Hinduism and Globalization

Hinduism, a unified religious entity that boasts an extraordinary diversity in its beliefs and customs claims over 1.08 billion adherents (2007) or 15 % of the world’s people. Its diversity has promoted its traditional liberality and its freedom allowed for individuals to follow many different paths in their quest for the divine. In India, Hinduism inhabits three spaces: (1) “Village Hinduism” prevails in rural India (68 % of the population), a set of “Little traditions” combining ritual and shamanism; (2) “Sanskrit, Vedic Hinduism”, the “Great Tradition” preserved by Brahmin priests, pandits, and monastic orders that propagates the ancient scriptures and mythology; and (3) “Renaissance Hinduism,” which is popular among the new urban middle class and associated with the teachings of saints in missionary programs within India and worldwide. Hinduism is a diverse religious and cultural phenomenon which contains several key teachings of value for the modern world. These include: a living belief in the sacredness of the Earth; fundamental belief in the interconnectedness of all life; commitment to dharma, a moral duty for service to the Earth and humanity; belief in karma, the law of consequences; and deep commitment to simple lifestyles and the greater benefit of spiritual than material wealth. Of course, Hinduism also faces many challenges caused by the globalized values of materialism, consumerism and individualism and by the legacies of 700 years of Indian subjugation. Hinduism is also defended from many of globalization’s adverse effects for its open-minded theology and its penchant for absorption and reinterpretation.</p

How mohallas were formed: Typology of mohallas from the viewpoint of spatial formation and the urbanization process in Varanasi, India

The Japanese version of this paper was published in Volume 73, Number 623, pages 153‐160, https://doi.org/10.3130/aija.73.153 of the Journal of Architecture and Planning (Transactions of AIJ) . The authors have obtained permission for secondary publication of the English version in another journal from the editor of the Journal of Architecture and Planning (Transactions of AIJ) . This paper is based on the translation of the Japanese version, with some slight modifications. Correction following the first Japanese version publication: In order to clarify the argument, Figure 9 has been added and the section discussing block formation has been omitted.This paper focuses upon some mohallas in Varanasi's old urban area. The mohalla is a traditional neighborhood unit common in North Indian cities. Mohallas were elemental components of the city in the Mughal period as administrative tax units as well as autonomous organizations. Currently, however, they have lost their administrative meaning, and their geographical extent and boundaries are becoming unclear. Based on field surveys, this paper reveals features of the spatial formation of mohallas such as size, boundary form, distribution of facilities, and street pattern, and links them to the historical urbanization process of the city. Mohallas in Varanasi can be broadly classified into two types. One has a linear or tree shape along streets, and the other has a broad territorial shape. The spatial features of those two types are different in various aspects and reflect the degree of urbanization at the time when the mohallas were established

Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Children with Eosinophilia at Dhulikhel Hospital

Background Eosinophilia in children is commonly caused by or parasitic, allergic and immunologic problems. Objectives To study clinical and laboratory profile of patients with eosinophilia and to identify possible causes. Method A prospective and descriptive study was conducted from January 2009- December 2011. All the cases of eosinophilia with symptoms and signs of single or multiple organ were included. The known caused of eosinophilia like allergy, asthma and drugs were excluded. Results During three years period, 84(2.41%) cases had eosinophilia with single or multiple organ involment. 14.3%, 39.3% and 46.4% had mild, moderate and severe eosinophilia respectively, with cases of hypereosinophilia comprising 85.7%. Eosinophilia is seen predominantly in tamang caste with overall age ranging from 1-14 years. Most common symptoms and signs are abdominal pain (67.9%) hepatomegaly (59.5%) respectively. Gastrointestinal system was most commonly involved organ followed by respiratory system. Nineteen percent had polyserositis involving pleural, pericardial effusion and ascites at presentation. Out of 84 patients only nine serum samples were able to be sent for parasitological analysis. sixteen had identifiable and/ or possible causes. Serum sample for parasitological analysis revealed fascilosis, filariasis, strongylosis stercoralis and toxocariasis. Conclusion Eosinophilia is more common among tamang poulation in our study. Most common symptoms and signs are abdominal pain and hepatomegaly respectively. Parasitic infection seems to be the most common cause however further study has to be done to reach final conclusion. Kathmandu University Medical Journal | Vol.10 | No. 2 | Issue 38 | Apr – June 2012 | Page 58-62 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/kumj.v10i2.7346</jats:p

Comparision of Clinical and Laboratory Parameters in Culture Proven and Unproven Early Onset Sepsis in NICU

Backgroud Early onset sepsis remains a major cause for neonatal morbidity and mortality.Objectives The aim of this study was to describe and compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics of neonates in neonatal intensive care unit with culture positive and negative early onset sepsis and verify if there were any differences between the groups.Methods A one year comparative prospective study was conducted from January 2011 to January 2012 in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital (KUH).Results Out of 215 cases of suspected neonatal sepsis, 192 (89.30%) cases of early onset sepsis were admitted in neonatal intensive care unit. Out of which 82 cases (42.7%) had blood culture positive and 110( 57.3%) had culture negative but compatible with features of clinical sepsis. There were no cases of culture proven meningitis and urinary tract infections.The clinical characteristic did not show any statistical differences between the study groups except for seizure which was found to be high in culture positive cases (p= 0.041). The hospital stay in neonatal intensive care unit was significantly longer (p=0.02) in culture positive cases. As for the laboratory test there were no differences found between the two study groups except cases of meningitis was more in culture proven early onset sepsis (p=0.00). The overall mortality in early onset sepsis was 36.95%. The higher mortality of 64.7% was seen in culture positive cases but statistically not significant.Conclusion Clinical manifestation and laboratory test were insufficient to distinguish between neonatal infection with blood culture positive and negative sepsis, hence both culture positive and negative cases should be treated promptly and equally.Kathmandu Univ Med J 2013; 11(4): 310-314</jats:p

Bacterial Isolates and its Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern in NICU

Background Neonatal sepsis is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among the newborns in the developing world. Objectives To determine the common bacterial isolates causing sepsis in neonatal intensive care unit and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Methods A one year discriptive prospective study was conducted in neonatal intensive care unit to analyse the results of blood culture and to look into the sensitivity of the commonly used antibiotics. Results The blood culture yield by conventional method was 44.13% with nosocomial sepsis accounting for 10.79%. 84.08% were culture proven early onset sepsis and 15.95% were late onset sepsis. Klebsiella infection was the commonest organism isolated in early, late and nosocomial sepsis but statistically not significant. Gram positive organisms were 39.36% in which Staphylococcus aureus was the leading microorganism followed by coagulase negative staphylococcus areus. Gram negative organisms were 60.64% amongst them Klebsiella was the most often encountered followed by Pseudomonas. The most common organism Klebsiella was 87.5% and 78.3% resistance to ampicillin and gentamycin respectively. Among gram negative isolates 87.5% and 77.2% were resistance to ampicillin and gentamycin respectively. Among gram positive isolates 58.5% and 31.5% resistance were noted to ampicillin and gentamycin respectively. Resistance to cefotaxim to gram negative and gram positive isolates were 87.34% and 59.35% respectively. Conclusion Klebsiella is most common organism which is almost resistance to first line antibiotics. Resistance to both gram negative and gram positive isolates among firstline antibiotics and even with cefotaxim is emerging and is a major concern in neonatal intensive care unit. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/kumj.v11i1.11030 Kathmandu University Medical Journal Vol.11(1) 2013: 66-70</jats:p