The Continuum: A Blog by PHI Learning

PHI Learning, a trusted name in academic publishing with 62 years of excellence, offers affordable, NEP 2020-aligned textbooks, expert-authored content, and global reach, driving academic progress in higher education.

Author: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.

  • Gandhi’s Legacy: Shaping Political Philosophy in India

    When discussing India’s Independence movement, few names resonate as prominently as Mahatma Gandhi’s. Gandhi’s political influence helped spread philosophical approaches of non-violence (Ahimsa) and Satyagraha (truth-force or soul-force) which are still integral to Indian political philosophy today.

    Gandhian philosophy is taught to all students at in India. At university-level, most humanities and social science courses will at least touch upon Gandhian Philosophy. Whether you study Politics, History, or English Literature, you cannot get away without touching upon a bit of Gandhian Philosophy in college! It’s a fact: Gandhi is integral to Indian political philosophy.

    Gandhi emphasized practical idealism over theoretical abstractions, aiming to drive both societal transformation and individual change through adherence to truth and non-violent opposition.

    His principles of peace, nonviolence, and interfaith harmony have gained widespread acceptance in university curricula globally. A simple google search would show you how well-received Gandhian Philosophy is in global curricula.

    Check out this article (https://www.mkgandhi.org/intro_autobio.php) to better understand Gandhi’s life and methods but also Indian social life and culture.

    The core Gandhian principles include:

    • Truth (Satya): Commitment to honesty and authenticity.
    • Nonviolence (Ahimsa): Practicing compassion and peaceful resistance.
    • Self-discipline (Swa-Dharma): Embracing self-control and inner harmony.
    • Non-possession (Aparigraha): Detachment from material possessions and simple living.
    • Non-stealing (Asteya): Respecting others’ property and rights.
    • Equality (Samanvaya): Valuing each individual equally, regardless of social distinctions.
    • Non-violent resistance (Satyagraha): Advocating for justice through peaceful means.
    • Trusteeship (Sarvodaya): Promoting equitable distribution of wealth.
    • Constructive work (Sarvodaya): Engaging in productive activities for societal betterment.
    • Swadeshi (Self-sufficiency): Supporting local industries and self-reliance.
    • Swaraj (Self-governance): Striving for individual and national self-rule.

    Studying Gandhian Philosophy Through Textbooks

    Studying Gandhian philosophy through traditional textbooks offers several advantages over relying solely on online resources. Textbooks provide a structured and comprehensive approach, featuring insightful commentaries, historical context, and critical analysis.

    PHI Learning’s Political Theory titles, authored by reputable scholars, enhance the learning experience with features like explanatory footnotes, comprehensive introductions, illustrative summaries, and self-evaluation questions. These resources immerse students in Gandhi’s wisdom, offering a deeper understanding of his philosophy and its relevance to contemporary issues. Textbooks facilitate academic growth, intellectual enrichment, and a lasting appreciation for Gandhian principles in political theory education.

    Textbooks offer several key benefits:

    • Comprehensive Coverage: They address all essential topics systematically, ensuring a complete understanding of subjects.
    • Logical Organization: Textbooks present information in a coherent sequence, helping students build knowledge progressively. This structured format clarifies complex concepts and creates a comprehensive mental map of the subject.
    • Quality Assurance and Credibility: Authored by experts and subjected to rigorous peer review, textbooks ensure accuracy and educational value. They often include citations and references, allowing further exploration and verification of information.

    While online resources may provide fragmented or generalized content, textbooks offer a narrative style that presents topics as a cohesive story. This structured approach aids in grasping complex concepts and gaining a more integrated understanding of the subject matter.

    Textbooks cover essential topics comprehensively and are organized to build knowledge systematically. Online resources, while convenient, often lack the depth and structure found in textbooks.

    For example, while a textbook on Gandhi would provide a detailed account of his life and philosophy, organized serially, most websites and online study notes may not present this in a sequential or complete manner. Further, textbooks may feature additional resources, such as documentaries and autobiographies, that can offer a more holistic view.

    The 1982 film “Gandhi” by Richard Attenborough or “The Story of My Experiments with Truth” by Gandhi himself are similar to textbook learning. Such resources cover the topic being analyzed in more detail. They also provide personal opinions and different perspectives. Such details, provided with the guidance of experts’ opinions, can lead to unique insights for those who want to truly understand and analyze the topic, rather than just gathering information about it.

