets out to deliver Lena's life, too:
baby. It is in Hightower‘s kitchen, after the He believed…that if ever there was shelter, it
birth of Lena's child, that Hightower is reborn: would be the Church… [I]t seemed to him that
And as he stands, tall, misshapen, lonely in his he could see his future [in the church], his life,
lonely and illkept kitchen, holding in his hand intact and on all sides complete and inviolable,
an iron skillet in which yesterday's old grease like a- classic and serene vase, where the spirit
is bleakly caked, there goes through him a could be born anew sheltered from the harsh
glow, a wave, a surge of something almost hot, gale of living… (453)
almost triumphant…Life comes to the old man Hightower's sermons reflect his inability to
yet. (382-83) focus on the reality of his religion. He is as
In the kitchen, always associated with women, removed from it as he is from life:
Hightower has become a live human being, a They [the townspeople] told Byron how he
man, once more. In a ―glow of purpose and [Hightower] seemed to talk that way in the
pride‖ (383) he rejects the womanly chore of pulpit too, wild too in the pulpit, using religion
washing dishes and scorns returning to bed as though it were a dream. . . It was as if he
because ―That's what a woman would do: go couldn't get religion and that galloping cavalry
back to bed and rest‖ (p. 383). He does rest, but and his dead grandfather shot from the
not in his bedroom. Hightower leaves his house galloping horse untangled from each other,
and goes to his garden with Henry IV, which even in the pulpit. . . the dogma he was
he considers ―food for a man‖ (383), in his supposed to preach all full of galloping cavalry
possession. and defeat and glory . . . all mixed up with
Later that day he returns to the cabin to check absolution and choirs of martial seraphim, until
on Lena and the child, and finds that ―The walk it was natural that the old men and women
out to the cabin does not take him as long as should believe that what he preached in God's
the walk home did, even though he goes now own house on God's own day verged on actual
through the woods where the walking is sacrilege. (56-7)
harder‖ (384). His return to life has taken him Hightower eventually sees those churches,
outside of his house, into his garden, and which he viewed as sanctuaries, are actually
finally into the woods. Before he enters the ―barricades…against truth and against that
cabin, he glances at the grove of trees where peace in which to sin and be forgiven which is
Joanna's house had stood. From his vantage the life of man‖ (461). The church is merely an
point he cannot see the charred and mute empty building, a dark house, with no life
embers of the house; instead, he sees the big inside. He also realizes
house alive again, bursting with the noise and that that which is destroying the Church is not
vitality of life, ―noisy, loud with the treble the outward groping of those within it nor the
shouts of the generations‖ (385). His vision of inward groping of those without, but the

professionals who control it and who have the confines of his rented room and into a tent
removed the bells from its steeples. He seems placed a respectable distance from the cabin.
to see them, endless, without order, empty, As he becomes more determined to help Lena,
symbolical, bleak, skypointed not with ecstasy he gains confidence in himself, symbolically
or passion but in adjuration, threat, and doom. suggested by the fact that he no longer
(461) stumbles over the bottom step when he enters
The present church stands squarely against life, Hightower's house.
including all natural physical appetites. Byron's attempts to establish Lena in a house
McEachern and Joanna Burden exemplify the are futile, however, and as the novel closes the
perversion of the Christian doctrine represented two of them are on the open road. Byron's
by the empty church. God's word is twisted to psychological progress, his movement toward
suit their personal ends: McEachern uses it as others and life, is reflected by his relationship
justification for beating his foster child. He to houses: he moves from a boarding house to a
frequently admonishes Joe against the tent to the open road. He has returned to life by
temptation of the flesh. His blessing before rejecting the norms, the confines of the
dinner contains not gratitude for the food, but a community--a steady job, a conventional
demand for ―absolution for the food and for the relationship, and a house. Lena Grove is the
necessity of eating it‖ (144). Joanna Burden only character in the book who is not defined
goes a step further and uses religion to justify in terms of a house. She is the representative of
attempted murder. Hightower himself uses natural, instead of social, life. Pitavy in
religion to satisfy his personal desires, to live Faulkner's Light in August, summarizes ft her
in Jefferson in the glory of his grandfather. importance as follows:
It is the intervention of Byron Bunch and Lena It is she who endures and prevails as the serene
Grove, of life, that eventually brings incarnation of eternal feminity and of the
Hightower to this realization. Lena also brings earth's fertility. On the day of Joe's death she
life to Byron. At, the outset of the novel Byron gives birth to a child in whom he is
has been a stranger in Jefferson, a transient symbolically reborn. She restores life to the
resident, for seven years. His boarding house sterile Burden land, as well as to Hightower,
residence symbolizes his relationship with the the living-dead, and to Byron, who was trying
community; he remains uninvolved and to isolate himself, working overtime at the mill
anonymous in his rented room. His initial to avoid the temptations of the Saturday
encounter with Lena reflects his desire to stay holiday: the invincible Lena, a genuine natural
separated from her and from life, uninvolved in force, drives the one from his impregnable
Jefferson and the community. He wants her to ivory tower and the other from his workshop-
be someone else's responsibility: ―It just sanctuary. (105)
seemed to him that if he could only get her Early in the novel, Lena is described ―like
across the square and into a house his something moving forever and without
responsibility would be discharged‖ (77). It is progress across an urn‖ (5). The image of the
interesting to note that the matron of the urn, which for Joe represented confinement and
orphanage felt similarly about her involvement contamination, and for Hightower represented
with Joe. When she hears from the dietitian sanctuary from life, represents life itself for
that Joe is part Negro, she wishes to rid herself Lena, something neither walled in nor walled
of the responsibility. Her first thought is to out. Her close ties to the natural world are
place him in someone else's home at once. reflected by the few houses in which Lena does
Byron takes Lena to the boarding house, but stay. Her parents' house is but a log cabin with
she wishes a more permanent domicile, one a dirt floor. When she moves in with her
associated with her errant lover. The first sign brother, her room is not a part of the main
of Byron's psychological progress, his house: ―She slept in a leanto room at the back
movement toward life, is when he involves of the house‖ (3). When she begins to have
himself in her problem and cleans Joe's cabin, sexual relations, a natural activity for her, she
helping her to settle in it. He takes another step does so in an unconventional way, since her
in the direction of life when he moves out of

activity is unconventional in the eyes of the enter the pulpit and in his harsh, dead voice
community. and at times with violent obscenity, . . .
Even the minor characters of Light in August preaching the superiority of the white race,
are reflected by their houses. The house in himself his own exhibit A, in fanatic and
which Joe was born reflects the psyche of his unconscious paradox‖ (325). The decay and
grandfather, Doc Hines. Both Joe's mother and isolation of the house reflect the physical and
grandmother are forced to abide by Doc Hines' mental isolation of Doc and Mrs. Hines. Even
beliefs just as they are forced to remain within the psychology of such minor characters as
the walls of his house. Doc Hines refuses to Mrs. Hightower and Lucas Burch is developed
allow his wife to go out for the doctor, who is through imagery related to houses. When faced
needed to save their daughter Milly's life. Mrs. with a situation they find intolerable, they
Hines later relates the incident to Gail make an escape through a window. Lucas,
Hightower, telling him that when she tried to confronted with Lena and his baby in the cabin,
go out the front door, her husband told her: finds himself trapped by the representative of
Get back into that house. Let the devil gather civil law, the sheriff, and by his moral
his own crop: he was the one that laid it by." obligation to Lena and the child. He cannot
And I tried to get out the back way and he make a direct exit, and after mumbling a few
heard me and run around the house with the jumbled words to Lena, he climbs out the back
gun and hit me with the barrel of it and I went window of the cabin. Mrs. Hightower, driven
back to Milly and he stood outside the hall to the city in a vain attempt to find love,
door where he could see Milly until she died. eventually escapes from an intolerable life by
(358) jumping to her death from a hotel window. The
Joe's mother thus dies as a direct result of the rented room in the hotel is as empty of love as
grandfather's refusal to allow anyone to was her relationship with her husband.
interfere with his interpretation of divine will. These unhappy bedroom scenes are contrasted
Doc and Mrs. Hines now live ―in a small to the final scene of the novel, in which a
bungalow in a neighborhood of negroes…in happily married couple is experiencing normal
filthy poverty and complete idleness‖ (322). sexual relations. Most critics tend to ignore this
The walk is full of ―rotting bricks and shards of scene with its addition of a new character in
concrete‖ (327). None of the townspeople another location, but the change in character,
know anything about the pair for certain, and location, and atmosphere serves an important
the house is forbidden territory, figuratively function in the novel. Harry Nash, in his article
speaking, for the community. When the ―Faulkner's 'Furniture Repairer and Dealer':
townspeople bring a semi-conscious Doc Hines Knitting Up Light in August,‖ offers three key
back to his home, Mrs. Hines refuses to allow reasons for ending the novel with this couple:
them near the house: ―Just before they reached Most obviously, they help to restore a normal
the porch the front door opened and his wife continuity and stability (in social and sexual
came out and closed the door behind her . . . terms) . . . They project a vigorous natural
She stood before the door as if she were intimacy . . . They reconstitute the novel's more
barring them from the house . . .‖ (327). She or less central focus. The certain apocalyptic
carries him inside herself and needlessly intensity of focus of the preceding twenty
returns to lock the front door. The inside of the chapters is thereby dimmed, diffused, refracted,
house is described as ―dark and small and reset. (529)
rankly-odored as a cave‖ (329), an apt This change of pace serves a Gothic purpose as
description of Doc Hines' psyche. His closed well. As Elizabeth MacAndrew in The Gothic
mindedness, seen earlier in his conduct toward Tradition in Fiction observes, ―When the tale is
his daughter, remains unshaken; his tirades no longer set in the distant past, a system of
against bitchery and abomination continue ‗nested,‘ concentric narration maintains the
unabated throughout his life. illusion of a strange world, isolating a symbolic
He still believes himself to be God‘s personal landscape within the ordinary ‗world‘‖ (48).
spokesman: ―going singlehanded into remote The furniture repairer and dealer return the
negro churches and interrupting the service to reader from the closed, symbolic, Gothic world

of Jefferson to the normal outside world, life represented by the outside world. This use
making the world of Jefferson more alien by is most clearly seen by Lena Grove's
comparison. relationship to houses and the natural world.
Conclusion As a symbol of the natural, Lena is essentially
houseless. On the other hand, both Joanna
The imagery pertaining to houses throughout
Burden and Gail Hightower, although isolated
the novel shows that although Faulkner clearly
from the community and from life by their
used them in the Gothic manner, as a symbol
―dark houses,‖ nonetheless discover life, or a
of the inhabitant, their symbolism is more
sense of community, in their kitchens.
pervasive and complex than this alone. In
Joanna finds Joe there, and is physically
addition to reflecting the psyche of the
awakened; Hightower's kitchen, where he
inhabitant, the houses of Light in August also
encounters and attempts to save Joe, becomes a
occasionally represent the psyche of the
place of life for him, the scene of his
perceiver. The Burden house is but one
psychological‘ rebirth. But these wombs, to use
example of this. As a symbol of Joanna, the
Fiedler's terminology, are also ―tombs‖ in that
house represents both her body and her mind,
both Joanna Burden and Gail Hightower, as
and is the scene of both her physical liberation
well as Joe, are destroyed as a result of their
and her entrapment by the past. But to the
discoveries. Their deaths are symbolically
townspeople the Burden house, as the house of
appropriate in a Jefferson which lacks the true
an abolitionist, threatens their way of life. For
spirit of Christianity, as symbolized by the
Byron, the smoke from her burning house
empty church steeples, even the Church is a
symbolizes the end of his isolation from life.
―dark house.‖ Since the buildings throughout
For Joe, her house evokes the feelings of
the novel are so deeply symbolic, ―Dark
contamination and confinement he associates
House,‖ with its Gothic implications, remains
with women. Additionally, houses are used as
an apt title for Light in August.
symbols of social life, as opposed to the natural
References
1. Faulkner, William. Light in August. New 7. Pitavy, Francois. Faulkner's Light in
York: Modern Library, 1959. August. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana
2. Fiedler, Leslie A. Love and Death in UP,1973.
American Novel. Dublin: Dalkey Archive 8. Railo, Eino. The Haunted Castle: A Study
Press,1998. of the Elements of English
3. Hume, Robert D. ―Gothic Versus Romanticism.New York: Humanities Press,
Romantic: A Revaluation of the Gothic 1927.
Novel.‖ PMLA LXXXIV, MAR 1969. 9. Raja, G. Arputhavel, et al. "Logical
282-90. Straddles between the Real and the Tech
4. Kerr, Elizabeth M. William Faulkner's Simulated World: A Critical Study of
Gothic Domain. Port Washington, New Girish Karnad‘s Wedding Album."
York Kennikat Press, 1979. PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of
5. MacAndrew, Elizabeth. The Gothic Egypt/Egyptology 17.9 (2020): 52585266.
Tradition in Fiction. New York: Columbia 10. Smith, Warren Hunting. Architecture in
UP,1979. English Fiction. London:YaleUP,
6. Nash, Harry C. ―Faulkner's Furniture 1934.Stone, Geoffrey. ―Review of Light in
Repairer and Dealer: Knitting Up Light in August.‖ Bookman. Vol. LXXV, Nov1932.
August.‖ Modern Fiction Studies, Vol. 736-38.
XVI, 1971. 529-31.

SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL ISSUES IN CORMAC MCCARTHY’S THE ROAD

K. Nishanthi1 and V. Gnanaprakasam2
1,2
Department of English, Annamalai University
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
This paper explores Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer-prize winning book, The Road, is part of Eco-dystopian fantasy and
American road fiction. The novel portrays, a dad and son, struggling to survive a post-collapse world where a
determined nose-dive has taken place between the climate and the society. Readers are offered glimpses of a potential
21st-century world where many familiar civil structures are in ruins as the pair head southeast on their trip.
Throughout the book, in this baffling post-natural and post-capitalist setting, McCarthy needs his protagonists and
readers to recreate value structures, interpersonal ties, and judgments of themselves, and it also discuss the
comparison between John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath with The Road, both are dealing directly with the ongoing
natural calamities and unrest social and political situation in America. The Road is not a dystopian novel unlike the
general argument this paper analyzes hidden prophecy and its warning to the great upcoming disaster of mankind.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keywords: Global Warming, Vietnam War, Steinbeck, Dystopia, Armageddon.
Introduction replacing their jobs with more powerful
machines. In brief, though it works, as
The Road can be called a dystopian update of
production grows and costs decline. The
John Steinbeck's 1939 book The Grapes of
investors soon discover, however, that
Wrath, which also earned a Pulitzer, as a story
continued support and encouragement is
profoundly embedded in his day's issues and
demanded by the method. "The bankers"do not
disputes. Both texts recount the struggles of
breathe oxygen," they "keep breathing money,"
protagonists in South America, where hopes of
as the author states (32). The private bank, the
opportunity and development have been
beast, must still have huge profits. They will
challenged in the face of the ecosystem and
not wait. It eventually expires when the
socioeconomic disasters. Although Steinbeck's
creature finishes rising. One shape cannot
plot portrays the severe drought epidemic that
remain here. The focus on development and
throughout the Great Depression the Joad
income in Steinbeck's book has dire
family brought the Household from West to
ramifications for the soil and the human
Texas. McCarthy's novel takes on the
communities that rely on it. The ecological
international environmental epidemic,
crisis that occurs is exposed as the unforeseen
predicting the global market collapse that
effects of the hyper-development of rampant
occurred after McCarthy wrote his fiction in
globalization.
the process. While Steinbeck's story pins its
Similarly, throughout The Road, the dystopian
trust on the kindness and consciousness of the
world stresses a more comprehensive societal
lower class of sharecroppers and the society
structure in turmoil. Geologist David Harvey
who understand that their only way of
discusses these interlinked questions, claiming
existence is as a single community, the book of
that "all social and economic projects are
McCarthy gives minimal potential. The family
environmental projects and conversely," such
promises only a fragile and uncertain refuge in
that with all we speak and do, a perception of
The Road, the environment is beyond fix, and
"life and the atmosphere is omnipresent" (174).
the natural world seems to have changed for
For Harvey, "essential analyses of the
the nastier forever.
relationship with environment are critical
Political and Financial Upheaval assessments of community at the same time"
The Grapes of Wrath tells the story of the (174). The protagonists experience a human
political and financial upheaval resulting from and natural tragedy in both books, or what
individual disassociation from non-human Donna Haraway terms a 'nature-heritage'
existence as a Depression-era American catastrophe (26). Instead of having both entities
document. Met with an intensely dynamic apart, Haraway refers to the emotional
market, landowners were forced to transform connection that binds the two. Living just
their farming activities in the 1920s and 1930s, inside evolutionary biology really is about

living and working within societies in ultimately proven to be that much of a positive
existence. It's more about living inside culture thing.
while also being within the marvel of the McCarthy explains what may be considered
mystery of existence. The American climate change blowback, focusing on the
Government suffered the greatest natural natural and social past of resistant crop in the
catastrophe in its record in Tornado Katrina, a Southern United States, where social activities
year prior The Road was written, where class in the soil, in this scenario agricultural policy
and wealth were defining variables in the and economic forces, wind up causing
degree and nature of tragedy that existed. As unintended issues that could have potentially
the cover of the book Chester Hartman and overshadowed the initial worries that were
Gregory D. Squires aptly puts it, "there is no meant to be tackled.
such occurrence as a natural tragedy." recorded
Servitium of Machines
human history undoubtedly led to the
complexity of the New Orleans devastation; In The Road, the ravaged terrain in which the
from global warming and years of slapdash subject's trip is also polluted with the
urban planning before the disaster to cumulative garbage of the industrial society of
government ineptness and negligence after the the 21st century, a warning for many American
devastation, Tornado Katrina cannot properly citizens of the greed and pollution that defines
be considered a "natural‖ phenomenon (2–3). everyday existence. McCarthy places the
grocery supermarket trolley in the story as a
Climatic Change significant picture to contemplate in this sense.
McCarthy's work, like The Grapes of Wrath, is As the Joad’s family drives in their vehicle
a tragic story, a terrifying description of from Oklahoma to California in pursuit of new
ecological collapse in the sense of broader futures, the father and son drive across the
societal failures. In The Road, as the author landscape in The Road, pulling a collection of
explains the specificities of this post-dystopian deserted shopping carts containing discarded
world, the turmoil in the natural environment is food products, clothes, household goods, and
mentioned in one phase. McCarthy writes, certain cast-off things they have accumulated
"Much of it shadowless lacking any function, throughout their travels.
the skeletons of dead animals crawling in the Like Joad's vehicle, in The Road, the shopping
rinses. The road plummeted through a trolley carries on a variety of nuanced
collapsed kudzu forest—a bog over the river definitions. The probability of movement and
where the sick reeds lie" (177). With a evacuation is portrayed by both the truck in
revealing connection to the oversized dead The Grapes of Wrath and the trolley in
bindweed that covers the road and hinders the McCarthy's story; no family can survive the
trip itself, the sequence provides some of the devastation without these items. Around the
few depictions of real plant existence in the same moment, the mechanism whose failure
book. In the entire united states of America, has produced such despair is portrayed by both
this native weedy crop has a complex heritage; the automobile and the shopping trolley. For
in the 1870s, kudzu (Pueraria lobata) was e.g. The car is a result of the hypermodernity of
imported from either imperial Japan or South The Grapes of Wrath, contributing to the
Korea and gradually became common in the impoverishment and expulsion of the
American South for many household Oklahoma plantation owners from the property.
landscapes throughout the country. Kudzu was Ironically, with the old truck portrayed as
used to control deforestation on rivers and nothing other than a part of the family, the new
farms in the South throughout the 1930s, with base of their mutual survival. The Joads'
the United state. The Agriculture Department is assumption that science could somehow rescue
also paying villagers to cultivate this amazing them by fixing the issues of their families in
soil protector. By the 1940s, kudzu, capable of the western world. Jared Diamond examines
rising nearly a foot per day, occupied more this assumption as a ―display of faith centered
than a quarter a million square miles, on a flawed assessment that innovation has
somehow resolved more challenges it has

produced in the past years" (504) in Collapse: providing what could, in essence, be called a
How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed . "green consumerism" satirical and sporadic
Elizabeth Kolberg refers to the low faith that approach. Both characters enter the outskirts of
sometimes circulates in mainstream science the region and come across a store with
evaluations in Field Notes from a Disaster: scrambled parking.
Man, Ecology, and Global Warming claiming The vehicle must be discarded on the car park
that there is an immediate connection between for McCarthy's protagonists, as living
"what we understand and also what we decline standards have now rendered this once
to understand" (3). Current optimism in omnipresent asset worthless. The vehicle
technological advancement and new provides no further mobility and escapes the
innovations often implies a desire not to recession, much like the shopping trolley no
understand what Diamond considers "the belief more holds the new items in the supermarket.
that technology can mainly operate to solve Only what will the ruined cities screen and
current difficulties from tomorrow onwards rescue. The survivors have to contend with
and will stop to produce new challenges‖ less; one axle begins to pinch on the cart, so
(504). they have no chance of repairing it.
The automobile makes no such pledge in Even if they look for a good location, dad and
McCarthy's The Road, nevertheless. Life will son don't reach a new Eden, as the American
not maintain new tech in the wake of tragedy; a road novels promise several times. Instead,
fact demonstrated as the boy misuses numerous they are left with a collapsed and redemptive
bits of scavenged machinery. Once he misses planet. There is no guarantee that they will
to switch off the gas jar valve, which makes travel to heaven or make it like it used to be. At
their salvaged oven worthless, the kid later some stage, McCarthy states that the guy knew
drops his father’s gun abandoned on the shore, that he was approaching great doom with a
and the dad is compelled to pull back to wrong front. "He thought it would be better if
recover it. With certain skepticism, McCarthy's he knew that the world was becoming darker
latest views of tech swapping the Joads car every day" (213). The world in which the
with the operated shopping trolleys that protagonists reside has changed significantly,
provide a less than an ideal mode of and the immediate challenge is to locate the
transportation. At one stage, the kid questions essential elements that will keep their lives
his dad if they should depart after a pause in bearable yet significant.
their journeys. By giving him a lift in the Advertisements no longer inspire customers
wagon, the man answers. The child refuses to with tempting assurances about their
use the supermarket trolley as a mode of travel commodity under this modern landscape.
and handles it with confidence. In a way, the Rather, they repel and reprimand the observer
reaction of the kid is taken as a hint to his and only show vanishing indications of a future
increasing maturity, a move that indicates his missing. (127-28)
frustration with the dad's fussing. The
Past is not Dead
reluctance of the kid to accept the trip often
leads to a specific skepticism in the text about In The Road, however, the atmosphere retains
the supermarket trolley as an item of character the fantastic remnants of the goods which
assistance. The trolley is a sign of the excessive previously drive consumer consciousness but
enthusiasm that dominated contemporary U.S. which now only remember what had occurred
economy, with its over-extended, austerity before, while some native Americans have
citizenship, many of whose existence were invested much faith in consumerism, much as
more endangered by ―hyper abundance‖ than the kid himself often did, it no more assumes
by some kind of poverty. that these investments would serve a positive
role in his current existence. As Susan Stewart
Green Consumerism points out in her study of the stock, while the
In "The Road," the central characters travel activity of collecting items that we love
along with their supermarket trolley across the promises to bind us including prelapsarian yore
scattered areas of a dystopian America, without flow and tradition, the task of

accumulating a set – the forgotten consumables Sontag, literature and film catastrophe
of the past existence here – often connects us to narratives expose the great social hysteria of
the "land of the dead" (57). These products are the cold war years in a manner that makes it
indicators of what has once been and are also possible for viewers and fans to "participate in
symbols of this world's collapse. The towns are the imagination of living through death and the
plundered and tired in The Road, which can destruction of cities, the extinction of society
accommodate only a few foragers who are itself" (212). Such disaster fantasies carry
"carrying charcoal, anonymous foodstuffs in tremendous cultural and psychological power.
nylon networks such as shoppers on the shores While these catastrophe theories usually mold
of hell" (181). nuclear hysteria and concerns of the cold war,
Frederick Buell explores the manner in which a Sontag states that the rest provide only minimal
catastrophe specter has been so integral to societal commentary while presenting viewers
United states contemporary society that it is with an "extreme moral simplification" of
domestically embedded into our daily lives. In issues (215). The abuse of tech as a means of
the moment where many politicians are relieving the hero scientist from a Utopian act
ignoring and deluding themselves regarding that recovers the destiny of the planet appears
environmental issues and in the time when a to be included in these catastrophe narratives.
strong anti-science campaign is seeking to However, this is normally achieved by the
disprove current thought about subjects such as stories that kept unchanged aspects of the very
climate change, our conviction that we hyper-modernity and technology involved in
ultimately face dire ecological issues always the crisis.
appears to be separated through the everyday Geographer Mike Davis spread Sontag's
life of the Americans. As he states, "in reality comments on the collective paranoia of the
that the environmental problem has been a cold war by exploring the creativity of the
natural part of the human race today, millennium tragedy. Davis points out in Dead
particularly as it has constantly been Cities and Other Stories, a culture of paranoia
challenged and rejected" (xvii). Buell reflects that has led to the emergence of Fear research
on what he terms the conceptualization of as an academic field of interest by the turn of
catastrophe, the forms in which communities the 20th century, "acute hypochondria" which
attempt and recognize and handle crises. In afflicts many Americans.
general, the end itself and the elements
Replacement of Inequality
contributing to the crisis have become the
priority. The issue for Davis, as well as other media
McCarthy's book reflects on the project of commentators, is that several people in the
surviving through loss, tracking the main United states have misguided their concerns by
protagonist's path across a ravaged landscape building this modern fear with a broader
while trying to feel the effects of life. In this "replacement of real inequality" (5). Therefore,
manner, McCarthy writes "over the end" to he concentrates on the interaction between
focus on the significance of tragedy and what accelerated modernity and socioeconomic
was missed and creates what Kenneth Lincoln, inequity, the unhealthy Freudians, and their
the critic, called "floor philosophy" (165). On return to marginalized citizens. Davis addresses
The Road, the world's destruction is not a the far broader secret problems of American
potential occurrence about America, but a existence utilizing the research of the 20th cent
catastrophe was already occurring. The readers Marxist Thinker Ernst Bloch. For Bloch, the
and the protagonist's duty is to envision the fears of the contemporary era are directly
next event to come, to be reclaimed, and to stay linked to the innovations of the "urban
behind so that culture can be rebuilt and human technology," with the uncanny arising from the
connections to nature and one another can be modern "non-integration with nature" or the
re-conceptualized. mechanization "detachment of the natural
Therefore, McCarthy's book adds to Susan landscape" (8). In his analysis of "lost cities,"
Sontag's vision of a tragedy seen in sci-fi and Davis extended the debate to demonstrate the
war films during the second world war. For harsh implications, particularly for less

fortunate groups and communities, of the in an obviously old and still very modern
underpinned existence following an unequal atmosphere of the book at once. For e.g.,
hypermodernity. McCarthy says the father and son are like
Buell is also concerned with the current culture "pilgrims to a fable"[11] or as the "Last Host of
of panic in the United States, especially as it Christianity"(16), going ever "in an ugly, time
affects current environmental stories. He wind in the void"(11) in the late ace of the
suggests that the "environment wars" that are universe, trying to make sense of the "fossil
raging today should be seen as an unresolved winds in a dried sludge"(12) and the "mummy
work of the late 1960s and early 1970s social dead everywhere" (24). McCarthy stands
revolutions and a continuation of the 1980s. alongside the primitive as well as the pharaonic
"Cultural wars," Buell states, could not occur in the American geography of The Road; his
without a wide national critique of the current setting is either Homeric, biblical, or
environmental revolution itself, the perception contemporary.
that the US has recently "entered into a rapid Lincoln explores The Road on which it situates
decline," and that the country is not a total one the fear of contemporary America along with
(8). The study refers to the "decline appears in past "end times'' myths, and describes "the
many fields: global power and reputation; charred consequences of denied environmental
world economic confidence; domestic consequences'' by the present "Industrial
economic confidence; social stability and Military Blowback" (164). In repeats and
moral; cultural cohesion and pedagogical fragmentations, the vocabulary of The Road is
excellence" (8). Latest bestsellers like Thomas incantatory, like an old document exhumed in
Friedman's Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why we bits and pieces in the mountains, as if the story
need a Green Revolution, and how America itself did not completely withstand the tragedy.
can renew the feeling. He suggests that holding Lincoln proposed the "writing of screens,
the United States on track would also need to flakes, fumes, fractals, fragments of bones,
restore the nation's general economic wellbeing rotting flesh and sallow bone into a gram mark
and its democratic prestige in the globe with of postholocaust. .. Is this an unbuilt textbook
the assistance of a modern green movement. for the survivors of the days after that scarcely
Ecological issues provide a social foundation numbered? " (165). As he states, vocabulary
for Friedman, whose crisis imagination calls itself is met with a big job in the book,
for a saving economist squad who can deliver considering the horrific scenes of crime,
reborn environmentalism in order to address misery, and torture. McCarthy's phrases must
the challenge of international American be fashioned with edge, power, pace, and
influence. stamina toward screen despoliation, character
desperation, exhaustion of the reader. The
Exceptionalism in The Road
language tries to epically rescue a collapsing
As a hyper-abundant allegory of America, The planet, a mankind that is furiously mad,"
Road challenges many key constructs of claims Lincoln. "How does a reader understand
national character, particularly US more about the story? " (164). The oddly poetic
exceptionalism. At a moment when the writings of McCarthy in The Road encourage
financial system and the climate pose a set of readers to begin the journey through even
convincing obstacles in the post-19 November devastating discoveries. There must be some
2001 war on terror, many American people are help to them, for the pictures we place in our
battling to re-define their national identities and heads ―are always there," as the man says to
the position of their government on the planet. the kid (12).
The US is no doubt an anomaly, a national
paradigm, or a special position model in the Road Story Routing
past of nations in McCarthy's book. The author The relentless flow of citizens in the novel ties
more positions the nation as a country in The Road with the wider tradition of the past of
recorded existence, portraying a well-known the road novels. The novel uses conventions
tale in a lengthy collection of civilizations. that can go back to Homer, Chaucer, and
Then the Road reconstructs the narrative period Cervantes, as well to US literature from the

