SOPHOS
Peer-Reviewed e-Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies
Women's Christian College
ISSN - 3049-2270 (Online)
Vol-3, Issue-1, (May, 2026)
Peer-Reviewed e-Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies
Published by Women’s Christian College, Kolkata.
SOPHOS | Volume – 3, Issue – 1 (May, 2026)
SOPHOS
PEER-REVIEWEDE-JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Volume–3, Issue–1 (May, 2026)
Contents
ArticleTitle | Authors | Pagination | |
Editorial Note | Kushal Andrew Biswas | i | |
1 | The Role of Artisans Guild for Sustainable Development of Folk Craft and Its Marketing Aspect: A Case Study of Mukhosh Gram, Charida in Purulia District | Atanu Sen | 1-11 |
2 | Tracing Kalachuri Grandeur: A Study of the Viratesvara Temple at Sohagpur | Sanjukta De | 12-24 |
3 | Public Health and Healthcare Administration during the Reign of King Ashoka | Balarka Sen | 25-34 |
4 | Partitioning the Intelligence Branch: Problems of the Intelligence officials of West Bengal | Anik Rakshit | 35-43 |
5 | The impact of Class on Street Food Vendors in the backdrop of the COVID-19 Pandemic | Neha Dasgupta | 44-52 |
6 | Cinema as Historical Intervention: Heeramandi and the Rediscovery of Courtesans’ Role in India’s Freedom Narrative | Somdatta Banerjee | 53-61 |
7 | Voices in Raga: A Historical and Contemporary Study of Women’s Role and Contribution in Indian Classical Music | Sudokshina Manna Chatterjee | 62-76 |
8 | AI in Global Governance | Piyali Basu | 77-86 |
9 | Algorithmic Control and Precarity in Gig Work Culture in India: A Sociological Review | Anindita Chatterjee | 87-98 |
10 | Book Review | Suchandra Bhaduri | 99-102 |
Kushal Andrew Biswas
Editor – in – Chief – Sophos Journal
Teacher in Charge- Women’s Christian College
Address – 6, Greek Church Row Ext, Kalighat, Kolkata-700026
With great pleasure and pride, Women’s Christian College presents Volume 3, Issue 1 of ‘Sophos’, the institution’s annual, peer-reviewed, open access e-journal for the year 2026.
An open access e-journal offers significant utility and opportunity to readers across the globe, at a time when paywalls and paid access contribute to an undesirable guardianship restricting the free dissemination of knowledge and viewpoints. From this perspective, as has been evident in the previous issues, this e-journal serves as an unrestricted enabler of seemingly disparate disciplines using diverse approaches to deal with a variety of topics, in a process that works almost alchemically, producing a play of polyphonies.
This issue preserves the tradition, generating rewarding encounters between apparently unrelated fields of specialisation. Here the historical meets the technological; there the cultural engages with the political; elsewhere, gender and musicology come together; and so on. Through it all the reader, one hopes, emerges both challenged and changed, moving ultimately to a more integrated perception of the world we live in.
Kushal Andrew Biswas
Editor – in – Chief – Sophos Journal
Teacher in Charge – Women’s Christian College
Atanu Sen
Sophos Journal | Vol-3, Issue-1 | May, 2026 | Page no- 1-11
The artisans guild or association (Samity) plays a crucial role for development of local art and craft practice. The creative art work completely belongs from small scale cottage sector. The local artisans acquired craftmanship by tradition from their forefathers. The Charida village is located under Baghmundi block of Purulia district. It is famous for majestic Chhau mask (locally named as Chhau mukhosh). The local artisans samity (Purulia Chhou Mukhosh Silpi Unnayan Samiti, Charida) plays a crucial role for the development of Chhau craft in respect of its production techniques, marketing channels, financial allocations etc. In this study selected Sutradhar artisans have been selected through purposive sampling techniques. This study reveals that artisans who have possessed membership of said artisan’s guild (samity) remains in good socio-economic profile.
Keywords: Samity, Sutradhar, Chhau, artisan’s guild.
