Bourdieu in Bullets : A Review

Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002): in Bullets 1. Some basic concepts Bourdie was French thinker and educational sociologist. He defines mainly: Habitus - field, Cultural capital, cultural reproduction and symbolic violence • Habitus - field: • habitus : person' thought and activity. • Field: The person's construct of thinking to the world. • Capital: economic capital, cultural capital and social capital Cultural reproduction: education creates disparity and social differentiation. • Cultural violation: elite culture dominates the mass culture even in classroom. • Educational system is Illusions and failure of popular education as well. • Bourdieu studied beyond the field of education. • Parajuli, M. N. (2000) did study in Nawalparasi to test the Bourdieu' theory. Parajuli found: Dayaram and laxmi are the mirror of symbolic violence that are facing hegemony of Nepali dialectics in their family. • Communicative problem is vital for symbolic action and symbolic violence. • Elite were being reproduced in the Tharu family. 2. Cultural Capital: Strengths, Weaknesses and Two Advancements By Herman G van de Werfhorst In British Journal of Sociology of Education (2010 March) Strengths: • Tremendous impact on research on educational inequality in Europe and the USA. • Social reproduction is realized through cultural reproduction in schooling system. • Integration of multidimensional social origin (cultural and economic capital). Weaknesses: • Bourdieu ignored multidimensional outcomes. • Cultural reproducion theory is not compatible with known facts of educational inequalities. Theoretical attack: • Congnotive theory argues education broadens students' horizon. • Socialization theory socializes pupil in schools. • According to ideological refinement, education affects attitudes. • Bourdieuian empirical research is more fruitful than the 'wild' type Goldthorpe (2007). Communicative and technical resources should be distinguished from cultural and economic resources. • Multidimensionality of resources is relevant for understanding inequalities. • Bourdieuian has weaknwesses and progress has to be made. 3. Reproducing Differences? Schooling, Jobs and Employment in UP, India Research was conducted by the 3 authors in Bijnor in India in 2000-2002. • Lucrative salaried employment is politicesed. • Government school curridulla reflect politicized hinduism. • Bramins and Thakurs dominated the lucrative employment. • 33 per cent reservation of seats for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women in Village council (panchayat). • The authors have analized Bourdieu’s economic, social and cultural capital and tested social reproduction in northern India. • The authors found educated chamars became brokers (dalal). • Explored link between education and oppertunities (salaried work). • Educated Dalits found as organic intellectuals because they changed to neat and clean culture (Gramci, 1971 cited). • School dropouts among Jats (high castes) were accused of not washing, dressing untidily and using bad language. • Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) promoted chamars as conceptualized by Indian constitution maker dalit leader Ambedkar. • Chamars are benefitted from expansion of formal education and acquired government jobs. • “ Schooling is social good” in contrary to Bourdieu. Reviewed by Rajendra Raj Timilsina, PhD first semester, Kathmandu University