20th century in an old as well as modern transport. The guy of McCarthy's novel smartly
setting. While the father and son experience a alters a food cart to meet his new needs like the
traditional trip, confronting numerous dangers "tricky out cars made in the post-war
and a variety of adversaries, The Road can also neighbourhoods and suburban garages," (3)
be explored in the light of recent trends in the In a motion that corresponds to other modes of
contemporary American road novel. In both motorised travel, often stated in the
cases, David Laderman sees the dual character background of the road, the man regrets not
of the road as a metaphor. The road for him is saving a mirror from his preceding motorcycle.
at once a core "part of American society and In an amusing manner, the man-rigging cart
culture, and a fundamental sign of creation, of often tells us of the fortunes that homeless
ambition, independence, and fate" (2). The people sometimes create to live in the streets.
road itself encompasses divided definitions in Local shop owners have lately started to lament
these ways. over the plight of their lost cart, many of which
McCarthy's road still includes all choices, and are situated miles removed from their initial
although the moving path itself does not parking lots. These carts have appeared to be
promise a future, even the two characters born again by homeless artisans, who have
cannot support existence in the destructive experienced forced mobility and using the cart
ecologies of this modern planet. At the as an indoor vehicle and as a vehicle for
conclusion of the story it is not obvious which moving the rescued goods which had
destiny the boy would have when the dad dies, previously been cast off as worthless.
leaving his boy with adoptive parents who American history on the road, according to
could hold "a fire" or who couldn't. Mills, offers resources for "philosophical
The Road gives another ironic image of the meditation" (18), since they usually discuss
road story. During the time since World War II, topics such as "autonomy, mobility and
Katie Mills explores what she terms the identity" (12). Mills illustrates how road
"democratisation of mobility," as more histories "usually narrate a conflict, a
Americans were granted the opportunity to buy disturbance that motivates a character to follow
their own vehicles and were on the street more the path" (12). These stories have taken many
than ever (2). She claims that in the meantime, paths throughout the development of literature
road literature and films used "automotive as a in America. The 1930's tales of displacement
metaphor in defence of major social uprisings and dislocation, for example, which came
of the post-war period" such that the two about through the depression, played a
associated attributes which [can be found] in significant role in the genre's growth such that
the word 'automobility' are placed "as carriers post-war Beat authors noticed that the Grapes
of the Americans sense of themselves as of Wrath and other "tragic tale of the migration
independent and mobiles" (2–3). However, of the Dust bowls into optimistic after war
McCarthy's text is an automobile-free road transformations" were drastically changed (15).
book. In this nation, the hope of technology has The Road, thus, is possibly a nod to the famous
been missed. A wasteland with numerous counter-cultural road stories of bikes, such as
discarded and rare cars evident on the highway the film Easy Rider of 1969, where the dad
reveals the last indication of the motor forgets he mounted in his last recovered cart.
community here. "The rugged wheel rims lying However, the post-disaster road-novel by
in a rigid, grey, molten rubber band in McCarthy seems to be a reversal of the
blackened metal rings" (273). sensibilities of the 1930s, not taking its lead
Mills refers to how United states subcultures only from revisionist Beats, when mobility was
utilised the tradition of road novels after the not largely an option but a survival necessity
Second World War as a means to envision and travel was carried out with lower
fresh prospects beyond popular society. exuberance.
McCarthy also reviews the genre in the after- Any critiques of the category are less
collapse landscape of The Road according to concentrated on their pledge of liberation by
status and economy, whereas the cart means of road independence and comment on
substitutes the cart as a modern form of how the style incorporates possible reactionary

elements. Stephen Cohan and Ina Rae Hark, for distress and agony. The guy and the child at
example, explored American history as a tool some stage duck and wait as an army party of
to "promote a male escapist fantasy that links men 'go by two hundred feet and shudder softly
masculinity and technology" and as an on the field. Tramping. - Tramping. Behind
awkward yet sexually dependent narrative them were waggons pulled in harness by slaves
tradition (3). In several American road tales, and piled with battle and then some people
Timothy Corrigan often points at what he finds were pregnant, maybe a dozen in number" (92).
as a storytelling absence of women. For them, The inference, we hear late in the book from an
the genre has also been influenced by a male abominable moment, is that shortly after birth
paranoia arising as a reaction to feminism and their children will be consumed. Although
modern post-Vietnamese gender classes. The father and son manage largely to avoid these
genre also functions as a reactionary tale of destinies on the street, most people experience
male power's descent through "the hysterical horrific pain in the shape of cannibalism,
but impossible necessity of stabilising male starvation, drought and abuse.
identities within history" (138).
Conclusion
McCarthy's text could provide a condemnation
of such male paranoia rather than actually Finally, McCarthy's earlier time novel No
joining in these main developments of the road Country for Old Men can be interpreted as a
novel. Although The Road features only certain supplement to The Road. Both stories act as
women characters that play a small part in the contemporary western road novels and solve
plot itself, the text gives information into how many of current modern America's similar
the road past may really vary between males problems. No Country for Old Men, with it's
and females, and why those characters would 2007 adaptation to the Oscar winner directed
choose to give up the trip oneself. In The Road by Ethan and Joel Coen, is interpreted as an
the boy's mother appears just before she kills allegory of the dilemmas that the United States
herself. At the opening of the chapter. She recently faced in the Iraq War and as a false
informs the man she does not see herself as a narrative about contemporary America. There
survivor, but rather "the dead walker in a is no country for an old man in Western Texas
horror movie" (55). In this, the woman warns at the beginning of the 1980's with Ed Tom
the guy that eventually she is going to be found Bell, a small-town sheriff who cannot address
and murdered: "They will rape us and slaughter the current challenge he now confronts in a
us and we will be eaten and you do not face it," sufficiently conventional manner through law
she warns him (56). and order. The social environment that he once
While the dad and boy go on without women, encountered has shifted dramatically and the
they do so because of the agency of the female central character tries to keep this perplexing
rather than their passiveness. The decision of modern setting. Ultimately, Bell's quest for a
the woman to kill herself and leave her journey reneging hit man proves failing because the
does not derive from a post-traumatic reaction, enemy has always remained out of control and
but from another collection of embodied the lawyer's perception of the offence is always
experiences which gave her different one way ahead. The investigative instincts of
awareness and perception of what the potential the Sheriff and his willingness to grasp the
could mean. The woman informs the man that circumstance around him no longer help to
the night her son had been born, "Hence, do not monitor the danger, and he is finally officially
call for grief now. Nobody's there" (57). She resigned to dropping his quest.
picks the conditions of her own demise from Anton Chigurh as the villain represents an
the terms she thinks to be a more dehumanising evidently nonsensical potential threat; he is a
and tortuous conclusion in a separate movie humiliating outlaw which operates under none
plot and narrative. of the old laws. Instead, Chigurh actively seeks
In a certain sense, women may potentially fresh, creative ways to erase his goals when
make a more rational prediction of what is the controlling the rules. The others in the narrative
future than men. Existence on the street, with begin to wonder at the ignorant ways of the hit
some more torment than others, is full of guy. He cannot be captured, intimidated or

unintelligent. But Chigurh is still respected as a economic and social crises are nevertheless
man of values in mocking national ideologies identical. Much like characters in The Road,
and ethnic conventions. This is because the the predicament of Joads is terrible: the
sheriff and other characters in the document capitalist system declined to die, the bosses
refuse to grasp these concepts. The plot itself is were hesitant to acknowledge the labour misery
a curious storey with a very bizarre rogue and and the shareholders had no substitute.
the description of its genres is as confounding McCarthy takes the readers on a complicated
as the dilemma itself. journey through a radically changing social and
The characters in No Country for Old Men are natural environment, with less of the well-
so puzzled as Americans are perplexed by such observed optimism which moulded Steinbeck's
shifts in the new millennium. Just as in No text. Regulations have changed and the
Country for Old Men readers need to recognise ecosystem has been changed ever more. What
this new kind of danger, in McCarthy's The remains is the fight to reinvent the United
Road Post-Disaster Account they also need a states and our position in the planet at a
new truth. In this regard, the McCarthy text moment when political identity, populism and
draws on Steinbeck's previous novel's environmental issues all change quickly what
indictment of a modern time in which we once believed we understood.
Reference
1. Buell, Frederick. From Apocalypse to Way 14. Kolbert, Elizabeth. Fieldnotes from a
of Life: Environmental Crisis in the Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate
American Change. New York: Bloomsbury, 2006.
2. Century. New York: Routledge, 2004. 15. Lincoln, Kenneth. Cormac McCarthy:
3. Cohan, Steven and Ina Rae Hark. American Canticles. New York: Palgrave
―Introduction.‖ The Road Movie Book. Macmillan,
Eds. Steven Cohan and Ina Rae Hark. New 16. 2009.
York: Routledge, 1997. 1–16. 17. Mills, Katie. The Road Story and the
4. Corrigan, Timothy. A Cinema Without Rebel: Moving through Film, Fiction, and
Walls: Movies and Culture after Vietnam. Television.
New 18. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois
5. Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, University Press, 2006.
1991. 19. McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. New York:
6. Davis, Mike. Dead Cities and Other Tales. Knopf, 2006.---. Child of God. New York:
New York: e New Press, 2008 Random House, 1973.---. No Country for
7. Diamond, Jared. Collapse: How Societies Old Men. New York: Knopf, 2005.---.
Choose to Fail or Succeed. New York: Interview, Oprah Winfrey. ― e Cormac
Viking, 2005. McCarthy Interview.‖ 22 February 2009.
8. Friedman, Thomas. Hot, Flat and 20. www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/Oprahs-
Crowded: Why We Need a Green Exclusive-Interview-withCormac-
Revolution and How It McCarthy-Video. 10 December 2010. 1.
9. CanRenew America. New York: Farrar, 21. Raja, G. Arputhavel, et al. "Logical
Strauss, and Giroux, 2008. Straddles between the Real and the Tech-
10. Harvey, David. Justice, Nature, and the Simulated World: A Critical Study of
Geography of Difference. Cambridge: Girish Karnad’s Wedding
Blackwell Album."PalArch's Journal of Archaeology
11. Press, 1996. of Egypt/Egyptology 17.9 (2020): 5258-
12. Holloway, David. The Late Modernism of 5266.
Cormac McCarthy. Westport, CT: 22. Rajadurai, R., and G. Arputhavel Raja.
Greenwood, "Autobiography, Doppelganger, and
13. 2002. Alcoholism in Stephen King’s The
Shining."PalArch's Journal of Archaeology

of Egypt/Egyptology 17.9 (2020): 5222- 24. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath.
5231. 1939. Reprint. New York: Penguin, 2006.
23. Stewart, Susan. On Longing: Narratives of 25. Sontag, Susan. Against Interpretation and
the Miniature, the Gigantic, the Souvenir, Other Essays. New York: Farrar, Strauss,
the Collection. Durham, NC: Duke and Giroux, 1966.
University Press, 1993.

VICTIMIZATION IN STEPHEN KING’S GERALD'S GAME

R. Rajadurai1 and Lt. G. A. Raja2
1,2
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
Sexism, discrimination and particularly abuse of women, is a problem that continues to plague North American culture.
Similarly, the books of American author Stephen King also contribute to enhancing the prominence of crimes against
women as a serious issue, notably his novel Gerald's Game. In Gerald’s Game, King pulls out his most dramatic
images of gendered violence thus far with Jessie Burlingame. In the novels, Jessie endured sexual, physical, and
domestic abuse inflicted by her spouses, fathers, and the patriarchal culture in which she dwells. As a method of
illustrating the intrinsically violent character of the technologies which establish and police gender norms combined
with the emotional anguish that frequently arises from patriarchal violence, King handles this story differently by using
an aspect of the Gothic heritage: a solar eclipse. The eclipse signifies and therefore opens up a psychic, and invites the
reader to look upon gendered violence as being an experience shared by many women. While Jessie resorts to using
violence to revenge against her abusers, rather than encouraging violence as a suitable reaction to patriarchal
oppression, the novel encourages admitting, discussing, and eventually rewriting narratives of trauma as strategies of
non-violent vengeance. In this way, King’s books constitute a feminist intervention that may operate alongside
patriarchal society to further stress the issue of crimes against women as a current issue and, possibly, free up the
space essential for evoking societal change. This article will investigate the implications of the eclipse in Gerald's
Game in connection to gender and its historically hegemonic masculinity construction in North American culture,
personal and society pain, and the resulting violence, relying on the conceptual writings of Laurie Collier Hillstrom,
Kate Manne.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keywords: MeToo, Patriarchal Society, Sexual Violence, Victimization, UFO.
Introduction including the psychic connection it makes
between Jessie and Dolores, the power Jessie
The eclipse serves as a metaphor for Gerald's
and Dolores receive as a result of the psychic
Game. Theresa Thompson and Carol Senf also
space, and the intertextual connection it forms
examine gendered violence and its
between the novels themselves. This is odd
representation in Gerald's Game and Dolores
because an examination of the eclipse is critical
Claiborne in Imagining the Worst: Stephen
when considering portrayals of gendered
King and the Representation of Women, one of
violence in literature, a topic that runs across
the most extensive assessments of King's
both pieces.
representations of women to date. However,
To say the least, the eclipse is a complicated
they do not go into detail about the eclipse's
phenomena in the literature. The eclipse not
significance. In Rituals of Male Violence:
only exposes the brutality caused by gender
Unlocking the (Fe)Male Self, Thompson
standards, but it also blurs the lines between
briefly mentions the eclipse in relation to the
the novels, bringing Jessie and Dolores closer
feminine mystique, a "myth that dominated the
together in their ordeals. The significance of
1950s and 1960s cult of the domestic," but
the eclipse in respect to gendered violence,
ignores the eclipse's presence and how it might
generating solidarity through shared mental
be linked to the violence that Jessie and
space, and the linkages it displays are explored
Dolores witness and eventually participate in
in this section. Of course, the novel Gerald's
(48). Senf acknowledges that Jessie and
Game works well on its own and has a stronger
Dolores connect during the eclipse in Gerald's
impact in terms of critiquing patriarchal social
Game and Dolores Claiborne: Stephen King
structures.
and the Evolution of an Authentic Female
The moon, a literary symbol quite well for the
Narrative Voice, but sees the eclipse primarily
link to the feminine, is at the center of Gerald's
as a reference point to outline the chronology
Game. Min Shen in an article titled Quite a
of progress women have made in achieving
moon!': The Archetypal Feminine in Our Town
"greater political power, economic equality,
writes "[A]part from the cyclic phases
and personal autonomy" between 1963 and the
associated with menstruation, life, and rebirth,
mid 1990s (100). The supernatural aspects of
the moon's trek across the night sky also
the eclipse are mostly ignored in both pieces,

promises creative inspiration and qualitative experience of sexual assault has an impact on
timing, which leads to feminine wisdom" (2). her later life; she is tormented by sexual
Shen explicitly equates the moon with feminine violence long into adulthood as her husband,
traits in this passage. However, the novels are Gerald, takes on the position of abuser that her
linked by a solar eclipse, in which the moon father previously held. Jessie's experience
eclipses the sun: a celestial body traditionally could be classified as punctual trauma,
associated with the masculine in traditional according to Greg Forter's discussion of trauma
imagery. If the moon represents the feminine in Freud, Faulkner, Caruth: Trauma and the
and the sun represents the masculine, a solar Politics of Literary Form: "historical events of
eclipse is a brief time when the feminine such singularity, magnitude, and horror that
triumphs over the male. In Gerald's Game, this they can be read as shocks that disable the
appears to be the case in the most literal sense, psychic system" (259). While Forter
as the eclipse represents the point in time when acknowledges that punctual trauma is
Jessie's tolerance for abuse is reached and she frequently used to describe collective,
refuses to be a victim. historical trauma such as the Holocaust, he also
claims that "critics have marshaled it to
Reflection of North American Society
illuminate a range of important social
Jessie uses violence to retaliate for her terrible phenomena, from rape and child sexual abuse
circumstances, thus reversing the usual male- to certain experiences of racist violence and
female power dynamic in North American even of class domination" (260). Although
society, a pattern that has been entrenched, punctual clearly refers to a certain point in time
indeed deeply internalized by both men and when an event—in this case, a horrific
women.. It is worth noting that even when experience—occurs, it also implies that the
gender roles are reversed, the result is still event happens on time. As a result, the term
violent; this implies that men and women have punctual trauma may also allude to the terrible
been socialized to accept and even expect reality that trauma is something that is to be
violence in their social and personal life, the expected and is not an uncommon occurrence.
workplace and the home, both physically and Jessie's punctual trauma occurs when her
mentally. father, Tom, sexually assaults her during the
The eclipse, which highlights the importance of eclipse when she was a child on Dark Score
creating space in which victims might establish Lake. ―[h]ow many of the choices…made since
solidarity, is used by King to map out the that day had been directly or indirectly
mental connection onto the novels themselves. influenced by what had happened during the
In Gothic and Gender: An Introduction, Donna final minute…she had spent on her Daddy‘s
Heiland writes "at its core...about lap, looking at a vast round mole in the sky
transgressions" (3). By employing the eclipse through two or three pieces of smoked glass?
to transgress and shatter the boundaries And was her current situation a result of what
between Gerald's Game and Dolores Claiborne, had happened during the eclipse?‖ (207). This
King enhances this fundamental, transgression statement, when combined with Forter's
aspect of the Gothic. As a result, between the definition of punctual trauma, captures the
novels, a permanent psychic space is created. It paradox of trauma: with trauma, one is
is impossible to say whether this space attempting to both reveal and conceal the
generates a sense of solidarity in the reader in experience they have endured. Even if one is
the same way as it does between Jessie and unaware of it, one's choices may be influenced
Dolores. by this paradox; for example, in Gerald's
Ruth Neary, an old college roommate, is one of Game, it is revealed that Jessie's husband,
the voices who inhabits Jessie's psychic space Gerald, is a well-off lawyer like Tom, whose
in Gerald's Game, and she wisely reveals the smile "reminded her of her father‘s smile" (2).
following to Jessie: "[t]he total solar eclipse
lasted just over a minute that day, Past is not Dead
Jessie...except in your mind." It is still going on Jessie's decision to kick Gerald in the stomach
in there" (114). Indeed, Jessie's childhood and provoke his heart attack when he tries to

rape her, similar to how she married a man relationship to trauma alongside the eclipse. In
with traits similar to her father's traits, could be Gerald's Game, the double will lay the
linked to the assault that occurred during the groundwork for examining Jessie's objective
eclipse; Jessie's repressed rage from the and subjective trauma experiences, as well as
childhood assault is released in the form of how they relate to her eventual recovery of
violence toward Gerald. Although the act of identity and agency.
murdering Gerald confines Jessie to her bed King‘s use of the archetype in Gerald‘s Game.
with no means of escape, it also forces her to Fred Botting in Gothic discusses the double as
subjectively relive her childhood experience of representing ―gothic dynamics of
being abused through memory. This subjective internalisation and externalisation‖ (102). In
revisiting allows Jessie to finally accept that Double Trouble: The Doppelgänger from
she was mistreated and exploited by her father, Romanticism to Postmodernism, Eran Dorfman
leading to Jessie gaining agency by physically suggests that: …the double [is] used to
releasing herself from the chains that bound her represent an undesired element or trait of the
to her bed and psychically releasing herself protagonist, such as immorality, greed, or
from the shackles of her childhood trauma. sexual desire. This element is projected outside
Jessie's subjective reliving of the eclipse onto an external figure, which is identical or
through memory helps her reclaim her sense of attached to the protagonist (mirror image,
agency—which she lost as a child during her shadow, etc.). But this figure, the double,
objective experience of the eclipse—by gradually takes over and finally destroys the
allowing her to reconnect and communicate protagonist through a last moment introjection,
with other female figures from her past, in which the undesired element returns to the
including an old college roommate, her latter at the moment of death. (12)
therapist, and her adolescent self. Jessie is It is obvious from the previous definitions that
encouraged to liberate herself physically from the double is strongly invested in both the
the handcuffs and mentally from the horrific internal and external worlds. Dorfman's usage
memories of the assault by the subjective of the phrase unwanted element repeatedly
reconnections. Furthermore, King's depiction demonstrates that the double has negative
of the relationship between Jessie's physical connotations associated with it. However, what
and emotional liberation argues that one must is deemed an unpleasant element in one
first admit that they have been abused before situation may not be so in another. Desirability
rejecting to remain a victim. After accepting and other social norms are established by social
that she was abused by her father, Jessie is able norms, and these desirability standards are also
to oppose the repressive, patriarchal systems linked to gendered norms. For example, it may
that caused her victimization in the first place; not be desired for a woman to retaliate against
this is proved during her final face-to-face her abuser, speak publicly about her
meeting with Raymond Andrew Joubert, who experiences with her abuser, or refuse to
embodies patriarchy itself. remain a victim, particularly if her abuser is
striving to keep power, as Jessie and her father
Subjective and Objective Trauma
are in Gerald's Game. The link that King
In Gerald's Game, Jessie has both an objective, establishes between Jessie and Dolores leads us
physical experience of the eclipse as a child to conclude that Dolores is, to some part,
and a subjective, psychological revisiting of the Jessie's duplicate, and that the unwanted
eclipse as an adult, implying that the eclipse is element that Jessie internalizes and represses
doubling for her. Throughout this section of the while Dolores externalizes and expresses is
study, the doubling of the eclipse is discussed. fear.
Also, consider Dolores as Jessie's physical Gender Imbalances
double. Although the double is more intricate
Fear connects Jessie and Dolores,
in Gerald's Game than in, say, The Dark Tower
demonstrating a basic defect in society as
Series (1982-2004), its presence cannot be
shown in the novel, which parallels a social
overlooked, as it serves as a metaphor for the
reality for women: exposing an abuser is
problematic nature of gendering and its
regarded as intrinsically immoral, improper, or

even deadly. A woman may opt to remain bullshit voice" (25), Nora Callighan's voice,
silent out of fear of being accused of sexual or "assorted UFOs'' (219), and "the little girl her
physical assault. This fear is what motivates father had called Punkin" (237). Individuals
Jessie to keep quiet about Tom's assault rather with whom Jessie previously had connections
than confront him about his sexual misconduct. include Ruth, Nora, and Punkin (Jessie's
Jessie is only a child when the eclipse happens, adolescent self). The voices of Goodwife and
thus she reacts to the assault like a child would: the UFOs, on the other hand, do not belong to
she is perplexed and repelled by her father's any one person. Jessie speaks with a wide
behavior, but "[tries] to smile" during the range of voices, some of which are familiar and
ordeal (189). Tom not only sexually assaults others which are strange, all of which
Jessie, but he also emotionally manipulates her contribute to her physical escape in different
by telling her that if he tells her mother about ways.
the encounter, he will be "sure—well, fairly Goodwife Burlingame and the UFOs are the
sure—that [Jessie]" will not be held first group of voices who unwittingly aid
responsible (211). The use of italics on fairly Jessie's escape. Retaliation of any type is
shows that Tom is attempting to persuade usually discouraged by Goodwife and the
Jessie that she will be held responsible for the UFOs. Goodwife even tells Jesse to let Gerald
assault, even if he is only fairly certain. Jessie's "shoot his squirt...just lie there and wait until
fear of being found out and being blamed for he has got it out of his system" at the start of
the assault prompts her to remain silent, the novel (19). This is significant and
reinforcing the gendered power imbalance problematic because, according to Theresa
between her and her father. Dolores, who is an Thompson's analysis of Gerald's Game in
adult at the time of the eclipse, uses the eclipse relation to the "feminine mystique"—which
to murder Joe and flee her oppressive situation. could be summarized as the conservative
Dolores' actions are partly motivated by fear: housewife associated with 1950s and 1960s
worry that Joe will continue to attack Selena American popular culture such as June Cleaver
unless she intervenes. Dolores' violent actions, of Leave it to Beaver—Goodwife could
like Jessie's non-response to Tom's abuse, have represent women from a period of time who
ramifications; they strain her relationship with were expected to be homemakers, mothers, and
Selena while also rendering her a social outcast to just wait until he is gotten it out of his
on Little Tall Island. Thus, whether a woman system (55). The UFOs are possibly even more
internalizes or acts on her anxiety, the Gothic hazardous than Goodwife because they might
double illustrates that there are always symbolize anybody or anything, albeit they do
consequences. This social defect is easily lean toward a misogynistic, even disparaging,
mappable to North American culture. In fact, mindset. In fact, Jessie's first line from a UFO
using the situations of Betty Hundley, Margaret is: "What is a woman...[a] life support system
Ann Malott, and Barbara Sheehan as examples, for a cunt" (47). Because it is so explicit,
I have previously done so. unfiltered, and disrespectful to women, the
UFO voice's word choice is worth addressing
Voices of the Voiceless
here. The voice also reduces women to
It is worth noting that in Gerald's Game, King reproductive biological functions, a belief that
deviates slightly from Dorfman's notion of the promotes to male dominance and female
double. Rather of dread, the unwelcome servitude. One UFO voice indirectly blames
element, destroying Jessie, as Dorfman's Jessie for the sexual assault because she began
description suggests, Jessie's concerns are menstruation at a young age, and "[m]aybe that
subverted by various voices inhabiting the was the problem," says another UFO voice
psychic space formed by the eclipse throughout later in the novel. Because of a biological
her subjective reliving of the eclipse. Jessie function tied to her sex that she has no control
connects with numerous other voices while over, the UFO voice blames Jessie for Tom's
shackled to her bed, including "the voice she assault on her. Because the UFO voice implies
had over the years come to think of as that Jessie's pain was caused by a natural
Goodwife Burlingame'' (19), Ruth Neary's "no- physiological function, it demonstrates how

brutal heteronormative gendering and the and that she must acknowledge this before she
mechanisms that enforce the male-female can refuse to remain a victim. Punkin urges
binary are, because trauma, too, is natural or Jessie that she needs to "[j]ust go for it before
normal. Goodwife and the UFOs should [she] lose[s] [her] courage" despite Jessie's first
prevent Jessie from escaping her restraints, but difficulty recognizing Punkin's voice (290).
they don't. Instead, the voices appear to reflect The voices lay the groundwork for Jessie to
the challenges Jessie has faced since the physically free herself from the handcuffs by
eclipse: the attack, emotional manipulation, her putting her in a position where she has no
marriage to an abuser like her father, and the option but to confront her sexual trauma and
disciplining social forces that continue to give her the strength to do so.
reinforce gender norms at the basis of gendered
Battle Between Past and Present
violence. The other group of voices, which
include Ruth, Nora, and Jessie herself, assist While Jessie‘s subjective reliving of the eclipse
Jessie in overcoming the challenges posed by ultimately results in her physical liberation and
Goodwife and the UFOs. reclamation of agency, King also includes
The familiar voices of Ruth, Nora, and Jessie's instances in the novel where Jessie attempts to
adolescent self, Punkin, lead Jessie to confront confront her sexual trauma but fails; the
and acknowledge her prior sexual trauma, purpose of including such failed instances of
allowing her to act on her newly discovered confronting trauma is to emphasize the fact that
strength and physically free herself from the trauma cannot be dealt with on solely an
handcuffs and recover agency. Ruth Neary, the objective level, but must also be acknowledged
feminist, activist, and anarchist, is the one who on a subjective, personal level in order to free
starts Jessie's subjective reliving of the eclipse one‘s self from the emotional or psychic effects
by refusing to let her forget it and declaring of trauma. There are suggestions that Jessie
that "the time for shutting up is over, running refused to discuss her sexual trauma with her
away is out of the question, and waking up is therapist, Nora Callighan, throughout the
not an option," at which point Jessie's "day novel. Yet the most apparent example of
begins to darken" and "the time of the Jessie‘s failed attempt at confronting trauma
eclipse...come[s]" (131). In terms of feminism, occurs when she attends a ―women‘s
a voice like Ruth's is important for sparking the consciousness group‖ as a college student (84).
change from passive victim to active victim, as Jessie attends the meeting by request of Ruth
seen by Jessie's eventual awareness of her Neary and recalls the following:
victimization and refusal to stay a victim. There had been twenty women in the living
When a victim takes an active role in their room of the cottage attached to the Neuworth
victimhood, the issue of systematic patriarchal Interdenominational Chapel…twenty women
oppression is brought to light, which allows for between the ages of eighteen and forty
societal change to be enacted. Nora's voice, on something. They had joined hands and shared a
the other hand, is more subdued than Ruth's, moment of silence at the beginning of the
and she serves as a mediator and therapist as session. When that was over, Jessie had been
Jessie reminisces. Nora's voice is the one who assaulted by ghastly stories of rape, of incest,
asks Jessie the crucial question: "Who were of physical torture. If she lived to be a hundred
you kicking at when you finally lost your cool she would never forget the calm, pretty blonde
yesterday afternoon—when you finally kicked girl who had pulled up her sweater to show the
out?" Is it true that it was Gerald?‖ (219). old scars of cigarette burns on the undersides of
Jessie is unsure how to react to this question her breasts. (85)
right away, but it does prompt her to Jessie is confronted and overwhelmed with
contemplate why she is in this situation. abuse narratives in the example above. This
Punkin, who represents both a childhood approach of communicating pain—hearing the
endearment and the victim of a parental attack, stories and seeing the physical scars—does not
is maybe the most essential voice in Jessie's allow Jessie to confront her own trauma in a
escape. Punkin's presence serves as a reminder meaningful way, as the words attacked and
to Jessie that she was a victim of Tom's abuse horrible reveal. Instead, this type of therapy

