Contestations and Transformations: the Shared Religious Space of Jhule Lal in Sindh, Pakistan

Syncretic and shared religious spaces have long been perceived as reflections of tolerance. This does not imply that tolerance is completely liberated from multiple clashing components and the coexistence of interfaith practices do not suggest that hostility is entirely missing. In recent times, a transformation is taking place at the shared space of the Jhule Lal by the dominant religious group. However, there remains an appearance of tolerance at the shared space of the Jhule Lal among believers of both Islam and Hinduism, which blinds the observer of the deep internal contestation and process of transformation between both Sindhi Hindus and Sindhi Muslims who revere the same saint of the Jhule Lal. A syncretic space does not simply absorb different religious groups, and by studying the practices, rituals and interactions of the custodians, visitors and devotees at the shrine, this paper aims to unearth the processes through which shrine is contested in multiple identities, discourse (written, textual, verbal) authority, and belief systems.

Varieal Evaluation and Quality Enhancement of Cut Tulips by Exogenous Application of Growth Promoting Substances

Tulips are one of the most popular springs of all the time and possess eminent status among various cut flowers cultivated world-wide next to rose and chrysanthemum in the global floriculture trade. However, they are not as productive in subtropical areas as they are in temperate zones. This is attributed by short span of winter season and other abiotic stress factors that are aggravated by climate change. All these factors impede tulip production in subtropical regions. Therefore, a study, comprised of four experiments was conducted to investigate the varietal response of different cultivars of cut tulips under Faisalabad conditions and role of various bioregulators on morpho-physiological, biochemical, enzymatic and ionic attributes that can be used for characterization of inducing tolerance and adaptability in tulip cultivars. Bulbs were planted in open field having sandy loam soil provided with supplemental doze of macronutrients. In first experiment, screening of 10 different tulip cultivars for their growth response and adaptability was carried out on the basis of their sprouting, morphological, floral and bulb attributes. Cultivars were categorized into best performing and least performing on the basis of their performance in 1st experiment. Five better adapted cultivars namely Apeldorn, Barcelona, Ile de France, Leen Vander Mark and Parade were selected for further study. In 2nd and 3rd experiment exogenous application of chitosan and glycine betaine, respectively were carried out to assess the performance of various attributes for quality enhancement. Moreover, in 3rd experiment, response of different polyamines (putrescine, spermine and spermidine) was studied in two cultivars Apeldorn and Clear water by their exogenous application at different concentrations. Results of 1st experiment depicted highly significant difference among all the tested cultivars that all varieties behaved differently and some of them showed better adaptability that have potential for production on commercial basis in the country. Furthermore, optimized levels of chitosan and glycine betaine were also identified that enhanced the growth response of different tulip cultivars. Inferences were developed on the basis of standards needed for any cut flower crop like increased quality parameters flower size, stem length, freshness and postharvest attributes. Results depicted exogenous application of chitosan and glycine betaine improved plant fresh mass, height, leaf area, chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration rate (E), water use efficiency (WUE), stomatal conductance (gs), sub-stomatal CO2 (Ci), antioxidant enzymes and all other attributes associated to flower morphology. Furthermore, these compounds also improved the postharvest longevity by causing significant decrease in MDA contents. Though the chemicals used did not improve the mass, diameter and number of perrenating organs, thus they imparted negative effects on bulb attributes necessary for the growers to use them in the preceding year. In 4th experiment, 0.03 mM spermine (Spm) concentration proved to be the best for enhancing flower quality attributes in Apeldorn cultivar while low level of spermine (Spm) 0.01 mM proved to be best amongst all other tested dozes of polyamines in Clear water cultivar. Overall best performing traits were found in the plants that were exogenously applied by spermine followed by spermidine while putrescine improve petal lengths and width while other attributes remained less affected. Furthermore, findings of 4th experiment clearly indicated that spermine significantly enhanced postharvest potential of both the tulip cultivars by sustaining vase life and improving physiological, biochemical and enzymatic attributes. Overall, it can be extracted that suboptimal environmental conditions were found to be injurious for tulip growth and productivity and exogenous application of chitosan and glycine betaine specific concentration for particular cultivars were found effective tool for enhancing growth potential. However, effect of polyamines was more pronounced in both the cultivars reflecting that it may induce similar effects on other tulip cultivars as in majority of the parameters varietal effect was found to be non-significant. Besides, one can establish that A, E, WUE, gs, gm and protein might directly be linked with growth and flower quality attributes as they are severely affected by malicious environmental conditions. Thus it can be concluded from the current findings that by planting better performing cultivars, identified in the research, the growth potential of tulip can be expanded. The application of optimized levels of chitosan and glycine betaine particularly at lower levels proved effective in extending display life of tulips. Both these strategies when applied together could lead to a breakthrough in tulip cut flower production by improving the flower quality achieved through minimizing the life cycle in short duration of winters in sub-tropical terrains.