Articles by Pritam Singh

The assembly election scenario in Punjab is reverberating with calls to regional identities. All major political parties talk about the fact that development issues have overtaken the old divisive issue of religion and community. But none of them mentions the rapid commodification of life taking place in Punjab.

Heritage is a contested arena - a fact brought out during the recent Patiala heritage week celebrations in Punjab. Patiala's heritage is evident in its rich tradition in the fine arts, patronised by its erstwhile ruling family. However, another aspect of its heritage - the politically oppressive rule by its royal family - has been entirely glossed over. Sagas of exploitation, however, are still preserved in folk memories and songs of the peasantry.

The discussion on the Punjab problem in the British House of Commons on November last brought to light some facts relating to the Punjab situation not known previously in public and highlighted several aspects of the political economy of Indo- British relations, the economic and political weight of the Indian immigrant community in Britain and the political economy of human rights.

January 12, 1985 however, will need some basic changes in policies and programmes as well as greater political commitment to population issues, both at the national and state levels.

February 4, 1984 tives and financial manipulation. Commercial banks exercise little authority in ensuring efficient industrial management. Many questions remain unanswered: should industrial incentives (backward areas, investment allowance') apply to goods in sellers1 markets, like cement? Should credit for inventories of finished goods, even though these be with manufacturers, be treated as industrial advances (which is what the RBI allows) rather than as commercial advances? So also, if banks and finance institutions were to exercise their right of independent audit of their borrowers through detailed inventory and management audit, they would not only help improve management practices but also provide a check on parallel economy transactions. This should be the banking function