Irfan Ahmad – författare

This volume explores how the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won the 2014 Parliamentary elections with such an unprecedented majority, and what that victory means for politics in general and Indian politics in particular. It opens up space for new theoretical and methodological reflections on electoral democracy, critically taking on such salient issues as development, terrorism, charisma, media, new mechanisms of mobilization, nationalism, rumour, religion, regionalism, polarisation, space, Muslim vote, and caste. This volume is distinct in its ability to focus squarely on the empirical acts of voting. It sociologically and historically examines the enduring as well as changing institutional, social, political, and cultural landscapes in which voting takes place. Unlike most other studies on elections in India, this book puts human subjectivity at the centre of election studies. The anthropological-sociological perspective the volume places before readers draws on political-social theory whereby the volume also examine the larger and changing contours of modernity, democracy and elections being its key faces. As such the volume situates the 2014 elections in relation to changing nature and forms of elections and democracy globally, in particular in conversation with those in the democratic nation-states in the West.

Europe sees itself as embodying the ideals of modernity, especially in relation to democracy and the respect for human rights. Faced on the one hand with the need for public recognition of a new population of Muslim identity, and the threat of violent radicalization on the other, Europe is falling prey to the politics of fear and is tempted to compromise on its professed ideals. Reflecting on the manifestations and causes of the contemporary fear of Islam gaining ground in contemporary Europe, as well as on the factors contributing to the radicalization of some Muslims, (Il)liberal Europe: Islamophobia, Modernity and Radicalization offers a diversity of perspectives on both the challenges to social cohesion, and the danger of Islamophobia encouraging a spiral of co-radicalization. Combining empirical studies of several European countries with a comparative account of India and Europe, the book analyzes vital issues such as secularity, domophilia, de-politicization, neo-nationalism, the European unification project and more. Spanning a variety of disciplinary approaches, the volume offers novel insights into the complex landscape of identity politics in contemporary Europe to widen the scope of intellectual inquiry. This book was originally published as a special issue of Politics, Religion & Ideology.

Europe sees itself as embodying the ideals of modernity, especially in relation to democracy and the respect for human rights. Faced on the one hand with the need for public recognition of a new population of Muslim identity, and the threat of violent radicalization on the other, Europe is falling prey to the politics of fear and is tempted to compromise on its professed ideals. Reflecting on the manifestations and causes of the contemporary fear of Islam gaining ground in contemporary Europe, as well as on the factors contributing to the radicalization of some Muslims, (Il)liberal Europe: Islamophobia, Modernity and Radicalization offers a diversity of perspectives on both the challenges to social cohesion, and the danger of Islamophobia encouraging a spiral of co-radicalization. Combining empirical studies of several European countries with a comparative account of India and Europe, the book analyzes vital issues such as secularity, domophilia, de-politicization, neo-nationalism, the European unification project and more. Spanning a variety of disciplinary approaches, the volume offers novel insights into the complex landscape of identity politics in contemporary Europe to widen the scope of intellectual inquiry. This book was originally published as a special issue of Politics, Religion & Ideology.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is the most influential Islamist organization in India today. Founded in 1941 by Syed Abul Ala Maududi with the aim of spreading Islamic values in the subcontinent, Jamaat and its young offshoot, the Student Islamic Movement of India or SIMI, have been watched closely by Indian security services since September 11. In particular, SIMI has been accused of being behind terrorist bombings. This book is the first in-depth examination of India's Jamaat-e-Islami and SIMI, exploring political Islam's complex relationship with democracy and providing a rare window into the Islamist trajectory in a Muslim-minority context. Irfan Ahmad conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork at a school in the town of Aligarh, among student activists at Aligarh Muslim University, at a madrasa in Azamgarh, and during Jamaat's participation in elections in 2002. He deftly traces Jamaat's changing position in relation to India's secular democracy and the group's gradual ideological shift toward religious pluralism and tolerance.Ahmad demonstrates how the rise of militant Hindu nationalism since the 1980s--evident in the destruction of the Babri mosque and widespread violence against Muslims--led to SIMI's radicalization, its rejection of pluralism, and its call for jihad. Islamism and Democracy in India argues that when secular democracy is responsive to the traditions and aspirations of its Muslim citizens, Muslims in turn embrace pluralism and democracy. But when democracy becomes majoritarian and exclusionary, Muslims turn radical.

An accessible, one-stop guide to getting the most out of dental photography in clinical practiceDental photography is an increasingly important part of dental care in general practices, hospitals, and specialist clinics. The uses of dental photographs are numerous, such as monitoring treatment outcomes, educating patients, promoting services, and providing evidence for litigation or regulatory purposes. Essentials of Dental Photography is a user-friendly guide to incorporating dental photographs into daily practice. Containing real-world advice and proven techniques, this book helps clinicians understand and apply the fundamental principles of dental photography.Accessible chapters cover every major aspect of dental photography and answer the most common questions asked by clinicians. Step-by-step instructions show readers how to select the correct photographic and dental equipment, setup equipment for a variety of dental procedures, process images using photo-editing software, and more. The author, a recognised expert in the field, explain the basic concepts of dental photography and how to create high-quality, predictable and repeatable images. Providing an easy-to-follow roadmap to exceptional dental photographs, this practical guide: Covers all the basic concepts, equipment, and techniques of dental photographyIllustrates the photographic setups for both intra- and extra-oral imagesProvides recommendations for appropriate types of cameras, lenses, flashes, reflectors, tripods, and softwareDiscusses photographic archiving, electronic dissemination, printing, publishing, and presenting imagesEssentials of Dental Photography is a valuable guide for dental practitioners and new graduates looking to learn dental photography and apply it in practice.

