Submissions

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Author Guidelines

1. Open Access

Rupkatha signed on to the Budapest Open Access Initiative. In conformity with this, the content of publications is primarily guided by the open nature of knowledge, and the journal is free to access from any corner of the world. The journal allows readers to freely read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full text of its articles and to use them for any other lawful purpose. The articles and book reviews and other published items are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. 

2. Article processing charge (APC)

  • Article Processing Charge: 250 USD. 
  • This fee covers all publication costs: web hosting and administration, editorial and review activities, formatting, indexing, marketing and publicity, permanent archiving and preservation of contents, DOI registration, post-publication care etc. It will be charged only after an article is recommended for publication.
  • The APC will be effective from January 2024 onwards.
  • Authors from countries designated “Lower-middle income economies” including India may apply for a 50% waiver in fees. Check the list>>
  • Authors from countries designated “Low-Income Economies” can apply for a 100% waiver. Check the list>>
  • Application for a waiver needs to be submitted at the time of submission.
  • The authors keep the copyrights of their articles. They can distribute and reprint their articles on any platform or with a publisher in any medium.
  • The published articles are immediately and permanently made free to access under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 License.

3. Publication Policies

3.1: Aims and scope

Authors are requested to read the Aims and Objectives carefully.

3.1.1. Aims and scope:

“The fundamental idea for interdisciplinarity derives” as our Chief Editor Explains, “from an evolutionary necessity; namely the need to confront and interpret complex systems…An entity that is studied can no longer be analyzed in terms of an object of just single discipline, but as a contending hierarchy of components which could be studied under the rubric of multiple or variable branches of knowledge.” Following this, we encourage authors to engage themselves in an interdisciplinary discussion of topics from the broad areas listed below and apply interdisciplinary perspectives from other areas of the humanities and/or the sciences wherever applicable.

  • We publish peer-reviewed original research papers and reviews in the interdisciplinary fields of humanities. A list, which is not exclusive, is given below for convenience.

3.1.2. Areas of discussion

  • Interdisciplinary approaches to language, literature and arts
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) in human culture, language, literature, and arts.
  • Health & medical humanities
  • Gender Studies
  • Fine arts, film & communication & media Studies
  • Performing arts, performance studies
  • History of arts
  • Historiography, memory, history of emotions
  • Music: ethnomusicology, systematic musicology
  • Archaeology: material culture, human behaviour, cultural resources management
  • Tourism and heritage
  • Cultural Studies: cultural anthropology, ethnography, area studies
  • Scientific philosophy: artificial intelligence, biology, economics, neuroscience, and psychology
  • Animal Studies: ethics, law and rights
  • Law: human rights, intellectual property rights, digital rights management
  • Library and information studies: knowledge production, information literacy, open access
  • Psychology: educational psychology, applied psychology
  • Ecological humanities
  • Transhumanities
  • The humanities debate: critical university studies and higher education
  • The humanities debate: critical university studies and higher education

3.2: Types of content we publish

We publish original research papers and book reviews. Sometimes we publish innovative creative works and interviews.

4. Editorial Policies

4.1 Peer Review

  • The journal follows a Double-Blind Peer Review system.
  • Primarily the submitted articles are considered by the editors for the confirmation of the standard and the scope of the journal. If any submitted article fails to fulfill the primary standard, the same will be rejected and the author will be communicated the decision promptly.
  • If the editors are satisfied, two reviewers are selected for detailed consideration of the articles.
  • The rule also applies to the members of the Editorial board.
  • Receipt of submission is acknowledged instantly and automatically via the system. If you do not get any reply, resend the mail.

4.1.2 Review period

We do NOT have any system for fast or rapid review nor do we encourage it. A decision on a submitted article along with reviewers’ comments is communicated to the author within 3 months. Authors should not send any queries before the period is over. However, after three months of submission, if no decision is taken, authors can naturally withdraw and submit elsewhere.

4.2 Declarations by Author/s:

Author/s will have to sign “Declaration by Authors” and send us scanned copies of the same after acceptance of the article concerning:

  • Acceptance of the Terms and Conditions
  • Authenticity of the research work
  • Claim of authorship
  • Plagiarism
  • Conflicts of Interests.

5. Publication Policy

5.1 Publication Ethics

We are committed to upholding publication ethics in every possible manner. We try to adhere to the norms and guidelines formulated by various scholarly societies to achieve international standards by maintaining quality in publication and updating our publication system. We expect and encourage all the concerned parties associated with the journal to follow the norms mentioned on our website.