    Studying Gandhian philosophy through textbooks offers a comprehensive and structured approach to understanding his principles. This method ensures that students gain a thorough and nuanced view of Gandhi’s transformative ideas and their relevance in today’s world.

    political science books

  • Discover the global impact of PHI Learning! Visit us at Stall No. 12A-14E at the forthcoming Delhi Book Fair

    PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd invites you to our stall at the Delhi Book Fair from 7th to 11th August at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Discover our extensive collection of high-quality, affordable textbooks that have been empowering educators and inspiring students for over 62 years.
    • Explore over titles under our renowned Eastern Economy Editions imprint.
    • Experience the global reach of PHI Learning, with books adopted by premier institutions worldwide.
    • Browse through the leaves of the books at leisure to decide your purchase.
    • Connect with our team for new collaborations, co-publishing, translation, and copyright arrangements.
    Don’t miss the chance to be a part of the biggest book bonanza, packed with literary activities, book releases, and insightful seminars.
    📅 Date: 7th – 11th August 📍 Venue: Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, Stall No. 12A-14E, New Delhi
    Empower your teaching and learning journey with PHI Learning. See you there!

  • A Good Buy?

    Is Reliance Power @27.33 still a good buy?

    A big question to answer! Anil Ambani making a comeback……

    Reliance Power’s stock has seen a tremendous upsurge of late, since the company’s shares had previously fallen to Rs. 1 from their peak price, marking a significant recovery. In 2008, the share price of Reliance Power was approximately Rs 260. However, following a significant decline, the share price has risen tremendously since then.

    Reliance Power net profit margin fell over 250% since last year in the Q3 2023-2024. So, not the good news.

    But stock market experts claim that the company has paid off its debts to ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and DBS Bank which is driving up its shares. Further, recent capital injection could be another factor shooting up the price of Reliance Power’s stock.

    Watch!

    The above article is written by our author Dr. Sandeep Goel https://www.sandeepgl.com/blog/a-good-buy.html.

    Want to be well-versed with the basic concepts and mechanism of financial system for achieving professional and personal growth? Get your copy of FINANCIAL MARKETS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES written by Sandeep Goel

     

     

  • Accounting Heroes: Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Case & the Impact of Scholarly Publishing in India

    When we think of scholarly publishing, it’s usually about fulfilling career goals. But let’s take a step back: scholarly publishing isn’t just about books; it’s about unleashing groundbreaking discoveries. These findings aren’t just informative; they’re game-changers, opening doors to new insights and solutions.

    When it comes to research findings, they are ultimate game-changer. They’re not just pieces of information; they’re the keys to unlocking new knowledge, insights, and solutions to some of the toughest challenges we face. Scholarly works play a crucial role here, documenting and spreading these findings far and wide.

    They’re like heroes in the world of breakthroughs, illuminating uncharted territories, challenging norms, and driving transformative change. Whether it’s a groundbreaking scientific discovery, a revolutionary technological innovation, or a paradigm-shifting theoretical framework, scholarly works are the driving force behind progress in every field.

    The impact of scholarly works extends beyond academia, influencing policymaking, industry practices, and societal norms. Governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations often rely on research findings to inform their decisions and strategies, making scholarly works instrumental in driving positive change on a global scale.

    One such example is the case of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, which is also discussed in detail in PHI Learning’s bestseller Financial Accounting by Narayanaswamy. This case is a great example of how impactful academic research and scholarly publishing can be.

    The Case of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories

    Investigation Stages

    Details

    Initial Suspicion: Accounting experts with access to the financial reports of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories’, a pharmaceutical giant, noticed discrepancies in their books of accounts.

    Fraud Analytics Investigation: They further investigated the financial data, discovering irregularities that screamed potential fraud.

    Application of the Fraud Triangle: They studied the company culture and money incentives, finding possible motives for people to participate in the fraud. They also looked into internal controls, spotting where things could go wrong.

    ESG Considerations in Analysis: Researchers looked into how the company was dealing with the social environment and governance. It gave them a bigger picture beyond just the money.

    Analysis of the Statement of Cash Flows: They looked deeper into cash flow statements, tracking the money flow and finding some shady discrepancies. Differences between what was reported and what actually happened raised some red flags.

    In this case, scholarly publishing played a crucial role, literally acting as a “hero of the day,” in helping expose the fraud. Without scholarly platforms, such revelations would be challenging. They facilitate crucial discussions and knowledge exchange, vital for uncovering complex issues like financial fraud.

    Published research on this case raised awareness about the importance of transparency and accountability in corporate governance, serving as a catalyst for reform. The topic of the case went viral, presenting itself as a trend within the scholarly publishing sphere at that time.

    This case shows how scholarly publishing is vital to the advancement and progress of any nation – particularly India. Due to its utility as a gateway to breakthroughs, it is important to keep in touch with the current trends emerging in scholarly publishing scenes and academic communities in India and abroad.

    Such and more cases are covered in our book Financial Accounting: A Managerial Perspective, 7th Edition written by former IIM Bangalore Professor R. Narayanaswamy. Click here if you wish to buy a copy https://www.phindia.com/Books/BookDetail/9789354437656/financial-accounting-narayanaswamy

     

  • Preserved In The Lens Of Change: A Glimpse of India’s Biodiversity through Digital Storytelling

    The Evolution of Education in India: From Textbooks to Multimedia

    Over the past few years, India has transformed into a rapidly advancing economy, boasting the world’s largest population of young people. With the boost in the number of young people comes a proliferating culture of social media and digital multimedia use.