The market]leading at a Glance series is popular among students and newly qualified practitioners for its concise and simple approach and excellent illustrations.Each bite-sized chapter is covered in a double]page spread with clear, easy-to-follow diagrams, supported by succinct explanatory text.Covering a wide range of topics, books in the at a Glance series are ideal as introductory texts for teaching, learning and revision and are useful throughout university and beyond.Everything you need to know about Prosthodontics… at a Glance!Prosthodontics at a Glance is the must-have companion for all dentistry students and practitioners interested in oral rehabilitation with artificial prostheses. Brief userfriendly chapters allow for rapid reference to all major sub-topics of prosthodontic dentistry, including treatment planning, decision making, periodontal and endodontic considerations, posts and cores, tooth preparation, dental implants, occlusion procedures, dental restorations, aesthetics, and more.The second edition incorporates the latest techniques and scientific advances in prosthodontics, featuring 25 brand-new chapters on topics such as digital dentistry, bioactive materials, artificial intelligence, tissue engineering, stem cells, ethical considerations in elective dental procedures, dental laser technology, and the use of CAD/CAM applications in the clinic and dental laboratory. Written by a knowledgeable clinician, Prosthodontics at a Glance 2nd Edition: Contains extensively updated and expanded material throughoutCovers the spectrum of prosthodontic treatments, including intra- and extra-coronal restorations, and removable prosthesesFeatures new coverage of 3D printing, intra-oral scanners, digital workflows and diagnoses, smile design, shade assessment, and facial enhancement using dermal fillersIncludes full colour diagrams and clinical photographsProsthodontics at a Glance 2nd Edition is an invaluable resource for dental students preparing for examinations, as well as for working dental care professionals looking for an easy-to-use reference guide.

Aesthetic dentistry has become increasingly important to dentists and their patients. This book is designed as a springboard to assist clinicians in developing the aesthetic potential of restorative procedures. The book marries evidence-based principles with handy hints and tips the author has distilled from years of clinical experience. This combination of scientific principles with ‘real world’ practice will boost the confidence of budding aesthetic practitioners and clinical dental students. The book focuses on the principles of aesthetic work across the dentist's repertoire, rather than concentrating on one particular technique. For this reason, it will add value to the range of daily restorative work in the dental surgery.

Irfan Ahmad makes the far-reaching argument that potent systems and modes for self-critique as well as critique of others are inherent in Islam - indeed, critique is integral to its fundamental tenets and practices. Challenging common views of Islam as hostile to critical thinking, Ahmad delineates thriving traditions of critique in Islamic culture, focusing in large part on South Asian traditions. Ahmad contemplates and interrogates Greek and Enlightenment notions of reason and critique, and he notes how they are invoked in relation to ""others,"" including Muslims. Drafting an alternative genealogy of critique in Islam, Ahmad reads religious teachings and texts, drawing on sources in Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, and English, and demonstrates how they serve as expressions of critique. Throughout, he depicts Islam as an agent, not an object, of critique.On a broader level, Ahmad expands the idea of critique itself. Drawing on his fieldwork among marketplace hawkers in Delhi and Aligarh, he construes critique anthropologically as a sociocultural activity in the everyday lives of ordinary Muslims, beyond the world of intellectuals. Religion as Critique allows space for new theoretical considerations of modernity and change, taking on such salient issues as nationhood, women's equality, the state, culture, democracy, and secularism.

Irfan Ahmad makes the far-reaching argument that potent systems and modes for self-critique as well as critique of others are inherent in Islam - indeed, critique is integral to its fundamental tenets and practices. Challenging common views of Islam as hostile to critical thinking, Ahmad delineates thriving traditions of critique in Islamic culture, focusing in large part on South Asian traditions. Ahmad contemplates and interrogates Greek and Enlightenment notions of reason and critique, and he notes how they are invoked in relation to ""others,"" including Muslims. Drafting an alternative genealogy of critique in Islam, Ahmad reads religious teachings and texts, drawing on sources in Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, and English, and demonstrates how they serve as expressions of critique. Throughout, he depicts Islam as an agent, not an object, of critique.On a broader level, Ahmad expands the idea of critique itself. Drawing on his fieldwork among marketplace hawkers in Delhi and Aligarh, he construes critique anthropologically as a sociocultural activity in the everyday lives of ordinary Muslims, beyond the world of intellectuals. Religion as Critique allows space for new theoretical considerations of modernity and change, taking on such salient issues as nationhood, women's equality, the state, culture, democracy, and secularism.

