Beyond the Mainstream: Studying North-East India
1. Scope and Nature of Contributions
Beyond the Mainstream: Studying North-East India is a multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed annual research journal published by Dakshin Kamrup Girls’ College, Mirza, Kamrup, Assam, India. The journal publishes scholarly contributions exclusively in the fields of Humanities and Social Sciences, with particular emphasis on North-East India.
The journal welcomes original research articles, review articles, critical essays, and interdisciplinary studies that contribute to academic understanding of historical, cultural, political, economic, social, environmental, and developmental issues. Contributions addressing gender, indigenous knowledge systems, tribal communities, language, literature, identity, migration, social justice, and sustainable development are particularly encouraged.
2. Types of Manuscripts
The journal considers the following categories of scholarly contributions:
· Original Research Articles: Papers presenting original findings based on primary or secondary research, archival sources, fieldwork, textual analysis, surveys, interviews, or other appropriate research methods.
· Review Articles: Critical assessments of existing scholarship that identify major debates, research gaps, and emerging perspectives.
· Review Essays and Critical Essays: Analytical discussions of significant books, scholarly debates, historical interpretations, cultural developments, or contemporary social issues.
· Interdisciplinary Research Papers: Studies integrating perspectives from two or more disciplines within the Humanities and Social Sciences.
All submissions must be original, academically sound, relevant to the journal’s scope, and written in clear scholarly English.
3. Originality and Exclusive Submission
Manuscripts submitted to the journal must be original and unpublished. They must not be under consideration for publication in another journal or publication at the same time.
Authors must disclose any substantial overlap with their previously published work, including material derived from theses, dissertations, conference papers, or institutional publications, where applicable. Any use of previously published material must be properly acknowledged and comply with copyright requirements.
Submission of a manuscript implies that all listed authors have approved the submission and that the corresponding author is authorized to communicate with the editorial office on their behalf.
4. Manuscript Submission
Authors may submit their manuscripts electronically as Microsoft Word files (.doc or .docx) to the journal’s designated submission email address.
Proposed submission email: editor.thecurve@gmail.com
The email subject line should read:
Manuscript Submission – [Title of the Paper]
The submission should include:
1. The complete manuscript prepared according to these guidelines.
2. A separate title page containing the title, author names, institutional affiliations, email addresses, and corresponding author details.
3. A declaration confirming that the manuscript is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.
4. Relevant ethical approval or consent information, where applicable.
Authors should retain a copy of the submitted manuscript for their records.
5. Length of Manuscripts
The recommended length of manuscripts is as follows:
· Research Articles: 2,500–5,000 words.
· Review Articles: 3,000–5,000 words.
· Critical Essays and Review Essays: 2,000–4,000 words.
These word limits should ordinarily include the main text but exclude the title page, abstract, keywords, acknowledgements, and references. Any substantial deviation should be discussed with the editorial office before submission.
6. Manuscript Preparation and Formatting
Manuscripts should be prepared according to the following specifications:
· Language: English.
· Font: Times New Roman.
· Font Size: 12 points for the main text.
· Line Spacing: 1.5.
· Alignment: Justified.
· Margins: 1 inch on all sides.
· Paragraphs: Consistently indented or separated by paragraph spacing.
· Page Numbering: Consecutive page numbers.
· File Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).
Use clear headings and subheadings to organize the discussion. Avoid unnecessary abbreviations, excessive footnotes, and overly complicated sentence structures. Tables, figures, photographs, maps, and other illustrations should be numbered consecutively, supplied with descriptive titles or captions, and appropriately acknowledged.
7. Structure of the Manuscript
The organization of a manuscript may vary according to the subject, discipline, and research methodology. The following structure is recommended for research articles.
7.1 Title
The title should be concise, informative, and representative of the manuscript’s central argument or research focus. Avoid unnecessary abbreviations and overly broad expressions.
7.2 Author Details
A separate title page should contain the full name of each author, designation where relevant, department, institutional affiliation, postal address, and email address. The corresponding author must be clearly identified.
7.3 Abstract
Each research article should include an abstract of up to 300 words summarizing the research problem, objectives, methodology or analytical approach, principal findings or arguments, and major conclusions.
The abstract should be self-contained and should generally avoid citations, unexplained abbreviations, and unnecessary background information.
7.4 Keywords
Provide 5–8 relevant keywords immediately after the abstract. Keywords should reflect the principal themes, concepts, geographical focus, and disciplinary areas of the paper.