5.2 Authorship

All published materials—articles, book reviews, poems or art pieces, must contain appropriate attribution of authorship. Since we follow the online medium, it is the sole responsibility of the corresponding author—who initiates the submission process online, to ensure the integrity of publication ethics by complying with the following:

5.2.1 Appropriate attribution and acknowledgement

The corresponding author should ensure

  • That the submitted manuscript is genuine research work produced by the author/s,
  • That all the other authors are made aware of the submission,
  • That permission is taken from other authors for publication,
  • That the contribution of the authors is appropriately acknowledged,
  • That the contribution of other persons or parties, who/which add value to the work in any way is sufficiently acknowledged,
  • That the Conflicts of Interest document is signed properly and sent to us in time.

5.2.2 Changes in authorship

Authors can send a request for changes to authorship to the Chief Editor. The Editorial Board of the journal reserves the right to take the final decision on the request. Changes will be made only if there is a valid reason and full agreement among the authors. Public notification may be made in the case of any post-publication change.

5.2.3 Ghost,’ ‘guest,’ or ‘gift’ authorship

We condemn the unethical practice of ‘Ghost,’ ‘guest,’ or ‘gift’ authorship (or anything that does not have any proper contribution to an article) and take appropriate steps against such practices.

5.3 Publication Process

We insist that all concerned with the publication of the journal—editors, reviewers and website managers, must strictly follow international norms. We are constantly trying to raise the standards of our publications. We expect the same kind of commitment from authors to conform to the international ethical norms as formulated by various scholarly organizations.

5.3.1 Submission

While submitting to our journals and magazines authors should strictly follow our guidelines. We reserve the right to take action against any of the practices mentioned below:

  • Simultaneous Submission to Other Publication Agency:

We accept manuscripts on the belief that the same has not been submitted or will be submitted to other journals while the review process is going on. Concrete action is taken against the authors who make simultaneous submissions during the period of peer review.

  • Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a curse upon the scholarly world. Authors submitting with us are expected to have a proper understanding of plagiarism issues. Nothing should be copied in any form without proper acknowledgement or legal permission in any way that may violate the other person/party’s rights. While they should include an acknowledgement of others’ works, they should also get permission to use any material from the parties concerned themselves. The journal will not initiate any process nor will it remain responsible for any kind of copyright violation.

  • Defamation or Promotion

We do not expect authors to include anything that may turn out to be defamatory or promotional.

  • Gender, Racial and Language Bias

5.3.2 Steps against Misconduct

We may take any one or all of the following steps against unethical practices:

  • The published content is retracted via notification.
  • Modified content is published with justification for modification.
  • The author is blacklisted and barred from future submissions.
  • Notification along with the evidence of misconduct is communicated to an author’s institution, superior, and/or any concerned authority.

5.4 Conflict of Interest

In order to maintain transparency in publication, we encourage all—authors, editors, reviewers and other persons/parties involved in the publication process, to avoid any form of conflicts of interest. Our publication policies and guidelines are regularly revised to address the issues.

5.4.1 Authors

Authors with our journals and magazines need to be careful of any kind of conflict of interest—be it financial, promotional or honorary. The corresponding author is responsible for sending us the Conflict of Interests document agreed to and signed by other authors.

5.4.2 Editors and reviewers

Editors and reviewers of our journals and magazines are encouraged to avoid any form of potential conflict of interest while performing their duties in concerned capacities in order to maintain the integrity of our publication ethics and raise the standard of the journal. They are requested to follow the guidelines sent to them in the form of email communication. All forms of internal conflict of interest are handled by the Chief Editor, who maintains privacy and takes appropriate measures.

The professional independence of the editorial board members is strictly maintained by the publisher. The board enjoys full autonomy in performing its scholarly duties. The publisher does not interfere with anything regarding this.

6. Submission Process

Authors should read the “Terms and Conditions” and submit through the New Submission Portal. Submission through email is discontinued from March 2022.

Book Review: For reviewing books, please get the complete guidelines here>>

6.1 Formatting

File Types: We process the Ms Word files. Normally we do not accept images or any graphic content separately. Graphic materials need to be incorporated by the authors in the text document.

Reference Style: Authors must follow the APA style (http://www.apastyle.org) (Quick guidelines can be found here).

Visual Images: We encourage authors to incorporate visual images like diagrams, maps and pictures in their writings in innovative ways so that the reader gets some sort of multimedia experience. All kinds of visual images should be treated as ‘Figures’, and if possible, authors are requested to present the figures in the hyperlinked state. Authors should note that they should get permission from the concerned person or authority for reproducing the visual images before submission. We will not remain responsible for any kind of copyright violation on the part of the authors.

Language: The journal is published in the English language and we accept both UK and US spellings. Authors should refrain from using racist and sexist terms.

6.2 Submission of the Files

Authors need to submit and upload two doc files

Best Practices for Authors:

  • Sign up with www.orcid.org and send your ORCID Id to us.
  • Use institutional email id if possible.
  • Include a link to your profile on your institutional website if available.
  • In the Reference section, avoid including long URLs. Use DOI whenever available. Do not keep the links in the blue underlined state. Remove underlined state and the color.
  • Declare funding if any.