Academic Research Practice within Homelibrary

A Research practice within Home Library Rajendra Raj Timilsina An Academic Exercise Submitted to Associate Prof. Laxman Jnawali In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Professional Writing For PhD in Education School of Education Kathmandu University Balkumari, Lalitpur April, 2012 A Research within Home Library Background I have joined PhD class at Kathmandu University, school of Education specializing with Development Studies. Classes are conducted 6 days in a week and all classes are in the evening shift. Statistical methods in Educational research, sociology of Education and Foundation of Education major subjects. Similarly, Academic Writing Research Methodology in Education and Diversity Education are other main subjects for the course. Interestingly, The University teaches Academic Writing as a separate subject, which helps us to make our performance world class in terms of the language. Our teacher Associate Professor Laxman Jnawali teaches Academic writing. He is well known personality in the sector of English Language teaching in Nepal. He is an vital official at Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA). English by Radio program is alo much popular in Nepal. I fell proud to learn from him. In his subject he focuses us totally academic writing which will certainly help to write thesis, book review and review of academic articles. He made us to able to write academic pieces of write up from 150 words to 2000 words gradually. We are practiced APA style for academic exercise. However, Academic Writing is noncredit course for PhD students I have decided to study regularly because the practice improves me. Where as some of my colleagues left the class. Whoever continuing the classes, most of the colleagues are preparing the write up based on information obtained from University library. But, I have decided to conduct the study with in my personal library. I took a book on Mass Media Research by Wimmer and Dominick and searched the meaning as what is research? Defining research Wimmer and Dominick (2003) say that Research can be very informal, with few, if any; specific plans or steps, or it can be formal, with the researcher following highly defined and exacting procedures. Keep in mind, however, that the lack of exacting procedure in informal research does not mean that the approach is incorrect. Also, know that the use of exacting procedures does not automatically make formal research correct. Both procedures can be good or bad, depending on the specific requirements. The important thing for any researcher (formal or informal) to understand is the correct approach to follow to ensure the best results ( Wimmer and Dominick , 2003, p. 2). Media research is a main and compulsory subject in MA in Mass communication and journalism studies. So, the book was prescribed there. Apart from the theoretical study and written examination, on the grounds of theoretical base 100 mark dissertation is also compulsory in the discipline. Before facing entrance exam for PhD I studied The MA. In the mean time, my friend of Nepal Television, Tanka Upreti wrote a book on the same subject and the name was “Communication Research: Methodology and Practice” (in Nepali). He has also mentioned about the APA style. Upreti (2010) says in English that the style developed and recommended by the American Psychological Association for referencing information in scholarly publications and for arranging information in citations and references. Then, I closed the book and went to my book wrack in search for social aspects. Society and socialism I found a report on the status of beggars in the Katmandu valley. Co-instance, I had made a news story on the same topic in Nepal Television on the occasion of Nepali new year, 2069 on Nepali beggars in the capital who were celebrating happy new year. I raised the issue of socialism and justice in Nepali society where all 3 forces are in constituent assembly to draft constitution who took weapons in the name of socialism in 3 different stages- in 1950s, in 1970s and in 1996 to 2005. But I had not the report off hand while I was producing the news. However, Social Welfare Council conducted the research in 2001 and I had collected the report from the then member secretary Dr. Tika Prasad Pokhrel. Suddenly after long time I found today the report. The research team leader was Ms. Kusum Shakya. Personal reflections also included in the report. Among them, Mrs. Krishna Devi Koirala is presented as professional beggar in her difficulty. I am 65 years old woman and migrated from Sindhupalchowk district. Since, my husband is dead. I also lost my property as well. My three sons took up all the property, but they do not take care of me. Since, then, I started to beg at Pashupati for 35 years (Krishna Devi Koirala based on personal communication, cited by Shakya, 2001). On the one hand, we can find several theories on modernization and development. We study the history of socialist movement that may with in Nepal or abroad. In his book titled “The Sociology of Modernization and Development”, David Harrison introduces Modernization Theory from the speech of United States of America’s president Harry Truman in 1949. President Truman had announced the Point Four program of development aid to underdeveloped areas to develop their resources and improve their living condition. Harrisson (1988) cited the presidential address from Ohlin, 1970, p. 25). Sociology of Development analyzes on the development of underdevelopment in third world countries. On the other hand, the notion is absolutely relating to Nepal where ideology and technology were taken both first and second world but condition of the Nepali people and the country is not developed. Rather it is becoming more dependent year by year than the previous. Neither capitalism nor socialism is working in the country. Even if, it could have prevailed the capitalism, people’s status would have more prosperous. Now richer are becoming richer and richest as well. Poorer’s condition is worsen. Some handful people have most of the pie of the total wealth of the country. Of course, beggars can be found easily in the capital. In contrast, those relatives of the political leaders are collecting more and more assets adopting legal or illegal means. Some vital leaders are in prison on the conviction of corruption. Rests of the several leaders are blamed as corrupt by public. Such leaders seem as obstacles to fulfill the vacant post of the constitutional bodies including apex anti graft body. Development and the studies Being a student of development studies, I intended to update on developmental process. There is United Nations Organization, which also talks on development. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is major agenda for current years. The MDGs as mentioned by UNDP and Government of Nepal (2011) are as follow: Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women Goal 4. Reduce child mortality Goal 5. Improve maternal health Goal 6. Combat HIV AIDS, malaria and other disease Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability Goal 8. Develop a globsl partnership for development I searched the latest status of Nepal on MDGs literature. MDGs progress status states (2011) that studies should be conducted to dig deeper into the structural disparities across ethnic, economic, social geographic and gender categories to address hidden issues. The progress is not satisfactory except child and maternal mortality rate rate has reduced. Multilingualism I turned to development of languages and culture. I took International review of Education, which is special issue on quality multilingual and multicultural education for lifelong learning. I found the article on multilingual education system in Luxembourg. In the European country has established University of Luxembourg (UL) as multilingual university. The academic article has articulated multilingualism in education is a conceptual as well as a pedagogical challenge (Ziegler, 2011, p. 685-703). Similarly, I went through our own context that Nepali educational system. In this course, I found Awasthi (2004) where ignorance of mother tongues is a major obstacle in Nepali teaching -learning process. Highlighting opportunities for multilingual education in Nepal, Koirala (2010, p. 30-34) has analyzed language setting, its trend and 11 point opportunities for learners, teachers and advocators. Studying education, my eyes went to the latest issue of the educational magagine “The Teacher” (in Nepali). The magazine (Apr-May-2012) found criticized the agreement between agitating teachers organizations and ministry of education recently. The agreement covered all matters except education, according to the cover story of the magazine. Education in Economic Statistics Then I caught another publication that was quite different from previous books. Economic survey is taken as a statistical tables’ book also. Interestingly, I found comparative table on comparative table of students enrolled in higher level of education. But there is data missing other universities except Tribhuvan university. Row and column for Nepal Sanskrit, Katmandu University, Purvanchal and Pokhara universities also allocated. However, whole data is missing (Ministry of Finance, 2011, p. 2002). NTV Publication In the mean time, I got another magazine that is a publication of Nepal Television “Telepatrika” (Jan. 2004). The bilingual publication has published an article written by Chintamani Baral on NTV Metro Channel and challenges. A beautiful building, air conditioned rooms, latest equipment and coloueful lights, NTV Metro give the feeling of some place of a developed country as mentioned in the article. Now the channel’s name has been changed twice. NTV Metro changed to NTV2 and NTV Plus now. But I could no find the literature on the latest situation of the channel. In my opinion, TV channels’ challenges remain the same for decades in the era of competition. Baral (2004) sees the major challenge that NTV Metro channel requires income generating programs for long lasting operation. Nepotism and favoritism I found two interesting news in latest newspapers which are available in home library. The one was Janaastha weekly (April 18 2012, p. 7) and news was on NTV. NTV official were mentioned as unjust doers in the course of selection of trainee ladies news presenters and most of them are relatives of the official, as said in the news. Similarly, The Himalayan Times (18 April 2012, p. 2) has published news on Judge quits to escape JC probe: Sharma’s verdict on ex-minister Gupta was questioned. Komal Nath Sharma is seating judge in court of appeal and he is charged of giving clean chit to former corrupt ministers. A panel of Sharma, Cholendra Shamsher Rana and Bhupadhwaj Adhikari had acquitted several ministers from the special court years ago. “Yes, he has resigned,” conformed Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi. “His resignation is under process. A decision whether to accept his resignation will be taken soon,” Regmi told THT. Conclusion I can research with in my home library much more whatever materials are collected. The research may in Media, Sociology/Anthropology, Public Administration and Public Policy and Law. Last but not least, the reading materials are collected in the course of my 24 year journalistic carrier as well as lifelong learner. Reference Janaaashtha weekly, Shreshtha, Kishor (ed.). 18 April, 2012 The Himalayan Times Daily, 18th April, 1012, Ed. Ajaya Bhadra Khanal, International Media network, Nepal Telepatrika,Biannual Publicationa of Nepal Television. No. 1, Vol.1, January 2004 Ed. Durga Nath Shar,ma, Nepal Television Shikshyak Monthly, April- May, 2012, ed. Rajendras Dahal, Gyanbigyan shaikshik Sahakario Sanstha limited, Lalitpur Journal of Education and Research, Kathmandu University, School of Education, Vol. 2, 2012 Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey, Fiscal Year 1010/11, vol. II International Review of Edcucation,, vol. 57, numbers 5-6, 2011UNESCO institute for lifelong Learning, Hamberg, Guest Editors : Hassana Aliduo, Cristine Glanze, Nobert Nikiema Awasthi, L. D. (2004). Exploring Monolingual School Practices In Multilingual Nepal, PhD Dissertation, The Danis University of education, Copenhagen. Garrison, D. (1988). The Sociology of Modernization and Development, University of Sussex, United Nations Development Program and Government of Nepal, (2011). Millennium Development Goals Needs Assessment for Nepal 2010: Author. Wimmer, R. D. and Dominick J. R. (2003). Mass Media Research: An Introduction (seventh edition), Thomson Wadsworth, Upreti, T. (2010). Communication Research : Methodology and Practice, Sajha Prakahsan, Lalitpur. Shakya, K. (2001). A Preliminary study on the status of Beggars in the Kathmandu Valley. Social Welfare Council, Kathmandu. ( NOTE: The whole text is to be corrected).

व्रतबन्ध

साहित्यकार तथा पत्रकार ब्याकुल पाठकले आफ्ना छोरा अवतार पाठकको व्रतबन्ध गराइदिएका छन् । माघ मसान्तका दिन सामाखुसी चोकको एबी पार्टी प्यालेसमा ब्याकुलले उक्त शुभकर्म गराएका हुन् । त्यहाँ साथीहरू र आफन्तहरू निम्त्याइएका थिए । एघार वर्षको उमेरमा अवतारको व्रतबन्ध संस्कार सम्पन्न भएको हो ।

journo 1

nepal television

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