7.5 Introduction
The introduction should establish the research context, explain the significance of the topic, identify the research problem or central argument, and state the objectives or research questions. It should also situate the study within relevant scholarly literature.
7.6 Review of Literature and Theoretical Framework
Where appropriate, the manuscript should critically engage with existing literature, identify relevant debates, and explain the theoretical or conceptual framework guiding the analysis. This section may be incorporated into the introduction when suitable.
7.7 Methodology or Analytical Approach
Authors should clearly explain the research design, sources, methods of data collection, and analytical procedures relevant to the study. Historical and literary studies may describe their archival, textual, interpretative, or historiographical approaches, while empirical social science studies should provide sufficient methodological detail to support scholarly evaluation.
7.8 Main Discussion and Analysis
The main body should present the principal arguments, evidence, interpretations, and findings in a logical sequence. Appropriate headings and subheadings may be used to improve clarity and coherence.
7.9 Conclusion
The conclusion should synthesize the central arguments or findings, explain their significance, and indicate the broader implications of the research. It should not merely repeat the abstract or introduce substantial new evidence.
7.10 Acknowledgements
Authors may acknowledge individuals, institutions, research assistance, or financial support that contributed to the work. Funding sources and relevant grant information should be disclosed.
7.11 References
All works cited in the manuscript must appear in the reference list, and every entry in the reference list must be cited in the text. References should follow the American Psychological Association (APA), 7th edition, style.
The above structure is recommended rather than compulsory for every article. The organization should suit the conventions of the relevant discipline and the nature of the research.
8. Referencing and Citation Style
The journal follows APA 7th edition for in-text citations and reference lists. Authors must ensure consistency, accuracy, and completeness in all citations.
In-text citations
· One author: (Sharma, 2022)
· Two authors: (Sharma & Das, 2022)
· Three or more authors: (Sharma et al., 2022)
· Direct quotation: (Sharma, 2022, p. 45)
Reference examples
Book:
Sharma, A. (2022). Society and culture in North-East India. Example Academic Press.
Journal article:
Das, B. (2023). Gender relations and social change in North-East India. Journal of Regional Studies, 12(2), 45–62. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Chapter in an edited book:
Doley, R. (2021). Indigenous knowledge and cultural identity. In P. Das (Ed.), Perspectives on North-East India (pp. 75–94). Example Academic Press.
Website:
Institutional Author. (2024, June 15). Title of the webpage. Website Name.
Note: The examples above are illustrative only and should not be treated as actual publications. Authors should replace the sample details with accurate bibliographic information.
For historical documents, archival records, legal materials, and other discipline-specific sources, authors should provide sufficient identifying information to enable readers to locate the original material. Any supplementary citation conventions required for particular source types should remain consistent with the journal’s editorial instructions.
9. Tables, Figures, Photographs, and Maps
Tables, figures, photographs, and maps should be included only when they contribute meaningfully to the analysis.
· Number each table and figure consecutively.
· Provide a clear title or caption.
· Identify the source of all reproduced or adapted material.
· Obtain permission for copyrighted material wherever required.
· Ensure that maps, photographs, and illustrations are legible and suitable for print publication.
· Explain the relevance of each table or figure in the main text.
Authors are responsible for the accuracy of data, captions, labels, and source acknowledgements.
10. Peer-Review Process
The journal follows a double-blind peer-review process, under which the identities of authors and reviewers remain confidential throughout the review process.
Initially, the editorial office screens each submission for relevance to the journal’s scope, originality, formatting, and basic academic suitability. Manuscripts that meet the initial requirements are sent to at least two independent subject specialists for evaluation.
Reviewers assess the manuscript’s originality, significance, engagement with existing scholarship, methodological appropriateness, quality of argument, and contribution to the relevant field.
Based on the reviewers’ recommendations, the editorial office may decide to accept the manuscript, request revisions, invite resubmission, or reject it. The final publication decision rests with the Chief Editor, taking the reviewers’ assessments and the journal’s editorial standards into account.
Authors may be required to revise their manuscripts in response to reviewers’ comments. Submission does not guarantee acceptance or publication.
11. Plagiarism and Similarity Screening
All manuscripts will be screened using appropriate plagiarism-detection or similarity-checking software before publication. The purpose is to identify unattributed borrowing, excessive textual overlap, and potential breaches of academic integrity.
Similarity reports will be interpreted in context rather than judged solely by a numerical percentage. Properly cited quotations, references, standard terminology, and other legitimate overlaps may affect the report.