6.3 Word Limits

Research articles: 5000-7000 words including the Reference section. Articles beyond 7000 words will also be considered.

Book Reviews: Word limit: 1500-3000 words

6.4 Final Submission after Acceptance

  • Authors need to download the Final Submission Template and format the final submission accordingly and upload in the portal.
  • Author/s will have to sign “Declaration by Authors” and upload scanned copies of the same after acceptance of the article

7. Post-acceptance Process

  • Author/s will have to complete the journal contributor’s publishing agreement after the acceptance of the paper.

Submission Preparation Checklist

All submissions must meet the following requirements.

  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
  • The submission file is in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF document file format.
  • Where available, URLs for the references have been provided.
  • The text is single-spaced; uses a 12-point font; employs italics, rather than underlining (except with URL addresses); and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
  • The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.

Special Issue: Future of Global Indigenous Literature and Arts

Call for Papers: Special Issue
Future of Global Indigenous Literature and Arts

Ed. Dr Pragya Shukla

Dept of English Studies, Central University of Jharkhand, India.

For queries, email at pragya.shukla@cuj.ac.in

For other queries

Chief Editor

Dr Swayam Prabha Satpathy

Associate Professor

Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Odisha, India.

chiefeditor@rupkatha.com

Executive Editor

Dr Tarun Tapas Mukherjee

Associate Professor

PG Dept of English, hatter College, Datan, India.

editor@rupkatha.com

 

“ Those who tread barefoot

in quiet procession towards the forests

never proclaim

themselves as Adivasis.”

--Anuj Lugun

The Theme

In his article, "Indigenous Poetics and Transcultural Ecologies," Stuart Cooke argues that Indigenous knowledge systems should be viewed "not as part of a reactionary anti-modern form of Romanticism, but as an alternative, syncretic understanding of the contemporary, in which the past is partner to the present in the formation of future possibility” (Cooke, 2018). This perspective sparks a critical examination of how Indigenous poetics can serve as dynamic interfaces between cultural heritage and contemporary socio-political landscapes and challenge the constraints of Western literary traditions.

Indigenous literature and arts present ancestral knowledge and wisdom in contemporary reimagined contexts supporting the interdependence between humans and nature for sustainability and a “balance of nature” (Wilson, 1992). Indigenous writings tend to be cultural conversations of multiple voices and languages, where writers try to meditate, comprehend, and imbibe the residual sounds, textures, and voices inherited from their ancestors and the nonhuman world. Messages come to them from various planes—they pause, reflect, and integrate them all in their writings. In this process, they try to give meaning to a self that transcends hyperbolic individualism and disrupts the dominance of individualism within knowledge-making spaces. They share and celebrate the imagination of their community and string together the spirit of their past, present, and future. The transformative power of Indigenous poetics reveals their potential to shape future narratives and cultural understandings. In this, storytelling becomes a radical tool for Indigenous writers to deconstruct dominant discourses and advocate for social justice. Dillon finds “alternative histories… a hallmark of Native storytelling tradition, while viewing time as pasts, presents, and futures that flow together like currents in a navigable stream is central to Native epistemologies’’ (Dillon, 2016).

As a resistive mechanism, Indigenous literature reflects tribal pasts within current market economies, which demand forced assimilation and fluid identity formation caused by globalization. This resistance leads to the construction of hybridized identities that honour ancestral heritage while engaging with modern realities and forming new identities. By challenging dominant discourses, syncretism works as cultural resistance and reclamation. Allen calls it a “syncretic story of the Fourth World performed as it were part of an idealized tradition of Indigenous storytelling, an “authorless” communal narrative of global significance”. (Allen, 2002).

The amplification of Indigenous voices on a global scale has become necessary for promoting inclusiveness and equitability and addressing gender violence. What Anderson et al. write in the Canadian context can be applied globally: “As we work to put an end to the racialized and sexualized violence that threatens Indigenous women and girls, Indigenous literature must become part of the informed national dialogue.” Indigenous literature can challenge victim-blaming narratives and present powerful counternarratives in honour of the strength and resilience of Indigenous women. Transnational collaborations among Indigenous writers can further strengthen these efforts. Thus, translation, which is “a vector of power, resistance, rebellion, and even revolution,” becomes a necessary act of resistance to cultural erasure and solidarity among Indigenous peoples. (Tymoczko, 2010)

Indigenous poetics functions in line with the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in areas such as Gender Equality, Life on Land, Climate Action, and Reduced Inequalities. Danika Medak-Saltzman writes that ‘‘Indigenous futurist work can and does also explore a variety of dystopian possibilities, which allows for critical contemplation about the dangerous ‘what ifs’ we might face and, more pragmatically, can aid us in our efforts to imagine our way out of our present dystopic moment to call forth better futures’’ (Medak-Saltzman, 2017). She notes how Indigenous science fiction works empower women and nonhuman protagonists. Whyte highlights a unique Indigenous approach to the issue of climate change: “Instead of dread of an impending crisis, Indigenous approaches to climate change are motivated through dialogic narratives with descendants and ancestors”. (Whyte, 2018)

All these points attest to the global relevance and applicability of Indigenous wisdom in addressing pressing environmental and social issues (UN, 2015). Indigenous literature and arts inspire hope and foster a more inclusive and equitable world through visions for alternative futures.

