R. B. Mandal – författare

To truly understand AIDS and sexual behaviour we must Possess the necessary knowledge and factual information acquired through formal education and teaching, self-learning and reading, and the personal experience of ourselves and others. In addition to the acquired knowledge and the development of caring attitudes and belief systems, we must also integrate an awareness of our own emotions and sensitivity with the emotions of others . Lack of such knowledge, attitudes and emotional awareness and sensitivity, HIV/AIDS will continue to be a dreaded disease transmitted by what we do to ourselves and others through one of the most intimate of human behaviours, i.e. sexual intercourse. One significant means of transmitting HIV/AIDS is through the physical intimacy and privacy of sexual intercourse and behaviours, and often in the context of insufficient sexual knowledge, experience and I or a meaningful and caring relationship, People will continue to engage in risk-behaviour. This Encyclopaedia in three volumes will prove an authoritative reference tool.

A text-book on Urban Geography was overdue since long for the students of Indian Universities. The present book on this topic covers the location, siting, origin and evolution, functions and functional classification, morphology, urban culture, transport, industrialization, migration, slums and squatters, urban ecology, urban development policies, urban potential besides the commission on urbanization and rural-urban linkages. The concept of central places and urban land use also find their respectable place in this text and it is hoped that it will fulfil the need of higher studies in urban analysis. Recently, the pollution of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphère and biosphere by the excessive harnessing of natural resources, depletion of our forest wealth and the growth and development of alums and squatter settlements have polluted the urban environment to an alarming extent by the emission of lead, sulpher, zinc, carbonmonoxide and ammonium sulphate in the atmosphere which has caused acid rain and thereby polluting the air, land and water as well. All these aspects have been covered in this compendium so that the recent spurt of knowledge may be given to the students. The impact of multinational companies could be visualized only in mega-cities. The role of HUDCO is appreciable in the field of urban housing.

The theoretical aspects of Rural Settlement geography have been regimented for the study of Indian villages which have passed through the change of environmental scenario. Its rural population of over 600 million witness thousands of rural settlements washed away in the furry of floods and bear the agonies of drought and breakout of fire annually. The inhabitants display a remarkable resilience in the process of settlement and resettlement characterised by great regional variations in the form, type and patterns of rural settlements and housing conditions. These situations have changed as witnessed the habitat year of 1987 and the world strategy of shelter. The rural service centres and central places form the nucleus of settlement growth. The major contributors in the field of rural settlements, models and the size and spacing have also been delineated.

Islam, as a philosophy, a way of life and of course as a faith, has served like a lighthouse for the whole world. It has, as a force, influenced all civilizations. Be it education, social fabric or science, Islam has Left its impact in all the spheres. In fact, Islam is-basically a scientific and progressive religion. This series, unique in its presentation, is perhaps first of its kind, to take all the great events, developments and personalities in Islam, in its fold. 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 comprehenion 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, gigantic and still interesting work, which is bound to fill a big vacuum in Islamic Studies. This voluminous work is based on authentic sources and material, available in libraries, institutes and some pnr.ate collections, as well. A r-h Bibliography; along with references is provided with each volume Lo prove the authenticity of the work and in order to guide the scholars and readers for further studies. This modest work should; rove to be of worth for those, who arc kind enough to peruse it and may desire to make use of it for their academic enrichment. Hopefully, these volumes would be able to satisfy the urge of all those who desire to know about real Islam and also to create a new awareness, regarding this religion, as a radical discipline, based on reason and opposed to fundamentalism and dogmatism. Though, a small effort yet its rational treatment and radical approach make it different from other works on the same or related subjects.