Manuscripts containing plagiarism, inappropriate text reuse, fabricated sources, or other serious academic-integrity concerns may be returned for clarification or revision, rejected, or handled in accordance with the journal’s publication ethics policy.
Authors are responsible for ensuring that all borrowed ideas, quotations, data, and materials are properly acknowledged.
12. Research Ethics and Informed Consent
Authors must conduct and report their research in accordance with applicable ethical standards.
For research involving human participants, interviews, surveys, oral histories, or sensitive personal information, authors should explain relevant consent procedures and ethical safeguards where applicable. Institutional ethical approval should be obtained when required by the institution or applicable regulations.
Authors must protect participants’ privacy and confidentiality, particularly when research involves vulnerable individuals or marginalized communities. Research involving indigenous and tribal communities should demonstrate appropriate cultural sensitivity and respect for community rights, knowledge, and consent.
Where ethical approval is not required or is not applicable, authors should clarify this when requested by the editorial office.
13. Authorship and Conflicts of Interest
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual or scholarly contributions to the research or manuscript. All authors should approve the final version and agree to its submission.
The corresponding author is responsible for communicating with the editorial office and ensuring that the required declarations are provided.
Authors must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research. Where no relevant conflict exists, a declaration of no competing interests may be included.
14. Use of Artificial Intelligence
Authors who use generative artificial intelligence or other AI-assisted tools in preparing a manuscript must ensure that the submitted work is accurate, original, properly referenced, and academically responsible.
AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the content, arguments, citations, factual claims, and originality of their submissions. Any substantive AI assistance in drafting, analysis, translation, or other relevant aspects of the work should be disclosed in accordance with the journal’s editorial policy.
AI-generated references must be independently verified. Authors must not submit fabricated sources, unverified quotations, or unsupported claims.
15. Copyright and Permissions
Authors must ensure that their manuscripts do not infringe the copyright, intellectual property rights, or other legal rights of third parties.
Permission must be obtained for the reproduction of copyrighted photographs, illustrations, tables, extended quotations, and other protected materials wherever required. All sources must be properly acknowledged.
The journal’s copyright, licensing, and reuse arrangements should be communicated to authors at the time of acceptance or through a separate publication policy.
16. Revision and Resubmission
When revisions are requested, authors should submit the revised manuscript within the deadline communicated by the editorial office. A separate response document should explain how each reviewer comment has been addressed.
Where a suggestion has not been adopted, authors should provide a clear scholarly justification. Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers when necessary.
Failure to submit revisions within the specified period may result in the manuscript being treated as withdrawn unless an extension has been approved.
17. Publication Charges
Any article processing charges, publication fees, or other author payments must be clearly communicated by the journal before manuscript submission. Authors should consult the official publication-charge policy or contact the editorial office for confirmation.
No statement that publication is free should be assumed unless the journal has formally established and announced a no-charge policy.
18. Editorial Decisions and Publication
The Chief Editor retains final authority over editorial decisions, including acceptance, revision, and rejection. Editorial decisions are based on scholarly merit, relevance, originality, ethical compliance, reviewer recommendations, and the journal’s publication standards.
The journal reserves the right to return manuscripts that do not comply with the author guidelines or fall outside its scope. Accepted manuscripts may undergo language editing, copyediting, and formatting before publication.
19. Submission Checklist
Before submitting a manuscript, authors should ensure that:
· The manuscript falls within the Humanities and Social Sciences and the journal’s stated scope.
· The work is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.
· The manuscript follows the prescribed word limits and formatting requirements.
· The abstract does not exceed 300 words and includes 5–8 keywords.
· Citations and references follow APA 7th edition.
· The title page contains complete author and affiliation details.
· The manuscript file is prepared to support double-blind review, with identifying information removed from the review copy.
· Plagiarism, research ethics, authorship, conflicts of interest, and relevant AI-use declarations have been addressed.
· Permissions have been obtained for copyrighted material where required.
· All authors have approved the final manuscript and its submission.
20. Contact Information
Editorial Office
Beyond the Mainstream: Studying North-East India
Dakshin Kamrup Girls’ College
Mirza, Kamrup, Assam – 781125, India
Institutional Email: dkgcmirza1988@rediffmail.com
Proposed Manuscript Submission Email: editor.thecurve@gmail.com
Website: https://dkgirlscollege.ac.in/
Authors are encouraged to consult the latest author instructions or contact the editorial office for clarification before submitting their manuscripts.
The journal reserves the right to revise these guidelines as required to maintain academic quality, publication ethics, and consistency with its editorial policies.