I wish to express my profound debt of gratitude to my revered and learned research guide

Thomas Associate Professor, Post Graduate Department of Commerce,, Bishop

Dr. Bino Thomas,
Abraham Memorial College, Thuruthicad, Pathanamthitta, without whose able guidance,
advice, and encouragement, it would not have been possible to submit this work in its present
form. He has been prompt, sincere and deeply interested in my research. His incessant
persuasion, meticulous attention and brotherly affection have been the chief contributing
factors to the successful completion of this work. In fact, I never adequately express my
indebtedness to him in words.

I am thankful to Prof. Harry Cleetus, Principal, St. Albert’s College, Ernakulam,

Dr. Rajagopalan Nair, Former Head, and Dr. A. M. Viswambharan,
Viswambharan Head of the Post
Graduate Department of Commerce and Research Centre, St. Albert’s College, Ernakulam
for permitting me to undertake the research work in the department and for all the
facilities and help given to me. I am also grateful for all the help received from the staff
members of the office and Library of the St. Albert’s College.

I am immensely obliged to record my profound sense of gratitude to Dr. S. Kevin,

Director, TKM Institute of Management (Former Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of
Kerala) for his valuable advice during the preparation of the thesis.

I am extremely grateful to Prof. K. Kalyanaraman,

Kalyanaraman formerly the faculty member in
the Department of Statistics, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, and presently
working as the applied statistician in the research centre of Commerce of K.G.College,
Pampady, Kottayam, for the valuable assistance provided in analysis of data with
appropriate statistical tools.

I gratefully remember the help of Dr.

Dr. P. Antony George,
George, Post Graduate and
Research Department of Commerce, St. Thomas College, Kozhencherry in the selection of
the topic of this study. I am also heavily indebted and grateful to Dr. Harikumar P. N.,
Associate Professor, Post Graduate Department of Commerce, Catholicate College,
Pathanamthitta, for his constructive suggestions in analysis of data, and incessant
persuasion throughout the preparation of the thesis.
 I avail this opportunity to thank the librarians of all libraries I have visited to
collect necessary literature for the completion of the work.

I am grateful to Prof. V.
V.K.Moothat,
K.Moothat former Professor of English, University College,
Thiruvananthapuram, and Prof. Reeja Jose,
Jose Associate Professor of English, St. Peter’s
College, Ernakulam, for their meticulous reading and improvement of the text of the thesis
into its present form. I gratefully remember the help extended to me by Smt. Siji George in
data entry.

I extend my thanks to Sri. C. V. Jacob,

Jacob Manager and Dr. Thampy Abraham,
Abraham
Principal, St Peter’s College, Kolenchery and Prof. Joy C. George and Prof. Joy K Paul,
former Principals. Sincere thanks are also recorded for all the help received from the staff
members of the office.

I am thankful to Prof. Heleny M.Y, Head of P.G and Research Department of

Commerce and former head of the department Prof. Jorr
Jorry Mathai for all the facilities and
help given to me. I am also thankful to all other faculty colleagues of the P.G and Research
Department of Commerce, St. Peter’s College, Kolenchery, for the encouragement given to
me for the completion of the work.

I gratefully remember my Mother Smt. Annamma Jacob,

Jacob my wife Dr. Linu
Mathew, my son Jacob Mathew,
Mathew my father in law Shri. C. V. Paulose and my mother in
law Smt. Kunjunjamma Paulose,
Paulose for their encouragement, cooperation and help
throughout the work. No other moment would be more appropriate to place on record my
sincere gratitude to Dr. Suma Bino Thomas for motivating me to complete the research. I
also extend my thanks to shri.Unni, minitek for binding the thesis.

Above all, my heart rises in gratitude to My God Almighty for all his blessings
showered up on me all through the days of this research work, before and after.

Mathew Jacob