Latest Publications

Nōṭṭusvara are a novel compositional form in Carnatic classical music that emerged in the colonial period in south India, where vernacular lyrics were set to the popular Celtic/Baroque melodies. Muttuswāmi Dīkṣitar is attributed for the creation of the genre of Nōṭṭusvara. The present study questions the very intent of the conception of these specific compositions by Dīkṣitar, and explores beyond the conventional idea of him composing these pieces due to his exposure to the band music in Madras.

Folding and unfolding of proteins is a biologically important topic as many neurological diseases involve misfolding of proteins. Here we have used the technique of X-ray crystallography to characterise the early stages of unfolding of the protein lysozyme purified from hen egg-white. The results when compared with our earlier studies reveal, for the first-time, the possibility of protein unfolding to start from a unique point. If true, this would enable engineering of proteins and drugs to prevent neurological disorders.

 In this study, a modular radial flow annular reactor using the strontium bromide hexahydrate-monohydrate conversion reaction is designed for long-term energy storage, and performance analysis is conducted for eight cities from the Indian Himalayan Region, each with distinct meteorological characteristics, to evaluate the system’s suitability.  The year-long charging and discharging efficiencies are nearly location-independent, with consistent values of ∼35 % and ∼74 %, respectively.

International collaboration in basic sciences allows researchers from different countries to pool their expertise, knowledge, and resources. This combined effort tackles complex scientific challenges that might be beyond the intellectual, technical, and financial capabilities of a single nation. It fosters the sharing of data and ideas, accelerates scientific progress and leads to breakthroughs that benefit all of humanity.

This chapter looks at ways in which male circular migration as a household livelihood strategy affects food access among rural households in India. Circular male labour migration is the dominant form of labour mobility in many parts of India. This migration pattern creates important rural-urban linkages through income transfers and alters within-household gender power relations.