Sophos © 2024 by Women’s Christian College is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Tracing Kalachuri Grandeur: A Study of the Viratesvara Temple at Sohagpur
Sanjukta De
Sophos Journal | Vol-3, Issue-1 | May, 2026 | Page no- 12-24
This study examines the Viratesvara Temple at Sohagpur, Madhya Pradesh, a significant monument of Kalachuri art and architecture located in the historic region of Dahalamandala. The Kalachuris (this dynasty was active between the 6th and 17th/18th centuries CE), among the most powerful dynasties of central India, were noble patrons of temple architecture and religious institutions. While earlier scholarship has largely addressed dynastic histories, this paper focuses on a site-specific architectural and archaeological analysis of the Viratesvara Temple to assess its historical and artistic importance.
The research draws upon literary sources, inscriptions, numismatic evidence, and secondary scholarship, complemented by extensive fieldwork conducted across Madhya Pradesh between 2023 and 2024. Using formalist and stylistic approaches, the study analyses the temple’s architectural plan, sculptural programme, and iconography, situating it within the broader framework of Kalachuri temple architecture. Comparative analysis with other Kalachuri monuments suggests that the temple was constructed over multiple phases between the reigns of two popular rulers Yuvarajadeva I and Yuvarajadeva II. The findings highlight the temple’s role not only as a Saiva sacred space but also as a symbol of dynastic authority and Sohagpur’s regional significance within Dahalamanḍala.
Keywords: Kalachuris, Dahalamandala, Sohagpur, Viratesvara Temple, Central Indian architecture.
Sophos © 2024 by Women’s Christian College is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Public Health and Healthcare Administration during the Reign of King Ashoka
Balarka Sen
Sophos Journal | Vol-3, Issue-1 | May, 2026 | Page no- 25-34
The Mauryan period marks a significant phase in the development of public welfare and administrative governance in ancient India. Among Mauryan rulers, King Ashoka stands out for his emphasis on social welfare, morality, and public health. This paper examines the nature and structure of public health and healthcare administration during the reign of King Ashoka, drawing evidence from archaeological sources such as rock and pillar edicts, as well as literary texts including Buddhist chronicles, Arthashastra, and accounts of foreign observers. The study highlights Ashoka’s innovative approach to healthcare through state-supported medical services, the establishment of hospitals for humans and animals, promotion of herbal medicine, sanitation measures, and preventive healthcare practices. Ashoka’s Dhamma policy played a crucial role in integrating ethical governance with public health, ensuring compassion, accessibility, and equity in medical care. The paper also explores the administrative mechanisms employed to implement healthcare policies across the empire, reflecting an early form of organized public health administration. By analyzing these measures, the study argues that Ashoka’s reign represents one of the earliest systematic efforts toward state responsibility in healthcare. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of ancient Indian health systems and their relevance to the historical evolution of public health administration.
Keywords: King Ashoka , Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Mauryan Empire, Ancient Indian Medicine
Sophos © 2024 by Women’s Christian College is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Partitioning the Intelligence Branch: Problems of the Intelligence officials of West Bengal
Anik Rakshit
Sophos Journal | Vol-3, Issue-1 | May, 2026 | Page no- 35-43
The division of the Intelligence Branch (IB) between East Bengal and West Bengal, due to the British partition of Bengal in 1947, adversely affected the operations of IB officials. From the division of intelligence records to the division of officials, the problems faced by the IB of West Bengal were tremendous. Unfortunately, the problems encountered by the IB officials due to partition have received little historical attention. This paper, therefore, using declassified data from the West Bengal State Archives and a few other memoirs, will showcase the problems arising from the partition of the Intelligence Branch. By highlighting the challenges, the paper will underscore that a disarrayed intelligence system resulting from partition was a reason behind the lawlessness in post-independent West Bengal. Besides the organization problem, the paper will also highlight the challenges faced by the intelligence officials at a personal level.
Keywords: Partition; West Bengal; East Bengal; Intelligence Branch; Post-independence
Sophos © 2024 by Women’s Christian College is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
The impact of Class on Street Food Vendors in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Neha Dasgupta
Sophos Journal | Vol-3, Issue-1 | May, 2026 | Page no- 44-52
Situations of crisis leave varying impacts on differential groups of people in society. The COVID-19 pandemic brought forth the role of class and how belonging to class divisions determined their chances of survival amidst the chaos. This paper seeks to understand the situation of street food vendors in Kolkata and how their experiences and coping mechanisms differed from other food entrepreneurs from a higher socio-economic background. The intersectionality of class and gender further results in differential experiences which has also been explored in this paper.
Keywords: Street food vendors, class, capital, coping mechanisms, COVID-19.