retraumatize Jessie; she will never forget the genuinely in danger; rather, Jessie's act of self-
calm, lovely blonde girl with a similar story of violence is driven by her desire to escape a
incestual abuse to her own. Jessie's aversion to scenario produced by the patriarchal culture in
taking part is reinforced when she "sprint[s] out which she lives. It is possible that Jessie's act
of the room" before her turn to speak (87). of self-violence would not have been necessary
Jessie has not yet acknowledged or accepted if Gerald had respected Jessie's plea to be
her sexual trauma on a personal level, and released from the handcuffs, or if her father
hence cannot bear to be reminded of it at this had not struck her in the first place. At the
stage in the narrative, when she is same time, it is worth highlighting that Jessie,
experimenting with personal and group rather than Tom or Gerald, inflicts the violence
treatment. Jessie ultimately confronts and on herself. So, to some extent, Jessie succeeds
admits her prior sexual trauma when she is in dismantling traditional male-female power
physically shackled to her bed with no way of dynamics by robbing Tom, Gerald, and,
escaping her recollections. eventually, Raymond Andrew Joubert of their
Significantly, Jessie's situation—being tied to ability to harm her physically. Jessie is the only
her bed and compelled to repeat Tom's assault one who has the power or the authority to do
on her through memory—is an example of her so. While self-mutilation is certainly not the
having to confront trauma both objectively and best way to reclaim agency—after all, King
subjectively: she is physically and encourages confronting trauma and
psychologically bound to her trauma. In terms establishing the psychic space needed for
of the Gothic, the fact that Jessie gains physical absorbing and finally rewriting trauma—it does
freedom after finally confronting her trauma allow Jessie to regain physical agency.
subjectively through her recollections of the
Space Cowboy
eclipse implies that subjective and objective
trauma experiences are inextricably linked, and Raymond Andrew Joubert, or the "space
the line between the two is porous. Jessie's cowboy," as Jessie refers to him (231). Since
ability to retake agency, albeit violently, is due the release of the work, Joubert has garnered
to the porous boundary between her objective little attention from academics. In Imagining
and subjective experiences of the eclipse. the Worst: Stephen King and the
Jessie's subjective revisiting of her childhood Representation of Women, Theresa Thompson
trauma restores a sense of agency and identity describes Joubert is "an apt symbol for the
in Jessie, which was lost during the eclipse, ways the feminine mystique still controls the
according to the major premise presented at the social scripts behind the legal system" because
beginning of this section. However, slitting her he "connects so readily to Jessie's and our own
wrist and literally degloving her hand to slip conceptions of female hysteria and
out of the handcuffs is the only way Jessie may hallucination" (55). Thompson's view goes a
truly attain agency, at least in a physical sense. step further by suggesting that Joubert may be
"I am peeling my hand," Jessie says so a symbol for patriarchy itself. Because of his
eloquently. I am peeling it like an orange, oh physical appearance (acromegaly causes his
dear Jesus" (280). Despite the fact that King greatly swollen hands, arms, and face), his
provides occasions in the work where Jessie quiet meetings with Jessie, and the fact that
employs nonviolent measures to attain self- when Joubert initially appears in the corner of
liberation, such as the inclusion of the voices of her bedroom, Jessie mistook him for her father:
Ruth, Nora, and Punkin, he also includes this "'Daddy, is that you?'" (150). If Joubert is
incident of extreme self-violence. This is viewed as a symbol of patriarchy, Jessie's
significant because it demonstrates the intrinsic encounters with him have far more societal
violence that patriarchal systems and ramifications than they appear at first. Jessie is
technology produce: Jessie must not only use confronting not only Joubert in the trial, but
violence against Gerald to escape her violent sexism on a much bigger, systemic basis as
conditions, but she must also use violence well.
against herself. This is not to suggest that the Aside from the fact that Jessie literally refers to
novel condones self-harm because Jessie is Joubert as daddy, a patriarch, the combination

of his physical appearance and methods of so that they might "be seen for what they are
instilling fear into Jessie through his gaze and condemned or destroyed" (8). Gerald's
might be interpreted as patriarchy externalized. Game may use Joubert's medical condition for
During one instance, Joubert is described in the a similar reason. King helps us to identify the
following manner in Gerald's Game: cancer that pervades the system by concretizing
[Jessie] could see his dark eyes gazing at her this abstraction—patriarchy—in the character
with fixed, idiotic attention. She could see the of Joubert. While this interpretation may
waxy whiteness of his narrow cheeks and high appear to condemn the disabled—or
forehead, although the intruder‘s actual disability—it is meant to link patriarchy to an
features were blurred by the diorama of illness that may be life-threatening if left
shadows which went flying across them…Her untreated. Acromegaly can cause issues such as
first terror of him began to abate a little, but high blood pressure, eyesight loss, malignant
what replaced it was somehow worse: horror growths, and death if left untreated. These
and an unreasoning, atavistic revulsion…It had problems are manifested by patriarchy in the
crept in here while she slept and now merely form of social and political injustice, domestic
stood in the corner…staring at her with its and sexual abuse against women, and death, as
strangely avid black eyes…they reminded her demonstrated by Jessie's murder of Gerald to
of the sockets in a skull. (143) avoid marital rape. Perhaps King attributes
The fact that Joubert is characterized as both acromegaly to Joubert because the chief
him and it is the first clue that he symbolizes a symptom of acromegaly, extended limbs,
nonhuman, immaterial system. Although the forehead, and jaw, is caused by an overactive
use of his defines Joubert as a man, the use of it pituitary gland producing extra growth
or its repeatedly suggests that he is not merely hormones in the body. Joubert's physical
human. "[Jessie] could not stop it, because this anomalies may be indicative of the gendered
was not a dream...she had become increasingly technologies and systems that continue to
sure that the figure standing in the corner, as maintain and contribute to the expansion of
silent as Frankenstein's monster before the patriarchy in North American society.
lightning-bolts, was real" (147-148).
Conclusion
Frankenstein's monster, a man-made figure, is
contrasted to Joubert. Patriarchy is also a man- Jessie encounters Joubert on two occasions, the
made phenomenon. Joubert uses his look to first of which happens when she attempts to
inspire terror in Jessie in the above text, as he flee the lodge after degloving her hand. Before
stares at her with unusually ardent dark eyes. she flees, Jessie runs into Joubert in Gerald's
Jessie is so terrified of Joubert's gaze that she study, who is "holding his case open, as if
agrees to let him abuse her in the same way expecting her to admire the contents" (315).
Tom did during the eclipse, as long as he will "Golden glitters and diamond flashes amid [a
"unlock [her] and let [her] go" thereafter (151). heap] of bones" can be found in the case (314).
This conversation between Jessie and Joubert It is important noticing that Joubert is
resembles the "gendered social relations within physically occupying a place that belongs to
a patriarchal culture" that "normalize" Gerald at this moment. When Jessie incorrectly
"women's subordination" (46). As a result, the refers to Joubert as daddy, she links him with
relationship between Jessie and Joubert her father. Here, Joubert fills the role of Jessie's
exemplifies the troubling power imbalances second abuser, her husband, bolstering my
that are frequently employed to perpetuate claim that he is a symbolic patriarch. Rather
patriarchal dominance. than being gripped by dread when she sees
Joubert's ghostly look, including his thin Joubert, Jessie "grasp[s] her wedding rings, the
cheekbones, high forehead, and intense black ones on the third finger of her left hand" and
eyes, as well as his extended limbs, are later "throw[s] the rings at the open case" (316).
ascribed to a medical condition: acromegaly. Jessie is symbolically rejecting a
The objective of adding such evident fundamentally patriarchal system: marriage, by
imperfections in the Gothic, according to tossing her wedding rings in Joubert's court.
Botting, is to "make negative attributes visible" Joubert's patriarchy appears to rely on marriage

to retain power, as seen by his response to course, there are numerous exceptions to this
Jessie removing her wedding bands: "[t]he ostensible goal of the judicial system in North
smile on its pudgy, misshapen mouth faltered American culture, but the fact that Jessie and
into some new expression which might have Joubert's last confrontation takes place in a
been anger or only confusion" (316). Anger or courtroom is worth highlighting because of the
befuddlement in Joubert might signal a loss of public exposure it provides. In a letter to Ruth
power: Jessie has already broken free from her Neary at the conclusion of the novel, Jessie
handcuffs physically, but she is also gaining refers to her final encounter with Joubert in the
social agency by removing the wedding bands courtroom as "the total, final eclipse" (382) and
linked with her problematic and overtly violent insists that she had to "do something that
marriage. Furthermore, by volunteering her would matter, that would make a difference,
wedding rings, Jessie denies Joubert the option that would show [her] that no eclipse lasts
to forcefully take them. In other words, Jessie forever," so she "leaned forward and spit into
is denying Joubert the opportunity to rob her [Joubert's] face" (384). Because Jessie equates
brutally, which, as we will see, is a very Joubert with her father, spitting in his face
pleasurable act for him. demonstrates her acceptance and rejection of
After being arrested for multiple crimes of victimization. Furthermore, Jessie is spitting
grave thievery, necrophilia, and murder, not only in Tom's face, but also in the face of
including the death of his own parents, Jessie's patriarchy. That is, assuming we consider
second and final violent encounter with Joubert Joubert as a literal embodiment of patriarchy.
takes place in a courtroom. The fact that the Jessie's personal story of suffering at the hands
confrontation takes place in a courtroom is of an abusive father and husband, her struggle
significant because, unlike Jessie's first with accepting her past sexual trauma, and her
encounter with Joubert, which takes place in eventual psychic and physical rejection of the
the privacy of her cabin, the second encounter patriarchal systems that ensnared her during the
takes place in a public space that (theoretically) eclipse is depicted on a much larger scale on
exists solely to achieve justice, equality, and Little Tall Island.
retribution for victims of all genders. Of
Reference
1. Botting, Fred. Gothic. London: Routledge, 9. Rajadurai, R., and G. Arputhavel Raja.
2017. Print. "Autobiography, Doppelganger, and
2. Dorfman, Eran. Double Trouble: The Alcoholism in Stephen King‘s The
Doppelgänger from Romanticism to Shining." PalArch's Journal of Archaeology
Postmodernism. of Egypt/Egyptology 17.9 (2020): 5222-
3. Routledge, 2020. 5231.
4. Forter, Greg. ―Freud, Faulkner, Caruth: 10. Senf, Carol. ―Gerald‘s Game and Dolores
Trauma and the Politics of Literary Form.‖ Claiborne: Stephen King and the Evolution
Narrative, vol. of an Authentic Female Narrative Voice.‖
5. 15, no. 3, 2007, pp. 259-285. JSTOR, Imagining the Worst: Stephen King and the
http://www.jstor.com/stble/319258. Representation of Women, edited by
6. Heiland, Donna. Gothic and Gender: An Kathleen Lant and Theresa Thompson,
Introduction. Blackwell Publishing, 2019. Greenwood Press, 1998, pp. 91-107
7. King, Stephen. Dolores Claiborne. 1993. 11. Shen, Min. ―‗Quite a Moon!‘: The
Pocket Books, 2019.Gerald‘s Game. 1992. Archetypal Feminine in Our Town.‖
Gallery Books, 2020. American Drama, vol. 16. No.2, 2007, pp.
8. Raja, G. Arputhavel, et al. "Logical 1-14. Gale Literature Resource Center,
Straddles between the Real and the Tech- https://link-
Simulated World: A Critical Study of galecom.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/apps/doc/A
Girish Karnad‘s Wedding Album." 165310375/LitRC?u=ubcolumbia&sid=Lit
PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of RC&xid=542a56 f5.
Egypt/Egyptology 17.9 (2020): 5258-5266.

12. Thompson, Theresa. ―Rituals of Male Representation of Women, edited by

Violence: Unlocking the (Fe)Male Self in Kathleen Lant and Theresa Thompson,
Gerald‘s Game and Dolores Claiborne.‖ Greenwood Press, 1998, pp. 47-58.
Imagining the Worst: Stephen King and the

DEPRESSION IN JOHN UPDIKE'S RABBIT AT REST

S. Boopathy1 and V. Gnanaprakasam2
1,2
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
This paper examines John Updike's most well-known novel, Rabbit at Rest from the Rabbit Teratology and is best
known for his perception of America during the first half of the 20th century. It also investigates the mindset and
behavior of people at the time. The protagonist Harry Angstrom, also known as Rabbit, is the protagonist of the novel;
all of his activities and immoral behaviors show America's accurate reflections. Illicit relationship, outlaw, and
materialism is the main idea of this article. Rabbit is the representative of the whole generation. His way of life,
decision-making strategies are the outcome of the particular age. Apart from all of the activities, Rabbit's son Nelson is
deeply wounded by his family's parenting and is a drug addict. This article also examines the aftermath of the
industrial revolution and its consequence by exploring American people’s households. Rabbit's involvement in politics
and his support for Reagan and his reason are clearly explained in this paper. Finally, the novel ended with a
paradoxical edge which is that ‘Rest’ is a nightmare of the human life cycle.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keywords: Materialism, American Society, Ronald Reagan, Past, Pessimism.
Introduction pain exacerbated his wretchedness throughout
his life. His heart operates at fluctuating cycles,
The most condensed edition of all Updike's
a direct symptom of a massive heart attack. He
novels is Rabbit at Rest. The first sentence of
has serious heart attacks. Janice is concerned
the novel narrates the deteriorating posture of
about the welfare of her husband. She is too
55-year-old Harry Angstrom.Standing amid the
dismissive of the family role and has her
tan, excited post-Christmas crowd at the South
husband ready for angioplasty care.
West Florida Regional Airport, Rabbit
Angstrom has a funny sudden feeling that what Rabbit’s Mind
he has come to meet, what‟s floating in unseen Peace is steadily declining in his household.
about to land, is not his son Nelson and His son Nelson, who married Pru. Nelson is a
daughter-in-law Pru and their two children but hopeless son for Rabbit. Nelson becomes
something more ominous and intimately his: opioid dependent. Rabbit had an angioplasty
his own death, shaped vaguely like an airplane. and he can show where his heart functions
The „Sensation chills him, above and beyond during it visually. The technological era
the terminal air-conditioning. But then facing required Rabbit to investigate the whole
Nelson has made him feel uneasy for thirty operation. "Thirty seconds," breathes Dr. Breit,
years.(Rabbit at Rest 3) and the balloon is deflated by Dr. Raymond.
For Rabbit it is a big misunderstanding to think "Look good, Ray." Harry has no pains in the
about his son and his country. The financial very back of his throat above the cuddly sweet
condition of his family is increasingly
strain in his bladder and sadness as if drank all
declining and his country is already the saltwater in the gulf. "Harold, again, and
experiencing significant financial crises. He we are going to call it a day" (274).
identifies his own nation status. Life in Harry recovers from his heart attack, but his
America in the 1980s is daunting because it is family burden has not reduced. His son Nelson
impossible for citizens to retain and maintain is Rabbit's true nightmare. All his son Nelson's
their role. behavior leads to problems, and it raises
Harry is a true man of Good Nature at heart. Rabbit's strain. In addition to Rabbit's woes,
He still believes that human suffering has Nelson is involved with the misappropriation
solutions in nature. When Rabbit goes with his and swindling of Toyota's money owing to his
family to Mirror Lake, he has a more opioid habit. In addition to his life negativity,
influential relationship with Nature and is Nelson has love and invests extensively on his
flooded by the richness and benevolence of
friend, Lyle. Firstly, Rabbit and his wife Janice
Nature. Due to personal problems, Harry
do their hardest to help their son get out of his
shuttles between Florida and Pennsylvania. His abuse, to rehabilitate him from his opioid

addiction. The love of Mother is capable of meet Ruth and is curious to know if he is
curing, consoling and managing the most hard happy with Ruth.
moments.
Rabbit’s Sexual Urge
The pairs are attempting to contribute to the
mental and financial crises in order to save Rabbit ruminates on the feelings of his
their son, but Harry frequently loses his previous lives and is ready to recall Ruth's past
patience with his son, Nelson. Without a few friendship. It gives him a warm feeling and
pleasant times with his son, the father-son bond makes him stoic to life. During the span of
is still a chaos. Harry is nourished by the time, his behavior and his love efforts have not
continuing help they offer her son in life. improved. He also has a warm feeling about his
Nelson, though, does not heed the aspirations romantic meetings in the past. Meanwhile the
of his parents. Nelson is a worrying kid for his Rabbit family is in shambles. His son is the
parents at the personal and educational stage. root cause of all his suffering, but for the
At one point, Harry asks his wife Janice to quit remainder of his life, Rabbit plans differently.
loving her son Nelson. He feels like a bus to Pennsylvania and Florida.
The climate in the country and in the Rabbit
Undeniable Loss family is not enough to establish peace
Harry and Janice draw up a $200,000 incentive proposals. Rabbit's family is in a chaotic
package for Toyota Motors that is attributed to situation, chaos, and upheaval is key and
Nelson's lavish spending. In any sadness there Rabbit is out of place.
is pleasure, according to Rabbit he has been Rabbit goes crazy in his domestic and sexual
emotionally loyal to his wife Janice following a lives to add fuel to the flames. He is a guy who
major heart attack. Janice's commitment to her never gets troubled by marital slavery and is a
husband's rehabilitation from heart failure is sex hungry. He is willing to compromise
exceptional. Dr. Breit's words are a witness to something for his own sake. 'Habits are dead
Harry's affection and passion for his wife. heavy,' a phrase goes. Lust is the usual
Rome wasn‟t built in a day, Harold, and your phenomena in Rabbit. Like applying salt to the
heart isn‟t going to be rebuilt in a week. injury, Rabbit is hesitant to assign attention to
"Neuroplasticity provides any good in around his sexual urges if the family is in the
80% of the instances, at least for a bit. You distressed state. It turns out to be a savage in
should not only owe it to yourself, but also to the melee and is unable to live in a civilized
your wife and children. And those cunning society. Rabbit has never let down his love
little grandchildren I‟ve heard about” (284- pursuits particularly in the midst of sorrow. It
285). Harry's previous life is filled with is primarily inhibitions.
surprises and passion. He wants to In the middle of all the problems in his family
professionally and personally recall his and career, Rabbit's insanity for prurience has
previous active life. To his gritty horror, the been the extreme of loving Pru, his daughter-
nurse who uses his hospital blood pressure is a in-law. This occurrence led the family to flood.
sign of his shady life in the past. Her looks are Janice is frustrated and her amount of patience
well known to Harry and this gave him in his is drained. Janice is all about to reverence her
early life a sense of a known friend. Harry goes husband Rabbit. He did not control the case.
back to his mind and fantasizes unexpectedly He is mentally upset and the strain in his
Ruth, his old love. He assumes the girl looks family threatens his emotional balance. The
like his girlfriend in the past. In the meanwhile, character of Nelson shifts dramatically. He is
the girl asks Harry: "What about the company violent and tough. A sense of self-belief and
of Toyota? "The reading of blood pressure culture entangles Nelson's subconscious.
continued to climb well above Harry's usual Certain life conditions are assumed without
range. She asks Harry not to be anxious, to introspection. Parental affection is a real world
think of anything relaxing. Harry's feeling. When tested for the injustice of fate, it
subconscious uses a rewind button and returns destabilizes an individual's value-based trust.
dreaming of Ruth. Harry is sentimental and Nelson's situation is precarious; throughout his
remembers his experience of Ruth. He needs to life he cannot reveal or forget this event. For

those souls are placed in this form of existence, contributing to the demise of Rabbit. The long
then the noble souls on earth would be tested past goes by and the life of Rabbit finishes and
for dignity. Updike's Tetralogy also finishes in the final
Rabbit's divisive sexual adventures build a lines of the novel. "Well, Nelson," he says, "all
storm in his family and the existential remedy the things I can tell you are, that it does not go
of Rabbit falls back to his mind to escape the so bad." Rabbit feels that he needs to say
anger of his family. The main concern at this something. Maybe. Maybe. Sufficient" (512).
point in time in the novel is running out of pain Updike's focus on Rabbit is sharp images as
or survival. Is it Rabbit's final run? Has he been America's embodiment and his biography
running away through his life from all his portrays the life of contemporary America. It is
misdeeds and follies? Or is this again Rabbit's a customer culture, and Harry pilgrims
exercise to slip free from his duties? The book particularly in the marketing of emotions.
would not address these concerns. Rabbit has Disciplined life is a long and rich life motto,
spent a parallel life in the novel in line with his but Harry's addiction to victuals and sex is a
expectations and ambitions. But this duality did crucial psychological element in the
not serve Rabbit's intent. He lost the destabilization of a happy family life. Harry's
confidence to meet life's odds. He needs to erratic existence is a fitting illustration of the
exist through the best times of his life. ordinary Americans of that time living wrong
Whenever trouble breaks out, he avoids coping lives. A case in which Rabbit encounters is
with it. He is bringing everybody in the lung used throughout the novel as a precursor to
and his mighty weapon – racing. This mentality death.
brought Rabbit to the end – destruction. His Rabbit at Rest simply does not bet the Rabbit
family members fall deep into the pit of can rest out of happiness and fulfillment, but
vengeance. He is blindfolded with his yearning because of his exhaustion of emotional
for sex and never stubborn in a civilized world. intelligence he is obliged to rest. His loss of his
Rabbit eventually heads to Florida. He lives a daughter, especially in out-of-home relations
solitary life, and his world is shrunk by friends. with his boy-in-law, the affair his wife Janice
He exists in memories. Since it is Updike's last has with his co-worker, his house in flames, his
book, he establishes his appearance in every intolerable emotional turbulence and the
episode of the novel. company loss triggered by Toyota's
irresponsible administration – all these major
Where it Starts, There it Ends
financial and self confidence events have led
There is an intense scene of Rabbit in the last him to lose his composure.
phases of Rabbit at Rest. Rabbit sees some If Rabbit is rich, Rabbit had a good fortune
hoops boys competing. His memory lane goes from the oil crises of his country. But all does
down and his subconscious mind helps him to not go well with Rabbit in Rabbit at Rest. Its
play basketball again immediately. He joins the financial standing, family pleasure and
game and attempts to compete with the same personal wellbeing make it seem like
vigor as he played during his youth. Rabbit has everything goes downhill. In the book, Rabbit
another heart failure and Rabbit Angstrom is has been mentally secure. He knows the value
nearly gone. Despite his parent's of his wife Janice in Rabbit at Rest. He knows
misunderstandings, Nelson does not want to that his standing has grown to a certain degree
exist without the business of his father. He thanks to Janice. In Rabbit Run, he was a
believes that without his father there will be a hardcore shirt, but he transforms emotionally in
void in his existence but the decision of fate is this book. During a personal crisis, the
above all introspection. In this turbulent life, authentic personality of a human mind would
Nelson yells at his dad not to abandon him be revealed.
behind. From his face and from the pitch of his
voice, the child called out from the direction of Pessimistic Perception
his father against a fierce storm. "Do not die, Harry requires a fortification device mentally.
father, do not do it! Do not die! "He yells, He expects to be provided about, called out and
Existence eventually asserts its dominance by alert. He has become an addict of junk victuals.

He is in an isolation by himself. His universe Sex & Violence

was shrunk and he lives lonely. Without his Another big disrupting aspect for Rabbit is his
own knowledge, he was brought to this state. lack of sexual urge. According to Sigmund
Even his trust in God went bad. He does not Freud, there are two main factors which
have a purposeful existence. He is spiritually promote noetic conceptions, behavioral habits
powerless and perpetuates trust in religion to and satisfied emotions. It is sex and violence. It
ignore. When Thelma asks him to believe in is also regarded as 'Eros and Thanatos' or life
Heaven, Harry responds negatively. and death. Gender is a central driver in human
Implement via Harry's character the mindset of development. It is a reproductive expedient.
those trapped amid technical advances and Aggression is another form of behavioral
science inventions. In Harry's psyche, he did pattern that penalizes the person to avoid
not completely deny trust in Heaven. It is just
damage caused by other people. Rabbit is
the last priority of a prosperous life of pretending to be truculent to escape
existence. That is the general psychology of embarrassment and dishonour. It is the
Americans since the Second World War. Harry dwindling interest in sex; the psyche of Rabbit
is between conviction and experience mentally. is badly confused. He thinks he is losing an
He trusts in human trials and punishments, ascendant male's place. "Sexuality is the secret
sorrows and happiness; this trust is enabled by to the issue of psychoneurosis and neuroses in
certain external power. But he does not know it general, as Sigmund Freud verbally placed it.
is God. He is truthfully prone to believe, but No one who refuses the key will ever open the
seldom does his logical celebration blame him lock" (115).
for doing so. "When the young Rabbi had a The internal make-up of Harry is not made up
mystical sense of himself as divinely sought, of virtues. He may not believe or refute that. Its
the mature person encovers God more as a character may be defined as taking life as it
remembrance than as a living reality," Ralph
comes, but Harry's acts can never be explained
Wood puts in his novel (226). in a civilized community. Updike reflects on
Half a year in Florida, Harry lives without any Harry's situation and the time he lives in
exposure to job strain or socialization. He likes expresses that stuff appeared functional but
to recollect and regrets his life's vicissitudes. were inherently unhealthy.
His psyche was checked without work or When Harry indulged in a sexual act with his
dedication. Harry's mind functions in own daughter-in-law Pru, he became the centre
fluctuating desequilibrio and he experiences a of reproval. The entire family is with swords to
feeling of emptiness in his existence. Because
contravene the beastly action of Harry. But
Harry resides in Florida for half a year, all of Harry is not perturbed with it. Janice calls
his connections in the Flying Eagle Club have Harry‟s action the most “perverted” and
been a thing of the past. He is psychologically “monstrous” one. But Harry is not penitent. He
removed from all his interactions. Time endeavours to flee from the spot. Here one can
challenged him tremendously and in time he
understand that Harry is not for retribution or
became a puppet. This condition leads to a regret. His emotions dominate at the cost of
snap in Harry's mind and he decides to play human values, which is unacceptable in a
golf in Florida to balance the act, but Florida is civilized society. When Melvyn Bragg queried
not the location appropriate for his emotional about this picturisation of Harry, Updike
permutations and accumulations. As Gordon E. replied:Here lies an American man ...
Slethaug in Freedom is made of Brambles, something like that, something kind of vague.
suggests:Harry is a person initially viewed The last book tries to pick up the epigraph of
marriage as a ritual in human life and Harry the first one, which was a quotation from
never viewed it as a commitment or bondage. Pascal. I talk about the movements of grace,
At the beginning stages Harry viewed marriage the hardness of heart, external circumstances. I
as a matter of convenience and compromise. It think over life is a mixture of these things, and
is the attitude of Harry and a sizable number of in the fourth book I perhaps especially show
youths in America as well. (245) the hardened heart becomes no longer a
metaphor, but an actual physical thing.

