This study explores the evolution of gender representation in Bhutanese literature through a comparative analysis of Karma Ura’s The Hero with a Thousand Eyes (1995) and Kunzang Choden’s The Circle of Karma (2005). Employing qualitative textual analysis and close reading, the paper uses feminist literary theory, particularly Butler’s gender performativity, Hooks’ critique of patriarchy, Spivak’s subaltern theory, and Crenshaw’s intersectionality, to interrogate the narratives. The findings reveal that Ura’s male-centered text reflects entrenched patriarchal structures, rendering women largely invisible, while Choden’s novel reclaims female agency and foregrounds women's voices. This research contributes to emerging scholarship on Bhutanese literature and gender, offering insights into the shifting sociocultural perceptions of gender roles in contemporary Bhutan and the role of literature in challenging entrenched norms.

Every language evolves over time, and change is unavoidable for any living tongue. Historical evidence shows that transformation occurs at all structural levels. In everyday communication, however, these shifts are often unnoticed because speakers are deeply attached to their language and may not perceive gradual developments. Nevertheless, languages continually transform: some thrive and spread, while others decline or even disappear. Across generations, pronunciation shifts, new vocabulary is adopted or created, existing words acquire new meanings, and grammatical structures either develop further or fade away. Although the speed of change differs from one community to another, change itself is constant and purposeful. Therefore, exploring the reasons behind language change is crucial for students of language and remains an important area of study for linguists, who generally adopt a descriptive perspective and recognize change as a natural and inevitable process.

This research explores the mechanisms that sustain capitalist reproduction through a Marxist analytical framework, with particular attention to the concepts of use value, exchange value, and sign exchange value. Situating the discussion within the historical emergence of Karl Marx’s communist movement, the paper examines Marx’s ideological struggle against capitalism and traces the development of Marxist thought as a response to capitalist modes of production. It analyzes how capitalism continually regenerates itself by transforming social relations, labour, and commodities into systems of value accumulation. By critically interrogating these interconnected forms of value, the study reveals the internal dynamics through which capitalism maintains its dominance across historical phases. It is a qualitative research based on closed textual analysis method. The paper ultimately argues that understanding capitalist reproduction requires an integrated analysis of material, economic, and symbolic value systems within a Marxist lens.

This paper explores the myth of Chitrāngadā as reimagined across South Asian literary and cinematic landscapes – from the Mahabharata to Rabindranath Tagore’s dance-drama চিত্রাঙ্গদা (1905) and Rituparno Ghosh’s film Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish (2012) – to examine the performative politics of gender identity. Using Judith Butler’s framework of performativity and transformativity, the paper investigates how gender ambiguity and bodily transformation challenge heteronormative structures. Chitrāngadā’s depiction shifts from the epic’s gender-role transgression through Tagore’s theatrical exploration of transformation to Ghosh’s cinematic engagement with gender reassignment surgery. Central to this discussion is whether bodily transformation signifies heterosexual conformity or genuinely alters the queer psyche. The paper asserts that each reappropriation questions the stability of gender categories, revealing how both performative acts and bodily changes paradoxically destabilise rather than reinforce gender identity. By tracing this lineage from epic to screen, the paper demonstrates how cultural texts both uphold and challenge normative gender discourses, offering a South Asian perspective on the intricate relationship between body, performance, desire, and identity.

This study provides a pragmatic analysis of the speech acts present in President Muhammadu Buhari’s address during the #EndSARS protests of October 2020. Grounded in J.L. Austin’s Speech Act Theory, the research explores how locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts were employed to convey, perform, and elicit actions and reactions. Through a descriptive qualitative methodology, the speech was analyzed to determine its effectiveness in addressing public grievances and its broader impact on Nigerian youth. Findings reveal that while the speech contained elements of Austin’s speech acts, including appeals, assertions, and subtle warnings, its reception by the youth was predominantly negative. Historical context, including previous speeches perceived as dismissive of Nigerian youth, influenced the audience’s response, resulting in heightened tensions and continued unrest. The analysis underscores the critical role of language in governance and public communication, highlighting how linguistic choices can shape societal reactions. The research concludes that President Buhari’s speech, while linguistically aligned with speech act theory, failed to achieve its intended conciliatory effect, instead amplifying dissatisfaction among the youth.

Girish Karnad one of the greatest playwrights of all times used his plays as a receptacle that held the myths and mindset of India at once. The ennui of modern man and especially the women as it comes up in his plays balance the age-old tradition and the writing back to it. The protagonist women in the plays as Hayavadana and Naga-Mandala unlike the women tortured or exploited in a male-dominated society express their will. The will-to-power makes the realization of their desires possible. The two women, Padmini and Rani in these plays show a curious graph, where each woman possesses two men and while they are possessed by the one, as the society would have it, they possess the other as their heart would desire.

This paper examines the crucial impact of the Shari’ah Research and Development Commission, Gusau, Zamfara State, on research and publication. Through extensive library research, interviews, and analysis, the study highlights notable research works and publications produced by the Commission, revealing its commitment to advancing Islamic scholarship. The paper notes the support provided by the Zamfara State Government in facilitating the Commission's activities, underscoring the importance of adequate logistics in fostering research and publication initiatives. It also acknowledges the contributions of Islamic scholars who have conducted research on diverse Islamic topics, thereby enhancing the Commission's outputs. The efforts of the Commission’s leadership and management staff are highlighted, demonstrating their dedication to promoting research in Islamic studies. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the impact of the Commission's published works on the community, showing its essential role in educating the public on Islamic principles and practices. In addition, several challenges and prospects concerning the Commission’s research and publication activities are identified. The conclusion presents recommendations directed at the government, academia, research bodies, affluent individuals, researchers, and the general public, advocating for increased collaboration and support to further enrich Islamic research across various disciplines and improve its accessibility.