Sophos © 2024 by Women’s Christian College is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Somdatta Banerjee
Sophos Journal | Vol-3, Issue-1 | May, 2026 | Page no- 53-61
Historical narratives of the Indian freedom struggle have long been dominated by the figures of masculine leadership and the “respectable” woman (the Bhadramahila), systematically erasing the contributions of marginalized socio-cultural groups. Among the most glaring omissions is the role of the Tawaifs (courtesans), who were not merely entertainers but pivotal political actors, financiers, and spies. This article examines Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar (2024) as a form of “historical intervention.” Drawing on Robert Rosenstone’s theory of “history on film,” the paper argues that while Heeramandi employs an aesthetic of opulence, it effectively reclaims the Tawaif from the periphery of history, positioning her as a central, albeit tragic, patriot in the 1940s resistance against British colonialism.
Keywords: Indian freedom struggle; marginalised histories; history on film; Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.
Sophos © 2024 by Women’s Christian College is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Sudokshina Manna Chatterjee
Sophos Journal | Vol-3, Issue-1 | May, 2026 | Page no- 62-76
This study examines the evolving roles and contributions of women in Indian classical music from historical roots to contemporary practice. Although Indian music traditions such as Hindustani and Carnatic have rich histories spanning millennia, women’s participation and recognition have been uneven, shaped by cultural norms, gender discriminations, religious contexts, and institutional structures. Using a mixed-method qualitative approach grounded in historical analysis, selective literature review and interviews documented in secondary sources, the study maps women’s musical journey across time and space identifying some torchbearers exploring how gendered expectations influenced training, performance opportunities, patronage, and public reception. Findings indicate enduring structural challenges, including limited access to formal institutions and gendered valuation of performance spaces, yet reveal resilient strategies women have employed to assert artistic authority. Implications stress the need for scholarship and pedagogy to foreground women’s voices, and for institutional reforms to ensure equitable representation in academic and performance platforms. The conclusion highlights contributions, limitations of secondary data reliance, and prospects for future research at the intersection of gender, music, and culture.
Keywords: Women, Indian classical music, Musicians, Gender, Performance, Contribution.
Sophos © 2024 by Women’s Christian College is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Artificial Intelligence in Global Governance: Navigating the Future
Piyali Basu
Sophos Journal | Vol-3, Issue-1 | May, 2026 | Page no- 77-86
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world at an unprecedented pace, with far-reaching implications for global governance. The global nature of AI requires international cooperation and governance ensuring responsible development and deployment of AI. The complexities of AI influence on societal structures, economic systems, and individual rights underscores the need for effective governance frameworks that prioritize human well-being and dignity, mitigating the associated risks, such as bias, job displacement, and cyber security threats along with promoting the benefits of AI, including improved efficiency, enhanced decision-making and innovation.
The study aims to explore:
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Global Governance; International Cooperation; Regulatory Framework; Human Well-being.
Sophos © 2024 by Women’s Christian College is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Algorithmic Control and Precarity in Gig Work Culture in India: A Sociological Review
Anindita Chatterjee
Sophos Journal | Vol-3, Issue-1 | May, 2026 | Page no- 87-98
The rapid expansion of gig work in India has transformed labour relations through digital platforms that organise work via algorithms rather than traditional managerial hierarchies. While gig work is often presented as flexible and autonomous, sociological research increasingly highlights the centrality of algorithmic control and precarity in shaping workers’ lived experiences. This paper offers a qualitative secondary review of sociological, interdisciplinary, and policy-oriented literature to examine how algorithmic management practices—such as ratings, incentives, surveillance, and automated penalties—restructure labour control, and how these practices produce and normalise precarity in gig work culture in India. Drawing on key sociological frameworks, including labour process theory, Weberian rationalisation, Foucauldian discipline, precarity studies, manufacturing consent, and surveillance capitalism, the study situates platform labour within longer histories of informalisation and labour flexibilisation. The analysis shows that gig work in India represents a hybrid regime of digital control and social insecurity, reinforced by weak legal protections despite recent policy interventions. The paper argues that understanding gig work requires shifting attention from narratives of flexibility to questions of power, inequality, and justice in the algorithmic age.
Sophos © 2024 by Women’s Christian College is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Book Review — In Search of Voice and Identity: Women of Satyajit Ray’s Family
Suchandra Bhaduri
Sophos Journal | Vol-3, Issue-1 | May, 2026 | Page no- 99-102
Sophos © 2024 by Women’s Christian College is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International