    Amidst this cultural evolution, the internet has emerged as a pivotal means of communication. Further, digital storytelling (sharing a story with your audience via photographs you have taken yourself) has become highly popular.

    Running parallel to the internet’s dominance is the epoch of climate change, heightening global awareness of environmental challenges.

    This blog is about the intersection of the approaching culture of digital storytelling and the trending topic of environmental conservation. We explain why digital storytelling is a great means through which we can initiate academic and scholarly discussions on topics related to biodiversity, environment, climate change, etc.

    Raising Awareness through Digital Storytelling

    Before delving into the importance of digital narratives in helping educate people about our rich biodiversity, it is important to answer the question – what even is digital storytelling?

    Digital storytelling uses digital media like images, videos, and interactive elements to convey a message, blending traditional storytelling with technology for engaging experiences.

    Digital storytelling has great potential to bring academic discussions to the public. Its ability to “go viral” on social networks can help amplify relevant topics, making them accessible to everyone.

    In this digital age, storytelling emerges as a powerful tool to bring to the forefront underrepresented natural wonders and inspire action for their conservation. With advancing technologies, wildlife photography has become a trend, facilitating immersive digital narratives that unveil the wonders concealed within protected realms, fostering a deeper connection with nature.

    Multimedia Storytelling in Higher Education

    Similarly, in academic education, integrating digital storytelling into the curriculum can make learning more enjoyable, especially with the abundance of beautiful images depicting natural Landscapes.

    Incorporating digital storytelling into e-books, leveraging the natural narrative ability of our planet’s biodiversity, can make learning about topics such as ecology and environmental science more fun and engaging.

    Renowned globally for its biodiversity, India’s unnoticed and overlooked wealth of wildlife sanctuaries and nature reserves need to be brought to the public’s notice. Digital storytelling has a huge potential in bringing discussions taking place within the academic sphere to the forefront. Incorporated in e-books, digital storytelling about India’s biodiversity can make learning fun!

    How Multimedia Narratives Can Impact Academia:

    • Student Engagement and Learning: Actively engages students through immersive experiences.
    • Empowerment and Advocacy: Motivates students to champion conservation efforts, empowering them to take tangible action.
    • Conservation Contribution and Cultural Preservation: Contributes to conservation endeavors by visually documenting ecological data and preserving cultural heritage.
    • Policy Influence and Global Impact: Advocates for policy reforms and reaches a global audience, amplifying the efficacy of conservation endeavors.

    While multimedia storytelling serves as an effective communication tool across various subjects, its value is particularly pronounced in environmental science, ecology, biology, and related fields. Presenting India’s biodiversity and global wildlife sanctuaries in a digital, visual format can serve as a compelling means to popularize the principles, objectives, and aspirations that fields like environmental science embody and aspire to achieve.

    Know about India’s Biodiversity:

     

  • Book Review – CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Second Edition by BALACHANDRAN, V. and CHANDRASEKARAN, V.

     

    Dr. M. Sriram, Associate Professor, Department of Management Sciences, D. J. Academy for Managerial Excellence, Othakalmandapam, Coimbatore-641032

    • The chapters are well structured. The various facets of good governance is explained in a lucid manner.
    • The comprehensive coverage of the nuances of ‘Corporate Governance’ and various legal aspects relating to Corporate Governance.
    • The unique feature of the book is relating to a brief discussion on various CSR initiatives by India Inc. and also a snap shot on various labour legislations prevalent in India.
    • The book will be very useful to all those who lack clarity on the topics such as CSR, CG and Social Audit.

    ———-

    Dr. S. Thothadri, Assistant Professor & Research Supervisor, Department of Corporate Secretaryship, The New College (Autonomous), Chennai – 600 014, India.

    “The chapters and contents of the book are well arranged. The book extensively covers all the contents of Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Governance, CSR practices by Indian Corporates, Cadbury Committee Report on Corporate Governance, Clause 49 of the listing agreement, Compliance Report on Corporate Governance and NGO’s and their objectives. The book highlights the importance of Business Ethics, Professional Ethics, Social Accounting, Auditing and Reporting in a lucid manner which will be the need of the hour. The appendix and annexure in Chapter 1, Chapter 4, and Chapter 7 are noteworthy highlights of the book.

    The Air and Water (Prevention and Control on Pollution) Act has been included in a simple manner highlighting the importance of pollution prevention in order to achieve global sustainable development.

    The book will be very useful for the P. G. students as well as the students pursuing professional courses like Company Secretaryship, Chartered Accountants, etc., as it provides an insight into the guidelines for ethics to be maintained by various professionals.”