Through its colonial, class- and caste-based history, English in India has come to be seen as a powerful resource that opens doors for those who ‘have’ it holds back do not. For women, ostensibly offers various promises addition employment: progressiveness ‘empowerment’; the potential upward mobility through marriage. Yet, conversion of capital English-speaking Indian women proves intensely com...

The contemporary African city runs on informal modes of public transportation. Typically, minibuses provide the core, but motorbikes, tricycles, and shared taxis all contribute to transport ecosystems. These privately operated services are ground-level responses growing demand for mobility in face absent or inadequate formal transportation services. For many urbanites, it is impossible imagine ...

Ambient visibility is a complex manifestation arising out of interactions among many atmospheric variables, including ambient aerosol load, and region specific geophysical characteristics. To functionally relate visibility impairment in Delhi region during winter months−months marred with poor visibility condi�ons−a novel experiment was designed to relate visibility with ambient aerosol load (P...

This paper examines the role of democratic practice in contemporary India, going beyond the elementary concern with democratic institutions per se. The foundations of democratic practice are identified as facility (functional democratic institutions), involvement (informed public engagement with these institutions), and equity (a fair distribution of power). The achievements and limitations of ...