The progress report outlines the research activities of PhD scholar Vaidehi Hariyani, focusing on her study of contemporary retellings of the Ramayana. She has collected resources from various libraries and online sources, attended coursework sessions, and participated in a national workshop on translating Gujarati literature. Additionally, she enrolled in an online course from Harvard University to enhance her understanding of cultural studies relevant to her research.

1. Progress Report
Term 1 :- 29th January 2018 to 29th July 2018
Research Scholar (Ph.D.):- Vaidehi Hariyani
Date:- 15/7/2018
Guide:- Dr.Dilip Barad
Department of English,MKBU

2. Topic of Research
“Contemporary Retellings of
Ramayana Myth; In Search of
New Cultural Meaning.”

3. •Finding of study resources for Coursework:-
• The required study resources were listed and procured through
Libraries like MKBU University library, Department of English library
and “Tulsi Ghat” library Mahuva.
• Also procured through individual capacity through online shopping
sites like Amazon and Flipkart. There are 16 books as a Secondary
source for Paper 2 and 17 books as Primary source for Paper 3.

5. •Searching and Identifying other Print and
Online Sources:-
• Besides coursework study sources, I have visited the library and also
searched online on computer. I have identified approx. 30 Print
resources including books, Ph.D. thesis, articles etc. and approx. 40
online sources such as websites, web sources, online journals,
YouTube videos of authors, interviews, play etc. for the purpose of
Literature Review.
• Still the search is on.

6. •Reading of Coursework Content:-
• 1. In Paper 1 (Research Methodology) Importance of research, How to
cite sources, Difference between Academic and Non-Academic Writing has
been referred. The chapters from Richard Altick’s “The Art of Literary
Research” is in progress.
• 2. In Paper 2 the reference books on Introduction to Cultural Studies and
Theory of Deconstruction by Jacques Derrida has been read. Reading books
on Feminist theory is going on.
• 3. In Paper 3 the novels like Amish Tripathi’s “Scion of Ikshvaku” and
“Sita: The Warrior”, Kavita Kane’s “Lanka’s Princess” and “Sita’s Sister” has
been read. “The Agony of Sita” by Dr.Malinee is in progress.
• 4. For clearing the base, reading of Valmiki’s “Ramayana” and Tulsidas’s
“Ramcharitmanas” is in progress.

7. •Classes on Coursework:-
• From the date of registration, every weekend I have attended the
classes on Coursework. Here is some information about special
sessions during coursework.
• 1. On 19th February attended the first class on Coursework
conducted by Dr.Dilip Barad Sir on Plagiarism, Evaluation of online
resources and technicalities of research writing.
• 2. On 13th April attended a class and got guidance for my topic in
detail. The class was organized by Dr.Dilip Barad Sir and Prof.Nagindas
Sanghavi Sir.
• 3. On 11th March Dr.Mansukh Gaijan Sir gave us guidance about
basics of Research Methodology.

9. •Conference and Workshop:-
• Successfully attend a National Workshop on Translating Gujarati
Literature in English: Practices and Approaches on 22 and 23rd March
organized by Department of English, Faculty of Arts, The Maharaja
Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara.
• As the “Ramayana” myth is originally written in Sanskrit and what we
have is translation in English and other languages. This workshop was
helpful to read the translation comparing with the original. Also it
helped a lot to find out authentic translations of the text.
• The workshop as well as my guide Dr.Dilip Barad Sir helped me to
locate an important site on “Ramayana” and “Ramcharitmanas”
managed and developed by IIT Kanpur.

11. •Enrollment in an Online Course:-
• Enrolled myself into an Online Course organized by Harvard
University on “Religion, Conflict and Peace” on edx.org.
• This course brings in the field of Cultural Studies which is the literary
base of my research. This course ends on 8th January 2019. The
online course will help in better understanding. It is in Progress.

13. •Assignments and Presentations as a part of
Coursework:-
• The assignments and presentations for Paper 1, 2 and 3 is in
progress. It will be submitted by the end of July.

14. Thank You