External circumstances are always there, and Updike in his Introduction to Barth‟s Wolfgang
the movements of grace have become Amadeus Mozart, states that the theory goes
somewhat dimmed, but not entirely. (227-228) well with his character Rabbit Angstrom.
The character of Harry Angstrom prioritizes Rabbit‟s fondness for tobacco and other
personal liberation at the cost of moral physical comforts, his tastes in art and
conventions, values and societal structure. But entertainment were heartily worldly, worldly
in general the psychology of Harry is not in the fashion of those who treat this life as
reprehensible and is not worth admiring. It is a way-station and testing ground but of those
not right to claim supremacy for the self which who embrace it as a piece of creation. (Updike
is devoid of moral convictions. This accurately 228)
describes the psychology of Harry Angstrom. Rabbit is not in an ethical system; he has
However, it is better to be human than being appreciated life as an incarnation of generation.
selfish. As Karl Barth projects in The Inside, Rabbit is mentally upset by his
Quandary of Ethics Today: irrecoverable past glory as a basketball star.
The answer to the problem of the ethical lies But he feels he is a component of America's
not in what man is doing or might attempt to history. He feels excited for life's most happy
do. It lies wholly in what God has done and times. His psyche never blamed him for
continues to do for and to man and the world in acknowledging the natural events of human
Jesus Christ. The meaning of God‟s action is life. This is Harry's place of contradiction and
enclosed in the word „grace.‟ And this means, the root cause of his misery. All throughout the
quite simply, that God does one very definite novel, Updike strived to make his audience
thing: He forgives men their sins. Human understand that Harry Angstrom is an epitome
existence occurs always only under the of history. Indeed, Updike's creation of Harry
judgement and forgiveness of God. (29-30) is trustworthy and efficient proof that he can
After Harry's wife Janice has been appalled by generate history. Commenting on John Updike,
the moral indignation at his ethical, unbloody Suzanne Henning Uphaus says: "Updike
and uncivilized behavior, Harry attempts to put considers men to be dichotomous, to be divided
his history, intuitive and secure elude, namely, between their physical desires and their
running. He spends a long period in Deleon, spiritual desires on the one hand... Man's
recollecting his former basketball tournaments physical and metaphysical aspects remain
and enjoying basketball again. stubbornly distinct. You should not integrate."
(6)
Logical Situation
In Harry's mindset, there is a psychological
Harry's attitude to life is incredibly realistic. He doubt about his physical compulsions and thirst
did not philosophize his genealogy. He is for faith. Faith in God erupts in his personal
logical, but at the same time a continuous life when there is turbulence. There is no
seeker of external forces that work human practical structure or philosophy to explain the
destiny if human prospects collapse. Updike combination of religious faith and
carves Rabbit as a character to compare with contemporary life. Dilvo Ristoff says, when
Karl Barth's theory. The intent of Rabbit to interpreting Harry's character: "And he is the
recapture his young glory to several sexual middle-man,' pressed between life and death,
experiences, his violence in collecting money, past and future, an object of the Cosmos, an
and other goals did not lead him to the upper object of history." (28)
level of fullness of life. Rabbit was hoping that His own stance of being unserviceable and his
these stuff would carry glory and rejoicing into wife and son's upswing make Rabbit
life at the early stage of Rabbit's life, but that psychologically unstable. Harry only makes the
the money gained and numerous sexual last run to find the final choice – death. His
experiences did not lift him out of his vacuity. anger at his son Nelson proves that he felt
Psychologically, he also has a sense of deplorable at the bottom of her heart at his
meaninglessness in general. sexual progress towards his daughter in law: "It
is sorry for the child he did, but now he is
favoring it although Nelson does not seem to

know it" (Rest 511). Harry's final huge heart for peaceful life. In a democratic community,
attack in Florida during the final basketball compromises in the minds of the citizens still
game with the boys. His psychological thirst is emerge for real existence and realistic living.
his game and in his early days, this thirst gave Updike would not attempt to dig straight into
him fame and liberation and in his last days he the difficulty of life in a patriarchal society. He
was eternally free. Harry's thwarted efforts seeks to discriminate between materialistic and
were often suggested to be simply metaphors moral lifestyles. Regardless of the laws the
on one level for the greater social problems of community has developed in order to survive,
his era. Rabbit at Rest is a virtual directory of they have been broken and eradicated. The
actual disasters; AIDS, Pan Am Flight 103 and social concern of Updike is regarding culture
Challenger, to name but a few. No wonder and the inconsistencies and hypocrisy existing
Harry Angstrom and his family are struggling, in people's minds.
Updike seems to say, things are hard all over. When we analyze Harry's attitude, he is
mentally mature but lacks clever and mental
Complexity of Human Mind
stability. Moreover, Harry's noetic, physical
Everywhere in this novel one switches, and moral regression is attributed to
agreements are broken, commitments breached, contemporary America's carelessness and
ties compromised. To underline the dishonesty spiritual sloth. The key subject of the novel
of the relationships of his protagonists, Updike from Harry's character is the middle-class
undoubtedly evokes the tacky, cheesy quality families of the 1980s and 1990s. In every
of US reality during the Reagan–Bush years. culture, the coalescence of patterns and the
But the key aim of Updike is not to create a character of individuals is a forum for raising a
political declaration. As a human, he remains family. A community of citizens make up a
essential to Harry Angstrom. The important culture in which the perspectives of
problem is private activities. His true focus is personalities are exchanged and thus become
the complexity of the human mind, the the mindset of the people of that era and
swarming upheaval of thoughts, perceptions society.
and desires. Social Supersession
Technically, the story is told from the author‟s
The basic way of life in contemporary
all-knowing point of view. But whole
American society in the 1980s and 1990s is not
sentences and paragraphs must be read as
remarkable or exceptional. As far as eating
Harry‟s despite the purposeful omission of
preferences are concerned, it is a culture that
quotation marks and attributing phrases.
does not obey certain laws about food. Dining
Updike‟s subtle blending of voices enables him
has become a culture and most junk food has
to maintain a strong sense of immediacy and
become a supersession for the culture of the
realism without sacrificing the advantages of
past. It is a cosmopolitan world predicted by
authorial omniscience. (Searles 21)
Updike and the disintegration of the
The conception and research by Updike to
conventional structure in all facets of existence
portray its age's inaccessible gregorian mishaps
is now the order of the day. Anarchy in the
is not an attempt to radicalize the system; it is
family system is due to lack of faith among
instead Updike's adventure to project authentic
people in the family. Adultery is indeed a
and contradictory convivial stigmas found
significant cause that influenced culture in the
among his age people. In a culture, a certain
80's and 90's. Genuinity, trustworthiness, trust
type of laws and philosophy of virtue are
and religion are both weak in the majority of
framed for a disciplined life. Even if the
society's households. In the context of
civilized code of conduct has been broken, a
socialization, people migrate to nightclubs,
cure for a slack, healthy and peaceful existence
restaurants and other sources of adventure and
has been created by the denomination of faith.
momentary excitement. In the contract,
In the book, though, Rabbit is not finding
childcare and passion have a rigorous effect
refuge in a religion that reveals himself to be a
and uncertainty in the family structure. Harry
reflection of the Americans who have lost trust
and Janice's guilty position has made their son's
in the divine universe – a powerful hypothesis
life unbearable. Harry and Janice's erratic sex

life did not earn them the role of Nelson's Harry is pellucid that in materialistic consumer
responsible parents. All remain accused of their society, not all conventional values of the
misconduct. They aspire to save Nelson with American society are venerated. He even
liberation and security in the task of questions the people of his generation, because
suppressing the shady lifestyle. Nelson, on the his whole life was used to help stabilize and
other hand, wants to live comfortably and be a nurture his children. But people in his
little extravagant. The other major disaster of household have never realized that and he is
culture is that young people go after narcotics obliged to move quietly out of his house. Only
to experience an early sensation of being in his remembrances could Harry find his bliss.
drunk. Nelson is caught in the cocaine user's It is a difficult world after momentary pleasure
website and becomes a toxic person. The great and Harry is a representative of an old
causes found in culture are indiscipline, generation who tries to get accustomed to the
addiction and alcoholism and most households early theory of junk food addiction.
are trapped in the catastrophic lifestyle. An
Impulsive Society
violence leads to a chain of harassment. As a
crack abuser, Nelson loves drug trafficking and Updike projects the society of the 1980s and
misuse of Springer Engines. The addiction of 1990s as a society craving for momentary
Nelson leads to a complete misunderstanding pleasure, transitory and instant bliss. It is a
between him and his wife. Nelson had an society which feels negative about perpetual
astronomical loss on the Toyota franchise and bliss and gratification of the soul. Updike hints
as a consequence his grandfather's well known that the society is a practical society, a
company stopped running. consumer materialistic society which never
Harry's personal situations are an illustration to bothers about fine tuned values and practices.
numerous households in the United States. As a critic Sven Birkets in The Inner rabbit, In
Updike attempts through the protagonists to Chicago Tribune - Book says:
reflect the prevailing onerous condition in I do not mean to suggest that Rabbit lives only
America. He even wonders for living well in a in the past or that the other characters do not
ruthless, wealthy consumer culture. It is a push forward to claim their need of attention,
culture which aims to discard all the principles or that the vast and complex public world is not
in the air during the pilgrimage to material sharply etched – in all about. To the contrary,
riches. here, as in the earlier books the variegated hard
It is not only a transitional time for the Rabbit walks of reality are everywhere to be knocked
family but also for America. Since Harry opts against. And Rabbit remains an inveterate
for semi-retirement in Florida, his country also sniffer and noticer – of places, atmospheres,
strives to develop its supranational dominance things great and small. (1-4)
in world affairs. Harry has a double role in the In the novel, Rabbit is a consumer society.
book - as a gritty basketball player he projects There is no room for ethics or values in this
himself to the outside world. But he has in society. Individuals are revered for their
himself a delicate, thoughtful character. Harry material wealth and possessions. They look
longs for an ecstatic feeling in the world and in like commodities. Consuming ultra-modern
communities in the 1940s. But he did not food and socializing in high-end restaurants has
match America's quickly transmuting culture. become a way of life under the denomination
Everything is sold and all is for material of the consumerist culture. People lived
enjoyment. The American way of living has because of their avarice and not because of
been swift and Harry believes that an in-depth their desideratum and the needs are all
study of a healthier life in America cannot be mendacious.
sought. Harry lives in an era when everything The seventies and eighties saw a drastic
is open. The youths are not forced to wait in transmutation in the material prosperity of the
order to taste ecstasy. The millennial Americans. The emergence of great inventions
generation challenges the conventional idea of in science and technology and other
jubilation. innovations in all spheres of life brought a
positive and a sizable amount of negative

effects in the lifestyle of the Americans. The Throughout this novel, Updike projects
negative effects include energy crisis, confused and lethargic characters against the
suspicious attitude in marital life, extramarital background of cultural and friendly changes. It
sexual issues, dreadful diseases like AIDS and is a society without God's compassion and
ultimately an exhaustive decline in human social will. The choices of people differ in
values. As Christopher Booker in Dear nature and all of these decisions are probably
American: Meditation on a Lost Dream, in his shortcuts to personal developments.
The Seventies: The Decade that Changes the In fact, Updike sees the authentic American
Future says: values recognizing the individual thinking and
We have seen the beginnings of the world freedom to live truly, with obligation and
energy crisis; we have seen mounting worries prosperity. Wealth denotes spiritual richness.
over population and the whole balance between Updike is strongly criticized for projecting a
man and nature. We have seen the dottiness costly life full of self-centered posture and
and superficiality which can come over selfishness. In the novel, the life of little boy
societies as they embrace the values of Nelson oscillates into his parents temporary,
materialism and surrender to the omnipresent shady life. It is a fitting example of the false
invasion of television – which brings a ideologies of parenthood that have embraced
wholesale regression into infantilism, a subtle the materialistic minds of spouses. It is a
undermining of the sense of reality. (76) society with egoistic vices and a strong
Hypocrisy prevailed in most of the households reflection on our brothers and sisters at home.
and in order to gratify their class consciousness
Conclusion
people thronged to restaurants which opted for
food that did not suit the stomach but for the Rabbit's last ride to the south is a remembrance
tongue. This stance of the consumer society for his past. Rabbit is in a state of mystification
laid the death nail on the coffin which is and cannot align his thoughts with the modern
confined with social values and faith. John American way of life. Rabbit certainly
Kenneth Galbraith wrote in The Affluent performs his last basketball game fiercely, but
Society: his fitness deteriorates this period and his
Because society sets great store by ability to lengthy struggle-for-Reagan America takes
produce a high living standard, it evaluates place. He crashes in the courtyard. Looking at
people by the products they possess. The urge Harry's admiration for President Reagan, it is a
to consume is fathered by the value system hair-raising ceremony of men who work and
which emphasizes the ability of the society to glorify the past. The veneration of human
produce. The more that is produced the more liberation and autonomous businessmen is
that must be owned in order to maintain the America's pride. They are not just department
appropriate prestige. (155) stores but symbolize the success of American
The mentality of the people of the 1970s is entrepreneurship.
zigzag in nature and never reflects a specific In his early childhood, Rabbit looked very
theory or principle. Any society that goes confident where all was true and constructive
through this transitional period faces a distantly and a person had the capacity to flourish in
turbulent environment because people are not harmony. But today he says "Everything is
equipped to cater for the rapidly changing ready, ready to make a rapid profit" (419).
consumer society. It takes at least ten years for Garry Wills observes in favor of this vision,
any transmutation to accustom and to know the "Reagan's land is just like bringing kids to
positive and the negative aspects of the Disneyland... It is a safe history with no rough
transmutation. Sometimes the peregrination of edges on which to stumble. The more one visits
adaptation takes the jolt of a generation. As such a history, the better one is immune from
Michiko Kakutani points out, “Instead of disturbing incursions." (459)
charting Rabbit's growth and his struggles Rabbit perpetuates bigotry, advertising, faith,
against temperament as he did in previous ideology and the complexities of the home. He
books, Updike appears more interested in is away from America's mendicant world and
defining the mindset of his character" (14). wonderful teens. The belief in Protestantism

and human fellowship with God is an transition. It is a phase and transition is life's
American real identity. And after his reaganism root. It cannot be stuck at one time and
love that imitates the past and bridges the proceeds to display the beauty. The mantle of
current, life goes on and if there is no transition needs to begin generation after
hindrance between God's communion and the generation as days advance. It is Nelson after
individual, then that communion becomes Rabbit, great children after Nelson, and the
sacred. Interfering with gregarious influences tradition of progress persists until the very end
contributes to instability and sabotage of with regards to the Rabbit family.
Reference
1. Bragg, Melvyn. Forty Years of Middle Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology 17.9
America with John Updike “from the South (2020): 5258-5266.
Bank Show, London Weekend Television, 10. R. Rajadurai, Dr. G. Arputhavel Raja.
June 1990 in James Plath, ed., “Autobiography, Doppelganger, and
Conversations with John Updike (Jackson: Alcoholism in Stephen
University of Mississippi Press, 1994), 11. King‟s The Shining”. PalArch‟s Journal of
227-228. Archaeology of Egypt / Egyptology, vol.
2. Birkets, Sven. The Inner Rabbit, In 17, no. 9, Nov.
Chicago Tribune – Books, September 30, 12. 2020, 5222 -3.
1990, 1-4. 13. Slethaug E. Gordon. Rabbit Redux:
3. Booker, Christopher Dear America: Freedom is Made of Brambles, in William
Meditation on a Lost Dream, in his The R.
Seventies: The Decade that changed the 14. Macnaughton, Critical Essays on John
Future. New York: Stein and Day, Updike. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1932, 245.
Publishers, 1981, 76. 15. Searles J. George. Angst up to End, New
4. Dear America: Meditation on a Lost Leader, Oct 1-15, 1990, 21.The Fiction of
Dream, in his The Seventies: The Decade Philip Roth and John Updike. Carbondale:
that Southern Illinois University Press, 1985,
5. Changed the Future. New York: Stein and 100-102.
Day, Publishers, 1981, 76. Epilogue: Act 16. Updike, John. Rabbit, Rest, New York:
Five, Scene one, in his The Seventies: The Alfred A. Knopf, 2017.
Decade that Changed the 17. Updike, John. Hugging the Shore: Essays
6. Future. New York: Stein and Day, and Criticism, Penguin Books India, 2005,
Publishers, 1981, 346. 858.
7. Galbraith, Kenneth John. The Affluent 18. Introduction to Wolfgang Amadeus
Society. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Mozart, by Karl Barth in Updike‟s Odd
Company, 1958,155. Jobs (New
8. Raja, G. Arputhavel, et al. "Logical 19. York: Alfred Knopf, 1991), 228.
Straddles between the Real and the Tech- 20. One Big Interview, in Picked – Up Pieces.
Simulated New York: Fawcett Crest, 1975, 483.
9. World: A Critical Study of Girish Karnad‟s
Wedding Album."PalArch's Journal of

REVENGE, RETALIATION AND RETRIBUTION IN THE COLLECTOR OF

TREASURES BY BESSIE HEAD
X. Ann Lanka Jeyadharshini1 and V. Gnanaprakasam2
Dept. of English, Annamalai University
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
Bessie Head is a celebrated South African writer who is considered to be the most influential writer of Botswana. In
her relatively short life on earth, she wrote many novels, short fiction and autobiographical works which give the
readers a deep and personal insight into the colonial oppression of South Africa in particular as well as the patriarchal
and tribal oppressions. This article intends to study the oppression suffered by the African women and their consequent
retaliation, revenge against their oppressor, and also the retribution faced by the oppressors with reference to The
Collector of Treasures by Bessie Head, an anthology of short fiction.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keywords: Oppression, colonialism, suffering, revenge, retaliation, retribution
Introduction stories by Bessie Head published in 1977. She
took a longer time to write this than it took her
Bessie Amelia Emery Head, who is celebrated
to write a novel. She started work on this book
as Botswana‘s most prominent writer, was born
after he was able to find a home for herself in
in South Africa in 1937.She is a mixed-race
Botswana, where she felt that the African
writer who migrated to Botswana from South
experience was continuous and unbroken (45)
Africa to flee from a horrendous past riddled
as she said in an interview. The collection
with rejection and humiliation. She
consists of ―brief vignettes of traditional
distinguished herself in various genres like
Botswana village life, macabre tales of
short stories, novels and autobiographical
witchcrafts and passionate attacks on male
works. It is almost inevitable for writers to
chauvinism‖. Bessie Head took immense care
draw from their life experiences to produce
to complete these thirteen short stories as it
literary works. Their ideas and personalities are
was her desire ―to shape the individual stories
spread throughout their works to be interpreted
in such a way that one trailed into the other‖
by those who read them. Craig Mackenzie
(11). This paper intends to analyse the themes
found all her works of fiction ―fashioned in
of oppression, resistance, revenge and
some way from the author‘s experiences‖ (19).
retaliation in a few stories from this collection.
Born of an illegal union between a white
mother and a black father, she was raised in a Revenge and Retaliation of Dikeledi:
foster home. Her misfortunes doggedly ―The Collector of Treasures‖, the title story of
followed her into marriage also. It lasted only the 1977 collection produced by Bessie Head
for three years before she fled to Botswana indicts Botswanan men for objectifying and
with her son. There she had to wrestle for abusing women in their lives. The story begins
fifteen years as a refugee before she was in medias res with an unnamed woman being
granted citizenship. Her life experience of taken in a police truck to the state prison in
suffering made her poignantly aware of Gabarone, the new capital of Botswana. The
oppression against the women of her country prisoner stares disinterestedly at the passing
and their struggles to survive against the tide of landscape. The long and lonely journey takes
illiteracy, poverty and sex discrimination. its toll on the woman that at a certain point
According to Femo Ojo Ade ―Bessie Head ―she slowly crumpled forward in a wasted
takes sides with the woman whose story must heap‖ as she becomes ―oblivious to everything
be told‖ (81). She champions the oppressed but her pain.‖ She reaches the prison by night.
and exploited African women thus becoming She is incarcerated along with four other
the voice of the voiceless. Craig Mackenzie inmates, all guilty of murdering their husbands.
describes ―the hardship women of the village The night wardress after recording the
experience‖ as the main focus of her stories. protagonist‘s crime as ‗man slaughter‘,
The Collector of Treasures, with the subtitle remarks that ―it‘s becoming the fashion these
Batswana Village Tales, is a collection of short days‖ (CT 88). When questioned by her
inmates about her crime she replies without a of the family is under an obligation to provide
trace of remorse or emotion that it was death for the family and it is not to be deemed as a
by castration. The element of revenge and favour. The protagonist decides to ask her
retribution is thus introduced into the story. In husband, Garesego for the little money she
the given context, revenge and retribution seem needs. Garesego insults Dikeledi, accusing her
to be at odds with the protagonist in shackles, of illicit relationship with Paul Thebolo who
and the readers are curious to learn the confronts him. Later he writes to her about his
sequence of events which is unfolded through intention to come home after eight years
flashback. insinuating intimacy with her wherein, he
The story revolves around the central character would consider extending his help. Garesego‘s
whose name is Dikeledi, meaning ‗tears.‘ True audacity proves to be the last straw for her (CT
to her name, her life turns out to be pathetic. 88). No longer could she repress her anger, nor
Losing her parents while young, she is married could she cope with this untenable relationship.
to Garesego Makopi, who abandons her with Dikeledi waits till her husband falls fast asleep.
three children in pursuit of a life of dissipation She takes the knife she had been sharpening
and sexual gratification. Ironically, this the whole afternoon prior to her husband‘s visit
happens in the year 1966, the year of and chops off his genitals. ―With an intent and
Botswana‘s independence. The author cleverly brooding look, missing not one detail of it‖
implies that it is also the year of liberation for (CT 103), Dikeledi unflinchingly stared at her
Dikeledi. She possesses ―hands of strange husband slowly slipping away into the realm of
power‖ making her adept at needle work— gory death. Before being taken away Paul
knitting, sewing and weaving wherewith she is reassures her about her children saying ―I will
able to provide for her family and give her take them as my own and give them all a
children primary education. Her life becomes secondary school education (CT 103).
meaningful when she befriends her new The story in itself is gripping, with Garesego
neighbours, Kenelope and Paul Thebolo. The getting what he deserved though he never
deep bond of friendship that develops with suspects his wife is capable of avenging the
them gives her a taste of paradise. For the first abuse she was subjected to. The readers feel a
time she realises, that not all men are like sense of dissatisfaction as revenge and
Garesego, ―a broken wreck with no inner retribution seem to defeat its purpose with
resources at all‖ (CT 92). Paul Thebolo proves Dikeledi sentenced for life. Her fight for
himself to be a devoted husband, father, a freedom seems to have boomeranged on her.
responsible leader and a caring neighbour, with The possibility of her predicament that despite
the power to create himself anew. In fact, he is separation, Garesego could come back anytime
an antithesis of Garesego who left his family to and has to be always wary of him coming back
spend his undeserved exorbitant income on and resuming his abuse, one could see this is
himself. The national income promises a two more of an inner victory. She killed him by
hundred percent increase in salary which grants castration because he used his organ to abuse
him to participate in a ―dizzy kind of death women by objectifying them. Removing it
dance of wild dissipation‖. Bessie Head showed the ultimate victory Dikeledi had over
describes Paul Thebolo as a ―poem of him. The years of oppression were so
tenderness‖. terrifying that her life behind bars seems less
Dikeledi‘s eldest son Banabothe needs money intimidating. Belling asks ―what does one do
to go to secondary school. Dikeledi has saved with a female hero once she has discovered that
money for her son‘s education, but she is her heroism is at odds with the social order that
running a little short of the required amount. dictates happy endings?‖ (49). The reader has
Under normal circumstances Dikeledi would to get into the shoes of the protagonist and
not have thought of seeking assistance from her understand that they learn to live by their
husband. Her association with the Thebolos, standards, taught by their life experiences and
however, introduces her to a normal household not bother about the social order that turns a
where the woman is not treated as an object blind eye to the sufferings of women. Anyway,
created to please men but the man as the head Dikeledi is indeed the collector of treasures and

collects little acts of love and kindness which announced after a brief courtship. His friends
would stand in good stead for her during her are distraught as they know the promiscuous
ordeal, as it had strengthened her in the past. life-style of Life whereas their friend Lesego is
not only well respected but the most eligible
Oppression, Retaliation and Revenge in
bachelor in the village. Sianana, Lesego‘s best
“Life”
friend tries to dissuade his friend from making
In ―The Collector of Treasures‖, Dikeledi the worst choice by revealing the truth about
avenges the abuse inflicted on her by her his fiancée. Lesego however says that Life has
husband Garesego though it meant sentenced already confessed about her shady past. Life
for life. In ―Life‖, another short story in the also announces her marriage to her beer-
Collector of Treasures, a husband takes brewing friends resolving to turn over a new
revenge on his wife. The story begins with all leaf and settle down to a decent life and give up
the Botswana born citizens sent back to their her life of prostitution.
native country.This is how a young woman Lesego and Life get married to the surprise of
Life, the protagonist, is introduced to the the whole village. It is a patriarchal society in
readers. She migrated to Johannesburg with her the village community and inevitably Lesego
parents when she was just ten years old. She is rules the roost. He lays down three rules to his
forced to return to her native village alone wife which seem unacceptable to Life who had
having lost both her parents in Johannesburg. had all the freedom in her life before she met
Life appeared as a breath of fresh air for the Lesego. She is not allowed to handle money,
village women who welcome her with open listening to radio is restricted and it is taboo to
arms. get involved with any other men. He threatens
As per her village custom, her family‘s land is her with death if she is ever found to have
not occupied. Her village women help her in reverted to her former lifestyle. Lesego
weeding out the yard and repairing her mud overestimates his power since he is looked up
hut. They expect her to contribute towards to by the villagers. He comes to believe he
enhancing their lifestyle. They are impressed to exudes the same power over his wife too. Life
see Life loaded with money. She explains to is bored by her new lifestyle of harsh
them that it is easy to make money in restrictions and tight leash, devoid of
Johannesburg if one knows where and how to excitement, money and her so-called freedom.
tap it. Women become alert as they cannot see One day, she finds herself alone with her
how being rich and honest simultaneously is husband gone to his cattle-post. He is gone just
possible. Their intuition proves right eventually for three days but Life finds her old lifestyle
as they learn that she is prostituting herself. As irresistible. Throwing caution to winds, she
respectable women distance themselves from plunges headlong into her promiscuous
Life, she is sought by beer-brewing women. lifestyle once again, flouting her marriage
She continues her profession and soon her yard vows. She lives for the day, forgetting that she
becomes as busy as Johannesburg township. lives in a village community where there is
Thanks to the influence of Life, the first pub is close bonding and nothing can be kept a secret.
opened in the village. Life uses the pub for her On his return, Lesego learns about his wife
business. Here she meets a wealthy and well- dating another man at his neighbour‘s house,
respected cattleman, Lesego for the first time enters there and murders her as he had already
as he had been away for three months at his warned her earlier.
cattle-post. Both Life and Lesego feel attracted Lesego is arrested for murder. He remains calm
to each other. They fall hard for one another and collected, though his crime is described as
though they have not met the other before. He a crime of passion. His cool behaviour proves
reminded Life of the powerful gangsters she it otherwise. At the trial, Lesego does not plead
has seen in Johannesburg and Lesego is for mercy. He narrates what happened and the
fascinated by the fact that she is very different white judge seems very sympathetic. He is
from the women of her village. given a lenient punishment of just five years
Much to the consternation of Lesego‘s friends, behind bars. His friend Sianana asks him a
the marriage between Lesego and Life is million-dollar question as to why he had to

