University Library, University of North Bengal

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

As the editor of the ‘Journal of POLITICAL STUDIES’ it is a matter of great pleasure to me to place before the readers the eighth issue of the journal which is now published bi-annually from the financial year 2013-2014 by the Department of Political Science, University of North Bengal. Contribution for the volumes was invited through advertisements in the ‘Economic and Political Weekly’ and the ‘Mainstream’. All together 33 articles were received in response to the advertisements out of which 7 articles were selected for publication in the March 2013 issue of the Journal and 7 for the October 2013 issue. This issue contains a commentary, review essay and 5 research articles. The articles in the volume are the most interesting one and form the bulk of the reading. Most of the articles come from young Indian scholars. In future I am sure that the scholars will contribute more to the journal. The articles are on diverse political issues. Mukunds Giri in his article entitled ‘Maoists of Nepal: Their use of Nationalism’ analyses how the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) used nationalism to mobilise the masses. Reyaz Ahmad Ganaie in an interesting article ‘Peace and Reconciliation in Afghanistan: The Way Forward’ looks at the possibility of lasting peace in the country after the withdrawal of foreign forces. Sarmistha Pattanaik & Amrita Sen’s commentary on ‘Current Rehabilitation Status over the Issues of Displacement at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai: Some Observations’ is on the basis of a survey conducted during March-May 2013 in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Mumbai is a comment on a official report published, which intends to state that the proposed stages of rehabilitation are truly derisory and insufficient. In the article ’The Escalating Chinese Dominance in Nepal: A By product of India’s Diplomatic Failure? Saurav Bhaumik makes a critical analysis of India’s foreign policy in Nepal. The paper presents a comprehensive forecast of the impending strategic threats which India might confront from China in the long-run. Trijita Gonsalves and Sushmita Gonsalves’ article ‘Behind Closed Doors: Is The ‘Personal’ Political?’ argues that the Indian State has dismally failed to protect women - female foeticide and marital rape. They constitute two of the most intimate concerns of a married woman’s life, through which a husband assumes power over the most private part of her life – her body and it becomes a site of violence. They conclude by arguing that laws in themselves are not enough and women must fight their own battle. Tabesum Begam & Tirthankar Chakraborty in their joint article ‘The Role of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in Reconstruction and Inclusion of National Education in India’ argue that education is a potent force of systematized change. To them education actually in turn, transforms humans into human resource. In the present paper he provides an analytical overview of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s role in reconstruction and inclusion of national education in India, in a way where every citizen of the country ‘finding their way of life’. In a review essay entitled ‘Changing Scenario of Common Property Resources and the Role of Community in the Management of Common Property Resource’ Rajni Bala presents an overview of the present condition of common property resources in India and the role of the community in the management of these resources. I am sure that given the quality of the articles the volume will provide some interesting and thoughtful reading.

Arun K. Jana
Editor