We welcome authors to explore and engage with the following topics:  

Suggested Areas and topics:

  1. Transcultural Ecologies in Indigenous Literature and Arts:
  • Ancestral Wisdom in Contemporary Contexts
  • Narrative Strategies and Ecological Awareness
  • Ecocriticism and Indigenous Perspectives
  • Case Studies of Indigenous Environmental Advocacy Indigenous Cosmologies and Environmental Ethics
  • Intersection of Ecology and Identity
  • Innovative Literary Forms and Environmental Discourse
  1. Syncretism in Indigenous Literature and Arts:
  • Interweaving Tribal Past and Contemporary Narratives
  • Resisting Forced Assimilation
  • Constructing Hybrid Identities
  • Cultural Syncretism and Aesthetic Innovation
  • Political and Cultural Syncretism
  • Narrative Strategies for Cultural Reclamation
  1. Cultural Reclamation in Indigenous Literature and Arts:
  • Storytelling as a Radical Tool: Deconstructing Dominant Discourses
  • Advocacy for Social Justice: Promoting Cultural Reclamation
  • Narrative Strategies for Reclaiming Ancestral Knowledge
  • Impact of Cultural Reclamation on Identity
  1. Global Indigenous Voices in Indigenous Literature and Arts:
  • Amplification of Indigenous Voices: Promoting Inclusiveness and Equitability
  • Challenging Global Hegemonies: Transnational Collaborations and Solidarity
  • Representation and Misrepresentation: Decolonial Indigenous Narratives
  • Digital Platforms and New Strategies
  • Translation as Resistance to Cultural Erasure
  1. Sustainability and Indigenous Aesthetics in Indigenous Literature and Arts:
  • Gender Equality
  • Life on Land
  • Climate Action
  • Reduced Inequalities
  1. Future Visions:
  • Transformative Power of Indigenous Poetics: Future of Storytelling
  • Shaping Future Narratives in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous contexts
  • Cultural Understandings and cross-cultural dialogue
  • New Paradigms for Coexistence: Sustainability in a Globalized World
  • Futuristic Storytelling Techniques
  • Visionary Voices: Emerging Poets of Our Times

Submission:

IMPORTANT
Starting with this issue, we are upgrading our academic integrity and transparency policies by making our peer-review process more transparent and publicly available. Where appropriate, we will publish reviewer comments and author responses alongside the final published articles as interlinked Versions of Records. This initiative aims to promote the rigorous review process our manuscripts undergo. Authors must accept these new terms while submitting their manuscripts to the journal.

[*Papers in the General Areas are not invited for this issue. Authors are asked not to submit any paper in any general area.]

 References

Allen, C. (2002). Blood Narrative: Indigenous Identity in American Indian and Maori Literary and Activist Texts. Duke University Press.

Anderson, B. &  Pete, S. & Kubik, W. & Rucklos-Hampton, M. (2022). Indigenous Women’s Literature- The Power and Truth of our Words. (2022, July 15). University of Regina. https://socialsci.libretexts.org/@go/page/150152

Cooke, S. (2018). Indigenous Poetics and Transcultural Ecologies. Journal of Ecocriticism, 10(1), 45-62.

Dillon G (2016a) Native slipstream. In: Stratton B (ed.) The Fictions of Stephen Graham: A Critical Companion. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.

King, T. (2008). The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative. University of Minnesota Press.

Medak-Saltzman, D. (2017). Coming to you from the Indigenous future: Native women, speculative film shorts, and the art of the possible. Studies in American Indian Literatures, 29(1), 139-171.

Shukla, P. (2024). Selected Poems of Anuj Lugun. Rupkatha Books. https://doi.org/10.21659/rtp01

Smith, L. T. (2021). Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples. Zed Books.

Tymoczko, M. (2010). Translation, Resistance, Activism. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press. https://muse.jhu.edu/book/737.

UNO. (2015). Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations.

Whyte, K. P. (2018). Indigenous science (fiction) for the Anthropocene: Ancestral dystopias and fantasies of climate change crises. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 1(1-2), 224-242.

Wilson, E. O. (1992). The diversity of life. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

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