murder his wife instead of walking out on her. depend on the land for their very existence.
Lesego deigns not to answer the question. It is They cleared the wild bush and ploughed it for
anybody‘s guess as to why he murdered his farming. The farming families usually relocate
wife. to these lands at the behest of the village
Lesego, when he first laid his eyes on Life, was headmen announcing the advent of the
attracted towards her as her personality exuded cropping season. ―The family of the old man,
confidence which she had acquired through her Mokobja were among those who left early for
money and a free lifestyle. His love for her is the lands‖ (CT 63) to prepare the land for
indeed genuine and deep. That is why he cultivation at the promise of rain. Mokobja,
decides to marry her despite her lewd way of along with his son Ramadi and his family
life in her past. He demands as her husband, prepare the land in readiness for cultivation
that she renounce her old ways and be a worthy when they receive a few showers. When they
wife to him and a responsible mother to his realize that their respite is short-lived, and all
children. It is evident that Life had not given their efforts prove futile, they are desperate.
serious thought to her marriage, which is a life- The villagers suffer from starvation as the rains
long commitment, trusting each other and on which they were dependent have failed
living for each other. She, being used to them for seven years in a row. Some starving
excitement gets carried away by something as villagers resort to suicide while some others
exciting as marriage until she finds how it seek the help of charlatans and witch doctors
controls her manner of living. She seems to who prey on the ignorance and superstition
live for herself alone and for the moment prevalent among the villagers who are unable
which do not augur anything good for their to cope with the unrelenting Mother Nature, to
future. Her husband, Lesego values and grow rich. Mokobja‘s daughter in law, Tiro and
honours conjugal bed and is appalled to see his her sister Nesta assist the men in farming.
wife throwing it away for fleeting pleasures, When the two women face the reality of failed
trampling his reputation underfoot. She seems rains again, they are totally shattered. Their
to have scant love or respect for her husband. desperation progresses into a complete
No self-respecting man can allow his wife or breakdown. Every night, they both wail,
any other woman for that matter to hold him in mourning their pathetic condition. Both the
contempt. Moreover, he had warned her men, Mokobja and Ramadi were rattled by this
beforehand of murder if she resorts to her old constant wailing of the two sisters. In contrast
ways. The gory and untimely death of Life Ramadi‘s two girls Neo and Boseyong are in
goes to prove that Lesego had meant every their happy, playful world of their own,
word he had told his wife as a warning. This oblivious to the harsh realities of the adult
story describes how a vindictive husband world. The two children play house with two
avenges his unfaithful and adulterous wife. improvised dolls, mimicking their very strict
mother in whose presence they felt safe and
Divine Retribution in “Looking for a Rain
reassured.
God”
Wailing every night by the two women turns
―Looking for a Rain God‖, is another short into a ritual, though nerve racking. But this
story which is based on a true incident. It is ritual which aggravates the hopelessness felt by
also about retribution but entirely different the two men, also serves to trigger Mokobja‘s
from the stories analysed earlier. This story memory of a ritual in the distant pre-Christian
birthed out of a newspaper report Bessie Head past in his community: ―And he came alive a
had read. It is about a gruesome incident which little struggling to recall the details which had
had taken place in Serowe in 1958. This story been buried by years and years of prayers in a
is about a village ravaged by drought for seven Christian church‖ (CT 65). The ritual involved
years, the impact it had on the villagers and offering human sacrifice to appease the rain
their response with a special reference to god. Mokobja discusses this proposal with his
Mokobja‘s family. son Ramadi. ―There was‖, he said, ―a certain
The setting for the story is an African village rain god who accepted only the sacrifice of the
where the villagers being farmers, solely bodies of children. The rain would fall and the

crops would grow‖ (CT 65). Ramadi grabs this family. Having fought a losing battle, the
as lifeline. It is distressing to see it is decided family retraces its steps back to the village. The
to be executed by the men with the connivance villagers immediately notice the absence of the
of the two women, especially the mother. two girls. When asked about the two girls,
Tragedy is compounded by the fact that the Mokobja and Ramadi lie to them saying they
children are totally lost in their make-believe both died of natural causes. Suspicious
world, as children ought to, surrounded by their villagers inform the police. Under the police
loved ones. Little do they know that they interrogation, Tiro breaks down and confesses
would be safer anywhere else but their family. about the sacrifice offered to appease the rain
Ultimately, they are sacrificed to the gods as an god. Now their recourse to solve the problem
offering to bring down the eluding rain. The sound very hollow.
grandfather is convinced that his two There are two components to man‘s law -
granddaughters are sacrificed for general good modern law and tribal law. They are not always
for in their death the whole community will in tandem. Sometimes they would be in
find life. Whatever be the justification, it only conflict. The community at large has embraced
brings out the unpalatable and unimaginable the modern law. Ritual killing of children as a
truth of what man would not do to save sacrifice was acceptable in the tribal law but
himself. not allowed in the modern law. Both the father
A man pushed to the extremes, loses his Mokobja and the son Ramadi are brought to
humanity and rationality. He regresses to justice. They have to face the consequences of
tribalism and barbarism. In the face of their action. Both are executed, thus meeting
starvation and death, he succumbs to the the same fate they both meted out to the two
survival instinct which insists on self- young girls who had had their whole life before
preservation over sanity and benevolence. them. Whereas the catalysts for these murders,
When man experiences unkindness from both the wailing sisters seem to go unpunished.
nature, the milk of human kindness dries in In fact, they both suffer the worst punishment
him too and turns him into a monster. This surviving their entire family. This story brings
ritual of child sacrifice had been prevalent in out divine retribution where the two innocent
the erstwhile tribal society. It was acceptable in children are avenged.
times of ignorance. But with the advent of
Conclusion
Christianity, barbaric rituals lost its validity.
People were taught not to fear the created but The author Bessie Head is a victim of injustice
the Creator. It is true nature is intimidating and since birth and till her untimely death she had
overwhelming, but to remain humane and sane, to struggle incessantly with odds in her life.
they were taught that faith can save them from She could never set right the wrongs galore in
what they fear. One‘s faith is tested during her life let alone avenge all the wrongs meted
times of trials. When overcome by drought, the out to her by her own parents and later by her
starvation and hysteria of the two sisters Tiro husband. But the afore mentioned stories are
and Nesta reaches the limits. Mokobja buckles built around the theme of revenge and
under the pressure. Instead of trusting God for retribution which could have given her
provision, Mokobja plays God pronouncing vicarious satisfaction. According to Sara
doom upon the family and sealing the fate of so Letourneau revenge ―is one of the classic
many. literary master plots, where the protagonist
After shedding the innocent blood of the two believes he‘s been wronged and seeks to
young children, Neo and Boseyong, their retaliate against the antagonist‖. She
bodies are left lying on the ground as a elaborates on this topic by pointing out, ―But
sacrifice by Mokobja and Ramadi. The irony regardless of the protagonist‘s motivations, his
and tragedy are that there is not even the sign target, and the impact his pursuit has on other
of rain. The sky remains brazen. The enormity characters, all revenge tales shed light on the
of their crime just sinks in. There is no way of destruction resulting from the protagonist‘s
going back in time and correct the atrocious actions, from the loss of his morality to the
crime committed by the members of the price he and others may have to pay‖. The

stories of Bessie Head best substantiate the is always divine retribution which cannot be
above quote, highlighting the fact that one can contained by man.
never thrive on revenge and retribution as there
Works Cited:
1. Abrahams, Cecil. ―The Tragic Life of Treasures‖. In The Tragic Life, edited by
Bessie Head‖. In The Tragic Life: Bessie Cecil Abrahams,1990.
Head and Literature in Southern Africa, 6. Osei-Nyame Jnr, Kwadwo. ―Writing
edited by Cecil Abrahams. Trenton, N. J.: Between ‗Self‘ and ‗Nation‘: Nationalism,
Africa World Press, 1990. (Wo)manhood and Modernity in Bessie
2. Head, Bessie. The Collector of Treasures. Head‘s The Collector of Treasures and
London: Heinemann, 1977. Other Botswana Village Tales‖, Journal of
3. Letourneau, Sara. ―A Case Study on the Short Story in English [Online], 39|
Revenge as a Literary Theme‖. June 04, Autumn 2002, Online since 05 August
2018. 2008, connection on 03 September 2021.
4. Mackenzie, Craig. Bessie Head: An 7. URL:http://journals.openedition .org/jsse/
Introduction. Grahamstown: NELM, 1989. 277
5. Ojo-Ade, Femi. ―Of Human Trials and
Triumphs: Bessie Head‘s Collector of

STUDY ON GENDER AND AGE DIFFERENCES IN COVID-19 PATIENTS: RISK

FACTORS FOR SEVERE DISEASE AND DEATH
D.Singh1, A. S. Gautam2, P. Kumar3, A.Kumar Nautiyal4 and P. Singh5
1,3,4,5
Department of Education, HNB Garhwal (A Central) University, Srinagar Uttarakhand
2
Department of Physics, HNB Garhwal (A Central) University, Srinagar Uttarakhand
2
phyalok@gmail.com
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic is the Centre of focus since beginning of 2020 and Outbreak of virus took place in china and
got spread across the world in very short span of time. More than 200 countries around the World are host of COVID-
19 and fighting towards to control the severity of infection. This pandemic has considered as a greatest, most serious
and challenging global health emergency faced by the human kind since after World War II. In the year 2002- 2003,
774 people were died and more than 8000 got suffered due to corona virus (World Health Organization). The rapid
human to human transmission of corona is causing uncountable serious health problems related to respiratory,
neurological, cardiovascular, nephrology etc. and further leading towards death. Over the months, every aspect of
human life and environment have been suffering due to this pandemic such as social, psychological, cultural,
economic, political and health severely. This research paper would get analysis the impacts of COVID-19 outbreak in
context of demography, age difference and Gender. Moreover, it would highlights the associated risk factors of corona
virus, which are responsible for sudden trigger of infection, complications and deaths.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keywords: COVID-19, Risk Factors, Impacts, Strategies and Standing plans.
Introduction transmission of the virus. As of 7:08 pm 11th
September 2020 there have been 288787 new
The COVID-19 infection is spreading like
cases, 28040853 confirmed cases and 906092
anything even after 7 to 8 months of its
deaths reported to world health organization
outbreak and none of the health organization
due to corona infection. In term of region wise
of the World had come up with any specific
statistics Americas (North & South) are at top
medicine or vaccine so far. The World Health
with 14447680 confirmed cases followed by
Organization (WHO) and respective
Europe 4707944, Eastern Mediterranean
Governments have suggested some important
2071058, Africa 1106919 and Western Pacific
precautions such as social distancing, uses of
has 535413 confirmed cases. Furthermore,
face mask, washing hands frequently, stay
table 1.1 shows the COVID-19 statistics in
indoors, taking healthy and immunity booster
term confirmed cases and deaths country wise.
diets, get aware and updated and work from
home, in order to control and avoid
Table 1.1. COVID-19 Global Statistics up till 7:08 pm 11th September 2020
S.NO. Country Name Confirmed Cases Deaths
1. USA 6341309 190787
2. India 4659984 77472
3. Brazil 4238446 129522
4 Russian Federation 1051874 18365
5. Peru 710067 30344
6. Colombia 694664 22275
7. Mexico 652364 69649
8. South Africa 644438 15265
9. Spain 554143 29699
10. Argentina 524198 10994
• Source; World Health Organization (WHO) www.who.int.

Figure 1.1. Top 10 highest number of COVID-19 cases country wise
Figure 1.2. Top 10 highest number of COVID-19 deaths country wise

The figure 1.1 shows that how number of 18365, South Africa 15265 and Argentina
corona cases keep increasing every single day. 10994.
As of 11th September 2020, United States of
1. Gender and Age Differences Among
America has reported highest number of
Covid-19 Patients
COVID-19 cases (6341309) across the World
followed by India 4659984, Brazil 4238446, The male and female of all age groups, social
Russian Federation 1051874, Peru 710067, classes and economic status are equal
Colombia 694664, Mexico 652364, South susceptible for COVID-19 infection. Even
Africa 644438, Spain 554143 and Argentina though there are difference in COVID-19
524198. Whereas figure 1.2 shows the number patients as per the gender and age across the
of deaths across the Globe due to COVID-19 World. As lifestyle, immunity power, age
pandemic, unfortunately here also United States group, gender, person suffering from any other
of America (USA) has reported heighted disease or complications and workplace etc. are
number of deaths (190787) followed by Brazil matters in order to get COVID-19 infection. As
129522, India per the World Health Organization (WHO)
77472, Mexico 69649, Peru 30344, Spain report there are more male patients than female
29699, Colombia 22275, Russian Federation who are suffering from COVID-19 in the
World.
Table 1.2 COVID-19 Gender base Statistics in the World as on 7:08pm 11th Sept. 2020
Total COVID-19 cases Gender Total cases Percentage
Male 15226183 54.3%
28040853
Female 12814670 45.7%

Source; World Health Organization corona infection. That’s mean male are more
Table 1.2 shows that across the world there is prone to get infection as compare to female.
45.7% female and 54.3% male patients of
Figure 1.3 Share of Male and Female in COVID-19 Cases across the World.
Table 1.3 COVID-19 Gender base Statistics in the India as on 7:08pm 11th Sept. 2020
Total COVID-19 cases Gender Total cases Percentage
4659984 Male 3541588 76%
Female 1118396 24%
Source; World Health organization (WHO)
Table 1.3 shows that across the India there is That’s mean male are more prone to get
24% female and 76% male patients of corona infection as compare to female.
infection.
Figure 1.4 Share of Male and Female in COVID-19 cases across the India
From the figure 1.4 it is clear that county like different age group would carry different level
India, where percentage of male COVID-19 of immunity power and susceptibility towards
patients corona infection. World health organization
(76%) are significantly higher than female (WHO) suggested age group wise percentage
patients (24%). Moreover, age group is also share of COVID-19 cases which is computed
play a significant role in order to lodgment and in table 1.4.
transmission of COVID-19 infection. As

Table 1.4 Age group wise COVID-19 Statistics as on 7:08pm 11th Sept. 2020
Age Group Percentage of Cases
0-15 0.5%
15-25 0.8%
25-35 5.2%
35-45 7%
45-55 13%
55-65 24.5%
Above 65 62%
Source; World Health organization (WHO)
Figure 1.5 Age group wise COVID-19 cases across the World
2. Findings a nd Conclusions of women are staying indoors as compare to
men and looking after them seriously. Whereas
From the above quantitative analysis of studied
in India percentage of male and female
variables such as Gender and age group
COVID-19 patients are 76% and 24%
differences of COVID -19 patients, following
respectively. This shows that most of Indian
major findings have been drawn and based on
men are taking care of families, businesses and
these findings conclusions would also been
job that’s why they are going out their houses
suggested;
which leads them to get more prone to COVID-
1. Findings revealed that COVID-19 cases keep
19 as compare of women. Findings suggested
increasing day to day in substantial number as
that old age people are more prone to get
on 7:08 pm11th September 2020, United States
COVID infection because of certain risk factors
of America has reported highest number of
such as low immunity, etiological factors of
COVID-19 cases across the World followed by
other diseases, sugar, diabetes and blood
India, Brazil, Russian Federation, Peru,
pressures problems etc. As per World health
Colombia, Mexico, South Africa, Spain and
organization report 015 age group kids are least
Argentina, therefore there is need to take urgent
susceptible to COVID -19 infection (0.5%)
and necessary steps in order to minimize
followed by 15- 25 age group (0.8%) 25-35 age
transmission of virus.
group (5.2% ), age group 35-45 (7%), age
2. United States of America has reported heighted
group 4555 (13%), age group 55-65 (24.5%)
number of deaths also followed by Brazil,
and Above 65 (62%).
India, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Colombia, Russian
Federation, South Africa and Argentina. 3. Acknowledgement
Increasing number of deaths leads our focus Authors thanks to Prof Annpurna Nautiyal,
towards the betterment of health care system Vice-Chancellor, HNBGU Srinagar, Garhwal
and speedy recovery of infected patients. Uttarakhand, Head, Department of Education
3. There are 45.7% female and 54.3% male and Physics, HNBGU Srinagar for
patients suffering from corona infection in the encouragement and providing the necessary
World. This could be because of more number
infrastructure facility for this study.
4. Reference
• Afelt, R. Frutos, C. DevauxBats, natural hazards in institutional cultures
coronaviruses, and deforestation: toward the Oxford Res. Encycl. Nat. Hazard Sci.(2019)
emergence of novel infectious • Coutts, J. Beringer, N.TapperChanging
diseases?Front. Microbiol., 9 (2018), p. 702 urban climate and CO2 emissions:
• Allocati, A.G. Petrucci, P.Di Giovanni, et implications for the development of policies
al.Bat-man disease transmission: zoonotic for sustainable citiesUrban Policy Res., 28
pathogens from wildlife reservoirs to human (2010), pp. 27-47
populations Cell Death Dis., 2 (2016), • Y. Fan, K. Zhao, Z.L. Shi, et al.Bat
Article 16048 coronaviruses in China Viruses, 11 (2019), p.
• Backer, D. Klinkenberg, J. 210
WallingaIncubation period of 2019 novel • Huang, Y. Wang, X. Li, L.Ren, J. Zhao, Y.
coronavirus (2019nCoV) infections among Hu, et al.Clinical features of patients infected
travelers from Wuhan, China, 20–28 January with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan,
2020 Euro Surveill, 25 (5) (2020), pp. 1-6, China Lancet, 395 (2020), pp. 497506,
10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.5. 20 0 0 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5
062
• Bremer, P. Schneider, B.GlavovicClimate
change and amplified representations of
• R.K. Pachauri, L.A. Meyer (Eds.), Climate • W. Liu, J.S. Morse, T. Lalonde, S.
Change 2014: Synthesis Report. XuLearning from the past: possible urgent
Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III prevention and treatment options for severe
to the Fifth Assessment Report of the acute respiratory infections caused by 2019-
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, CoVChembiochem (2020), 10.1002/cbic.
Core Writing Team. IPCC, Geneva, 2020 0 0 047
Switzerland (2014), p. 151
• www.who.int
• www.mospi.gov.in
• www.mohfw.gov.in

YOUTH LEADERSHIP IN INDIAN POLITICAL PARTIES: A SOCIOLOGICAL

ANALYSIS
S. Yadav
Department of Sociology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Yadavshalini2011@gmail.com
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
This paper seeks to understand the nature of youth leadership in Indian political parties, and to examine that which
type of youths wants to engage in political activities. It also tries to explain the nature, process and aspects of youth
adopting politics as a career in contemporary India. In Indian politics, youth activism is found to some extent, but
youth leaders at the higher level of politics are relatively limited. Generally, youth leaders in India are politicians’
sons/daughters or family members. A common youth or a common student leader has fewer opportunities to become a
leader in existing political system, either at the national level or the regional level. It is argued that nepotism is quite
prevalent in the power politics in contemporary India, influencing the nature and process of power politics. Presently
scenario Kanhaiya Kumar, Jignesh Mevani, Shehla Rashid and other youths are trying to emerge political leaders.
Some important relevant issues/questions can be raised. What are socio-political factors of nepotism in the recruitment
of youth leadership in power politics? What kind of fresh youth leadership is emerging? What is the social background
of the fresh youth leaders? What kind changes it will bring about? The present paper analyzes these issues from a
sociological point of view. This is a descriptive study and data have been collected through secondary sources and
observations.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Key words: youth, organization, leadership, political parties, participation.
In Contemporary society youth and political come from different age groups. Here it can be
parties have very effective place. They both argued that the concept of youth can‟t be
influence each other for their interests. Youth described in age groups. Age groups are not a
interest and participation in politics are parameter for describing youth features involve
increasing for obtain objectives such as: - in politics.
nation building, career opportunity, name, Youths have incredible thoughts about the
fame, power, money and decision makings. every aspects of society. They can be defined
However now a days so many political parties as a set of revolutionary thoughts. Youth apply
are mobilizing youth for their political their innovative thoughts in every field
objectives. They mobilize youth through their including politics. They can change the future
political youth wings. of the society with their wellbeing and
Youth is a social phenomenon which is courageous behavior and innovative thinking.
ubiquitous. Basically it is biological aspect and Some thinkers arguethat youth can be
often it is defined as the cultural aspect described as the biological fact (Colman 1980,
(Eisenstadt, 1972). Mostly youth has been futches 1976). According to oxford advanced
defined in different age groups. According to learner‟s dictionary “The time of life when a
UNESCO youth refer the group of people person is young, especially the time before a
between 15 to 24 years of age. While the child becomes an adult” (8th edition).
National Youth Policy 2003, initially described Psychologically youth can be seen as
the youth in the age group from 15 to 35. adolescence, where they learn the society‟s
However National youth policy 2014 modified behavior, values, pattern, ideal rules, and
it and considered youth as the person age from sexual behavior. This perspective of youth is
15 to 29. All above the mention definitions of relatively closer to the sociological concept of
youth are similar because they are based on age youth (Hall, 1904).
group. In the present paper it is found that All above the mention concepts of youths
youth are from 14 to 40 years of age. focuses that youth neither described as age
They both definitions of youth given by groups nor a biological and psychological fact.
UNESCO and NYP 2013 are similar, because Youth is an experience that shapes an
they are based on same parameter which is age individual, s level of dependency. Youth can be
– groups of youth. However in reality youth seen as any person‟s characteristics such as
involves in different political activities are freshness, ideology, appearance, enthusiasm,

vigor, and spirit. In spite of all these qualities India (Desai, 1948& Chandra, 1988). Youth
youth can be seen as sign- post of any society, took participation in the Swadesi movement,
region and state. Because of these qualities of non-cooperation movement, all India college
dominance, youth dominance can be seen in students‟ conference & all Bengal students‟
every field especially in politics. conference. Jawaharlal Nehru and M.A. Jinnah
Presently youth interest and involvement in were organized all India students conference at
politics is increasing because Political parties Lucknow in 1936.
attracts youths in politics through These all conferences have helped to shape
implementation and offering new plans and students union and created an atmosphere for
program. So they can remain their vote bank the youths. Where youths come for their rights
and power in political system. Other side youth and they start struggle with unity. However
also take politics as career opportunity. Most of gradually political organizations of youth and
the youth and student leaders can be seen in students were established like Bhartiya janta
universities and colleges who want to join yuva moarcha(BJYM), Indian youth congress
politics. In this sense it can be said that (IYC), All India student federation (AISF),
political mobilization of youth is increasing. Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP),
Therefore this paper analyzes the nature of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI),
youth leadership in contemporary Indian National Students Union of India (NSUI), and
political process. All India Student Association (AISA), Student
federation of India(SFI) etc.So it can be said
Emergence and Nature of fresh Youth
that earlier students and youth were joined with
Leadership
some local level youth leagues and
Students and youth movements have gained a organization which is non-political.
place in the history of the national movement Gradually when Indian national congress and
of India. They played a very important role in other political parties was formed, then they
Indian national movement. In the beginning mobilizes youth under their youth or student
their organizations was not politically wings. And student movements guided by
established. They fought against British congress, socialist, communist and Rashtriya
government by their small clubs and no Swayamsevak sangh (RSS).Therefore within
political organization. At the same time so the student community, students divided into
many non-political youth organizations were two groups. One group of students were taking
established. interest in the movement of Indian freedom,
Before independence there were many political however other group of students were dividing
and non-political students and youth on the ideological based (Saraswathi, 1988).
organization which were established for the Today we can see various political parties and
mobilization of youth in the Indian national each of them have their own political youth
movement. Calcutta students association, one wings or student organization. These youth
of the earliest and oldest organizations was wings are followed by their political party, s
founded in 1875 by A.M. Bose. Through this ideology. Therefore it can be argued that pre
organization Surendranath Banerjee mobilized independence youth had their own ideas,
youth movement. The Bombay youth league thoughts, energy and motive but post-
was active at the same time for students independence youth are influenced by political
movements. A large number of students were parties.
participated against Bengal partition Political parties use youth as pressure groups
(Saraswathi, 1988; & Chandra). Around the (weiner, 1963). Some research shows the
same time in 1885 Indian national congress political involvement of youth in university and
was established in the form of social college campuses in which it is explained that
organization which was gradually developed as how political parties use youth organizations
the political party. It was first Indian political for doing bad activities in educational system
party. Indian national congress had a very (Kabir; 1958, Carmack; 1961, Singh;
significant role in the development of Indian 1968,Ross; 1969, Gasfield, 1970).
nationalism and independence movement of

So it can be argued that the political hierarchy, order, duty, tradition, reaction and
background and emergence of youth has come nationalism.
in the existence from the independence Youth are mainly organized by political
movement. Youth can be defined as the set of parties. So it is normal to see their impact on
innovative thoughts. They are energetic, the youth organizations. In Indian politics
enthuse, full of mightiness. Therefore they youth activism is found to some extent but
decided to involve in independence youth leaders at the higher level of politics are
movement.Eventually they came in the touch relatively limited. Generally youth larders in
of political parties. Every political party has a India are politicians, sons and daughters or
youth and student organization. Through this family members. A common youth or common
they can relates their party goals with other student leaders have fewer opportunities to
youth. And they can remain in the power become leaders in existing political system.
politics. Either at the national level or the regional level
But today‟s scenario has been changed. In it is argued that nepotism is quit prevalent in
present time not only political parties has their the power politics in contemporary India,
goals and benefits but youth also take interest influencing the nature and process of power
in politics for many reasons. So youth also use politics. Because of nepotism fresh or common
political parties for their political career. youth have fewer changes to go in politics, and
Therefore it can be observed that dialectical this can be observed the division of power
relations have been found between political politics in society. Only son and daughters of
parties and youth organizations. Today‟s youth political leaders gets chance in entry the
protest with their formative ideas with the politics and youth don‟t get opportunity to
support of their political parties. improve politics by their revolutionary and
Directly ideology level youth are organized by innovative ideas.
their political parties but indirectly youth wants Therefore reformative changes could not come
to make their place and identity in political in the politics; people have to cast their vote to
parties by their activities. And they want to the old political parties because opposition or
emerge as a powerful personality in the context any other candidate takes over the place in the
of society. political system. Today there is a need of fresh
On the other hand by using the capacity of leaders without any political background, for
youth as pressure groups political parties want this government should encourages youth for
to remain their place position and power in joining politics, government should reserves
politics. So it can be said that directly seat for the youth in the Loksabha and
cooperative relations are found between Rajyasabha election. In the present scenario
political parties and youth& student, we can see many youth like kanhaiyakumar,
organizations but indirectly their relations are jigneshmevani, Shehla Rashid, Hardikpatel,
dialectical and comparatives. and other youths are trying to participate in the
So it can be argued that nature of youth politics by their protests against the present
leadership in contemporary India is also based political system.
and depends on the political parties and that is Increasing nepotism in politics is the root cause
the reason we can find two types of youth of the youth disenchantment in current political
leadership. system. In spite of all youth are also not taking
1- Youth leadership followed by the left wing interest to cast their vote. The percentages of
,s ideology youth voters are high but they are not interested
2- Youth leadership followed by the right to cast their vote, because they think that the
wing ,s ideology existing political parties are corrupted. But they
Normally the left wing ideology is described don‟t think that they can change the political
by an emphasis on ideas such as liberty, system as well as social system by casting their
Similarity, companionship, rights, progress, vote.
reformation, and internationalism while the
right wing ideology is described by an
emphasis on thoughts such as authority,

Conclusion replace them form secularism, democratic,

scientific, socialism. Freedom, social justice
If fresh youth leaders will take participation in
loaded values. However it can also be a
the politics, they will bring new political
possibility that youth leaders ideology will
system by their fresh and innovative thoughts.
change with their political parties. Young
Comparatively young people have less
people can easily be manipulated and can be
responsibilities and more zeal towards the
used as pressure groups of older political
betterment of society. Youths are tending to
parties, because today‟s youth take politics as
more enthusiastic, energetic and flexible. The
career and they also want to become a powerful
involvement of young people in politics
dominating personality in the society. So today
ensures inclusiveness. Youth political leaders
there is a need to support young leadership in
can be erased the negative perception about
an appropriate way. For increasing
politics in the mind set of people. Youth
participation of common youth in politics in
leadership is the need of the hour in Indian
the politics reservation policy should be created
society as well as politics, because current
in the political parties and parliament as well.
political leaders have old mentality about
This reservation should only for common
development. At times they oppose new ideas.
people not for politician‟s son and daughters.
Their main objective is to remain in the politics
Political awareness should be given to the
for a long time they don‟t focuses on peoples
students in schools, colleges and the
need. Today‟s youth have all types all
universities. Youth should be given
knowledge, they can handle every situation.
opportunity to do internship in the parliament.
They know how to use modern technologies.
They can change old political values and
References
1. Chandra, Bipan.1988. Indian National 9. Desai, A.R. 1948. Social Background of
Movement: The Long Term Dynamics. Indian Nationalism :PopularPrakashan.
New Delhi. 10. Coleman, John C.1980. The nature of
2. Ross, Aileen D. 1969. Student Unrest In Adolescence. London: Methuen.
India. London: McGill- Queen‟s University 11. Fuchs, Estelle.1976. „Introduction‟, in
Press. Estelle Fuchs (ed.), Youth in a Changing
3. Weiner, Myron. 1963. The Politics of World (Cross-Cultural perspectives on
Scarcity. Bombay: Asia Publishing House. Adolescence).The Hague: Mouton.pp.1-13.
4. Kabir, Humayun. 1958. Student Unrest: 12. Saraswathi, S. 1988. Youth in India. New
Causes And Cure. Calcutta: Orient Book Delhi: Indian Council of Social Science
Company. Research.
5. Cormack, Margaret L. 1961. She Who 13. National Youth Policy.2014.Ministry of
Rides A Peacock: Indian Students And Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of
Social Change. Bombay: Asian Publishing India.
House. 14. Retrieved from https://yas.nic.in13-06-2020
6. Gusfield, Joseph R. 1970. „The Academic 15. Hall G. Stanley. 1904. Adolescence: its
Milieu‟. In The Student Revolution: A Psychology and its Relations to
Global Crises.Edited By Philip G. Altbach. Physiology,
Delhi: Lalvani Publishing House. 16. Anthropology, Sociology, Sex Crime and
7. Singh, Edward. 1968. „Indian Students: Education (2 vols.) New York: Appleton
Rather Sadhus than Philistines‟. In Turmoil 17. Eisenstadt,Shmuel N. 1972. „Archetypal
and Transition.Edited by P.G. Altbach. Patterns of Youth,‟inP.K.Manning and M.
Bombay: Lalvani Publishing House. 18. Truzzi(eds.), Youth and Sociology.
8. Oxford Advanced Learner,s Dictionary: Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentica- Hall.pp-
Oxford University Press. 8th edition, 15-29.
pp.1739.

