Releasing this issue has not been easy. After a long wait, we are happy to release Volume VI
of the journal, originally planned for 2022. This issue is a culmination of perseverance,
patience, and commitment of the authors, interns, reviewers and the editorial board. The
delay was prolonged by the ‘coming-back-to-life cycle’ after the isolation of the COVID-19
pandemic. Like many other facets of our lives, it has disrupted our traditional processes and
timelines. Nevertheless, the steadfast enthusiasm of the interns, paired with the efforts of our
editorial team, has ensured the realization of this edition.

This volume carries eight research articles, two commentaries and three book reviews. Social
isolation during COVID-19 and its effect on creativity has been a concern in the
contemporary world, and the lead article in this issue has analysed this situation. Many
authors have focused their inquiries on representational politics in the realm of audio-visual
media. These include investigating identity creation in ‘The Angry Young Man’ in John
Osborne’s Look Back in Anger, exploring stardom and intertextuality in the film Om Shanti
Om and analysing the visual spectacles in mainstream popular Bollywood movies. Another
article has focused on the contrast between the male gaze and the female gaze in the Mughal
court through historical texts. Two articles discuss detective fiction – one analyses the
representation of female detectives in contemporary television crime series, and the other
argues that Sherlock Holmes is a cognitive empath. Another article discusses the social
effects of inclusive hiring of transgender individuals at the Kochi Metro Rail Limited. The
two commentaries in this issue focus on Russia’s role in the Yemen war and the relevance of
virtual reality therapy in India. Rounding off this issue are reviews of three books – Beyond
Macaulay: Education in India, 1780-1860 by Parimala V Rao – which provides a
comprehensive history of the Indian education system in the colonial era, Global
Masculinities: Interrogations and Reconstructions edited by Mangesh Kulkarni – which
provides insights into various constructions of masculinities around the world and The
Republic of Caste: Thinking Equality in the Time of Neoliberal Hindutva by Anand
Teltumbde – which discusses the suppression of Dalits under the caste system in
contemporary India.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to our reviewers from across disciplines
for sharing their time and expertise. Their rigorous evaluation, insightful feedback, and
criticism have played an integral role in shaping the manuscripts and ensuring their scholarly
integrity. We recognise that reviewing manuscripts is a time-consuming task that requires
considerable expertise and effort. We also thank our group of interns – Aditi Vaidyanathan,
Ahana Bhattacharji, Gunjan Periwal, Isha Mahajan, Mrinalini Niranjan, Parvathi Vijay,
Rachana Jadhav, Rushil Airan, Shivani V, Tanisha Agarwal, and Tanvi Kulkarni – for their
contribution to the copyediting process. Their attention to detail, meticulous copyediting and
proofreading have enhanced the overall readability of the content. We greatly appreciate their
professionalism and the respect they have shown towards the authors and their work. A
journal is incomplete without its cover. Our cover design team – Eva Banerjee and Vaidehi
Rajput – has crafted an image that invites contemplation and aims to resonate with the
content of the journal, providing a glimpse into the rich tapestry of ideas that lie within. The
cover design invokes two ideas central to CJIDS – interdisciplinary triangulation and the
possibility of multiple interpretations. A special note of appreciation is also due to the design
team, led by Ahana Bhattacharji along with Rachana Jadhav and Aditi Vaidyanathan, who
put in considerable effort in getting the website ready for releasing the issue.

Finally, we extend our thanks to Dr Shweta Sinha Deshpande, Director, and Dr. Anita
Patankar, Founder Director and Advisor, Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, for their support
and encouragement throughout this journal’s journey.

Suchetana Banerjee
(on behalf of the Board of Editors)