Acknowledgement

I take this opportunity to pay my gratitude to Dr. Didhiti Biswas who guided me to frame this thesis. Her contribution acted as an elixir in me. Her tireless and sincerest effort helped greatly to publish this thesis. Language fails to express my gratitude and sincere devotion to her.

Dr. Samir Kumar Mukhopadhyay ex-Associate Professor Surendranath College for Women, Calcutta encouraged me as well as helped me ceaselessly to my noble purpose. I pay my due respect to my honorable preceptor. His affectionate touch was with me always and will remain, l believe in the days to come. I convey my humble gratitude to him,

Pravrajika Bhaswaraprana, the principal of Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Vivekananda Vidyabhavan, the college where I work, encouraged me whole-heartedly to my resolve and extended her helping hand in various ways to my noble mission. I am immensly grateful to her.

I am grateful to UGC for granting me FDP fellowship for three years without which I could not have completed the work.

I express my gratitude to all the librarians and employees of the libraries including that of my college, I visited. I take this opportunity to convey my affectionate thanks to Pubali Chakraborty, Asst. Professor of Sreerampur College, who helped me by supplying me books, I needed.

Mr. Bibhash Das Gupta deserves my gratitude for his acts viz. the printing & binding of this thesis in a limited time.

Last but not the least I pay my humble respect to my parents whose contribution and endeavour made me reach this position. I pray and hope their blessing be poured on my head for good.

I pay my respect to my two paternal uncles. Their loving sympathy, active, cooperation and continuous encouragement helped me towards my goal.

My son, who is part and parcel of my life, constantly encouraged me to perform this work. I convey my thanks to him.

The contribution of my parents-in-law towards the submission of this dissertation is beyond expression. I express my great regard to them. I convey my best wishes to my brother-in-law who was always ready to help me.

Thanks to my husband whose active co-operation. inspiration and earnest labor helped me greatly to submit this thesis at last.