FACTORS AFFECTING ELECTRONIC SHOPPING CART ABANDONMENT AND

FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
I. Patharia1 and T. Jain2
1,2
Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat, Haryana, Delhi NCR India
1
ishani@bpswomenuniversity.ac.in, 2tanujain88.tj@gmail.com
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
The study reviewed 33 empirical research studies related to online shopping for a period of 2000-2020. This is one of
the first studies that critically analyzed the reasons for electronic shopping cart abandonment with special reference to
the process of online shopping. The present research study uses multiple technology based and behavioral theories to
identify various prevalent motives, facilitators and barriers affecting online shopping decisions. All these factors have
been organized as uniquely attributable to each stage of online shopping process. The major factors that emerged from
the review are: hedonic motive, functional motive, organization and research motive, consumer characteristics
(experience, perceptions and attitude) and uncertainty factors. The present study has multiple implications for
academicians and industry. It will help policy makers and managers in formulating and implementing customer
focused strategies to curb down electronic shopping cart abandonment.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keywords: E- Commerce, Electronic shopping cart abandonment, Online shopping process, Online
retailing, Non-buying behavior
JEL Classification- M31, L81, O33
1. Introduction sudden scenario has resulted in the spike of the
business to commerce (B2C) sale particularly
The evolution of E-commerce has changed the
for household products, foods and medical
sphere of retailing business as momentum has
supplies. The organization also reported that E-
shifted towards online retailing. The way in
commerce will support small businesses and
which retailing was done and the way
can act as a solution for customers. According
customers used to buy and engage with the
to the Hello Heart Blog, 2020 shopping can act
products has been changed (Sondhi, 2017).
as a tool to relieve stress and the negative vibes
Many retailers have brought their offline
created by this pandemic. So online shopping
business online and others have started a new
can give customers a break from this stressful
business online (Wildeboer and Donkers,
environment and they can invest themselves in
2014).
browsing and purchasing products and services
The E-commerce industry has proved a boon
that they like.
for e-retailers all over the world and is showing
Globally, online shoppers are increasing each
a steady growth rate. It is expected to show an
year but their online spending is very low
annual growth rate of 7.8 percent from the year
which causes losses to the e-retailers.
2020 to 2024. This will increase the market
Electronic shopping cart abandonment is
volume of the E-commerce industry up to
hurting the e-retailers’ efforts as 43.8 percent
US$3,116,089 million by 2024. It is expected
of customers leave the retail website only after
that in the year 2024, 4658.1 million internet
browsing the product pages and on average,
users will be E-commerce buyers. In the year
globally about 75% of online retail orders are
2018, the percentage of online shoppers was
abandoned (Charlton, 2019). As per the
increased with tremendous speed (92 percent of
Baymard Institute report 2020, the average
internet users in China, 93 percent in the U.S.
global electronic shopping cart abandonment
and 97 percent in the U.K.). Thus, the E-
rate is about 70 percent.
commerce industry has a promising future with
Xu and Huang (2015) gave a new perspective
a steady growth rate.
by defining abandonment as leaving the
The sudden outbreak of the pandemic COVID-
products in the electronic shopping at any stage
19 has caused customers to adopt online
of the buying process i.e., from logging into the
shopping due to lockdown, social distancing
shopping website to the final payment stage.
and other measures. According to the World
Kristensen (2021) reported that on average
Trade Organization (WTO) report 2020, this

customers leave $4 trillion merchandise in the 2.3 Organization of the paper

cart every year. Electronic shopping cart The review section of the paper is divided into
abandonment costs a loss of $18 billion of E- three sections, the first section discusses the
commerce revenue opportunity every year. theoretical framework related to an online
Therefore, for the future growth of the E- purchase, the second section elaborates the
commerce industry and to increase the revenue stages in the online shopping process and the
and growth of the online retailing sector, it is motives at each stage, and the third section
important to understand the reasons for compiles and discusses the critical analysis of
electronic shopping cart abandonment as cart the factors that may affect ESCA. The research
abandonment is not the problem but the paper ends with a brief discussion of
symptom of the problem (Nair, 2016). implications, limitations and future scope for
2. Research Methodology studies.
This paper aims to assess the current state of 3. Stages of Online Purchase- Motives and
applicability of various theories related to Challenges
online purchase behavior and understand the It is necessary to figure out the process
intricacies of the online purchase process. involved in online shopping and the
Keeping in view the above objective, the psychological motivators at each stage of
existing literature on the factors affecting customer decision making to understand the
online shopping and electronic shopping cart
customers’ buying and non-buying behavior in
abandonment (ESCA) has been analyzed to the online shopping environment. Howard and
provide a comprehensive framework for future Sheth (1969) gave a model on ‘Theory of
researchers and marketers who may be Buyer Behavior’ which recommends that there
interested in it. are four stages in the online shopping process:
2.1 Scope electronic search stage, electronic
consideration stage, electronic evaluation stage
The present study explored and synthesized the
and lastly electronic purchase stage (Close and
existing review of literature on the
Kukar- Kinney, 2010; Li and Chatterjee, 2005).
phenomenon of ESCA from the year 2000-
2020. The reason for choosing such a period is 3.1 Electronic search stage- attitude, social
because during the late nineties online influence, hedonic and utilitarian motive
shopping websites evolved worldwide. As in The electronic search stage mainly includes the
1994 first online transaction was done through reason for preferring online shopping over
the Net Market website and immediately after offline shopping. The acceptance of online
this Amazon and eBay launched their online shopping is influenced by the attitude that
website in 1995. Towards the end of the 1990s, customers have towards online shopping. The
the online marketing concept became mature theory of planned behavior is usually
and commercialization of the internet took
considered in the understanding of customers’
place at a faster pace. intention and behavior in different contexts. As
2.2 Selection criteria per this theory, the three variables: attitude,
subjective norms (social influence) and
The keywords used for searching the relevant
perceived behavioral control influence the
studies were: ‘online buying behavior’,
customers’ intention and behavior.
‘ESCA’, ‘online shopping’ and ‘non-buying
In an online environment customers’ attitude
behavior’. A total of 33 studies which were
towards online shopping may affect the
most relevant to the present study were
customers’ intention to purchase the products
examined. These studies were analyzed by
and services online. Customers who have a
making both comparisons within the studies
favorable attitude towards online shopping are
and between the studies as suggested by
more likely to make the purchase rather than
Kaushik and Rahman (2014).
abandoning the electronic shopping cart
(Javadi et.al, 2012). Thus, it can be proposed
that attitude towards electronic shopping has a

negative relationship with ESCA. Social 3.2 Electronic consideration stage- research
influence may affect the customers’ online and organization motive
product preferences. If the referral group has a During the electronic consideration stage,
negative opinion, then the customers are more customers use the electronic shopping carts as
likely to abandon the electronic shopping cart a means of research and organizational tool.
(Ashraf et al., 2014). The customer tries to get information about the
The customer generally visits an online product by browsing through pages of one
shopping website with hedonic and utilitarian online shopping website or by browsing on
motive (Zeba et. al, 2020; Krithika and Rajini, different online shopping websites (Close and
2017; Wildeboer and Donkers, 2014: Arnold Kukar- Kinney, 2010). There are unlimited
and Reynolds, 2003). Hedonic motives can be choices online that lead to choice conflict or
defined as when a customer is involved in
cynical attitude (Arumugam and Parasuraman,
shopping for experiences related to fun and 2017).
pleasure (Zeba et. al, 2020). The various In the efforts to overcome choice conflict, they
experiences that customers can have from sometimes involve themselves in perceived
online shopping are: idea shopping, value decision difficulty because of over information,
shopping, gratification shopping, and adventure which may lead to ESCA (Xu and Huang,
shopping (Arnold and Reynolds, 2003). 2015; Close and Kukar- Kinney, 2012). Over
The customers who visit online shopping cautiousness/rationality, postponement of
websites with an intention to overcome purchase decisions due to overthinking about
boredom or for fun and entertainment are more the quality and value of the product may also
likely to browse the pages of online shopping lead to ESCA (Negra and Mzoughi, 2012).
websites than making the purchases Sometimes, the customers use organization and
(Wildeboer and Donkers, 2014; Close and research tools as information gathering and
Kukar- Kinney, 2012). Such customers want
they prefer to buy from land-based retailers
to satisfy their browsing motive and are more rather than shop online (Close and Kukar-
likely to abandon the electronic shopping cart Kinney, 2010). Organization and research tool
(Erdil, 2018; Arumugam and Parasuraman, directly or indirectly affects the ESCA (Erdil,
2017; Krithika and Rajni, 2017). 2018; Arumugam and Parasuraman, 2017;
The utilitarian motive is associated with the Muster, 2016; Xu and Huang, 2015).
functional aspect with which customers indulge
themselves in an activity. The functional aspect 3.3 Electronic evaluation stage- choice
of online shopping is either the purchase intent conflict resolution and trust
of the customer at the given online session or During the electronic evaluation stage, the
to acquire the functional benefits of online customer evaluates the products under
shopping. consideration or in the e-cart on the basis of
Utilitarian motives behind electronic shopping some set of pre-decided criteria for decision
are largely goal-oriented and task-based (Close making. They try to find out similarities and
and Kukar- Kinney, 2012; Franz, 2014). differences among what they found and what
Customers with utilitarian motives are more they expected to resolve the choice conflict
likely to make a purchase of the products rather (Close and Kukar-Kinney, 2010).
than abandoning the electronic shopping cart. The customers generally evaluate according to
Hedonic and utilitarian motives may also have their characteristics. The customers may
an indirect effect on ESCA via customer’s generally have the budget which they allocate
perceived risk and benefit (Krithika and Rajni among different product categories or to online
2017; Wildeboer and Donkers, 2014). Thus, shopping expenses. Customer may
hedonic and utilitarian motives are important inadvertently choose a product that is out of
factors that may affect customers’ purchase budget and realizes it at some later stage of the
intention and buying behavior. buying process leading to ESCA (Sondhi,
2017; Cho, et al., 2006). Apart from mental
budgeting and accounting, lack of confidence
and hesitation may also lead to ESCA (Huang

et al., 2017). The online experiences of shopping environment becomes stressful for
customers may also influence their intentions customers when they encounter difficulty in
to make online purchases positively (El- handling new and advanced technology,
Ansary, 2013; Close and Kukar- Kinney, navigating sites, queuing and crowding. So, to
2012). When a customer is unable to physically cope up with the stressful situation customers
examine and experience the products; it is the generally try to avoid it which ultimately
trust on the website which influences the results into ESCA (Albrecht et al., 2017).
purchase decision making. Thus, trust in online An additional cost in the form of shipping
shopping websites and products influences the charges, taxes, handling cost may appear at the
customers’ behavioral intention in the online checkout stage and raise the overall amount
environment (De Silva and Wijayanayake, payable or cost of the product above the
2016; El-Ansary, 2013). budgeted amount expected by the customers.
Thus, customer characteristics play an Sometimes customers try to avail the discount
important role in determining the buying on promo code, coupons, and vouchers but
intention of the customers as the customer when they don’t work, this restrains them from
evaluates the product attributes and website completing the purchase procedure (Erdil,
attributes according to pre-decided criteria, 2018; Nair, 2016; Sreya and Raveendran, 2016;
they have made for decision making (Close and Close and Kukar- Kinney, 2012).
Kukar- Kinney, 2010). Usually, customers’ purchase decision is
strongly influenced by the purchase and
3.4 Electronic payment stage – convenience,
payment intention they have while doing online
economy and privacy concerns
shopping. When a customer visits the online
After completing the evaluation of the shopping website because he needs a particular
products, customer enters the electronic product the chance of purchasing is high as
checkout and payment stage. Perceived waiting compared to the customer who just visits
time, non- supportive payment mechanism, without a particular need (Wildeboer and
perceived behavioral control, perceived cost, Donkers, 2014). Customers’ payment intention
instant payment mechanism, urgency of (Rajamma, et al., 2009) and strong purchase
purchase and perceived online behavioral intention are negatively related to ESCA
tracking significantly affect the customer (Wildeboer and Donkers, 2014; Close and
buying intention and ESCA (Erdil, 2018; Nair, Kukar- Kinney, 2010).
2016; Sreya and Raveendran, 2016; Perceived online behavioral tracking is the kind
Shrivastava, 2014; Kukar-Kinney and Close, of tracking and compiling of the records of
2010; Rajamma, et al., 2009; Cho et al., 2006; customer's tastes, preferences or interests, and
Li and Chaterjee, 2005)The customers may communications over time across the social
sometimes get frustrated when they have to websites they use in order to deliver
wait for more than usual or due to long personalized advertising (Rajini and Krithika,
perceived waiting (Krithika and Rajini, 2018; 2018). Many online shopping websites use the
Shrivastava, 2014; Rajammaet al., 2009). A cookies file to monitor customers’ online
customer can also face inconvenience in the activities. This raises privacy concerns which
form of a non-supportive payment mechanism lead to ESCA (Close and Kukar-Kinney,
(non- availability of plastic cards demanded for 2010).
the payment). Such frustrated and dissatisfied The table 4 summarizes the various factors
customers prefer ESCA (De Silva and which may affect ESCA based on the review of
Wijayanayake, 2016; Nair, 2016; Javadi et.al, the literature. The factors are extracted to
2012). develop the conceptual framework of the
In an online environment, perceived behavioral customers’ behavioral motivators that
control refers to customers’ perceptions of their influences ESCA attributable to different
ability how well they can perform the online stages of the buying process.
purchasing task. Sometimes, the online

Table 4: Factors affecting ESCA according to stages of buying process

Impact
Stage Variable Studies
on ESCA
- El- Ansary (2013), Javadi et.al (2012)

Attitude towards
online shopping
(-) Cho et al., (2006)
Subjective norms
- Ashraf et al., (2014), Javadi et.al (2012)
(social influence)
E-search stage
Erdil, (2018),Krithika and Rajini (2017), Wildeboer and Donkers

+ (2014), Singh (2014), Close and Kukar- Kinney (2010), Arnold and
Hedonic motives Reynolds (2003)
(+) Krithika and Rajini (2017)
- Krithika and Rajini (2017), Wildeboer and Donkers(2014)

Utilitarian motives
(+) Krithika and Rajini (2017)
Erdil (2018), Xu and Huang (2015), Wildeboer and Donkers (2014),

+ Negra and Mzoughi (2012), Close and Kukar- Kinney, (2012), Close
Research about the and Kukar-Kinney (2010),Cho et al., (2006), Li and Chatterjee (2005)
E-consideration stage
product
(+) Arumugam and Parasuraman (2017)
(-) Msuter(2016)
Xu and Huang (2015), Wildeboer and Donkers (2014), Negra and

+ Mzoughi (2012), Close and Kukar-Kinney, (2012), Close and Kukar-
Organization of
Kinney (2010),Cho et al., (2006), Li and Chatterjee (2005)
product
(+) Arumugam and Parasuraman (2017)
+ Erdil (2018), Cho et al., (2006)

Choice conflict
(+) Muster (2016)
+ Cho et al., (2006)

Cognitive conflict
(+) Huang et al., (2017)
+ Cho et al., (2006)

Mental budgeting and
E-Evaluation stage
accounting
(+) Sondhi (2017)
Hesitation checkout,
+ Huang et al., (2017), Cho et al., (2006)
Self-efficacy
Shopping Stress + Albrecht et al., (2017)
Internet experience
+ El- Ansary (2013), Close and Kukar-Kinney (2010)
and Frequency of use
E- Service Quality + El- Ansary (2013)
- El- Ansary (2013), Cho et al., (2006), Liu et al., (2004)

Trust
(-) De Silva and Wijayanayake (2016)

Impact
Stage Variable Studies
on ESCA
Erdil (2018), Nair (2016), Sreya and Raveendran (2016), Shrivastava

Perceived transaction
+ (2014), Rajamma et al., (2009), Cho et al.., (2006), Li and Chatterjee
inconvenience
(2005),
+ Krithika and Rajini (2018), Shrivastava (2014)

Perceived waiting
time
- Rajamma et al., (2009)
E-Purchase stage
Erdil (2018), Nair (2016), Sreya and Raveendran (2016), Close and
+ Kukar-Kinney, (2012), Close and Kukar-Kinney (2010),Cho et al.,
Perceived cost (2006)
(+) Xu and Huang (2015)
Instant Payment
- Xu and Huang (2015)
Intention
Urgency of Purchase - Wildeboer and Donkers (2014), Close and Kukar-Kinney (2010)
Perceived online
+ Krithika and Rajini (2018), Close and Kukar-Kinney (2010)
behavioral tracking
4.Findings and Suggestions motive and ESCA. All these studies

unanimously reported that hedonic motive has
The existing review of literature from the
a direct and significant positive impact on
published sources for the past twenty years
ESCA which means customers with higher
(2000-2020) related to the phenomenon of
hedonic motives are more likely to abandon the
ESCA has been synthesized for the present
electronic shopping cart. However, in one
study to develop a comprehensive insight of
study hedonic motive was also found indirectly
the theoretical framework. The findings
affecting ESCA since it significantly affects
suggest that numerous factors persuade
perceived risk which further leads to ESCA
customers to leave the buying process
(Krithika and Rajini, 2017).
incomplete. Customers not only leave the
buying process incomplete due to 4.1.2 Utilitarian motive
dissatisfaction with the website and the product The two studies that considered the
attributes only but also due to several other relationship between utilitarian motive and
reasons like the customers' motivation behind ESCA reported that there was a direct and
the online shopping, consumer characteristics, significant negative impact of utilitarian motive
uncertainty factors and other factors. on ESCA which means that the customers with
4.1 Customers' motivation behind the online a more utilitarian motive are more likely to
shopping make the purchase and less likely to abandon
(Krithika and Rajini, 2017; Wildeboer and
Out of the thirty-three studies explored, three
Donkers, 2014). Krithika and Rajini (2017)
main motivations behind the online shopping
also reported the indirect significant impact of
have been found: hedonic motive, utilitarian
utilitarian motive on ESCA with the
motive and organization and research motive.
moderating effect of perceived risk.
These motives have been found as the
important factors which influence the 4.1.3 Organization and Research Motive
customers' online buying intentions. In the electronic consideration stage of the
4.1.1 Hedonic motive buying process, organizational and research
motive have been found to impact the buying
As depicted in the table IV, ten studies
intention of customer's behavior. Customers
measured the relationship between hedonic
usually use organizational and research tool as
an additional benefit of using e-cart and as an the emotional ambivalence of the customers
information gathering tool. As depicted in the which results in the ESCA (Huang et al.,
table IV, seven studies have analyzed the 2017).
relationship by considering both organization There is a need to further investigate this factor
and research of the product variables and all in the phenomenon of ESCA as a very few
the studies reported a direct and significant studies have analyzed the relationship of this
positive impact of organization and research factor with ESCA.
tool on ESCA. While only two studies have
4.2.2 Mental budgeting and accounting
studied the relationship with only research of
the product variable (Erdil, 2018; Muster, One study reported the direct and significant
2016). Erdil (2018) also found a direct and positive effect of mental budgeting and
significant positive impact of research of the accounting on ESCA while one study reported
product and ESCA. While one study found an the indirect and significant positive effect of
indirectand significant positive impact of mental budgeting and accounting on ESCA.
organization and research tool on ESCA Sondhi (2017) reported that if the customer's
(Muster, 2016). cart cost exceeds their budget, it will result in
cognitive dissonance and stress and to cope up
4.2 Consumer Characteristics with this situation, customers prefer to abandon
From the existing review of literature, it was than purchase.
found that consumer characteristics play a
4.2.3Self-efficacy and shopping stress
dominant role in influencing the customer's
behavior and intention in the online Huang et al. (2017) found that self-efficacy
environment. This factor plays a major role in indirectly impacts the ESCA. Self- efficacy
the third stage of the online buying process i.e., was found negatively associated with
electronic evaluation stage. The various factors emotional ambivalence that mediates the
included in this category are cognitive and relationship between self-efficacy and ESCA.
choice conflict, mental budgeting, and Albrecht et al., (2017) found that if customer
accounting, self-efficacy of the customer, experience stress during online shopping there
shopping stress, hesitation checkout, and trust. is more chances of abandonment than
Moreover, internet experience and frequency of purchase.
use of the online websites can be used as 4.2.4 Trust
additional factors in the model to increase the
predictive power of the model. This may give a Three studies reported that trust has a direct
better understanding of online shopping and significant negative impact on the ESCA
behavior and corresponding ESCA. (El-Ansary, 2013; Cho et al., 2006). However,
one study validated the moderating effect of
4.2.1 Cognitive and choice conflict trust on the relationship between buying
Customers usually experience two kinds of intention and buying behavior (De Silva and
conflicts while shopping online: cognitive and Wijayanayake, 2016)
choice conflict. As depicted in table IV, two 4.3 Uncertainty factors
studies reported a direct and significant
positive impact of choice conflict on ESCA The customer enters the e-purchase stage with
while only one study reported the direct and the motive to purchase the product after getting
significant positive impact of cognitive conflict satisfied with evaluating their choices. When
on ESCA (Erdil, 2018; Cho et al., 2006). In proceeding to the checkout and payment stage
one study choice conflict was also found customers may encounter some glitches or
indirectly impacting ESCA, since choice hindrances which turns their interest into
conflict increases the pre decision difficulty of anguish. From the existing review of literature
the customers which ultimately results in the following uncertainty factors have been found
ESCA (Muster, 2016). out: perceived transaction inconvenience,
Cognitive conflict was also found indirectly perceived waiting time, perceived cost, instant
impacting ESCA as cognitive conflict disturbs payment intention and urgency of purchase and
perceived online behavioral tracking.

4.3.1Perceived transaction inconvenience studies have observed this factor. Only two
and perceived waiting time studies observed the relationship between
perceived online behavioral tracking and
Out of the thirty-three studies explored for the
ESCA. Both the studies unanimously reported
present study, seven studies have studied the
that a direct and significant positive
relationship between perceived transaction
relationship exists between the two concepts
inconvenience and ESCA. All these studies
(Krithika and Rajini, 2018; Close and Kuakr-
reported the direct and significant positive
Kinney, 2010).
impact of perceived transaction inconvenience
Thus, it can be concluded that although the
on ESCA. Some researchers further classified
marketers cannot influence the motives of
the inconvenience of waiting time during the
searching the online shopping websites, they
online shopping process as another factor i.e.,
can still capture the attention of such
perceived waiting time. As depicted in table
customers, keep them engaged on the website
IV, two studies reported a direct and significant
by ample suggestions related to the products
positive impact of perceived waiting time on
and services they are exploring and give them
ESCA while one study reported a direct and
reminders for the products in their cart via
significant negative impact of perceived
different means. It is also the need of the hour
waiting time on ESCA. This negative impact is
that the e-retailers must upgrade their website
due to the efforts in terms of time spent on the
as in order to make websites more appealing
purchase process (Rajamma et. al, 2009)
and attractive developers sometimes make it
4.3.2 Perceived cost complicated. But shoppers mostly resist
A total of seven studies have explored the complex looking options and want an easily
relationship between perceived cost and ESCA. navigable websites to avoid inconveniences.
Six studies have reported the direct and Websites must be more informative and
significant positive impact of perceived cost on instructional one than complicated so that it
ESCA which means when customers suddenly allows customers to reach desired products in a
experience additional cost at the checkout and smaller number of clicks.
payment stage, they more likely to abandon the Moreover, findings also reported that providing
purchase. Xu and Huang (2015) on the other a large number of choices, attractive websites
hand reported that when customers experience without any opting guidelines is a kind of
additional costs, they are more likely to go for provoking to the customers. Once the
organization and research of product that may customers are tired or mentally exhausted, they
further influence ESCA. just leave the site without making any
purchase. So, it is crucial for e-retailers to
4.3.3 Instant payment intention and urgency consider the mindset of their customers and
of purchase must come up as a professional expert to assure
As depicted in the table IV, three studies products and services to the customers which
reported that with the increase in the urgency to they exactly crave for. Online retailers can
purchase, the frequency of online buying also adopt various offering techniques like
increases and the chances of abandonment gamification techniques, social shopping, and
decreases. Only one study observed the guided selling techniques to entertain and
relationship between instant payment intention create a long-lasting impression on their
and ESCA. Xu and Huang (2015) reported the customers. Like Forever 21 adopted social
negative relationship between instant payment shopping technique, they teamed up with
intention and ESCA which means once Chirpify platform to promote holiday discounts
customers form a strong payment intention to its Twitter followers. Customers have to
while doing online shopping the chances of retweet the original post of the company to get
purchasing the products are very high. a 10 per cent discount on the product. This not
only helps the company to attract customers
4.3.4 Perceived online behavioral tracking through discounts but also helps to enter into
There is a need to further investigate this factor their social space and increase traffic to their
in the phenomenon of ESCA as very few website. Social shopping or social commerce

has a promising future in India because of the 5.2 Implications for the industry
highest number of internet users. So, the e- The researchers have tried to uniquely study
commerce industries can take advantage of this the factors affecting ESCA from the
emerging trend to overcome the electronic cart perspective of the online buying process
abandonment. To avoid losses, the customers through the present study. Thus, the researchers
may be offered an optimum time limit to have attempted to explore and organize the
purchase the product else it may be removed customers' behavioral motivators behind each
from the cart to be added back to the stock and stage of the online buying process. This will
offered to other prospects. help the marketers to develop more pragmatic
5. Implications of the Study and specific strategies to satisfy online
customers at each stage of online buying
The present study has implications for both
process and achieve the goal of target sales.
academics and industry.
By studying the buying stages separately, the
5.1 Implications for academics stage wise pattern of ESCA can be explored to
The present study identified the customers' understand the reasons for the abandonment
behavioral motivators behind each stage of the more precisely. The awareness about the
online buying process. Academicians can use behavioral motivators at each stage of online
this insight and can analyze each stage of buying process congregated through the
ESCA separately by the use of appropriate comprehensive review of literature gives a
factors that have been discussed in this paper. better understanding of the factors that are
The stage wise analysis of abandoning of the creating challenges for the online marketers.
cart may help in conducting in depth studies for 6. Limitations and Future Scope of the
suggesting more pragmatic strategies for Study
improving the customer purchase process
The main limitation of the present study is that
experience.
it has not considered the impact of
The future researchers may continue to expand
demographic variables on ESCA. Furthermore,
the technology theories in the ESCA context.
the factors identified may have a different
For example the unified theory of acceptance
impact on customers from the different social
and use of technology model has not yet been
and cultural backgrounds. There is a need to
used in the research on understanding the
measure the validity and impact of these
phenomenon of electronic shopping cart
factors in context to different countries and
abandonment. This model is integrated and
compare the reasons for ESCA across the
extended version of eight existing popular
countries and time zones
theories. So, applying this model in this context
may give new insights and results.
References
1. 44 Cart Abandonment Rate Statistics - Cart motivations.Journal of Retailing, 79(2), 77–
& Checkout - Baymard Institute.(2020). 95. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-
Baymard Institute. 4359(03)00007-1
https://baymard.com/lists/cart- 4. Arumugam, S. S., &Parasuraman.J.
abandonment-rate (2017).Virtual shopping cart abandonment
2. Albrecht, C. M., Hattula, S., & Lehmann, and consumers` affinity towards
D. R. (2017). The relationship between conventional shopping
consumer shopping stress and purchase behavior.International Journal of Business
abandonment in task-oriented and and Administration ResearchRevie, 3(17),
recreation-oriented consumers.Journal of 81.
the Academy of Marketing Science, 45(5), 5. Ashraf, A. R., Thongpapanl, N. T., &Auh,
720–740. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747- S. (2014). The Application of the
016-0514-5 Technology Acceptance Model under
3. Arnold, M. J., & Reynolds, K. E. Different Cultural Contexts: The Case of
(2003).Hedonic shopping Online Shopping Adoption. Journal of