In recent years, crucial questions have been raised about anthropology as a discipline, such as whether ethnography is central to the subject, and how imagination, reality and truth are joined in anthropological enterprises. These interventions have impacted anthropologists and scholars at large. This volume contributes to the debate about the interrelationships between ethnography and anthropology and takes it to a new plane. Six anthropologists with field experience in Egypt, Greece, India, Laos, Mauritius, Thailand and Switzerland critically discuss these propositions in order to renew anthropology for the future. The volume concludes with an Afterword from Tim Ingold.

In recent years, crucial questions have been raised about anthropology as a discipline, such as whether ethnography is central to the subject, and how imagination, reality and truth are joined in anthropological enterprises. These interventions have impacted anthropologists and scholars at large. This volume contributes to the debate about the interrelationships between ethnography and anthropology and takes it to a new plane. Six anthropologists with field experience in Egypt, Greece, India, Laos, Mauritius, Thailand and Switzerland critically discuss these propositions in order to renew anthropology for the future. The volume concludes with an Afterword from Tim Ingold.

Terrorism in Question crafts a political anthropology of post-9/11 “new terrorism” by investigating who needs the category of terrorists and offering a global framework to understand anthropology, Islam and terrorism. In contrast to their depiction as antimodern, barbarian and fanatic, this study theorizes “Muslim terrorists” as radical friends of equality and visionaries of an unrecognized ethical politics. Marshalling fieldwork with media practitioners and refugees, participant observation of counterterrorism conferences in India and Oslo, and encounters with terrorists, it reorients anthropology to elevate its public voice. This book shows how fieldwork, poetry and political theory come together to exemplify decolonized knowledge.

This open access book argues that contrary to dominant approaches that view nationalism as unaffected by globalization or globalization undermining the nation-state, the contemporary world is actually marked by globalization of the nation form. Based on fieldwork in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East and drawing, among others, on Peter van der Veer’s comparative work on religion and nation, it discuss practices of nationalism vis-a-vis migration, rituals of sacrifice and prayer, music, media, e-commerce, Islamophobia, bare life, secularism, literature and atheism. The volume offers new understandings of nationalism in a broader perspective.The text will appeal to students and researchers interested in nationalism outside of the West, especially those working in anthropology, sociology and history.

This open access book argues that contrary to dominant approaches that view nationalism as unaffected by globalization or globalization undermining the nation-state, the contemporary world is actually marked by globalization of the nation form.

The book Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare: Machine Learning and Diagnostics explores how AI and machine learning are reshaping healthcare, focusing on diagnosis, patient care, and treatment across various specialties. It covers AI applications in fields such as cardiovascular care, orthopedics, emergency medicine, ENT, and remote patient monitoring. Additionally, the book discusses AI’s transformative role in brain tumor surgery, dentistry, and elder care, showcasing its power to personalize therapies, predict outcomes, and enhance outpatient efficiency. Key chapters examine AI in pathology, specifically in image analysis and digital pathology, and its expanding influence in maternal and fetal health. This essential guide provides healthcare practitioners, researchers, clinical experts, and students with insights into AI's practical uses and future potential, serving as a valuable reference for AI-driven diagnostic advancements and healthcare solutions.

This book summarizes the latest understanding of the impact of xenobiotics on the developmental and reproductive processes of aquatic animals, particularly nektonic forms, which comprise an important group of aquatic ecosystems.Aquaculture is quickly becoming the largest contributor of fish protein for human consumption. As the aquaculture business expands, farmed fish will be exposed to more environmental toxins, necessitating the use of chemical therapeutic drugs for fish. This book brings together experts on the regulation of environmental toxins and food chemicals from around the world, as well as researchers looking into the metabolism and disposal of foreign chemicals (xenobiotics) in fish species. The impact of xenobiotics on reproductive and developmental biology of all living forms has become of prime importance at the current time. As the effect of these xenobiotics on aquatic animals is an emerging area for research and development, several groups across the world are working on these aspects, targeting different groups of fishes in both marine and freshwater ecosystems.This collective work highlights several key and updated recent aspects of different types of xenobiotics entering aquatic ecosystems, impacts of these agents on reproductive physiology, developmental biology, breeding biology, hormonal imbalance, aquatic ecology, and pollution on the aquatic ecosystem. The unique aggregation of different types of stressors to aquatic animals under a single volume will be a useful reference for readers, including scientists, teachers, students, researchers and policymakers and those involved in aquaculture and environment conservation.

This book summarizes the latest understanding of the impact of xenobiotics on the developmental and reproductive processes of aquatic animals, particularly nektonic forms, which comprise an important group of aquatic ecosystems. Aquaculture is quickly becoming the largest contributor of fish protein for human consumption.

This book brings together multiple aspects of the recent research conducted in the field of nanotechnology covering topics such as the synthesis of various nanoparticles, nanorods, graphene, graphene oxide-metal composites, characterization of these materials, and ample aspects of various applications including in heavy metal sensing, optoelectronic devices, gas sensing, solar cells, biomedical sensors, role in the drug delivery, and waste-water treatment. The book is of interest to early career researchers, who are trying to grasp multiple aspects of nanomaterials and nanocomposite synthesis and its potential applications.