Can the Subalterns Sketch? A Critical Semiotic Analysis of the Novel‘ Munnu: A Boy from Kashmir’

This paper is formulated under the conceptual framework of Gayatri spivak’s theory of Can Subaltern Speak? And explores the potential permeability of visual resources as a form of discourse through which subalterns found opportunity to counter media hegemony and make their voices heard. In order to analyze the selected graphic novel Munnu: A Boy From Kashmir (2015) the present qualitative study applies Grunter Kress and Theo Van Leeuwen’s model of visual design (2010) that connects the representational meaning to the interactive one. The analyst reflected upon how the interplay of visuals images and words together displayed the theme of Kashmir’s subjugation as well as how this genre has proved supportive to author to counter the said hegemony. Hence, the study found consent, political domination and media control as the broad elements that can be seen in the novel and also the study concludes that counter hegemony is possible through such literary genres, as the novel’s narrator has communicated those aspects of hegemonic situation in Kashmir to a large audience through literary discourse of graphic novel genre that are chiefly absent from mainstream media’s treatments of the Kashmir’s conflict. ______

Isolation, Modification, Characterization, Pharmaceutical Applications of Hydrogel from Seeds of Cydonia Oblanga

Extraction of Quince hydrogel (QH) was accomplished from seeds of Cydonia oblonga M (Quince) by hot water extraction method. Characterization of QH was accomplished by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetic analysis (TGA). Swelling of QH was carried out in deionized water, buffer solutions of pH 1.2, 6.8 and 7.4 by using gravimetric analysis, inferring that QH showed high swelling capacity in deionized water and buffer solutions of pH 7.4 and 6.8 while minor swelling was noticed in acidic buffer of pH 1.2, indicating QH as a potential biomaterial for fabrication of targeted drug delivery. Kinetic models were also applied to the swelling data acquired from swelling studies. It was concluded that swelling of QH in deionized water and phosphate buffers of pH 6.8 and 7.4 followed second order swelling kinetics. Responsiveness of QH to concentration of electrolytes was also ascertained by carrying out swelling of QH in different molar concentrations of NaCl and KCl solutions (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 M). The QH was deduced to be responsive to concentration of electrolytes, showing a decrease in swelling capacity with increasing molar concentration of electrolytes. Swelling deswelling (on-off) response of QH was also evaluated in water and ethanol, water and normal saline and phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 and acidic buffer of pH 1.2. When water swollen QH was immersed into saline and ethanol, deswelling of QH was noticed however, deswelling in ethanol was abrupt as compared to deswelling in saline solution. Similar swelling deswelling response was noticed in phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 and acidic buffer of pH 1.2. These findings prove QH to be stimuli sensitive biomaterial with potential to be used in developing stimuli responsive drug delivery system.