International Marketing, 22(3), 68–93. 15. Huang, G. H., Korfiatis, N., & Chang, C. T.
https://doi.org/10.1509/jim.14.0065 (2018). Mobile shopping cart
6. Charlton, G. (2021, June 25). 10 abandonment: The roles of conflicts,
Fascinating Stats on Cart Abandonment: ambivalence, and hesitation. Journal of
2019 Edition. SaleCycle. Business Research, 85, 165–174.
https://www.salecycle.com/blog/featured/1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.12.00
0-fascinating-stats-cart-abandonment/ 8
7. Cho, C. H., Kang, J., &Cheon, H. J. 16. Kaushik, A. K., &Rahman, Z. (2014).
(2006).Online Shopping Perspectives and Dimensions of Consumer
Hesitation.CyberPsychology& Behavior, Innovativeness: A Literature Review and
9(3), 261–274. Future Agenda. Journal of International
https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.261 Consumer Marketing, 26(3), 239–263.
8. Close, A. G., &Kukar-Kinney, M. (2010). https://doi.org/10.1080/08961530.2014.893
Beyond buying: Motivations behind 150
consumers’ online shopping cart 17. Kristensen, E. (2021, June 17). 15 Cart
use.Journal of Business Research, 63(9– Abandonment Statistics You Must Know in
10), 986–992. 2021. Sleeknote.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2009.01.02 https://sleeknote.com/blog/cart-
2. abandonment-statistics
9. Close, A. G., Kukar-Kinney, M., 18. Krithika.M.,&Rajini.G. (2017). Evidence
&Benusa, T. K. (2012). Toward a theory of of effect of perceived risk on online
consumer electronic shopping cart shopping cart abandonment.International
behavior: Motivations of e-cart use and Journal of Applied Business and Economic
abandonment. Online Consumer Behavior, Research, 15(21), 103-110.
357-378. 19. Jalilvand, M. R., &Samiei, N. (2012). The
10. De Silva, G. H. B. A., &Wijayanayake, W. impact of electronic word of mouth on a
M. J. I. (2016). E-cart abandonment tourism destination choice: Testing the
behavior: The moderating effect of trust. In theory of planned behavior (TPB). Internet
PIM Research Symposium, 9-10. Research: Electronic Networking
11. El-Ansary, O., &Roushdy, A. Applications and Policy, 22(5), 591-612
(2013).Factors affecting Egyptian 20. Li, S., &Chatterjee, P. (2005).Shopping
consumers' intentions for accepting online cart abandonment at retail websites-a multi-
shopping.The Journal of American stage model of online shopping
Academy of Business, 19(1), 191-201. behavior.UCR Sloan Center for Internet
12. Erdil, M. (2018). Factors affecting Retailing.
shopping cart abandonment: pre-decisional 21. Muster, R. F. (2016). Online shopping
conflict as a mediator. Pressacademia, 5(2), abandonment rate a new perspective: the
140–152. role of choice conflicts as a factor of online
https://doi.org/10.17261/pressacademia.201 shopping abandonment (Master's thesis,
8.845 University of Twente).
13. E-Commerce, Trade and The Covid-19 22. Nair, A. (2016). Abandonment of the
Pandemic (Online). shopping cart: a study of online consumer’s
\https://www.wto.org/english/news_ non shopping behavior. Journal of
e/news20_e/rese_04may20_ e.html Management, 1(2),11-22.
(Accessed on February 27, 2020). 23. Negra, A., & Nabil Mzoughi, M. (2012).
14. Franz, W. J. I. (2014). Hedonic and How wise are online procrastinators? A
Utilitarian Motivations behind Shopping scale development.Internet Research, 22(4),
and Research Behaviors: Theory and 426–442.
Evidence. International Journal of Applied https://doi.org/10.1108/1066224121125097
Behavioral Economics, 3(3), 17–30. 1
https://doi.org/10.4018/ijabe.2014070102 24. Rajamma, R. K., Paswan, A. K., &Hossain,
M. M. (2009). Why do shoppers abandon

shopping cart? Perceived waiting time, risk, 29. Statista.(2020). eCommerce - Worldwide.
and transaction inconvenience.Journal of https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/
Product & Brand Management, 18(3), 188– ecommerce /worldwide
197. 30. Try Retail Therapy to Reduce Stress and
https://doi.org/10.1108/1061042091095781 Lower Blood Pressure – Hello Heart.
6 (2020). Hello Heart.
25. Rajini.G.,&Krithika.M. (2018). Persuading https://www.helloheart.com/blog/shopping-
attributes of online shopping cart reduces-stress
abandonment. International Journal of 31. Wildeboer and Donkers, D., &Donkers, S.
Engineering and Technology, 7(3.34), 739- (2014).The consumers behind online
742. shopping cart abandonment: A research of
26. Shrivastava, O. (2014). To Study the the motivations, behavior and consumers
reasons for customer abandoning their on- behind online shopping cart abandonment
line shopping cart before purchase (Master's thesis,Erasmus University
completion stage.The International Journal Rotterdam, Netherlands).
of Engineering and Science, 3(2), 51-73 32. Xu, Y., & Huang, J. S. (2015).Factors
27. Sondhi, N. (2017). Segmenting & profiling Influencing Cart Abandonment in the
the deflecting customer: understanding Online Shopping Process.Social Behavior
shopping cart abandonment. Procedia and Personality: An International Journal,
Computer Science, 122, 392–399. 43(10), 1617–1627.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2015.43.10.161
2017.11.385 7
28. Sreya, R., and Raveendran, P. T. 33. Zeba, F., Shaheen, M., &Krishnankutty, R.
(2016).Dimensions of perceived risk in (2020). Hedonic and Utilitarian Values
online shopping- A factor analysis Behind Engagement of Online Consumers.
approach. BVIMSR’s Journal of Journal of Electronic Commerce in
Management Research, 8(1), 13-18. Organizations, 18(3), 1–20.
https://doi.org/10.4018/jeco.202007010

A SCIENTOMETRIC STUDY ON AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL

ENGINEERS (ASME) DURING 2000 TO 2020
Chaturbhuj S.B.1 and Sadik Batcha M.2
VPM‟s Maharshi Parshuram College of Engineering, Velneshwar, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India
1
2
Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamilnadu, India
1
santosh79.chaturbhuj@gmail.com, 2msbau@rediffmail.com
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
ABSTRACT
The study deals with the analysis of scholarly communication published in the ASME Journal of Mechanics from 2000
to 2020. Various Scientomeric indicators like SCImago Journal Rank, Source Normalized Impact per Paper, Relative
Growth Rate, Doubling Time, Domestic Collaboration Index, International Collaboration Index, Immediacy Index, are
used.The Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering obtained the highest 1.36 SJR scores followed by The
Journal of Turbomachinery with 0.972 SJR, Journal of Mechanical Design with 0.911 SJR scores.The highest
immediacy index was found in 2019 with a 0.59 immediacy index score.Taiwan is the highest country in domestic
collaboration 125.29 DCI.Scotlandhas found the highest international collaboration rate with a 220.66 ICI value.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Keyword: Scientometrics indicators, Impact Factor, SCImago Journal Rank, Source Normalized Impact per
Paper, Relative Growth Rate, Doubling Time, Domestic Collaboration Index, International Collaboration
Index
1. Introduction World. It increased up to 767 in 2013. The
publisher, like Elsevier, has 224 journals and
Mechanical Engineering is the core branch of
increased 988 journal titles contributed to
engineering and uses in almost every part of
Mechanical Engineering. Springer had 37
human life. The industrial development of any
journal titles, and in 1989 which increased 817
nation is based on the development of research
journal titles in 2020. Wiley had 51 journal
in Mechanical Engineering. The growing
titles in 1989, which increased to 467 journal
nature of this branch create difficulties in
titles in 2020. Taylor and Fancies had 45 titles
understanding and handling literature to the
in 1989, which increased to 355 titles in 2020.
professional like librarians, mechanical
IEEE had 31 titles in 1989 and increased to 134
engineers, professors and students. According
journal titles in 2020. American Society of
to the data indexed in the Web of Science,
Mechanical Engineers (ASME) had ten journal
search literature grew from 1989 to 2020. It is
titles in 1989 and increased by 25 in 2020.
found that during these 32 years, literature has
According to the data, there were 840 journals
grown tremendously.in 1989 Mechanical
in 1989 in the World, which were increased
Engineering field produced only 5814 research
4819 journals in Mechanical Engineering.All
articles throughout the World, increasing
this data indicated that the research
134964 in 2020. Total 1289674 research
publications increased enormously due to
articles were published in 32 years of span. It
industrial evaluation and seven developmental
means the research literature in Mechanical
waves in Mechanical Engineering. It created
Engineering was increased by 218.07 times in
many problems to understand the nature of
32 years. Compared to the year 1989 and the
research and handling the data as per the
year 2000, the annual growth of literature was
requirement of researchers, Educationist,
approximately 22 times increased. The
Engineers and students.So, to understand the
contribution of publications in 1982 was only
nature and publication trends, The study was
0.46% to the total, and it was increased by
conducted.
10.46% in 2020. It was found that 57.41%
growth to the complete publications was done 2. Objective of the Study
during the last eight years. It indicated the
1. To measure the year-wise distribution and
enormous research work had been done in growth of literature in 17 ASME journals
Mechanical Engineering. The number of 2. To understand the document type
publishers specialized in Mechanical contribution of ASME Journals to the
Engineering was 285 in 1989 in the whole Mechanical Engineering.

3. To measure the journals-wise productivity, scholarly communication on Phonology during

citation and different type on impact factor 2000-2007: A Scientometric Study”. The
ranking found in ASME Journals. study found the degree of collaboration is 0.5
4. To measure the relative growth rate and and the collaboration co-efficient and modified
required doubling time for the publications of collaboration coefficient is 0.5. Goswami, U
ASME Journals. was the first rank author in phonology.
5. To understand the country-wise „Lingua‟ is the first rank journal; the USA was
collaboration found in the publication of the highest contributed country. 6Buriak, Jillian
ASME Journals. M. (2015)6, in the Editorial entitled “Hot
Topics in Materials Chemistry and the
3. Review of Literature
Immediacy Index long-term versus short-term
Dixit, Swati, and karate, V.V. (2007)1 studied impact” Using Web of Science data, the
pattern analysis related to authorship, immediacy Chemistry of Material has gone up
Bibliographic forms, citations, contributing substantially, to a highly competitive 1.93 for
institutions in the field of the cotton research. 2014, from 1.27 for 2013.Aithal, P. S. (2017) 7,
The study indicates the growth in cotton field. published an article entitled “Comparative
It is found multi-authorship pattern. „Crop study of various research indices used to
Science‟ is the highest cited foreign journal measure the quality of research publication”. In
(164) and the „Journal of Indian Society of this paper, he explained the various indicators
Cotton Improvement‟ is the highest cited to access the impact authors based on citations
Indian Journal (280).Vijay, K.R. and such as h-index, g-index, and i10-index. In the
Raghavan, I (2007)2have published an article paper, he suggested some of the new indicators
entitled '' Journal of Food Science and like ARP-Index, RC-Index, Cost Index, etc.
Technology: A bibliometric study '. In the
study, he found that the maximum number of 4. Methodology
contributions is done by a joint author. The 4.1 Ranking by Impact Factor
contribution of Indian authors (82.72%) is Eugene Garfield firstly coined the term impact
more, only 17.28% of developed nations factor, which is abbreviated as IF. According to
contributed to this journal. Karnataka (1241 Garfield8, '' the ratio of the number of the
articles) is the highest contributed papers published over a period of time”. The
state.Kademani, B. S. and et al., (2005) 3 journal Impact Factor (IF) is regularly
published article‟ „Publication productivity of produced by the Institute for Scientific
the Bio-organic division at Bhabha atomic
Information. It is published in the Journal
Research centre: A Scientometric Study. " 475 Citation Reports (JCR). JCR impact factor
articles were published by Bio-organic division mathematically represented as
during 1972-2002. „Synthesis‟ (202), and „Bio- 𝑋1 +𝑋2
organic Chemistry‟ (100) are the highest below:𝐼𝐹 𝐴𝑦 = 𝑌 +𝑌
1 2
contributed subjects. The highest collaboration Where, IF (Ay) = impact factored of the
co-efficient 1.0 was found in the year 1972, journal „a‟ for the year „y‟
1976-1977,1980-1985, 1987, 1989-90, and X1 = number of citations received by X1 source
1993.Baskaran, C., and Batcha, Sadik M. item in the year y
(2012)4 published an article entitled X2 = number of citations received by X2 source
“Publication pattern and authors collaboration item in the year y
of cardiology research” The data is retrieved Y1 = number of source items published in the
from the MEDLINE database on cardiology journal „a‟ in the year Y1
during 1991-2010. 829 articles were analysed. Y2 = number of source item published in the
The study measures countries‟ annual growth journal „a‟ in the year Y2
rate and collaboration index. The mean degree For example., Impact Factor for the Current
of collaboration is 0.70 and the highest score Science in 2016 can be calculated as follow:
recorded is 0.88 in1991. 𝑋1 + 𝑋2
Batcha, Sadik M. and Chaturbhuj, S.B. (2019) 5 𝐼𝐹 𝐴𝑦 =
𝑌1 + 𝑌2
published an article entitled „Analysis of

𝐼𝐹 Current Ccience 2016 it is available to all in Scopus and other
Total citations received in 2016 for 2014 + 2015 locations.
=
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛 2014 + 2015 Generally, the impact factor considers all
632 citation values as equal. However, in the SJR, a
671 + 804 widely read multidisciplinary journal citation
632 counts as intensely as one from a more focused
1475 or local interest source. The SJR is a prestige
𝐼𝐹 Current Ccience 2016 = 0.428 metric inspired by Google's PageRank,
Therefore, the impact of current science for the whereby a journal's subject fields, quality, and
year 2016 is 0.428 reputation directly affect the value of citations
The impact factor indirectly measures the it gives to other journals.
quality and impact of articles published in The SJR is a prestige journal metric rather than
journals. The article published in the journals a popularity metric. It means if articles from A
received a high impact factor that has prestige journal received 100 citations and articles from
in scholarly communication. It has considered B journal also received 100 citations. However,
a high-quality article. Thus, the impact factor journal 'A' received citations from more
offset the effect of age, size, and frequency of a prestigious journals, and journal B received
journal's publications on the frequency of citations from less prestigious journals. Then
citations. However, the value of the impact the SJR impact factor of A journal is higher
factor is affected by different factors such as than B though both journals have the same
subject area, type of documents or length of the citations.
citation measurements windows. It is generally
found that the higher impact factor received by
the reviews type of documents than for other (SNIP)
documents types. Similarly, basic research The SNIP indicator is based on two other
received a higher impact factor than applied indicators: the journal raw impact per Pape
research. The newly evolving and slowly (RIP) divided by the relative database citation
growing disciplines have been affected by the potential (RDCP) in the journals subfield. In
short citation window of the JCR IF-that is two this impact factor, both the numerator and the
years. That is why the impact factor can not be denominator are quotients. The numerator is
compared with the journals of different similar to three years impact factor. The
disciplines. To come out with such limitations denominator is citation potential which
of impact factor now two years and five years depends on the topicality of the subject field. It
impact factors are introduced. The formula of measures the citation characteristic of the field
these impact factors is the same only citation the journal cited. It is determined by how often
windows and document years are two years in and how rapidly authors cite other works and
2 years impact factor and five years in 5 years how well the database, i.e., Scopus, cover their
impact factor. field.
Elsevier Scopus introduced two types of Mathematically, SNIP9 is represented
journal impact factor, which are- 𝑅𝐼𝑃
as:𝑆𝑁𝐼𝑃 = 𝑅𝐷𝐶𝑃
(a) SCImago Journal Rank (SJR)
For a given year of analysis, the RIP value of a
journal equals the average number of times the
(SNIP)
journal's publications in the three preceding
(a) SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) years was cited in the year of analysis. e.g., if
Elsevier's Scopus think about the qualitative 100 publications appeared in a journal from
aspect of citation and, with the help of 2008-2010 and were cited 200 times in 2011,
SCImago Research Group and CWTS, then the RIP value of the journal for 2011
developed SCImago Journal Rank that is the equals 200/100=2. It is just like the Impact
SJR impact factor. These metrics are calculated factor for three years citation window. The
by the bibliometric team externally for Elsevier only difference is that in calculating RIP
using Scopus index journal as its raw data, and values, citing and cited publications are

included on the Scoups document types- Where, Ii(Jy)= Immediacy Index of the journal
article, conference paper, or review. J for the year Y
The calculation of RDCP is getting by the C= number of citations received by X source
𝐷𝐶𝑃 items published in journal J in the year Y
following formula:𝑅𝐷𝐶𝑃 = 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛 (𝐷𝐶𝑃 )
X= Number of source items published in
In the formula, DCP denotes a journal's journal J in the year Y
database citation potential, and median (DCP) This index expressed how quickly the
denotes the median DCP value of all journals published articles get visible by others in the
in the database. It follows from the above published year itself. It shows the quality of
formula that the median RDCP value of all research impact of an author or journal in that
journals in the database equals one. field. However, the length of journals and time
Consequently, half of the journals in the of publication affect this index. As the number
database have a SNIP value higher than their of papers is more in a particular journal, getting
RIP value, and half of the journals in the more citations increases. In the same way, the
database have a SNIP value that is lower than more frequency of publication (i.e., Quarterly
their RIP value. Hence, within a given year of monthly) has a chance to get more citations
analysis, the division by median (DCP) does rather than a low frequency of publication
not affect how journals compare with each (half-yearly and yearly).
other.
Since the step from a journal's DCP value to its 4.3. Relative Growth Rate
RDCP value boils down to a division by a The growth of publications in any specific field
fixed value, it is essential to understand the or journal can be calculated with the help of
calculations of the DCP value of a journal. This two indicators- one is the relative growth rate,
calculation starts by delineating a journal which calculates the increase in the number of
subject field. The subject field of a journal is publications per unit of time. The second
defined as a set of all publications in the year indicator is doubling time which predicts the
of analysis with at least one reference to the time required for publication to become double
journal. The DCP value of a journal equals the the existing amount.
average number of references in the Mahapatra developed a model for finding the
publications that appeared in the three relative growth rate in publication. The mean
preceding years in journals covered by the relative growth rate R (P) over a specific
database. The calculation of a journal's DCP interval period can be calculated
value only considers citing and cited mathematically.
publications of the Scoups document type- 𝑤2 − 𝑤1
articles, conference papers and reviews. 𝑅𝑃 =
𝑇2 − 𝑇1
Mathematically, the DCP value of a journal Where, R (P)=Mean relative growth rate over
𝑟 +𝑟 +𝑟 +𝑟
can be expressed as:𝐷𝐶𝑃 = 1 2 𝑛 … 𝑛 the specific period interval
Where, n = the number of publications in the W1=log w1(natural log of the initial number of
subject field of the journal. publications)
r1=The number of references in the ith W2=log w2 (Natural log of the final number of
publication to publications that appeared in the publications)
three preceding years in journals covered by T2-T1=the unit difference between the initial
the database. time and final time
The same formula is used to find out the
4.2 Ranking by Immediacy Index relative growth rate for citations. The mean
Immediacy Index is the reshow of the citations relative growth rate of citations over the
received to the articles in the published year specific period is calculated mathematically, as
and the number of articles in that year of the follow:
particular journal. 𝐶2 − 𝐶1
𝑅(𝐶) =
Mathematically, the Immediacy index is 𝑇2 − 𝑇1
𝐶
expressed as:𝐼𝑖 𝐽𝑦 = 𝑋 Where, C2 and C1 are the cumulative numbers
of citations in the year T2 and T1

R(C) =Mean relative growth rate of citations D𝑖/D𝑖𝑜

over a specified period interval DCI = 𝑋 100
D𝑜/D𝑜𝑜
C1 =log C1 (natural log of the initial number of Where, Di= number of domestically co-
citations) authored paper for block „i‟
C2 =log C2 (natural log of the final number of Dio = number of domestically co-authored
citations) paper for all the blocks
T2-T1 =The unit difference between the initial Do= Total number of co-authored papers
time and final time. Doo= Total output
4.4. Doubling time 4.6. International Collaborative Index
Doubling time means the time required for If the affiliation of at least one author of an
published literature to become double the article belongs to a foreign country, then that
quantity of the existing amount. It is directly published paper is called an internationally
related to the relative growth rate. Suppose the collaborated paper. The degree of international
number of articles in a subject double during a collaboration is calculated by ICI (International
given period. In that case, the difference Collaboration Index) by the following formula
between logarithms of number at the beginning I𝑖/I𝑖𝑜
and end of this period must be the logarithm of ICI = 𝑋 100
I𝑜/I𝑜𝑜
the number 2. As per the Napier logarithm, the Where, Ii= number of internationally co-
value of log 2 is 0.693. Therefore, once the authored papers for block „i‟
relative growth rate is found, it is calculated Iio = number of internationally co-authored
what interval the Napier logarithm of number paper for all the blocks
increases by 0.693 to achieve the doubling time Io = Total number of co-authored papers for
of literature. block
The doubling time is calculated from the Ioo= Total output
following mathematical formula If the value of DCI or ICI is equal to 100, it
for Publications, it is represented as: means a given country‟s collaborative efforts
0.693 correspond to the world average. If DCI or ICI
𝐷𝑡(𝑝) =
𝑅 (𝑝) >100 indicates collaboration efforts higher than
for Citations, it is represented as: the world‟s average, and if DCI or ICI<100
0.693 means less than average collaboration.
𝐷𝑡(𝑐) =
𝑅 (𝑐)
5. Analysis of Data
4.5. Domestic Collaborative Index 5.1. Document-wise distribution of
Collaboration can be classified as Local, Publications
Domestic, and international collaboration. In ASME published 12 document types, including
the present study, domestic and international Articles, Conference proceedings, Editorial
collaboration are considered. If the affiliation Materials, Reviews, Corrections, New Items,
of the authors of an article belongs to one Biographical- Items, Reprints, Retracted
country, then that published paper is called a Publications, Book Reviews, and Bibliography
domestically collaborated paper. Generally, in the study years. From table No. 1, it is clear
any institute starts its research publications that the most prominent form of document type
with domestic collaboration, and gradually used by scientists or research scholars is
international collaboration increases. Garg and articles. Out of 42596 published documents,
Padhi10 (2001) and Dutt, Garg, and Bali11 36604 documents are articles that cover
(2003) suggested the Domestic collaborative 85.93% of the total. The articles received
index (DCI) and the International Collaborative 511736 citations within 21 years of citation
Index (ICI) for examining the pattern of window. Every journal has contributed articles
collaboration. To calculate the degree of as the most prominent document type. The
domestic collaboration, DCI (Domestic Conference proceeding papers are found 4438
Collaborative Index) is used. It is calculated by in the credit of ASME with 10.42% to the total.
the following formula. Conference proceedings are also a form of

articles. In the present study, this type of 13522, which shows the importance of this.
document receives 91075 citations. The The citations received by Review articles are
citations received by conference proceedings 2.19 % of the total. The Other form of
are 14.73% of the total citations. The Editorial document types published by ASME are less in
materials have 824 records with 1.93 % number in that form; Corrections are 209
documents and 1236 citations with 0.20% to (0.49%), News items are 102 (0.24 %),
the total. The Review is generally considered Bibliographical items are 65 (0.15%), Reprints
an essential form of scholarly communication. is 13 (0.03%) Articles retracted publications
In the study year, ASME found 332 records as are 3 (0.01%,) Book reviews are 2 (0.00%),
review articles which are 0.78% of the total. and only one document is published as
The citations received by Review articles are Bibliography form.
Table No.1 Document-wise distribution of Publications of ASME Journals
Sr. No Document Type Records % of 42596 Citations % of 618187
1 Article 36604 85.93 511736 82.78
2 Proceedings Paper 4438 10.42 91075 14.73
3 Editorial Material 824 1.93 1236 0.20
4 Review 332 0.78 13522 2.19
5 Correction 209 0.49 168 0.03
6 News Item 102 0.24 167 0.03
7 Biographical-Item 65 0.15 33 0.01
8 Reprint 13 0.03 230 0.04
9 Retracted Publication 3 0.01 14 0.00
10 Letter 3 0.01 6 0.00
11 Book Review 2 0.00 0 0.00
12 Bibliography 1 0.00 0 0.00
Total 42596 100.00 618187 100
5.2 Document-wise distribution over the growth except the fluctuation found in 2015,
years 2016 and 2020. Total 36604 articles were
published during 21 years, and it is the most
Table Number 2 represents the year-wise
prominent document type of published
distribution of document types publications
materials by ASME Journals. The standard
published by 17 ASME journals from 2000 to
deviation of the article's publications is 466.56,
2020. Total 4438 records are found as
conference proceeding articles. It shows that and the mean value of the range of article
publication is 1743.05, and the standard
the number of publications is consistently
deviation value is much higher (466.56), which
increasing over the years. Its coefficient
means each year's publications have much
variations for the publications are 0.18, which
deviated from the mean value or the average.
shows the consistent pattern in publications.
However, the coefficient value of the article is
The mean of the publications is 2028.38. It
0.268, which show consistency in publications.
means the average number of publications is
Compared to other forms of documents, the
2028.38. The value or the number of
highest publications in the form of articles are
documents published each year has a deviation
found in 2019, with 2499 articles.
of 355.41. Table Number 2 represents that the
publications of articles observed continuous

Table No.2 Year-wise distribution of ASME publication along with citation details
Sr. No. Year Publications % of 42596 Citations % of 618187 ACPI ACPY h-index ACPCY
1 2000 1477 3.47 38898 6.29 26.34 1852.29 87 1852.29
2 2001 1583 3.72 42938 6.95 27.12 2044.67 85 2146.90
3 2002 1588 3.73 47654 7.71 30.01 2269.24 96 2508.11
4 2003 1632 3.83 44029 7.12 26.98 2096.62 83 2446.06
5 2004 1658 3.89 42739 6.91 25.78 2035.19 87 2514.06
6 2005 1705 4.00 43458 7.03 25.49 2069.43 85 2716.13
7 2006 1811 4.25 44048 7.13 24.32 2097.52 81 2936.53
8 2007 1881 4.42 40129 6.49 21.33 1910.90 77 2866.36
9 2008 1892 4.44 32418 5.24 17.13 1543.71 65 2493.69
10 2009 1959 4.60 31399 5.08 16.03 1495.19 63 2616.58
11 2010 2006 4.71 30636 4.96 15.27 1458.86 65 2785.09
12 2011 2073 4.87 29249 4.73 14.11 1392.81 59 2924.90
13 2012 2155 5.06 27546 4.46 12.78 1311.71 56 3060.67
14 2013 2256 5.30 26278 4.25 11.65 1251.33 49 3284.75
15 2014 2309 5.42 25355 4.10 10.98 1207.38 50 3622.14
16 2015 2245 5.27 22125 3.58 9.86 1053.57 45 3687.50
17 2016 2228 5.23 16255 2.63 7.30 774.05 33 3251.00
18 2017 2464 5.78 14947 2.42 6.07 711.76 31 3736.75
19 2018 2601 6.11 10896 1.76 4.19 518.86 22 3632.00
20 2019 2722 6.39 6088 0.98 2.24 289.90 15 3044.00
21 2020 2351 5.52 1102 0.18 0.47 52.48 9 1102.00
Total 42596 100 618187 100 14.51 29437.48 NIL NIL
ACPI=Average Citations per Items/Article, ACPY= Average Citations Per Year, ACPCY= Average Citations Per
Citable Year
The citations depend on the citeable year; that The remaining documents have less than 96
is why one cannot realise the accurate quality citations. Similarly, the second-highest h-index
of the documents published in the year. The was found in 2000 and 2004 with 87 h-index
table represents that if the publications' citable scores. The lowest h index score was found in
span draws average citations, we get average 2020 with nine scores.
citation per citable year (ACPCY). According
5.3Source wise distributions of ASME
to that highest value was received in the year
Journals along with journal Impact Factor
2017 with a 3736.75 ACPCY value. It means
that 2464 documents have consistently got The journals published by the American
much higher citations in the citable year. As Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) are
the average number of citations per citable taken in the present study. Seventeen source
years decreases, the citations increase titles are taken with the publication duration
continuously with a slight fluctuation in 2016, from 2000 to 2020. Table Number 3 represents
2018, 2019 2020. It means that as the citable these journal-wise data along with Total
years' increase, the average citation count Citations (TC), average citation per item
decreases. In other words, the utilisation of (ACPI), average citations per year (ACPY),
older documents is increasing slowly. It is the and different forms of journal impact factors.
absolute value of the documents published According to table number 4, 17 journals
each year. published 42596 articles from 2000 to 2020. In
The table also represents the h-index value all the journals, the Journal of Heat Transfer
received by each year. Through the h-index, published the highest number of articles that is
the publication impact created by the published 4320, with 10.14 % publications. The second
documents in a particular year is represented. and third highest publications were found by
As per table number 3, the highest h-index the Journal of Engineering and Gas Turbines
impact was found in 2002 with a 96 h-index and Power and the Journal of Fluid
score. It means that there are at least 96 Engineering with 1475 and 3333 documents,
documents within 1588 documents that respectively with 9.80 % and 7.82 %. The
received at least 96 or greater than 96 citations. lowest productivity was found by the Journal

of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering From table number 3, it is found that the
with 1207 contributions which are 2.83 % of Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, which
the total. It is found that the journals devoted to deals with solar power generation Technology,
the core subject have high productivity while has only 1685 research articles which are less
the journals which deal with the in number as compared to the other core
interdisciplinary obtain a significantly less journals. It is significantly less in number, but
number of published articles. The Journal of still, this journal received 26678 citations
Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering during the study year. Articles from this
deals with analysis design and technology journal received a 15.83 ACPI score which is
development in Ocean, Offshore Arctic and nearest to the first rank journal. It means that
related field. As this journal is very specialised solar power generation is an emerging field in
in the subject area, the productivity is less than Mechanical Engineering and significantly
other core subjects (1207 articles, 2.83 % of impacts research scholars. It is also found that
the total). the lowest number of citations received by the
The ASME journal received 618231 citations Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic
to 42596 published articles within the study Engineering and is 9007 with 1.46 % citations
duration. The citation data was collected on to the total. These articles received a 7.46 score
24th April 2021. It is found that the Journal of of average citation per article (ACPI) and
Heat and Transfer received 77848 citations for 428.90 scores of average citations per year
4320 published articles with the rank first. It (ACPY). The table also depicts that only two
contributed 12.59% to the total received journals, the Journal of Heat Transfer and the
citations. This journal received 18.02 average Journal of Biochemical Engineering, received
citations per article (ACPI) and have 3707.05 more than 10% citations. It founds that the
average citations per year (ACPY). The Journal of Mechanical Design, the Journal of
second-ranked journal was the Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, the
Biochemical Engineering received 68379 Journal of Fluid Engineering, the Journal of
citations for 3057 published articles and Turbomachinery and the journal of Applied
received 11.06% citations. The journal Mechanics have received citations of more than
obtained 22.37 average citations per article 7% and less than 10%. These journals are
(ACPI) and received 3256.14 average citations devoted to the core subject of Mechanical
per year (ACPY). Engineering.
Table No. 3 Source-wise distributions of ASME Journals along with journal Impact Factor
Sr. Source % of Citatio % of AC SJR SCI IF 5 Years
Records ACPY
No. Titles 42596 ns 618231 PI Score JIF (WOS) IF
1 J1 4320 10.14 77848 12.59 18.02 3707.05 0.72 1.96 1.74 1.59
2 J2 4175 9.80 45748 7.40 10.96 2178.48 0.57 1.94 1.09 1.14
3 J3 3333 7.82 46162 7.47 13.85 2198.19 0.53 2.22 1.75 1.64
4 J4 3057 7.18 68379 11.06 22.37 3256.14 0.55 1.90 1.77 2.07
5 J5 3012 7.07 43673 7.06 14.50 2079.67 0.69 2.85 1.89 2.20
6 J6 2969 6.97 61715 9.98 20.79 2938.81 0.91 3.34 2.79 3.16
7 J7 2777 6.52 42098 6.81 15.16 2004.67 1.37 3.20 2.74 2.73
8 J8 2737 6.43 32234 5.21 11.78 1534.95 0.53 1.74 1.24 1.22
9 J9 2356 5.53 45216 7.31 19.19 2153.14 0.97 2.86 1.57 1.80
10 J10 2343 5.50 32538 5.26 13.89 1549.43 0.50 1.90 1.68 1.60
11 J11 2189 5.14 14077 2.28 6.43 670.33 0.41 1.08 0.90 0.86
12 J12 2111 4.96 27513 4.45 13.03 1310.14 0.61 2.52 1.44 1.65
13 J13 1774 4.16 14480 2.34 8.16 689.52 0.62 3.23 2.63 2.32
14 J14 1685 3.96 26678 4.32 15.83 1270.38 0.55 1.98 2.01 1.66
15 J15 1276 3.00 17308 2.80 13.56 824.19 0.37 1.14 1.22 1.14
16 J16 1275 2.99 13557 2.19 10.63 645.57 0.52 1.88 1.67 1.73
17 J17 1207 2.83 9007 1.46 7.46 428.90 0.56 1.35 1.22 1.22
Total 42596 100 618231 100 14.51 29439.57 NIL NIL NIL NIL

