Kipling’s Depiction of the Great Game Between British India and Czarist Russia

This article provides valuable information about the living conditions of Muslims of the Pak-Afghan Region in the context of revisiting Rudyard Kipling’s view of the Great Game of the 19th century between Great Britain and Russia that roughly continued for about a century beginning in the second decade of the 19th century to the signing of the Anglo Russian convention in 1907. In this respect his famous novel, Kim (1901) has been critically examined to establish the political content of his creative work. Coupled with the appreciation of the novel as a great work of art with its many facets and themes, views of Edward Said have been juxtaposed to arrive at a conclusion that the novel is also a celebration of imperialism. In today’s scenario in Central Asia particularly Afghanistan, a revisit of Kipling is an interesting revelation. The discussion also reveals the similarities of the tussle of two centuries back to the realities in the region today. This insight as we appreciate Kipling’s masterpiece novel proves even more eye-catching and real. This paper also examines Peter Hopkirk’s works on the Great Game to historically asses the dialectics of the imperial struggle between the two super powers of the time. In this connection, a brief discussion is available on the three Anglo-Afghan Wars as well as the conflict in Kashgharia. This article presents an overview of the view head by Russians on the conflict which they call Tournament of Shadows or Bolshya Igra involving spies and military personnel. A fresh look at Kipling’s works in general and his novel Kim, in particular, helps explore the very essentials of the working of Imperialism and empire-building, which is the main stay of this paper. A deeper look would understandably unfurl big powers rivalry in general, and the present day security situation in Asia in particular, by going through the works of a great writer; the first Englishman and the youngest recipient for Nobel Prize in Literature (1907).  

Determinants of Individual Investor's Behavior and Their Impact on Investment Decision

The stock market in Pakistan is highly volatile and sensitive for unexpected shocks. In this market, the role and importance of individual investors and their trading behavior is also very critical. But there is always an environment of uncertainty and lack of information. Furthermore, the investment policies are formulated keeping in view the interests of institutional investors only. So, it becomes impossible for the individual investors to take decisions depending upon their own personal resources and complex statistical data. Therefore, the individual investors resort to other non-statistical gadgets and try to make rational decisions relying on non-statistical gadgets that are related to their behavior and psychology. In this study, the researcher has investigated the importance of these non-numeric factors for individual investors' investment decision making. The purpose of this study is to examine these determinants of individual investor's behavior as well as the influence of these determinants on the individual investor's decision. This is a quantitative research based on analytical and descriptive lines. Regression Analysis is used to determine the relative importance of each behavioral factor. This study bears great significance in recognizing the importance of heuristic and behavioral tools for investment decision making. This research is a contribution in the research paradigm from the view point of the policy makers also. It will play a significant role at the time of formulation of policies for institutional investors and regulatory bodies such as Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and at the same time retaining the interests of individual investors.