Binod C. Agrawal – författare

In a society ridden with caste prejudices, illiteracy and a narrow sectarian outlook, social legislation can be introduced only in stages, Century-old customs, traditions and beliefs, howsoever primitive they may look to the modern eye, cannot be overthrown overnight. To mould Indian society consisting of several religious, faiths, linguistic and ethnic groups and sub-cultures into one compact unit is a herculean task by any standard. One can reform society through welfare measures, persuasion or by legislation. The first two measures failed to make any appreciable impact; they have failed to touch the downtrodden millions who needed it most. Even the legislative measures could not root out many evils in our society. A pioneering study on Social Legislation in India: Its role in social welfare, was published in 1956. Much change has taken place since. The present comprehensive study in two volumes updates the earlier study. The first volume contains the factual statement of the various social legislations at present in the statute book. The emphasis is necessarily on legislation dealing with personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and the like. Volume two is the work of specialists, who have discussed at length the various enactments, dealing with specific problems. They have pointed out the extent to which laws have tried to bring about social change or the new possibilities that legislation can open up.

The effects of computerization on society have continually been underestimated as has been the pace of innovation. This project has attempted to look at how computerization affects universities and the society that they serve from the perspective of two countries situated on opposite sides of the globe. The goal was to improve the effective utilization of technology within the university systems in both Canada and India. The first, of this three-volume work, is a design model for use as a planning and implementation tool for the university computerization process. It examines various aspects of the computerization process, lays down assumptions underlying the broad objectives of computerization, indicates crucial issues to be examined, and explores the possible pathways decisionmakers may follow. The model has been jointly developed building upon both- the Canadian and Indian experiences of computerization in''higher education. Its aim is to enable university decision makers to comprehend the process and changes involved in university computerization. The second and third volumes present more detailed analyses of the research upon which these recommendations are based. While the second volume examines the Indian experience of computerization, the third does the same for Canada.

The Situational Analysis Report on Children''s Television prepared on the request of UNICEF has brought out a critical review about educational television. The Book provides a set of recommendations to improve the quality of children''s television in India. Written jointly by television producer, media manager, television engineer and communication researcher, the authors emphasized on the team-mode of television production involving experts from various disciplines for quality and meaningful children''s television. This book argues for dedicated children''s programme and communication research as an essential component of production process. Twenty percent transmission time towards children''s programmes both for and about children is recommended. The book has reference and reading material for students and practitioners.

Rural social work may be defined as the practice of social work in any setting identified by those present in the area as rural. This may include farming, mining, fishing, logging, or ranching communities and small towns and villages of many types. There is ongoing debate over how to definitively categorize rural areas, but generally such debate is mostly restricted to those who believe themselves to be, or have an interest in, rural areas, however defined. The most widely used definitions involve uses of census data for population and area. Rural development and poverty alleviation programmes are implemented on a decentralised basis, keeping in view the large geographical areas, the administrative requirements and the need to involve grassroots-level officials and the community in the implementation of the programmes. At the central level the Ministry of Rural Areas & Employment has been implementing these programmes. Social work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help improve people''s lives. Social workers assist people by helping them cope with and solve issues in their everyday lives, such as family and personal problems and dealing with relationships. Some social workers help clients who face a disability, life-threatening disease, social problem, such as inadequate housing, unemployment, or substance abuse. Social workers also assist families that have serious domestic conflicts, sometimes involving child or spousal abuse. This book''s clear, authoritative chapters describe the declining opportunities available in rural areas including the social, agricultural, dairy development project, trends in poverty and rural poverty eradication.

Panchayati Raj, which has become the third tier of governance with the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, is of far-reaching significance for decentralised governance in India. The author takes the reader on a journey into the vicissitudes of local government in India, from the years of Community Development through the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, the post-Nehruvian days of its decline and the re-emergence of the second generation with the Ashoka Mehta committee report, culminating in the present amendment. The first-hand account of the experience in local government of West Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and even far away China, and of issues like the involvement of political parties, the role of women in panchayati raj, and the like, makes this volume fascinating reading. The author, while acknowledging the potential of creating a cascading federalism which the amendment unfolds, rightly perceives the risk of it remaining on paper unless continuous efforts are not made to convert it into a peoples movement.

The book Remote Sensing Applications in Brackish Water Fisheries: A Socio-Economie Study, accounts for an unique case where socio-economic inputs, integrated with remote sensing data, were attempted for development for the marginalised groups in country side.The book also presents the team spirit among the remote sensing scientists and social scientists working together for the same mission, first ever attempt in India. It has presented a new dimension of social research methodology, and QUERI method as a new approach to understand the target group for development planning. The book will be helpful to those planning for remote sensing applications for micro planning, particularly the rural and other remote area development programmes. The book will be also be helpful in understanding people''s perception about co-operative efforts at the grass roots level. It will serve as a good reference materials for the students as well as the practitioners of co-operative management. It will provide a new tool to the social research studies.

Islam came on the scene, with a message, philosophy and code of conduct, perfect by all means, with its advent, the new faith revolutionised the contemporary world in a very short span of time. It also brought along with its beliefs and practices, a new culture, which gradually build a new civilization, now known as Islamic Civilization. Islam has made a great contribution to the development and growth of human civilization, education and intellect in particular and the whole society, in general. This is a well-known fact now that Muslims were leading the world of knowledge and wisdom when Europe was still a dark continent, far behind in education and science. In the early era of Islam the Muslims were in full command of the science and technology of the times. They not only unearthed adopted and preserved the lost treasure of the Greek wisdom, but also promoted it to new heights. Muslim academics and scientists were among the leading lights of that period of history. They contributed a lot to the growth of all branches of knowledge he that Philosophy, Logic literature, Geography, History Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Medicine. Islam is a scientific and progressive religion All its teachings have a scientific and logical approach. Islam directs all its followers to learn, gain knowledge and master the arts and sciences c: the contemporary world. Islam, as a living faith stands for spreading light and eliminating darkness from the world. They contributed a lot to the growth of all branches of knowledge and thus enriched the new civilization. This series, unique in its presentation, is perhaps first of its kind, to take all the great developments and changes over the centuries. All the significant aspects have been covered in these volumes. This multi-volume study is based on original (Holy Quran and Traditions) and other authentic sources: Arabic, Persian and Urdu books and manuscripts. For further comprehension and comparative study, English books by Muslim scholars and as well as Western writers have also been consulted at length. The painstaking research and thorough study of thousands of pages by a team of scholars over a period of time, has resulted in an authentic, comprehensive, exhaustive, exclusive, lengthy and still interesting work, which, is bound to fill a big vacuum in Islamic Studies and as well as the treasure of Knowledge about Culture and Civilization.

This book titled, "Seed Science, Seed Technology and Seed Pathology", provides readers with an introduction to seeds and seed science. Attempts have been made to focus on seed pathology, seed dormancy, seed dispersal and seed hibernation. The book focuses on seedling, germination, seed testing and edible seeds. The largest seeds, recalcitrant seeds, micropropagation and seed bank are also given with focus on hybrid seed, seed enhancement, seed material and seed technology. This book contains following chapters: Introduction to Seed and Seed Science; Focus on Seed Pathology, Seed Dormancy, Seed Dispersal and Seed Hibernation; Focus on Seedling, Germination, Seed Testing and Edible Seeds; Focus on Largest Seeds, Recalcitrant Seeds, Micropropagation and Seed Bank; Focus on Hybrid Seed, Seed Enhancement, Seed Material and Seed Technology and Bibliography etc.