J1=Journal of Heat Transfer, J2=Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, J3=Journal of Fluids Engineering,
J4= Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, J5=Journal of Applied Mechanics, J6=Journal of Mechanical Design,
J7=Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, J8=Journal of Dynamic Systems Measurement and Control,
J9=Journal of Turbomachinery, J10=Journal of Tribology, J11=Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, J12=Journal of
Vibration and Acoustics, J13=Journal of Energy Resources Technology, J14=Journal of Solar Energy Engineering,
J15=Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology, J16=Journal of Electronic Packaging, J17=Journal of Offshore
Mechanics and Arctic Engineering. ACPI=Average Citations Per Item/Article, ACPY=Average Citation Per Year,
SJR=SCImago Journal Rankings, SCI JIF= Science Journal Impact Factor IF(WOS)= Impact Factor from the citations data
of WOS.
Table number 3 depicts the score obtained by numeric value indicating the average number
ACP and ACP as per the table shown the of weighted citations received during a selected
highest ACP score obtained by the Journal of year per document published in the journal
Biochemical Engineering with 22.37 ACPI during the previous three years. It is said that
score the second-ranked journal in ACPI score higher SJR values are meant to indicate greater
is the Journal of Mechanical Design with 20.79 journal prestige. Table number 4 indicate that
ACPI score. From the ACPI score of these the highest prestigious ASME journal is the
journals, it is found that interdisciplinary and Journal of Manufacturing Science and
core subjects have gotten weightage in Engineering which obtained a 1.36 SJR score.
Mechanical Engineering research. Apart from It means that this journal received a higher
the above two journals, the Journal of number of citations and citations from higher
Turbomachinery and the Journal of Heat prestigious SJR valued journals. The second
Transfer received 19.19 and 18.02 ACPI and third-ranked prestigious journals are the
scores, respectively. It is found that the highest Journal of Turbomachinery and the Journal of
average citation per year (ACPY) was received Mechanical Design, with 0.972 and 0.911 SJR
by the Journal of Heat Transfer with 3707.05 scores. According to the data, the lowest SJR
ACPY scores, followed by the Journal of score is received by the Engineering Materials
Biomechanical Engineering with 3256.14 and Technology journal with 0.368. It means
ACPY scores. The Journal of Offshore that though this journal received citations
Mechanics and Arctic Engineering receives the better than few other journals, the referenced
lowest average citation per year with 428.90 citations do not belong from widely cited
ACPY scores. journals. It may be possible that the citations
Through ACPI and ACPY indicators, it is clear received by the journal are local influenced
that subjects like Biomechanical Mechanical citations. They do not belong to reputed
Design, Turbomachinery, Heat Transfer, Solar journals. The data also represent that though
Energy are the prominent subjects that received some journals have high citations but received
higher citations count per year and article. The low SJR scores, others have fewer citations but
demand for these subjects is much higher than receive higher SJR scores. It means that ASME
the other subjects of Mechanical Engineering. journals having more than 0.5 SJR scores are
It is also found that the articles of ASME have having more research impact in the field of
a 14.51 ACPI score in general, which is mechanical engineering publications.
considered a good average. It is found that
5.4 Immediacy index and Relative Citation
every year is ASME articles receive 29439.57
Index of the year-wise publications of
average citations to the total publications.
ASME Journals
SJR score is also known as the SCImago
Journal Rank. This indicator measures the The immediacy index is a measure of how
influence of scientific journals by the number quickly the average article in a particular
of citations received by a journal and the journal is cited. It means that the articles
importance or prestige of the journal where published and get citations within the
citations come from. SJR is a Prestige Metric published year is measured by Immediacy
inspired by Google's page rank whereby Index. Table 5.15 expressed the year-wise
journals subject field, quality, and reputation distribution of immediacy index for articles
directly affect the value of citation it gives to published by ASME journals from 2000 to
other journals. Therefore, a journal SJR is a 2020. It is found that the highest immediacy

index was found in 2019 with a 0.59 total journal publications. The RCI value of
immediacy index score. It is found that in 2002 also indicates that the citation rate to the
2019, 2722 articles were published, and in article published is double the average citation
2019 these articles got 1608 citations in the rate of ASME journals. It means the quality,
same year. These citations with the same year visibility, and acceptability of these articles
are highest among the study year. So that in were very high in 2002. The data show that
2019 immediacy index is highest. In other from 2000 to 2010, the value of RCI indicators
words, the visibility of the articles by other is more than 1, indicating that during these
research scholars is highest compared to other years, the year-wise articles have received the
years. The Immediacy index score higher citation rate of the publications of the
continuously increased from 2000 to 2020, total journal. It also depicted that from 2011 to
except the decline is found in 2008(0.7), 2009 2020, the RCI value continuously decreased,
(0.10) and 2013 (0.18). During the years 2014 and it was less than 1, indicating that these
to 2020, the Immediacy index continuously years articles did not get citation rate which the
increases significantly. The data shows that the complete publications of journals achieved.
quality of ASME journals are improving as The Citable year is also essential and has an
research scholars with increasing trends prefer impact on RCI. It is found that the mean rate of
it. The immediacy index started at 0.05, and it RCI value is 1.10, which is more than one. It
increased 0.59 within 21 years. It shows that indicates that the articles published in ASME
research scholars give preference to the ASME journals have received more citations than the
journals recent articles. It proves the quality total journals publication rate. The quality of
and upgraded information found in ASME articles and visibility of articles where both
journals. have found higher during the study period. The
This Scientometric indicator was developed by table shows the total number of citations and
the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) average citations per item already discussed in
presently. Thomson Reuters, USA. This year-wise distribution of articles. (Table no. 2).
indicator measures the influence and visibility Only one relation found between ACPI and
of the articles published during a particular RCI is that if ACPI increases, the value of RCI
year. According to the data expressed in table is also increased, and if ACPI value decreases,
no. 5.16, the highest relative citation index the value of RCI is also decreased. It means
found in 2002 with a 2.07 RCI value. It shows there is a positive correlation found between
that articles published in 2002 have received these two indicators.
citations higher than the citation rate to the
Table No. 4 Immediacy index and Relative Citation Index of the year-wise
publications of ASME Journals
Citation Given
Published Immediacy
Sr. No Year to the Articles TNC RCI
Articles Index
in Published Year
1 2000 1477 72 0.05 38898 1.81
2 2001 1583 83 0.05 42938 1.87
3 2002 1588 126 0.08 47654 2.07
4 2003 1632 122 0.07 44029 1.86
5 2004 1658 119 0.07 42739 1.78
6 2005 1705 186 0.11 43458 1.76
7 2006 1811 186 0.10 44048 1.68
8 2007 1881 263 0.14 40129 1.47
9 2008 1892 132 0.07 32418 1.18
10 2009 1959 204 0.10 31399 1.10
11 2010 2006 369 0.18 30636 1.05
12 2011 2073 386 0.19 29249 0.97
13 2012 2155 561 0.26 27546 0.88
14 2013 2256 411 0.18 26278 0.80
15 2014 2309 808 0.35 25355 0.76

16 2015 2245 792 0.35 22125 0.68
17 2016 2228 873 0.39 16255 0.50
18 2017 2464 1090 0.44 14947 0.42
19 2018 2601 1213 0.47 10896 0.29
20 2019 2722 1608 0.59 6088 0.15
21 2020 2351 1086 0.46 1102 0.03
Total 42596 NIL NIL 618187 NIL
5.5 Relative Growth Rate (RGR) and mean relative growth rate was 1.175, and from
Doubling Time (DT) for the publications 2007 to 2014, the mean relative growth rate
and citation received by ASME Journals: was found 2.231, and during the years 2015 to
According to the table No 5, the relative 2020, the mean relative growth rate was found
growth rate for the year 2000 was 0.659, and it 2.231. It shows that the literature published by
continuously moved on and reached 2.897 in ASME journals are continuously increasing
2020. It is found that the relative growth rate of their publications. The difference between the
ASME journals increasing continuously relative growth rate in 2000 and 2020 is 2.238
through the study years. From 2000 to 2006 it means almost more than double the growth
rate found in publications.
Table 5.5 Relative Growth Rate (RGR) and Doubling Time (DT) for the publications and
citation received by ASME Journals
Cum. Cum.
RT Dt RT Dt
Publications Publica W1 W2 TNC Citation W3 W4
Year (p) (p) (c) (c)
tions s
RGR(p) & Dt(p) RGR(c) & Dt(c)
2000 1477 1477 7.30 7.30 0.00 38898 38898 10.57 10.57 0.00
2001 1583 3060 7.37 8.03 0.66 1.05 42938 81836 10.67 11.31 0.64 1.07
2002 1588 4648 7.37 8.44 1.07 0.65 47654 129490 10.77 11.77 1.00 0.69
2003 1632 6280 7.40 8.75 1.35 0.51 44029 173519 10.69 12.06 1.37 0.51
2004 1658 7938 7.41 8.98 1.57 0.44 42739 216258 10.66 12.28 1.62 0.43
2005 1705 9643 7.44 9.17 1.73 0.40 43458 259716 10.68 12.47 1.79 0.39
2006 1811 11454 7.50 9.35 1.84 0.38 44048 303764 10.69 12.62 1.93 0.36
2007 1881 13335 7.54 9.50 1.96 0.35 40129 343893 10.60 12.75 2.15 0.32
2008 1892 15227 7.55 9.63 2.09 0.33 32418 376311 10.39 12.84 2.45 0.28
2009 1959 17186 7.58 9.75 2.17 0.32 31399 407710 10.35 12.92 2.56 0.27
2010 2006 19192 7.60 9.86 2.26 0.31 30636 438346 10.33 12.99 2.66 0.26
2011 2073 21265 7.64 9.96 2.33 0.30 29249 467595 10.28 13.06 2.77 0.25
2012 2155 23420 7.68 10.06 2.39 0.29 27546 495141 10.22 13.11 2.89 0.24
2013 2256 25676 7.72 10.15 2.43 0.28 26278 521419 10.18 13.16 2.99 0.23
2014 2309 27985 7.74 10.24 2.49 0.28 25355 546774 10.14 13.21 3.07 0.23
2015 2245 30230 7.72 10.32 2.60 0.27 22125 568899 10.00 13.25 3.25 0.21
2016 2228 32458 7.71 10.39 2.68 0.26 16255 585154 9.70 13.28 3.58 0.19
2017 2464 34922 7.81 10.46 2.65 0.26 14947 600101 9.61 13.30 3.69 0.19
2018 2601 37523 7.86 10.53 2.67 0.26 10896 610997 9.30 13.32 4.03 0.17
2019 2722 40245 7.91 10.60 2.69 0.26 6088 617085 8.71 13.33 4.62 0.15
2020 2351 42596 7.76 10.66 2.90 0.24 1102 618187 7.00 13.33 6.33 0.11
W1=Natural Log of initial number of Publications, W2= Natural Log of Final Number of Publications, RGR(p)=
Relative Growth rate of Publications, DT(p)= Doubling Time of Publication, W3= Natural Log of initial number of
Citations, W4= Natural Log of final number of Citations, RGR(c)=Relative Growth of Citations, Dt(c)=Doubling Time
of Citations.
Table no. 5 also provides how many years the in 2000 the doubling time was found 1.051,
publications required to be double in the and in 2020 the doubling time for the
quantity of ASME journals collectively by publication is 0.239. It means that the ASME
showing the doubling time required per year. It journals have increased productivity, so the
also reflects the mean doubling time required required time for making the publication
for every seven years. The data expressed that double is decreasing. It is also found that the

mean doubling time required during 2000-2006 5.6 County-wise distribution of Domestic
is 0.490. Moreover, from 2007 to 2014, it was and International Collaboration:
found to be 0.312. In the same way, the mean Authors generally collaborate his/her research
doubling time for 2015 to 2020 is found to be efforts with others at three levels: local,
0.260. It shows that the relative growth rate
domestic, and international collaboration.
increased by more than double, so doubling Local collaboration happens when both the
time also reduced by half in amount. authors belong to the same institute, whereas
According to the data presented in table No.10, Domestic collaboration means the
the relative growth rate in terms of citations collaboration authors belong from the same
received by the ASME journals in 2001 is 0.64, country. Moreover, if the collaborated authors
and it leads towards 6.33 in 2020 within 21
belong from different countries are called
years. It is found that the average citations international collaboration. Table No. 6
relative growth in receiving citations during the enumerates the country-wise Domestic and
study years is 2.64. The relative growth rate in International collaboration status found in
citations is consistently increasing. It is found ASME journals publications. Two indicators
that the mean relative growth in citations is are used to analyse the domestic and
1.19 from 2000 to 2006, 2.64 from 2007 to
international collaboration rate: The domestic
2013 and 4.08 from 2014-2020. collaborative index (DCI) and the International
It is found that in the year 2000, the rate of collaborative index (ICI).
doubling time for receiving the citations is The table represents that Taiwan is the highest
1.074, which is very high. As the citations country in collaboration with its research
increase chronologically, the rate of doubling efforts at the domestic level. Its domestic
time decreases and in 2020, it remains at 0.109. collaboration rate is 125.29 DCI. The second
On average, the mean doubling time during the higher domestic collaboration was found in the
study year remains 0.312. The data reflects USA with a 115.77 DCI value. The third
those citations received from 2000 to 2006 are highest domestic collaboration efforts are
303764, which required the mean doubling found in India, with a 114.73 DCI value. The
time of 0.49 to increase in double. During the fourth and fifth-ranked countries in domestic
years 2007 to 2013 mean doubling time collaboration are Japan and Iran, with 107.85
required was 0.27, and during the year 2014- and 106.36 DCI values. It is found that only six
2020, it is found 0.18. It shows the inverse countries have a domestic collaborative index
correlation relationship between relative value of more than 100, which means that only
growth rate and doubling time. As the citations these six countries have domestic collaboration
are increasing chronologically, the doubling efforts, which is higher than the world average.
time required for getting the citations double in Those countries that have higher domestic
amount is chronologically decreasing. The collaboration rates means they have lower
relative growth rate for receiving citations was international collaboration efforts.
found similar to the linear growth rate.
Table No. 6County wise distribution of Domestic and International Collaboration
Sr. No Country Records Papers in DC DCI Papers in IC ICI
1 USA 19486 15418 115.77 4068 65.95
2 Peoples R China 5474 3590 95.96 1,884 108.73
3 Canada 2537 1712 98.74 825 102.73
4 England 2356 1279 79.43 1,077 144.41
5 Japan 1917 1413 107.85 504 83.06
6 Germany 1829 1047 83.76 782 135.07
7 India 1802 1413 114.73 389 68.20
8 Italy 1489 983 96.59 506 107.35
9 France 1446 854 86.41 592 129.33
10 South Korea 1117 639 83.70 478 135.19
11 Taiwan 842 721 125.29 121 45.40
12 Iran 769 559 106.36 210 86.27

13 Australia 659 310 68.83 349 167.30
14 Switzerland 618 285 67.48 333 170.22
15 Sweden 529 299 82.70 230 137.35
16 Spain 518 304 85.87 214 130.51
17 Netherlands 458 236 75.39 222 153.13
18 Turkey 452 272 88.05 180 125.80
19 Israel 416 290 102.00 126 95.68
20 Singapore 384 192 73.16 192 157.95
21 Brazil 378 243 94.06 135 112.82
22 Norway 361 215 87.14 146 127.76
23 Saudi Arabia 342 144 61.61 198 182.89
24 Egypt 267 133 72.88 134 158.55
25 Greece 254 165 95.05 89 110.69
26 Belgium 248 118 69.62 130 165.60
27 Poland 210 143 99.63 67 100.79
28 Scotland 199 60 44.12 139 220.66
29 Ireland 190 86 66.23 104 172.92
30 Other 3030 1444 69.73 1586 165.36
Total 50577 34567 NIL 16010 NIL
DC=Domestic Collaboration, DCI= Domestic Collaborative Index, IC=International Collaboration, ICI= International
Collaborative Index
The lowest Domestic collaboration rate was like Switzerland (170.22), Australia (167.30),
found in Scotland country with a 44.12 DCI Belgium (165.60), Egypt (158.55), Singapore
value. The same country is the highest (157.95), Netherlands (153.13), England
international collaboration rate with a 220.66 (144.41), Sweden (137.35), South Korea
ICI value. It means Scotland published 199 (135.19), Germany (135.07), Spain (130.51),
documents in ASME journals, and out of those France (129.33), Norway (127.70), Turkey
documents, 139 research articles have (125.80), Brazil (122.82), Italy (107.35),
international collaboration, and only 60 Canada (102.73), and Poland (100.79) are
research articles have domestic collaboration. having collaboration efforts higher than the
The second rank in international collaboration world average in the publications of ASME
reserved by Saudi Arabia 182.89 ICI value. journals. The value discussion regarding
Ireland is the third highest country in Domestic and International collaborative
international collaboration with a 172.92 ICI efforts clears that the authors of many countries
value. have international collaboration trends. It
The countries that have ICI value more than means the ASME journals publications
100 means these countries collaborative effects followed international collaboration trends.
in international collaboration are higher than The information of table No. 6 is shown in
the world's average. It is found that countries graph No.1
Graph No. 1 Country wise Domestic and International Collaboration found in ASME
Journals
County wise distribution of Domestic and International
Collaboration
500.00
0.00
DCI & ICI
AU…
ITA…
TAI…
BEL…
PO…
IRE…
SW…
SW…
SP…
SC…
BR…
NO…
PE…
GE…
FR…
EG…
Ot…
IN…
SIN…
SA…
CA…
ISR…
EN…
JAP…
SO…
NE…
TU…
GR…
IRAN
USA
Country
Domestic Collaborative Index (DCI) International collaborative Index (ICI)

6. Result discussion and Conclusion: Mechanical Engineering and significantly

impacts research scholars. The Journal of
ASME organization published the articles in 17
Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering is
journals. Total 42596 articles were published
9007 with 1.46 % citations to the total, which
from 2000 to 2020. These articles received
is a very specialized field of Mechanical
618187 citations with 14.51 ACPI and 14.51
Engineering.
ACPY, which shows that ASME is one of the
The highest prestigious ASME journal is the
leading publications in Mechanical
Journal of Manufacturing Science and
Engineering and has much visibility by the
Engineering which obtained a 1.36 SJR score.
researcher. In these published documents, the
It means that this journal received a higher
highest publication was found in article form,
number of citations and citations from higher
which means the authors from Mechanical
prestigious SJR valued journals. The Journal of
Engineering prefer to publish their research in
Mechanical Design received the highest impact
articles. However, it is observed that review
factor with 2.79 in 2020 and 3.16 impact factor
articles have been increasing in recent years.
within the last five years. It means that this
The year-wise publication indicates that
journal consistently received the high citation.
consistency grew in publication with the
In other words, this journal is the most utilized
fluctuations in 2015, 2016 and 2019. The
journal among the researchers from
highest published documents are recorded in
Mechanical Engineering.
2019, with 2722 records which have 6.39 %
The relative growth rate for the year 2000 was
contribution to the total with 6088 citations.
0.659, and it continuously moved on and
The lowest publications were found in 2000
reached 2.897 in 2020. It is found that the
with 1477 records, with 3.47% contribution to
relative growth rate of ASME journals
the total and 38898 citations. The study reveals
increased continuously through the study years.
that the average number of citations per citable
On the contrary, in 2000, the doubling time
year decreases, so the citations increase
was found to be 1.051, and in 2020 the
continuously with a slight fluctuation in 2016,
doubling time for the publication is 0.239. The
2018, 2019 2020. It means that as the citable
ASME journals have increased productivity, so
years' increase, the average citation count
the required time for making the publication
decreases. In other words, the utilization of
double is decreasing. It is found that the mean
older documents is increasing slowly. It is the
relative growth in citations is 1.19 from 2000
absolute value of the documents published
to 2006, 2.64 from 2007 to 2013 and 4.08 from
each year.
2014-2020, which is found consistent growth
Within the 17 ASME journals, „The Journal of
in citations.
Heat Transfer‟ published the highest number of
The highest immediacy index was found in
articles, that is 4320, with 10.14 %
2019, with a 0.59 immediacy index score. The
publications. This journal is from the core field
Immediacy index score continuously increased
of Mechanical Engineering. The lowest
from 2000 to 2020, except the decline is found
productivity was found by the Journal of
in 2008(0.7), 2009 (0.10) and 2013 (0.18).
Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering
During the years 2014 to 2020, the Immediacy
with 1207 contributions which are 2.83 % of
index continuously increases significantly.
the total. It is found that the journals devoted to
From 2000 to 2010, the value of RCI indicators
the core subject have high productivity while
is more than 1, indicating that during these
the journals which deal with the
years, the year-wise articles have received the
interdisciplinary obtain a significantly smaller
higher citation rate of the publications of the
number of published articles. The Journal of
total journal and onwards it was found
Heat and Transfer received 77848 citations for
decreasing trends.
4320 published articles with the rank first.
Taiwan is the highest country in domestic
On the contrary, the Journal of Solar Energy
collaboration 125.29 DCI. Scotland has found
Engineering, which deals with solar power
the highest international collaboration rate with
generation Technology, has only 1685 research
a 220.66 ICI value. Out of 30 countries total,
articles but received 26678. It means that solar
18 countries have an international collaborative
power generation is an emerging field in

index higher than100. It shows that major from Mechanical Engineering. It has some of
publication from ASME has higher the leading journals that have got world
international collaboration. recognition. The USA is the most dominating
In conclusion, the American Society of country in this field and published a more
Mechanical Engineers is the prominent considerable research contribution to this
organization that greatly impacts the researcher organization.
Reference
1. Dixit, Swati, and Katare, V. V. A Term versus Short-Term Impact, Journal of
bibliometric analysis of the 'Journal of the Chemistry of Materials2015, 24(4), 1147-
Indian Society for Cotton Improvement' 1148.
(1995-2004), Annals of Library and 7. Aithal, Sreeramana. Comparative Study of
Information Studies 2007, 54(2),119-123. Various Research Indices used to measure
2. Vijay, K.R., and Raghavan, I. Journal of the quality of Research Publications,
Food Science and Technology: A International Journal of Applied and
bibliometric study, Annals of Library and Advanced Scientific Research2017, 2(1),
Information Studies 2007, 54(4), 207-212. 2456-3080.
3. Kademani, B. S. Publication productivity 8. Garfield, Eugene. Citation Indexing-Its
of the Bio-organic division at Bhabha Theory and Application in Science,
atomic Research centre: A Scientometric Technology, and Humanities. New York:
Study, Annals of Library and Information Wiley, 1979.
Studies 2005, 52(4), 135-146. 9. Waltman, Ludo & van Eck, Nees Jan &
4. Baskaran, C., and Batcha, Sadik M. (2012), van Leeuwen, Thed N. & Visser, Martijn
Publications pattern and author S., 2013. "Some modifications to the SNIP
Collaboration of cardiology research, journal impact indicator," Journal of
SRELS Journal of Information Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 272-
Management 2012, 49(2),99-207. 285.
10. Garg, K., Padhi, P. A study of collaboration
5. Batcha, Sadik M. and Chaturbhuj, SB. in laser science and technology.
Analysis of Scholarly Communication on Scientometrics 51, 415–427 (2001).
Phonology during 2000-2017: A https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012709919544
Scientometric Study, Journal of Library 11. Dutt, Bharvi& Garg, Kailash & Bali, Anita.
Philosophy and Practice 2019, 1-12. (2003). Scientometrics of the international
6. Buriak, Jillian M. Hot Topics in Materials journal Scientometrics. Scientometrics. 56.
Chemistry, and the Immediacy Index Long- 81-93. 10.1023/A:1021950607895.

Vidya Bharti

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Vidya Bharti

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Vidyabharati International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (Special Issue) ISSN 2319-4979

INTERRELATIONSHIP AMONG EDUCATION, GENDER AND MIGRATION IN

Introduction on the various dynamics of the three key

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1859

Figure 1: Migration statistics as per the gender orientation

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1860

Relation between education and migration in society transformation

Figure 2: Co-education system and society transformation

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1861

Relation between gender, education and migrant in the context of social

Figure 8: Impact of gender discrimination on migration

Figure 9: Role of education in social transformation

Figure 10: Role of migration in social transformation

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1864

Figure 11: Role of gender equity in social transformation

Relation between gender, education and migrant in the context of social

Figure 8: Impact of gender discrimination on migration

Figure 9: Role of education in social transformation

Figure 10: Role of migration in social transformation

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1864

AN EMPIRICAL STUDY FOR ASSESSING READING SKILL – A CASE STUDY WITH

programme, data was analysed using

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1869

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1866

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1867

think tank. Journal of Occupational integrative framework of change

Appendix: Survey questions

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1868

Fig.2 Study Time preference of all branches

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1873

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1870

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1871

Liquid Assets Ratio Inventory

Analysis and Interpretation

1 2009-10 1099.09 46554.07 2.36

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1880

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1882

Fig.4 Time taken for reading Novels

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1874

Fig.5 Identification of vocabulary in the context

Recognizing Main Idea

Fig.6 Recognizing Main Idea

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1875

Identification of supporting details

Fig.7 Identification of supporting details

Fig.8 Recognizing implied main idea and the central point

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1876

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1877

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1878

CASH, INVENTORY AND RECEIVABLES MANAGEMENT IN CONSUMER

Introduction regarded as a connection for the movement of

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1898

Table 3 Inventory Turnover Ratio (Rupees in lakhs)

Table 4 Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio (Rupees in lakhs)

The consumer cooperative wholesale stores in Conclusion

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1881

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1882

Table.7 Distribution of respondents in view of women are economically exploited by male

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1902

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1884

Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in Interdisciplinary Sciences (Oct. 2021) 1885

About Wishberry cannot lend more than 20% to a single

5. Apply Mapping Probabilistic strategy for

Discussion & Analysis